"When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?'" - John 7:40-41
Dear Friends in Christ -
What a great Scripture lesson to follow on the heels of Kate's sermon!
The questions raised here are such important ones: Who is this Messiah? How is he - and how is he NOT - who we expect him to be?
Some of the people I know who are most distant from God are distant because they are angry with God. Underlying their anger is a tremendous well of disappointment that God hasn't made good on his promises.
I struggle to talk with them about their disappointment because I'm so aware of their pain. Some of them have children who have died. Some of them struggle mightily with addiction or depression or another overwhelming problem over which makes just getting through the day a HUGE struggle.
God promises to be with us always, but he never promised to fix our problems. God promises to bring us Life, but he doesn't promise that someone we love won't get killed in an accident. And yes, that's confusing. And yes, that doesn't feel like enough.
Relationship with God requires us to move forward even when we can't see our Guide, to receive this day as a gift even though we will almost surely encounter loss and pain in it.
These days, I'm operating on this set of expectations:
I expect God to be perfectly good, but I expect all people and situations in this world to be imperfect.
I expect God to give me what I need to get through this day, and as He does that, I expect myself to continue learning to trust Him with tomorrow.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
3/27 SERMON - "Who God Is and What God Does" (Part 4 of a 6 part series)
WAY OF SALVATION: THE BIBLE AND THE 12 STEPS - Part 4 of 6
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our seminarian intern, Kate Spelman, preached a really wonderful sermon this week. Her sermon was the fourth in our six-part sermon series "Way of Salvation: The Bible and the Twelve Steps."
Here are a couple of excerpts from her sermon. Hopefully it will stir your interest in reading the entire text of her sermon, which, along with the texts of all the sermons in this series, will be available from our parish office soon. Hopefully by the end of this week!
Blessings,
Janet+
WHO GOD IS AND WHAT GOD DOES . . .
Listen, I once heard a story –
A man, a very religiously devout man, died. And of course he went to heaven. And he gets to the pearly gates, and meets St. Peter. And Pete says to him, "Would you like to meet God?" The man says, "Absolutely!" He wants to see God face to face, and worship God like he was taught to do. So Pete brings him to a giant chicken coop, and there is God. And God is a chicken. A talking chicken, but otherwise a normal-looking chicken. St. Peter has to muck out the coop once a day. God needs some gravel to digest what God eats.
Now go ahead tell someone who missed the sermon that the intern told you God is a chicken. (And if they come after me, I will cite for them Luke 13:34 and Psalm 17:8!) But that’s not really the point to this story – and it isn’t over yet. But think – would you know God if you saw him? Would you be able to see God If he was right before you, but looked all wrong? Or would you end up saying, “This cannot be the Messiah, can it?!?” I also want to suggest that just seeing God isn’t everything. Certainly, it’s not the end of the story. Lent is about a deeper connection with God, A God who surprises us and confounds our every expectation.
The very religious man has met Chicken, that is, God, and is understandably a little upset. And he says to Chicken, “You have to send me back. I have children, I have to warn them!” The Chicken shrugs (as much as a chicken can shrug and says, “OK.” And the man wakes up in his hospital bed, with his wife and his oldest daughter standing over him. And when he opens his eyes, they begin thanking God for answering their prayers. The man has too many tubes in his nose and mouth to communicate. But he is glad to be back.
When the man is well enough to go home, he’s stewing and planning his words. The family gathers for dinner; all the kids shower and put on some nice clothes. The younger boy picks up all his art supplies from the table, without being asked. The teenage son who seems to spend all his time at his girlfriend’s house comes home for dinner. And his wife brings out the main course – roast chicken!
The man becomes so agitated he starts to get up from his wheelchair But his oldest daughter reprimands him and tells him to sit. “I have to tell you!” He yells “What, dad? What?” The kids ask. “I have to tell you about God!” He is stammering now, impatient. “OK, Dad. “ “All right” “Tell us” they all say. And he looks at the faces of all his children, the younger boy’s hair still wet from the shower, the oldest daughter looking more like her mom every day. And he looks at his wife, who put on the earrings he bought her for their anniversary last year, even though he heard her telling her sister on the phone that they’re not really her style. He looks at his family, And the man who has seen God says, “God has been so good to me. God is all knowing and all loving. Let us praise the name of the God who brought me back from the dead.” And he bows his head and leads his family in the same grace they’ve used since the kids were babies.
