Bob's Blog

Cross Your Jordan

atticus0873@gmail.com (Bob Boozer) — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 04:51:02 GMT

Cross Your Jordan

In the third chapter of Joshua, we encounter the Israelites on the banks of the Jordan for the second time. Across this obstacle lies the land of promise, the place dreamed about while in captivity, a place of beauty, peace, and plenty just a few yards across a swollen stream. The first time they were here, the obstacles were too great, too frightening. The people failed to trust God and were destined to wander for the next forty years. This time they come to this same river but choose to trust and to follow God. As we read of this event we must take note of a few subtle but powerful facts as we relate something that took place thousands of years ago to our present circumstance. For clearly God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And both too often and sadly, so is mankind. We frequently arrive at the banks of our own Jordans of frustration, addiction, disappointment, or whatever obstacles continue to separate us from our dreams and the landscape that God has promised us. What was required of the Israelites remains required of us today.
In the text we note that the Ark of the Covenant, the symbolic physical presence of God, goes before the Israelites. Their task is simply to follow. As soon as the priest carrying the Ark step into the water, the river “piled up in a heap” and there was God standing in the middle of a flooded river on dry land summoning the people to cross over and take possession of his promise.
We all have our own Jordan Rivers to cross. Such obstacles as frustration, disappointment, addiction, failed relationships, etc. can be deep waters and strong currents to overcome. But like the Israelites in Joshua’s time, the God of the universe goes into these troubled waters before us and stands on dry land summoning us to simply follow him. As we trust rather than doubt we find ourselves on the other side standing amidst the good, the true, and the beautiful promise of an abundant life. Our success, our happiness, our fulfillment depend on this willingness to follow the God that steps in the water before us and prepares a way out of what sometimes seems like no way. There will be other Jordan Rivers to cross and there will be God again and again standing in the middle of the torrent calling us forward. Cross over your Jordan and step into the land, into the life prepared for you by the God of the universe.

John 3:16 vs. COVID-19

atticus0873@gmail.com (Bob Boozer) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 06:13:27 GMT

John 3:16 vs. COVID-19

   Here we are in the early spring of the year 2020 gripped by fear of a silent organism transported by droplets of water unseen through the air from one human to an unsuspecting second or third and maybe more. We might take comfort in the statistics that suggests only a few of the thousands that are infected by this stealthy menace will suffer death, but we cannot find adequate comfort. The media saturates us with little more than the frail attempts of scientist, doctors, business people, and ever present politicians to create cures, vaccines, protocols, and even laws that will keep each of us safe. And yet, we continue to feel at risk when we walk through the grocery store or sit in a doctor’s waiting room. We avoid assembling in groups of more than ten. We even avoid worshiping together.
      It seems we are in need of encouragement, in need of a breakthrough event that will assure us we are safe. We grow weary of fear and become consumed by anxiety. Then we recall the words of encouragement from Paul to a young pastor in Ephesus; “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). Fear is not a gift from God. Of what should we be afraid? His gifts are power, love, reason, sound thinking, … Some have suggested that this virus is sent to earth as a punishment for the sins of mankind. Hear me when I say: this is absurd! And how can I be so sure? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak I rest in the powerful and loving arms of God who came to earth to save me from an eternal death. I embrace his gifts of fearlessness, power, love, and soundness of mind. I trust his faithfulness.
      So where does one place his trust? From where does ultimate power emerge? Where can one find love motivating our thoughts and our actions? If I have to choose between the God of John 3:16 and the COVID-19 of the nightly news, I’m all in with John. Live fearlessly.
.

Christian Living

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:12:38 GMT

Righteous Judgment

Being a disciple of the risen Lord makes radical demands upon us. Sometimes these demands are absolute. In the opening verse of Matthew 7, Jesus makes such a demand. We are coming to the end of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus has gone up on a mountainside, sat down, and begun to teach the crowd. He begins by encouraging them to consider how fortunate, how blessed they are when they are poor in spirit, when they are mourning, when they are meek or engaged in peacemaking, when they are merciful, and even when they are persecuted because of their righteousness. He suggests to his followers that they are the salt of the earth, the light of the earth. Then around 5:17, Jesus begins to share his demands upon their lives as they choose to follow him. He redefines murder and adultery and tells us to turn the other cheek when wronged. He even tells us to love our enemies. Again, let be reminded that we are suggesting that Jesus is making radical demands on us, both then and clearly now as we experience the present culture of division.

