Heavenly Marriage

 July 31, 2021

In Matthew 22:23-33, the Sadducees use a hypothetical situation to trap Jesus into either denying the resurrection or the Mosaic Law. They tell a story a out a woman married to seven brothers according to a Mosaic tradition mandating a brother to marry his sister in law if his brother should die without a legal heir. Jesus’ response about the nature of the resurrection refutes the common misconception (even today) of the life to come—that it will be merely an extension and improved version of our life here in this world.

So often at funerals I hear, “Mom and dad are together again,” as if this were the supreme blessing of eternal life. St. Paul dissuades us of this notion when in 1 Corinthians 15 he tells us that the life to come is connected, but as different from this life as is the full grown plant from the seed from which it springs.

Here, Jesus asserts that marriage is solely an earthly institution, and that it does not continue into eternity. Paul clarifies the eternal significance of marriage when he uses it to illustrate the relationship of Christ to his Church. THAT is what is eternal, and when we get to the other side, the sign which pointed us to the reality is no longer needed. Fidelity in marriage is important not only for the stability of individuals and society, but also because it points us to the faithfulness of Christ. When the fulfillment of the eternal reality comes, the temporal is no longer necessary and would actually detract from all God has for us. The joy and blessings of my marriage to Linda will not simply be extended and amplified in heaven; the reality to which our marriage points will be fulfilled, and we will no more desire the earthly reality than a young couple who has discovered the joys of marital love would prefer the childish joy of unbridled freedom in a candy store.

It’s hard to imagine eternity devoid of the intimacy and love of our marriage, but that intimacy and love will be magnified and perfected in Christ, who in himself is the heart and meaning of heavenly bliss. “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now [we] know in part; then [we] shall know fully, even as [we are] fully known.” —1 Corinthians 13:12 

Creator or Created

 July 30, 2021

Sometimes what is said can mask what is implied, causing us to miss the most important fact. The Apostles’ Creed begins, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” This opening statement identifies which God we believe in—Father Almighty, the Creator. Then is identified the second subject of our faith: “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” The statement about God the Father and that about Jesus Christ are separated from each other by the words “Maker of heaven and earth,”  which serves to inform us that Jesus Christ, though human, is not part of creation, but separate and distinct from it.

The early Church struggled to describe what the apostles had experienced in Jesus Christ. They knew he was a man, but also more than a man. One of the early heresies is called Arianism, named after Arius, a priest who taught that Jesus was created, that is, part of creation and therefore not eternally one with the Father. In other words, he may have been the first and best of creation, but he was less than God. This, the Creed denies by declaring faith in Jesus Christ alongside faith in the Father.

We owe much to the heretics. They weren’t necessarily deliberately distorting Christian faith, but in their attempt to explain what the Bible teaches, helped the Church sharpen the precision of our language as others reflected on what they said. The result was that through the teaching of what would eventually be declared heresy, the Church would sharpen its language and understanding, discarding teaching that was deemed close, but not quite there. 

A lot is at stake. What we believe about Jesus determines how we understand salvation. It isn’t mere academics; scholars arguing about inane and arcane but pointless fine points of doctrine. If for example, Jesus is created, he is at most, the best human being that ever lived. But if that’s all, his death on the cross is insufficient to save anyone, and we are ultimately left to our own devices. Grace is gutted; we are pretty much on our own. 

The Creed stands as a beacon, declaring Christ’s distinction from creation and therefore, his divinity, and ultimately, his ability to save us from our sins. For this, I am grateful tonight.

Seen and Unseen

 July 29, 2021

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” A few days ago, I wrote about what it means to believe in God as Father Almighty. I’ve been thinking about the next phrase, “Maker of heaven and earth.” There’s a lot to unpack here, but it’s the creation of things unseen that catches my attention tonight. It’s no stretch for me to believe in God as Creator of all that is around me. When I see the intricacy of the honeybee colony, the importance of “bee space,” the hexagonal shape of the honeycomb cell, the way the colony works together so much that it is the colony rather than the individual bee that is considered the organism, I have no problem believing in a Creator. My problem is believing this all came about as an accident of evolution.

The same goes for the hydraulic cycle, the variety of the birds that visit our feeders…the list goes on and on. But what about things invisible? One could make the argument that the Creed is referencing the invisible elements from which all things are made—molecules, atoms, and the like. I don’t believe this for a moment. I think the Creed is referencing the unseen world of angels and demons, principalities, powers, and the authorities Paul mentions in Ephesians 6.

I recently read of a saintly woman on her deathbed exclaiming, “I didn’t realize the other world is so close.” Yes, it is, and when I say I believe in heaven, I’m not speaking of the sky or outer space. I’m speaking about that other dimension of life that is more real than the one we can see and touch. It is our God who made the unseen realities of love, emotion, and faith that will endure long after my bees and birds return to the dust of the ground. I believe in the God who made everything, seen and unseen, and because I believe in him, I also believe that I am a steward, a caretaker of both this seen world and that which is seen only by faith.

Upside Down

 July 28, 2021

In Matthew 19 and 20, we see Jesus in a series of situations that take contemporary conventional thought and turns it upside down—divorce is unacceptable, willing celibacy is to be honored, children are important, wealth is disdained, equality of outcome is preferred over fairness, serving is the highest honor. Most of these stories are so familiar they have ceased to be alarming, but his parable of the workers in the vineyard troubles me. It is meant as a lesson about the mercy of God, but it comes at the price of promoting a kind of socialism. Jesus tells a story honoring equality of outcome (“Equity” in modern parlance) rather than equality of opportunity; had he continued the story, the next day the owner of the vineyard wouldn’t be able to find men willing to work from the beginning of the day.

