On the Way to Wonder

We recently moved and now we are within a mile of two donut shops!  Two days ago I was at the memorial of a nurse whom I worked with in northern Kenya in a former famine relief camp.  There was a picture of her with her Irish wolfhound, huge, who sat next to me in the Land Rover my first day on the station, drooling on my parents’ first grandchild, as we returned a woman to her remote village.   So many memories.  The memorial closed with brownie and ice cream.  Two worlds, one without food and one with food that tempts me self indulge exist side by side in my mind.  I visualize the scale telling me I need to loose weight and I want to join friends celebrating.  I invariably will choose to eat and be distressed with myself afterwards.

         Jesus met a similar temptation shortly after his baptism.  He went into the wilderness and fasted for forty days.  Matthew 4: 3-4 tells us,

         “³ The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of       God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But       he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone,   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

In the series of three temptations, Jesus is first approached in the arena of food.  He responded with Scripture, our theme this week.  We all have our weak spots when it comes to our appetites.  Perhaps it is not food but it is the desire to fulfill a different drive.  Pornography is popular now and easy with Internet.  Angry, snarky remarks seem to be part of our public debates.  I find it interesting that Jesus did not resort to historical precedent or scientific facts but responded with the clear truth from Scripture that what feeds our appetites should come from the God.  Scripture cut through the debatable to the eternal.

I don’t know your area of temptation to appease your desires today – food, shopping, sex, and gossip – but for sure those desires are there.  Perhaps it will help to pause and ask ourselves, do I need this to live the good life I want?  Am I consuming “bread” or promoting life?  Am I pleasing God or pleasing self?  To be tempted, to want, is not wrong but what we do with it reflects truth about the foundations of our hearts.  Lord, help me seek you first and your kingdom and trust that my wants will be fulfilled.  Blessings.

Inspiration.  I suspect we all sang, “Puff the Magic Dragon” in our youth and that song is still loved today.  Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, ad Mary put to music the poem of Leonard Lipton who himself was inspired by a poem by Ogden Nash.  A little boy, Jackie Papers, has a pet dragon Puff and they frolic by the sea in an imaginary land of Honalee.  Jackie grows up and leaves the world of imagination and Puff crawls into his cave.  That song captured the imagination of a generation and the sense of loss of innocence as we age and take on the realities of life. 

         We read in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”  Luther debated with Rome that Scripture is one of the foundations we stand on because it is inspired.  It stands the test of time, is consistent, is simple truth but it is also inspirational.  It speaks into my life differently each time I read as the truth permeates into my soul.  Sometimes I am comforted that Jesus is my Shepherd.  Other times I am convicted that I need not fear danger as he walks with me through the shadow of death.  Or perhaps I rejoice that there is a table prepared for me at the end of the journey as I have persevered.

         Luther’s belief in Scripture as core to righteousness also led to his work on translating the Bible into German so that there was not just an educated priestly class but the ordinary person could come to the Word.  Perhaps today I will hear some song, see some sunset, watch some movie that touches my heart and I travel down memory lane.  As we come to Scripture today as foundational, we come to words that are training us in righteousness.  Take time to read a passage and meditate on the historical depth, the truth encapsulated in it and ponder how it inspires you to be “your better self.”  Blessings.

Hebrews 4: 12 is one of the key verses used for support of Scripture Alone when desiring wisdom and truth.  I don’t know that Luther used it in seeking a debate with Rome but for many Christians it is central.

            ^“Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-   edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

As I ponder what is able to cut deeply into my soul, many examples come to mind.  Pictures can be so poignant that they drive people to their knees.  An example is the photo of the child running from napalm during Vietnam.  Biological warfare came under critique.  Martin Luther Jr’s speech, “I have a dream…” has been memorized by our children in school.  The Mona Lisa has inspired movies.  Many of us graduated high school to the hymn, “My eyes have seen the glory…” Many artistic expressions touch us deeply, driving our imagination, our aspirations and our conscience.

         The writer of Hebrews states that Scripture not only is sharper that

any two edged sword, piercing our reality but it also “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  King David in the Old Testament, growing old, stays home from battle with his troops, and is enchanted by a young women bathing on her rooftop.  Visual stimulation.  He has her come and they enjoy the evening.  Physical involvement.  She becomes pregnant giving proof to the affair and David has her husband in the army placed in a compromising position so he dies in battle.  David marries Bathsheba.  Problem solved, or is it?  David’s prophet Nathan comes with a story and a message from God.  “You are the man!  This is what the Lord, the God of Israels says… (2 Samuel 12)” Why did that truth cut so deeply into David and drive him to repentance?

