February 24, 2019 Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

3Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. 10You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. 11There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’ Genesis 45:3-11 (NKJV)

Why am I here? Why do I have to go through this? Why is this happening to me? So many questions we have and even as we ask we may fear the answer. Or, we may fear even more there is no answer. We can come to believe there is no meaning at all.

Joseph in his youth had a wisdom and closeness to God but his arrogance showed his immaturity. The humbling began when his own brothers who wanted to kill him instead sold him into slavery! 

The humbling went on until called to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh Joseph was ready for the task God created him for! The arrogant young man had descended to a slave and was considered a rapist! But now Joseph was ready to rise from slavery to royalty and change the lives of families, whole nations and kingdom.

The words of Joseph reveal the answers to the questions above and so much more. Joseph has discovered all we face can be used by God to form and mold us into the person we need to be to do what God created us to be.

The problem with forming and molding is it is very uncomfortable and painful for us. God does not just change what we do or how we live but God changes US!

     Like the potter image we are roughly folded and felt to remove the unclean parts lest under heat and pressure the vessel burst destroying itself and also those around it.

     The hands stretch the clay making it easier to shape and mold to the potter's plan.

     After much rough handling the potter puts the clay on his wheel and gently touches each part of clay to form what he sees in his mind.

     The potter's touch and fingerprints are all over the pot even to the very center and hidden parts of the pot.

     Then the potter puts the pot into the kiln to be fired at just the right temperate to make it sturdy and long lasting. Too much heat makes the potter brittle and too little heats makes it soft and not sturdy.

Like Joseph God knows the best way to help us become the creation God sees. From the broken and unclean clay of our life God forms us to become, like Joseph, a person we cannot even conceive. And we will one day stand before God and looking back in awe ask God how we could become what we could never see or imagine.

So realize the struggles ad we face does have meaning which builds hope – hope builds faith – faith grows to love.

Living words are spoken creation begins

Humans break word and death begins

the written word from beginning begins

Living Word comes and new life begins

Some say if you are heavenly minded you are no earthly good, but in truth if you are not heavenly minded you are no earthly good!

February 17, 2019 Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

27“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:24-37 (NKJV)

There is a song entitled “Living Life Upside Down” which warns that thinking we are living a “good” life we may be living life upside down from what God desires, even demands, from us. Thinking we are reaching for heaven we may be reaching for hell.

A doctor once said if you wanted to eat well you could tell if it is healthy if it didn't taste good. While this most likely was a humorous answer it is also very profound for something which fits within God's call leads us to discomfort and sometimes even to danger.

“Love your enemies” is not a slogan many people lift up and consider laudable. This command alone is upside down to what we see in the world with the “dog eat dog” and “get even FIRST” philosophy. Right along with “bless those who curse you” loving your enemies seems strange and at times ludicrous. 

Take the list of things Jesus calls us to do or be and match it to the life of Jesus. As a common phrase Jesus not only “talked the talk but walked the walk”. As the Living Word of God Jesus used the written word of God (the Bible) to teach God's guidance for us and lived it out as a living example.

Like Jesus we are called to respond to the hatred, anger and fear of the world with the hope and love of Jesus. We give to those who do not deserve in response to the God who provides for the deserving and undeserving. We respond to God who offers what we do not deserve to we who are deserving! GRACE – unmerited favor!

February 10, 2019 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

PSALM 137 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! 7 Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare, down to its foundations!” 8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock! Psalm 137:1-9 English Standard Version

Some who live in peace and comfort may read this psalm and be appalled at the message of the psalmist. How does this fit in with the loving picture of Jesus? The Jesus who forgave even those who ripped His flesh and pored forth His blood? How could such a verse even be in the Bible? (We sometimes forget how Jesus talked to the religious leaders, cleared the money changers from the Temple and the woe to's for the cities who would not receive Him.)

There are three reasons I (this is my own thoughts and beliefs) believe this psalm is not only acceptable but also appropriate!