We come to verse one in Chapter 7 and hear an expectation that causes us to pause a little longer as it is prone to confuse us. Does Jesus really mean we should never judge others? Imagine I walk out a building in downtown Atlanta on a very hot night in July at 2:00 AM. I am immediately lost as I have exited the building into a very dark street. As I look to my left I observe a figure walking toward me in a dark trench coat and notice what seems to me to be the barrel of a shotgun protruding from the sleeve of the coat. Am I allowed to form a judgment here? Certainly I should.

With this scenario in mind and considering his messages to us in totality, we can hopefully better understand what Jesus is commanding us to do. It seems he would have us refrain from condemning others as a result of their sin. Instead we should consider our own disobedience, also worthy of condemnation by the holy God, and find ourselves loving others. Surely we can remain discerning of circumstances that may bring us or our loved ones harm and act appropriately. But we must never condemn our brothers and sisters as a result of their sinfulness. Instead, we model Christ who, while we were yet sinners, loved us and now commands us to love our fellowman, not condemn them. All of us have heard the phrase; “love the sinner, hate the sin.” We would do well to simply focus on; “loving the sinner.”

God's Sovereignty

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 01:32:42 GMT

Jesus is in My Boat

Matthew 8: 23-27

It has always fascinated me to read passages in the Gospels where the disciples are in the presence of God incarnate and yet fail to comprehend just who he is. I am especially fond of the passage in Matthew 8 where we encounter Jesus after his Sermon on the Mount, the healing of a man with leprosy, the faith of the Centurion, and a warning to those that would follow him. And then, he gets into a boat with his disciples in order to cross to the other side of the lake. Without warning a storm arrives. The waves were sweeping over the boat and everyone feared for their lives … except Jesus who was asleep. The boat’s passengers, who by now should have developed an appreciation for the power possessed by this man they had chosen to follow, wake him up and cry, “Lord, save us!” Once awake, he admonishes them gently with the question, “Why are you afraid?” The poor disciples must have shared a few incredulous glances with a few likely saying, “Is he serious?”

I have been on the Gulf of Mexico when an August storm would suddenly roll up and land is not in sight. And yes, I went looking for Jesus. Lord, save me! I have also been threatened by the winds and waves of life, as we all have, to the point of desperately calling out, “Lord, save me!” Whether restlessly pacing in a hospital waiting room or anxiously anticipating the fallout of bad decisions made by myself or my children, or any of a dozen other times the winds and waves of life seemed to be washing over the sides of my boat and I was in fear of drowning, I would wonder, is Jesus sleeping? Where is he? Fortunately, Jesus was in my boat. Obviously I made it back to land in Florida. But, I have also been frequently reassured that the one who commanded the waves and the winds of that Galilean storm is always with me. With the passage of time, and the faithfulness of the one who commands the winds and waves, I have come to trust the power of God to deliver me from whatever storms may arise in this life. Still, occasionally I cry out, “Lord, save me,” and soon I hear his voice ask, “Why are you afraid?” Indeed, what should we fear if the God who spoke the universe into existence is in the boat with us?

God's Sovereignty

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 17:52:27 GMT

A Baby With a Sword

Matthew 10: 34-36

Christmas is without a doubt a wonderful time of year. We march from Thanksgiving through December with greater and greater anticipation of the day when most of us forego work, assemble with friends and family, exchange gifts, eat more ham and turkey than should be lawful, and occasionally sing carols familiar from our childhood when life was simpler and Christmas was magical. As Christians we are especially excited by this approaching day as it is a collection of moments in the year that we light Advent Candles, sing songs we can’t sing any other time of the year (I’m not sure why this should be so), attend candle light services on Christmas Eve while holding a lit candle and singing Silent Night, and, O yes, celebrate the coming of God to Earth. Isn’t it wonderful to think of a baby “asleep on the hay,” of a young woman gently caressing her new born child while shepherds from the nearby hills descend to see this miracle?

Indeed this was the entry of God into human history in a way we struggle to this day to understand. Why did he come? What can a baby do to influence the hearts and minds of mankind? As I reflect on the celebration of Christmas as practiced in my past, I have come to wonder if I have lost sight of its meaning as I wrap lights around a tree, purchase presents for family and friends, and dutifully sing “O Holy Night” at the morning worship service the Sunday before Christmas Day. Of course we should be filled with hope, peace, joy, and love for this is what God brought with him as he entered this world and enters our hearts. But I cannot stray far from Jesus’ words in Matthew 10: 34 where he tells us “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” A sword, not an olive leaf. God came to earth to do battle with evil. Even at Christmas I cannot remove myself from the shadow of the cross where a sword was drawn and death was defeated. And with his strength and by our faith, we too are called upon to “draw our swords” and battle evil even when it is not a popular thing to do.

The baby in the manger in Bethlehem came as a warrior. What does this mean for us?

