This morning Crown and Cactus was inadvertantly published on the Desert Meditation site. This was totally my error. You need not read it!

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’^* This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
  make his paths straight.” ’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

‘I baptize you with^* water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^* the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ Matthew 3:1-12

It’s been a quiet week at Crown and Cactus Lutheran Church, that little congregation over between Mesa and Gilbert and Chandler. While it should not have been a surprise, folks were a bit startled to see the transformation wrought by the Creative Spaces group in the sanctuary when they arrived for worship. Jennie and her crew had removed all the pumpkins and fall colors and replaced them with an assortment of royal blue banners heralding the Advent season. This year, rather than putting up a Jesse tree, a good idea that had never really caught on with the congregation, the crew had focused on the Advent wreath, stylized and in a different location just to the left of the altar. The four candles, three blue and one pink, were larger than usual and stood on different levels around the large central Christ candle. Interwoven among them were fresh balsam boughs that Jennie had gotten from a local Christmas tree lot.

Attendance was down a bit at worship, as it typically is on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, and because more adults had opted to go to the youth service, there were even fewer to hear what Pastor Baldridge had to say about hope, the chosen theme for the First Sunday of Advent. When the two groups of worshippers were united for the prayers and Holy Communion and as the offering was taken he did call attention to the fact that the following Tuesday would be Giving Tuesday, and if people had any money left from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this would be a good time to remember Lutheran Social Services of Arizona. The recent decrees singling out Afghan refugees for special scrutiny and possible deportation have presented a challenge for LSS, and he wants people to know they need help.

After the service, during the fellowship time, Susan Gruen sought him out. She’s been working with Afghan refugees through another agency and she was grateful that he had called attention to the crisis. There were tears in her eyes as she described the fear she was seeing in those she was helping. Others joined the conversation, with most thanking him for making a recommendation for their giving. Everyone has been getting Giving Tuesday requests and it’s hard to figure out which ones are most in need. 

On Monday at the staff meeting Pastor Baldridge mentioned how much he appreciated the work of Creative Spaces in transforming the sanctuary for Advent. He asked if anyone had said anything about the missing Jesse Tree. Jennie laughed and said, “Back when we started using the Jesse Tree, I really thought it would catch on,  but I guess the symbolism of a dry leafless tree wasn’t the best for the dawning of a new year. No one said a word.” She paused, “But a lot of people really like the new Advent Candle Stand.”

As they continued their meeting, moving on to upcoming events, Pastor Baldridge mentioned that Syd and Kateryna McCovey had asked that their baby be baptized on December 7. Some were surprised that nothing had been said before, but Pastor Baldridge said he’d only found out after church the day before. At that point he hadn’t been able to think of any reason that couldn’t happen, but he wanted to check. As it turned out Jennie and Janice had no objections. Baptisms don’t require a lot of preparation and the choir cantata wasn’t scheduled until the 21st when it would be done in conjunction with the children’s Sunday School Christmas program. So there wouldn’t be an issue with a baptism on the 7th–in fact the staff was excited about it. Pastor Baldridge was glad to hear that since he already said a pretty firm “yes” and would be visiting Syd and Kateryna that night to work out the details.

He got over to the McCovey’s home about 7:00 just as they were cleaning up from their supper. Olga was so excited to see him and had to give him a tour of the whole house. In her eyes his presence was like that of a royal visit, like having Jesus himself in their home. Pastor Baldridge rather enjoyed the attention and followed her through every room, including her parent’s bedroom, where Petro Francis, or Petey as she called him, was sound asleep in his crib. Olga whispered loudly, “This is where Petey sleeps for now, but pretty soon we’ll get a new house, and then he’ll have his own room.”

Ah yes, that was the plan. Pastor Baldridge wondered to himself how long that might take. He knew they wouldn’t be able to get a house, and apartments were very expensive. At least they had a place to live–and for now it would be just fine. 

He settled down in an overstuffed chair in their family room while Syd and Kateryna sat in a love seat with Olga perched between them. Kateryna had given him a cup of mint tea before they sat down and he did his best to balance it on the arm of the chair as they talked. 

