If you've read my blog at all, you probably know that I watch American Idol...I know, it's a surprise! This year, I made the claim all along that I didn't have any favorites. Well, now that the show is over, I think I did have some favorites. I really liked Danny and I'm looking forward to see what and if he comes out with anything in the future. And as much as I was critical of Adam, I enjoyed watching him perform. It will be very interesting to see what he comes out with as far as an album and what he does with this newfound fame. Because after Idol it can go either way!
One of the biggest speculations about Adam is "Is he gay or straight?" and people have been getting quite worked up about it. Adam has said that people can keep speculating and refuses to answer the question. And it's causing an uproar among bloggers & entertainment magazines & shows. Adam has said that he wants to be a role model to kids and young adults to know that they can be themselves. I think that's what he's doing.
According to the gossip mills, he's privately out, but publicly closeted and the chant is for Adam to come out. Now, I have mixed feelings on this....First of all, celebrity or not, he is entitled to a private life and what he chooses to keep private and what he chooses not to. I respect him for making the decision as to what he will keep private. Unfortunately in our society's quest for 24/7 news and to know all details, celebrities' private lives tend to be ignored and exploited. By being one who reads entertainment blogs, I am just as guilt of perpetuating this quest for "the story" as anyone else.
Second of all-- does he have to declare his sexuality? I mean does Anoop or Matt have to say that they are straight because they never mentioned a significant other either. Why does someone who is (or may be) gay have to announce to the world who they are. No, it's not something to be ashamed of, but as a straight person I'm not making press releases or statements about the fact that I'm straight. Why does someone have to make a statement about being gay? I understand that as the rights for those who are gay are not the same for those who are straight, it does become important for all people to speak out. But why does ones' personal life make for political consequence?
Personally, I could care less whether he's straight or gay. He's a talented musician and a gifted performer and I respect him for keeping it about the music. But I would also respect him for being open about who he is. But, that's his decsion to make and not mine and not the media's either.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Poets, Prophets, Preachers
I registered for Rob Bell's preaching conference: Poets, Prophets, Preachers and just found out that the registration cost actually covers 2 people! So, is there anyone who wants to join me with this? We can split everything!!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
A Complaint Free World: Collective Jubilee
A Complaint Free World: Collective Jubilee
Next week is Pentecost, so that means that this is the last Sunday of Easter…Although Easter will continue until Saturday, our series will end this week. Our Easter series has been A Complaint Free World as we’ve been wearing our purple bracelets and working on making the world and our lives complaint free. It hasn’t always been easy, but I hope that you’ve found it rewarding and helpful in order to celebrate the life that we have received through Jesus’ death and resurrection…What have you found throughout this experience? (Wait for responses)…
Throughout these last few weeks, we’ve been exploring what Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection means to our lives…Because the if the Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus died and was raised from the dead, there is certainly much to celebrate and much to rejoice over in our own lives as well as with the entire world…Because as Jesus said in his first sermon, his purpose was to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. So what does that all mean? It’s pretty powerful because it incites a very strong reaction from the crowd! And maybe most of that seems to be understood or it makes sense in terms of who we know Jesus to be—because he certainly did preach good news to the poor, proclaimed release to the captives, and healed those who were blind, and he freed those who were held in oppression…and the year of the Lord’s favor?
To understand this part—the year of the Lord’s favor, we should understand who Jesus is as a Jewish man first…Because to be completely honest, Jesus was not a Christian…He was always a Jewish man and followed the Jewish customs…Now, he did preach new ways of understanding who God is and what God wanted—but the message was similar to what other prophets has shared before, but of course Jesus being God and all, it was deeper and didn’t go through the middle person in order for it to get across…
But, understanding Jesus as a Jewish man helps to understand what he was talking about when he refers to the year of the Lord’s favor…It refers to the year of Jubilee—from our passage in Leviticus. “You shall count off a period of seven weeks off of seven years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks gives 49 years.” Every 49 years was the year of Jubliee—or the year of the Lord’s favor. During Jubilee, everything was returned back to its proper owner—land, slaves, debts were forgiven…the year of Jubilee was taken to remind as it continues in Leviticus—the land belongs to God and we are only aliens and tenants. Jubilee was a way to balance everything out—for those who may have run into bad luck or had been cheated out of their property…Whatever the reason—every 49 years the year of Jubilee meant that everything was returned or forgiven…
Some maybe think that this act is not quite fair or that it can’t possibly work because there will always be people who deserve to have more…But the fact remains that it belongs to God and not to us…So, if nothing in creation belongs to us, but to God—how are we treating it? Are we taking care of it as though it belongs to someone else who will be expecting it back or as though we deserve whatever it is that we get?
