John 14:8-11

“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” vs. 11

Through the centuries Christians have put a lot of energy into figuring out how Jesus could be human and divine at the same time. Early on scholars. borrowing heavily from Greek philosophy, managed to cobble together some credal statements that have proved amazingly resilient. When some believers disagreed they were quickly excommunicated and folks learned to keep their mouths shut if they wanted to stay in the Church. Faith was connected to proper beliefs and not the way of love–which was exactly contrary to the teachings of Jesus. He didn’t insist on proper belief, even in the question of his relationship to the Father. He seems to have known that insisting on correct doctrines could be a huge stumbling block in the continuation of his mission. Jesus was all about the coming kingdom of God, a peaceable kingdom in which people of all stripes loved and cared for each other without conditions. In recent years some believers have come to embrace his vision, and focus on ways of love that draw them together, rather than points of doctrine that drive them to separate. If that movement continues to grow there is a real possibility that the peaceable kingdom of Jesus’ dreams could become the dominant experience of all Christians!

Thought for the Day: What traditional doctrines have I discarded?

Romans 8:14-17

“When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” vss. 15b-16

Paul was totally dependent on the Holy Spirit for the direction of his mission and for the reformation of his life. On his own he was driven by old traditions and convictions and totally incapable of doing the things that he desired to do. His desires dominated the direction of each day. But the Holy Spirit had made him question his devotion to the law and had gifted him with love, joy, and peace. More than that, the Spirit had connected with his own spirit and given him the confidence to cry out to God as Abba, the Aramaic word for Father, likely the same word that Jesus had used when he taught his disciples to pray. Some people aren’t comfortable with the word Father for God–it really does come out of a patriarchal system–but whatever words we use, it’s important to find some term that expresses the intimacy that exists between us and our Maker. Jesus said that we are one with God, bound together in an endless dance of love. It’s like the relationship of a parent and a child, but parent doesn’t begin to express the loving connection that is ours with God through the Spirit. In the end, maybe it’s not the words that we use, and it’s certainly pointless to argue about such things. What counts is knowing that we are inextricably connected to God–and the connection will never end.

Thought for the Day: Why are people drawn to the word “Abba”?

Psalm 104:30-34

“When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vs. 34

The psalmist believed that all living creatures were a part of a constantly changing, always evolving circle of life. Creation wasn’t a once-for-all time event. Rather it occurred on a daily basis as the spirit of God breathed life into what had died and renewed the face of the earth. Death and the return to dust is never God’s last word. Always new life awaits! The psalmist saw that as he breathed in the wonders of the natural world. The followers of Jesus experienced it in his resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. And now we see it too! The rhythm of life continues in the seasonal cycles of plants and animals–the winter of death is rapidly replaced by the new growth of spring. We see it as we move from our youth to old age, one stage of life moving inexorably into the next. And when death draws near, whether drawn out or a complete surprise, we know in our hearts that this can’t be the end. There’s always something more–life cannot be obliterated. The Spirit is still blowing through the universe, and there will be re-creation and renewal. And it’s not so much a matter of faith as it is of observation. The green shoot always rises–the face of the ground is renewed.

Thought for the Day: Is resurrection just for humans or for all living creatures?

Psalm 104:24-28

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” vs. 24

When we read the foundational writings of our faith community it is easily seen that our ancestors recognized that there was one God who had brought all things into existence. Mountains, plains, oceans, sun, moon, and stars, together with living creatures of all kinds all have their origins in God, the one the Israelites knew as the Lord. And even though the names we use for this mysterious, dynamic Being may have changed, the wonders of creation grab our attention every single day. And what is most amazing of all is that hidden within the intricacies and beauty of our physical surroundings the eyes of faith can distinguish the presence of the Divine. Each morning as we gaze into the eyes of our beloved, walk in our gardens, glimpse the beauty of the dawn, we are seeing the DNA of our creator, and it is a most wondrous experience. Think of it–we don’t have to go to church to get close to God–it’s just as likely to happen in our own backyards or even on the golf course. How sad it is when our lives get out of rhythm and we become so preoccupied with the business of doing that we miss the sheer joy of being. It might be a function of age, but what blessings await when at last we slow down and allow the breath of God to recreate life in our souls.

Thought for the Day: When is my time for breathing in God?

Acts 2:14-21

“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” vs. 17

Something big had happened on that Pentecost day in Jerusalem, and some of the disciples realized that our experience of God on earth is not static but constantly evolving. No longer would people need temples to worship and sing praises. Instead the Spirit of God would be poured out on all flesh–and all people, men and women, young and old, would participate in establishing peace and justice. No longer would the people of God be bound by old traditions and stifling legalisms–from now on the community would be led by visionaries and dreamers and the Jesus vision of God’s Kingdom would become a reality. Sadly, it was too much for the men who arose to leadership in that fledgling community of faith. They loved the authoritarian ways of the past and it wasn’t long before the Church was every bit as rigid and inflexible as the temple hierarchy. Power was consolidated, rigid doctrines were adopted, and bishops lived like princes as the religious wing of the Roman empire. But the Spirit was not stifled! And after centuries of resistance there are signs of hope among those who call themselves by the name of Christ. The sons and daughters of the faithful are exploring new ways of carrying on the loving, caring, inclusive mission of Jesus–and Pentecost continues!

Thought for the Day: What new things am I seeing in the Church?

