John 14:8-14

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ”Show us the Father”’?” vs. 9

We don’t know what Philip was thinking when he asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, but evidently it had not dawned on him that in Jesus they had been seeing the Father. Perhaps he had thought that seeing the Father would be more spectacular. After all the Father was the creator of the universe and had brought all things into being. Jesus was pretty much like the rest of them…he went to weddings, loved good wine, had a neat mother…he did all the guy things. Oh there was something different about him…but he certainly didn’t seem godlike. We have the same issue with divinity as did Philip. Even though we know that God’s self has been poured into all things, including us, we have a hard time acknowledging that this is really God. In our heart of hearts we cling to a conception of a totally transcendent God, one who lives beyond the bounds of the universe in a place called heaven. We long to be with God…and totally miss the God who lives within, the immanent God, who is the breath of life itself. “Open up your eyes,” Jesus says, “take a good look at one another…take a look in the mirror even…and you will see God.” It’s hard to believe, but it’s absolutely true!

Thought for the Day: If I see God in the mirror, who am I?

Acts 2:14-21

“Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” vs. 21

Peter was so excited that he could not contain himself. The Holy Spirit had exploded on the scene in spectacular fashion and he was convinced that the things that were happening were a fulfillment of what had been written by the prophet Joel many centuries before. This was the pouring of the Spirit upon all flesh…and no one was going to be excluded. No longer would salvation be limited…all people would be able to participate. As might have been expected it didn’t take much time for Peter’s grand vision to be narrowed. As the Church began to grow and expand its leaders began to attach limitations to salvation. His expansive proclamation, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” was reinterpreted and rephrased. It didn’t take long for it to be preached as this, “Only those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In some denominations the prescription was narrowed even further to “Only those who have a personal relationship with Jesus shall be saved.” How foolish we are to attempt to curb the workings of God’s Holy Spirit! The message of Pentecost is plain. God’s love and mercy is for all flesh! How can we be so unimaginative as to think it’s only for folks who think and believe as we do? How wonderful it is to see the Spirit continue to be poured out in our day, often in ways that surprise and amaze! It really is good that we are not in charge!

Thought for the Day: What happens to those who don’t call on the name of the Lord?

Acts 2:1-13

“And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.” vs. 6

We love our own native languages. In fact many of us would prefer that everyone in our country would be forced to learn English as the official language. There are even some who become angry and suspicious when they hear other languages spoken in their presence. Such feelings have been around for a long time…and it’s not only Americans who have such attitudes. All people love the languages they’ve grown up with…the sounds and idioms are familiar…and they’ll do most anything to keep them from dying or falling into disuse. But the truth is that communication is difficult if we don’t speak the same language…it certainly must have been an obstacle in the early church. It’s interesting that the very first Spirit-filled miracle reported in Acts had to do with the overcoming of that language barrier. We don’t know what happened in that upper room, but in the surge of Holy Spirit power on that Pentecost there came an ability for the disciples to speak in other languages. It was a divine reminder that what had happened in Jesus was meant for all people no matter what their nationality or background. Early believers didn’t have to forget their native languages…they only had to learn a new language of unconditional love. In the Spirit they learned quickly that they were one with God and with one another!

Thought for the Day: Why are most Christian congregations so homogeneous?

Psalm 104:31-34, 35b

“May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” vs. 34

Meditation is a foreign notion to many followers of Jesus. Often they have associated the practice with eastern religions and aren’t comfortable dabbling in that which is not familiar. Obviously that was not the case with the psalmist. He’s been meditating on the wonders of creation and trusts that the Lord will be pleased. His words remind us that meditation has many forms and can take us in a variety of directions. We can sit for hours in the out-of-doors watching the comings and goings of insects and birds and be enthralled with the web of interconnections that are a part of everyday life in this spectacular world. We can let the words of a particular scripture run through our minds and find ourselves lifted up with the light of new inspiration and insights. The miracle of meditation has been the spiritual food of millions for thousands of years. As we learn to plumb the depths of the world inside and outside of our daily existence we gain new insights and elusive serenity. The deeper we dig the more riches we discover…there’s no need to be afraid or skeptical. In fact the more we discover of our inner selves, the closer we come to the embedded presence of God and the more joy will fill our hearts. Our faces will shine with the grace and mercy of our Lord and God will be glorified.

Thought for the Day: What shape does meditation take for me?

Psalm 104:24-30

“When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” vs. 30

According to the psalmist all creatures of the earth and sea, great and small, including the great Leviathan, were made and are sustained by God. More than that, none of them could survive apart from the presence of God’s spirit. In other words, the universe itself has an intimate connection to God and could be called God’s first incarnation. No wonder we find such joy in our encounters with our environment. To walk in the desert and climb mountain peaks, to observe animals in the forests and see birds at our feeders is to engage the Divine Presence. Many of us even provide free room and board in our homes for animal companions in exchange for their adoration and unconditional love. The spirit of God works in and through them to relax our troubled hearts and minds. They bring healing for our wounded souls. The psalmist poured out praise to God for all the manifold works of creation, and what a blessing it is for us to enjoy the bounty of it all. Our lives overflow with its beauty and harmony. How wonderful it is when we daily open our eyes to the blooming flowers, feeding birds, and working bees that can be found just outside our doors. Even the tiniest creatures bear testimony to the providential wisdom and presence of our ever-creating God!

