Mission Faithwalk

                 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord . (Psalm 27:13-14) Back in the 1800s, people go listen to a debate or a speech, or attend a long play and return home to spend hours talking about it. Since the advent of social media, our attention span has reportedly dwindled to under 5 seconds. There are times I can attest to this in my own life. Another reality with the media is that to hold our attention and earn ratings (which means money), reporters are bringing the biggest, baddest, most spectacular, and most frightening news they can. “No news is good news” has become “good news is no news.” These are problems we face when we seek something positive – especially something from God. Unless the goodness of the Lord is splashy, sexy, or spectacular, our minds don’t consider it worth...

                 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. (Matthew 27:11-14)   Yesterday, I listened to a podcast in which Jesus’ trials were mentioned. The key point about the trials was that Jesus didn’t respond to Pilate or Herod. While we (the speaker said) tend to try to prove ourselves, to make ourselves look good even without being on trial legally, Jesus didn’t act on a need to control. What the speaker didn’t point out is that from Jesus’ point of view, everything was going according to the plan. Why speak up and potentially mess up? Jesus spoke up w...

                 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27: 4) But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Ephesians 4:7) At the end of the last calendar year, I set Ephesians 4:7 as this year’s verse, along with the notion of double blessing. And since I found it mentioned in my garden journal, I clearly meant it in terms of my garden first, and everything else second or later. This morning, I’m playing with numbers again. First, the purely amusing. David says “one thing” and “this only” then goes on to say, “dwell in the house of the Lord…,” “gaze on the beauty of the Lord,” and “seek him in his temple.” I count that as three things. If it’s one, it’s compound or complex, like a three ingredient recipe in which one of the...

              Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)           Back in the 80s, there was a series of commercials for Prego Spaghetti sauce in which one person kept talking about how they make their sauce, and the other kept telling the first, “It’s in there,” referring to Prego. That’s what came to mind as I saw this verse this morning. Jesus can save completely because he always lives to intercede for them. When life gets hard, he’s in there, interceding. When we sin, he’s in there, interceding. When we’re oppressed, he’s in there, interceding. When others abandon, deny, or betray us, he’s in there, interceding. When we get a majorly negative diagnosis, he’s in there, interceding.           And the intercession isn’t, “What she did wasn’t so bad,” or “...

                 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.. (Psalm 39:4) This is a good verse for today, since today ends a year in my life and tomorrow begins another. There are times when I consider my age and want to get anxious, because I only have “a few” years left and who knows how soon dementia or physical disability will reduce my ability to do what I want to do. But the real reason for this verse today is because some of the translations use the words “Teach me…to measure my days.” The homework assignment for the Bible study I’m in is to work on a “rule of life.” The founders of various monastic orders wrote a rule of life for their abbeys (monasteries.) It wasn’t so much a set of commandments as it was a constitution for their order. It described how they would function as an entity, in its relationship with God, with the outside world,...

                 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (I Peter 1:18-19) Imagine a world in which every person had to redeem him/herself. How much of a “fine” should you have to pay for the sins you’ve committed? How much should Jack the Ripper or Adolph Hitler have to pay? How about the folks in countries where the average income is fifty cents a day or less? Should it be 10% of one’s income for the worst sins? Should we divide that by a thousand for a little white lie? So, if rich person and poor person both tell the same lie with the same results, one pays a million dollars, and the other one dollar? How would that be fair? How would it be fair to reverse it and charge the rich person a dollar, and the poor person everything he/she has...

                 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive . (Proverbs 23:1-3) If you’ve worked anywhere, including for yourself, you’ve probably noticed a tendency for employers to expect their employees to buy the company’s goods or services rather than to shop at or hire a competitor. You work for them. How could you commit treason. In ancient days (and in some cultures even today) eating with someone could be considered allying with them. The meal is your purchase price. At the same time, if a ruler invited you to dinner, you weren’t exactly free to decline the invitation without suffering the consequences. The alternative is to be cautious in what we eat, in how much time we spend, in what we say, etc., so that it’s clear that the other person does not have too great a hold on us. ...

                 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22:1) David wrote a number of lament psalms, but this is the one from which Jesus quoted as He died on the cross. Sometimes, when I go to God with my laments, I feel a little ashamed. Jesus was facing death before He prayed in Gethsemane. He was dying before He quote this psalm. Let me be inconvenienced, and I whine to God. The first issue that needs to be addressed is the fact that while we know Jesus was in the habit of praying, we don’t know the content of many of those prayers. I suspect, based on what He said sometimes, that He may have prayed a few “Shatter their teeth!” prayers but maybe not.   I’m not going to suggest that we suck it up and not complain until the night before we face our crosses, or until we’re on our crosses. Instead, I’m going to remind myself and you that there ...

