Tag: relationship

Stingless

Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; Genesis 1:20–2:4a; 1 Corinthians 15:50–58

God created humanity in God’s own image. When we read Paul, it may be easy to conclude that this is only a spiritual image. In many respects, it is indeed a spiritual image. On the other hand, as God made us even our physical being is an expression of God.

Through sin, however, death and decay were brought into the world. One could argue that Adam and Eve’s sin began the decay and from the decay came death. Decay and death…consequences of sin.

Yet, before we give decay and death all the “glory”, let us recall the real issue…sin. Decay and death are symbolic of what occurs with us spiritually in regard to our relationship to God.

The ways of the world are to draw everything to its decay and death. This includes, and often even focuses upon, our relationship with God. If the innocence of a newborn child was the starting point, then the decay would begin immediately. Just as with all things rates of decay depend on environment, nutrition, love, guidance.

However, if we were to strictly rely on the world to reduce the rate of decay, then there still would be no hope for anything except death. That isn’t much to hope for.

The hope we have is that death’s power has ultimately been broken. Thanks to the cross, we have something beyond to look forward to. While death causes us pain in the here and now, ultimately we understand that death is merely a stage for us. The pain we feel can be attributed to the “God-shaped” place in our beings that understands that death is not the way things ought to be. It is our reality that we will miss those we love. Our hope is the hope we in the midst of and in the face of what would otherwise be the hopelessness of death.

※Prayer※

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. [Tuesday of Easter week collect, Book of Common Prayer 2019]

2021-04-06
In the Shadows of Triumph
Isaiah 42:1–9; Psalm 36:5–11; Hebrews 9:11–15; John 12:1–11

Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday. The Messiah, no, the King, no, God (!) entered Jerusalem! At churches around the world, children paraded waving palm branches. The triumphant entry is a big thing!

I remember being part of a multi-church parade on Palm Sunday. We walked from one church to another. It was different. It provided some emotional and experiential context, but just as we read yesterday, the triumphal resulted in a quiet departure.

Traditionally, there are a couple of events that are “assigned” to Holy Monday. One of them is the anointing of Jesus by Mary. As Judas so kindly (sarcasm) pointed out, what she did was expensive. It could be seen as a waste. It was something used with a dead body, and Jesus wasn’t dead.

It was, however, a foreshadowing of what would happen in a few days (granted, no one understood that). It was a beautiful teaching point. In the midst of the smell of death (for the perfume was associated with that), Jesus lived!

This not-so-insignificant event was at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. A household that was already a place of significant events. This household seemed to have a pretty significant relationship with Jesus. The anointing of Jesus is also very intimate (which is telling, too) for only the immediate family would anoint the dead.

That Jesus went from the triumphal entry to quiet to the home of this family probably has lessons for us if we knew more. We can only presume and assume. As Jesus understood his time was short, he wanted to spend some extra time with this family that was significant to him.

Perhaps that is the lesson for us. We have spent the last year in a strange “space”. Time with others was limited. Extend family was discouraged. We have learned some valuable lessons. Others are important, even for us introverts. As our times and interactions became limited, they became more valuable, and we began to choose which was the most significant to us.

It’s probably a good time to contemplate the quiet, the time before the darkness; the contrast between the triumph and the quiet. The time to celebrate, and the time to take a breath…and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

※Reflection※
- Where do you “meet” Jesus most, in the triumph or in the quiet? Why do you think that is?
- What do you see happening this week that will echo the emotional ups and downs of Holy Week?
※Prayer※

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. [Monday of Holy Week Collect, Book of Common Prayer, 2019]
2021-03-29
Beyond Sight/Site
Psalm 119:9–16; Haggai 2:1–9, 20–23; John 12:34–50

Haggai and Zechariah were the two prophets that accompanied the Israelites from exile to home. Their primary focus was the restoration of Israel, not so much as a powerhouse, but as a people and nation of God, including both temple worship and the Davidic kingly line. Later on down the chronological line (beyond today’s readings), the temple is completed. However, the temple that was completed did not have the glory of the old one in physical status.

As Haggai’s words are considered canonical (i.e., verified as the action of God), then the Jews saw something much different than the literal word (often our temptation when we are reading). From a Jewish standpoint (especially Haggai’s traditionalist perspective), the temple isn’t so much the point as a people faithfully pursuing God with one of the signs being faithful worship as prescribed in the Old Testament. What does it matter what it looked like today (remember the original Temple was David’s plan, inspired by God, but not prescribed) when faithful worship and a God-fearing king were what was required?

