Mission Faithwalk

                 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)   I’ve met quite a few people who have told me about Popper’s Paradox of Intolerance. It is the idea that if society shows any tolerance of intolerance, then intolerance will destroy the society. Of course, what those people don’t seem to see is that their intolerance is what causes the destruction. I suspect, however, that those who do cite Popper’s Paradox would say that we should be uncompassionate with the uncompassionate, unkind to the unkind, arrogant with the arrogant, a bully to the bully, and impatient with the impatient. After all, if we do not treat these things as the heinous crimes that they are, our society will become uncompassionate, unkind, arrogant, bullying, and impatient but if we treat these things as the heinous crimes they are, o...

                 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise . (Galatians 3:26-29) I know I’ve discussed these verses a couple of times, but the center of the passage is the verse of the day on Biblegateway.com. The point is simple, but just as in Paul’s day, people don’t get it. We seem to be all about the modifiers. I’m not a person- I’m a white person, a female person, an American person, a Christian person, and who-knows, maybe a neurodivergent person, etc. All those things separate me from all those who are not white, female, American, and Christian. The modifiers control w...

                 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29) “I don’t believe in evolution,” a scientist claimed. “It happened.” “Why do you have to question everything?” someone asked me. “Why can’t you just believe?” People have strange ideas about belief. Often, it has to do with being divorced from reality. One can only believe something that has not been proven true. One could believe that a building is a figment of one’s imagination, but when one is bruised by trying to walk through the wall, one cannot believe that the building is real, one knows that it is real. It also frequently has to do with not being allowed to question, also known as blind faith. Part of the problem is that we don’t define belief correctly. It does not refer (at least solely) to what is not known or (worse) what contradicts what is known. Belief is more a case of acting based on what one knows or susp...

                 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you . (Isaiah 26:3) If you’re in Erie, you know that if the lake is on your right, you’re facing west. If you know the night sky well enough, you can follow the handle of the Big Dipper to the North Star and know which way is north. If you keep track of where the lake is or where the North Star is, you’ll be at peace, at least as far as your directions. Without a doubt, no matter where you live, there are means by which you can at least estimate directions. We tend to have a similar ease with a range of numbers. You’re unlikely to wonder whether two plus two will equal four this time. Similarly, there are people with whom we are at perfect peace. We may not approve of or agree with what they do, but you have no doubt that they will continue to consistently do something. It might be that your confidence is in their continuing to brea...

                 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)  For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)   Sunday’s sermon focused in part on the passage from Matthew. It merged with something John Ortberg said recently. He told us that waiting for God does not mean being passive, just waiting around for God to tell us or do for us. We are not to abdicate agency. We are to be active. When my pastor started discussing the passage, my mind kicked in immediately with differing levels of agency. I tended to think that the asking, seeking, and knocking were differing ...

               Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble . (Psalm119:165) What’s something you’re comfortable doing? What have you done so many times that you could do it with your eyes closed? There’s a story about a centipede that was asked with which foot it started to walk. It could never walk again. What do you do so easily and automatically that if asked to explain it, either you couldn’t get the steps right or you couldn’t do it because you’d start thinking about it? If you can think of no other possibility, consider breathing (if you don’t have a breathing issue.) Whatever the thing you’re comfortable doing, you have peace with that thing or doing that thing. Now, let’s take a step away from the thing with which we’re comfortable. What’s something you know someone else can do with the level of comfort described above? There are people where I work that I believe know what they’re doing and wh...

  A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” (Proverbs 26:13)   First, it’s likely that the lion referred to was not the African lions we think of when we hear the term. A smaller, Asiatic lion once ranged through the area. It would still have been dangerous, but not quite like the African lion. When this verse idea came to mind, I knew it was in Proverbs, but I thought that the term sluggard was fool . I’m not sure which I think is worse to apply to myself. Oh, I don’t claim that there’s a fierce lion roaming the streets. I claim I’m going to fail in some way, but I suspect that it’s more likely that I’ll fail than that I’ll meet a fierce lion in the streets. One issue raised by this verse is the reason for the alarm. The verse is about the behavior of the sluggard. It doesn’t matter if there is really a lion in the streets. The possibility relieves him of the need to go do what needs to be done. It’s no...