So what happened in that story? Did the religious man lie? Did he cover up the truth? I don’t think so. I think he told an even greater truth than he knew he was speaking.
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our seminarian intern, Kate Spelman, preached a really wonderful sermon this week. Her sermon was the fourth in our six-part sermon series "Way of Salvation: The Bible and the Twelve Steps."
Here are a couple of excerpts from her sermon. Hopefully it will stir your interest in reading the entire text of her sermon, which, along with the texts of all the sermons in this series, will be available from our parish office soon. Hopefully by the end of this week!
Blessings,
Janet+
WHO GOD IS AND WHAT GOD DOES . . .
Listen, I once heard a story –
A man, a very religiously devout man, died. And of course he went to heaven. And he gets to the pearly gates, and meets St. Peter. And Pete says to him, "Would you like to meet God?" The man says, "Absolutely!" He wants to see God face to face, and worship God like he was taught to do. So Pete brings him to a giant chicken coop, and there is God. And God is a chicken. A talking chicken, but otherwise a normal-looking chicken. St. Peter has to muck out the coop once a day. God needs some gravel to digest what God eats.
Now go ahead tell someone who missed the sermon that the intern told you God is a chicken. (And if they come after me, I will cite for them Luke 13:34 and Psalm 17:8!) But that’s not really the point to this story – and it isn’t over yet. But think – would you know God if you saw him? Would you be able to see God If he was right before you, but looked all wrong? Or would you end up saying, “This cannot be the Messiah, can it?!?” I also want to suggest that just seeing God isn’t everything. Certainly, it’s not the end of the story. Lent is about a deeper connection with God, A God who surprises us and confounds our every expectation.
The very religious man has met Chicken, that is, God, and is understandably a little upset. And he says to Chicken, “You have to send me back. I have children, I have to warn them!” The Chicken shrugs (as much as a chicken can shrug and says, “OK.” And the man wakes up in his hospital bed, with his wife and his oldest daughter standing over him. And when he opens his eyes, they begin thanking God for answering their prayers. The man has too many tubes in his nose and mouth to communicate. But he is glad to be back.
When the man is well enough to go home, he’s stewing and planning his words. The family gathers for dinner; all the kids shower and put on some nice clothes. The younger boy picks up all his art supplies from the table, without being asked. The teenage son who seems to spend all his time at his girlfriend’s house comes home for dinner. And his wife brings out the main course – roast chicken!
The man becomes so agitated he starts to get up from his wheelchair But his oldest daughter reprimands him and tells him to sit. “I have to tell you!” He yells “What, dad? What?” The kids ask. “I have to tell you about God!” He is stammering now, impatient. “OK, Dad. “ “All right” “Tell us” they all say. And he looks at the faces of all his children, the younger boy’s hair still wet from the shower, the oldest daughter looking more like her mom every day. And he looks at his wife, who put on the earrings he bought her for their anniversary last year, even though he heard her telling her sister on the phone that they’re not really her style. He looks at his family, And the man who has seen God says, “God has been so good to me. God is all knowing and all loving. Let us praise the name of the God who brought me back from the dead.” And he bows his head and leads his family in the same grace they’ve used since the kids were babies.
So what happened in that story? Did the religious man lie? Did he cover up the truth? I don’t think so. I think he told an even greater truth than he knew he was speaking.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Through a cracked windshield, what can be seen?
"He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! Do not harden your hearts . . ." - Psalm 95:7-8a
Dear Friends in Christ -
One of my dear friends wrote the following Lenten reflection for her church. I was so touched by it - particularly by the "heart" questions she asks - that I wanted to share it with you.
