Getting Dressed

There's something we do every day.  Most of us, even if we are staying at home, get up and put on some semblance of clothing.  Some of us take longer than others.  Some of us are more picky about what we wear.  But we get dressed.

Paul talked a lot about getting dressed.  In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul says to put on the full armor of God.  In Galatians 3:27 Paul says, "Put on Christ."  But my favorite passage is this one (Colossians 3:12-15) ... "So chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.  And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It is your basic, all purpose garment.  Never be without it!"  I read this passage at weddings.  I read this passage when I am about to say something I shouldn't.  I think about this passage often, because it reminds me that if I wear love (and God is love) I am allowing myself to represent the image of God in a world that doesn't seem to know much about love.

This passage is the memory passage for our children this February.  The concept for the children is  ... "Be kind to others because God has been kind to you."  I guess that part of love is simple, like everything else Christian ... follow Jesus and you will end up in the right place!  But all of you know love is fleeting, complex, puzzling and lot's of other descriptive words.  There's an old Conway Twitty song that is about a conversation with the Man In The Moon.  The moon says, "I can move oceans when I get the notion, or make mountains tremble and rivers run dry, but in all matters human, remember there's someone, in charge of those things way above you and I."  Wise words I think!

So Colossians 3 gives us some wisdom about love.  1) We are chosen to love ... chosen by God "for this new life of love."  2) Our wardrobe (what we wear) has been laid out for us by God, 3) The wardrobe has some difficult things to wear ... kindness, compassion, quiet-strength, humility, discipline, 4) The wardrobe always includes forgiveness (the kind that mirrors Jesus), 5) The wardrobe should always be worn, 6) The wardrobe works for everything.  Now me ... I don't know much about love ... but God knows everything there is to know!  And if Jesus is your Master (the word is right there in the passage) and (in the song) is in charge of those things "way above you and I", then maybe we should appropriate God's wisdom here.

Put on love ... it is your all purpose garment ... NEVER be without it!  Randy

The Great Chasm

There is a harrowing parable from Luke 16 that is often preached by those "hellfire" orators that want to scare all of us into heaven.  While that isn't my cup of tea, I will acknowledge that if a message brings someone to repentance and salvation, I am all for it.  So, I don't preach from this passage to focus our attention on the subjects of heaven and hell, one obvious point of this parable.  My focus will be on the ending of the parable ... the real thing that separates us from God, paradise and a close relationship with our loving heavenly father.

We've all heard the parable.  Lazarus was poor and essentially had nothing.  He died outside of a rich man's gate and is carried to 'the bosom' (close proximity) of Abraham at God's banquet table.  God makes sure Lazarus was fed and comforted in eternity, unlike his poverty in temporary life.  The rich man, who ignored the plight of Lazarus, dies and was in eternal torment.  The parable recounts the conversation between the rich man and Abraham.  The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus on errands, including bringing him some cold water and warning his brothers about the reality/horror of eternal hell.  Abraham tells Lazarus several things.

Lazarus is reminded of the great, impassable chasm that exists between paradise and hell.  Abraham says it cannot be crossed by anyone.  Then Abraham tells Lazarus about another chasm.

The point of the parable is brought out in the punchline. In this parable, Abraham describes how God has endeavored to inform and enlighten us about who He is, the realities of life and God's truth that has been offered to all of us (including Lazarus' brothers).  God has sent His truth through Moses (the Pentateuch) and the Prophets.  Abraham says, "Your brothers can read them!"  Abraham also reminds Lazarus that his brothers shouldn't hold their breath looking for someone to come back from the dead to warn them ... he says, "if they won't listen to Moses, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead."  That statement should lead us to see clearly the third point.  Jesus, who has told us what the prophets said and who has completed (fulfilled) the law, is telling us this parable.  Jesus will be tortured, crucified and will rise from the dead on the third day, continuing to proclaim the truth of the law, the prophets and God's true word.  Jesus is the third part of this warning.  He is the last and only way that this great chasm can be crossed.

In a world filled with lies, half-truths, false teachers and politicized religion, Jesus cuts to the chase.  Know the Scriptures and read them.  And if someone returns from the dead to warn us to care for the poor, know God's word and stop worshiping our lifestyles, we had better listen!  What say you?  Randy

Listening

Listening and waiting.  It is the overarching theme of Psalm 130.  David says, "Out of the depths I cry to you!"  "Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy!"  David's plea would mirror our plea today.  We truly do speak out of depths of anxiety, despair, uncertainty and maybe fear.  We are crying out!

