Luke 21:25-28

“People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” vs. 26

For the past few years we watched as the nation of Yemen has been virtually destroyed by constant tribal warfare and unrelenting air attacks from Saudi Arabia. Thousands have been killed, disease is rampant, and, because relief efforts have been blocked, starvation is widespread. No end to the conflict seems imminent! Yemen’s situation gives a bit of perspective to what was happening in Israel in the first century as the early disciples tried to continue the mission of Jesus. The Roman Imperial army was on the march. Jewish towns and cities that offered resistance were destroyed. The impregnable fortress at Masada fell to a siege, and in Jerusalem the Second Temple was totally destroyed. Thousands of Jews were killed. Many more faced famine and starvation. As Luke and others began to write their gospels they included Jesus’ apocalyptic sayings in an attempt to give perspective to what they were experiencing. They believed that Jesus was going to return soon–and everyone was wondering what the signs of his coming might be like. No specifics are given! Jesus had just said that they should be on the alert! At times that’s what life is like on this planet. Disaster looms–catastrophe seems certain–and no one seems to be in charge! And tomorrow Advent begins, just in the nick of time! We need these four weeks to reflect and prepare. Something big is coming, and it’s not Santa Claus!

Thought for the Day: What might it be like to live in Yemen?

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.” vs. 12

It’s a holiday weekend and, while many of us are with family and friends, some are not. For one reason or another, perhaps pandemic related, we haven’t been able to join in the feasting and football watching–we’re separated from those we love. Such was the case for Paul and his friends in Thessalonica–he wanted to be with them, but recurring imprisonments had kept him away. All he could do was write letters and tell them he was praying for them. It’s telling that his deepest desire was that the Lord would make them increase and abound in love for one another and for all. Times haven’t changed! That remains our desire for those that we love the most, and always we are praying for absent children and grandchildren, hoping against hope that they would be experiencing daily love and affection. Today, the day after Thanksgiving, has become known as Black Friday, and it signals the official beginning of the holiday gift buying season. Now it’s always better to give than receive, but sometimes things can get a little out of whack. The gift-buying frenzy shifts attention from those things that really count. It’s simply not true that the right gift will bring joy to recipients–humans just aren’t that shallow! We need prayers from others, and the precious gift of love. When we have these things we really won’t need anything else! 

Thought for the Day: How did Black Friday get to be a thing?

Matthew 6:25-33

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” vs. 25

People have emerged from the pandemic with a vengeance these last few days. It’s Thanksgiving and they are not about to be kept from celebrating with family and friends any longer. Many have traveled long distances and endured massive waits at security lines just to eat and give thanks with those they love. They’ve rejoiced at getting their vaccinations and are grateful for the chance to celebrate. And while an inordinate amount of attention has been paid to our feast menus and we’ll all be gorging on favorite traditional foods, most of us would agree with Jesus. It’s not the food and drink that make today special, it’s the people gathered round the table with us that are truly important. We spend so much of our precious lives worrying about things that, in the long run, just don’t make any difference. And, sadly, tomorrow we’ll squander enormous amounts of money buying things that will never bring the satisfaction we crave. Jesus has told us again and again, stuff never sparks joy! He put it well, “Seek the kingdom first, live in God’s path of righteousness, and our loving God will provide for all of our needs.” Today is a good day to thank God for our abundance, but more than that, it’s a time to rejoice in the great gift of love!

Thought for the Day: Which Thanksgiving foods spark my joy?

Psalm 25:6-10

“All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.” vs. 10

Through the millenia humans have invented a remarkable variety of religions, some of which have prospered and grown as their adherents have spread across the globe. Many have comprehensive doctrines and scriptures to provide instruction to successive generations. Most members of these various religious groups believe that what they believe and teach is superior to any other religion, and as the centuries have passed there have been periods of bloody religious warfare as one or another group seeks to dominate the others. In recent years some wise leaders have realized that no one religion has a monopoly on the truth and that in fact most religions provide opportunities for profound God connections. In other words there is a common denominator in the different religious expressions. The psalmist points the way to that commonality when he writes that “all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.” There are many differences in the great religions and each has very different theologies and practices, But any religion worth its salt will recognize that steadfast love is the essence of divinity, and that every community of believers will reflect that love in the way they treat both neighbors and strangers. Those of us who are followers of Jesus will lead the way in reaching out to people of other faiths. We know and believe that the Holy Spirit of God is not bound and produces fruit in the most amazing places.

Thought for the Day: How do I relate to people of other faiths?

Psalm 25:1-5

“Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.” vs. 5

We live in an information glut! Everyday we read and hear of new discoveries, new crises, new books and movies, and there are even daily updates for our smartphones. Just when we figure something out it becomes obsolete and we have to start learning a new jargon. And all the new technologies and advancing scientific knowledge don’t necessarily make things better. Criminals and scammers have become increasingly adept at using trickery and misinformation to lead us astray. We’ve learned to be suspicious of every phone call and afraid to even try new things. Truth is elusive and we wonder if there’s anyone we can trust. The psalmist lived in other times but he still longed for solid guidance in the course of living. He believed that the Lord would be his guide and that was his daily prayer. That’s not a bad option for us either! Certainly God is continually available to us all through the day. Every moment of decision then becomes an opportunity to meditate on available alternatives and allow the Spirit of God to direct us on the paths of righteousness. Will we always make the right choices? Probably not, it really is hard to discern the truth and grasp consequences–we’re bound to mess up occasionally. But when we’re open to the Spirit, more often than not, love will blossom in our wake, and goodness will abound.

