Psalm 97

“Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” vs. 2

The psalmist didn’t wonder in his heart whether or not there was a god. For him such a notion was beyond question. But he also knew that God was cloaked in mystery and was often obscured by the clouds and darkness of our lives. We know that feeling too. Those of us who believe that God does exist will often struggle to find adequate descriptive words. God has a pervasive presence that is beyond understanding…often the best we can do is say what God is not. One thing beyond question for the psalmist was that righteousness and justice were the foundation of God’s being. We who are created in God’s image would agree. In a world full of ambiguity where the most egregious behaviors have been normalized, we stand firm in our conviction that there are universal values and behavioral standards. As the Light of God’s image shines through us we will stand up for justice even as we walk confidently in the paths of righteousness. Not only will we live by the highest moral standards, we will work diligently of behalf of the oppressed and the victims of injustice wherever we encounter them. And we will not rest until the kingdom of God has been fully established among us. Such is our God’s good and gracious will…of that we can be sure!

Thought for the Day: What  universal values do I live by?

Acts 16:25-34

“At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.” vs. 33

When the Philippian jailer, in the aftermath of an earthquake, asked what he needed to do to be saved, Paul was quick with a response, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.” Some have used Paul’s answer as a proof-text for infant baptism. Others have used it to prove that “believing in Jesus” is required for salvation. Ironically the first use points to an inclusive view of salvation while the second has paved the way for rigid exclusivity. Those who espouse “household baptism” believe that God’s grace is poured out freely and is available even to slaves and toddlers who have never heard of Jesus. In recent years the more exclusive view has dominated the Christian world. Congregations ask prospective members if they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Only if the answer is “yes” will they be eligible for baptism into Christ. It follows in such circles that only those who have made a personal decision for Jesus can have the assurance of salvation. All non-believers face the prospect of eternal damnation. In our time many are coming to see this emphasis as a distortion of Paul’s grace centered focus on Jesus as the Christ, the incarnation of God’s universal love. In their eyes salvation is a universal gift that issues from the heart of God and not from a human decision.

Thought for the Day: What does “believing in Jesus” mean?

Acts 16:16-24

“She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.” vs 18

At first Paul did nothing when the slave girl persisted in taunting him as he walked through the streets of Philippi. He doubtless recognized her instability but he chose not to respond…he was on his way to the place of prayer. But one day his annoyance bubbled to the surface and he ordered the unclean spirit to come out of her. We know the feeling. We don’t have to look far in our world to find things that annoy us. People with chronic mental disorders wander the streets of all our cities. A glance at newspaper headlines or television news leaves us shaking our heads. Injustice is all around. Congress is caught in gridlock. The world is once again preparing for war. Refugees are on the move. Most of the time we simply continue doing what we’ve been doing…working, playing, praying…but one day there comes a moment when we’re moved to take action in the name of Jesus Christ. A line is crossed and we get involved in addressing the hurts of our world. That response can take many shapes but it always moves us from our comfort zones. We know we can’t fix all the world’s problems, but maybe this one time, in this place, our words and actions can make a difference. And so we speak, and lives are changed!

Thought for the Day: A time when I was fed up and spoke up!

John 14:25-29

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” vs. 27

According to the world’s standards, peace is the absence of overt warfare and it comes at a cost. Lives are lost and cities and towns are destroyed as dominating forces duke it out for supremacy and control. When the bombs stop exploding and the shooting ceases, treaties are signed, winners exult, losers are humiliated, and peace is proclaimed. That’s not even close to the peace that comes from God through the Christ. What Jesus promised was the kingdom of God, a community of inclusive love with no humiliation for losers. It isn’t that the peace he offered was purely an individual matter…it was meant to be shared…but at its core it comes close to what we call serenity. Jesus wants us to live with untroubled and fearless hearts, not because our world is free of evil, but because we are in Christ, and there is nothing that can hurt or destroy us. Currently, we live in a climate of fear-mongering and threats. We’re told to be suspicious of those who are different and warned that enemies are all around. Those who are lovers of Jesus know that God dwells in them and will reject the manipulations of the powerful. Our call is plain–love of God and love of neighbor–and our reward is the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thought for the Day: Why do politicians cultivate a climate of fear?

John 14:22-24

“Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” vs. 23

Those who work with the public in any capacity have often noted that people can be, and often are, downright nasty and mean. They say and do hurtful things and seem to have no regard for the feelings of those who serve them. All of us have encountered such persons, and have maybe acted that way ourselves. The sad thing is that some who behave in such a fashion will consider themselves religious and pride themselves on their churchgoing habits. So what’s gone wrong? Of course that’s a question without a ready answer…there are countless factors that have powerful impact on our lives. Some blame parents while others point to societal pressures and influences. All we can say for sure is that this isn’t the way life is supposed to be. Somehow the Christ who dwells within all persons is stifled in some…and the Light has been obscured. Jesus says that the difference is love and that really seems to be true. We see it so clearly in those who take seriously his commandment to love one another as he has loved us. As they give themselves to others love explodes within them…we hear it in their voices and see it in their faces. The God of Love has come into their lives and lives in their hearts and the presence of the Christ is obvious….and life is good!