That Haggai was seeing beyond the immediate temple and even beyond the immediate kingly line tells us that Jesus’ words were not without historical precedence (as some have claimed). As we look beyond Jesus’ time on earth, we can see the fulfillment of Haggai’s words, as faith in Jesus Christ has changed the world. Though, sadly, many of those who cried, “Lord, Lord,” were liars, murderers, and power-grabbers beyond the average struggling Christian.

Haggai’s understanding of a God-honoring relationship revolved around the temple. That is what tradition and the Scriptures taught. Haggai understood quite well, as he was coming from exile, that empty actions were not what was needed. It was actions that were firmly grounded in who God is, and that the Israelites were God’s chosen people.

While Jesus’ words may have seemed revolutionary at the time, Jesus did answer the “Christ will be with us forever” in a way unexpected, though by pure reason, it probably should have been an idea. The Christ was with the Children of God forever…in their souls, their temple to God. Thus a relationship through the temple was now very personal, and the Christ was with them.

Would Haggai have been able to recognize that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of his prophecy in only a way that God could make it happen? Perhaps. We can only look at Haggai’s words and see Christ in retrospect.

※Reflection※
- What practices do you fulfill in relationship with God? How about in regards to the temple, both body and church?
- What do you think is comparable to the Davidic kingly line in regards to lively rightly before God?
- When was the last time you evaluated your habits through the lens of habit or “because you need to”? Why is it important?
※Prayer※

Lord, guide us ever deeper into meaningful and life-changing relationship with you. Amen.
2021-03-24
Journey Essentials
Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Numbers 20:22–29; John 3:1–13

Commentators have proposed many reasons why the event at Meribah warranted Aaron and Moses not making it into the Promised Land. The reason for the question probably has less to do with Moses than it does with Aaron. Aaron started making a golden calf when the Israelites were still fresh out of Egypt. Aaron rebelled against Moses. So, Aaron makes a little sense. It was Meribah, however, that was the deciding factor.

Regardless, there seems something peculiar and special about Aaron’s death. Moses and Eleazer (Aaron’s son) accompany Aaron to the place Aaron will die. Moses and Eleazer then witness (we can safely assume) Aaron’s death. The special aspect of this is the passing on of the legacy. Aaron would see his son wear the high priest attire, be anointed, and then die. Aaron was able to see that what he and Moses had the next generation to take their place (and Moses would have Joshua).

The passing off of the reigns as God intended is both a gift and a responsibility. There is a big drive to pass off the reigns to the “next generation” (and who that is depends on how old you are). This is indeed the goal. However, passing off a mess or a bad legacy is not fulfilling the responsibility that God has given us. Of course, blinding holding on is just as bad (and often worse).

We see some of this with how the Jewish tradition was passed to the next generation. Then the next generation would build upon that. The generation after that would build on some more. Not to put too fine a point on it, but when the wrong stuff is passed on and built on, we get the Winchester House of theology and relationship. If you’re not familiar with Winchester House, it was continually expanded and built upon by Sarah Winchester to supposedly appease all the spirits of all those killed by her husband’s invention of the repeating rifle (i.e., the Winchester rifle). There are staircases that go nowhere, doors that are useless, and other oddities. Its only use is a tourist attraction.

The purpose of a house is to provide protection and security, not to be an oddity whose only use is tourism. Religion and theology should be building up, improving, and understanding the relationship between humanity and God, not lead us into dead ends.

Jesus takes the passed on Jewish theology and turns it over and breaks it apart. Poor Nicodemus was quite confused by Jesus’ answer. We often look down on Nicodemus because he didn’t understand the obvious (to us) connection between baptism of water and of Spirit. Or we give him grief that in his confusion he didn’t approach Jesus (in a learning way) in the day. Instead, perhaps we ought to think of Nicodemus who was making sure he understood and making sure that the legacy he would pass on was right.

※Reflection※
- Of the faith/religion/theology that you have had passed you, what do you think needs to be stripped away to pass on a “cleaner” faith/religion/theology? Why?
- Of the faith/religion/theology that you have had passed you, what do think needs to be certainly passed on? Why? Is it biblically sound?
※Prayer※

Lord, as we look forward, help us to determine, with you as our guide, the best path to take, so that others may follow the path that leads to you. Amen.
2021-03-13
Missed A Spot
Psalm 84; Ezra 6:1–16; Mark 11:15–19

If you are unaccustomed to the lectionary (again, what is being used this year for the passages), it can seem odd, annoying, and definitely repetitious to see the same Psalm for multiple days. As I, too, am reading it each day, I try to glean something new from it each time. This time I thought of a mess.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. There is a light rail system there (that was supposed to be for Seattle) called BART. As it was close, I could walk to the BART station and get to many places in the area.