I’m not sure what to do with this story except to read it in the context of these entire two chapters which are encouraging us to look at life from a different perspective. Jesus takes everyday life experiences and lifts up the opposite of what we would normally think of as the preferred outcome. What we value, he despises, and what we despise, he values. It’s a topsy-turvy world he holds out before us as he beckons us to follow him. He invites us to, as Spurgeon once said, “kiss the wave that dashes us against the Rock.” 

As I reflect on these chapters, I am forced to look at my perspective on life. I like to be busy. It’s easier for me to get busy doing things than to slow down and pray. For me, one lesson from these chapters is to consider prayer as significant as action. It’s hard; I tend to rush through my prayers so I can get at the day. But if there is anything to be learned from these chapters in Matthew, it is to be willing to question my priorities and look at my life from Jesus’ point of view, knowing all the while that his gaze penetrates uncomfortably, because only the discomfort has the power to move me to change.

Car Shopping

July 27, 2021

One of the outcomes of the Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s was an emphasis on the sacredness of all of life. It came down to us and became known as the “Protestant Work Ethic,” which declared in part, that all work is God’s work. I encountered this today.

Sunday, I posted how God convicted me of putting other activities and interests ahead of my time with him, and of my decision to quit researching vehicles and simply trust him. When I did so, God spoke quietly to me: “I will bring to you the very car you’ve been researching.” Faith that is kept to oneself isn’t really faith; you have to drive a stake in the ground like Martin Luther who told his inquisitors, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” So I wrote about it. 

Monday, I received a call from a dealer I had contacted earlier about a different brand car. I told Linda I was going to check it out. She got quiet. I know that quiet—I’ve heard it before! She was heading out to an appointment, but called me about a half hour later, telling me the reason for her silence. “You said you believed God was leading you to the other car; even wrote about it. Now you’re backpedaling on your word.” I didn’t like hearing it, but she was right. As a sidebar, I’ve often noticed that the voice of God often sounds like Linda’s. I scrapped my plans, and told her that today I was going to go to Buffalo and talk with Patrick, who has been trying for weeks to find us what we’ve been looking for, all to no avail.

Before leaving the house, I checked the dealer’s website, wondering if my trip would be in vain. I had told Patrick the day before that he was going to find our vehicle; “It’s out there somewhere,” I said, and when I checked this morning, lo and behold, there it was! It wasn’t new, but it was what we’ve been looking for, very low miles, in our price range, and get this—a model upgrade! I voice texted Patrick, telling him about the car. He couldn’t find it on their website until I gave him the stock number. 

A few minutes later, he called me back. “I’ve got good news and not so good news. The car hasn’t been sold, but we don’t know where it is.” 

“Find it,” I said. “I’m on my way.”

Find it, he did, but before I put my money down, I read him Monday’s post. “You are doing God’s work here,” I told him. Too often, we imagine God’s work is something we consider holy, like preaching or missionary work, but if we take seriously what it means to be made in God’s image, and the value God placed upon us when he gave his only Son to die for us, and if this world is in fact, God’s creation, there is no work that cannot be holy. It is past time for us to see ourselves and our work as having value, even eternal value when it is done in the name and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Patrick, you don’t have to be a missionary or a preacher. Just be the best car salesman you can be, continuing to do your work with integrity and eternal purpose. God brought us together and has purposes in this we may never know in this life. So tonight, I give thanks for something as ordinary…and extraordinary as buying a car. From our first meeting, Linda and I had a sense that you were the man, I have no doubt God orchestrated everything. Even the mundane serves eternal purposes when we give it to Christ.

 

Fishing

 July 26, 2021

Yesterday’s sermon text was from Matthew 4:18-22 where Jesus calls Peter, James, and John. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” he said. Immediately, they left everything and began following. Jesus’ statement and its implication is clear: “If you follow, I will…” It follows that the reverse is also true: If I’m not fishing, I’m not following. It’s a lot easier talking about fishing than actually doing it. If one reads enough books, watches enough youtube videos, talks with enough real fishermen, it would be possible to wax eloquent about the virtues and techniques of fishing, but until he drops a line in the water, he can’t be called a fisherman. 

Throwing a perfect cast doesn’t cut it, either. That can be done in your backyard. A true fisherman studies the fish, knows what they’re biting on, knows the time of day, the best weather, whether to go deep or shallow, close to shore, or out in the deep. A real fisherman knows what it’s like to be sunburned and eaten by mosquitos and black flies. 

Too many Christians, myself included, are content to throw a line in the bathtub. We spend all our time with the fish Jesus has already caught. We don’t know the fish, we don’t know where the good fishing holes are, we don’t know when is the best time to go fishing. Truth be told, we’re afraid to fish. Some fish have sharp teeth; we could get bitten. We have to go to where they are, not where we wish they would be. We must be willing to be uncomfortable if we’re going to fish for men. 

I’ve never been much of a fisherman. We went a lot when I was a kid, but it never took with me like it did for my brother. I have some gear, but that doesn’t make me a fisherman. And having a Bible doesn’t make me a fisher for men. 

