new commandment

John 13: 31-38

This particular part of the story is an interesting  because it comes immediately after Judas leaves the upper room and the last supper to make arrangements to betray Jesus.

It then ends with Peter being told that he too will betray Jesus.  Although he doesn’t know it yet, at the time of trail, he will deny he ever even knew Jesus.

This scripture, bookended by acts of betrayal is full of love.  What a wonderful message that sends.  Jesus, though surrounded by people who will abandon him when they are needed the most, are still loved. 

But this message of love seems to bring up as many questions as it does answers.  Although the command to love one another seems simple it is the hardest of all commandments to follow.  The 10 commandments are easy compared to this.  It is black and white, very clear straight forward rules for the most part.  But love, that can be pretty ambiguous.

First of all, What is love?  We all have a preconceived notion to what this means.

Love can be an emotion- one of pleasant feelings toward another.  We know this emotion when we look at a spouse, lifelong friend or family member.  We know the power of this emotion but we also realize it is not possible to have these same emotions towards everyone.  This emotion normally happens after years of building relationships and nurturing one another. 

One of my professors at school, while preaching on this topic this week, identified Love as an Action.  Love is going out of your way to help someone.  It is being kind and gracious.  It is having mercy and compassion towards people you may or may not know and in no way are able to compensate you for the gesture.

He also said; Love is seeing others as God sees them.  We sing songs all the time and recognize that God is God of all people and nations but when we are faced with the Judas in the world, it is hard to love them too.  When we feel abandoned by someone we rely on, we struggle to see them as Jesus saw Peter, and love them anyway.  We often even have a hard time seeing ourselves the way God sees us.  We struggle with forgiving ourselves when we mess up, loving ourselves when we betray Jesus with our words or actions much less people we don’t like very much. (Dr Ian McFarland)

The definition of Love is not the only question this scripture raises.  Who is Jesus telling us to love?  If we only looked at the text from John today, we could suggest that when Jesus told the disciples to love one another, he literally meant the people in that room.  That would be easy right- if we were told we only had to love the people in this room.   No other group knows the trails and pains as well as the celebrations and joys of your life better.  The love in this group is powerful and needed.

But, when we look at all the other places where Jesus told the disciples and others to love, we get an entirely different picture. 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

So the net of love is being thrown a little wider.  Ok, so we are to love the people in this room, and our neighbor.  Well, that doesn’t seem too hard either.  I like my neighbors, I can do that.

Here is where it gets tricky- in Matthew and Luke, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. In other words, love everyone.   I don’t know about you all but that is not an easy thing to do- ever.  And yet, it is something we are called to do.  The person who betrayed your trust, yep.  The person who broke your heart, yep.  The person who hurt your family, yep. 

We are called to love them all.  We are called to see them as God sees them and sees us.  Each one of us, broken in some way, sick, defective humans who don’t deserve God’s love but are claimed as children of God anyway.   All the Judases and Peters, of this world, forgiven and loved by God.  And as hard as that is, Praise God!  If God can love them, surely God can love us too, faults and all!

Jesus knew Judas would betray him and knew Peter would deny their relationship- his closest friends would all abandon him, but he loved them anyway and never stopped loving them.  The same is true for you and me.  He knows we are going to mess up.  He knows we are going to betray him, deny him and not live up to his expectations or even our own expectations but he loves us anyway. 

So, we know that love is more than just an emotion and we know who we are supposed to love.  We know that we are loved.  The big question then is how?  How are we to love others as Christ loves us?

It is one thing to know something and believe something and it is another to live it.  It is hard to even be around people you don’t like very much- much less, love them. 

Love is never an easy thing to do.  Even when we try really hard, we sometimes fail.  Maybe we think we show love by doing mission work; donating food or clothes to the shelter.  And yes, that is very much needed but all too often what happens is the giver is elevated and placed on a pedestal while putting the person receiving the donation down. Even when that is not the intention, society often looks at the givers as good and the receivers as bad.  It is an emotional trap we have to work at avoiding.

The emotion of Love is often confused with pity.  Real love is taking a genuine interest in the life of those we encounter and seeing people as equals; Gifted in different ways and acknowledging that those receiving our assistance are valuable children of God who have much to give too. 

When I worked with children with developmental delays, we had always been told not to accept gifts and to be very careful about professional boundaries.  It always felt like a one sided transaction though and that is normally ok but on one occasion, I commented on how wonderful a family’s dinner smelled.  I didn’t think much of the comment- just general conversation with the parent while I helped the child.  An hour later, as I prepared to leave, Mom insisted I take some food home with me.  I tried to decline but she insisted.  For once, she was able to share her talents and give something of value to me. 