There have been some who have proposed the concept of Jubilee to our current economic situation and their proposals have often been met with laughter or sneers…Maybe the economic experts are right and maybe they aren’t…I honestly don’t know…but I do know that God has said that all of creation belongs to God and not to us…
So, if Jesus is proclaiming Jubilee as part of his message and part of his purpose, then it must be something that is pretty important…Do you know what it’s like to be released from a debt? Maybe a literal debt—like making the last payment on a credit card or a last car payment…Or maybe it’s not literal or numerical—but you’re in debt to someone for some reason…Maybe you did something or said something that you shouldn’t have and you’re in debt in another way…or maybe you’re the one holding the debt—someone has done something to you and you are holding on to it until just the right time…In the movie The Mission, set in 1750 in South America, the movie is based on true events of a Catholic Mission that was established with native people—the native people were not all that welcoming to both the priests or to the soldiers that came through to take their land. Robert Deniro plays a man named Rodrigo Mendoza—a ruthless man who has no qualms about killing the native people or stealing money from his own family. Jeremy Irons plays Father Gabriel, a priest who believes that his calling is to the native people and he builds a successful mission to the native people. Rodrigo and Father Gabriel do not get along as they are on opposite sides of the issue of how to deal with the native people—Rodrigo says kill first before you can be killed and Father Gabriel is insistent on peaceful ways of dealing with the people. Rodrigo’s beliefs about how to respond to conflict are not left in the jungles, but are quite evident in his whole life. Rodrigo catches his girlfriend and his brother having an affair and rather than listen to the two of them, Rodrigo’s response is to murder his brother. Overwhelmed by his guilt, Rodrigo puts himself in his own prison of anguish, guilt, and sorrow. One day he and Father Gabriel have a conversation where he admits his guilt and Father Gabriel tells him that he has been forgiven, but Rodrigo can’t forgive himself…Rodrigo agrees to come with Father Gabriel to the mission, but must carry his burdens with him…This clip is longer than I would normally use for a video clip, but the length of time that Rodrigo carries this burden around is important and necessary for him, and oftentimes we carry around our own burdens just as long or longer…(Clip)…What a release when those burdens are finally cast off…And Rodrigo carried them for so long and by himself that when they are freed from him, he doesn’t know how to react…He tries to hold onto them and he weeps over his loss until he realizes that he has lost the things that are holding him back and looks at what he has gained…
Are you holding onto a debt of someone else’s? Are you holding onto a debt of your own? Because Jesus came to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor—the year of Jubilee…are you able to let God have the final say or do you think that you can do God’s job better? Because ultimately that’s what we’re saying when we refuse to give to God or when we refuse to let God be in charge—we can do God’s job better than God can…And what are we saying when we deny to another the freedom and grace that God has given to us? Do we proclaim the year of Jubilee for all?