God's Presence

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 20:42:56 GMT

O Come Immanuel

Isaiah 7: 1-17 O Come Immanuel

Forgive me as I have been away from the keyboard for several months.

Today let’s consider what I perceive to be a misunderstood passage from the Old Testament. Rather, I think it is a passage that is under-understood; one of those rich opportunities for deep insight that we allow to breeze by with too little effort to rest quietly and linger long as we allow the Holy Spirit to whisper gently a truth much grander than the one we too quickly assume is intended. The seventh chapter of Isaiah opens with King Ahaz and the people of Judah shaking with fear like the “trees of a forest are shaken by the wind” (Isaiah 7: 4). The kings of Aram and Israel (Ephraim) have joined forces to invade and “tear apart” Judah and establish a king of their choosing. God encourages Ahaz to “not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood.” The Lord instructs Ahaz to ask him for a sign but Ahaz refuses. So, God gives him one anyway. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14b). In the Hebrew language, the word translated into the Greek and later into English as “virgin” is alba , or young woman. And many of us already know that Immanuel means “God with us.” It seems that God is telling his people that he is present, that he will deliver them from these “smoldering stubs of firewood” in short order. And indeed he does as the Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) is captured just a few short years later by Assyria. God brought salvation to his children in the eighth century BCE.

Yet we have come to frequently interpret verse 14 as prophesy of the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary. And we should! Indeed, the God who delivered Judah from Aram and Ephraim 2600 years ago is the same God who again brought salvation to the world almost 2000 years ago by his presence in Jesus. God has been actively redeeming us through his presence since Adam. God has “been with us” through the ages and in Jesus he chose to become flesh and dwell with us. And through Jesus, God has brought salvation to the world in a miraculous way that requires from us only our belief. And wonder of wonders, God continues to be with us. O come Immanuel, come holy God and be with us always, even this very day. So let’s not be surprised by his presence. Rather, let’s embrace it and rejoice in it.

Joy to the world, Immanuel!!!

Christian Living

Sat, 17 Aug 2019 02:12:03 GMT

Responding to Evil

I am normally loathe to react to the rhetoric of politicians and pundits encountered daily on the airways and in print. But the recent tragedies in El Paso and Dayton and the continued vitriol with which many of our would-be leaders publicly reacted have moved me to enter the arena. First, the loss of lives in these two cities, and just as tragic in my mind, the loss of lives in Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, … during the same weekend, cause my heart to weep for the humanity caught up in the evil so pervasive in our world. Yet I have yet to hear anyone address the root cause of these events. Instead, each commentator positioned themselves to continue the deterioration of public discourse and fuel the flames of hatred and dissension for those who think, believe, or speak differently than they do. Each in their own way proclaimed the failure of those with different party affiliations or different electoral strata suggesting remedies that thoughtful men and women know will result in futility. Rather than react to one person’s response by calling it BS and another by claiming it as evidence yet again of racism while yet others call opponents clueless and unintelligent, maybe, just maybe, our world needs leaders that will stop the inflammatory rhetoric and instead, establish a tone of love and peaceful respect for each other and for the lives entrusted to their authority. It is my hope that these men and women will begin to understand and then to tell us that all men, all women possess a divine and sacred spirit. Possibly they can establish for the communities and the nation they represent a town square where differences of opinion or philosophy are debated by men and women whose first response to all people, opponents and colleagues, is love rooted in the acknowledgement that we are all children of our common Creator. I am quite sure he too is weeping and has been for some time. Today I pray for the transformation of the hearts of my political leaders and for the transformation of the hearts of us all. Can we replace the destructive forces of evil with genuine love? Did not Jesus do precisely this? It is a choice we have the innate capacity to make if only we exercise the will to so choose. We might begin by accepting the gifts available from those with whom we differ as opportunities to grow closer to the divine intent of God for his creation. His wisdom and will are pure and perfect and worthy of pursuit by all of us, yes, all of us.

God's Sovereignty

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 21:43:48 GMT

God is Light

1 John 1: 5-10

Long ago, and I do mean a long time ago, I was a serious Boy Scout; hiking, camping out, performing service projects, the whole nine yards. One particular camping trip stands out above all others, however. We were exploring a cave in Marion County Tennessee called Nickajack Cave prior to its partial flooding by the TVA in 1967 (I told you it was a long time ago). Several of us attempted to prove our bravery and decided to spend the night deep in the cave’s interior. At some point the last flashlight and carbide lamp was turned off and we experienced darkness like never before. One could hold their hand directly in front of their face with eyes straining to see, but there was nothing but darkness. There was no electromagnetic energy to stimulate the rods and cones in our retina. There were no action potentials sending information to the brain for identification or interpretation. There was nothing but the absence of light.