1. Those who live in safety and comfort shouldnot judge the grief and fury of those who have seen everything and everyone they love and hold dear ripped from them as they are forced to stand helplessly by. It may be possible to have sympathy for a family who has seen their daughters raped and sold into slavery or sons killed, forced to fight or enslaved. There is no way a “safe” person can understand the horror, grief and hatred of those faced with Job's and Habakkuk's dilemma.
2. It might be easy to see the psalmist as doubting and criticizing God but in truth it may be the opposite. The psalmist trusts God will allow, even desires for them to come before God and pour out their heart! They have faith God wants them to “reveal” the pain and anger God can already see! The greater faith is to believe God's love is strong enough for us to question and if there is no answer we are ready to trust in His grace!
3. The psalmist looking at the pain and destruction before them expresses a need for a balance for justice, judgment and a way to set things right. The psalmist expresses a need beyond description. A need to bring meaning out of meaningless violence and destruction! A need which would be met with the coming of Messiah – Jesus!
   But the psalmist talks about Jerusalem without mention of God. Redemptive solutions will not be found is religious places, sights, groups or armies. Redemption will only bring meaning to creation and our lives when we seek and discover it within Jesus Christ! And redemption will not always be a relief of the suffering but through Jesus receiving the faith, hope and love to go through it.

Where in your life is the need for redemption? Will you cry out to God? Realize whomever you to look to for help, protection and provision is your god!

February 3, 2019 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30But passing through their midst, he went away. Luke 4:21-30 ESV

Over the years I have heard pastors say they do know what to preach about. From the passage above I can think of at least a dozen sermons which can come from it. I chose to look into the idea of hometown.

I cannot remember the person but I remember the quote that “Church people could not receive a full dose of Christianity because they have been inoculated against it.” WOW! Could this be true?

We see Jesus facing the church people problem in His hometown. By now word of the miracles and crowds which followed Jesus had spread to His hometown and many would expect a warm welcome from the “homies” (this means either close friends, supporters or those who come from the same place).

They could not see beyond who they thought Jesus was to see the revelation of who Jesus is!!! The claim of Jesus to be the Messiah rocked their beliefs and understanding. Like many who face this whiplash they went from shock to fury! Even to the point of murder!

We may be shocked, horrified and disgusted by the actions of the “homies” but if we are honest we do the same thing today. If we are uncomfortable with the Bible we either ignore it or explain why the Bible is out of date or misunderstood. We teach “Bible stories” so we do not have to see who Jesus is and what we should be!

Be honest, the Bible is scary and uncomfortable to us. There are parts of the Bible I do not like and I argue with God about. But God is God and so I must bow (literally) to God's wisdom and teaching. To not do so is to push Jesus away or “kill” Him in our lives!

Who are you? Are you a “homie” who when you disagree with the written word, the Bible, push away the Living Word, Jesus the Christ or to be more blunt do you think you are god? Or have you received the revelation of the Living Word, Jesus, through the written word, the Bible, and are willing to take the leap of faith with Jesus?

It is my prayer you will choose Jesus by faith and discover who Jesus is through the Bible guided by the Holy Spirit!!!

January 27, 2019 Third Sunday of Epiphany

5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-6 ESV

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:14-21 ESV

Jesus is the Living Word of God and each person tries to understand just who Jesus is. How can learn who Jesus really is? Let us explore these two scriptures for hints. 

In Nehemiah Israel had lost God's written word and when it was discovered not only was it read but it was read to all who were there. The response is amazing! All there bowed their heads and worshiped God!

In Luke Jesus came home and as “was His custom” read the scriptures in the Synagogue. This was a time when the reading was from the scroll of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is filled with prophesies of the Messiah and the passage to be read was one of these.

Isaiah proclaims the wondrous and amazing revitalization the Messiah would bring to broken and oppressed people! Humanity which had been broken and turned upside down would be healed and made right for those who opened their lives to Jesus the Messiah!

In both passages the written word of God was the definition and expression of the

Living Word Jesus Christ! Only through the written word, the Bible, can we understand Who God really is and protect us from creating our own idol or god!

In the Bible we see God creating, missing fallen humanity, protecting us from ourselves, bringing healing and hope through the faith God gives us, preparing us to share the Good News