Devotional--The Israelites, Part V

Exodus 13:17-18, 21-22 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, ‘If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness towards the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle.

  The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
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  Can you imagine what this must have been like--to be able to see the Lord's presence leading you exactly where you needed to be?  Moses couldn't possibly have become lost, and there was no need to stop and ask for directions (every man's dream!).

  While we don't have a literal pillar of cloud or fire (and if you do, that spells trouble nowadays rather than guidance), what we do have is a community of faithful people around us who care about us know what it's like to struggle with difficult decisions.  Other people can help us make the right choices, the faithful choices, but we have to open ourselves up and give them the chance to let the Holy Spirit speak through them.  We have to be willing to share our burdens, that others may help us carry them.  So often we're in search of divine guidance, but we're afraid or timid and don't put ourselves in a place where that can happen.

  So be open to God working in your life through the words and support of others.  Perhaps it may even be more useful than pillars of fire!

Blessings

Devotional--The Israelites, Part IV

Exodus 12:11-14
  This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgements: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
  This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
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  This past weekend I attended a wedding.  It was a celebration of two lives forever changing, becoming one, and as we heard the vows proclaimed and rejoiced at the event, I couldn't help but be reminded of my own wedding, 5.5 years ago, and I looked at my own ring, a reminder of the vows I have made and how my life has changed.  Every year we set aside that day to remember, to celebrate, but the truth is that we are called to celebrate our marriage each and every day, not just once a year.

  It's not so different with our relationship with God.  We set aside special days and times throughout the week and year in order to remember what God has done and celebrate that our relationship is still alive, but we are also called to live our faith each and every day rather than just show up a few times a year.  Our love for God should be living, active and growing--we should dedicate ourselves to reminding God of our love for him throughout each of our activities, that our remembrance of his wondrous deeds may help us grow in confidence and love, and that our lives of worship may expand to more than just one day a week.

Blessings

Devotional--The Israelites, Part III

Exodus 11:4-8
  Moses said, ‘Thus says the Lord: About midnight I will go out through Egypt. Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the female slave who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the livestock. Then there will be a loud cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as has never been nor will ever be again. But not a dog shall growl at any of the Israelites—not at people, not at animals—so that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Then all these officials of yours shall come down to me, and bow low to me, saying, “Leave us, you and all the people who follow you.” After that I will leave.’ And in hot anger he left Pharaoh.
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  Throughout the plagues, the Egyptians suffered, but the Israelites were protected.  The Lord held them safely in his hand, and they were reminded of his presence.

  Last night, at our Bible study, we talked about fear.  We talked about how powerful it was, and how, in order to conquer our fears, we have to remember God's promises.  The Israelites had a tangible reminder of God's promises whenever a plague affected the rest of the land and left them alone, but we often don't have such a visual reminder.

  So we need to find our own reminders--it could be a Bible verse or a mantra you repeat to yourself or something you carry, but it's vital that each of us has a tool that reminds us that God's love and strength is greater than any potential source of fear.  We have no need to fear, because we have God with us.

  May God's promises help you resist the source of fear in your life.

Blessings

Devotional--The Israelites, Part II

Exodus 7:1-7 
  The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. When Pharaoh does not listen to you, I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring my people the Israelites, company by company, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgement. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.’ Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.
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  The Israelites may have been unaware of what God was planning to do through Moses and Aaron.  They knew of God's promised presence, but perhaps they were doubting whether God could live up to that promise or not.  I would imagine they were so focused on the hard labor they had to perform, made harder since Moses' arrival, that they didn't have much time to dream.

  But God had big plans for the Israelites, even if they weren't able to see that far.  God had prepared a future for them, a land where they would live and thrive--God was dreaming bigger than the Israelites were dreaming!

  As Christians, it's important for us to dream big--we know that God has promised to use the church, to use you and me, as a part of his plan to transform the entire world.  God has big plans for us, and it's important that we continue to be faithful, continue to dream big, to imagine how God might use us, so that when the plans are made clear we are ready to live into God's future.  Let's not get caught up in small debates and shrink God down to our size--rather, may our hearts and minds run wild as we seek to be the kind of people God has made us to be.

Blessings

February Newsletter Letter

Friends in Christ,

Did you know that KFC no longer stands for anything? Recently, they decided to move away from the apparently cumbersome 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' and have the official name be 'KFC'. In a similar manner, the YMCA officially changed its name to just be the 'Y'. Companies across the country are selecting this option as a way of streamlining their brand name in hopes of attracting new customers. They're getting rid of what is difficult or inconvenient to make their brand more mainstream.

When we think about the church and its 'brand', what comes to mind? How does the world view us? Is it cumbersome and complicated? Or streamlined and sleek?