But this is the definition of darkness isn’t it, the absence of light? And haven’t all of us experienced times in our lives when we were among shadows, and sometimes when we looked out from our circumstance and experienced only darkness? Yet we are encouraged by this brief passage in 1 John to remember the message Jesus brought to the world; “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). In my own experience I have experienced what Saint John of the Cross called “The Dark Night of the Soul,” a time when I attempted to pray for deliverance but it seemed as if no one was listening. It was a time when hopelessness seemed near and God seemed so remote. Yet during this time of darkness, I slowly came to perceive the presence of Jesus weeping with me over the tragedy that had brought on this darkness. As soon as my mind rested on him, the darkness began to dissipate and was replaced by the brilliance of his presence. There is still pain. But I know he is always present just as I knew my hand was there in the darkness of Nickajack Cave. I simply needed a little light. Oversimplified? Maybe. But as real to me today as the love of my wife, my daughter, the love of my Lord.

Now I know he is my light, and in him there is no darkness at all. What a comfort this truth is.

By the way, Nickajack Cave was and remains the home to thousands of gray bats that are apparently somewhat active at night. I and my fellow scouts agreed that one night in the cave was sufficient to establish our bravery.

The Presence of God

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 02:31:40 GMT

The Breath of God in You

John 14: 15-31

“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” ( Genesis 2:7).

This single verse from the creation story in the second chapter of Genesis has come to my mind many times over the years. It reminds me of the divine presence within each and every one of us and the sacred nature of life. More than biological beings, we are possessed by the very essence of the omnipotent creator. We are destined by this created nature to encounter the spirit that dwells within us as it is the distinguishing characteristic that makes humanity. It cannot be denied without consequence.

In John 14 we are instructed by the Son of God who has brought the Kingdom of Heaven to the Earth. He begins by telling us “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14: 15). His commandments are quite simple; we are to ‘…l ove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And on the same plane we are to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22: 37-38). Simple enough it would seem, and yet we resist. I can’t help but hear in Jesus’ voice a hint of longing …”if you love me…” Later Jesus will ask Peter three times “Peter, do you love me (John 21: 15-17)? And in the quite of the evening if we will but be still and listen, we too will hear; “Do you love me?”

And if we do, we are to keep his commandments, to love God and to love those who possess the breath that has made them living souls. But how is it possible, how can this weak and frail vessel love so much and so freely as seems to be the expectation? If Jesus loves the little children, must I? That's easy enough. If Jesus loves the neighbors who own the dog that keeps digging up my vegetable plants, must I? If Jesus loves the homeless, the criminal, the deviant in society, even those that would do me harm, must I? How can we do this?

Fortunately we have not been left alone. Jesus promised his disciples and us an advocate to help us and to always be with us … the Spirit of Truth (John 14: 16-17). And Jesus informs his disciples and us that: “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14: 20). Wait? The Son of God lives in me? It just may be possible to love God and to love others.

Yes, the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, the divine breath that made you a living soul lives in you. And me too. Yawp! With this help, I am able to love.

Sovereignty of God

atticus0873@gmail.com (Bob Boozer) — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 18:23:51 GMT

A Kingdom That Is and Is to Come

Mark 13: 1-11

Jesus has come to Jerusalem for the final time in his earthly life. He entered triumphantly as a king for indeed he was and is. The Kingdom he announced was misunderstood then and continues to be even today. In this passage, his disciples are awestruck by the magnificent architectural and construction marvel that is the temple in Jerusalem. “Look, teacher!” they say. “What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” Jesus’ response left them confused. Peter, James, John, and Andrew had to ask, “… when will these things happen?”

Jesus had announced the coming of the Kingdom of God to the world, and his disciples, then and now, are still wondering; when will this come to be? It is a bit paradoxical so I am reluctant to criticize the confusion of the disciples. We are left to this day to reflect upon the Kingdom of God that is and is to come. Surely Jesus came to announce the presence of the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43) and the eventual coming of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:42). Today we live in this wonderful mystery of a Kingdom that is and is not yet.