It was a humbling experience, especially when I realized she had given me one of only two pieces of chicken in the pot that was intended to feed her family of three.  Her generosity went over and beyond anything I would have been willing to sacrifice.  This was her way of showing love.  They had no money, nothing substantial to offer but she could share her talent of cooking. 

Maybe it is just learning someone’s name that shows love.  How often do we go places where we are being served and never learn the name of person taking care of us? Gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores… We are paying; they are serving, end of business transaction.  Imagine the difference it would make if we each took the time to meet them, learn a name and offer genuine words of gratitude and encouragement. 

It is this love that speaks volumes about who you are and the Christ you believe in.  Yes, tell people about your faith after or while you are showing them your love.  The scripture tells us people will know we are Christians by our love not our words.

It is not always a grand gesture that makes the difference in a person’s life.  Sometimes it is the simple sacrifice of a few minutes of your time, a genuine interest in someone, and a willingness to lower our guard long enough for someone to get to know us.

A common piece of advice given to counselors and many people in helping professions is “No one cares what you have to say/know until they know you care” Let your actions speak louder or at least in concert with your words.  And let people see that you are Christians by your love.

 

Easter disbelief

Luke 24: 1-12   Easter 2013

Why is this story so hard to believe?  Christians and Non-Christians alike respect the story but some still question if it ever really happened.

 Even the women and the disciples who spent so much time with Jesus, learned from him, loved him, were loved by him, believed he was the Son of God and even heard him tell them multiple times that he would be turned over to sinners, killed and on the third day raised from the dead.  If anyone, these should have been waiting and anticipating what came next not hiding out in fear and mourning.

 They had even seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead- they knew it was possible. And yet, as they watched our Lord die, doubt entered their mind.  What they had been so sure of was now in question.  They of all people should have not been so surprised by the fact that the tomb was empty and indeed his prophecy had come true.

It goes beyond rational thinking, this disbelief that Christ was resurrected from the dead.  We find it hard to imagine that Jesus didn’t put up a fight.  He went willingly with the soldiers, willingly to the court officials to be unfairly judged; he willingly carried his own cross to willingly die- even though he was not a criminal and didn’t deserve any of this.  He remained steady, strong and dignified while he was being humiliated and tortured.  We can’t imagine not at least offering up a complaint much less not having to be dragged kicking and screaming to our fate.

But it goes beyond this.  Not only did he willingly go to his execution but he shows love and compassion to his accusers in the process.  He reassures Pilate that he is not the one to blame.  He not only offers forgiveness to the criminal being crucified with him but he prays to God to forgive his murderers.  Even in excruciating pain, he still loves those who hate him.

It goes beyond that.  It is not really the history of the event that bothers us.  It is our own fear, uncertainty, our own feelings of self-loathing and hatred,  the feeling of anger towards others and a general sense of unworthiness that truly get in our way of believing. 
Our difficulty is not with God, it is not with the death of Christ, it is not with the empty tomb and the resurrection.  Our difficulty is with ourselves.  Our unbelief is not in Christ, it is in our willingness to accept that we are loved that much. 
We may be able to put on a good front for others but when we look in the mirror and take a good, honest, self-evaluation of our souls we don’t always like what we see. 
It’s not the graying hair, the new wrinkle, the crooked nose, the not so slim figure or the surgery scar that bothers us.  There are parts of our insides that we try to cover up, ignore, and hope no-one else notices.  We hear that voice in our head that holds grudges against people who have done us wrong.  We know the disdain we have for others who aren’t like us- whether it is ageism, racism, sexism, homophobia, or political affiliation we all have some stereotype that, if we are honest, bothers us at least a little but maybe a lot.  We don’t understand how if we recognize so many not so lovable things about ourselves- how could God love us?
We are usually somewhat capable of hiding the parts about ourselves which we detest the most, even from our closest friends and loved ones.  But God? 
We can’t hide anything from God.  God knew us before we were born, knit us in our mother’s womb, God knows every hair on our head, every line on our face, knows our thoughts before they are spoken and every need and desire of our heart- good and bad- and loves us anyway.  That is the most difficult thing to reconcile; the unconditional, un-surpassing, and unfailing love of Christ.  Not that Christ was willing to die but that he was willing to die for you. 

Easter is the time of year when this struggle comes to light.  We hear the story of the last supper.  We witness the brutality of Good Friday and the quiet despair of Holy Saturday. We reflect on how the women and the disciples felt on these three days.  We understand their sense of defeat and disappointment when it seems all their hopes had died on that cross and evil and death have had the last word. 