Yesterday’s sermon was convicting for me. Every so often, God slaps me up alongside the head. He did it yesterday. I’m thankful he keeps doing it. It means he hasn’t given up on me. But it also means I can’t give up on anyone else. So…people are still in season, so it’s time to go fishing!

Obsession

 July 25, 2021

God answers prayer! Sometimes quicker and in ways we don’t expect. Yesterday, my reading of Psalm 24 convicted me of allowing distractions to take precedence over my time with God. As I read this psalm, I was thinking about how easily I allow the news or social media to encroach on the time I’ve set apart for reading my Bible and praying. I get started and need to look up a text or definition, when something catches my attention and off I go! It goes back to when I was a kid, looking up something in the encyclopedia for a homework assignment. Hours later, I’d still be sitting on the stairs, reading. I learned a lot, but inadvertently developed up the bad habit of distraction. 

This morning, it wasn’t the distractions of Facebook or newsfeeds that God brought to mind. It was cars, as in automobiles. Linda and I have been looking for a replacement for our 2013 Fusion. It’s still running strong, but has plenty of miles on it. As summer began, we thought it best to start looking before it developed problems so we wouldn’t find ourselves in the pressure place where we had to do something quickly. A friend recently stopped by in a Hyundai Ioniq, a hybrid vehicle. Its mileage impressed me, so I started researching it and others. I read articles, watched videos, talked with dealers. And did it all over again. And again. Unfortunately, our vehicle of choice seems to be unavailable anywhere. Unfortunately too, I began to obsess over it, thinking about it continually…until God brought it to light this morning.

So this morning as I read that text again, God convicted me. “Instead of a pure, undivided heart, you are putting this vehicle hunt before Me, preventing you from truly entering My Presence.” Ouch! I had a choice, so I deliberately put it all in God’s hands. Immediately, he put within my mind a quiet confidence that he will bring to us the very vehicle we decided upon. I can’t remember ever before declaring such a thing publicly. Tomorrow, I’ll call the dealer and tell him he’s going to find it, but today, instead of continuing to obsess over it, I ascend the hill of the LORD, knowing the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. 

Purity

 July 24, 2021

“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? He who has…a pure heart.” —Psalm 24:4. If something is pure, it is undivided, unmixed with something other. Pure gold is 24 carat, unmixed with any other metal or impurity. What about a pure heart? What does that look like? I’ve often prayed for an undivided heart, but have I been willing for God to do whatever it takes to get there? Gold is purified by fire, burning away all the impurities, separating the gold from lesser metals. Hearts are purified by the fires of adversity that separate us from lesser loyalties that we may be wholeheartedly for God.

Entering the presence of God requires purity of heart. If my heart is divided by competing loyalties, by the distractions of media, entertainment, hobbies, activities, and even people who might interrupt those times God wants with me alone, I cannot expect to attain the hill, the mountain of the LORD. It’s important enough that if I do not eliminate competing loyalties, God may choose to force the issue and eliminate them himself. The Bible tells us that our God is a jealous God, brooking no competition—for our sake, not his. Divided loyalties prevent God from doing in us and for us all that is in his heart.

“Lord, reveal to me any and everything that is in competition for my loyalty and affection for you. I willingly yield all that I may ascend the hill of the LORD and enter your holy presence.”

Father Almighty

 July 23, 2021

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” So begins the Creed, identifying which of the many gods in this world is the object of our faith. Two descriptive words stand out, seemingly contradictory, but equally true. 

We believe in a God who is a Father to us. He is not some distant and capricious deity, but the one who is the source of all true fatherhood, caring for us as his dear children, guiding and encouraging us to grow up into spiritual maturity. There are many who struggle with the thought of God as the supreme father figure. For some, their own father’s behavior has made it difficult for them to understand and receive the kind of love our Heavenly Father exhibits. Martin Luther is reported to have said that it took years for him to be able to pray the Our Father because his own was such a brutish man. For those whose fathers were harsh, distant, abusive, or weak, thinking of God as Father may be the last thing they want or are able to do.

There are others who have been duped by our culture into believing that such imagery is archaic and dismissive of women. They want to challenge male imagery when speaking of God, going to all sorts of lengths to avoid male pronouns while highlighting those few Scriptural texts that speak of God in more feminine terms. Jesus telling Jerusalem that he would have liked to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks becomes a touchstone for acceptable God-speak. In their theology, God is stripped of gender. 

The problem with this interpretation of Scripture is that it ignores historical revelation. The Biblical writers lived in cultures saturated with female deities, yet assiduously avoided female language in their talk of our God. Had this been important or more accurate in describing the Hebrew/Christian God, the opportunity was not lacking. Our God is Father, not Mother.

The second descriptive word in the Creed is “Almighty.” Laid right alongside God’s Fatherhood is his incontestable power. Unlike the pagan deities, this power is not capricious and arbitrary. It is not harsh and vindictive. It is fatherly, in the best sense of the word. Put together, God as Father Almighty, is able to do all he intends to do, and it is always done in wisdom, mercy, and love.

Credo

 July 22, 2021

Every Sunday as we begin worship, we are invited to recite the Apostles’ Creed, an ancient declaration of the essence of our Christian faith. It is not as comprehensive as the Nicene Creed which deals more completely with the nature of Jesus Christ, but it is more easily memorized, and really does cover most of the bases. It is Trinitarian, divided into three sections; “I believe in…the Father…Jesus Christ the Son…and the Holy Spirit. Each section expands upon what it means to believe in that Person of the Holy Trinity.

