On the Way to Wonder

I woke up this morning in tears. Last night a friend called and after a misunderstanding hung up on me. I am crushed and feel “powerless” this morning. So as I opened my Bible to read again Luke 4:14-21, I was struck by the first sentence that says Jesus returned to his home area in northern Israel, Galilee “in the power of the Spirit.” Power is actually a big word in our culture right now as we talk about justice and inequality so that some segments of society have power and others do not. Fourth of July will be celebrated with powerful fireworks celebrating our independence from one of the most powerful countries in the world at that time. Illness has given institutions the power to reformat services as I had a doctor visit over the phone yesterday. I did not need to stick out my tongue or have my blood pressure taken! Power, what is it?

To my surprise the Webster’s first definition does not deal with a source of energy ie that I receive power from without. The first definition is “ability to produce an effect”, secondly “authority”, thirdly “political control or influence”, fourthly angels, fifthly mathematical powers that indicate multiplication, and not until definition six do I find “a source or means of supplying energy.” As I ponder my late night discussion, I realize I feel powerless by all definitions of power.

Proverbs 1 turns the reader away from the desired outcome of powerful actions. Fools are enticed into company with people who promise wealth and prosperity and success but that becomes a trap that ruins them. Rather, the writer challenges us to focus on wisdom, on the fear of the Lord that leads to knowledge, discretion, guidance and understanding. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” This does not mean I am right and I will probably have to eat humble pie today to repair a valued friendship but it does mean I have a source of help outside myself, that breathes into my life and will help me navigate turbulent waters. I do not know your challenge as you face today but I pray you walk with the awareness of the power of the Spirit who cares for you. Blessings.

Luke 4:17 tells of Jesus entering the synagogue of his hometown, Nazareth, being handed the scroll of Isaiah and finding the place where “it is written.” My mind grabbed this phrase and immediately pondered which movie I had heard it from, making it famous. Going to the internet that knows all (???) I discovered there is an international TV channel called It Is Written done by the Seventh Day Adventist. Slumdog Millionaire also has it in its credits so giving hope to many born in the slums that life can get better. But Quora found my memory:

“It was originally a quote from Pharaoh in The Ten Commandments, and the statement meant: I said this with my authority as absolute ruler. Therefore my minions will write it down as law, remember it, and enforce it. The movie achieved almost total penetration of American culture so that the phrase entered the vernacular as a way         of semi-ironically affirming that you really mean the thing who you just   ordered…’so let it be written, so let it be done.’”

The fact that something is written down and recorded gives added credibility to the speaker. Can you hear yourself saying, Now where did I read, where was it written? Jesus did not quote from memory but “found the place where it is written,” adding authority to what he was about to say.

On Sundays, after our confession/forgiveness, the unloading of our hearts as we enter holy time and space, we do introductory praise but then we start with reading Scripture, reading “where it is written,” and the preacher normally speaks on those writings. We even stand for the reading of the Gospel, showing respect that the Gospel are the words of Christ. Jesus is the “living word”, “the Word made flesh” and is somehow alive in the written word.

So how does that impact my life today? When was the last time when I searched God’s word for “where it is written” for guidance for an issue I was facing? Do I believe with the Pharaoh that the written word is there with the authority of the God of the universe and with full expectation that I obey? Hmmmm. My husband and I debate about “law” as rules to be enforced or guidelines to be followed. How we understand the tone perhaps reflects on how we understand the character of the person speaking. The pharaoh speaks with command in his voice but I try to focus on a God who speaks with love in his voice as his written words are giving us advise on how to have an abundant life. Lord, let us hear your word and focus on your love today. Blessings.

Tomorrow is the last day of June!!! Today after reading Luke 4, I continued with Prov. 29:1, “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.” “Stiff-necked” draws to mind the many times the prophets lamented over “stiff-necked” and stubborn people they prophesized to. I reflect, are there areas in my life where I am stiff-necked and refuse to accept rebuke? The easiest place to ponder in my life that is probably symptomatic of my personal dynamic is to ponder the blood sugar reading on Monday morning. If the number is elevated then I know I have not lived properly the day before. No exercise? Too much sugar? Easting a sweet offered so as not to offend the host? Too much stress? I can analyze. I can rationalize. I can explain. I can even agree but if I do not change my behavior, problems await. Psalm 29 opens, “Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty-ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.” David starts by placing his eyes on God, by crediting God with the strength to face his day. As Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, on the Sabbath, as was his custom, he is handed the scroll – the Word. As I come to the end of June, as I start my day, where do I find my strength to receive the rebukes I need to hear to correct my ways? I fear if I look to my own heart and insight, I will rationalize away the truth of my stiff-necked-ness.   If I look to culture, I will dissolve action in debate over the best solution. Hand me the “scroll” of the Word of God that I might ascribe to Him the glory and strength He is due and which I need to humble myself before. Blessings as you face your challenging areas today!