We have all felt that way at some point.  It is why it is so easy to put ourselves in their shoes.  We’ve sat up late at night worried about the health or safety of someone we love.  We’ve feared the call from the bill collector when we know we don’t have the money to pay.  We stress over layoffs at work. We understand despair.  We can’t escape at least the periodic sense of disappointment in our lives.
But we also understand the significance of Easter, the empty tomb, and the hope that it brings.  Death does not have the final say.  There are greater things to look forward to than the uncertainty of this life.  There is hope, joy and peace in a God who loves us and can and will overcome the death and darkness of this life.
It is sometimes hard to see this hope and light when you are in a time of despair.  Maybe people try to help with words of encouragement and hope in Christ.  You hear people say “don’t give up,” “pray about it” God loves you, Jesus loves you,”
Maybe you are like Peter- you don’t believe the stories of other people’s experience with God.  You need to see it for yourself.   You can see the peace and Joy others have received through their faith journey with Christ but you need to experience it yourself to really believe.
Now is the time, see it for yourself.  Open your eyes and your heart.  Go on that Journey with Christ.  Let him prove to you just how much he loves you. 

This sacrifice, this grave, this empty tomb is for you and for all those who are willing to accept that even when we can’t love ourselves, God loves us, warts and all.  Spend time reading the stories of Jesus, learn the message underlying the parables. 

The disciples and the women who came to the tomb that Easter morning had to be reminded too.  They all had to spend time remembering the life of Jesus, seeing the prediction of Christ in the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfilled it before they really understood.  See the love and compassion Jesus showed to even the most detestable members of society at the time and know he can and does love you too.  Listen with an open heart the stories of others and their experience with God- the familiarity, the sense of love, patience, provision and guidance will be unmistakable.
The empty tomb is a sign of promise that our sins have been paid for.  Jesus willingly took on the sins of this world so that we too may experience eternal salvation and eternal life with our creator.  Our sins have been washed away.  All we have to do is believe and accept our inheritance as a child of God.
Nothing, not hard times in life, failure nor disappointment, not even death can separate you from the love of God. 

With Jesus there is hope beyond the confines of this life.  Death is not how this story ends.  It is not how your story ends.  It is just the beginning.  It is never too late to start your personal journey with Christ.  Maybe you’ve been faking it all these years or maybe you have never before today realized how much you are loved.  Start today, speak with me, slip me a note, or talk with someone you know has a strong faith.  It is never too late to begin a life of hope with the love of Christ.  Your church family is here to help along the way to lead you from your cross to resurrection and life eternal.

 

Who are you?

Philippians 3: 4b-14

 Who are you?

We all define who we are in a variety of ways.  We may define it by answering what our heritage is; where we grew up, went to High School or College, who our parent and grandparents are, what our profession is, where we go to church and our faith.  Maybe we answer it with a title; mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, wife, husband…

Some of these labels we were given at birth and we are very proud to take as our own.  I know when I meet a group of people for the first time, especially at Conference Church events- someone inevitably says “your Sara’s daughter!” and I happily accept that comparison because I love my Mom and she is well respected and loved by others.

Some of them we spend our whole lives running away from. 

Maybe an angry Mom mumbles under her breath to her son- “You’re just like your father”.  Either way, we are guilty by association.   

As I get to watch my now teenage nieces and nephew grow up, I get to see them live out how to answer this question.  They try on different attitudes, taking risks, seeing exactly what they can get away with and if they really believe what their parent’s told them to believe.  They cut their hair, color it bright pink, get piercings, try a beer, say a cuss word- trying their hardest to go against what their parents taught or said they weren’t allowed to do- just to test the water.  Find their identity.  They aren’t any different than other teenagers in that respect. They slide around on the continuum of normal until they find out who they are and where they fit in this big world.

We have all been there- very few people know at a young age exactly what they want to be when they grow up and do just that.  Some of us still have an identity crisis on occasion as adults. Maybe it’s the proverbial mid-life crisis- we change jobs, get sports car, or learn a new hobby.

In our scripture lesson today- Paul is doing just that.  He is explaining his decision to change his identity from Jew to Christian.  He has been challenging the Jewish culture and belief system and has gotten a lot of flak for it.  He has been very critical of their exclusiveness and their desire to keep everyone out who doesn’t look and think the way they do so he makes sure they know who he is and why he has a right to criticize-

He once believed exactly what they believe.  He was them- he is not only criticizing the religious status quo- he is criticizing his own past beliefs, his own heritage.  It is easier to dismiss someone who is an outsider- who you can accuse of making stuff up or not understanding what really goes on here. 

Paul goes out of his way to say- nope- I know this because I was there.  We are one in the same- same heritage, same faith, same practices, I did everything I was supposed to do- all my life but I was wrong-

I have learned something better a better way and a better life.  It is an evolution of thought and belief that takes place in all our lives. 

All that stuff, which the Jewish faith required of them to do.  And, all that stuff that was being used to falsely elevate the status of some and make others seem to be unworthy was garbage. 

I am not who I once was- It is Paul’s claim and is our claim.  There is no rule that says our identity is set in stone.  Paul was the worst of the worst and became the most zealous spokesman for the Church. 