Mortimer Arias in his book, Announcing the Reign of God , does a wonderful job of listening to this passage and summarizing the mysteries it addresses. He states these five things we should all reflect upon as we consider the sovereignty of God found in Christ Jesus and in his sovereignty also found in the presence of the Holy Spirit. First, the Kingdom will come. Someday, we know not when, Jesus will come again to this earth. Second, Jesus’ life on Earth was not the end. While the temple building in Jerusalem will be destroyed (Jesus was to be crucified), do not worry. The Kingdom now resides in the hearts and minds of you and me. Third, we will all be tested. There will be persecution but be assured, the Spirit will give us words to speak, the truthfulness of which will be denied by many, yet they remain true. Fourth, No one knows the time of his return. So, do not be deceived by those who may tell you they are knowledgeable of the timing of the parousia, the final days of the coming of the Kingdom of God, for only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36). And finally, we have a mission. We are to stand before “governors and kings” and continue to share the good news of the presence of the Kingdom of God and the equally good news of its coming. May we live in the now with joy and conviction awash in this mystery of what is and what is to be.

Mother's Day

Sun, 12 May 2019 19:31:16 GMT

My Mother's Hands

My Mother’s Hands

R. K. Boozer

I remember her hands,

Soft, strong,

Searching the keys for melody

Making a home, giving me comfort, reassuring my worth.

I remember Tchaikovsky,

Concerto for Violin in D Major,

Eyes closed, my hands resting in hers;

Strong, soft, listening with one shared spirit.

I remember tears, tears of pain,

Tears of disappointment, life was slipping by,

An occasional morsel of joy,

Blue eyes agleam, moistened with life’s elixirs.

I remember humility,

Never prone to boast,

Never proud, except of me

Who somehow she adored.

I remember being loved,

Unfettered, so deep and complete,

Embracing me in weakness,

Telling me, “You are wonderful.”

Her hands still capture me,

Tendons exposed through skin worn thin

Through years of use and abuse,

Soft callouses belie their power

To comfort, to correct, to caress.

I remember her hands.

Easter Requires Friday

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 02:38:24 GMT

The Joy of the Cross

Luke 23: 26-49

During the recent Paschal Season, I like so many of us was anxious to get to Easter Sunday morning and celebrate the resurrection of my Lord who was tortured, humiliated, and finally crucified. Hearing from many pastors and faithful mentors that this was the most important day of the Christian year, I readily, even enthusiastically, rushed past the terrible and troubling scenes of Friday reluctant to look too long upon a cross that symbolized sin, evil, death, and guilt. It was simply too hard. It was much easier to rejoice at the empty tomb than to stand at the foot of a cross inhabited by an innocent man, occupied on my behalf.

But today, after many years struggling to find an answer to why death was necessary to remedy the brokenness of man, I now come to Good Friday with peace in my heart and an overwhelming sense of gratitude and grace. It is the cross that hammers home to me the depth of love God has for me and indeed, for all mankind. It is at the foot of the cross I come to the realization that the Just God in heaven required the debt of sin to be paid. And, I am a sinner! The debt I owed as a result of my rebellion, my spiritual arrogance, my denial would be paid. Now I come to the cross hearing Jesus pray on my behalf, “Father, forgive them …,” and as I look into his loving eyes, I linger. Moments later Jesus cries out, “my God, my God …,” and I am filled with indescribable remorse. Here he hangs with the burden of my sinfulness crying out to heaven and for the first time in all eternity, no one answers. My heart is crushed with unfathomable sadness. But as I wait, I hear him again call out to heaven, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Heaven is again attentive but something has changed. Now heaven is listening to me as well. Now the insurmountable divide between an unworthy soul like mine and the grace of God is bridged. It was bridged by a cross. I now can follow the sacrificed and soon to be risen Jesus into the arms of God.

I still run to the tomb. But finding it empty is not the joyful event it once was. At the cross I was enabled by grace to become a follower of Christ. As such, I will only pass through the tomb as did he. It is the cross that gives me hope and joy.

The Sovereignty of God

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 23:51:08 GMT

He Is Here, Take Heart

John 16

This passage forms a significant portion of the Farewell Discourse, the last time Jesus speaks to his assembled disciples at length. Here he tells them that “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me” (John 16: 16). They are understandably confused. Jesus goes on to tell them “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy”(John 16: 20). Slowly they and we begin to comprehend this message alerting us to the end of the historic episode of the incarnate God. They and we become anxious that our Lord is no longer physically present. What are we to do?

Fortunately and graciously God has a plan. On several occasions Jesus makes clear that the Father will send an Advocate, a Spirit of Truth (John 15:26), a Spirit that “will guide you into the truth” (John 16: 13). Here seems to me to be the eye opening revelation realized by the disciples when they exclaimed “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech” (John 16:29). What did they see? What did they hear? Clearly Jesus has come from the Father and has returned to the Father. Yet the Holy Spirit is now present. In other words, God remains as present as ever. While not available through our tactile sense, God is nevertheless here with us. By way of the Holy Spirit, God remains here on Earth. We must not think of God only as a distant deity or Jesus as a transient form of God for a time and for a time later to return; God is here now. Thank you Heavenly Father for staying here with your children as we navigate this world. Thank you for being so near as our next heartbeat.

