Mission Faithwalk

                 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. (Numbers 15:39) For a while when I worked at the library, I went to a florist’s at lunchtime on Fridays and got one “fire and ice” rosebud. I put it in the refrigerator and put my car keys with it so I wouldn’t forget to take it home. Some people put strings on a finger, or a rubber band on their wrists.  We decorate or homes or wear specific colors (or ugly sweaters) to commemorate holidays. The Jews were told to wear tassels to remind themselves of God’s commands. It’s the time of year when I usually write about remembering what God has done in our lives. It’s also the time of year when I tend to write about the idea of decorating for Christmas by putting out (or putting under the tree) tangible...

                      Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; (John 11:25)   Today’s verse comes from the account of the resurrection of Lazarus. I’ll put a side note here about Mary and Martha’s complaint that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would have been healed. Yes, but they and the disciples would not have had the reminder that Jesus could raise the dead as close to His crucifixion, to remind them even though they didn’t remember. He even did it four days after Lazarus had been entombed, while He only took three to leave His own. (We need to remember that!) But, continuing (at least in part) with the thoughts of the past couple of days, we often find it easy to be impatient with God. We want Him to heal, fix, and change, preferably now. And when now doesn’t happen, we’re tempted to add our voices to Mary and Marthat’s, or to the ...

                 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them . (Isaish 42:16)   I need this today. You might, too. Your first response might be “But I’m not blind.” Can you see the future? Someone on Facebook shared a poem a girl  wrote about what  we’d do if people had signs over their heads telling their current sources of pain. The truth is that we would stop going out so no one could see ours, or we would grow very callous, or we would never look above another person’s chest. We could not cope otherwise in a world where everyone’s issues were visible to us. So, for good reason, we are blind to much of what is going on around us. And let’s add that one more bit of blindness we a...

                 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (II Corinthians 12:9)   The past couple of days have been tough. One of the toughest parts about it is that (at least in my memory of it) I used to be able to do this stuff. I used to have an income that, while not enough, was much better than I have now. I used to put on winter weather gear and take a 3 mile walk in the snow. I used to spend from 8 to 11 every night working on my story. I used to…used to…used to. And then life got in the way, I got older, and I let myself get out of shape. The fact that the snow storm involved crippled the whole area doesn’t matter to the part of me that says, “But you used to…” or to my knee, my lower back, or my shoulders. Reason need not apply. And forget about “Do what...

                 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. (C.S. Lewis, “Is Theology Poetry?”)   Today’s passage is well known as one of Jesus’ “I am” statements in John. As I look at it this morning, I return to my theme of Scripture not being magical. What did He mean when He said He is the light of the world? What do we mean when we say He is? Not vaguely, kind-of, sort-of, well… What do we mean? He told us that we’ll never walk in darkness if we follow Him. That is what He meant. What does it mean to follow Him? In summary, it means what Professor Lewis said: we need to see everything by that Light. The problem is that when we’re in pain, angry, unsure, insecure...

                 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:25-27)   Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart . (Provers 37: 4)   You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14)   He had fed 5,000 then had gone off to pray while the disciples rowed across the lake. He had later walked across the lake during a storm. That is where this passage takes up. The people have been looking for Him t...

  In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe . (Hebrews 1:1-2) Really? God spoke through the prophets at many times? Define many. No, I’m not suggesting that Scripture is wrong. I’m suggesting that we need to consider what the author has said. The links below provide lists of at least some of the prophets: Prophets in the Bible — Who are the prophets in the Bible? | NeverThirsty Prophetesses in the Bible — Who are the women prophets in the Bible? | NeverThirsty Just to make it simple, fewer than one hundred, and we’re considering several thousand years. Of course, we don’t know. There could have been hundreds of thousands – but these were the ones listed. Fewer than one hundred from creation to the First Century. And if you trace them, I suspect you’ll find that most of them prophesied lea...