It begins quite simply: “Credo.” The single Latin word states, “I believe.” I am thankful it begins this way. It doesn’t say, “I know,” or “I feel;” it says, “I believe.” Many a Sunday rolls around when I don’t feel very spiritual. God seems far away, and my heart feels dull and unresponsive. If the Creed began with “I feel,” it would be a rare Sunday when I would be able to utter those words with integrity and conviction. There are Sundays when I am puzzling over some life issue, and if we had to recite the words, “I know,” I would stand silently. The older I get, the less I am eager to enthusiastically proclaim what I know. I’ve been presented with contradictory information that has forced me to re-evaluate what I know. 

The Creed says, “I believe.” Sometimes falteringly, sometimes confidently, but always joyfully. No matter what my state of mind or soul, I can repeat these words and know they ground me in a reality bigger and more real than whatever I’m experiencing in life. “I believe” roots me in the Triune God of the Christian faith; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and standing in this historical faith, I can get my bearings for life. 

I believe…I place my trust in God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and in that faith I have been able to meet every challenge life throws at me, and in that faith, I’ve watched people with grace and integrity endure far greater trials than I have faced. Powerful words, these: “I believe.”

Angel Armies

 July 21, 2021

Twice in Psalm 80 we hear the phrase “LORD God of hosts,” and twice, “God of hosts.” The psalm is framed by the former, while the latter occurs in the middle of this song remembering Israel’s golden age when they were on the ascendency, and lamenting the downward slide being experienced at the present. It’s always discouraging to remember the glory years, knowing what was, and the depths to which one has descended. I’ve heard many a person extol the innocence of the Fifties, the progress of civil rights in the sixties and seventies, the heady years of Western values when the Berlin Wall came down, only to shake their heads in despair at the collapse of Judeo-Christian values in our present post-Christian culture.

The Message version of the Bible is more of a paraphrase than a translation, but it gets this phrase right when it translates “God of hosts” as “God of the angel armies.” When it seems like we are surrounded by the forces of evil, when it feels like all hell is loosed against us, it is important to remember two things: Our God is the LORD, Yahweh, the Great I Am, the Creator and Master of all that is, both visible and invisible. When his city was surrounded by the enemy and his servant trembled in fear, Elisha prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes. God did so, and the servant saw the enemy surrounded by chariots of fire as Elisha reminded him that “there are more with us than with the enemy.” 

The second thing to remember is that the LORD has us surrounded by his angelic servants who do his bidding without hesitation. He sends them continually to guard his people. “When the enemy pours in like a flood,” the Scripture says, “the battle belongs to the LORD.” From a human perspective, our circumstances may seem hopeless, but if the grave cannot conquer our Lord Jesus, there is nothing that can ultimately defeat us. Instead of yearning for a nostalgic past, we would be better to look forward in hope to the ultimate victory that is ours because our God is the LORD God of angel armies.

Silence

 July 20, 2021

I envy my son. When he prayerfully opens his Bible, he says God never fails to speak some word to his need. I try to listen carefully, but there are times when no matter how much I read, I draw a blank. To be sure, that’s not the fault of Scripture; it’s my own obtuseness that gets in the way. I don’t like coming up empty, but it’s not the end of the world. I find great comfort in the patriarchs of the Old Testament. God told Abraham to leave his ancestral land for a promise. He got to Canaan only to walk into a famine that caused him to keep going all the way to Egypt. God took more than 15 years to fulfill his promise of a son. There is no record of God speaking to Abraham all those years. Moses wandered forty years in the desert of Midian before God spoke to him in the burning bush. Even the prophets who wrote down lengthy oracles often went years without a word from God.

We have the advantage of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, but he often remains silent to our pleas for wisdom, help, and comfort. Jesus himself said that the kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in the ground. God often withdraws so we have to search for him. It’s a good plan; we cannot in any way measure our thirst if we’ve never been thirsty, and we cannot know satisfaction if we’ve never been hungry. So tonight, I wait, knowing that at some point, when I’m ready to hear, God will be waiting to speak.

Being Offended

July 19, 2021

The Pharisees were among the elitists of 1st century Judea. Like most elitists, they snobbishly criticized common folks who didn’t have the luxury of following every detail of their elitist code. In Matthew 15:1-13, they complained that Jesus’ disciples didn’t observe the ritual hand washing before eating. Mind you, this was not the before meal hand washing common today. It consisted of dipping one’s fingertips into a bowl of water and drying them on a towel—hardly a sanitary measure. Jesus responded by calling them out for hypocrisy; finding ways to avoid clear Scriptural moral commands while insisting that the peons follow every instruction they so freely spewed forth. 

One thing to remember about elitists: they don’t like having their hypocrisy exposed. Matthew tells us that “his disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”” —Matthew 15:12-14 

Did you catch that word? We are hearing it all the time in the media these days: “They were…offended.” They didn’t like that Jesus refused to play their games and bend to their whims, that he would stand up for ordinary people they considered beneath themselves. Being offended is the standard elitist response to those who dare challenge their bigotry and pride, and the narrow rules they would impose on everyone but themselves, by legal force, if necessary. That’s why they conspired to crucify Jesus. The High Priest Caiaphas admitted so when the chief priests and Pharisees worried that if they didn’t do something about him, “everyone will believe in him; and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” Jesus was upsetting their status quo and they were offended.

