On the Way to Wonder

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see. (Verse 1)

         We are entering the liturgical season of Easter.  For the next seven Sundays we look at proofs for why we believe “the Lord is risen” and lives and is active in our lives today.  Christians believe Jesus resurrected, meaning death could not hold him.  I like to think of it as Jesus showing us that we can walk “through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil” as we follow him.  Another way of saying that is that Jesus paid the debt so I no longer am held eternally by death.  I can face tomorrow because he lives.

         John Newton wrote the famous hymn “Amazing Grace” in 1772, about 250 years ago.  The hymn is not presenting theology, how to understand religion, but tells the story of Newton’s journey of faith and what Easter meant to him and how it changed his life.  It is a more modern testimony to the truth of the resurrection that we can find similar truth in our lives.  So we will focus on this favorite hymn.

           At age 11 Newton went to sea with his father and became a well know British swashbuckler, leading a rough and vulgar life.  He eventually became the captain of a slave ship.  His life changed after he nearly drowns, married a pious Mary Catlett, and read Thomas ‘ Kempis’ “Imitation of Christ.”  In 1754 he gave up slave trade after a near-death experience on the slave ship Greyhound that was caught in a storm at sea.  After 11 days, Newton was too exhausted and had himself tied to the helm to try and help navigate the storm.  He had time to think about his life that seemed as hopelessly lost as the ship he was tied to.  He found a New Testament and read Luke 11:13,  “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.”  March 21, 1748, Newton turned to God and asked for this gift.  Later in his diary on March 21, 1805 he wrote,  “Not well able to write; but I endeavor to observe the return of this day with humiliation, prayer, and praise.” Newton worked with the great abolitionist, William Wilberforce, to end slavery.  He became a minister and wrote the text of Amazing Grace to tell his story.

         As we journey through this Easter season, let’s take time to reflect on our lives, events that have impacted our lives and perhaps changed our direction, on those special people that have come into our life and enriched us and on books that have impacted your life.  Easter is about “amazing grace,” those special moments when God has reached into our lives and we know that he lives and walks with us, even through the valley of the shadow of death.  Blessings as you reflect!

  “On a Hill Far Away”

https://www.youtub https://www.google.com/search?q=the+old+rugged+cross+original&oq=the+old+rugged+cross+origin&aqs=chrome.0.0i20i263i355i512j46i20i263i512j69i57j0i512l2j0i22i30l5.9842j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:1e3a3e2f,vid:pClVtWjMBoYe.com/watch?v=CltrLsjsQl0

We come to the end of Lent.  Many went to church yesterday and heard again the story of the crucifixion of Jesus on an old rugged cross.  It is a heavy service as we pray for the needs of our beloved friends, neighbors, our world and ourselves.  As a child I remember hearing many times that one of the most favorite Christian hymns was “On a Hill Far Away” also known as “The Old Rugged Cross.”  It was written by George Bennard of Albion, Michigan in 1912.  His early life was grounded in the Salvation Army and he identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.   After a rough time in his life when he spent much time pondering his faith, he wrote,

“I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption.  The more I contemplated these truths the more convinced I became that the cross was far more than just a religious symbol but rather the very heart of the gospel.”

The resulting hymn has been a favorite of many.

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Enjoy listening to this story summarized again in song.

         We are pondering the last story Matthew reports Jesus telling before Matthew turns to the narrative of events of this week that culminated in the cross for Jesus.  Jesus tells his disciples that some day he will return as “Son of Man” and separate the nations into sheep and goats.  Jesus will say to the sheep, the ones of his flock “enter into the kingdom of heaven.  The goats, the ones who did not want him as their shepherd, will be told to depart.  Both groups will be told that the criterion is how they treated others, the needy.  The sheep can’t remember when they did well.  “When did we see you needy?”  The goats can’t remember when they missed an opportunity to help the needy.  “When did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?”  The sheep openly admit they don’t deserve grace.  The goats argue that they do deserve to be rewarded.  The goats miss the point.  Grace is receiving what we do not deserve when we don’t expect it.

         The journey of Lent is facing our mortality, our fallibility our need for Jesus to heal our vision, open our ears, and raise us from the dead.  We come to realize that we may perform good deeds every now and then but not always.  We are not perfect.  We are sinful people living in a sinful world and we need a savior.  We need grace.  We need the cross.  We deserve death and Jesus is going to show us how grace defeats evil.         Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday when we will receive a new commandment, a new mandate.  Today let us ponder if we think we have dealt with the needy as we ought or if we indeed need grace and forgiveness.  I suspect our prayer this week is to bow our head and confess as we did on Ash Wednesday, from ashes we came and to ashes we go – Lord have mercy.  Blessings as you pray.

