1/25/15---"Gone Fishing"

There is some irony in this Sunday's message title as it relates to our sermon series title: "God is Here." It brings out the divine truth that God is omnipresent; God is "everywhere at once."

So God is "here, everywhere." Anyone at any given moment in any given location can claim that "God is here."

Even when we are gone fishing. 

During the holiday break, I did go fishing. I went to South Florida with some of my family to go on our annual "Mackerel Massacre." We did well, but not as well as we had in the past. There was one winter where we yielded 3 dozen mackerel and everyone went home with their fair share. This time, though, a dozen fish in the boat satisfied us, and I took none home for myself.

Why were we satisfied this year? We ended up with 1/3 of the fish that we did a few years ago, so why were we OK with that? I think we now accept the fact that filling our boat a few years ago was a special occurrence. It may happen again, but it doesn't every time. 

We accept the dozen we caught because we know we prepared and we fished as if we were going to catch 3 dozen. We were ready. But now, I am afraid that we don't expect to catch many ever again. Perhaps we should, but at least our preparation and work is the same.

I relate this to the command from Jesus, the invitation to fish for people:

Mark 1

16 As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 18 Right away, they left their nets and followed him.  19 After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. 20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers.

Simon and Andrew did not know what to expect when they followed Jesus. Yes, they probably knew that Jesus was a teacher, but they had no idea where Jesus was going, who was with him already, or how many people he had in mind that he expected or wanted to "fish" for. James and John didn't know what to expect, either.

But they were ready. They dropped their nets, left their boats, their families, the future they expected for themselves, and followed Jesus.

I normally look at this story through the lens of sacrifice, and notice how much these disciples gave up in order to follow Jesus. But perhaps this was not so much a sacrifice as it was an opportunity for these men to fulfill something that God placed in their hearts; an opportunity to follow someone worth following; an opportunity to embrace the unexpected...

In order to embrace the unexpected, the disciples show us that sacrifice is needed, however. They gave up their sense of security, their plans of continuing the family fishery business. 

But the call to follow Jesus was, and still is, a call worth embracing, for we know that God is here, everywhere, fishing with us. 

1/18/15----God is Here: God's Lamp

Growing up with my mom, I had to learn to listen to what she said, rather than simply waiting for plain directions. I used to love helping her prepare dinner, and I learned this about her most directly during those times with her. For example: sometimes I would forget to get out the butter, but she wouldn't tell me to get it out, she would ask me something like: "were these mashed potatoes made with butter?" I either had to find out if they were, or know that she was telling me that they weren't and, thus, that she was telling me to get the butter out.

We all have our quirks, and I don't mean to pick on my mother here. I mean to point out that in our relationships with one another, we have the great opportunity to actually get to know one another. In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel mistakes the Lord's voice for Eli's because he does not know the Lord. 

We have the same opportunity to get to know God. It's important to know the Lord if we are seeking God's word, otherwise we will not recognize it, or we will mistake it for something else. 

Samuel eventually hears the Lord's words so consistently and so clearly that he is able to anoint kings. That's way more impressive then supplementing mashed potatoes with butter, but both tasks require knowing the one you are following; they both require the ability to recognize who you are following and, thus, what they are leading you to do. 

This Sunday, we will reflect on God's presence and direction in our lives, since "God's lamp hasn't gone out." We will do this through fellowship,by singing to the Lord and praising God, by lifting up our prayers to God, and also by remembering our baptisms. Like the water that washes us clean, refreshes us, and gives us peace, the Lord's lamp guides us and reminds us of God's presence. Thanks be to God!

See you Sunday! 

1/11/14---God is Here: An Epiphany

Christmas is officially over. All of our decorations are down (for the most part, anyway), Christmas trees have been thrown out, lights shine around our houses no more, and things are "back to normal." Except, for God, there seems to be no "normal." God's very presence provides uncertainty, surprises, and unexpected twists and turns.

This past Sunday, we were reminded that God breaks into our "messy" lives to include us in grace, love, protection, giving us a place to call "home." God breaks into our everyday, normal lives.

4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins.6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”

Mark 1: 4-11 gives me an epiphany, "a realization that the gospel is down to earth. grounded in the real, tactile, sensual, world. So that's where God is; God is here. These verses make reference to river water, clothing from camels,  diet from bugs, and tying shoes, a bird analogy, and an interesting weather phenomenon." Mark's gospel here, provides an "earthiness."

In our woprship of the God who is here, may we be challenged by these verses to praise the real God (God is not abstract) who really loves us and has really embraced us by water and the Spirit, and by daily love and grace.


"Spirit is the real substance of God acting in creation...and yet Spirit is always tied to material---real water, bread, wine" and the elements of baptism.


See you Sunday!


Quotes taken from Elton Brown, Feasting on the Word.