The day that Jesus preached this first sermon—he did little more than read the passage from Isaiah and sit down…It wasn’t until he was pressed by the crowd that he talked about Elijah and the widow at Sidon or Elisha and Namaan that the crowd really got angry with what he was saying…Because he was saying that God’s grace is open to all people and it is not up to us to decide who receives God’s grace, but that is up to god…That made the people so angry that the wanted to throw Jesus over the cliff…Can you imagine being there? What a scene that must have been—trying to throw Jesus over the cliff for wanting God’s grace to be given as freely as God chooses…Sometimes we think that we can do God’s job better than God…
But ultimately it is God’s job…and the year of Jubilee reminds us of that—that it is God who decides---that it is God who provides---that it is to God that we belong. It’s much more redemptive to believe that than to carry around our debts and burdens…Because Jesus came to proclaim the year of Jubilee—the year of the Lord’s favor…that God had taken care of all of the debts that we owed to God—God was going to take care of getting rid of them, if we could only trust that God will do it…and the same choice that was extended to the people who heard Jesus’ first sermon is extended to us this day and everyday…do we believe that God will take away our burdens if we let God? Or are we like Rodrigo who seeks to hold onto them even if it kills us? Because those debts and burdens are deadly and Jesus calls us into life…Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly…How do we respond to Jesus’ life? That choice is yours—Jesus came to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Next week is Pentecost, so that means that this is the last Sunday of Easter…Although Easter will continue until Saturday, our series will end this week. Our Easter series has been A Complaint Free World as we’ve been wearing our purple bracelets and working on making the world and our lives complaint free. It hasn’t always been easy, but I hope that you’ve found it rewarding and helpful in order to celebrate the life that we have received through Jesus’ death and resurrection…What have you found throughout this experience? (Wait for responses)…
Throughout these last few weeks, we’ve been exploring what Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection means to our lives…Because the if the Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus died and was raised from the dead, there is certainly much to celebrate and much to rejoice over in our own lives as well as with the entire world…Because as Jesus said in his first sermon, his purpose was to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. So what does that all mean? It’s pretty powerful because it incites a very strong reaction from the crowd! And maybe most of that seems to be understood or it makes sense in terms of who we know Jesus to be—because he certainly did preach good news to the poor, proclaimed release to the captives, and healed those who were blind, and he freed those who were held in oppression…and the year of the Lord’s favor?
To understand this part—the year of the Lord’s favor, we should understand who Jesus is as a Jewish man first…Because to be completely honest, Jesus was not a Christian…He was always a Jewish man and followed the Jewish customs…Now, he did preach new ways of understanding who God is and what God wanted—but the message was similar to what other prophets has shared before, but of course Jesus being God and all, it was deeper and didn’t go through the middle person in order for it to get across…
But, understanding Jesus as a Jewish man helps to understand what he was talking about when he refers to the year of the Lord’s favor…It refers to the year of Jubilee—from our passage in Leviticus. “You shall count off a period of seven weeks off of seven years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks gives 49 years.” Every 49 years was the year of Jubliee—or the year of the Lord’s favor. During Jubilee, everything was returned back to its proper owner—land, slaves, debts were forgiven…the year of Jubilee was taken to remind as it continues in Leviticus—the land belongs to God and we are only aliens and tenants. Jubilee was a way to balance everything out—for those who may have run into bad luck or had been cheated out of their property…Whatever the reason—every 49 years the year of Jubilee meant that everything was returned or forgiven…
Some maybe think that this act is not quite fair or that it can’t possibly work because there will always be people who deserve to have more…But the fact remains that it belongs to God and not to us…So, if nothing in creation belongs to us, but to God—how are we treating it? Are we taking care of it as though it belongs to someone else who will be expecting it back or as though we deserve whatever it is that we get?
