Psalm 70

“But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” vs. 5

There’s nothing like tough times to kindle a spark of faith in us. During the good years…when the stock market is up, our health is good, and family is doing well…we can go for long periods without even thinking about God. Months pass without a serious prayer…we can go for decades without darkening the door of a church. But when tragedy strikes, when enemies oppress us, or when disaster comes near, then it’s a different matter. On the evening of September 11, 2001 church doors were opened for prayer services and the next Sunday nearly every sanctuary was packed. Everywhere people raised their laments and questions to God…in that moment of deep darkness they sensed that God was their help and deliverer. It really comes down to a question of control. If we believe that we’re in charge and that our well-being is connected to our words and deeds, and things are going well, we probably won’t feel much of a need for God. But when we sense things are out of control it’s a different story and there’s a natural impulse to turn to our Maker with a cry for help. And when that happens, like the psalmist we often add a request to hurry up. “O Lord, do not delay!” What’s amazing in all of this is that God does respond! If we were in God’s shoes we’d probably take our time…or ignore the request. Fortunately, unlike us, God is full of mercy and steadfast love…and reaches out to give comfort and peace.

Thought for the Day: Why worship when I don’t need God?

Amos 5:22-24

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” vs. 24

These words, directed by the prophet Amos to the leaders of Israel, have a contemporary ring to them and remind us of the inspired oratory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like Amos King saw clearly the inequities of society, and made an eloquent plea for an end to injustice in segregated America. Prophets like Amos and Dr. King generally are not well received by the dominating powers…often they are seen as threats and occasionally they’re killed. But opposition doesn’t stop a true prophet, and we can be grateful for their courage and their presence. They speak up when the majority of us are silent…and become advocates for the poor and the afflicted. Through their efforts laws are changed and barriers are taken down…sometimes we can even see incremental movements toward full inclusion and equal rights. Will there ever be a time when prophets are not needed? Probably not! The desire for power and wealth has continued unabated in our world…and leaders will always be susceptible to corruption and greed. All of us are tempted by  the lure of riches and long for control…the power of sin continues unabated. As a result there will always be a need for those who work for justice and righteousness…may their prophetic voices never be silenced…especially when they make us uncomfortable!

Thought for the Day: Where are prophetic voices needed now?

Amos 5:18-21

“(The Day of the Lord) is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.” vss. 18b-19

The people of Israel were supremely arrogant as they enjoyed their unprecedented economic prosperity. They knew that they were God’s people and that God had even greater things in mind for them. One day the Lord would come and establish their nation above all other nations. And then the prophet Amos showed up with his words of doom and gloom. He told them with powerful metaphorical images that the day of the Lord would come, but that it would be a disaster for Israel. What had gone wrong? Amos believed that Israel had departed from her historical core values. The leaders had abandoned their commitment to justice by exploiting the needy and the poor and by embracing luxury and wealth. Their elaborate religious festivals and celebrations had become a joke, and God was fed up. Of course Amos was pretty much ignored in Israel…that’s how it always is when prophets challenge the status quo. We see it in our time too. Those who raise their voices on behalf of the poor are quickly marginalized by those who worship wealth and power…and it’s all covered up with a facade of religiosity. If Amos is right such scenarios are a recipe for disaster, and things will get worse before they get better. We can only pray that such will not be the case among us!

Thought for the Day: What lies ahead for our country?

Matthew 5:7-12

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” vs. 11

Jesus told his disciples to expect persecution if they were bold enough to take up his cross and walk in his way. And that’s exactly what happened! In the early years many disciples were derided and ridiculed…and many suffered and died for being believers. Even today, in parts of the world, to be a Christian is a risky business and can sometimes cost people their lives. Persecution remains a possibility for any person of faith…and emerging technologies have offered new opportunities for those who delight in torture and slander. Who would have thought that innocent people could be driven to suicide through Facebook and Twitter attacks? Who could have believed that people could lose their jobs and reputations because false stories are being circulated through social media? The anonymity of the internet has emboldened the liars and the sadistic among us. Today is All Saint’s Sunday, a time to remember that the cruel don’t have the last word. They never have and they never will. Thank God for the saints, living and dead, who have remained faithful to the Lord Jesus and who have worked to show mercy and bring peace to the earth. Their pure hearts have been a source of hope in this world of decadence and exploitation…and some of them even use Facebook to share the gospel of grace and love!

Thought for the Day: Why do social media exchanges turn nasty?

Matthew 5:1-6

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” vs. 5

In the context of today’s political climate and the general trend of culture this word of Jesus to his disciples seems more of a joke than anything else. A glance at the dictionary tells us that the meek are submissive and unassuming, willing to put up with injury, and unwilling to speak up or offer any kind of resistance. In our world the meek aren’t even noticed…instead the bold and brash get the headlines…and in the process, get their way. Even some Christians express admiration for bullying politicians and domineering tactics. The meek are pushed aside and their voices drowned out. What in the world could Jesus have been thinking of? Yet those who have taken him at his word through the centuries have discovered the strength that is inherent in meekness. Paul told the Philippians, “let your gentleness be known to all,” and the word he used is the one used by Jesus. Those who take the Jesus walk to heart understand the power of a gentle spirit and know that it’s the only way to touch hurting souls. Gentleness is a gift of the Spirit and is our main weapon against the forces of sin and evil in our world. Jesus wasn’t being ironic when he offered blessings to the meek…and he wasn’t joking. It’s the gentle among us who are the true hope of humanity!