Christian Living

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 14:52:29 GMT

Feeding on Jesus

John 6: 25-59

Growing up I can remember looking forward to late spring and early summer and the creations emerging from my grandmother’s kitchen. Fresh sliced tomatoes placed between two slices of Wonder bread that had been endowed with a healthy helping of Duke’s mayonnaise. But like the crowd of five-thousand, a few hours after eating my fill I was hungry for the next meal. This time, green bean sandwiches (don’t laugh if you haven’t tried it). The pattern continues today. One meal in the morning only serves to satiate me for a few hours and then I am back in the kitchen asking “What’s for lunch?” This passage makes me wonder if my spiritual life is akin to my physical life that demands more and more and is never fully satisfied.

Here we listened to Jesus attempt to explain the spiritual nourishment he has brought to the world for the hungry souls of men and of women. The crowds of Jesus’ time were seeking satisfaction but failed to see the presence of the most satisfying and nourishing substance ever available to mankind. When the crowd pressed Jesus to show them a sign so they might believe and receive this unending supply of bread, Jesus responds with a truth that confounds the materialist and brings unimaginable joy to the spiritually aware. “I am the bread of life,” he says. We are told by Jesus that if we but believe in him, we will never be hungry.

This is not an easy lesson, however. Still we encounter stress, disappointment, discouragement, anxiety, and frustration. We come to Jesus and ask for him to relieve these immediate hungers rather than recognize that the bread of life is at our fingertips, our insatiable appetite for the abundant life is a singular declaration away; “I believe.” Are we hungry? Then let’s eat. Believe in Jesus and be filled continuously with the spiritual bread that is the presence of the Son of God in the hearts of those who have chosen to believe.

Christian Living

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 21:46:55 GMT

Finding Meaning

Ecclesiastes

This book can be depressing unless the entire book is read and then considered as single message delivered by “The Preacher.” Traditionally this book is read in its entirety during the Feast of Tabernacles. While I have “threatened” to do the same for my congregation, I have reconsidered knowing that I would be alone in the sanctuary by chapter 6.

The book of Ecclesiastes begins by simply telling us that life is meaningless, utterly meaningless. The teacher proceeds in the next twelve chapters to expand on this insight that has come with his age. Yet he occasionally provides a glimmer of hope throughout that keeps us reading and anticipating. First we are informed that our labor is meaningless. How many times have I ended a hard day of work momentarily elated by the day’s accomplishments only to realize that tomorrow we begin all over again. So we might apply our energies to the attainment of knowledge and the pursuit of wisdom, a more noble pursuit perhaps, only to find that this is just as meaningless. “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (Eccl. 1:18). I can’t help but think of the many times mankind has made a leap forward in knowledge and almost immediately sought ways to weaponized it. So we keep searching for meaning and hit upon the idea of pleasure, its attainment and the avoidance of pain. This works only to convince us that there is never enough pleasure to satisfy the spirit and that pain is unavoidable. We seek wealth and status and this too is disappointing.

So what does the teacher have to share with those who are searching for meaning in a world where meaninglessness seems so ubiquitous? His insight is simple and powerful. “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Eccl. 12: 13). Can finding meaning in life be this simple? It can when we find our lives in harmony with the meaning its Creator gave it from the beginning.

Christian Community

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:35:49 GMT

Unity, Unity, Unity

John 17: 20-26

Unity, Unity, Unity!!!

This scream from four young freshmen pierced the relative low volume mumble that characterized lunchtime in the cafeteria at the small liberal arts college where I once worked. Four young ladies were pledging a sorority that highly valued unity it would seem and perceived that expecting their new members-to-be to publically embarrass themselves was an age old method for achieving this much wanted unity.

Another time in my life comes to mind as I consider this week the meaning of unity. As a baseball player in high school I was given a uniform. It was awesome. My shirt, my pants, my long sleeved undershirt with maroon sleeves, my maroon leggings, even a maroon elastic belt, and a maroon and white cap with the letter “C” on the front, appeared to be the same as everyone else’s. Look, I am on a team. We are united by our appearance and … I wasn’t sure at this point by what else. As a matter of fact, I was never quite clear what the young sorority students were so anxious to be united about. It seemed in both cases that unity for unity’s sake was sufficient reason for passion and enthusiasm.

