On the Way to Wonder

John 11 shares the miracle of Jesus that sets in process the need to crucify him.  The brother of Mary and Martha becomes ill and dies in Bethany, 2 miles from Jerusalem and religious hierarchy.  Jesus hears but does not rush to help.  He waits.  Four days after Lazarus’ death Jesus arrives.  Jesus comforts Martha

“I am the resurrection and the life.

 The one who believes in me will live, even though they die,

and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”(11:25,26)

Mary then met Jesus with the grief of many of our hearts, “If you had been here…”  Jesus stands at the grave and cries.  He then tells the people to remove the stone and Jesus calls Lazarus back to life.  “Let him go!”  This was a dramatic demonstration of Jesus’ authority as God, his power over death, and a picture of what he was about to face.  He not only said he was the “resurrection,” he showed the people what that meant.

            Amazingly the Pharisees who believed in after-life but realized that what Jesus did would be a threat to their religious security in the eyes of Rome and with the people started to plot the downfall of Jesus.  Miracles can be threatening.

            “Resurrection” is a word we use to describe bringing back to life.  We all know a form of death before physical death claims our bodies.  We know the death of dreams when young love fails, the death of vision when we loose our job, and perhaps a death of hope when a beloved dies.  Faith does not guarantee that all sick people will be brought back from death’s door.  Faith does mean believing that Jesus will stand at that door to death, will walk through it with us, and a new life will begin on the other side, eternal life.  Jesus has resurrection power.  He can pick us up off our knees, out of the gutter, from defeat and lead us into new starts.  Mary and Martha did not really understand for they could not envision the meaning of resurrection but they were willing to trust Jesus.  I pray as you look at those hurting places in your life that need resurrection power that you will reach out in faith.  We think, “if only Jesus had been here,” our situation would be different.  He is here with us, walking beside us, guarding our back, and preparing our future.  Blessings.

Mark 5: 1-20 is another type of miracle Jesus did where he directly confronts Satan and his demons.  Jesus and disciples cross the Sea of Galilee, land and are met by a demon possessed man.  For many people today, the explanation is mental illness.  The man himself cries out acknowledging Jesus as “Son of the Most High God” and begging not to be tortured when Jesus orders the demons to leave.  The man gives his name as “Legion, for we are many.”  Jesus sends the demons into a large herd of pigs that runs into the sea.  The town people learn that their source of income is gone.  They are “afraid” and ask Jesus to leave.  Wow, how do we understand this in our day of scientific enlightenment and in a day when dietary limitations are not so strict?  Exorcisms do not hit the evening new

         Change is scary.  The possessed, sick man is afraid what change might mean.  The town’s people are afraid about their economic future.  I suspect the disciples had wobbly knees also.  Confrontations with real evil are very scary and not undertaken lightly.  It is possible to have long discussions and arguments about how to deal with evil.  Feelings run strong on the subject. 

         I think more importantly than the “how” or “if” is that this story teaches us that Jesus at no point in this encounter is out of control.  Whatever evil is plaguing you or your loved one, God is stronger!!!  That means Satan cannot possess a person controlled by the Spirit of God but Satan can harass the person.  Demonic harassment is not demon possession. 

         The man once delivered is a changed person and seeks to stay close to Jesus.  Interestingly, Jesus sends him to tell his people what has happened. In telling our story, we affirm our reality.  Jesus has changed us!  And Jesus does not seem to be afraid of the future for this man and is willing to use this new person.

         I do not know what bothers you today.  Sometimes we think our own sinful self is the bad guy but in fact we are not following God’s way and so we get in trouble.  Getting an STD because we are fooling around or getting pregnant is not necessarily Satan attacking us or God punishing us.  The laws of science explain that one.  Likewise we always have access to God through prayer, and the Holy Spirit interprets for us so we need not have a prayer formula.  “Help” is a good prayer.  Change is scary but God always leads us to a better place even if we don’t see it at the time.  Today may we pray for those places in our world where evil is hurting people and driving them to desperation and despair.  Whatever we call it, it is wrong and God is stronger.  Blessings.

“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

John 9 tells of a Jesus miracle surrounding blindness.  The disciples notice a man born blind.  There is no record that the man asked for help but Jesus reaches into his life, spits on the dirt and makes mud that he puts on the man’s face and tells him to go wash.  The man does and like at creation when God formed people out of the dust, this man can see.  Wow.  I would suggest that we are all blind in someway and it is only as Jesus reaches out to us and creates the capacity to see that we can wash and see.

         Reactions to Jesus miracle came from several directions.  Was the man blind because of sin, ask the disciples.  Was the miracle really from God as it was done on the Sabbath, ask the religious folk.   The parents refuse to commit and refer the question to their son who “is of age.”  Jesus’ answer to the disciples was that God is going to use the problem to display his might, his glory.  “Seeing” is a word that can refer to observation but it can also refer to insight and understanding the meaning of what is happening before us.  Just because we see, does not mean we recognize the hand of God involved in the events.