Over the last two weeks I have done two funerals.  One of them was a beautiful man who had lived 94 years and was known for his goodness, grace and patience.  Another was a close friend who I had known for 14 years.  My friend Bill was a golfing companion who was a consistent friend and a person known for some stellar phrases.  Both funerals became times for me and the family to do something we (individually and corporately) have difficulty with.  We all looked up, cried to the Lord and listened.

In my twenty plus years of ministry I have observed that most people (yes, I am grouping us together) have difficulty listening.  We listen to a sermon with an analytical mind, culling out either what we want to hear or what to critique.  We analyze, parse and are impressed when the speaker 'didn't use a note.'  But we fall short on taking in meaning, content and any wisdom that might be offered.  But, at a funeral, we stop, cry out, and we do something out of our nature ... we listen.  John, in the Revelation, shocks us with penning Jesus' words to seven churches, pronouncing that without changes, most of these churches will lose something important.  It is funeral-talk, and when that loss is perceived and grasped, they listen.

In Psalm 130, David enters the presence of God.  He asks for God's attention.  He acknowledges his sinfulness.  He praises God's forgiveness.  He waits for God, and he does this with his whole being.  He remembers that Israel, and David, have only one hope ... the Lord.  And he looks ahead to God's sure redemption, even of sinful Israel.  David listens ... for he realizes that when we approach God reverently, openly and patiently, God will redeem our situation.

Are you listening for God?  Or, as many of my friends and associates, is your listening clouded with anger, sword-rattling, drama, gloating, vengeful remarks, warrior-talk and all of the feelings that swirl around inside the human spirit?  David acknowledges that if we want God's solutions to our human messes, we must lay it all down before God.  David says ... "my whole being waits, and in His word I will put my hope (Psalm 130:5)."

That is the kind of God we have!  A God that we can trust.  A God with a good word for difficult times.  The God that comes to us when we have lost something or are lost ourselves.  The God that will change, if we let Him, how we see the world.  The God who says the truth (not perception) will set you free by God's word (John 8:32).  I, for one, am listening to THAT God!  My whole being waits!  How is it with you?  Randy

What Is Your Anchor?

Hebrews 6:19 says "we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."  The chapter is all about becoming mature Christians.  The gist of this passage is that we, who are heirs of the promises God has made, must learn to trust in things that are eternal, secure, sure and solid.  Wow, do we need these things now!

Over the past few weeks I have used the term "discernment" often.  For we, as God's people, as ambassadors of Christ, and as the Church must enter the days ahead as those people who are not "blown away by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14)".  We should be the people who show and live out the hope of Christ in the hopeless times we sometimes face.  So, how do we do this?

John Wesley had two very Methodist ways of discerning.  The first goes to the source of our knowledge about the nature of God ... Scripture.  Wesley said that revelation from God (something that we currently hear people invoking) comes primarily through Scripture and that all other sources are a "handmaiden" (subservient to) God's Word.  This is vital today as the internet is filled with claims of special knowledge (a Gnostic behavior), special revelation from God (a very dangerous path) and special insight.  Wesley says don't go there!  Jesus and God's word are the sources through which we sift the doctrines that are so readily offered by not-so-reliable sources!

The other Wesleyan method for discernment is based on the golden rule ... "Do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12)."  Wesley said there are 3 Methodist rules ... 1) do no harm, 2) do all the good that you can, and 3) stay in love with God!  As I read lots of the things you are reading I get a spirit of revenge, feelings that justice is unfair, people saying "I am/we are victims," and lots of "they" statements about demonizing other folks.  Maybe it is time to step back and try to do no harm, do good things and (especially) stay in love with God.  You might ask, "how do we stay in love with God?"  I think we follow Jesus in loving people, even the Samaritans, lepers and sinners of our day.  And by the way ... those "loved" people include all of us!  That's my take!  Randy

He Is!

In Revelation 5 there is great commotion in heaven!  A lot is happening.  There are 24 elders, 4 living creatures, the one seated on the throne, and a mighty angel asking a question (v. 2) ... "Who is worthy to break the seal and open the scroll?"  Everyone wants to know what will unfold next.  Sounds like the ending of 2020 and the beginning of 2021!  What will happen next?