Because of Christ, we are no longer defined by who we once were and the mistakes we’ve made.  We do not get our true identity from our successes and failures in life and we are not defined by the reputation of our parents and the choices they made- good or bad.

Instead, we are defined by who Christ is, what Christ did for us.  We are children of God, we are loved, and we are forgiven.  It is not a love we can earn- it is given to us, balance paid and however we chose to respond is not to bring us glory and recognition but to direct that praise away from ourselves and become a reflection of Christ alone.  Paul wants us to understand that all things come from God and the only thing worthy of claiming is that we are loved enough that Christ was willing to die for us. 

Paul has realized through his encounter with Christ that nothing we do matters without a relationship with Christ.  There aren’t enough rituals, prayers, and good deeds to equal what Christ did for us on the cross. 

Paul goes on to say that this relationship with Christ is not an intellectual one.  Memorizing scripture, study and education, although are good tools, are not necessary to know God.  It is a personal and intimate connection that can never be broken, forsaken or lost. 

We often hear the relationship between Christ and the Church explained as a marriage.  It is the most intimate relationship we as humans can understand.  

Fred and Gloria had that ideal marriage.  They were college sweethearts, inseparable from the beginning, never one without the other.  They were married at 22 and quickly started a family and a business.  Times were hard at first but they made it through- he would pick her flowers when he couldn’t afford to buy them and she would cook him breakfast, even if it was just a piece of toast to express their love for one another.

They raised 4 boys and were blessed by a successful company.  They were active in the church, well known and well-loved in the community and it didn’t seem to matter where they went they were hand in hand.

Even as they aged the spark never seemed to fade.    At 82 years old Gloria got sick.  Fred was still healthy and cared for her daily even when he was no longer able to do it on his own, he never left her side.  After 60 years of marriage they had a bond that could never be mistaken.  They could understand each other with just a glance.  Words weren’t  necessary when they understood the language of love. 

Right before their 61^st wedding anniversary, Gloria passed away from her illness and Fred was lost.  They had been together for so long he didn’t know who he was without- her.  His identity was Gloria’s husband.  Even though he was healthy, within a few weeks, Fred died too, some say it was of a broken heart- maybe he really couldn’t live without her. 

Not every marriage is a fairytale like that one but that is the kind of relationship we are called to have with Christ.  Life is not worth living without him.  Thankfully, Christ has promised to never leave us- in times of our deepest sorrow, greatest joy and beyond the end of our physical days, Christ will be there. 

Just as Gloria didn’t do nice things for Fred because she wanted to earn his love and Fred didn’t bring her flowers because he thought she would love him any more- they did these things to show their love for one another and deepen their relationship. 

The same is true with Christ.  We cannot do anything to earn the love of Christ but he blesses us anyway.  We each have gifts from God some tangible skills, the beauty of nature, a unique personality and we respond out of love by using them to bring glory to God.  It is the circular and deeply intimate love of God that urges us to live a life which is honorable and pleasing to God so that the relationship will continue to grow and deepen. 

Fred and Gloria didn’t have a perfect relationship- there were bumps along the way- couches slept on, arguments had- love wasn’t easy but their identity was intertwined with one another- their love for each other was who they were- it was worth fighting for. 

Life with Christ isn’t easy- mistakes will be made, some days are easier than others, there will be shouts of joy and cries of agony but when we claim our identity as Christian we know that Christ will never leave our side. 

Christ doesn’t expect us to be perfect but what he wants is for us to keep trying, practice, learn from the mistakes, confess, repent and trust that we are still loved no matter what.  The marriage vows through our baptism are sacred to Christ- until death do we part- except with Christ there is no death- there is life eternal in an even more wonderful relationship with him- it just keeps getting better and better.

Our mistakes and the challenges of life are what make us need a savior.  A life of faith brings us to the foot of the cross but it is the Love of God alone that allows us to share in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the resurrection of Christ. 

Parable of the Lost Son

Luke 15 1-3, 11b-32                                        

                 This story is one of the most familiar stories in the New Testament- many of you could probably tell it from memory.   We love this story because at different times in our lives; we have been each of these characters. 

We have been the elder son, jealous of the help and attention others are getting when we feel like our good behaviors are going unnoticed and unrewarded.

We have been the slaves- watching from a distance as a friend’s family is going through a similar situation- missing our own families.

Sometimes maybe we’ve even felt like the father.  Joyous when a long lost friend has suddenly come back into your life and a relationship is mended. 

Many of us have also been the youngest son. Leaving the church to explore the world and our own freedom- only to realize as an adult how much we truly needed God and the church.

That is one of the reasons this story is so powerful.  It’s not about someone else, it is about us!

On some level we can all identify with this story.  When I read this scripture for today I realized that we often forget about the characters that prompted Jesus to tell this parable- the Pharisees.