Blessings,
Janet+
When the rotted-out tree landed on my car while driving to work this winter, I numbly pulled over on Mansfield Avenue, called for help, and from my seat surveyed the dreadful damage to my husband's luxury SUV. Surrounding drivers emerged, incredulously inquiring about me, and five men started hauling the tree's broken limbs out of the road so the surrounding world could resume. Despite the immense impact to the base of the windshield, precisely where my legs had been, I was 100% fine. Swiftly thereafter, repair-mode ensued. And although that uprooted day led to a whirlwind of routine frustrations that accompany all accidents, we relish in God's blessing that I am alive and unharmed.
But somewhere inside, I can't help but wonder: what if I had been hit by another car, rather than a tree? What if there had been a person to blame? How would we have treated the stranger who almost killed me and caused a huge headache with our insurance company? Would we have chosen to forgive? Would we have noticed God's blessing? I forget sometimes that people, like trees, are inherently beautiful, intricately designed through nature and nurture. Depending on how others enter my world, I may see them as lacking dimension. But I think God graced me with His tree to remind me that just as trees can rot from within, drop branches or fall entirely, people are equally susceptible to causing these kinds of accidents. And I must be wise and avoid convenient blame or even hatred when I feel wronged. Instead, I must trust that like me, my enemies have many dimensions, and by meeting them with mercy and forgiveness, I will undoubtedly unearth another one of God's blessings.
-- Lindsay Hayes Hurty (2010)
Dear Friends in Christ -
One of my dear friends wrote the following Lenten reflection for her church. I was so touched by it - particularly by the "heart" questions she asks - that I wanted to share it with you.
Blessings,
Janet+
When the rotted-out tree landed on my car while driving to work this winter, I numbly pulled over on Mansfield Avenue, called for help, and from my seat surveyed the dreadful damage to my husband's luxury SUV. Surrounding drivers emerged, incredulously inquiring about me, and five men started hauling the tree's broken limbs out of the road so the surrounding world could resume. Despite the immense impact to the base of the windshield, precisely where my legs had been, I was 100% fine. Swiftly thereafter, repair-mode ensued. And although that uprooted day led to a whirlwind of routine frustrations that accompany all accidents, we relish in God's blessing that I am alive and unharmed.
But somewhere inside, I can't help but wonder: what if I had been hit by another car, rather than a tree? What if there had been a person to blame? How would we have treated the stranger who almost killed me and caused a huge headache with our insurance company? Would we have chosen to forgive? Would we have noticed God's blessing? I forget sometimes that people, like trees, are inherently beautiful, intricately designed through nature and nurture. Depending on how others enter my world, I may see them as lacking dimension. But I think God graced me with His tree to remind me that just as trees can rot from within, drop branches or fall entirely, people are equally susceptible to causing these kinds of accidents. And I must be wise and avoid convenient blame or even hatred when I feel wronged. Instead, I must trust that like me, my enemies have many dimensions, and by meeting them with mercy and forgiveness, I will undoubtedly unearth another one of God's blessings.
-- Lindsay Hayes Hurty (2010)
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Secrets of the Psalm
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1
Dear Friends in Christ -
Often, when I hear this Psalm, I get stuck on the first line . . . "I shall not want."
While it's true that I'm not lacking for food or clothing or shelter, I have so many wants. I want things that I truly NEED - like new windshield wipers so that I can see while driving in the rain - and things that I DON'T need - like a new KitchenAid mixer to replace a 40-year-old hand-me-down mixer that still works.
Deeper than that, I have these other wants . . . longings for forward progress in so many areas of my life. Longings for safety for my kids and peace in the world.
As I've prayed this Psalm over and over today, one of its secrets unlocked. The first word in each of the next four phrases is the key. "HE makes me to lie down in green pastures; HE leads me beside still waters; HE restores my soul. HE leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Ah, yes. When I bring my whole self to my Shepherd, everything falls into the right order, the right perspective, the right priority. I can relax even my most intense agendas for good and enjoy God being in charge.
When I do that, another of the Psalm's secrets is revealed . . . "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for YOU are with me." Praying this Psalm shows me how prayer itself moves me closer to God. What starts out as a third person prayer, becomes an intimate first person conversation . . . and Life in His house, where my whole heart is at rest, its deepest longings fulfilled.