I think its tempting to water-down Christianity in the hopes of appealing to the masses. But what that produces is a church that may be wide but is rather shallow in its discipleship. Since the aim of the church is to help disciples grow, a process that takes hard work and deep commitment, we do seekers a disservice if we try to make the church more appealing by de-emphasizing the difficult call of Christ.

I believe the more faithful call is for each of us to ensure that we are daily dying to Christ, daily emptying ourselves, daily being filled with Christ. When we walk as disciples, humble about our shortcomings but committed to growth in Christ, we live a life that preaches the Gospel. We offer an example to the world of what discipleship looks like, and we're enabled to invite others into a walk with Christ that is honest and deep.

So may we each be committed to a life of discipleship, and in so doing may we look for opportunities to invite others into that walk. Maybe it looks like inviting someone to pray with you, or to church, or to a dinner at your house to talk about things of faith. May we keep our eyes open for windows the Spirit opens, and may we be growing in faith while we wait.

In Christ,

Keith

Devotional--The Israelites, Part I

Exodus 5:4-9
  But the king of Egypt said to them, ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labours!’ Pharaoh continued, ‘Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!’
  That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors, ‘You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, “Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.” Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labour at it and pay no attention to deceptive words.’
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  To recap, Joseph was wildly successful, and soon there were loads of Israelites in Egypt--so many that Pharaoh was threatened and enslaved them all.  To clear this up, God sends Moses to convince Pharaoh to let God's people go free.

  And then Moses shows up and makes everything worse.

  Ever had that happen to you?  You think things are about as bad as they can get... and suddenly things get worse?  Perhaps even thanks to someone who is trying to make them better?  And it's all you can do to thank them by politely inviting them to never speak to you again?

  Welcome to the world of the Israelites.  But do you know what?  God is there.  And God has something in store for them--something big.

  God has something in store for you, too.  It doesn't mean you'll recognize it when it first shows up.  It doesn't mean you're free from all of life's stress and problems and pain.  It doesn't mean that you won't wonder where God is in the process of arriving there.

  But God is with you, even in the pain, even when it seems to get worse.  Just hold on--God has something big in store.

Blessings

Devotional--The Life of Joseph, Part XIII

Genesis 50:15-21
  Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, “Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’
  Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’
  But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
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  Am I in the place of God?  Am I the one to judge, the one to rule over you?  Am I the one determine your eternal destiny?

  So many in this world would answer that question with yes by the way they live--they judge the lives of others, living as though they believe they know exactly how God feels about people.

  May we be humble.  This doesn't mean we have to set down what we believe and let the world walk all over us--it simply means we have to acknowledge that God alone is judge, and so we must be willing to be humble, selfless and loving towards all of God's children, trusting God to sort things out in the end.  The world is in good hands!

Blessings

Sermon for 1/22/2012

Luke 23:26-56

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

The Death of Jesus

 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Much of our culture depends on us wanting to be like those who are more famous than us. Last weekend there was another Hollywood awards show, and I have no doubt that countless celebrities traipsed the red carpet with breathless onlookers commenting on their attire for the evening. Designers count on this—they depend on people like you and me rushing out to the store and buying similar clothes so that we might at least look like our favorite celebrities. Often you'll see a celebrity endorsing a product that you can be certain they have never used—but the company depends on you believing that their word makes the product more appealing.

In Christianity, this takes on a bit of a different spin. There aren't, as far as I know, reporters who announce what brand of suit Joel Osteen is wearing, in the hopes that other Christians will rush out and buy the same. There aren't brands of Billy Graham endorsed clothing, because there isn't a market for people to buy similar clothing in the hopes that it might help us become like him.

But we are guilty, I think, of having a bit of envy for those 'super-Christians' that are lifted up in society and in Scripture. We read the stories of David and Gideon and Abraham and Noah and we wonder why our lives don't more closely mimic their radical dependence on faith. In ways, we can learn from them, and their faith can show us how to live, even though we are separated by many years.

There's a common story told that reflects on this common idea that we are called to emulate the giants of the faith.

A classic story tells about the great Chassidic Rabbi Zusha, who was found agitated and upset as he lay on deathbed. His students asked, “Rebbe, why are you so sad? After all the the great things you have accomplished, your place in heaven is assured!”

“I’m afraid!” Zusha replied, “Because when I get to heaven, God won’t ask me ‘Why weren’t you more like Moses?’ or ‘Why weren’t you more like King David?’ God will ask ‘Zusha, why weren’t you more like Zusha?’ And then what will I say!?”

The reality of the Christian life is that each of us is a unique individual, made in the image of God, but called and gifted in ways that have never been seen before and never shall grace this earth once more. You, and you alone, have the combination of brains and brawn for a very certain reason—because God has called you to something unique.