Maybe we’ve been them too- looking at a newcomer to a class or group hesitant about welcoming them in, thinking oh- they wouldn’t fit in with us- they aren’t like us!  We don’t want to put in the effort to get to know the real person- so we don’t.

It is hard sometimes for us to realize in the moment who we are- we tend to put values on people’s roles in society, wealth, looks, and position that we often get lost ourselves.  We read this story and we forget that all the characters are lost- not just the youngest son.  Yes, he is the obvious one but not the only one. 

The Pharisees are lost- they have gotten so caught up in living a self-righteous life focused on order, power and determining who is worthy of God and who is not;  that they have lost touch with who and why they worship.  All they can see is how they have been made worthy and others are not.

The eldest son is lost- not physically but for whatever reason, he feels neglected, unappreciated, and undervalued.  He’s lost in self-pity and doubt which causes distance and hard feelings towards his father and brother.

The father is lost too- Lost in worry about his children.  He loves them each so much.  He has lost both of them to the temptation of freedom and sense of entitlement.  He’s torn between wanting to connect with them both and loving each without receiving that love in return.

The point is we are all lost.  We all need the unconditional love and open embrace of Jesus Christ in our lives.  At least the younger son knows it.  He may have had to learn it the hard way and it may have been a painful process but he fully realizes he has hit rock bottom.  He is desperate for the only relationship that can save him. 

Life, culture and personal bias prevent us from seeing the truth in others and ourselves.  Seeing not the reflection in the mirror but what God sees- our hearts. 

Sometimes we project an image of power, self-control and togetherness- We see a successful business man in a tailored suit with a wife and family, nice house and car- we see someone who seems to have it all together when God sees a broken hurt and angry child just playing dress-up.

Sometimes when we look at others we see the outward person- the drug addict, person with mental illness, homeless and emaciated from hunger maybe we see the image of the prodigal son-  He’s dirty and smelly.  He probably hasn’t had a bath in a while; his clothes are torn and need to be washed.  His breath may reek of alcohol- he’s too skinny and needs a haircut.  He’s got pig slop on his shoes. 

Maybe we think he’s gotten what he deserves- if he had just listened to his parents and stayed home.  Maybe we look at that person at the soup kitchen and grumble under our breath- why don’t they just get a job?  While God sees a solider home from war- with all the scars on the inside crying out for help that isn’t there.   Would we be willing to welcome him with the open arms of Christ?

 What does God see in you?  Are you being true to whom God wants you to be? Are you aware of just how much you need Christ?  Are you taking the time to be in prayer and reflection to deepen your relationship with Christ?  Can you admit that you are lost and in need of saving?

Are you willing to welcome people into your life who God sees as worthy- even when they don’t fit our ideal exterior expectations?

What about this Church?  Whether it is showing the open arms of Christ by the opening the doors of this church to children taking music lessons, giving AA a place to meet in order to support their recovery or sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at the neighborhood child care center.

 These are living examples of how we share the love of Christ to our community- some of these people; children and adults may eventually join us for worship and I know that you will be able to extend that welcome to them with the open arms of Christ. 

The love, forgiveness and salvation of Christ is for all who seek to be in a relationship with him.  Yes, he came to save the imperfect but righteous- the disciples, those who have dedicated their lives to God but Christ also came to save the lost- those who have never heard of his love, those who society tells them they don’t deserve God’s love- it is especially for them.

 This story of the prodigal son is an illustration of that love.  No matter how far we’ve traveled, no matter the decisions we made right or wrong, no matter how long we have been separated – God is running to us with open arms- pleading with us to come back and be in a full relationship with Christ. 

In a few weeks we will see a similar story arise with the thief on the cross- It’s never too late to come to Christ! You can go home again.  Let us be the arms of Christ in this church, in this community and in this world.  Let God use us and our love for the lost to lead them back home into the embrace of a God who loves them.

.

 

what are you scared of?

Psalm 27

What is it about the dark that is so scary?

I was visiting a friend recently who has a young child.  Scattered around the house, at least one in every room, were small night lights to keep the darkness at bay, provide comfort for the child and to help the parents navigate a dark house in the middle of the night. 

We learn from a young age to be fearful of the dark.  Children often cry when put in a dark room to sleep and some children will not enter a room without the lights on. When my sister was a teenager, one night while my family was at church for Wednesday night choir practice, thought she saw something walk by a window.  Her immediate response was to run around and turn every light in the house on.  Somehow the light would protect her from whatever she thought she saw. 

Even some adults are afraid of the dark.  Even if we have grown accustomed to a dark house at night we are put on edge by just the idea of walking down a dark street or ally- even when we know it is a safe neighborhood. 