Faithfully resting this day,
Janet+
Dear Friends in Christ -
Often, when I hear this Psalm, I get stuck on the first line . . . "I shall not want."
While it's true that I'm not lacking for food or clothing or shelter, I have so many wants. I want things that I truly NEED - like new windshield wipers so that I can see while driving in the rain - and things that I DON'T need - like a new KitchenAid mixer to replace a 40-year-old hand-me-down mixer that still works.
Deeper than that, I have these other wants . . . longings for forward progress in so many areas of my life. Longings for safety for my kids and peace in the world.
As I've prayed this Psalm over and over today, one of its secrets unlocked. The first word in each of the next four phrases is the key. "HE makes me to lie down in green pastures; HE leads me beside still waters; HE restores my soul. HE leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Ah, yes. When I bring my whole self to my Shepherd, everything falls into the right order, the right perspective, the right priority. I can relax even my most intense agendas for good and enjoy God being in charge.
When I do that, another of the Psalm's secrets is revealed . . . "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for YOU are with me." Praying this Psalm shows me how prayer itself moves me closer to God. What starts out as a third person prayer, becomes an intimate first person conversation . . . and Life in His house, where my whole heart is at rest, its deepest longings fulfilled.
Faithfully resting this day,
Janet+
Friday, March 25, 2011
What made the world fall away
"O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!" - Psalm 95:1
Dear Friends in Christ -
Though the date stamp at the top of this blog post says "Friday," I'm actually writing it on Saturday. Last night, I was so excited about what was happening that I simply forgot to sit down and write.
What was so exciting? Bible study. I attend lots of things at church that are exciting or interesting or inspiring, but rarely do I attend something (at church or anywhere else, for that matter!) that really makes the world fall away.
What is it about this Bible study . . . ? Well, I think it's the no-holds-barred approach. We're tackling life's most important questions and issues head on . . . what are we clinging to that keeps us down, holds us back? . . . what does it mean to really be committed to Jesus?
I was seven years old when I first asked Jesus to come into my heart. The next time I remember praying to God to help me with my life was when I was fifteen. When I was a freshman in college, I sank to new lows and asked God to show me a better way. When I was a junior in college, I renewed my commitment to God again - and was baptized.
If I heard that story about someone else's relationship with God, I would probably be tempted to think that either: (1) The person was somewhat insincere about committing to God, so it took multiple attempts for it to "stick." OR (2) The person was pretty sincere, but relationship with God was a challenging process.
Since this story is my story, I can tell you that . . . both A and B are true! These experiences, and many more, have been occasions when the world fell away and something new in me opened up to Life, to GOD.
It happened again for me last night, and my fondest wish for you is that God finds you in this way, too - and soon.
Refreshed by His love,
Janet+
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!" - Psalm 95:1
Dear Friends in Christ -
Though the date stamp at the top of this blog post says "Friday," I'm actually writing it on Saturday. Last night, I was so excited about what was happening that I simply forgot to sit down and write.
What was so exciting? Bible study. I attend lots of things at church that are exciting or interesting or inspiring, but rarely do I attend something (at church or anywhere else, for that matter!) that really makes the world fall away.
What is it about this Bible study . . . ? Well, I think it's the no-holds-barred approach. We're tackling life's most important questions and issues head on . . . what are we clinging to that keeps us down, holds us back? . . . what does it mean to really be committed to Jesus?
I was seven years old when I first asked Jesus to come into my heart. The next time I remember praying to God to help me with my life was when I was fifteen. When I was a freshman in college, I sank to new lows and asked God to show me a better way. When I was a junior in college, I renewed my commitment to God again - and was baptized.
If I heard that story about someone else's relationship with God, I would probably be tempted to think that either: (1) The person was somewhat insincere about committing to God, so it took multiple attempts for it to "stick." OR (2) The person was pretty sincere, but relationship with God was a challenging process.
Since this story is my story, I can tell you that . . . both A and B are true! These experiences, and many more, have been occasions when the world fell away and something new in me opened up to Life, to GOD.
It happened again for me last night, and my fondest wish for you is that God finds you in this way, too - and soon.