One of the things I didn’t like was all the pigeons. They had found hard to reach (for humans) places to nest and congregate. BART did try to put up barbs to keep them from landing there, but it didn’t really work. So, it could be a hazardous trip to get your ticket or even wait for the train. You had to learn to look on the pavement for the telltale droppings of pigeons so that you could usually avoid being hit.

Even the sparrow found a place in the Temple. If you’ve seen sparrow colonies, they’re not much better than pigeons. The sparrow lays eggs beside the altar.

We read about temple purity laws. They were significant and had severe penalties for violation. The laws were almost impossible to bear. Yet the sparrow found rest and security in the Temple of God.

Jesus cleansed the Temple, not because of sparrow dropping, but because the hearts of humanity had turned from God to gain, and from God’s praise to humanity’s power. Although, if we think about it, if they were selling animals in the temple, it was probably much worse than a few sparrows.

Of course, the Psalmist might be taking some poetic liberty. On the other hand, if you read the Law, the rules almost all apply to people. This means that there may have not been a “purity” concern regarding sparrows in the Temple.

Sometimes our house is a mess. It could be your house. It could be God’s house. Truly, all of us recognize that at least something in our life is not as it should be, and it may be something completely out of our control…such as a sparrow in the Temple.

This shouldn’t discourage us, however. We are called to come to God in good times and bad. We are called to come dirty and clean, with both being relative. Was there something about ritual purity? Yes. However, as Jesus displays through his actions, ritual purity is not necessarily the heart.

※Reflection※
- What things/thoughts/so-called “dirtiness” keep you from approaching God?
- How does being ritually pure (usually outside performance) differ from purity of heart regarding our relationship with God? How do we confuse them?
- What “sparrows” are nesting in your house?
※Prayer※

Lord, all of Creation praises you. Let us not be distracted from praising you and seeking fellowship with you, no matter what the world throws at us. Amen.
2021-03-10
Feeling Real
Psalm 84; 1 Kings 6:1–4, 21–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–23

Based upon the description of the First Temple, it was impressive. The structure perched on a hill made it even more so. Culturally, physically, and religiously, it was the center of the Israelite city. We are often amazed and awed by impressive architecture. If you’ve ever been to any of the nation’s capitals (state or nation), you have likely seen something that impressed you.

Our cities historically were built around some center point, but as cities have grown in odd fashions, often the original center is at an extreme end of the city as it expanded in a single direction out from center. Our homes also have a center, but perhaps that is no longer the case. There was a time where the dining room table or the kitchen was the center of family life.

There was a time when that seemed to be fading away. One of the blessings of the COVID reaction is that we may see a recovery of the home as the center. It is also just as likely, sadly, that this is only a blip.

The trouble with a physical center is that when it becomes too much of the focus, it can distract us from the real focus, especially when it comes to our relationship with God.

Paul alludes to the understanding that each follower of Christ is a temple of God due to the Holy Spirit being present in each believer. However, while he uses the implication of a physical temple to describe things, it is about the inner working of the Holy Spirit in the believer. This change of emphasis would indeed be different for both Jewish and Gentile Christians. Jew and Gentile were both very concerned about the rituals and practices of their former lifestyles. The change from external to internal was very significant.

Often, we focus on the external because it’s easier. Whether it is idols, temples, buildings, what have you. Physical is easier for us to interact with. The physical can also draw us away from God.

※Reflection※
- When have you found the physical to cause struggles with your relationship with God?
- What kind of physical things could (maybe not for you) cause people to struggle with their relationship with God?
※Prayer※

Dear Lord, keep our hearts focused on you. Amen
2021-03-08
In God We Trust?
Psalm 19; Exodus 19:1–9a; 1 Peter 2:4–10

Trust is a scarce commodity. True trust. You and I trust that the person approaching the intersection will stop, but we’ve all had enough experience to undermine that trust (we even might be the reason we are this way at intersections).

All our actions operate on trust. In general, we “trust” for two reasons, (1) cultural training, (2) “enlightened” self-interest. We are culturally trained to trust people during transactions, though when lawyers are involved, maybe we don’t (no offense intended if you’re a lawyer). “Enlightened” self-interest really means that most people won’t do majorly wrong things out of fear of getting caught with the consequences.