Horror movies teach us that as long as it is daytime and the lights are on, everything is safe.  It’s when the night comes and the lights go out when those things worthy of fear come to reality.  Ghosts and the boogie man only come out at night.  We fear what is unknown, unseen and undetectable.  Darkness exacerbates that fear. 

Maybe your fears are less ambiguous than just the darkness.   Children who are scared of the dark cannot be reasoned with.  As adults sometimes we can talk ourselves out of being afraid or build up our courage enough to check out the noise coming from the dark basement despite our fears.  But some fears are very real and justified and cannot be easily dismissed and brushed aside. 

Many of you have children who live far away from home; many miles away from your ability to protect them -no matter how old they are- you still worry.  We are sometimes afraid to send children to school, especially immediately following a tragic school shooting.  Some of you have children and grandchildren who are deployed overseas in the military.  We worry about driving home in bad weather.  We worry as we wait on test results from the doctor.  We fear we won’t have enough money to pay the bills.

Whatever your life situation is, fear is often very real.  As Christians we sometimes take those fears and attempt to address them with easy answers- We say things like Trust God, just pray about it, God will make it right and sometimes these quick answers make us question our feelings, and make us feel our fears are irrational.

We claim with a loud voice that Christ is our savior and we will spend eternal life with him in heaven but  what we want is to be saved right there in that moment- not just in the afterlife.  We need a savior-now! 

When the car breaks down on a snowy night we need a savior of our souls but we also need a physical savior to get us out of the situation.  When the power goes out we need light and heat.  When a family member is in a war zone yes, we want them to have eternal salvation but we also pray for their safety now.  When we’re waiting for the test results or the surgery to be scheduled- we want to be saved-now.

We hear these same concerns as we read this Psalm.  It speaks to us of the fear of enemies and adversaries.  Although we may not have an actual physical enemy we each have our own personal adversaries and challenges.   Although there is trust in God and God’s ability to save right then- there is also confidence in eternal salvation.  The psalms teach us how to pray honestly about our fears and uncertainties.  The writer of this Psalm shows us it is possible to cry out for help and offer trust and praise at the same time. 

The Psalmist remembers times when God has answered his prayers; times when God indeed did come to the rescue.  This gives him courage to face his new fears and confidence that God will once again come through. 

We gain this courage through worship.  As we sing songs, hear scripture read and proclaimed, as we fellowship with our church family we gain strength.  Worship happens here on Sunday mornings but it also happens throughout the week.  Maybe it is hearing a sermon on the radio while you drive or an especially meaningful song you hear as you straighten up the house.  Many of you enjoy spending time in nature so maybe your worship is in the flower that blooms out of season and beckons God’s promise of new life or simply the sounds of birds in your yard.  Each of these is a sound reminder to worship God not just on Sunday mornings but throughout the week. 

We gain courage through prayer.  Sometimes just saying your problems out loud gives you a new perspective.  Talking with God often sheds light on other areas of your life where you can draw strength.  Or maybe it is gathering with friends to pray.  There is strength and courage in simply knowing that there are others on your side and praying for you.  Although this psalm is an individual prayer- my light, my salvation; many are communal prayers for and with the community. 

We gain courage through service.  When we strive to help others we see the world through different eyes.  We appreciate the gifts we have and recognize how God has answered our prayers and how much we are truly blessed when we see how others struggle.  When our decision for the evening is where to go for dinner and the person we are helping simply wishes there was something to eat- it puts problems in perspective.

We gain courage from sharing the love of God with others.  As we tell others about God’s love and share our story of salvation- times in our lives when we can look back and know- God was there- God changed the circumstances in life to where a negative outcome was not a solution or just in the nick of time showed me a more positive way.  Telling our stories reminds us that God is trustworthy and will come again.

Fear is real but when we look through life there are times when we can point out when God was there.  We know that God sent Christ to be the light in the darkness.  There is no reason to live in our fear.  Fear is real but we can trust in a God who hears our prayers, cares about us, answers our prayers and who has a good track record of coming through in the past.  We know we have eternal salvation through Jesus Christ but we also know we have a God who saves right here and now.  We have a God who makes all things work towards the good and can turn even the darkest situation into one of joy. 

We may not have all the answers to why bad things happen, why there is reason for fear, and why it sometimes seems God is absent but when we put our trust in God we can see the light at the end, we can see the hope that faith brings. 

As we travel through this period of Lent we purposefully put ourselves in a place where we are aware of the darkness of life.  We reflect on our own faith, our relationship with Christ, and we project that faith to the rest of the world.  We acknowledge the darkness but we also acknowledge the dawn to come, the rising of the light of the world- Jesus Christ with whom there is no more need of fear and with whom shines light on all who seek to live in a relationship with him. 

This doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen but with Christ we have the courage to face whatever comes our way and to go into the darkness of life with confidence that we have a God who loves us and will bring us out on the other side; A God who gives us the courage and strength to wait trusting that we will see the goodness of the Lord in this life.

Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage.   Whom shall you fear?-wait for the Lord!

Truth, you can't handle it.

Ash Wednesday 2013                                     Primary Scripture Psalm 51

 Truth!  You can’t handle the truth!   This famous line from the movie “A Few Good Men” is a poignant point in the movie and has become iconic and comical over the years but what is truth and would we know it if we saw it?

Our daily lives are filled with half-truths, little white lies, fibs and secrets-some relatively harmless it seems, maybe some scandalous.  We hide the truth all the time.  Ask any husband what the appropriate answer is to his wife’s question “does this dress make me look fat?”  Just in case you’re not sure- no matter what the truth is- the answer is always NO! 

People ask us how we are doing and we simply respond “fine” even if we feel exactly the opposite.  Maybe someone is asking you for a favor- Do you mind doing something for me?  Whether we really want to or not, most of the time the response is “sure”.  Maybe these are relatively harmless fibs.  They don’t really do anyone else harm- but sometimes our dishonesty does hurt us.  We feel lonely because we won’t admit we need company.  We feel taken advantage of when we just can’t seem to say “no” to our friends. 

Maybe we even lie to ourselves.  We convince ourselves that we don’t need help.  I can do it on my own.  We don’t want to burden someone else with our problems so we keep them secret.  We are afraid of what someone might say or think of us if we admitted what we were really thinking. We fear rejection- what if I ask for help and they say no or don’t want to be a part of my life anymore.  We don’t feel like our feelings of anger or inadequacy are legitimate so we stuff them away. 

We allow these things in our lives to weigh us down.  We all have baggage.  It is a part of life.  We name them different things- fear, shame, anger, disappointment, loneliness, doubt, illness.  We feel like these things are too heavy for anyone else to carry so we bear the burden alone.  We convince ourselves that we are strong enough to handle it. 

Sometimes we try to distract ourselves we stay busy so we don’t have to think about our problems.  We self-medicate with food or drugs.  We involve ourselves in unhealthy relationships; we talk about other people’s problems and blame others for the problems of the world- just so we don’t have to look in the mirror at ourselves. 

Truth, you can’t handle the truth so we lie, we ignore it, we pretend it’s not there we hide from it.

Psalm 51 reminds us multiple times that we cannot hide- from ourselves or God.  God can see our inner most heart.  God wants honesty, repentance, and for us to trust God with our baggage.  But first, we have to be honest with ourselves.

Lent is a time of personal reflection; a time to search our souls, a time of spring cleaning for our body, minds and spirits. It is a time to admit to ourselves and to God where we need help.  Be honest and open- these secrets not only harm us and our relationships with one another but they harm our relationship with God.  When we hide the truth we are telling God we don’t think God can handle it.  We are telling Jesus Christ that we don’t need his sacrifice, we don’t need the cross, we don’t need him. We are telling even more lies.   When the truth is God is the only one that can handle it.  Christ is the only way to wipe our slate clean, make our burdens lighter and he is willing to do it. 

Lent is not a time to give up trivial things like chocolate or soda just because you feel like you need to give up something.   It is about reflecting on those things that get in the way between you and God. It is about ridding your life of those things that separate you from the love of Christ and prevent you from being fully connected and trusting of him.

 It is about getting rid of the idols in our lives that we put in place of God.  Maybe it is food- instead of dealing with pain- you seek comfort in food- you want that glass of wine at the end of a hard day instead of time alone with God to distress.  Maybe it is the computer or television that distracts you and prevents you from putting quality time into prayer and meditating on the scriptures.  Maybe shopping or eating out puts strain on your finances and causes stress in your life.  Maybe God is calling you to take better care of your body- eat healthier, exercise more. 

Take this season of Lent as a time to be truthful with God and yourself.  Put your baggage at the foot of the cross, leave it at the alter.  Don’t let the crucifixion of Christ be in vein- trust him.  He already knows all your secrets and he loves you anyway- there is nothing you can do or say that will make God stop loving you.  It is a wonderful mystery that we cannot take for granted.  God simply wants us to recognize our own faults, break down the barriers that we put up to try and hide from God and humble ourselves at the foot of the cross- recognizing we need Christ, we need forgiveness and we need him to wash our sins away. 

Some research claims that is takes 30-40 repetitions of a new behavior to make it a habit.  Use these 40 days of Lent to start a new and healthy habit of prayer, meditation, journaling, or reading scripture.  Deepen and strengthen your relationship with God.  Start being honest with yourself and ask God to wash away your sins and guide you to a path of righteousness, love and honesty.

Truth- God can handle the truth- let him. 