“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…” starts verse 14 in Luke 4:14-21. If Jesus is God then why does Luke point out that he was returning to his home area in the “power” of the Holy Spirit? One Bible study technique is to read a different translation to shed light, or a different perspective. We believe the written Word is a breathing document that can be translated into any language and speak to people. The words themselves are not sacred as in the Q’ran resulting in Arabic as the universal language but the God who inspired the writing is holy. Reading a different translation is like talking to a different witness at the scene who might put a different twist on the incident. The reader in prayer goes to God then to seek truth. Anyway, I checked with the New English Translation. The NET, one of the more recent translations starts verse 14 with, “Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit,…” No big difference but there is a footnote after Spirit. “Once again Jesus is directed by the Spirit.” Power of the Spirit could be understood as directed by the Spirit. Luke goes out of his way to make clear that Jesus is moving in conjunction with the Spirit, the Trinity. Perhaps because tomorrow we will yet again talk about being sent as disciples, Christians as representatives of Jesus, I ponder the implications of Jesus being directed by the Holy Spirit.

Trinity, three in one, is a concept that is hard to explain but core to Christianity and we see it here. The implication is that the Godhead is united in what is to follow, a team. Jesus is not on assignment “earth, salvation’ while God runs the world. Jesus, the reality of God made visible and working within our human (God/man) system, is now stepping into what is to unfold. Perhaps we might also say that if Jesus, the man, was needing the power of the Holy Spirit to lead him, how much more do we need to spend time in prayer, the Word, worship seeking God’s guidance in a situation! Thirdly, again the reality that our God is able to come to us and be real to us is presented. We do not climb to God. He is able to come to us. We are teams and do not stand alone. We are instructed, not needing to be brilliant and come up with a solution. And God comes to us because he cares.

I do not know where you will be led today but I do know you do not go alone. The power of the Spirit is there to direct your paths. You need not be alone. Blessings!

In Luke 4:14-21 Jesus enters the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown and “the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed him.” Isaiah is the first major prophetic book in the Old Testament. Isaiah lived about 700 BC and according to Isaiah 1:1 prophesied during the kingship of four Judean kings, possibly for 64 years. Scholars have debated just exactly how the book of Isaiah was put together but Jesus used it for his platform. Isaiah’s wife was called “the prophetess (8:3)” and they had three sons.

So did Jesus request the scroll of the prophet Isaiah or did he plan his journey to be in Nazareth, knowing Isaiah was the given book to be read? We do know that after Ezrah, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, a system of reading Holy Scripture was established even as our Sunday texts are uniform in all Lutheran churches and mainline churches and Catholic churches around the world each Sunday. The scroll is handed to Jesus. I hear in this that Jesus, knowing his heritage, knowing his destiny did not choose to speak “out of the blue” but tied his message to a historical prophecy. He did not claim divine inspiration for something new but embedded himself in God’s continuing story being unfolded in Scripture and history.

The scroll of Isaiah, with verses sung in Handel’s Messiah, that is quoted multiple times in the New Testament, is put into the hands of Jesus and is available to me in the Bible. How does that touch my heart this morning? The continuity of God’s story, God’s word, God’s continuing communication with us touches my heart. In our world today where we “surf the web,” “channel hop” on media to find entertainment, God’s consistent message and multiple attempts to reach me are very touching. I fret when my prayers are not answered instantly and in the way I want them answered but these words encourage me that our God does not give up and is working in ways I cannot hope to understand and in ways I cannot see. I do not know where you are feeling called to stand up and speak, but sharing the truth of God’s consistent love is a good place to start. May God bless your encounters today and give you voice!

“As was his custom” caught my eye in Luke 4:16 as I read verses 14-21. Having traveled internationally, I think of customs first as the tax that is paid for bringing certain goods into a country. I am a bit embarrassed to see I added an “s” to custom and my mind went to taxes! But now that I made that mistake, I am challenged to ponder if some of us treat going to church similar to going through customs at the airport, checking if we have anything to declare (hoping they don’t open the bag), paying, thus fulfilling our legal responsibility – to God. I go to church or synagogue on Sabbath because it is my custom, my habit, what I do on Sunday to orient myself for the week, more like a charm for blessing than a thirst for relationship. “Custom” can also be “custom made”, that is fitting the order of the person requesting. Perhaps my “custom” is to go through “customs” seeking a “custom made” solution for my present plight in life. Hmm.

But the real point is that Jesus had a custom, a habit of going to synagogue and in fact, after the baptism, had returned north to Galilee and taught in synagogues and was praised. He was carpenter now turned preacher. Something happened in Jerusalem that deeply impacted his life and led to a change in life style. He had been baptized and tried in the dessert. Faith changes my life. I no longer go through “customs” as a required step to clear the airport, but I add a “custom” to my life of centering myself, seeking relationship and worshipping on Sunday – regardless of how good the sermon is. I pray when I go to church, others will describe me “as was her custom.”   Having a “custom made” encounter with God is a “custom” I cherish. As July 4^th approaches, may we never let this freedom be a routine habit but a dynamic encounter with the Holy. Blessings!