The sad truth is that often our trust in and of God is the same. We trust God insofar as we think of God’s “enlightened” self-interest. If you read that aloud, you might have detected a note of scorn or sarcasm. It certainly is there, but it is self-aimed rather than God-aimed.

As we are human and much of our interaction, trust, and expectation of the world is based upon our experience, how could we not dangerously put God in the same spot as our fellow humans? Immediately, you might be saying, “not me!” Most of the time indeed it probably isn’t you.

It is the times that it is you (or me or anyone) that we need to examine openly with grace. As much as we often want to overlook our weaknesses, it is those weaknesses that make Christ a stumbling block even for his followers.

“…they refuse to believe in the word.” The Word is Jesus. Jesus is God. Perhaps the harsher truth is that we trust the Word as much as we trust the world.

※Reflection※
- Whom do you trust? Why? When have they betrayed the trust? How did you (and your relationship with them) move beyond the betrayal?
- Do you trust God more than you trust the world?
※Prayer※

Lord, trust is endangered in and by the world. Help our trust in you to be strengthened beyond all measure and exceed our distrust so that it is no more. Amen.
2021-03-04
Becoming Light
Jeremiah 30:12–22; John 12:36–43

Perhaps this has been said before, but an important lesson learned through Celebrate Recovery was, “hurt people hurt people.” When people are hurting, they lash out. Sometimes the pain is stress. Often it is thousands of little things (and sometimes only a few) that pile up all at once. Our individual emotional and spiritual history is full of small wounds. Most of the time, we function well despite them. Other times, we fall completely apart.

God relays back to the Israelites all their woe and anguish. God explains how much of, really, is the accumulation of delayed consequences over the years. It is not that God is uncompassionate. It is that God is trying to retrain them to pursue God and not the world.

We can safely assume that many Israelites said with their hearts and/or their mouths, “God, if you really loved us…” They judged God by the consequences of their actions. We are often no different, whether we blame God or others.

God acknowledges and identifies their pain. Many are lashing out at God because of their pain. Many, just like today, lash out at God for they cannot see clearly through their pain. God doesn’t leave it at that. God promises restoration.

What should catch our attention in the promises is, “You will be my people…” The Israelites were declared God’s people in Exodus, yet here is a future tense. The Israelites were no longer God’s people. It seems obvious, but for the Israelites, it wasn’t obvious that they were no longer God’s people.

The other implication here is that the blessing can be lost. For those of us in the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition, this isn’t a shock, but we often choose to forget it. The Israelites had lost it. This should not be taken to an antisemitic extreme (“Christians” have done too much of that). It should be viewed as a warning.

It is not that they didn’t regain the blessing, but one can look at the history that followed, and see that the blessing never returned to the way it had been. The rise and fall of Israel is a lesson for every believer.

Jesus’ words are the guidelines to follow. If you have the light (Jesus), believe in the light. This is the full-hearted belief and trust in God. This is not a “statement of belief.” It is a life of belief.

The CEB concludes with “that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light.” Other translations say something more familiar, “that you may become children of light.” Might is not coincidental. Might indicates that…you can lose it, or that you can walk away from it.

Your trust and relationship with God may be such that you are not able to understand why anyone would “lose” or “walk away” from Jesus. The Israelites wandered away from God. Judas Iscariot (who was with him for nearly 3 years) betrayed Jesus. It can happen.

※Reflection※
- Do you know anyone who “walked in the light” and then stopped? Do you know the pain of their story and/or why?
- How do you deal with the pain of people who know Jesus? How do you deal with the pain of people who don’t know Jesus?
※Prayer※

Jesus, help us to walk in the light and to call others to your light, too. Amen.
2021-03-03
To Live As Sacrifice
Psalm 105:1–11, 37–45 Genesis 22:1–19; Hebrews 11:1–3, 13–19

Post-traumatic stress is a real thing. There are many sources of trauma. We generally think of violence as the only source of trauma, but damaged relationships are equally the source of trauma for many individuals. Just like other forms of emotional scars, trauma may take years to heal if it ever does.

Some people have been miraculously cured of the various issues of trauma. They are not the norm. Many of those that still suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) don’t even recognize that they have it as they have not been taught how to perceive it.

Often, we don’t recognize potential PTSD in the scriptures. We often put it aside or dismiss any possibilities because “they were real ‘men’” then. Reminds me of the stories of the ’50s, and how great everything was with families and gatherings. The dark side of that being the mass amount of alcohol that was consumed not so obviously. One could easily conclude that the mass consumption of alcohol was a “tool” to numb the pain of World War II’s PTSD.