Syd was excited too, and anxious to tell Pastor Baldridge why they had chosen this Sunday. He said, “Not only will Petro be exactly 3 months old, the gospel text is all about the ministry of John the Baptist.” Pastor Baldridge didn’t quite get the connection but he didn’t say anything. He assumed that Syd would ultimately give him all the information he needed–and likely even more.

Syd continued by talking about his own baptism, which had taken place in a little stream just west of Tempe Town Lake in a riparian area that is a favorite haunt of the homeless. “It was just like I had imagined Jesus’ baptism to have been like.” Pastor Baldridge remembered. It had been a cold January day and he had caught a cold. Lacey had actually performed the baptism and it had been by immersion, Syd’s idea and not hers. He shivered now as he remembered the scene.

Syd said, “I don’t want Petro’s baptism to be like that, but I do want to ask a favor.” Pastor Baldridge nodded, and Syd continued. “I wonder if it would be possible for Lacey to do the baptism? I haven’t said anything to her yet, and wanted to talk to you first.”

Pastor Baldridge took a moment to answer. After so many years he’s gotten used to playing second fiddle to Lacey, but there is still a nagging voice that speaks up out of the darkness of his soul that encourages him to be hurt. Firmly stomping on that dark whisper he said, “Of course that would be possible, and it doesn’t surprise me a bit. Do you want to contact her?”

Kateryna spoke up, looking at Syd, “Oh, we think it would probably be better if you asked her. That way she’d be sure to know we weren’t trying to go around you.”

Pastor Baldridge nodded. He did appreciate their thoughtfulness. He said, “I’ll text Lacey tonight and we can talk about it tomorrow. I know she’s going to be at worship. I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”

Syd smiled and said, “Good. This means a lot to me. Lacey was really like John the Baptist for me. It was through her that I came to know the gospel of grace that comes through Jesus. And now she can do the same for Petey! It won’t be quite the same…”

Olga interrupted, “Yeah, Petey will only know that water got poured on his head, and that’s about it.”

Pastor Baldridge said, “That’s exactly right, Olga. Petey is getting baptized into the Body of Christ, and it’s through that community of faith that he’ll come to know Jesus. He’s going to have a whole boatload of John the Baptists in his life. You too, Olga, you’re going to be John the Baptist for him. And I know you’ll do a wonderful job!’

Olga beamed, “And maybe I can get started now…I could help Lacey do the baptism. All I would need to do is dip my hand in the water and pour it over his head. I already do that every night during his bath to rinse the shampoo from his hair.”

Syd laughed and said, “Well, that’ll be up to Lacey, Olga. I don’t know if she’ll need any help. What do you think, Pastor?”

Pastor Baldridge just smiled and shrugged. He’d learned quite a while ago not to speak for Lacey. She definitely had her own ideas, but he imagined she would be open to this suggestion. He said, “You can ask her. I’m sure she’ll be calling you tomorrow.”

Conversation then turned to some of the other things that had to be settled before Sunday. Kateryna brought out the beautiful baptismal gown that Leticia Brown had given her. It had served well for their two children but she and Marcus have decided that Johnny will be their last child and she wanted Petro to have it as his gown. Olga said, “I think it looks like a dress, but Mama says that’s what they use for all baptisms in Ukraine. I wish we hadn’t lost mine  when we came here…then Petey could have used it too.”

Pastor Baldridge talked about sponsors, and Kateryna and Syd just looked at each other. Neither had family members who could be chosen, but there were so many other possibilities. And of course Olga volunteered…she’d be glad to do that too. Wiping a tear from her eye, Kateryna said, “I think Lacey and Brad would be perfect, but could she do the baptism and be a sponsor too?”

“Of course,” Pastor Baldridge said with a smile, “but I won’t ask her. You can do that….but it’s fine with me. They’d be the perfect couple.

At that point all conversation came to an end. Petey was done with sleeping and had let them know with a loud cry. Olga ran to get him, and brought him out still crying and deposited him in Pastor Baldridge’s lap, where he amazed everyone by falling back asleep. Pastor Baldridge chuckled, “My special gift. It happens all over the congregation every Sunday.”  And with a smile he handed Petey back to Syd. It had been a wonderful evening–the kind that made him happy to be a pastor.

That’s the word from Crown and Cactus Lutheran Church, where all the women are committed, the men are faithful, and the children are all growing in grace.