Jesus had no problem calling them out for what they are, but at the same time, he refuses to take their bait by getting into useless arguments. “Let them alone; they are the blind leading the blind. Both will fall into a ditch,” he says of them in v. 14. Elitists carries the seeds of their own destruction. It may take longer than we like, but eventually, they devour themselves, as we are seeing today with the cancel culture movement. Unfortunately, they carry a lot of unsuspecting people with them to the ditch into which they fall. “Leave them alone” is good advice.

 

Upside Down

 July 18, 2021

This morning’s Sunday School class dealt with what many scholars consider the most difficult of Jesus’ parables—the Unjust Steward. In it, the steward (or manager) of the business is accused of wastefulness and is called on the carpet and fired. Seeing his future go up in smoke, he concocts a clever plan whereby he contacts the boss’s creditors and offers them a deal cancelling part of the debts owed. The creditors are happy, and the boss is painted into a corner because in that culture, to renege on the deal signed in his name, however deceitfully, is a blot on his honor. So he commends his dishonest manager for such a clever plan.

It’s hard to imagine such a scenario, and even harder to imagine Jesus commending such dishonesty, but that is to miss the point. This parable is part of a series beginning with the story of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, followed by the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Jesus has begun by talking about lost things, each story building upon and raising the ante on the previous one, till it climaxes in the story of the lost or Prodigal Son. This climactic story of lost and found then becomes the first in a series dealing with money. 

The son wasted his inheritance, the manager wasted his master’s fortune, and the rich man wasted his very life. Jesus isn’t condoning the dishonesty of the steward, but his shrewdness in finally thinking beyond his immediate pleasures and planning for his future. In all three stories there is a contrast between immediate gratification and long-term benefit, culminating in the rich man losing his very soul.

Jesus does here what he so often does—taking a situation and turning it upside down, making us look at it from a different perspective. We get so stuck in our own little perspective ruts that it’s often nearly impossible to see the larger picture. Here in America, we are so fearful of so much in life that we are ready to sacrifice our freedoms for security. Whether it’s COVID or financial security, or merely the desire to live in peace, we rarely consider the long-term consequences of our bondage to security, while people in power are counting on our long-term amnesia. 

At the end of his story, Jesus says, “You cannot serve God and Mammon.” This term is not widely known today, but in Jesus’ day, it was clearly understood. In the Aramaic Jesus spoke, the word is related to the word “trust,” or “faithfulness.” It denotes anything other than God in which we place our confidence. Whether it’s our investments, our health, our stockpile of weapons, our education, our friends, or our government, it’s all Mammon if we are looking to it to protect us in the storms of life. Through this story, Jesus is calling us to stop what we’re doing, take a good look at where we are headed, and make the changes necessary to enable us to invest whatever resources with which we’ve been entrusted for eternal purposes. That simply means…people. Nothing else in this life is eternal. Only people. Tonight, I am grateful for Scriptures that challenge my thinking, but even more for those that challenge my living.

Raging

 July 17, 2021

The creek behind our house is angry, raging and rushing in a powerful torrent that sweeps away everything before it. It’s been raining almost nonstop for days, soaking the ground till even the gravel is soggy. Earlier today, I walked down to the swimming hole; the water was high, nearly obliterating the waterfall as it crashed its way downstream. A branch was caught in the eddy at the edge of the water; every so often one end would catch the current midstream till it spun around and once more languished in the still waters near the bank.

Jesus once told his disciples to “launch out into the deep” (Luke 5:4). The waters are smooth in the shallows, but that’s not where the action is. Most of the time, we prefer the eddies. We like the imagery of Psalm 23 where we are led beside still waters; the raging current is unmanageable and dangerous, so we stay close to shore. But then we wonder why life is so unremarkable, so insipid…so dull, even. The eddies keep recycling the same water. Nothing changes. It circles round again and again, never going anywhere, never making any progress. So we stick a toe out into the current while the rest of us stays caught in the quiet. After a brief swirl in the middle of the stream, we float back to familiar and calm waters and wonder why life has lost its sparkle.

The current raging in the deep waters isn’t safe (Jesus never promised safety), but when we learn how to ride the wave, it is exciting, challenging, opening new vistas as we rush downstream, navigating the Power that pushes us to our destination. The Holy Spirit is that river. It has its eddies, but out in center stream, the current courses and dances with a fury that has to be experienced to be appreciated. We’ve been circling around in the eddies long enough. It’s time to launch out into the deep to see where the Spirit of Christ takes us in his wild, torrential flow. 

Bishop Joe

 July 16, 2021

On July 4, 2021, the earthly United Methodist Church lost a great man while the triumphant and universal Church of Jesus Christ gained a new saint in bishop Joseph Yeakel at 93 years of age. Anyone who knows me knows I am not one to extol the church hierarchy. In my 40+ years in United Methodism, I’ve seen my share of mediocre bishops. To be fair, I’ve had some good ones, too. Anonymity is probably best here. Some who have been less than stellar in my opinion may be considered the bees’ knees by others, which is fine by me. I know for a fact that while there are some who consider me to be a good pastor, there are others who would happily spit and dance on my grave. 