         Perhaps one aspect of Scripture, besides that it is consistent in its thematic message through history and writers, is that it reveals a God who sees us to the core and who does not candy coat truth.  It is so easy to convince ourselves that judgments are bias because of affection and political views but Scripture is not Republican or Democrat, not infavor of the rich over the poor, nor written by people that have something to gain from our involvement.  Scripture is inspired by a God who sees.

         So perhaps our reflection today as we ponder the foundations for our decision making is to reflect on what touches us to the core judging the thoughts and intentions of our hearts?  I doubt it is science.  I doubt it is comes from the arts.  The spoken word enters our ears, passes the heart, and touches the soul.  We have a God who lives, who sees, and who cares enough to speak to us honestly through Scripture.  Are we listening today?

October has arrived as I see friends on Face Book in coats, I observe the Fall events being advertised in stores – Halloween candy tempts me everywhere!, and I remember key spiritual holidays – Reformation, All Saints Day, thanksgiving, and Christmas are coming!  October is the month when we Lutherans celebrate Reformation, Oct. 31, 1517 when Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg, GR.   A whole rethinking of basic Christian tenants were thrown into public forums by the reformers and the invention of the printing press.  Many of our modern beliefs are be traced back to that time in history.  Are the presidential debates no different than Luther’s desire to engage “the system” in open discussion around basic tenants.  Luther is famous because his points of discussion were not economy, foreign affairs, climate and health but were called the Four Solas ie the Four “Alones”.  Faith should be based on Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, and Christ alone.  These will be the themes for our four weeks of reflection this month.

         What is the standard we gauge our beliefs by?  If science says it is so, does that define reality?  Global warming is claimed by many to be a scientific fact and hence the foundation for our environmental policy.  Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone, became the cry of the reformation.  Debates should not be based on “experts’” claims but must be based on accepted biblical writings.  Thus today we will think about Romans 15:4,

                  ⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our     instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the          scriptures we might have hope.

I chose this verse because it ties together James’ encouragement that in the face of difficult times we count it joy because trials develop perseverance, steadfastness, and lead to maturity.  Paul, in Romans, shares a similar idea.  Scripture provides a foundation we can refer to that is consistent, reliable, and we believe inspired by God.  Our tendency is to takes our woes to friends we know will agree with us but scripture claims a historical depth and consistency that draws us to God’s wisdom..  Scripture encourage us and give us hope.  Certainly we need that today.

         So what scriptures encourage you?  Many love Psalm 23 that reminds us that “The Lord is my shepherd…”  This month the Deaconesses are sharing confirmation and consecration verses that have encouraged us through our journey.  One way to find a verse for the challenge of the moment is to use a concordance at the back of your Bible and look up a word e.g. fear, trust, love…  Today it is possible with technology to go to a website like Biblegateway.com and just type in your word and they instantaneously pull up verses.   I love Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear….”   Scripture was written for our instruction, to develop steadfastness, and lead us to hope!  May it form a solid foundation in your life and thinking.

We come to the end of James and find a string of advise.  Is there a thread that ties it all together?  His letter is about finding joy in trials as we persevere, keeping focused on God.  Perhaps we could title it, “finding the silver lining in a cloud.”  Our lives are like the mist of a cloud and how sad to spent it tossing to and fro like a wave because we do not turn to God for wisdom.  God is the giver of good.  He warns against favoritism, against gossip, against works without faith.  Wisdom is peaceful and not contentious.  Be patient, is certainly his advice.  So chapter 5, verse 13 he returns to his original thought of facing trials.  He asks, “Is any one of you in trouble?”

         The verses that follow seem to me to focus on the value of community.  God gives wisdom but we live in community.  Joy is to be shared by singing praises, by prayer, by calling elders in times of trouble, and by confession.  “The prayer of a righteous ma is powerful and effective.”   God works in and through community.  Even as faith without works is dead, trials without a supportive community are unbearable.

         James gives the example of Elijah, on of the major prophets, who lived at a time of great political turmoil as the queen was a Baal worshiper and the king was an unstable leader.  Elijah’s prayers are known for significant impact.  Perhaps we can spend sometime remembering those whose lives were great examples of faith and who deeply impacted our lives.   Community helps carry us through trials when often it is so hard to see clearly the hand of God working.  Helping each other when we go astray “covers a multitude of sins.”