Matthew 3:7-12

“Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor.’” vss. 8-9a

Complacency is perhaps the greatest enemy for people of faith. John the Baptist accused the Sadducees and Pharisees of presuming that their proper heritage was all that mattered to God. He tells them in no uncertain terms that God doesn’t care about their ancestral connection to Abraham. All that matters in the eyes of God is fruit. John would likely have the same thing to say about our national or denominational pride. We can gloat about our proper Lutheran theology and bask in our relationship to Catholicism and it doesn’t mean a thing! We can even fall back on our personal relationship to Jesus, hoping to get some credit there, but it’s only rubbish to God, something worthy only of a garbage heap. John does hold out some hope though, when he indicates that he’s not the last word from God–that honor belongs to Jesus, and even though Jesus too emphasizes the importance of fruits, he also empowers us through the Holy Spirit to lead fruitful lives. When the fire of the Spirit burns away our complacency we are reborn and equipped to live as God intends. The hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, and the poor hear the good news. And it’s all grace, both for us and for them!

Thought for the Day: When has complacency been an issue for me?

Matthew 3:1-6

“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” vss. 1-

Matthew doesn’t give us much of a backstory on John the Baptist, but some believe that John was connected to the Essenes who had taken up residence at Qumran, a monastic community located near the Dead Sea. The Essenes were known for celibacy, ritual bathing practices and simplicity in daily living. While we can never know for sure, it is conceivable that John left the community at Qumran to proclaim a message of baptism and repentance along the Jordan River. What Matthew does tell us is that John’s message was powerful and well-received. People came to him from all around Judea and the Jordan Valley. Matthew says that he was the “voice in the wilderness” written about in the book of Isaiah. His purpose was to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. It’s not a glamorous job to be a forerunner, but it appears that John did his job well. He was instrumental in connecting Jesus with his call–so influential that Jesus adopted his basic message “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” as his initial mission statement, and of course some of John’s disciples later switched their allegiance to Jesus. John’s ministry reminds us that the gospel doesn’t arrive in a vacuum–there will always those who prepare the way. And sometimes that’s even the job we get to do!

Thought for the Day: Who or what prepared me to receive the gospel?

Romans 15:7-13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13

Hope is what keeps us going in the face of adversity or difficulties, and hope is perhaps the most precious gift of God. Because we are broken, God plants in us the seed of hope so that we might have the expectation of restoration and healing. The very presence of hope in our lives is a sign of God’s presence, and a reminder that the way things are is not the way they will always be. And as we learn to trust that God-inspired hope we are bound to receive joy and peace, the ultimate gifts of God in this broken world. Those of us who have had hope dashed in the course of our journey know how very precious it is. Without it, expectations are crushed and it’s easy to get lost in depression and malaise. But because hope is God generated and Spirit inspired, it often bubbles to the surface almost in spite of ourselves, and when it again appears, joy and peace are not far behind. It’s fun to be in the company of hopeful saints in our congregations. Their effervescent smiles and genuine caring are contagious and in their presence we often find our faith strengthened and our hope regenerated. And none of this is our doing. It’s all the gift of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day: How have I experienced the power of hope?

Romans 15:4-6

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” vs. 4

As Paul came to the end of his sometimes cumbersome and long letter to the Romans he wanted to leave his reader with hope. They’d had a rough time absorbing this radical message of inclusion. His Jewish readers had never dreamed that one day they would have table fellowship with Gentiles. It was likely beyond their imagination. Yet so Paul had proclaimed, and so they had come to believe, and now he wants them to know that he hadn’t just been making this stuff up. He tells them that the Hebrew scriptures had been written for this purpose. Everything that he had told them had come from their holy writings, and because that was the gospel’s source,  they all might have hope. That gospel of grace now belongs to us, and it is such a blessing to see the threads of that message running through all the scriptures. Oh, sometimes it’s hard to see how all things fit together, and sometimes we wish the writers could have been more clear and direct. But as we use that precious library of books for instruction and for insight we see that this is what Paul said it was, a grace-filled message of inclusion and hope. As we study and read it our understanding grows and we are bound to give thanks for our long-lived family of faith.

Thought for the Day: What do I do when scripture baffles me?