Imagine Isaac—the recipient of Abraham’s love and expectation —when his father ties him up and puts him on the woodpile intended for the sacrifice. The sole inheritor of Abraham and Sarah must have been shocked. He must have also felt betrayed. We can only imagine the effects that had on Isaac’s and Abraham’s relationship.

There may well have also been an impact on Isaac’s relationship with God. Many people feel betrayed by God because a loved one died, or because their life isn’t what they want or imagined. Being a literal sacrifice to God didn’t seem to affect Isaac’s faith in God overall, but it’s hard to see how that didn’t color Isaac’s view of God either.

Walking through life as “the almost sacrifice”. What a strange feeling, even at the end, that must have been.

As Christians, we continually observe the sacrifice that Jesus Christ was for us and for all of humanity (and Creation). If Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us, we too are almost a sacrifice.

The Nation of Almost Sacrifices. What a fabulous ring it has to it! How could anyone not want to be part of that? Right? You just can’t wait to go there!

Except the author of Hebrews notes that plenty of people died before the fulfillment of the Messiah. Many of them waited for the Messiah. Many of them were waiting for the first Holy Nation of Israel. Others were waiting for the next Holy Nation of Israel. Some even today wait for the next Holy Nation of Israel.

Waiting for God’s timing is indeed often a sacrifice. Sometimes it can be our pride (of nation, gender, profession, race, wealth) that needs to be sacrificed. Other times it is our assumptions that need to be sacrificed.

The Christian Walk often seems to be one of constant almost sacrifice. However, the almost isn’t one of, “I almost did it.” It is one of, “I surrendered it, and God gave it back.” So, no, we are not to be a nation of almost sacrifices. We are to be a nation that has sacrificed and sacrifices continually. This not a sacrifice of misery, but a sacrifice of response to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who sacrificed for us.

※Reflection※
- What does sacrifice mean to you?
- What does it mean to live as an almost sacrifice? What about an actual sacrifice? What about living a life of sacrifice?
※Prayer※

Lord, we often don’t know what it means to live sacrificially or to live a life of sacrifice. Help us to know the cross that is ours to pick up. Amen.
2021-03-02
Just the Right Size
Psalm 77; Proverbs 30:1–9; Matthew 4:1–11

In Through the Looking Glass, Alice comes to a mushroom. Eating from one part of the mushroom causes her to turn into a giant. Eating from a different part she turns smaller than normal. She finally ate from the “right” part and returned to her normal size. Often our image of ourselves is too big or too small, and far too rarely (or for long enough) just right.

The proper perspective of God and man is critical to our Christian walk. The improper perspective of God and man all too often leads to misunderstandings and walking (or running) from a saving relationship with God.

The rhetorical questions asked in Psalm 77:7–9 are often asked by people in trouble. They may not put “God” in the equation, but the question remains the same. God does not reject forever. God does not forget to be gracious. God’s faithful love never ends.

Sometimes we ask these questions because we have lost perspective of ourselves in comparison to God. In such cases, we have also lost perspective of ourselves in comparison to the world. This does not mean that we are not allowed to have feelings. It is just that we must keep them in perspective.

Then there is the other version of out of perspective. Agur calls himself the most stupid (or foolish) person in the world. Agur then also belittled himself. This view of being so little is just as bad as being too big.

There is a balance, though we all vacillate from one extreme to another. It is part of our emotional condition. We just need to aim for the center (the balance), but accept that we will not maintain it, and to give ourselves grace when we can’t.

Temptation often comes when we think too much or too little of ourselves. It is usually in those times of weakness (that we sometimes wrongly view as strength) that we have the greatest likelihood to succumb.

As we read the Temptations of Jesus (which were not the only ones; they were just significant as it was the Tempter, the Enemy, who was doing it directly), we can see that if Jesus had had an out of balance perspective on his view of himself, he could have fallen. It could be argued that as Jesus is God, Jesus wouldn’t, but that doesn’t deny the reality of temptation.

※Reflection※
- In whose words do you see more of yourself, the Psalmist or Agur?
- Balance is a powerful and yet dangerous word. How do you pursue balance without the pursuit harming or even destroying you?
- What do you think of temptation being strongest when your perspective of yourself is wrong?
※Prayer※

Holy Spirit, guide our minds and hearts to keep ourselves “just the right size” as we look at your majesty, glory, and creations. Amen.
2021-02-24