Joe Yeakel was the bishop who ordained me. I can still almost feel the weight of his hands on my head as he uttered those words, “Take thou authority…” He didn’t have a light touch; he leaned hard when ordaining, wanting us to feel the weight of responsibility that comes with the office. It was his personal touch however, that weighed most heavily upon me. I don’t know what are others’ experiences with their bishops, but when I was a seminary student in Chicago, he had a meeting with the Council of Bishops in that city. He carved time out of his schedule to take me to lunch, talk with me about my plans, and assure me he had a place for me in the Western New York Conference if I so desired. To a young seminarian just starting out, having this kind of confidence placed in me was almost electrifying. I didn’t have to wonder if I would have a job; only where. 

Bishop Yeakel preferred people to simply call him Joe. He made no pretense of his office, refusing the titles and honorific obeisance that often come when one has the word ‘bishop’ as a prefix to their name. He didn’t need such fluffy accolades; as a parliamentarian, he was without peer. I still remember a pastor speaking on the floor of annual conference, citing the Book of Discipline to make his point. When he had finished, bishop Joe cited the referenced page and politely but firmly stated his interpretation and ruling. He was occasionally challenged, but I cannot remember any of his decisions being overturned.

My favorite quote from him concerns his expectations of those with who he worked: “No secrets, no subversions, no surprises.” He expected of those around him the same integrity he brought to the table.

Last Monday night at men’s Bible study, pastor Joe spoke of mentoring; how important it is to have a mentor—someone a few steps ahead of you in your Christian walk; and to be a mentor to someone a few steps behind you. I am grateful tonight for the many mentors in my life, from childhood until today. Bishop Joe to me, was one of the best, and I am grateful for his ministry as I mourn his passing. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” says Proverbs 27:17. Bishop Joe sharpened me; I hope I can do the same for others.

Waiting

July 15, 2021

“I waited patiently for the Lord; 

And He inclined to me, 

And heard my cry. 

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, 

Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, 

And established my steps. 

I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; 

Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.”

—Psalm 40:1-2, 9 

Patient waiting is not one of my strong suits. As I get out of my car and walk into Tim Horton’s for a cup of coffee, I am amazed at the line of cars at the drive-in window. I refuse to wait in line when I can get quicker service inside. Had I joined the military years ago, I think I would have starved. Waiting in line for mess would have messed with my mind. 

And yet…waiting is honored throughout Scripture. Abraham waited 15 years for the son he was promised. Moses waited 40 years before he discovered his calling, and 40 days on the mountain of God to receive the Ten Commandments. David waited for years between the time he was anointed and crowned king. Elijah withdrew into the desert, Jesus fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness, Paul hid away for three years in Arabia so he could be taught by the Holy Spirit, and John was in exile on Patmos when he received the Revelation. 

In this psalm, only after waiting was David able to proclaim in the great congregation the glory of the Lord because it was in the waiting that God’s glory was revealed to him. I suspect there are more than a few preachers and teachers whose message would change dramatically if they spent more time waiting and less time promoting. 

Waiting is not the same as withdrawing. There are times I would like to withdraw from all the drama that swirls in our culture and simply hide away in my own little world, but were I to do so, I wouldn’t be waiting on God. Withdrawing into oneself is never a good place to hear from God. And waiting is not inactivity. A waitress who is doing her job is quite busy attending to the customer. Waiting on God is similar; we expend a great deal of energy paying attention to our Creator and Redeemer.

As I said, I am not good at waiting, so I pray, “Lord Jesus, you asked your disciples in the garden if they couldn’t wait with you for a single hour. I’m afraid I’m one of your sleeping saints. Forgive my impatience, my un readiness to keep waiting no matter how long your answer is in coming. Teach me to wait instead of withdrawing; to wait in your holy presence so I will be able to praise you in the great congregation.”

 

Growing Weeds

July 13, 2021

Jesus always taught by telling stories. He knew what many teachers fail to understand: people learn best when they can connect something they know with the unknown truth. That’s why Jesus’ stories are called parables; like parallel lines, the spiritual truth is laid alongside the earthly example for ease and clarity of understanding. Matthew 13 records several of his stories, one of which involved someone who sowed weeds in a field recently planted with good seed by a farmer. Jesus’ disciples were trying unsuccessfully  to make the connection, so they asked him its meaning.

“He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

—Matthew 13:37-43 

People who believe they know the truth often make the mistake of wanting to eliminate their perceived enemies. It’s politics par excellence—instead of doing the hard work of formulating a cogent argument, it’s easier to silence or eliminate the opposition. Such tactics are commonplace on those supposed bastions of free speech we know as college campuses, but they are not the strategies of Jesus. “Pull out the weeds? If you do, you’ll ruin a lot of good plants, too. Give God time to deal with it.” 

We often wonder why God allows deceit and outright lies, sorrow and pain to flourish and destroy. It makes no sense to us, but we don’t see the whole picture, and at the right time, God will sort it all out. We’ve made the mistake of pulling flower seedlings in our quest to uproot weeds; when they’re little, they all look alike to the untrained eye. When it comes to people, only God has expert eyes, and even he waits to separate the good from the bad. If God can wait, we should, too.

This parable was captured in verse in 1844 by Henry Alford, 19th century Bible scholar and preacher, in words put to music by George Job Elvey. It has come down to us as a harvest hymn often sung at Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorites.