Matthew 25:31-33

³² All the nations will be gathered before him,

and he will separate people one from another

 as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,

         When I was a young adult, “end times” was a big audience captivator.  Book series were written and movies produced but in fact we did not know “the plan.”  Just how the eventualities of life will unfold is a mystery as probably it should be.  As Jesus deals with the growing tension in Jerusalem, he does tell a story about what eternal justice will look like.  He tells us that the “Son of Man” will return and so claims his return with a title that relates him to humanity.  He does not identify as the “Son of God,” but does say he will return with his angels to introduce eternity.  Next he shares that humanity will be divided not by ethnicity or language or wealth or talent.  Sheep will be divided from goats.

         When we arrived in Kenya, I could not tell the difference between a sheep and a goat.  They are not common on the Los Angeles freeway.  My toddler son learned to tell a Land Rover from a Jeep, long before I did.  The indigenous people could not tell my very different twin boys apart even though one was blond and blue eyed and the other was brunette and brown eyed.  But then I had to learn how to differentiate the African tribes.   Shades of brown and black of hair differentiated people as well as facial structure.  I doubt that Jesus is looking at people upon his return to see whether tails hung down like sheep, or stick up like goats.  He will be able to see clearly who desires to live in his kingdom and who does not. 

         We will not be forced to act like something that is not true to our real selves.  A sheep will not be made to bounce around like a goat and a goat will not be forced to put it’s head down and blindly follow a leader like a sheep.  We will be separated according to the desires of our heart for who we want to be our “king.”  I find that comforting.  It is easy to think of the return of Jesus as a big judgment of our lives rather than the revelation of choices we have made and alliances that fit our story.  We know it is the will of God that all would want to be in the Kingdom of Heaven but we will not be forced.  Jesus will go to the cross and walk through death for all people but not people will want to follow him.  Holy Week that started Palm Sunday with people waving branches and yelling “hosanna” will end with people yelling, “Crucify him.”  Which crowd do we identify with?

Matthew 25:14-30

         Matthew now tells us three parables that Jesus shared right before the plot thickens that last week in Jerusalem. In one of them a man goes on a journey and leaves three servants in charge.  Sounds like mom running out to the grocery store and having to leave the kids alone for a bit.  What was to be a quick trip to the store became longer because of a flat tire, an emergency phone call from a relative, and purse forgotten in the car.  It just got complicated, we might say.  The man returns and the two elder children report that they have not only done what was expected but they also self initiated some projects.  One mowed the grass unasked and the other did some of the ironing while watching TV.  The third not only did not help out but also had nothing to show for what were “normally expected” tasks like setting the table for dinner.  In the parable the two servants doubled what the man had entrusted with them and the third hid his talent for fear of the man.  The man rewards the first two servants by saying,

“Well done, good and trustworthy slave;

you have been trustworthy in a few things,

I will put you in charge of many things;

enter into the joy of your master.” (verse 21, 23)

            The parable is thought to refer to God entrusting us with talents and seeming to be on a journey but Jesus indicating he will return some day.  For those who handle their talents well, be they few or many, compliments are given, “well done”, character noted, “trustworthy,” and rewards dispersed.

              During the Lenten journey we have reflected on the many ways we fall short as we handle our talents.  But, to fall short is not to say we did not try.  The third servant did not try and fail, he did not even try and he blamed the man for being mean and unjust.  The problem is not the failure, our sins, but it is our attitude and trust in God.

            So let us think about being trustworthy.  How would you describe someone who is trustworthy – worthy of your trust?  Do we look for the others to do their best or do we demand perfection?  I believe God is delighted when we give it our best shot because we love him.  We are not perfect and one day we will meet him.  Let’s pray we hear, “Well done!”  Blessings.

 “Irish Blessing”

We are coming to the end of the Lenten season.  Next week is Passion Week when Christians celebrate with the crowds shouting “Halleluyah” as Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and we will cry by the end of the week after Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and the cross.  The journey of Lent started with Ash Wednesday and the confession of our mortality, we come from dust and we go to dust.  Humans are not eternal.  During Lent we have walked with Jesus from the Mt. of Transfiguration to Mt. Calvary pondering ways we have not loved God with our whole heart and have not loved our neighbor as ourselves.  Our laments as we ponder our mortality have been buffered by the journey that Jesus is making to give us immortality through him.  The first hymn is a new group I heard this week, Celtic Thunder, and the closing hymn is the traditional Aaronic blessing sung by 300 churches in Ireland.  Both are beautiful.  Blessings as you prepare for next week.

Matthew 24:1-2

         “24 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’”

         Architecture is fascinating.  I see some of those medieval cathedrals and marvel at all the steeples and carvings.  Of course there are the Pyramids of ancient Egypt, a wonder of the world.  Jesus and crew are leaving Jerusalem to head to Bethany and the home of Mary and Martha for the evening.  They have probably offended enough people after their encounters with the Pharisees and Sadducees.   I wonder if the beauty of the Temple did not calm their spirits and encourage them that they were part of something bigger and more solid than the bickering of the day.  Perhaps it is like the peace that comes from watching a sunset at the end of the day.  The disciples bask in the beauty of the temple and we marvel at buildings that are built well and maintained well.