Now, perhaps the Christian church, perhaps this very church, has been guilty of trying to prescribe a one-size-fits-all calling. And while I will say, in our defense, that many of the attributes of our lives in faith are held in common, our lives themselves are so unique that we could never capture a full picture of them in the same way that you do. You have been uniquely gifted, called and placed in your situation, and only you can minister the way you do to the people in your life. If I tried to minister in the same situation and way you did, it wouldn't work, just as your gifts and callings wouldn't work in my life. We are each differently gifted, thanks be to God. God loves variety, and God uses us in different ways, in different places, differently.

In today's text, this sad, sad tale of death and despair, we come face to face with this fact in the way only a story-teller could capture. We find ourselves wandering the path to Golgotha, to the cross, along with Jesus, and on the road we meet people as different as one could imagine.

First, we meet Simon of Cyrene, a man of mystery who appears for the purpose of aiding Jesus on his long journey. Simon is there to carry the cross—so he is a strong man. Perhaps he had spent his life wondering why God made him so strong, only to discover on this day that it was for the purpose of helping his Savior. Perhaps, after this day, he recognized his calling as being a man of help to others with burdens too great for one. Simon shouldered his brother's load.

Next come the women. Now, these women probably weren't given the gift of strength as Simon was. I don't want to say that for certain, for plenty of women in this world are stronger than I am, but these women had a role to play, too, but it was different than Simon's. How much worse this story would be if everyone assumed their role was the same as Simon's! Instead, they are called to weep, to mourn for the depth of despair in the world, to cry for the presence of sin. And I will say with boldness that there are people this very day who need someone to cry with them, who need someone to sit with them in their sorrow and discuss the deep wrongs of their lives, of the world. They don't need someone to fix their problems, they just want someone to listen. So the women, in their own way, wept.

Next, we come to the soldiers, men oblivious to the fact that their gifts could be used for God's glory. They are more concerned with enriching themselves and being entertained by this sad scene than they are in helping anyone. Sounds like much of the world, doesn't it? More interested in being enriched and entertained than in growing faith—may we be careful not to fall into this rut.

Finally, we have the two soldiers on the cross—one is caught up in the soldiers' mockery, but the other recognizes that he has missed his life's calling, wasted his terrible years, and in his dismay and anger he cries out to the Savior, desperate to hear if it is too late. The good news for him, for me, for you, is that it isn't too late. The Savior's arms are always open for another sinner to run home.

Even after the death of Jesus, we see people putting their gifts to use. Joseph of Arimithea has influence and he has wealth, and both of these he puts at the service of God so that the body of a King may have a place to lie. He doesn't try to carry the cross, and he doesn't come weeping, but rather comes with the gifts that he has, that no one else has, and does what he can. It's all Jesus asks—that we do what we can to be faithful in our lives.

At the end of the scene we encounter once more the women, waiting to embalm the body of Jesus, desperate to offer one more service to their Lord. They know that they can't do everything, but this once thing they can do, and so they will return.

Friends, you have each been given a unique combination of gifts for the purpose of playing a role in God's unfolding drama of redemption. You are an agent of hope, of light, of the Kingdom, and if you play your part to the best of your abilities, you can trust God to do the rest. So let us set aside our comparisons, our self-abuse, for not being someone else, and let us discover who we are and how we are to live. Let us do this as individuals, claiming our singular role in God's Kingdom, and let us do this as a congregation—may we not regret that we aren't Christ United Methodist or Rivermont Presbyterian or any of the other mega-churches around us. We have a unique role to play as New Hope Presbyterian Church, and we betray our true identity if we don't live into that and trust God to do something powerful with that. Let us claim our identity with passionate hearts and be faithful to that call.

Each of us follows the King in our own way, and we follow Him to the cross, where he fulfilled his unique role as the lamb led to the slaughter, the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. He laid down his life for us, that we might have life, and so we follow him, and in his life we have our own life, lived for his glory, so that we may spread the message to all of humanity—Christ is Risen!

Let us pray!

Amazing

I particularly love the ending.

Devotional--The Life of Joseph, Part XI

Genesis 45:16-20
  When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, ‘Joseph’s brothers have come’, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Say to your brothers, “Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.” You are further charged to say, “Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” ’
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  Forgiveness and grace are powerful things.  Each of us has things in our past that we regret.  We'd love to invent a time machine, go back and do things differently.  We wonder what on God's green earth we were ever thinking....

  But when we confess these things, when we lay them down before God and before others, we often find unexpected grace, rich forgiveness, and we discover that God will take those things and turn them into something good.  God's love is bigger, more powerful than we can ever imagine.  We expect a vindictive God, but the reality is a God whose arms are open wide--on the cross God displays the fullness of his love, and we are fools if we choose to carry our burdens ourselves, rather than casting ourselves upon the wealth of his love.

  So may we lead a life of active confession, both to God and those whom we have wronged, and may we trust God to transform us, little by little, into a people of grace and love.

Blessings