Wednesday December 24th, 2014----Our Light is Here

Christmas Eve is upon us, and I cannot wait to celebrate the birth of our Savior with you all.

The Scriptures for the service are

Isaiah 52:7-10 

Psalm 98 

Hebrews 1:1-4 

John 1:1-14

These Scriptures announce the coming of Jesus as he brings salvation to us all, as the son of God, as the light of the world.

It is right to celebrate Jesus' birth, as Isaiah exclaims: "Break forth together into singing," and as the psalm encourages us to "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises." Hebrews tells us that "long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son," who "sustains all things" by his powerful word. This true light, as said in the gospel of John, "enlightens everyone."

These Scriptures guide us, and lead us toward a complete understanding of what God has done in sending us Jesus. God has gathered God's people (you and me), bid them to celebrate the coming of the Son (Jesus), and has promised to be with us always. 

So we come to celebrate all that God has done by sending the Son, light, and Savior to us and for us. And as we celebrate, we are filled with God's presence with us in the world, in our lives, and in every face we see. Jesus is truly "God with us" or "Emmanuel." He has come to us!

See you on Wednesday!

Sunday, December 21st, 2014----Advent: Prepare the Way

On this 4th Sunday of Advent, the time is approaching quickly where we celebrate God's giving of his Son, Jesus, and the baby Christ being born into the world.

But....we are still preparing the way for Jesus as this day approaches. We remember Mary and her incredible faith, and are invited to embrace the way she prepared the way for Jesus.

Luke 1: 26-38 tells the story of Mary being approached by the angel Gabriel, and 47-55 is Mary's song.

Mary is assured that the Holy Spirit will be with her, and that nothing is impossible for God. Truth be told, I take this divine truth for granted. I take this story, in which Mary was prepared for what she would do through God's power, for granted each and every Christmas. NOTHING is impossible for God. Not taking this miracle of a story for granted means looking at it, embracing, and taking it in as something that ACTUALLY happened. Friends, a girl named Mary who was not worth anything was told she would have a baby named Jesus that would be the Son of the Most High. This happened; by the power of the Holy Spirit, God made this happen.

And when God makes things happen, God is always there.

Mary, with all of her confusion and doubts and fears, finally says "I am the Lord's servant."

And then Mary praised God: 

 Mary said,

“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
     In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
 He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
    Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
       
Holy is his name.
     He shows mercy to everyone,
        from one generation to the next,
        who honors him as God.
 He has shown strength with his arm.
    He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
     He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
        and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty-handed.
 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
        remembering his mercy,
     just as he promised to our ancestors,
        to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

May we prepare the way for Jesus like Mary did, remembering that she finally came to faith and praise about this miraculously thing that was going to happen through her.

See you Sunday!

Sunday, December 14th, 2014---Advent: Prepare the Way

What a wonderful service led by the Covenant Players on Sunday! I especially enjoyed how thought-provoking their dramas were. I'm still thinking about their closing "Galaxy" piece, which provided me some perspective that I do not naturally embrace all too often.

This week we turn to the gospel of John; the message will center around John 1: 6-8, 19-28.

Verse 8 says "He (John) himself wasn't the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light."

This reminds me that this Advent season, this impending Christmas season, isn't about us, but about who's coming: the son of God, Jesus Christ. All of the decorating, partying, eating, gifting, doing...points to the coming of Jesus. We wait, we celebrate, we anticipate, we do everything in this season because of him, not because of us....

BUT, we have the privilege to "testify concerning the light." The world knows who Jesus is because of us. Our community around us may know what Advent is, what Christmas is, because of us.

We need to do this because the world does not know Jesus like we do (vs.9-11)

In this passage, John continually points to Jesus, the light, the Lord, the someone greater. Can we be like him, and be the "voice crying out in the wilderness, make the Lord's path straight"? That is our task this season, and always...to live and testify to a world that so desperately needs the loving and graceful presence of Jesus Christ.

See you Sunday!

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Sunday, December 7th, 2014----Advent: Prepare the Way

This Sunday, the Covenant Players will be leading us in worship. I will not be preaching, but we still have an opportunity to reflect on this week's lectionary text: Mark 1:1-8. This will be the text that is read when the 2nd Advent candle is lit, the candle of peace.

Mark 1:3 quotes the prophet Isaiah in saying:

Look, I am sending my messenger before you.
He will prepare your way,
3 a voice shouting in the wilderness:
        “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.”

Similar words are used by the prophets Malachi and Moses (Exodus).

So, preparing the way for the Lord has been a prophetic call throughout history. We relive that calling today, in this Advent season.

This Sunday represents peace. In a world where peace is hard to come by, the Lord brings peace by offering Christ for us, to us, and among us.

And preparing the way for Christ, who renews us by offering us the power of the Holy Spirit, brings us peace.