         We can be blind because of physical experiences in our lifetime.  The bitterness of unexpected deaths, broken promises, or actions of imperfect people in our lives can leave us with a sour taste in our mouth.  It is easy to become cynical and untrusting of a God we cannot see.  Others are blinded because God often works outside our boxes, the rules we have of how we think God should work.  The foreign believer coming into our midst is often mistreated.  The wayward teenager that has a “conversion experience” is probably just being emotional.  The recovered addict is doubted.  Many are slow to believe God has really acted in a situation.  And then there are the people who are like the parents.  They sit on the fence and do not want to commit to a faith that might bring ridicule, censure or expulsion.  It is easier to pass the buck.  Let the other guy speak.

         The healed man simply says:  “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”  We do not have to be seminary graduates or great theologians to talk about our faith.  We do not need to have a fancy and dramatic conversion story.  Sharing our faith is simply saying how we went from being blind to seeing when Jesus came into our lives.  The simple, the more authentic, the more “spit and dust” is often the most transparent and real story that needs to be told.  It is to God’s glory, not ours.  Blessings as you share your story.

Matthew 14:22-36.  Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, sends the disciples ahead, dismisses the crowds and sought some alone time to pray.  I can identify with that.  After a long hard day, some alone time is needed.  I tell my husband I am going to sit in my chair and “recharge my batteries” for a half hour.  Meanwhile the disciples are rowing across the Sea of Galilee in a storm.  Their hard day was followed by a hard night.  We pray with Tevya, “I know we are the chosen people but sometimes I wish you would choose someone else!!!”

         We all know those awful times when our resources seem depleted.  Amazingly Jesus comes walking on water.  Now that is a weird miracle.  He joined them in the trauma.  He brings his presence before any solution.  His words ring in our hearts, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  The ghost is really Jesus.  Sometimes we are blinded by our fears and don’t even recognize God’s presence!  Interestingly the outspoken disciple, Peter, thinks outside the box to test reality. “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  What was Peter thinking?  Perhaps he was thinking he did not need a friend, he needed the impossible.  Faith believes in a God who is working outside the box, doing the impossible, to resolve a situation for everyone involved and probably on a timeline that is different than ours.  Crisis and fear shrink our imagination and challenge our ability to see God’s hand in our situation. 

         How many miracles are there in this scenario.  Jesus appears right at the needed moment as he knows what is happening.  Even though unrecognized, he reaches out to assure his disciples.  He invites Peter into the impossible and rescues him without reprimand.  Even baby steps are ok.  And then he calms the storm.  Jesus, standing outside the box of drama, reaches in to strengthen Peter’s faith and the disciples’ faith and to deal with the problem.

         Sometimes in the midst of crisis, we need to draw aside to “recharge our batteries.”  Faith affirms that Jesus is present if unseen or unrecognized or in the midst of the impossible.  Let us not become demanding of one solution that God must do.  Whatever you are facing today, may you have eyes to see our unseen Savior working.  Let’s use our imaginations.  Blessings.

Thinking Outside the Box

Matthew 14:22-36.  Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, sends the disciples ahead, dismisses the crowds and sought some alone time to pray.  I can identify with that.  After a long hard day, some alone time is needed.  I tell my husband I am going to sit in my chair and “recharge my batteries” for a half hour.  Meanwhile the disciples are rowing across the Sea of Galilee in a storm.  Their hard day was followed by a hard night.  We pray with Tevya, “I know we are the chosen people but sometimes I wish you would choose someone else!!!”

         We all know those awful times when our resources seem depleted.  Amazingly Jesus comes walking on water.  Now that is a weird miracle.  He joined them in the trauma.  He brings his presence before any solution.  His words ring in our hearts, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  The ghost is really Jesus.  Sometimes we are blinded by our fears and don’t even recognize God’s presence!  Interestingly the outspoken disciple, Peter, thinks outside the box to test reality. “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  What was Peter thinking?  Perhaps he was thinking he did not need a friend, he needed the impossible.  Faith believes in a God who is working outside the box, doing the impossible, to resolve a situation for everyone involved and probably on a timeline that is different than ours.  Crisis and fear shrink our imagination and challenge our ability to see God’s hand in our situation. 

         How many miracles are there in this scenario.  Jesus appears right at the needed moment as he knows what is happening.  Even though unrecognized, he reaches out to assure his disciples.  He invites Peter into the impossible and rescues him without reprimand.  Even baby steps are ok.  And then he calms the storm.  Jesus, standing outside the box of drama, reaches in to strengthen Peter’s faith and the disciples’ faith and to deal with the problem.