Love as a Verb

1 Corinthians 13

 

This scripture is one of the most well-known and well- loved chapters in the Bible.  We recite it at weddings, it is cross stitched on pillows, painted on walls- it is everywhere.  Some of you may actually have it written on a valentine card this week.  It is a beautiful poem and with it being a poem it can take on personal and varied meanings. 

But, what is love?  We use this word so often these days that it seems like it has lost some of its power.  We say it to our family and friends.  We use it casually to describe things we really like; I love chocolate, I love music, I love baseball.  We even hear it as a term of endearment- hello love!  We even use it in a dismissive way- I recently overheard someone way- I love her to death but…

Some who read this scripture may see this as something they strive to have.  They see love as a noun, something to be given, something to receive and when they read this it is often pulled out of context and seen as a list of qualities to look for in a partner.

When we look at it in context with what we read in the chapter just prior to this one it takes on a little different meaning.  Paul has been talking about the body of Christ and how each member is given specific gifts each of which are equal in value and worthy of honor and respect.  He continues to encourage us to use our gifts towards a better kingdom of God and a better church here on earth. 

Paul then is explaining in this chapter what it means to love and serve others in love.  It is used as a verb not a noun.  Paul is telling the church in Corinth as well as us that simply doing is not enough- it is the attitude of love that makes it a clear reflection of Christ.  The people in the church in Corinth were arguing with one another and an environment of one up man ship.  It wasn’t about love.  It was about being right, looking good in front of their friends, showing off and getting the proverbial gold star.

The church today- 21^st Century America often has this same attitude.  We argue and compete over who can be the best at missions, evangelism, memorizing scripture, who has the best bake sales and whose theology is “right”.  We argue within the church- I give my tithe- why can’t everyone else,  I have this job and it is very important, or maybe it is gossip- smiling at one another, giving lip service to being the family of God where everyone is welcome then deny membership or sincere embrace to people who aren’t like us.   We have forgotten that love is a verb.

Recent statistics show that as many as 33% of adults in America consider themselves “spiritual not religious” or not religious at all-who can blame them?  Many of these people believe in God and may be open to Christ but they have seen too many examples of the church acting out of self-righteousness and hate not love that it isn’t appealing to them.

Throughout history Christians and many other religious categories have long used God and religion to justify violence whether it is the crusades of the middles ages, the Spanish inquisition, Emanate domain displacing native Americans, slavery, bombing abortion clinics, violence against homosexuals, burning the Quran and protesting the funerals of fallen American Soldiers.

All of these are done out of a claim of devotion to God and their Christian faith but Paul is telling us this is not what Christianity is supposed to be.  These are not actions of love.  Instead of pleasing God it is a noisy gong and clanging cymbal.  It is giving God a headache.

These may be extreme examples but it is just as annoying to God when we act in the name of Christ for any reason other than love.  Love is the great motivator… some of you may remember the 70’s rock ballad by  Meatloaf  “I would do anything for Love” The only thing he says he won’t do is forget.  How can he possibly forget the woman he loves and how can we possibly forget the love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We as Christians are lucky- every time we take Holy Communion and I hope every time we are in church and every time we take a breath we remember, we know, at least in part, what it means to be loved by Christ.  Our faith and our experience, our history and trust in God gives us the coping mechanisms to deal with disappointment and hurt feelings.  As the Psalm we said earlier expresses- Even when the world has let us down we know we have hope in a God that loves us. 

Not everyone we encounter in our lives has that experience.  We know we can trust, we know we can believe because God has come through in the past.  When others don’t know of that eternal love it helps to hear about it from those who do.

In this changing and challenging world the stories of those who have experienced the love, provision, compassion and salvation of Christ are necessary to counteract the negative attitudes and the failures of humankind. 

God isn’t going to stop being active but those who don’t know God need to hear your stories.  Children, youth, young adults even older adults need the encouraging words your life story can offer.  They need to hear the stories of what life was like when you were at your lowest and how God and the love of Christ pulled you out of the darkness.  It will offer hope to those who experience pain and fear.  These stories are about recognizing for ourselves that it is God that saves, not our own efforts.  It is a chance to brag on God and share the love of Christ with those who need to hear it most.

We can never love too much, we can never tell our stories of Christ’s love too often.  We can never celebrate Christ’s love too much- Each time we come to the communion table we remember, we rehearse the story, our story about how Jesus loved us so much that he was willing to die for us. 

This type of love that Christ calls us to live is not an easy one.  It is not the romantic love and the warm and fuzzy feelings we may get at Valentines, it is active, risky, difficult and sometimes scary but it is always right and always worth the risk.

Remember the love Christ has shown you.  The times in your life when faith and trust in God got you through and be purposeful and aware of if and how you share that love with others. Whether it is word or deed, be sincere, honest and genuine. 

Love others because God first loved us- even when we don’t deserve it. Love never fails.  Eat the bread, Drink the wine and taste the love of Christ!