         Trials test our faith and drive us to seek wisdom from God and comfort from community.  We sort out our values as our wants are challenged.  So many lines in James bring me comfort – God does not test us, all good gifts comes from God who does not change like shadows, God does not play favorites by wealth and rewards faith, wisdom is peace-loving, and prayer is powerful.  Our lives are in God’s hands so let us focus on living today trusting him. Blessings.

Who do you admire for perseverance in the face of suffering?  One of our more modern day “sheroes” is Joni Erickson Tada who broke her neck and became a quadriplegic at about age 16.  She has written, spoken, and put her journey into music.  I read about how she dealt with pain when I was a young adult.  Who do you admire?  James looks to the life of Job, a wealthy man in the Old Testament who lost everything, family, wealth, and even his friends turned on him.  James chooses Job because in the end of the book of Job, God appears and justifies Job and rewards him for clinging to his faith.  The book of Job is set in a larger context of a heavenly conversation, perhaps discussion, between God and Satan.  God allows Satan to bring trouble to Job to highlight Job’s faith.  Job claims he has done nothing wrong as his friends urge him to repent as they believe that all misfortune is the result of the person’s wrongs.  We learn that Job’s picture is bigger.  God does not usually appear to us and we are not always given the larger view but James points out that perseverance is key.  This is not to say we do not deserve some of our problems because of our bad choices and misplaced values but it is to say there is not always a direct correlation between trouble and sin.

         James’ conclusion is that we live a life of integrity.  Our words should speak truth.  If we say “no,” it should mean no and if we say “yes” it should mean yes.  In this season of political posturing, it is easy to point the finger to the TV and lament the state of affairs of our country, but I am challenged to take a moment and reflect on my life.  If I were to rate my level of perseverance on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 is low and 10 is high (even as I rate pain for the nurse), what number would I give myself?  I believe James would challenge us that our rating would also correlate to how well we are staying focused on God when confronted with trying situations.  Today, when you encounter frustrations, try to stop and reflect if you are being God-centered or self-centered.  God works outside the box and he has solutions as numerous as the leaves that are beginning to Fall!  Blessings.

Today is October 1, almost the end of 2020, and today we come to James 5, almost the end of his letter to encourage Christians “scatter among the nations.”  Yet again he reminds us that wealth is not an honest indicator of eternal success nor does it protect us from trials.  The rich and wealthy are victims of Corona, of hurricanes, and of car accidents.  Remember James’ opening, rejoice in trials and let the test develop perseverance, patience, work to develop and perfect you.  He returns now to that same theme.  Be patient.  His example, the farmer.

         Leaves are beginning to change colors, garden plots are being prepared for the winter, canning is coming to an end and now we hunker down for the cold.  Even as we trust that Spring will come, the Christian trusts that the Lord is coming to establish justice. What helps us wait and anticipate?

         Using the example of the farmer, I think of those jars of canning that speak to life and blessing.  What have we canned and stored in our hearts for the winter, memories of grievances and losses or memories of blessings?  One of the disciplines of the missionary lifestyle is writing letters to friends far away.  When I go through my address files and remember all the people who have blessed my life, I am always thankful.  When I see all the variety of colors of falling leaves, I remember that God has multiple ways to answer my prayers.  The produce of the past, predicts the blessings of the future … Thanksgiving is coming.

         Secondly when I think of Fall or Winter, I think of wind blowing the leaves, the sound of rustling leaves, the visit of friends for celebrations.  Perhaps it means more time inside doing crafts and listening to music.  Music helps me be patient.  When trials come, if I turn on music, I am always encouraged.

         Reading edifying literature like the Bible also encourages me.  I do not know what helps you to be patient but James is convinced that trials come to build us as we learn to be patient and wait for spring.  Perhaps it is time to take inventory of your resources for dealing with trials and your ways to find encouragement.  God is faithful and he is coming. V. 8 “the Lord’s coming is near.  Don’t grumble!”  Blessings.

Today we come to the end of September 2020 and to the end of James 4.  It is hard to read verses 13-17 about boasting what someone can accomplish tomorrow without pondering our presidential campaign and last night’s debate where two men shared (we won’t say boasted) about what they could accomplish better than the other guy.   Oh my!  Who will be able to control disease and the virus in our midst?  Who can best provide income for families?  Who can keep our environment healthy?  Who, who, who?  James clearly points out that the future is in God’s hands and life can change in a moment with a car accident, a phone call, or -a loss. 