         Jesus breaks the reverie with the harsh truth that it is not the structure that is important as that will eventually crumple but the condition of the heart of the people admiring.  Jesus is perhaps alluding to the coming destruction of the Temple in 90 AD.  The words about the destruction of the Temple are quoted at his trial later in the week.

         So the question that comes to my mind for reflection is to ask ourselves what kind of building we are constructing with our lives.  That question broadens our thinking.  We have our professions, our families, and our relationships…our faith perhaps most importantly.  What are we building with?  Will the arena of our efforts and love withstand the trials of life?  Let’s take a moment to gaze in our hearts at what we think we are building and then chat with the Lord about how we are “building” and what we are “building.”  We need his help and his wisdom.  Don’t use inferior materials or cut corners.  Don’t go for sales.  Let’s pray that our buildings will withstand the test of time.  Blessings as you ponder.

         Jesus finishes his talk in the Temple in Jerusalem and tension is building that will erupt in “crucify him” on Good Friday.  Jesus does not mince words but predicts woes to religious leaders and people who are disingenuous.  Woe is defined in the dictionary as “a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief or ruinous trouble, calamity, affliction.”  When we are disingenuous, it backfires and we suffer.  We might ask ourselves during this Lenten season how we might be disingenuous. Jesus points out certain ways:

·      Requiring a code of behavior of others that we don’t abide by.

·      Critiquing details of actions and missing the big picture.

·      Shallow morality that appears right but misses the point of the practice, for example tithing to impress others.

·      Living an outward show of morality while having secret “addictions” that are indulged in privately, for example pornography.

·      Distancing yourself from ancestor’s faults that you know is potentially part of your life, for example alcoholism.

Jesus sums it up by condemning religious leaders who are hypocrites.

           We may not be a religious leader or a governmental leader.  We may not even consider ourselves as leaders at all but often we do not realize who all is watching us.  I think of looking at posts on FaceBook and all the people who tap, like or dislike.  But I do not think Jesus is talking about popularity or approval but about congruence between what we believe and how we live and our terrible habit of criticizing or judging others.  He is saying that woe comes to people who do not walk the talk and who use their talk to hurt others.

         Given we are in Lent, let us think of a couple of compliments we might give to people today to build up and not tear down the person.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit will show us ways in which we are not genuine and that we need to ask God’s assistance to overcome.  May we rid ourselves of the beam in our own eye before we try to pick out the speck in another

Matthew 23: 1-12

         We are going through the final scenes of Jesus’ life before the cross.  He certainly does not seem to be trying to make friends with the religious establishment.  Interesting.  Today he confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  It is not what they teach but the way they model their faith.

Perhaps we could say that what I believe is foundational to my life but if I do not live out those beliefs then I am a “resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1Corinthians 13:1), a lot of noise and no substance.  The passage shows us what false spirituality looks like.  It ends admonishing us to be humble and be servants of others.

                  “23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; ³ therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. ⁶ They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. ⁹ And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

         It is easy to judge others and see their weaknesses but during Lent we look into our own hearts and ask ourselves if there are ways in which we act proudly, seek attention and control, or demand of others a life style we ourselves cannot live up to.  I find it easy to bow my head in shame when the light of the Gospel shines on me for indeed I am fallible.  But the last word in this passage is “exalted.”  There is a God who sees and knows the motives of our hearts and knows our honest desires for our families and friends.  He will reward.  Let us renew our desire to be servants of others today and look to God for our rewards.  Blessings.

         I went to the movies yesterday for the first time in years.  I saw “Jesus Revolution” that took me back to my young adult years in Los Angeles.  I saw familiar coastline, familiar soul searching, and the familiar response that touched my heart so deeply back then.  The Supremes made a Motown hit “Love Child” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jYpqdbqXzQ) that we all sang in the 60s.  Today we easily talk about a “love child” as the product of a love connection but not necessarily marriage, a child with one parent.

         The Pharisees similarly were seeking and trying to trap Jesus about love so asked him what the greatest commandment was. Jesus responded,

            ³⁷ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” ³⁸ This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’

         Perhaps Christians are “love children” not because of drugs but because we acknowledge one parent – whether we call that parent Father God or Mother God for those to whom the father image brings horrible memories of abuse.  We know that God loved us enough to make the Lenten Journey to the cross to pay for our selfishness.  Love is not about expanding our minds to new horizons, love without responsibility, nor finding freedom from the law but realizing that our God loved us so much he fulfilled the law and so we are free from guilt and shame, free to be the child he created us to be.  He does not conceive us and then leave.

         I came home last night to find a letter from IRS saying I did not fill out income tax correctly two years ago!  Thank goodness God is not like government but covers our mistakes with real love!  I enjoyed the movie and the reminder of a phase in my journey to find a parent who would never forsake me.  Blessings on your journey!