         Sometimes in the midst of crisis, we need to draw aside to “recharge our batteries.”  Faith affirms that Jesus is present if unseen or unrecognized or in the midst of the impossible.  Let us not become demanding of one solution that God must do.  Whatever you are facing today, may you have eyes to see our unseen Savior working.  Let’s use our imaginations.  Blessings.

Luke 9:1-36.  This week we will  look at the miracles done by Jesus in our epic story, The Bible.  Our epic hero, God, is beginning to show his hand against the epic villain, Satan.  God has incarnated in the person Jesus, an inconspicuous baby who has become a man and is coming into public view.  Jesus teaches and tells parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, our hero’s design for the future, as opposed to the kingdom of this world run by Satan.  Faith opens our eyes to see it but our wills must decide.]]

         Jesus demonstrates his teachings with actions that point to truth. Seeing the miracles was not believing in him nor accepting his teachings as often he was opposed.  Jesus’ miracles did help people but they were done also to demonstrate principles.  Jesus takes five loaves of bread and two fish to feed five thousand men plus women and children.  God’s kingdom multiples as it is given away!”  (Kuniholm, p. 159)  As we share and don’t hoard, goodness grows.

         Jesus has sent the disciples out to share their faith at the beginning of the ninth chapter of Luke.  They return with joyful reports.  Jesus takes the disciples for a rest but the crowds follow so that now the weary disciples have hungry people surrounding them.  One disciple finds a boy with five loaves and two fish.  Too much demand and too little resources.  We know that problem today as we look at the problems that are overwhelming us.  Too many refugees, too much earthquake disaster, too much disease, too much rain and too much fire.  How can we cope? I feel like one of the disciples facing the 5,000.

         Jesus has the crowd sit, prays, and feeds the people.  What is Jesus teaching the disciples?  Pray before you eat?  I doubt it.  It is only as faith is given away that the kingdom grows.  It is in sharing our faith, that we and others are blessed.  I do not know what that means as we cope with our problems today but I do know that selfishness is not the answer and that I in my own resources, is not enough.  Some problems are too big and we need God.

         So as you look at the week ahead of you, where do you need God to multiply your meager resources?  Jesus started by having the people sit down, relax, take a breath.  He prayed and gave thanks for the challenge they were facing.  He broke the bread into pieces.  Perhaps we need to remind ourselves not to panic over the big picture but to live faithfully each day as it presents its self and trust God for the results.  Blessings as you face your week with its challenges.

What is it about the teachings of Jesus that have so impacted our world?  Perhaps it is the promises of a coming kingdom where justice and love will be genuine and that gives us hope and a vision for the future? Jesus spoke parables that tell stories that reassure us in this struggling world of ours that we are important and that his kingdom is worth entering.  He reassures us that when we are lost like a sheep, invisible like a lost coin, or repentant like the wayward child that there is a God who runs to embrace us. 

         This week, as pictures and stories have poured out of our radios and TVs about Afghanistan and the chaos there, I have felt helpless.  As I listened to the arguing about Covid and wearing masks, I have felt exhausted.  As I have seen the burned out communities and people who have lost everything, I have grieved.        We come to the end of the week focusing on the teachings of Jesus and the song that comes to my heart is how Jesus’s teachings and life raise me up to more than I can be. Please enjoy.

Luke 15 ends this week of focusing on the teachings of Jesus.  We pondered the Sermon on the Mount and how different the essence of the Kingdom of Heaven is from the kingdom of this world.  We looked at some parables that caused us to think about the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Then we read the Good Samaritan that challenged us to think about just who is in this Kingdom Jesus is talking about.  In today’s readings Jesus shares stories to impress us with the basic truth that the Kingdom is not a reward for our good deeds, our fantastic talents, or our wealth and power.  God is like a shepherd who goes out looking for his lost sheep to bring them safely home.  He is like a woman looking for a lost coin for all are valuable.  And he is like the father of the prodigal son who waits for the wayward younger son who has arrogantly demanded his inheritance to squander it in wild living, to return home.  He rejoices and throws a party. “I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The father of the wayward son reminds his jealous older brother that those who faithfully serve God always have access to God’s resources

         I suspect we have all had those times when we have felt lost like that sheep, unseen like that coin, and so unworthy like the prodigal son.  “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”  Thank goodness that in those lost and dark hours we can turn to a God who cares not about our wonderfulness but that we are his and he wants relationship with us.

         So what can we take away from this today?  Maybe you are in a good space and rejoicing.  We need only turn on the news and we can think of those trying to get to the Kabul airport, those needing a bed in our overcrowded hospitals, or those weeping over lost homes in the fires.  If you are a good space then spend a couple minutes praying for one of these groups.  If you feel the plight of the sheep, the coin, or the son then remember the father who is running to you with open arms ready to throw a party at your return.  Blessings as you process these parables.