         Chapter one compared us to a toss waving in the sea driven by wind and unstable in doubt or to a wild flower that blossoms and fades.  Now James uses the image of a mist that appears and vanishes.  A presidential term is even shorter on the stage of history.  James claims boasting is arrogance, placing our trust in ourselves rather than in God.

         Yesterday I went to get a new state license and to register our car.  I thought I had my ducks in order and had all necessary documents.  My husband and I were assigned to different windows but our documents of residence were to both of us, oops.  Fedex delivered the title deed to our temporary address three doors from our permanent address so our temporary shuffling of houses became obvious.  Then when they looked at proof of insurance it became clear that insurance was issued at our old address so that we had to run to the lobby and call the company and get everything updated with addresses.  A seemingly straight-forward process somehow drained all my energy.  Life is like that.  We think we have things  in order to tackle huge issues like environment or welfare and suddenly we are masking and finding new ways to do church.  Only God holds tomorrow.

         James concludes that when we know what we should do and don’t do it, we sin.  The focus returns to the present and the reality that God holds our lives in his hands and our task is to live with integrity in that knowledge.  I do not know your plans for today nor which ones will go side-wards but God does.  Let’s keep our eyes on him for he is faithful.  Blessings.

“Channel surfing” from yesterday’s thoughts transitions to “slander” for us to ponder today.  Tonight, I believe, is our first presidential debate and for sure the “fact checkers” will be on duty.  Both parties will find as many distortions of truth as they can.  James warns against judging others.  Of course James is talking about within the body of believers but perhaps there is an element of truth for politics also?  When we judge, he says, we put ourselves over the law and assume the authority to enforce it.  But if we have no power to enforce the law, he reasons, by what right do we tear apart another with the law?

         The Biblical story that comes to mind involves Moses, Aaron, and Miriam in Numbers 12.  All three siblings were significant people in leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Moses, the leader, Aaron the first high priest, and Miriam the song leader worked together.  But Moses took a new wife, a Cushite, and Miriam grumbled against Moses.  We don’t know underlying causes but we do know Miriam and Aaron starting speaking against Moses and his new wife.  God stepped in and punished Miriam and Aaron.  God reiterates that he is working with his leader and Miriam is out of line.

         Slandering others seems to be a form of self-justification.  Ooops, that word “self” has slipped in again and my focus has turned from God unto me.  Slander is not God-focused but self-focused because I place myself in the seat of God and judge.  We diminish this on the everyday level by calling it “idle gossip” but slander in all its forms is dangerous, divisive, and destructive.  The tongue (Chapter 3) undisciplined destroys fellowship and communities

         As we listen to all the information we hear surfing the news channels, may we be careful that we do not ignorantly slander others by passing on information to make ourselves look informed and knowledgeable.  Lord, help us during elections!

I like the image of “channel surfing” or “surfing the web” which our generation can employ.  I sit back  on the couch and flip through the alternatives available to me until I settle on something that fits my mood, fits my fancy.  James returns to the theme of chapter one which we might identify as channel surfing through life.  We are like that wave tossed and turned by the wind, sometimes up and sometimes down, searching for advice that fits our fancy at the moment.  James challenges us to choose or be forever divided.  He advises we seek God and the Devil will flee.  As we repent of the adrenaline rush, the thrill, the chase after our wants and turn to God’s wants and God’s wisdom, God draws near to us.  As we humble ourselves before God, he brings about true fulfillment and peace.

         Having spent my youth at the ocean in California, I love the thrill of catching that big wave that will carry me almost to shore.  I only body surfed and I must admit that more often than not I was too early and ended up tossed and twirled about in the crash or too late wishing I could have paddled a little faster and had better timing.  It is a bit dismaying to think that my moods often correlate to my focus of faith at the moment.  Am I seeking God or my wants?  Am I resisting evil or at least my selfish desires?  The cake looks so good but as soon as I eat it, I berate myself for my weakness.  Double-mindedness is real.

         I am reminded of C. S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters where a greater devil is writing to his nephew working in the world and admonishing him to remember that people are amphibians.  People live in highs and lows.  Screwtape says in effect, God is happiest when the person at a low point when God does not seem present, that person prays in the darkness to the God he is trusting. Spiritual maturity is like learning to walk.  We are not drones controlled by God but his children learning to use our spiritual abilities and we must learn to choose to seek him.

         Today, as you go through the ups and downs of the challenges you face may you humbly trust God and he will lift you up.  Blessings.