Thought for the Day: Do people choose to love or does it just happen?

Revelation 22:1-5

“And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” vs. 5

It’s hard not to think of death as we look toward the future. All of us have had loved ones die, and we know that one day our time will come too. It’s inevitable and no matter how hard we try, no matter what kind of medicines we take, there’s no way to avoid the “grim reaper.” Many people find comfort in the face of death by hanging on to a strong conviction that one day they will experience new life, and some have a vivid sense of what that life will be like. They imagine scenes of laughter and play in the presence of long departed parents and children. There’ll be banquets, heavenly choirs, and maybe angels floating by on clouds playing harps. It’s natural to have such things come to mind, but most all of us know that there are no earthly delights that can capture the heavenly experiences that are to come. John’s best metaphor was light and he’s not talking about sunshine or days at the beach. This is the light that swallowed up darkness on the first day of creation and it was present long before sun, moon, or stars. This is the Light of Christ and it has the power to devour death in all its manifestations. And knowing this really is enough! It’s all the comfort that people of faith need when death comes near!

Thought for the Day: What gives me comfort in the face of death?

 Revelation 21:10, 22-27

“I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” vss. 22-23

John’s vision of the new Jerusalem would have been hard for faithful Jews to comprehend. The temple had been the center of their life together for centuries and it had been destroyed by the Romans. Many hoped for its restoration. But not John! As he peered into the mysteries of the future he was confident that a new creation was coming and all things would come together in the Lord God and the Lamb. The Light that shone so brightly in the beginning of creation would be there at the end. His vision is potent and even if his metaphors seem strange we know that he spoke the truth. Ultimately pure Light will triumph…and darkness will be no more. Of course we don’t know when that will be…endings are always shrouded in mystery. But as we continue in Christ we can know that we’ll not be left behind. Buildings and denominations will come and go…creeds will be debated and then forgotten…new images and concepts will emerge. And day by day, century by century, millenia by millenia, the Light will grow increasingly bright…and we’re not going to miss a thing! The glory of God will be ours!

Thought for the Day: Why do some think that the End is near?

Psalm 67

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.” vss. 1-2

The psalmist’s words remind us of the benediction that is frequently said at the close of our worship services. For some pastors it’s the highlight of the day, a final chance to ask that God’s face would shine upon the faithful, that they would know in their hearts that they are loved and blessed. It really is good to know that God smiles on us, that there is always a never-ending stream of grace and love coming our way even on our bad days. The psalmist adds a petition to the blessing that reminds us that there’s a purpose in God’s loving kindness and that it’s destined for all nations. When things work the way they’re supposed to God’s smile will be mirrored from us to others. To put it another way, the Light of Christ is reflected from our shining faces into the hurting hearts of those around us. Through us the Christ becomes the salvation of the world.That might sound like a burden to some, just another thing to feel guilty about, but that’s not the way it is. This isn’t another rule or commandment to follow, it’s simply something that happens when God’s face shines on us. God’s love lights up our lives and observers can’t help but see it.

Thought for the Day: How come some religious people are so grumpy?

Acts 16:14-15

“When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.” vs. 15

We don’t know much about Lydia, only that she was a prosperous businesswoman in  Philippi, and a worshipper of God. She had encountered Paul along the river on the sabbath and had been moved by the Spirit to seek baptism for herself and her household. Not only that, she had offered her home to Paul and his friends as a lodging place, the first century equivalent of an Airbnb…and she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. Her warm hospitality was undoubtedly one of the reasons Paul always remembered the Philippians with joy and considered them a shining light among the newly formed Christian communities. Strong forceful women of faith have always been at the forefront of outreach and evangelism among followers of Jesus. Even when the patriarchal system has sought to stifle the independent voices of women in the church, leaders like Lydia have found ways to connect with the Christ in new and exciting ways. Most of us have grown up in congregations with such female leaders. They may not have been pastors but they embodied the heart and the mind of Jesus and made sure their households were baptized and taught to walk in his loving ways. Their faithfulness is beyond reproach!

Thought for the Day: What strong women have nurtured my faith?

Acts 16:9-13

“On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.” vs. 13

Paul didn’t have much of an itinerary for his missionary journeys…he simply went wherever the Spirit guided him…and he paid attention to dreams! When a man appeared in a vision imploring him to come to Macedonia he dropped everything and caught a ship to Philippi, a new Roman city, where he found some women gathered for prayer on the banks of the river outside the gates. Paul was outside familiar territory. There was no synagogue here and no established Jewish community, but that didn’t keep him from his sabbath routine. He found a place and a people with whom he could worship and pray. Some of us know what that is about. We too are often on the move in the course of our lifetimes, sometimes for business and pleasure, and occasionally outside of our comfort zones. What a blessing it is to be able to keep the sabbath on those trips and find a faith community for worship and prayer! It’s in those moments that we discover the full extent of the Body of Christ and begin to realize that the Spirit is working everywhere on the planet. We have sisters and brothers in every nook and cranny of the globe and together we are the hope of the world.

Thought for the Day: Where do I worship when I’m traveling?