Refreshed by His love,
Janet+
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Choice for Today
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praises to you [God];
my soul also, which you have rescued. - Psalm 71:23
"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life." - Jesus (John 5:24)
Dear Friends in Christ -
Every day, I have a choice: to hope or to despair.
The evidence for hope shows up first: the sun rises, so bright that even on days like today, when there is a great blanket of clouds between it and me, the light shines through to waken the birds, and their songs waken me.
The evidence for despair arrives close on the sun's heels: the news on the radio breaks into the morning quiet with the latest about war and natural disaster abroad, about state budget cuts and school bullying.
At a fundamental level, the evidence on both sides is "true." So then it's up to me. I have to make the choice. What will I choose to focus on? What emphasis will order my day?
God's desire for what I should choose is no secret. Joy . . . hope . . . truth . . . and He states it most clearly in the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy. He says, "CHOOSE LIFE!"
So this day, I'm not going to forget about the things in this world that are broken and unjust, painful and wrong. I'm just going to breathe God's love in deeply and work like crazy to share that love, until all creation is choosing Life as one.
Faithfully choosing,
Janet+
when I sing praises to you [God];
my soul also, which you have rescued. - Psalm 71:23
"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life." - Jesus (John 5:24)
Dear Friends in Christ -
Every day, I have a choice: to hope or to despair.
The evidence for hope shows up first: the sun rises, so bright that even on days like today, when there is a great blanket of clouds between it and me, the light shines through to waken the birds, and their songs waken me.
The evidence for despair arrives close on the sun's heels: the news on the radio breaks into the morning quiet with the latest about war and natural disaster abroad, about state budget cuts and school bullying.
At a fundamental level, the evidence on both sides is "true." So then it's up to me. I have to make the choice. What will I choose to focus on? What emphasis will order my day?
God's desire for what I should choose is no secret. Joy . . . hope . . . truth . . . and He states it most clearly in the 30th chapter of Deuteronomy. He says, "CHOOSE LIFE!"
So this day, I'm not going to forget about the things in this world that are broken and unjust, painful and wrong. I'm just going to breathe God's love in deeply and work like crazy to share that love, until all creation is choosing Life as one.
Faithfully choosing,
Janet+
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
"Do not sin any more!"
"See, you have been made well. Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you." - Jesus, to the man he had healed (John 5:14b)
Dear Friends in Christ -
Jesus rarely comes off as peevish as he seems in this quote from today's Gospel lesson (John 5:1-18), but Jesus is completely fed up with this guy who keeps blaming others for everything that happens to him.
You might know someone like that . . . heck, some days you might BE someone like that: someone who complains about the actions of others rather than doing what you can to take responsibility for yourself, to reach out to ask for the help you need.
Jesus takes us up on even our smallest movement in this direction. Though the guy in today's Gospel lesson doesn't call out to Jesus for healing or even acknowledge that's what he really wants, Jesus takes his presence near the pool to be the tiny crack of openness required to start the man's healing process. While the guy's body is healed instantly, it takes longer for his heart to change. And Jesus sticks by him each step of the way, even prodding him firmly along when necessary.
In these days of Lent, may you have the courage to stop blaming others, to receive Jesus gift of healing and live into it, and to give Him all the praise, so that He can make you well.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Dear Friends in Christ -
Jesus rarely comes off as peevish as he seems in this quote from today's Gospel lesson (John 5:1-18), but Jesus is completely fed up with this guy who keeps blaming others for everything that happens to him.
You might know someone like that . . . heck, some days you might BE someone like that: someone who complains about the actions of others rather than doing what you can to take responsibility for yourself, to reach out to ask for the help you need.
Jesus takes us up on even our smallest movement in this direction. Though the guy in today's Gospel lesson doesn't call out to Jesus for healing or even acknowledge that's what he really wants, Jesus takes his presence near the pool to be the tiny crack of openness required to start the man's healing process. While the guy's body is healed instantly, it takes longer for his heart to change. And Jesus sticks by him each step of the way, even prodding him firmly along when necessary.
In these days of Lent, may you have the courage to stop blaming others, to receive Jesus gift of healing and live into it, and to give Him all the praise, so that He can make you well.
Faithfully,
Janet+
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