Come, ye thankful people, come,

Raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in,

Ere the winter storms begin;

God our Maker doth provide

For our wants to be supplied;

Come to God’s own temple, come,

Raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field,

Fruit unto His praise to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown,

Unto joy or sorrow grown;

First the blade, and then the ear,

Then the full corn shall appear:

Lord of harvest, grant that we

Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,

And shall take His harvest home;

From His field shall in that day

All offenses purge away;

Give His angels charge at last

In the fire the tares to cast;

But the fruitful ears to store

In His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come,

Bring Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in,

Free from sorrow, free from sin,

There, forever purified,

In Thy garner to abide;

Come, with all Thine angels come,

Raise the glorious harvest home.

 

Dull

 July 12, 2021

“And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’” —Matthew 13:14-15 

What makes a heart grow dull? Read these verses carefully and you will find that a dull heart is the root of blind eyes and deaf ears and the soul-sickness they bring. 

I once had a history teacher who had retired from the army, having been in WWII, fighting his way up Italy’s boot. All the artillery and noise of battle destroyed much of his hearing, which made it hard to be a high school teacher of boys in the back of the room who were more interested in goofing off than learning history from a man who helped make it. I’ve worn hearing aids for nearly twenty years; it wasn’t exposure to constant factory noise or the noise of battle, but bad genetics that took my hearing. 

Some lose their ability to hear God’s voice from the constant clamor of this world’s noise; others lose it because their spiritual genetics descend from Adam instead of Christ. Unless they remove themselves from the world’s noise or are born anew in Christ, the ears of the soul slowly cease to function. And eyes are deliberately closed to the brightness of Christ’s light just as we squint when staring at the sun. But these are only symptoms of a deeper issue.

Iron sharpens iron, the Bible teaches us, and we get dull when we cease meeting, rubbing shoulders with other believers, encouraging, challenging, and correcting one another. A knife is dulled by use, but a mind is dulled by indolence. As the billboards used to say, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

“O God whose Word is a two-edged sword, create in me a clean heart, and renew in me a right understanding. Cut through all this world’s noise; by the touch of Jesus’ finger, open these blind eyes and deaf ears, that my soul may hear, and see, and live, by the power of your Holy Spirit and in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.”

Birthday Joy

 July 11, 2021

Since it’s my birthday, I thought I’d take the day off from writing and instead regale you with something I wrote three years ago for the occasion. I acknowledge my culpability regarding the quirky competition of my kids, since they are in fact, my offspring. So here it is, from July 11, 2018:

Shortly after midnight, our granddaughter Abi messaged me. “Happy birthday, James!” followed by a second that said, “That was weird. It should be Beepa.” Just before going to sleep, I acknowledged her message, telling her that she was the first to wish me a happy birthday.

Fast forward to 5:30 this morning. Waiting for me is a text from son Matt: “Happy birthday. I guarantee I am first!” To which I replied, “Yes, you are. Although you’ll have to argue with Abi. I saw hers last night and told her she was the first, but yours is time stamped earlier.”

Checking again revealed son Nate’s text time stamped 11:59 “Happy birthday Dad! I know I was #1” I replied, “Thank you. I saw Abi’s last night and told her she was 1st. Matt’s is time stamped 12:00, so you’ll have to duke it out. He will certainly say that yours doesn’t count since it was technically still yesterday.” He responded with, “What?! Mine is time stamped 12 on my end.”

I texted Matt, “Your brother’s is time stamped 11:59, so he’s earlier, but you will argue it doesn’t count.” 

Matt: “Totally not. I waited until exactly 12:00.” 

Me: “He says his is stamped 12:00.”

Matt: “He is untrustworthy. Don’t believe him. Remember he crashed like 3 of your cars.”

Me: “And you were the perfect son.”

Matt: “I agree.”

Me: “Maybe I should change the rules of the contest to who gives me the best gift.”

That was the end of the conversation. Go figure! Linda and I were talking this afternoon before she drove to Rochester to watch my mom for a couple days so my brother and sister in law could have some vacation time with some old friends. I know too many people whose kids don’t even talk to them; some whose kids would rob them blind; others whose kids harbor grudges that rips their families apart. It’s become somewhat of a tradition that Nate and Matt do their best to beat the other to the punch on birthdays, our anniversary, or Christmas. Jess would would no doubt argue moral superiority by staying above the fray.

I have to believe even God chuckles a bit at their antics. After all, he created all things good, and innocent humor is certainly good. I think there will be laughter in heaven as we jab one another in the ribs and recount the times we outsmarted the devil by resisting temptation, how Jesus unmasked him for the imposter that he is, and revel in holy joy for the grace and salvation we have received. Tonight, I am thankful for the sneak preview of the heavenly laughter that will be ours as we worship before the throne of our Almighty God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

And yes, it was a happy birthday—then and now.

Given

 July 10, 2021

When Jesus taught in parables, his disciples asked why he did this. His response? “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” —Matthew 13:11.

This too, is a mystery. Knowing God is a gift not given to all. The Gospel is hidden from many, and the reason is not given, any more than we are given he reason why we have been chosen.

Methodists don’t like the thought of double election, but what else is prevening grace if it isn’t God’s sovereign choosing of some for salvation, and by corollary, others not? We don’t know who is chosen, so we preach Christ indiscriminately so all will have heard.

I remember the day I chose to receive Christ, but I know that before that evening, God was drawing me, had chosen me. I was trying to escape, but he caught me anyhow. My salvation, and the life I have been given is just that—a gift. Jesus said it: “To you it has been given.” I don’t understand it, but tonight am deeply grateful for it.