Thought for the Day: Why does our culture devalue meekness?

1 John 3:1-3

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” vs. 1a

Folks in the early Christian communities lived precariously as they waited for the promised revealing of the Lord Jesus. There were a multitude of forces arrayed against them, ranging from the erratic cruel Roman despots to the insidious false prophets who tried to undermine the gospel of grace. Believers found solace in faith, particularly in the conviction that they were by love children of God, and that nothing could snatch them out of God’s hands. We don’t live under the same conditions but times are still precarious. Our enemies are more subtle and come at us from every direction. Pulled to and fro by cultural expectations, many struggle with identity issues. Just who are we anyhow? And what can we do to make ourselves more acceptable to others? We listen to podcasts and watch Youtube videos, and hope that somehow we can learn to love and accept ourselves. And truth is that we don’t need to be more than what we already are. We are the beloved children of God…that’s who we are. That is our identity…we don’t have to be richer or smarter or more attractive. God loves us as we are, and if there’s any changing that needs to be done, we are not to worry. The Holy Spirit is in charge of that…and when it needs to happen, it will! In the meantime, we can simply bask in the certainty of God’s love.

Thought for the Day: When do I feel most loved by God?

Psalm 34:5-10, 22

“This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.” vs. 6

The little bit of personal testimony in today’s verse provides an intriguing backdrop for this psalm of thanksgiving. It reminds us that our scriptures emerged from an historical context that was not much different from our own. Like many of us the psalmist had experienced suffering. It could have been any number of things: health, relationships, persecution. We really don’t know. But whatever the cause, deep pain had been the result, and there had likely been tears. When that happens the natural response is to cry out to God, and the psalmist was no exception. And it had made a difference! The prayer was heard by the Lord and there had been relief, and the psalmist responded with a song of praise. Such thanksgiving flows naturally from our hearts and mouths when our deepest needs are satisfied and we experience the salvation of God. After deep bouts of grieving and wrestling with demons, it brings profound relief to have such sorrow come to an end. Smiles return to our faces and anxieties are dissipated…hope returns and joy fills our hearts. Soon we want to tell everyone about the steadfast love of our good God and how we were able to find refuge and relief in our faith. We might wish that our lives would contain an endless procession of such days…and of course that doesn’t happen. Pain returns, and with it sorrow! Yet, knowing that God is good can enable praise even in the presence of darkness.

Thought for the Day: For what am I praising God today?

Psalm 34:1-4

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” vs. 1

Not all of us bless the Lord with every breath we take, nor is it likely that we continually offer praise with the words of our mouths. If we did there’d certainly be a different atmosphere in our social environment. Too often we forget the importance of a word fitly spoken and instead fill the air with careless and sometimes profane speech. Even the threats of parents to clean dirty mouths with soap can’t seem to stem the tide of gutter talk that becomes so natural for adolescents. Four letter words are so common in movies and songs that ears become desensitized and even followers of Jesus can begin speak them as a matter of course. Some of us begin to wonder if it really makes any difference in how we talk. Perhaps holy speech is a relic of the past, the habit of Puritans and prudes, and now we’re free to speak however we please. If that were the case however, it would mean that words have ceased to have power and can be tossed about with no regard to their effect. And that’s just not the case! The words of our mouths define our character and paint a picture of our souls. They have the power to hurt or heal…and they do make a difference. And it certainly wouldn’t hurt for us to at least occasionally use our mouths to offer praise to our Lord Jesus!

Thought for the Day: Why is filthy talk offensive?

Revelation 7:13-17

“They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” vss. 16-17

Today is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. It was the Eve of All Saint’s Day, or Halloween, a time to remember the saints triumphant and celebrate their lives. Luther’s theses addressed the abuses that had grown up around the indulgence system that was a part of the Sacrament of Penance. He believed that too much attention was being given to purgatory, that place or time of cleansing, that prepared sinners to stand before the throne of the Lamb. In his estimation, instead of wasting money on buying indulgences for the dead, believers should be celebrating the new life those loved ones had already received from God in Christ Jesus. Certainly that’s the focus we see in John’s vision of the white-robed saints. Guided by the Good Shepherd those redeemed saints neither hunger nor thirst; every tear has been wiped from their eyes. There’s no more pain or sorrow any more. What comfort this picture is for us as we think of our departed loved ones! For some of them life had become a burden, but now they drink from the springs of the water of life. Perfect peace is theirs! Thanks be to God!

Thought for the Day: What does Halloween mean to most folks?

October 30, 2017           

“After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.” vs. 9

Christians of every generation have been fascinated by the vivid imagery of John’s Apocalypse and particularly this inclusive picture of the triumphant saints before the throne of the Lamb. It seems that no one will be left out of the great festival that celebrates the victory of life over death. Everyone will be there, folks from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” and everyone gets to join in the angels’ song of thanksgiving. Some of us regularly sing that same song in our worship as we anticipate the glory and honor of the feast that will have no end. We know, of course, that this is a vision and was never intended to be taken literally, but that doesn’t take away from the hope that we have for the life to come. It gives great comfort to believe that those who have died remain a part of the Church and that they are connected to us now and forever. We’re on the way and they have arrived, their robes radiantly white and sparkly clean. The peace we crave belongs to them…and so we rejoice now, both in thanksgiving and in anticipation.

Thought for the Day: What’s my vision of heaven?