There have been some who have proposed the concept of Jubilee to our current economic situation and their proposals have often been met with laughter or sneers…Maybe the economic experts are right and maybe they aren’t…I honestly don’t know…but I do know that God has said that all of creation belongs to God and not to us…
So, if Jesus is proclaiming Jubilee as part of his message and part of his purpose, then it must be something that is pretty important…Do you know what it’s like to be released from a debt? Maybe a literal debt—like making the last payment on a credit card or a last car payment…Or maybe it’s not literal or numerical—but you’re in debt to someone for some reason…Maybe you did something or said something that you shouldn’t have and you’re in debt in another way…or maybe you’re the one holding the debt—someone has done something to you and you are holding on to it until just the right time…In the movie The Mission, set in 1750 in South America, the movie is based on true events of a Catholic Mission that was established with native people—the native people were not all that welcoming to both the priests or to the soldiers that came through to take their land. Robert Deniro plays a man named Rodrigo Mendoza—a ruthless man who has no qualms about killing the native people or stealing money from his own family. Jeremy Irons plays Father Gabriel, a priest who believes that his calling is to the native people and he builds a successful mission to the native people. Rodrigo and Father Gabriel do not get along as they are on opposite sides of the issue of how to deal with the native people—Rodrigo says kill first before you can be killed and Father Gabriel is insistent on peaceful ways of dealing with the people. Rodrigo’s beliefs about how to respond to conflict are not left in the jungles, but are quite evident in his whole life. Rodrigo catches his girlfriend and his brother having an affair and rather than listen to the two of them, Rodrigo’s response is to murder his brother. Overwhelmed by his guilt, Rodrigo puts himself in his own prison of anguish, guilt, and sorrow. One day he and Father Gabriel have a conversation where he admits his guilt and Father Gabriel tells him that he has been forgiven, but Rodrigo can’t forgive himself…Rodrigo agrees to come with Father Gabriel to the mission, but must carry his burdens with him…This clip is longer than I would normally use for a video clip, but the length of time that Rodrigo carries this burden around is important and necessary for him, and oftentimes we carry around our own burdens just as long or longer…(Clip)…What a release when those burdens are finally cast off…And Rodrigo carried them for so long and by himself that when they are freed from him, he doesn’t know how to react…He tries to hold onto them and he weeps over his loss until he realizes that he has lost the things that are holding him back and looks at what he has gained…
Are you holding onto a debt of someone else’s? Are you holding onto a debt of your own? Because Jesus came to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor—the year of Jubilee…are you able to let God have the final say or do you think that you can do God’s job better? Because ultimately that’s what we’re saying when we refuse to give to God or when we refuse to let God be in charge—we can do God’s job better than God can…And what are we saying when we deny to another the freedom and grace that God has given to us? Do we proclaim the year of Jubilee for all?
The day that Jesus preached this first sermon—he did little more than read the passage from Isaiah and sit down…It wasn’t until he was pressed by the crowd that he talked about Elijah and the widow at Sidon or Elisha and Namaan that the crowd really got angry with what he was saying…Because he was saying that God’s grace is open to all people and it is not up to us to decide who receives God’s grace, but that is up to god…That made the people so angry that the wanted to throw Jesus over the cliff…Can you imagine being there? What a scene that must have been—trying to throw Jesus over the cliff for wanting God’s grace to be given as freely as God chooses…Sometimes we think that we can do God’s job better than God…
But ultimately it is God’s job…and the year of Jubilee reminds us of that—that it is God who decides---that it is God who provides---that it is to God that we belong. It’s much more redemptive to believe that than to carry around our debts and burdens…Because Jesus came to proclaim the year of Jubilee—the year of the Lord’s favor…that God had taken care of all of the debts that we owed to God—God was going to take care of getting rid of them, if we could only trust that God will do it…and the same choice that was extended to the people who heard Jesus’ first sermon is extended to us this day and everyday…do we believe that God will take away our burdens if we let God? Or are we like Rodrigo who seeks to hold onto them even if it kills us? Because those debts and burdens are deadly and Jesus calls us into life…Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly…How do we respond to Jesus’ life? That choice is yours—Jesus came to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
American Idol: Top 2
This is the first time that I have actually been able to watch the Idol finale on the same night that it airs and not a week later! For the past few years I've been gone for YASN National Gathering/Student Forum and haven't been able to watch...So, the show tonight...This wasn't the final 2 that I predicted, but I'm not shocked to see these 2 in the top. From all the judge reports, I would have to say that it does seem that Adam will win, but Kris has got some surprises left in him, so I think we'll see what happens after tonight!
Adam Lambert:
Mad World--I think that this was my favorite Adam perfomance as well-- I almost feel like it was the deal clincher for him...I loved his perforamnce of this the first time...He sang this fanastic and it was great...Although, I have to say that I kind of feel like he's performing on auto-pilot, but he is an incredible performer.
Change is Gonna Come--Here's another one that Adam sang really well and it fit well in his range, but I feel like this one was also a little on auto pilot and I think he could have connected with it a little bit more lyrically.