Thought for the Day: What new technology is most difficult for me?

Jeremiah 31:14-16

“Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” vs. 15

Rachel was one of the revered matriarchs of Israel, the beloved wife of Jacob, and the mother of Benjamin and Joseph. According to tradition the defeated remnants of Israel were gathered in a vast company in Ramah, where she had been buried, before being marched off into exile by the Babylonians. Jeremiah imagines Rachel weeping at the sight and offers words of comfort. The Lord will not abandon them–they will survive and return. We have a sense of what those vast migrations of people are like. In our lifetimes we’ve seen millions of refugees gathered into camps and then sent from their places of birth to countries far different from their own. Certainly there has been weeping, not only from those leaving but from those left behind. And while some adapt to the places where they have been resettled, for many there is a longing for the land of their birth. They would love the reassurance that one day they would be able to return. But what was true for the Israelites is also true for the 21st century exiles–they will not be abandoned by the Lord! They may not be able to return, but we who are the hands and feet of God have been called to offer them protection and care. And many are doing exactly that!

Thought for the Day: How am I helping to care for refugees?

John 18:36-37

“Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’” vs. 37b

It would appear that truth has become a rare commodity in the climate of our culture and our times. Of course people still talk about the truth and say that they value it, but there is little agreement about what it is. In general it appears that truth has become relative–it changes to fit the whims and fancies of individuals. As a result, lying has become commonplace–we’ve learned not to believe anything that our leaders say. All of this is so contrary to the mission of Jesus. John tells us that Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth, and if believers want to be children of the truth they should pay attention to what he has said. There is great wisdom in what John says. Truth does make a difference, and truth-telling is a measure of a person’s integrity. It’s sad when we can’t believe what we read or see in the media, but we don’t have to adopt those standards for ourselves, or believe that we have been set free to say whatever we please or whatever is expedient. Truth matters! It always has and it always will! Those who walk in the Way of Jesus will take care to be certain that their speech reeks with integrity! It’s the only way out of the mess that we are in!

Thought for the Day: Why do people believe lies?

John 18:33-35

There are some differences in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and crucifixion, but they are in general agreement that the Romans were the ones responsible. John implies that Pilate had some sympathy for Jesus and wonders why charges had been brought. Since Pilate had a reputation for cruelty and had already killed hundreds of Jews, it’s a little hard to believe that he had much compassion for Jesus. But John does make it clear that the religious leaders in Jerusalem were the primary instigators of Jesus’ arrest and trial. Because Jesus had spoken out against temple corruption and had caused considerable controversy, the chief priests had arranged to hand him over to the Romans. Sometimes that’s what happens when people of faith stand up for truth and justice in the face of political and national corruption. Too often it’s implied that followers of Jesus should just bite their tongues and be nice when ugly things are happening in their communities. We’ve bought the lie that religion and politics are off limits for civil conversation. Jesus didn’t shy away from confrontation and ultimately that conviction to speak the truth meant his death. That doesn’t mean we should deliberately seek confrontation in our relationships with others–most often kindness and gentleness are our best weapons–but sometimes we just can’t remain silent!

Thought for the Day: When is silence no longer an option for me?

Revelation 1:6-8

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” vs. 8

This phrase, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” pretty much sums up everything that we know and believe about the universe and human existence. Many believe that God is all that is and more–and if that is true, then all things have their beginning and ending in God, and that of course includes every one of us. There are some who don’t like that notion. They would prefer to believe that they are the lords of their own existence and that they can operate independently of any God-connection. It doesn’t take a lot of reflection to see how absurd such ideas are. Every human who has ever lived is a child of the earth and will one day return to the earth. We are intimately connected to the creation and even if we someday figure out how to travel to Mars, we can’t escape our origins or our endings. Those who have learned to live with their mortality will find great comfort in that eternal connection to God. For them it is good to know that someday, when all the hubbub of living comes to an end, we return to our Maker. Glaciers advance and retreat, nations and kingdoms will come and go, civilizations are born and die, and through it all the One who is the Alpha and the Omega is constant–the source and the completion of all that exists.

Thought for the Day: Why do some prefer believing there is no God?

Revelation 1:4b-6

“Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” vss. 4b-5

There is a line in the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” that is particularly fun for children to sing. Even adults love the sounds of the archaic phrase, “which wert and art and evermore shalt be.”  It flows freely from our mouths, even when we’re not quite sure what it means. Of course, sooner or later we realize that the writer is quoting from the book of Revelation. This is a description of God, the one “who is and who was and who is to come,” and even now it pretty much sums up all we know about the Divine Mystery. Then in his greeting to the seven churches of Asia John goes on to describe Jesus Christ, the incarnation of the Mystery, as the ruler of the kings of the earth. Sometimes we don’t quite know what to do about the book of Revelation–its images and symbols have such varied interpretations–but the description of Jesus Christ is something we can hang on to. If kings are to look to him as ruler, then we too should certainly see him as the director of our lives. He is to be our Lord! We don’t worship despots or dictators, presidents or governors–no politician is worthy of our allegiance! It’s only Jesus and his commandment to love!

Thought for the Day: How does Jesus direct my life?