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...

  May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm19:14)           As I started writing this post, I noted that the meditations of my heart are all over the mental landscape, from a hub where eight superhighways come together to a lunar or nuclear landscape. Do you see my error? The moment I read the word meditation , I think about thoughts. But what’s described here is the meditations of our hearts ; our wills.           While the meditations of our minds may be all over the place, the meditations of our wills tend to be a little more stable by the time we are adults. We no longer tend to want to pursue the ten separate careers we did in any given day as children. Part of this is humble acceptance of reality. We come to understand that we can’t do it all. I think another part of it is disappointmen...

  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas [1] , and then to the Twelve.   After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.   Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (I Corinthians 15:3-8) Hallelujah, He is risen! And Paul, who once hated Christians enough to seek their arrest, trial, and death, writes of the event. Some people claim that what was experienced was mass hallucinations. There are problems with this theory. The only evidence for it is based on the fact that a whole bunch of people are said to have seen something that ...

                 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:6-7) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. (Preamble to the Declaration of Independence) This isn’t one of my favorite passages. I don’t consider myself good at most “people things,” and honor and respect are people things. I find it difficult to use honorifics. I’ll gladly refer to Mr. Trump, but struggle with President Trump. It has no...

                 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18) The cross is among the most recognized symbols in the world, if not the most recognized symbol. Yes, it was more than a symbol, but it has also always been a symbol. In the Roman Empire, it was a symbol of shame, crime, and oppression. Keep in mind that crucifixion didn’t kill quickly or neatly. It was a surprise to the Romans that Jesus died in only a few hours. They probably consider Him particularly weak for dying so soon. Perhaps part of the power of the symbol of the cross is the fact that it’s contrary and complicated. It was a symbol of shame, crime, oppression, and death. On that weekend, it became a symbol of life and freedom. Since then, it has become -  at times – a symbol of shame, crime, oppression, and death, for those against whom it has been inappropr...

                 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14)   “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.    “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5) The other night at a Bible study, I was presented with two definitions or perspectives. The first was an etymological consideration of the Hebrew word we translate sin. It is a term from archery and describes the fact of the arrow not hitting the bull’s eye. Sin is the amount one falls short of “hitting the mark.” There are at least 100 references to sin or sinners in the gospels, but today’s verse is the only one menti...

              If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved . (Romans 10:9-10) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder . (James 2:19) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark12:30) Usually, I avoid this passage because I don’t understand it. Anyone can say “Jesus is Lord” but not actually believe it. And anyone can believe that God raised Him from the dead without turning to God to be saved. We can lie to ourselves and lie to each other. We can lie to God, but He’s not deceived. After all, the demons believe there is one God, a...

                 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:33) Carpe diem, “Seize the day.” But Buddha taught that desire or craving was the root of all suffering. There we have the world’s range of perspectives: fight or flight.  Yes, we’re back to that. It’s so basic to our lives. Today’s verse is about fear, too. The Bible teaches us that there is wisdom in fear, if we fear the right things. Wise fear faces reality and responds appropriately. I used to be afraid of spiders. Thanks to God, I’m not anymore, but that doesn’t mean I plan to handle one, especially in a  way that might stimulate it to bite. I’m not afraid of God in the sense that I can’t leave the house because He might be “out there.” But I do fear Him in the sense that He is God and I am not. I don’t intend to “handle” Him in a way that might stimulate Him to “bite.” I know, I’ve written about this many ti...

                                                                   Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?     Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless,     who does what is righteous,     who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander,     who does no wrong to a neighbor,     and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person     but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts,     and does not change their mind;   who lends money to the poor without interest;     who does not accept a bribe against the i...

                 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:1-3) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God , (Romans 3:23) I have to smile as I begin this post because after I chose the Psalm 14 passage, my mind went immediately to Romans 3:23- it’s not a great leap of intuition. I’m sure your thoughts went there, too. But a few verses before Romans 3:23, Paul quotes Psalm 14. I also have to smile because I have heard people claim that Paul (or Constantine) manufactured what we call Christianity. Just to follow the silly logic, if either of them did, they used the Old Testament for the parts. We knew that, but it’s fun...

