John 13.1-5, 12-14
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.
And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
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This might seem to you an odd choice for a series on work, but I think it's important that we take a moment and realize what our purpose truly is. We've talked about the importance of seeing our work as a calling, and now I'd like to discuss what it means to keep our eyes open during our work for opportunities to proclaim Christ.
Think of all the times you're interrupted during work. Perhaps you work in a place where co-workers or clients are constantly poking their heads into your world, for conversation or just for business. Rather than see those as a distraction, is there a way you can recognize those small moments as chances to focus fully on that person, as a chance to serve them? In the Scripture, Christ gets up from the table and washes the disciples' feet--he performs a loving act of service that shows them how much he cares. We, too, are called to serve our neighbors by showing them we care.
Perhaps they'll be intrigued and ask you why you care. Maybe they'll wonder why you focus on them, why you listen. Maybe they'll notice how you invest time and care in others. That's your window to talk about how you seek to show the love of Christ to others. Maybe they won't ask--all we can do is show up and continue to be a witness, a servant, and love others in the midst of our work. We have to trust the Holy Spirit to open windows around us!
Blessings
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Birth Class
Rachel and I spent seven hours learning how to have a baby yesterday. After watching all those hours of powerpoint, I can safely say I know a lot more about having babies than I did on Friday. I can also say that my part in this whole thing is a whole lot easier than hers. I have been able to spend the last 33 weeks going to the gym, having a cold beer, etc. Rachel's been watching her body change and wondering about the stress and difficulty of labor. Not exactly fair, is it?
After watching the videos, I have to admit that I'm not sorry to miss out on labor. It doesn't look like a walk in the park. The women they interviewed were all honest--it's not easy, but the ordeal is entirely worth it. They had to struggle through labor. They were grateful for the support, but they had to go through the physical pain, while their husbands could only do their best to cheer them on.
I wouldn't say I feel guilty for this, but I will say that I imagine I will feel a bit helpless. I will be there every step of the way, but yet it will be outside my ability to actually relieve her pain--I can't take that away from her. I can assure her of my presence, and I can offer the promise that it will end soon and that she is doing great, but she alone has to endure the pain.
I look forward to labor in utter humility--I don't know what it will bring and when it will come and how long it will take. I pray for strength for Rachel, for wisdom for myself, and safety for little Poseidon. We will meet him soon, on the other side of a long and painful process, but I look forward with eagerness to the time when we will hold him in our arms and know that every step of this journey was one that we would do again if we had the chance.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Devotional--Work, Part II
Ephesians 4:1-13
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said,
‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’ (When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
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In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges us to lead a life worthy of our calling. I'm intrigued by the language he uses, and think there is something that we can learn from this encouragement. I think we can learn to look at our calling, whatever it may be, in a different light.
Can we look at our calling, our work, as an opportunity to bring honor to it? When we lead the life Christ calls us to lead, when we live with integrity and honor, working hard so that Christ is glorified through us, we have the ability to bring some transformation to our work. I think about people I respect who work hard, and as a result of their hard work the respect I have for them, and for their work, is raised. People may wonder what motivates us, what pushes us to work harder, to focus more--the light of Christ shines through us in our work, and others see that. I trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in the hearts of workers, colleagues and friends, and that the Spirit will open up opportunities for us to proclaim the name of Christ.
So let us bring honor to our work by living with integrity, leading a life worthy of our calling, and sharing the love of Christ with those who surround us.
Blessings
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said,
‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’ (When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
**************
In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges us to lead a life worthy of our calling. I'm intrigued by the language he uses, and think there is something that we can learn from this encouragement. I think we can learn to look at our calling, whatever it may be, in a different light.
Can we look at our calling, our work, as an opportunity to bring honor to it? When we lead the life Christ calls us to lead, when we live with integrity and honor, working hard so that Christ is glorified through us, we have the ability to bring some transformation to our work. I think about people I respect who work hard, and as a result of their hard work the respect I have for them, and for their work, is raised. People may wonder what motivates us, what pushes us to work harder, to focus more--the light of Christ shines through us in our work, and others see that. I trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in the hearts of workers, colleagues and friends, and that the Spirit will open up opportunities for us to proclaim the name of Christ.
So let us bring honor to our work by living with integrity, leading a life worthy of our calling, and sharing the love of Christ with those who surround us.
Blessings
Thursday, August 11, 2011
8/11/2011
Announcements
Planning Calendar—If you’d like a Presbytery Planning Calendar, please reply and let me know.
Small Groups—In the next few months you may be hearing more about the possibility of small groups at New Hope. What I’m trying to gauge is the interest level of the congregation. These groups (6-12 people) would meet for about an hour each week or every other week to follow Bible studies or other curriculum. (I’ve found some options) I’m looking for leaders, as well as others who are interested in being involved.
Sack Packs are Back!—On August 16 we’ll be returning to the Food Bank to pack sack packs! Be there at 9, or here at 8:45 if you’d like to carpool.
Devotionals on your Kindle/iPad?—People have asked me, from time to time, about having copies of the old email devotionals I have done over the past 3.5 years. Thanks to the ease of Amazon’s self-publishing, they’re now available on your electronic reading devices.
Pray for…
Roger & Lynn Meyer
Larrie Mansfield—her surgery went well, and she continues to recover.
The session meeting this Sunday.
Links
Want to help change a life for $25? Kiva is an organization focused on micro-loans. I’ve helped a woman in Cambodia build a house and another woman in El Salvador make tortillas with the same $25!
The pastor of a church in London responds to the violence. Another asks if the church can stop the violence.
A book that looks interesting: 10 Things Jesus Never Said.
The art of calling strike three.
Text for this Week
Luke 19:1-10
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”
Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
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