                 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94:18-19)   For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 Console : mid 17th century (replacing earlier consolate): from French consoler, from Latin consolari, from con- ‘with’ + solari ‘soothe’. I readily admit it. The main reason for considering this passage this morning is the word consolation . Interestingly, it means what most people seem to think comfort means. But a meme comes to mind that sums up what I think we want when someone consoles us. I don’t remember the first few words, but they are probably like “There, there…” followed by “Here’s a cookie…and a million ...

                   He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)   And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) Let’s begin with an obvious idea. When Paul wrote “all things,” he wasn’t saying that God would make us God, allow us to be repeatedly murdered in the most painful ways possible, or make it only rain between sunset and dawn (a la Camelot.) There are lots of things “all things” does not include and that we would not want it to include. If “all things” included all things we would get a lot that would ultimately do us harm, not just the things we think we want. Today’s verse isn’t the only place in Romans 8 that we find the words, “all things.” Four verses earlier, we’re told that God causes all things to work...

                  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)             “Here. And here. Oh, and here’s another one. Catch!” That’s one idea of casting : throwing. Another variation is casting one’s line when fishing, throwing the bait some distance. The point is that casting isn’t tame or particularly gentle. It’s putting things into God’s hands with a force or at a distance that doesn’t make taking them back easy, or possibly throwing the anxiety toward God in hopes that it will lure Him in.             The next word changes the fishing image for me. Instead of putting my sources of anxiety on a line and toss it toward where I think God is, it’s more like chumming, or throwing lots of blood, gore, or anxieties into the “water” and luring God in like one would a ...

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;     my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,     nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life;     you will fill me with joy in your presence,     with eternal pleasures at your right hand.                                                                    (Psalm 16:9-11)             I don’t understand the logic of the phrase “right hand” in general. Often, it’s suggested th...

                         When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. (Psalm 142:3)             This is part of a psalm written by David…David, a man after God’s own heart. That David. It’s a prayer that (in English at least) begins “When my spirit grows faint within me…” Not if , but when . Have you noticed what your emotions do when you’re not supervising them?               The least likely thing for them to do is get busy cheering you on to do good - unless doing that good is going to produce some immediate gratification. Instead, they wander off into swamps of despair, frightening forests, dangerous mountain trails, deserts of laziness, and ...

                 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy   because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, (Philippians 1:4-5) Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.   And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.    If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?    But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.    If they were all one part, where would the body be?    As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (I Corinthians 12:15-19)          ...

              One day, the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came with them.  The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”             Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” (Job 1:6-7)             One more day of my rant about loving our enemies because I’m drawing a blank on any other topic. I’ve referred to this passage before, but let’s actually look at it. One day, Satan joins the angels in presenting themselves before the Lord. Think about this. It’s mind-blowing. The archangels don’t prevent him from entering the throne room. None of the angels pitch a fit or utter a battle cry.             Of course, God doesn’t need to ask Satan where he’s come from, but God see...

    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.   It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.   Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails . (I Corinthians 13:4-8a) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’   But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  (Matthew 5:43-44)               Years ago, I wrote about the I Corinthians passage and challenged myself and you to put the word “God” in the place of “love” and to add “to me,” “for me,” etc. I suggested we read it aloud, looking in a mirror, addressing ourselves. We were to note and pray about anywhere that we couldn’t tell ourselves about God’s lo...

               “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?   And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)               I’ve done this passage too recently, I know. I also know that I’m basically continuing yesterday’s rant. As Christians, we’re commanded to love God, our neighbors as ourselves, one another, and our enemies. Yes, it’s important to de...

              “If your brother or sister sins go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17) This is Jesus’ teaching about church discipline. This is how the church and its members are supposed to work. Sadly, our society (including our churches) has chosen a different direction. Sometimes, we just skip the first two steps and opt to call some part of the church together and tell the person to go away. With the internet, the prime means of “discipline” is to ridicule anyone who disagrees with you. I’ve had people claim that Jesus ridiculed the Phari...

    Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,   built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)   At the risk of being obvious, what does it mean that we are citizens with God’s people, or members of His household? A citizen is someone who has a relationship with a governing body that involves each responding to the other, acknowledging the rights of and fulfilling responsibilities to the other. Being members of a household is basically the same. Back when Paul wrote these words, neither was quite as automatic as they are today. You could be born a citizen or buy cit...

                 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need . (Hebrews 4:15-16)   When we tell others we can understand how they feel, we’re often told to stop lying- that we can’t possibly understand unless we experienced the exact same thing with their exact same background. In other words, we can’t empathize unless we are them. Um - I can understand that feeling. There are times I struggle with that idea as I read these verses. Yes, Jesus is the Son of God who lived a life of about 33 years on this planet and was tempted and all that, but the Son of God didn’t live in the Twenty-First Century as an overweight, single, middle-aged woman who is trying to...

            “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?   Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.   Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’   and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:45-51) The purpose of today’s post is not “Oh my! Jesus is going to arrive at 6:19 pm. You’d better get your house in order!” Yes, Jesus could return at 6:19 pm, but I suspec...

                 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Genesis3:5) The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17 NASB) He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV) I’ve shared these verses before, but apparently I need to do so again. I hope this doesn’t count as twisting Scripture - feel free to let me know if it is. Step One: The serpent tempted Adam and Eve to seek a way to be “like God.” It was a means that God had expressly told them not to use. I contend that the desire to be “like God” strongly influences each of us. Step Two: The Jews were told that God would be quiet in His love for them, and by...

                 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:1-3) Maybe I’m missing what people say when they talk about the first verse of this psalm. It sounds as if they think we should be like the deer panting for water in our relationship with God. But deer don’t pant for water when standing knee-deep in a stream. Sometimes, God seems a universe away, tears are our food, and people ask where our God is. Of course, it’s appropriate to pant like a deer for streams of water. But when the stream is there, why stand and refuse to drink? Part of our problem is that we refuse to drink. At least in America, God’s Word is available, but we get bored with it or can’t find the right verse. We’ve all ...

                 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Psalm147:10-11) There are videos about horses and other animals that lead us to say, “Oh, wow!” Animals can be gorgeous, spirited, and powerful, and we admire them - quite often - in their displays of aggression and domination. As the Olympics have shown us this past week, we are equally impressed with displays of human power. Who wouldn’t be impressed by Simone Biles, or the woman who won all those swimming metals? And even if we somehow don’t find ourselves impressed with those functionally beautiful bodies, there’s no end to the magnificent specimens who seek to entertain us. Scripture tells us we shouldn’t judge others, especially on appearances. Society tells us the same thing. We probably scold ourselves for ju...

                 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, (Romans 8:3) If we just outlawed guns, there’d be safety. If we just outlawed hate and hate-speech, there’d be peace. If we just outlawed gas-powered vehicles, the earth would be clean and healthy. If we passed a law protecting women, or blacks, or LGBTQ+, or _______, hatred would disappear. It might still exist, but those who expressed it would be re-educated or put somewhere where they could do no more harm. If we made abortion illegal, children would be safe. If we outlawed alcohol, drugs, slavery, the sex trade, pornography, or whatever else, all our problems would disappear. Except… we’ve tried most of them and the laws haven’t worked. That’s because laws are only as strong as our capacity to enforce them - w...

                 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;  and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)   By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)   This was the passage I was looking for yesterday, but I came to Genesis 11 before I got here and I’m glad I did, because the juxtaposition is interesting. The people (very likely with some sort of leadership) decided they would build the tower to make a name for themselves so they wouldn’t be scattered. In other words, they ...

         Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.    As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, a...

                 This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:2-3) “Great and unsearchable things? Oh, cool. (People will envy me like they did Joseph or Daniel - but you didn’t hear that part. I didn’t say it.)” Perhaps the hardest part of this is the fact that what God tells us isn’t necessarily, or even likely, to be what we want to hear. My current complaint to God is that He isn’t giving me a copy of His detailed plans for the next six months. My parents were the same way. If they told me, I would fixate on one of the  future things. In college, as soon as I had my schedule for the next semester and the books were available, the current semester didn’t matter much. So, I can’t really blame God - but I pout. What we (at l...