                 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?   Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.      But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13) You’ve been here.  You are here. The world and your own universe are out of control. You want to run in circles, pulling out whatever feathers/hair you have left and cry, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Nobody loves you, everybody hates you.  You’re gonna go eat worms. It’s the scene in the old, old mov...

                 “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:3-7) We live in a world in which the question of the first paragraph is being asked. The truth is that we always live in a world where it’s asked. Every generation, every society, more often than not asks that question. What does your answer look like? Two automatic and ineffective reactions are war and withdraw, also known as fight or flight. Someone asked this on Facebook this morning. I s...

            For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (II Timothy 1:7)   Yesterday at work, I came face to face with my cowardice. Cowardice might be too strong a term. Timidity might be better. I got to work with a full-time coworker who has been working with the person in charge of the decorations we carry. Our boss didn’t happen to be there, so she texted him to ask for marching orders, went to another authority to get paperwork, and got to work on some boxes of stuff that were well away from the registers. I immediately saw the difference between us. She had no problem diving in, while I couldn’t imagine checking with my boss except regarding my schedule. It’s not that I’m not a hard worker; it’s that taking initiative (in my thinking) is likely to get me in trouble for going beyond my place. I’ll step on someone’s toes. I might do something wrong. The idea of learning from her ...

                 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10) Recently, I got the idea to be more disciplined about my praying, moving through categories in order of priority: the Church, family, community, authorities, enemies, and myself. Given today’s verse, the enemies portion is the focus. Fortunately, the itemized portion of that list is short. Most days, there are no names that come to mind. That doesn’t mean that I think I have no enemies. I’m sure I have many. I can’t think of any names. The general prayer for my general enemies is that God would cause them to be a blessing in my life, and me to be a blessing in theirs. I pray that, where possible, the enmity between us would be resolved. I’m not sharing this to impress you with how spiritual or wonderful I am. If the purpose of being a ...

                                                                                       Lord, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory     in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants     you have established a stronghold against your enemies,     to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens,     the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,     which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,     human beings that you care for them? You have made them a lit...

                 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.   The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. (Psalm 7:115-16) Sometimes, people share memes or make statements about “karma” getting someone. Technically, karma is supposed to “get” people for doing good with good things, but we never hear statements of hope that karma would visit someone with anything positive. No, karma is the thing sought or hoped for when someone isn’t doing what we think is right. And we are delighted when karma either KOs someone or beats him/her to a pulp. In some ways, the person we think deserves a visit from karma is like the bait dog in a dogfight.  We don’t care if they’re incapable of defending themselves. The whole point is to enjoy the bloodshed, whether literal or figurative. I don’t believe in karma, but today’s verse sometimes has the same feeling. Whoe...

                      This is what the Lord says: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:2-3)   We all have moments. Sometimes, they last longer than moments. Yesterday I had a few. I ran out of soil in the garage before I ran out of beds to fill. I was thinking of buying soil (a first!) today, but the weather forecast said “Rain.” For once, it’s correct. I couldn’t find a vital document to finish my taxes. A book I was reading was pushing all the wrong buttons. These and other little things tripped up my attitude. They were tiny swords, but swords none-the-less. None of it was terribly traumatic. The traumatic makes me feel justified in my emotional response....

            Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.   Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:23-27) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?    You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)   Some people think that the heart is a well of good, clear water, and the only guarding it needs is to protect it from evil outsi...

                 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11) “If you love me, keep my commands .” ~Jesus (John 14:11)           Someone recently suggested that in our discipline of celebrating the sabbath, we should do what makes us “come alive in God.” From today’s verse, it might be understood that we are to be unresponsive to sin but responsive to God.  If we love God, we are to obey Him, which we can only do if we are alive to Him or in Him.           The same person (or another person the same video) suggested that keeping the sabbath could include playing basketball with your kids, taking a nap, or hanging out with friends and family. Again, anything that makes you “come alive in God” is an acceptable part of the discipline of sabbath-keeping. But this ...

                 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) What sort of men were the disciples? In Acts 4, the Pharisees and Sadducees considered the “ordinary.” By ordinary they probably meant poor, educated to the lowest level considered acceptable (what we’d call “high school.”) We know four were fishermen. One was a tax collector. The rest, we can only guess. The religious officials looked down on them as nobodies. And they were – that was the point. But as we face life today, there are folks who think like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Anyone who isn’t “educated” is considered a nobody. Interestingly enough, this is the opinion stated by groups that used to be known for wanting inclusivity. The same folks who used to want to fight for the rights of the marginalized now reject ...