It is interesting when I hear people talk about John's Revelation.  There are those that 'feel' it is totally symbolic, even though total symbolism allows folks to believe whatever they dream up (sounds like Facebook today!).  There are those that 'feel' it is totally literal, even though apocalyptic writing in John's day would have been filled with hyperbole and figurative language.  I am reminded that truth, facts, and solid study of John's Revelation are almost always trumped by people's feelings.  I am reminded of the harrowing phrase at the end of Judges ... "In those days Israel had no king and everyone did as they saw fit! (21:25)."  I hope my observation in this blog is solidly based on fact and the plain, true word of Scripture, appropriately held out for you inside the context of that good word.

So ... here it is.  The answer to the question.  Is anyone worthy to open the scroll and unveil the events of our future?  Is anyone worthy to both tell us and lead us through that future to our eternal destination?  Is anyone worthy to judge, proclaim and offer guidance as we turn the page on one year and look into the next?  Yes!  Jesus is!

In both services Sunday we will sing about this.  Methodists are rightly accused of singing our theology, and Sunday will be no exception.  The song is entitled "He Is Worthy" and it responds to the question posed by the angel with the mighty voice.  It is not feelings-based.  It is not opinion-based. It is not based on political happenings.  It is not based on Facebook falseness.  It is not based on cults who say follow or find your heart.  The song is based on the answered question in Revelation 5:9-10 ... the lamb who was slain is worthy because He "purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation."

My question to you today is ... "Who or what is turning your page?"  I am asking this because we who call ourselves Christians are seemingly confused by the scene in Revelation.  It is not presented because it is strange, attention-grabbing or edgy.  It is presented to show us a truth that will last through the generations all the way to the ending of the age.  That truth is (as Deuteronomy 30 expresses) not vague ... "it abides on your lips and resides in your heart."  God's truth is near ... it is told ... so why are we so dense that we look for our future in the patterns, places, politics, pleasures and prognostications of our time?  God's word and truth are near to us.  Who is worthy to turn our page and give us a hope and a future that is filled with God?  Jesus is.

That truth is affirmed in heaven.  John saw it and wrote it.  Now, it is time ... in this watershed year ... for Jesus-followers to live it out, following the one who is worthy to follow.  For there is another truth in Revelation 5.  Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea will say ... "be praise and power and glory and honor forever and ever."  

A Different Way

The story of the Magi in Matthew is one of those stories that can engender thought, reflection and questions.  They were clearly people come from the east (probably modern-day Iraq) with a purpose to follow a star, find a king and offer homage to that king.  Jesus would have been a toddler (sorry if this messes with our Christmas traditions and manger scenes).  The story can be taken in many directions, but today I want to suggest some present-day advice from these "wise" travelers.

The first word that comes to mind is discernment.  It is a trait that is a sparse commodity in a world led by fads, factless statements and hyperbole.  In Matthew's story of the Magi, our travelers meet Herod, religious leaders and probably other people, all full of advice.  Herod is powerful, so maybe they should listen to him?  The religious leaders seem to know the Scripture, so maybe they are telling the truth?  I am sure convincing and charismatic people would have given them advice.  After all, they seem to be people of means and importance.  So, who do they believe?  The Magi chose to believe the Scriptures and the star.  They press on, following those things till the reach the child, the mother and their goal.

The second word that comes to mind is ... deceit.  They knew that many of the people they met would have reason to deceive them.  The Magi had money, importance, influence and information.  Other people wanted those things.  The Magi knew this and were wise in how they dealt with the people they encountered.  In our world today I see lots of deceit.  People want you to follow them and promote their agenda.  Conservatives, liberals, charismatic sellers of prosperity theology and purveyors of negativity all seek your attention.  Like social media, they want you to become users and conduits of their agenda that ultimately captures your attention.  The Magi encountered these people, especially in the palace of Herod.  They smiled, they sounded helpful, but they wanted something ... to stop the life, the work and the will of Jesus.  They had a king, and they didn't need God's ordained Son, come to save the world.