Thought for the Day: What pleasures do we get from bird-watching?

Genesis 11:1-5

“Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” vs. 9

Those who composed the story of the tower of Babel realized how confusing the multiplicity of languages was for human cooperation. They claimed that the confusion was divinely inspired, that it was done to keep humans from doing the impossible. While the imagery is ancient the point of the story rings true. It’s immensely difficult for people who speak different languages to achieve more than a superficial unity when they come together. Communication is essential for harmony and cooperation and resolving differences. Those of us who have traveled throughout the world know what a blessing it is to meet people who have taken the time to learn our language. The development of languages is a long process and takes tens of thousands of years and it’s only logical that people in different parts of the world would have different words for the same things. This Sunday we celebrate the gift of understanding that took place when the Spirit was poured out on the gathering of disciples in Jerusalem. It was the reversal of Babel and a reminder that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us together and never separates. The language of love that is ours in Christ knows no barriers, is easily translated, and is intended to make us one.

Thought for the Day: Why doesn’t everyone learn to speak English?

John 17:24-26

“Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” vs. 24

Jesus is conscious that the love that sustains him has been present from before the foundations of the world. As John puts it in other places, Christ is the Alpha, and through the Christ all things came into existence. In fact nothing comes into existence apart from the Christ and the Christ is contained in all that exists…and that includes each one of us. That primordial Christ was made manifest in Jesus…and in him we glimpsed the glory of God, a glory that persists even in us. As Jesus prepared to leave his disciples he wanted that same sustaining eternal love to be present in them as well, and he prays that everyone of his disciples to the close of the age would know that they are loved and that God is the source of love in the universe. There is nothing in this world, no distracting power or temptation, that can separate us from that love of God. As Paul puts it in Romans 8, not even death, our greatest enemy can separate us from the love of God. Christ, who is the Alpha, is also the Omega point of existence, and one day all things, including us, will find our completion in that all-embracing love! Who could want for anything more?

Thought for the Day: What is my comfort in the face of death?

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…” vss. 20-21a

As John recounts Jesus’ final prayer with his disciples his language can seem repetitious and obscure. As a result we can easily miss an amazing truth that redefines our whole relationship with God. We catch the part about unity of course…we know that Jesus intended that his followers be one as they live and work in the world. It’s a part of the Christ intention that we have an enormously difficult time putting into practice. But what we miss is the reference Jesus makes to the unity he has with the Father. Not only are Jesus and the Father one, we are also included. Think of it: we are in God and God is in us! That means we carry within us the spark of divinity. God not only became incarnate in Jesus, God becomes incarnate within us. And unless that presence is obscured by the cares of this world the Light and Love we show forth is the hope of all people. That’s why it’s so important for us to put aside the petty doctrinal differences that the enemy uses to keep us from our unified mission and purpose. Of course we’re going to have different ideas about how to do church…that’s to be expected, but never should those contrary notions keep us from our unified mission in Christ!

Thought for the Day: How does divinity show in my life?

Revelation 22:12-14, 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

At the heart of the book of Revelation, mysterious and obscure as it may be, there is a strong and consistent emphasis on grace. Christ Jesus freely offers the water of life to everyone who is thirsty and it’s a total gift. There’s nothing to earn, no minimum requirements…all that is required is a desire for something more, a yearning for a quality of life that is ever so elusive. Of course John does have some things to say about those who don’t come, those who don’t respond to the invitation. He believes that they will be shut out, that the pearly gates will be closed to them. In essence he’s saying that when hungry people get an invite to a meal, they need to show up…the food isn’t going to come to them. And of course that’s true. But the book of Revelation is plain in saying that it’s not that simple. Because it’s not just up to us to come to Jesus…John promises that Christ comes to us. Many of us pray that prayer regularly, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest!” And every day Christ comes to us, not just at mealtime in response to our invitation, but wherever and whenever we need a drink of the water of life. He never lets us down.

Thought for the Day: What is a “come to Jesus” moment?

Acts 1:1-11

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” vs. 8

After Jesus’ death and resurrection the disciples still had the parochial notion that his mission had been simply a prelude to the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. That was as much as they could comprehend. But Luke reports that Jesus’ last words to them set the stage for an expansion of ministry beyond their imagination. Of course they still didn’t get it. They needed a dose of Holy Spirit power and a vision that took them beyond the narrow confines of Israel to the ends of the earth. We can’t blame them too much. It’s very hard to imagine where the Christ will take us and what the Christ will do through us. We live in a time when Christianity seems to have reached its zenith. In our part of the world congregations are dwindling and churches are closing. In response some people are digging trenches and building walls to save that which seems to be slipping away. They’re convinced that returning to the past is what God has in mind for us. But that’s not how it works with Jesus Christ…the ending of his mission was not the ending of his presence. Before many days his Holy Spirit washed over the disciples and they received a new vision…and we will too. The Church isn’t going away…it’s just changing in ways we can’t yet see.

Thought for the Day: What will happen if denominations die?