Psalm 72:1-7

“May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy,   and crush the oppressor.” vs. 4

As might be expected the coronation of a king was a festive occasion in Israel. Trumpets were blown, cymbals rang out, and prayers were said. This psalm was used at just such a moment, and some believed that it was first used at the crowning of Solomon. Some of the refrains were familiar: the prayers for wisdom, long life, and success in battle. But one verse stands out. Because the poor and the needy had no advocates, and no way to stand up for themselves, they were dependent upon the king for defense and deliverance. And that’s how it should be in every land and every generation! In our age those who have adopted the mission of Jesus will be the principal defenders of the poor. They will stand up for them in a system which favors the rich and be their advocates as they struggle to escape poverty. And perhaps most important of all, they will lobby leaders to have the care of the needy near the top of their political agendas. Of course at this time of year it’s wonderful to see the angel trees in our churches and know that our social agencies have not forgotten the hungry and the hurting. But followers of Jesus know that this isn’t just a run-up to Christmas. For us every season is a time for sharing!

Thought for the Day: Where do I do my sharing?

Isaiah 11:6-10

“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” vs. 6

We really don’t know much about Isaiah. Oh, we know that he was a prophet and that he lived in Jerusalem a long time ago, but other than that there’s little information about him. What we do know is that he was a superlative and imaginative writer–his carefully crafted elegant words have inspired and emboldened believers for thousands of years. The images of this one sentence have captured our imaginations and enabled us to dream that someday the impossible will be a reality. People will be able to sit at table with one another: black and white, Muslim and Christian, Russian and Ukrainian, Israeli and Hamas–and there will be peace on earth. Right now it may well be that our imaginations fail us–but we’re not in charge. Isaiah said that the reconciliation of the peaceable kingdom would be led by a little child, and we dare to hope that perhaps that child has been born, maybe in a manger, and lives among us. As we move into Advent and begin to wrap our minds around God’s promise of hope, it’s good to remember that God’s endgame is more spectacular than we have ever dreamed, and if we allow the Child to lead, perhaps we’ll be able to see wolves lying down with lambs. It’s a vision worth hanging on to!

Thought for the Day: What impossible dreams am I dreaming?

Isaiah 11:1-10

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,   the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” vs 2

Isaiah prayed that one day the spirit of the Lord would rest on a shoot from the house of Jesse, and that through this descendent of David, a peaceable kingdom would be established on earth. That prayer found fulfillment in the person of Jesus, and now we regularly use those same words as the baptized are blessed in the rite of confirmation. It’s a solemn and beautiful moment, a time to recognize that the hopes and dreams of the ages are now resting on a new generation. On the one hand it seems an audacious claim. How can we possibly believe that these young men and women, most of them teenagers, can make the kingdom of peace a reality? Yet that’s what we continue to believe! This army of baptized believers is changing the world, and it’s happening now. Bit by bit, one  person at a time, by the power of the Holy Spirit, this world is experiencing healing and peace. Some days it may seem only a dream–we’re constantly being made aware of the brokenness in our lives.  But then comes the day when we come face to face with unconditional love and sacrificial service, and we know beyond a doubt that we’ve been touched by the kingdom of peace.

Thought for the Day: What is life like in the kingdom of peace?

Matthew 24:40-44

“But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.” vs. 43

In order to press home his point about being prepared for the second coming of Jesus, Matthew uses an example of a homeowner with knowledge of when his house would be broken into. He implies that such a person would surely stay awake in order to prevent the burglary. In other words, precise knowledge of the future will most certainly change our behavior in the present. Now the problem is that the readers don’t know the hour when the Lord is coming–and Matthew would say “Exactly!” That’s why they should live in a state of constant expectancy! The question then is, how in the world could a person actually live that way? For some people in Matthew’s time it meant that they quit their jobs–for others it meant not getting married and staying single. And that became a problem! We can’t just stop everything and sit around waiting. Perhaps a better idea might be just to keep on living as we have always lived, trusting in the unconditional love of God and enjoying the amazing gift of life to the fullest. Even if we have a pretty good idea of when our life might draw to a close, that would be no excuse to stop living with joy in our hearts and looking for ways to serve and love. 

Thought for the Day:What would you like to do on your last day?