We are told that the Holy Spirit will give us discernment that will guide us and lead us to see and avoid deceit.  But we, as God's people, must decide about a third word ... direction.  Wise men (and women) know that every day is a directional choice.  When the Holy Spirit has helped us discern truth, when we have opened our eyes so that we can see the deceit around us and when we meet Jesus, "the way, the truth and life itself," do we stay the course and keep going in the same direction, or is our direction altered by that little boy of Bethlehem?  The Magi went off in a different direction.

I have a friend who says he has solved his issue of following negativity.  He has done this at least once a year.  My advice ... let God change you and your direction.  I met a woman whose  "my way or the highway" attitude has damaged relationships and her witness.  My advice ... let God change you and your direction.  I see a nation that seems to be caught in a merry-go-round of solving issues in nasty, mean-spirited and predictable ways ... and the results seem to see us never solving the issues that we say are important.  My advice ... let God change us and our direction!

If we really want to leave our most tenacious demons behind and have the newness of life promised by our faith and following of Jesus, see the deceit ... use the Spirit's discernment ... go off in the direction that has a star, and a real king, and a child of promise ... and a savior named Jesus.  Randy

Born In Me?

Every Christmas we do a song by Francesca Battistelli called "Born In Me."  The words are beautiful and challenging.  They reflect, especially, the chaotic year we have individually and corporately experienced.  "Everything inside me cries for order ... everything inside me tries to hide.  Is this shadow and angel or a warrior?  If God is pleased with me, why am I so terrified?  Someone tell me I am only dreaming.  Somehow help me see with heaven's eyes.  And before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees.  Holy is He, blessed am I. Be born in me, be born in me.  Trembling heart, somehow, I believe.  That You chose me. ... Make my heart your Bethlehem, be born in me."  Great words, but a better idea.

There is a verse of submission ... humility ... and clarity, when Mary, amidst fear, unknown outcomes, national chaos and personal sacrifice, says these words ... "I am the Lord's servant, Mary answered.  May Your word to me be fulfilled.  Then the angel left her (Luke 1:38)."  Be born in me!

Those are hard words and the idea is even harder.  We live in a self-focused world.  "What's in it for me?"  It's all about my rights, my body, my perspective.  We have somehow shrunk god down to an idea that fits into a box of our understanding.  But this story has Mary, a teenager, that knows nothing about how all of this will impact her future.  There will certainly be shame, hardship, pain and some very uncomfortable family discussions.  Her new status will be hard, even impossible, to love for some of her family and friends.  Everything she has known will be in a rear-view mirror that she will never see again.  Everything will change for her, and she has no idea how any of it will turn out.  Yet ... she says, in The Message version of this passage, "Let it be with me, just as you say!"  Be born in me!

The words that come to me as I read this passage are Submission, Sacrifice, Sorrow and Significance.  Mary submits her very body to God's plan ... not her plan.  As we debate abortion, Mary reminds us that life isn't about us ... it is about something bigger than us.  Mary sacrifices her planned future for the hope and future God has planned.  She is all in to what God is doing, no matter what it means for her.  Mary accepts the sorrow that will accompany her decision.  Most of us say, "God doesn't want me to have sorrow or hurt."  I wonder if God doesn't intervene in those events that cause sorrow because God knows that part of life with/in Him is to go through pain in His comfort, presence and sufficiency?  While my words can't adequately explain this, my heart sees this unfold as we, with God's help, are able to comfort and love friends in their times of hurt, pain and need.  God is truly (Psalm 34:18) "near to those who are brokenhearted."  Finally, Mary becomes, through submission, sacrifice and sorrow, cosmically significant.  I hear so many wanting their lives to be meaningful, worthwhile and significant.  So, they bargain with God ... they become human 'doers' instead of human 'beings' ... they run on the hamster wheel of spirituality like their effort and energy can somehow attain and fathom a God that is above and beyond our ability to fully know.  And all the while little Mary, in a little room in Nazareth (a truly obscure teenager) does something that makes her (according to God's Word) "the most fortunate woman on earth."  She sings, "What God has done for me will never be forgotten!"  Mary knows that what is happening is the most significant thing that has ever happened on earth!

Do you want some of that significance?  Instead of following the world's plan, try submission, sacrifice, sorrow as paths to God's plan.  It isn't easy, but love and life are never easy.  But Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light, and you will find rest for your soul!  Randy