And this brings me the text this week. At the beginning of the chapter, Jesus begins to pray for himself and in verse 6 begins to pray for his disciples. Then in verse 20, Jesus clearly begins to pray for you and me. This is one of those moments in Scripture that almost takes my breath away when I pause and let its power overtake me (Truly, there are many such passages). Jesus has prayed for our unity but not one based on uniforms or even rituals. He makes no mention of denomination, discipline, or membership statistics. His prayer is very simple as his truth often is; he prays that we would be in him as he is in the Father and the Father is in him. In verse 22 we encounter the purpose of our unity; ”I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity.”

Pursuing unity for unity’s sake is a shortsighted idea. Our unity is to be found in our absolute submission to the indwelling guidance of the Holy Spirit, the expectation of love and forgiveness found in Jesus, the judgment and justice that comes only from the Father. Our unity will be found at the foot of the cross.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. … Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of the age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1: 18-20

God' Sovereignty

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:01:13 GMT

Stand Firm With the "I AM"

Exodus 3: 1-14

I seem to be fixated on this issue of God’s sovereignty these past few weeks. And again, here I am today. In this passage in Exodus, Moses encounters God directly yet still, he seems to waver in his response to God’s request to do his bidding. So Moses approaches this curious phenomenon, a bush on fire that does not burn, and hears the voice of God speak directly to him; Moses, Moses. God would have had my undivided attention at this point. At least this is what I sit here this morning and assume would be my reaction to such a clear call.

Yet, I fear we may be hearing God’s voice and still asking, “Is it really you?” As we continue to listen we become aware of the presence of holiness that demands we “take your shoes off” and fall to our knees and listen to the divine and unalterable voice of the Lord God Almighty. We hear his voice and understand his will only to again question its authenticity, especially when it demands we take an unpopular position in the social settings to which we have become too accustomed. This is my will, we hear, this is my design for my created world, and I have heard the cry of those few timid souls that long for the freedom, hope, joy, and peace that comes from living a life dedicated to me. So we ask; again, who are you? Listen and hear his unwavering and eternal response: “I AM WHO I AM.”

But clearly this “I AM” is unaware of the progress we as humans have made in the past few hundred years and especially in the past few decades. It is we who have now become the creators and the stewards of truth. It is we who can now determine what is right and what is wrong, what we ought to do and what we ought not to do.

Our denomination is now embroiled in controversy. Should we ordain openly and practicing homosexuals and should we perform rites of holy matrimony for same sex couples. As I read the arguments proposing we change our Book of Discipline I encounter over and over the call for unity. I must agree that unity in the body of Christ is desired by our Lord but it is not the super-ordinate goal. Our first responsibility is to the truth found in God’s word, spoken by the same “I AM” encountered by Moses. We are to be unified around this steadfast truth, God is still sovereign. Otherwise, we are disassembled into our various camps and tribes unified by various principles and interpretations that are too often simply means to justify our behaviors by claiming they are no longer sins. Unity for unity’s sake is a form of idolatry. We have begun to worship the god of inclusiveness as defined by social norms rather than the God of eternity who tells us again today, “I AM WHO I AM.” I pray that God will speak clearly to us from our own burning bushes. I pray that we will have the courage to stand with him.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6: 13-15)

God's Sovereignty

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 04:58:31 GMT

There is No Excuse

Romans 1: 18-32

Our reflections today are on a rather troubling passage found in Paul’s letter to the early church entitled Romans. His observations and warnings could have been written earlier today. I cannot help but wonder if God’s wrath is “being revealed from heaven” this very day as we seem to be so willing to allow the truth to be “suppressed.” We are a culture more and more committed to accepting the equal validity of any and all truth claims. Our social environment demands we include and accept everyone along with their beliefs and behaviors with the possible exception of those who believe their principles contain any hint of exclusivity. Just a few moments of reasoned reflection tells us the foolhardiness of this position, or at least it should. Requesting reasoned reflection from those who have already bowed before the god of inclusivity may be asking too much.

Paul continues to suggest there is no excuse for anyone not to know the truth as it “is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them … being understood from what has been created, so that man is without excuse.” And what is the result of this continued denial or suppression of the truth? God has “given them over in the sinful desires of their hearts …” We seem to have become a people that too easily can interpret evil as good, wrong as right, immoral as acceptable, even preferred if one is truly enlightened.

It is in verse 28 that this passage shocks my heart. “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” I truly fear that we are more and more frequently doing what we should not and being told by the new gods of inclusivity, political correctness, tolerance, the sacredness of the self, etc. what is truthful, even righteous. I cannot follow this road for my Lord is the way, the truth, and the life. He is not one of many ways; he is inclusive in his longing for us and his gift of grace is available to all, yet he remains exclusive in his justice. Finally, I cling to the admonition of Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15: 58).