For Good

 July 9, 2021

Tonight I am thankful to know God works all things for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Linda and I have started looking to replace our Ford Fusion. It still runs well, but we want to be ahead of the game, so we’ve begun looking before something goes wrong with it. We don’t want to be in a position of having to do something quickly. So I started by looking online, and in so doing, found a car we wanted to look at. I filled in the online form, and within an hour, got a call from the dealership which shall remain unnamed for reasons that will become obvious.

Last night we made an appointment to see the car today at 1:30. We had planned to be in Buffalo for a funeral, so it made sense to set the appointment for today. We drove up, attended the funeral, then drove over to the dealership, only to be told the car had sold and they didn’t have another like it available. I was disappointed that they didn’t have the integrity to keep their word, and have let them know as much. Once upon a time, I would have been angry, and have fumed and fretted over it for days. With age has come at least a modicum of wisdom and grace; I’m still disappointed that they sold the car without even calling us to let us know, but I am also convinced God is in control. If not this car, another will turn up. Allowing myself to get all agitated won’t change anything except my attitude and peace of mind. It’s just not worth it. 

I am thankful tonight that I learned that lesson back when missing out on the deal I had anticipated had greater consequences than it does today. God truly does work all things for good to those who love him. Contrary to what some people have a habit of saying, all things are not good, but God can bring good out of all things—a big and important difference. He is at work in this, too, and it will be interesting to see what he makes of it. Stay tuned; a good lesson in God’s faithfulness is just around the corner!

Water

 July 8, 2021

Today’s gratitude prompt was “three gifts water,” quite appropriate since it’s rained most of the day. It should be no surprise that water plays such a pivotal role in Scripture when it plays such a foundational role in life itself. So when the biblical story begins with the Spirit of God moving upon the waters and ends with the river of life for all nations, we cannot go far astray to consider this amazing gift. Off the top of my head, ten facets of this gift come to mind.

1. Rain. We live in an area of the country with plenty of it, but without the problems that come with too much of it. We rarely experience flooding of any magnitude, and dry periods seldom last more than a few weeks at a time.

2. Safe drinking water; we have an abundance of it and don’t have to walk miles for it. It’s delivered via village or city systems or wells fitted with pumps to bring it into our homes. We don’t have to contend with parasites, or the water-borne diseases that plague so many around the world.

3. Baptism. Those of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ have been washed clean; buried and raised to new life in Christ in the waters of baptism. Whatever one’s theology of baptism, most Christians agree that we are given an example in Christ’s baptism, and that it is taught in Scripture.

4. The Creek. Surrounding our property on three sides is a trout stream with the village swimming hole at the south end of our lawn. It is a magnet for kids and families in the hot, sticky days of summer, and has become our mission field as people come to us. We are praying and learning how to best speak to them about Jesus.

5. Showers. After a day spent working in the hot sun, a refreshing shower is a treat. There are many places in this world where such a treat would be an unthinkable luxury. For us, it is commonplace.

6. Coffee. Need I say more?

7. The Great Lakes. We live about fifteen miles south of Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes of the U.s. and Canada, the largest body of fresh water in the world. My late friend and former boss Bob Pascoe used to talk of the day when this abundance of water would once again bring the world to our doorstep. The decline of manufacturing and disastrous governmental policies have turned our once-thriving area into a sad shell of its former glory, but as water resources dry up out west, the abundance of water here may just mean the resurgence of commerce and community for which we here long.

8. Life itself. Without water, life as we know it would cease to exist. This amazing gift makes it all possible.

9. Power. The Robert Moses power plant in Niagara Falls is a wonder of engineering that supplies the northeast with abundant electricity, without the brownouts and power failures that plague so much of our country and world.

10. The Hydrologic Cycle, whereby rain falls, seeps into the ground, feeds aquifers that produce springs that become streams, creeks, and rivers that feed the oceans where it evaporates and starts all over again.

It’s an amazing world our God has created, and it all hinges upon water—two molecules of hydrogen combined with one of oxygen; two highly flammable elements that combined become the most commonly used fire extinguisher. Go figure; only God could come up with such a plan. Thank you, Lord, for this wonderful gift of water!

Limiting God

 July 7, 2021

“The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.” —Psalm 78:9-11, 41 

There is plenty in this psalm to capture our attention; it is an account of God’s faithfulness contrasted with Israel’s unfaithfulness, both of which receive plenty of attention in the course of 72 verses. These particular verses however, capture the heart of the problem. They had everything they needed to conquer the land, but refused to get into the fight. The end result was that instead of walking in the power and enjoying the blessing God offered them, they actually limited what the Almighty could do. 

Too often we pray for God to work in mighty ways, to demonstrate his power, to perform miracles and open closed doors. Our prayers are fervent and sincere, but lack the one thing necessary—the heart and willpower to actually get in the fight. We have, as Paul says, “the mighty weapons of our warfare,” but putting on the armor of God is not the same as actually wading into the fight till you’re tired and bloodied. Too often, we see the enemy, assess the danger, and decide to turn tail and run. Like any deserter, we mask our failure in fine talk, explaining why it was prudent to avoid conflict, but when God equips us, it is a sin to sit on the sidelines or to retreat from an enemy who has already been defeated at Calvary. 

The world itches for a fight, daring the Christian to stand up and speak up. How shall we stand before our divine Commander-in-Chief if we ignore his battle call and slink away in cowardly fear? How shall we answer him when he tells us all he was prepared to do through us until we by our unfaithfulness tied his hands and limited his power to save?