Acts 2:1-14

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” vs. 4

Luke tells us that before he left Jesus had promised his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would then be his witnesses throughout the earth. After his departure they went into the city of Jerusalem and waited, probably wondering what this experience might be like. They might even have been confused about what he meant. The Holy Spirit is inherently mysterious and  some days later when the Spirit came it was quite a spectacle! There was the sound of a mighty wind, tongues of fire, and a babble of voices speaking other languages. And ever since then we’ve been trying to figure out what happened. Just who is this Holy Spirit anyway? We say in the creeds that we believe in the Holy Spirit, but that’s about as far as we can go. We certainly can’t objectify the Spirit–our definitions will always miss the point. What we do know is that the Holy Spirit is pure energy, the dynamic presence of God spurring us into action and driving us from our comfort zones. It just might be that this is what the Spirit is about today. Too many Christians are hanging on to the past for dear life, afraid to lose cherished traditions, doctrines, and denominations. Maybe we need another outpouring of the Spirit, a redefining of Church, and a recommitment to the humble, self-giving ministry of Jesus.

Thought for the Day: How does the Church need to change?

John 17:24-26

“I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” vs. 26

John 3:16 is familiar to Americans, and some even know what it says! It provides the premise behind the entire gospel of John, “For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son…”. The gospel then continues with a series of signs designed to convince readers that Jesus was that Son. At this point, near the end of the book, Jesus reveals his deepest desire, namely, that those who are his followers would take his place in the world. From this point on it will be through them that God’s unconditional, sacrificial love will be poured into this hurting world. From now on they will be Christ to all who yearn for eternal life. And sometimes that’s exactly what has happened! Millions have experienced the love of God through caring and kind encounters with those carrying the name of Jesus. Unfortunately there’s another part to the story! Crusaders flying the flag of Christ have killed millions.  Some of our largest denominations have been unabashed advocates of slavery. Vile anti-semitic statements by Christian leaders  provided fuel for the death camps and ovens of the Second World War. Missionaries have overseen the slaughter and persecution of indigenous people on every continent. It’s a horrible record! Some even wonder if the Church can recover from its history. Can the Spirit-filled mission of Jesus be revived and restored? 

Thought for the Day: What should the Church do with its history?

John 17:20-23

”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” vss. 20-21

John reports that Jesus spent his last evening with his disciples praying for unity, not only in their little group, but among all who would one day come to believe. We are certainly aware of his concern, and today many continue to offer prayers for unity–we even sing about it regularly in our worship services. But it’s been devilishly difficult to achieve. Instead of coming together in mission to make a difference for good, we’ve spent enormous energy in separating into cliques, sects, and denominations of every kind. Every year hundreds of congregations decide they can’t live in love with one another and various factions head off in different directions. And the Church of Christ has suffered enormous damage! According to Jesus in John it’s our unity that will convince the world that the gospel is true. Conversely, our disunity is causing the Christian Church to lose enormous credibility in the eyes of the world. Believers are leaving church by the millions–and unless things change they’re not going to be back. They’re sick of the posturing and tired of our inability to live according to the simple teachings of Jesus. 

Thought for the Day: What’s the biggest roadblock to Christian unity?

Revelation 22:16-17, 20-21

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.” vs. 17

As the book of Revelation draws to a close we see that the author’s final word is invitational. Not only do believers invite the Lord Jesus to come into their lives, there is a heartfelt invitation for the thirsty to come and drink from the water of life. And who are the thirsty? It could be any one of us. Some thirst for justice and peace, for an end to violence and endless wars. Some of us are walking in the deep darkness of pain and sadness. Overcome by the injustice and the randomness of illness and accidents we yearn for words of hope and consolation. Others have a deep poverty of spirit and thirst for signs that God is near and that their lives have purpose. And where do we find this water of life? Once it was felt that we could find it in the church–but for some that’s just not happening. Too many are leaving their congregations because they feel the living water no longer flows there. And we can’t blame them! Outside observers say they see no difference in the lives of those who worship regularly. Their values, habits, and practices are exactly the same as non-churchgoers. Perhaps it’s time for every congregation to fix their fountains. We just can’t keep on ignoring all the thirsty people.

Thought for the Day: Where do I find Living Water?

Revelation 22:12-14

“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” vss. 12-13

From the beginning Christian believers realized that there was a huge discrepancy between the peaceable kingdom promised by Jesus and the actual realities of life. And while they could in their faith communities experience the joy that came with loving and serving, they sensed that it wasn’t enough. The world needed a new creation, a return of Jesus to complete the transformation of society. So they loved the vision of John, and with him, prayed that Jesus would come again soon. We know that feeling. Even though there are now billions of Christians in the world, the peaceable kingdom seems only a dream. If anything, things have gotten worse–fully 100 million people have been displaced from their homes and are seeking refuge from poverty and war. Even those who have plenty of stuff find themselves gripped by a spiritual poverty that grinds away at their souls. No wonder so many are praying, “Come, Lord Jesus,” and not just as a table prayer. And what happens with the return of Jesus? Some forecast a great day of judgment with blood flowing in the streets. But others say that such a picture is inconsistent with the steadfast love of God. In fact, they say, Jesus is actually coming now, and if we look closely we will see love bursting forth in the most unexpected places.

Thought for the Day: What does “Come, Lord Jesus” mean to me?