Meeting the challenge to read Luke 4:14-21 for a month, I started reading and my eyes were caught by Jesus going to Nazareth “where he had been brought up.” Jesus, I know was born in Bethlehem, rushed to Egypt, but then the family returned to Nazareth due to politics in Bethlehem. I imagine Jesus was surrounded by grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts as well as all the people who knew that “angel story” about his conception. My family moved every two or three years due to my father’s job and I never really knew grandparents or extended family til I was in high school. I imagine being brought up in a greater family context buffered Jesus from some of the village chatter that probably diminished with time unless the stories of his unique abilities as the God/man that he was growing with marked him as unique. Perhaps we could say that Jesus “sheltered” in Nazareth within his family.

We know about sheltering now. We shelter in our houses and kids bring food to the elderly. But can we broaden our thinking to the church as a place where we shelter, where we are “brought up” and protected from the rumors of society, the accusations of our past, the pains of our present. For those of us who have moved all our lives, church is the place we have been “brought up” and guided into maturity. Perhaps today we can spend a few moments reflecting on how we were “brought up”. Who protected us? What are some of the themes of our upbringing? Is there a place we can return to where we were brought up and what memories might that stir? Thank you Lord for all that went in to bringing me to today and all those people and places that “brought me up” to be the person I am today. Help me forgive and forget that which is not worth remembering and appreciate all that You have put into my life! Amen!

“Few of us know how to grow old gracefully. (Unknown) “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)” These are the words of encouragement from my calendar today. “Grow old gracefully,” are the words that catch my eyes and heart this morning. Growing old, I know, but gracefully gives room for reflection. I am juxtaposing it to Proverbs 22:4, “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” Hmmmm.

I suspect wealth is not just a monetary word but can also refer to the wealth of memories we choose to hold as we age. I must challenge my self daily to release that which needs to be forgotten, forgive that which I can, and invest in the valuable. I may not be high income but I am wealthy in memories of God’s grace – full of grace- to me.

I suspect honor is not the same as fame. One of the people I honor the most in my life was the first man who worked for me when we took our first assignment in a former famine relief camp in northern Kenya. I was a young wife with first baby, “straight from the LA freeway” I would say, and he was an “old man” in my eyes with a cloth wrapped around his waist and a toothbrush stick dangling from his mouth. He had been caught by the other tribe, emasculated and left for dead but rescued and taken to a mission hospital where he became a Christian. His children were by arrangement, “artificial insemination” I’d say and he could not be an elder in the church he attended faithfully because of his social history, not his faith history. That man taught this young woman more than an professor in college. He will never be president or American Idol or anything famous but the way he lived his life with grace and dignity, I am convinced will be honored in heaven.

I suspect life is not the same as years. None of us know what the day will bring nor how long our years will be. Kenyans always started church by saying, “Many wanted to live to see today but did not, let us worship our God.” I pray I can enjoy the days I am given as I age, focusing on the wealth of memories of God’s gracefulness to me, blessed by the many honorable people who have walked beside me, and trying to enjoy each moment that I am given. May we go through today, aware of God’s grace and blessing!

Two blind men sat by the roadside. I imagine their hands were out and their ears alert. Jesus, the disciples, an the crowd passed by. The two men must have needed to ask what the commotion was about. When hearing that it was Jesus, they both started yelling, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.” (Matthew 20:29,30)

We sit by the roadside of life this morning, waiting for the day to unfold. Are we aware of our blind spots, ways we tend to see reality unrealistically, perhaps through tinted glasses of our own experiences. Tomorrow we will hear Jesus’ charge to his disciples not to be blind but to look realistically. Fear the one who can rob your soul, not kill your body.        People told our blind men that Jesus was near. In our areas of blindness we need others to help us hear the truth, Jesus is passing by. The two men raised their voices. Today we call that prayer. These men knew they needed help and they knew that help came from Jesus. But what did they ask for? They asked for mercy. They asked for compassion. They asked for help for their blindness. I ponder what our request is today. Can I identify my blind spots? Do I have friends that reflect honestly the reality around me? Am I humble enough to ask for mercy? All good questions for reflection as you start the day. The truth: Jesus is here. Others can help us identify our blind spots. Mercy and compassion are at the heart of God. Lord, open my eyes to see the day through your eyes! Blessings.

Juneteenth, today, is June 19^th and the celebration of the end of slavery. Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 but the news did not reach Louisiana and Texas until June 19, 1865. No email and no CNN in those days keeping everyone informed.

Galatians 5:1 reminds everyone today,

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Today I may not come from the tradition of slavery in the United States and in many places around the world, but I do know what it means and feels like to be enslaved. It could be alcohol, or drugs or hatred or ignorance. Memories of abuse can rob sleep, joy, and friendships. Slavery is horrible. “Christ has set us free.” Now the challenge is to live into that freedom. Christians often mark their Juneteenth, their emancipation from slavery to sin, with traditions like baptism – I enter the water a sinner and come out a saint. We often wear white to symbolize cleanliness in God’s sight – not necessarily the world’s sight. We have parties where we call friends to celebrate – our child who was lost is found.

If racial slavery is not your past today, we can still rejoice as we remember being freed and we can look to Christ who has set us free from the yoke of slavery and bondage to sin. May we take a moment to meditate on the greatness of that gift given us and may we find new ways to live into it. Blessings.