Luke 10: 25-37 tells one of Jesus’ most famous stories given in response to the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  The man asking is an expert in the law and so Jesus asks what the law says.  The Golden Rule is quoted, love God and treat others as you would like to be treated.  Good answer but the man presses on, “Who is my neighbor?”  How do we define “other.”  For sure we include family, friends and perhaps people we know but surely it does not include enemies and foreigners.

         Chatting with the women in the village while on the field, I asked what I should do if I came upon an elephant.  No problem, they said because I need only expose my breast and say I nursed my babies up front like the elephant.  I had the feeling I was classified with the animals. Anyone not of their tribe was not considered human.  Jesus gives the story of the Good Samaritan.  The Samaritans were descendants of the tribes that did not support the son of King David and were considered of mixed bloodlines.  A man beaten up by thieves was left to die and the “good” people pass the catastrophe by but a Samaritan stops and helps the man.  Jesus asks, “Who was the neighbor?”  It was “the one who showed mercy,” answers the man of law.  It was the foreigner.  It was the man who understood ridicule and rejection, empathized with the wounded man and crossed internal boundaries to help.

         Jesus’ stories and parables were not designed to entertain or bring laughter but to bring truth to our lives.  So often we draw the line between good and bad a bit beyond where we are so we are on the good side.  Faith is not about knowing the right answers and being well educated but more about receiving and giving God’s love and forgiveness to others.  The receiving is belief and faith even when situations are ugly – the wounded was a creation of God – and the giving was reaching out to the other.  I listen to the story and see my areas of needed growth.  Is there some area where you need to pray about growing today?  Perhaps someone you have trouble forgiving?  Perhaps someone to take a gift to? Acts of kindness are generally appreciated.  Blessings as you ponder this story.

Matthew 13.  The Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ State of the Union Address, laying out the precepts of the Kingdom of Heaven.  It was a sermon.  But often we find Jesus talking to the people in picture language, in parables.  In Matthew 13 we hear several parables, pictures, of what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like.

         It will be like a farmer sowing seed in a field.  The farmer sows generously but some falls on the road, some in rocky soil, some on thorny soil and some on good soil.  Just hearing does not mean we are listening or can receive.  Likewise the farmer sows good seed but weeds sown by the enemy crop up.  They will grow together until the final judgment.  Only God knows who is good and who is bad.  It is not our job to judge.  The Kingdom is like yeast or a mustard seed.  It starts small but it grows and impacts many and provides food and haven for many.  The Kingdom is like a valuable pearl that we must sell our lesser treasures to buy.  God will not force us into his heaven and we must want to be part of it.  Lastly he compares the Kingdom to a net thrown out to catch fish.  The good fish will be collected and the bad ones discarded.

         These parables paint pictures of choice, of growth, of struggle and of a present God who is working in our world.  Jesus does not deny the existence of our epic villain, Satan, and his potential power.  But neither does he belittle the blessing of being part of the epic hero’s kingdom, God’s Kingdom.  Not everyone who has ears, hears and not everyone who hears, listens. 

         Take a moment and ponder these parables.  Which one speaks to your heart?  Is faith like a growing seed, a bush offering refuge, a pearl of great price, or a net to pull in others?  Pick the parable you like and perhaps write five adjectives that describe that parable in your experience.  If you are a doodler like me, perhaps draw a little cartoon and thank the Lord for that picture of your place in his Kingdom.  Blessings.

Matthew 6:5-7:29.  Today our reading is the second half of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ state of the Union address.  Jesus continues giving a basic summary of his beliefs, the foundation of the kingdom of heaven.  As Jesus finishes, I can hear Forest Gump say, “And that’s all I have to say about that!”

         In these verses Jesus shares, “This, then, is how you should pray….” We receive the Lord’s prayer that is one of the first prayers many children learn and which is said in most churches.  Like the Ten Commandments, the first petitions of the prayer are for God to be honored and the last ones deal with our daily way of living in society. Help us be forgiving, looking only for daily bread, and safe from evil. The challenge is to stay balanced in these areas and to keep our focus on God and not on self.

         I love the way Jesus points us to nature and. beauty and the care God gives his valued creation and does not point us to the conflicts of politics or human relations.  He encourages dependence on God.  Possibly the best summary comes right at the end, “So in everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  We call it the Golden Rule.

         Jesus encourages us to “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” on closed doors.  It is good to take a moment and reflect on what I am asking for today, what am I looking for, and what doors that I perceive are closed would I like to see open.  As I watch the news about Afghanistan, hear the reports on the affects of the virus and the arguments that is spawning, not to mention the environmental challenges, I’ll admit I find myself praying, “Lord, have mercy!”  Our poor world does not look like the kingdom he is talking about but the sunrise today will remind me that this epic story is not finished yet!  And if it rains, I might glimpse a rainbow!  Blessings as you pray, ask, seek, and knock.  He is listening and will act.