Christian Community

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 03:59:39 GMT

Above All, Love Deeply

1 Peter 4: 7-11

Today I ask you to stare with me into the eyes of Christ; not as he sits with his disciples by the Sea of Galilee, not as he walks across the Mount of Olives conversing with them; but as he hangs on a cross in pain, bleeding and near death. Look into those eyes and rest there for a moment and experience the depth of love he has for you, for me, for everyone. Those eyes take my breath away. Those eyes and the God-man they belong to have transformed our lives. As Karl Barth said, “Our life is now a product of Christ’s presence.” His grace now dwells within us and proves to be sufficient, to be pure, to be elegantly simple, without qualifiers. This grace so costly yet so freely given. While I fret over bills, over family members and friends that too frequently disappointment me, over the apparent direction of the culture within which I live, it is good to look into those eyes and be reminded of his love for me and his expectation that I love others. Peter instructs us in verse 8 that we must, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Love indeed does cover a multitude of my sins, your sins, the sins of those that we both like and dislike. Those eyes looking down from the cross constantly remind me that my Savior came to save not just me, but the entire world. And what shall be my response? Am I to be fearful, anxious, resentful, jealous? No, I am above all to love my fellowman deeply. I am to love the same sinners as does Jesus and remember that I am simply one of them. Above all, let us love each other deeply so that God may be praised through Jesus; this Jesus that others will see in our eyes.

God's Sovereignty

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 03:23:13 GMT

Fear God

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”(Deuteronomy 6: 4). With this proclamation we assert the sovereignty of the one true God, our God. This proclamation has been uttered by millions over the past 4,000 years, but today I sense it has with little doubt lost its impact on our culture and increasingly, on our church, and yes, on you and me. We may be, if we have not already lost it, losing the fear and trembling that should come to our souls when we approach the throne of God, when we come into the presence of the power and majesty that spoke the universe into existence and holds our eternal destiny in his hands. Today our fears are fragmented and personal. We fear climate change and therefore we recycle plastics and shut down coal-fired power plants. We fear social acceptance and as a result sit quietly when the sanctity of life is dismissed by those that would terminate an unwanted child, even after one is born alive. A similar fear tempts us to acknowledge that one’s sexuality is a simple matter of personal choice, that sexual promiscuity is normal and acceptable, that a family might consist of any varied combination of individuals independent of gender. All fears possess one thing in common. We endow them with authority. They influence, if not, control, our behaviors, our thoughts, our ideals.

At the end of Ecclesiastes we hear these words: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13b). God is not the aging grandfather in the sky to be approached and honored like a wise and benevolent tribal elder; he is the Lord God. It is the fear of this true God that must inform our thoughts and actions for one day we all will stand trembling before his judgment throne and answer for our time here. I truly believe he will hold me accountable for my fears that had authority over my life other than my fear of him. Let us begin to address the issues we encounter in this world by first acknowledging that “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Let us address everyone and everything as if they belonged to the God we fear for in fact, they do.

Christian Living

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:07:45 GMT

Living with a Christlike Mind

Philippians 2: 1-11

Today at Reid’s Chapel, we considered the pastoral exhortations of Paul to the fellowship of believers at Philippi, a city in Northeastern Greece. At the time of his letter, Paul was likely in prison in Rome although there remains debate among Biblical scholars. The more important point, however, is not Paul’s circumstance but his encouragement, his attitude within his circumstance. In Chapter 2:1-11 we hear clearly the exhortation to be like-minded. Listen closely to these words and we hear the call not to simply think alike and get along with each other, but to “have the same mindset as Christ” (Phil.2:5). Paul calls on us to consider that due to “encouragement from being united with Christ,” due to the “comfort of his love,” due to the “common sharing of the Spirit” we all possess, and because we possess the character of “tenderness and compassion,” we simply must be of one mind … the same mind found in our Lord Jesus. How could it be any other way? We have died to self and now Christ lives within us. We now live a life governed by His presence. We “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but we live humbly seeing others’ interest as more important than our own (Phil.2:1-4).

Our model for life is none other than Jesus, who was and is God but, “made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant” (Phil.2: 7) because of His love for me and for you. As Jesus becomes more and more alive in us, we become more and more like Him and encounter our world with tenderness and compassion, not self-centered ambition, looking first to the welfare of our brothers and sisters. This is a mindset somewhat contrary to the prevailing characteristics of our culture. But imagine with me the joy and peace that might accrue when we all are tenderly and compassionately attending to the welfare of others. And consider this as well, while you are valuing others above yourself, many are valuing you above themselves. The result … joy and peace … a welcome change to the present state of our world. Let us make it so in our sphere of influence and treat others in a manner guided by the very presence of Jesus in us.