No Boundaries--Can I just say that I think the song itself is pretty terrible? I didn't like it at all...and maybe if I heard it more I'd like it...I agree that it was not his best performance by a mile...it was pitchy and not really good...
Kris Allen:
Ain't No Sunshine--This was not my favorite Kris performance-- I almost wish that he would have done Heartless again...But, this was a great performance-- he sang very well and changed it enough from the first time that I thought it was just great. He is very consistent and knows who he is as an artist and that has really sustained him.
What's Going On--Also sang this very well...but it was a little bit too cheery for me and a little too light and laid back...He didn't seem to connect with it quite as well either...I could have seen that performance before tonight, but tonight it just didn't seem to fit...
No Boundaries--Again, the song is pretty terrible...But, I almost liked Kris' take on the song better than Adam and I think that it goes back to the fact that Kris is more "poppy" than Adam and I think that's what the song is geared to...Like Adam, he was pitchy and the performance as a whole was a little rough, but I think it was a better song fit for him than Adam...
So who's going to win? Based on the performances from tonight? I would have to give it to Adam.
Adam Lambert:
Mad World--I think that this was my favorite Adam perfomance as well-- I almost feel like it was the deal clincher for him...I loved his perforamnce of this the first time...He sang this fanastic and it was great...Although, I have to say that I kind of feel like he's performing on auto-pilot, but he is an incredible performer.
Change is Gonna Come--Here's another one that Adam sang really well and it fit well in his range, but I feel like this one was also a little on auto pilot and I think he could have connected with it a little bit more lyrically.
No Boundaries--Can I just say that I think the song itself is pretty terrible? I didn't like it at all...and maybe if I heard it more I'd like it...I agree that it was not his best performance by a mile...it was pitchy and not really good...
Kris Allen:
Ain't No Sunshine--This was not my favorite Kris performance-- I almost wish that he would have done Heartless again...But, this was a great performance-- he sang very well and changed it enough from the first time that I thought it was just great. He is very consistent and knows who he is as an artist and that has really sustained him.
What's Going On--Also sang this very well...but it was a little bit too cheery for me and a little too light and laid back...He didn't seem to connect with it quite as well either...I could have seen that performance before tonight, but tonight it just didn't seem to fit...
No Boundaries--Again, the song is pretty terrible...But, I almost liked Kris' take on the song better than Adam and I think that it goes back to the fact that Kris is more "poppy" than Adam and I think that's what the song is geared to...Like Adam, he was pitchy and the performance as a whole was a little rough, but I think it was a better song fit for him than Adam...
So who's going to win? Based on the performances from tonight? I would have to give it to Adam.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Complaint Free World: Relationship
A Complaint Free World: Relationship
Well, for the last few weeks we’ve been recognizing Easter and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what that means for us…As part of our Easter celebration, we are working at making this world that we live in a complaint free world…For those who have chosen to participate, we have purple bracelets that remind us not to complain or when we do, we move the bracelet over to the other wrist. Now, I must confess that I was on day 17 of not complaining when it happened and I had to move my bracelet…And for me, when that happened, I gave up for a couple days and figured…eh, I had to start over anyway…So, what about you? How’s it going? (Wait for Responses)
Sometimes the things that we complain about most have to do with our relationships…Whether they are positive relationships or negative relationships…It’s easy to complain about people. Or it’s easy to complain in a group about something because it seems like that will bind us together…Here’s some facts about people who complain—these came from the complaint free world website. Complainers lose friends: “People who complain too frequently are labeled as whiners and may risk being excluded from valued social groups or relationships.” Complainers are braggarts. “People may complain about the characteristics of objects or people to convey they are discriminating in their tastes and choices.” For example, people may complain about the food at a restaurant to show that they have discriminating culinary standards.” And, “People may complain about the behavior of another as a means of making themselves look superior or intimidating.” Complaints, therefore, are often a type of bragging and no one likes a braggart. Complainers drag down conversations. “Complaining is often contagious. After one person has complained, the incidence of others also complaining seems to increase, resulting in a domino effect of complaining.” Complaining hurts others and feeds on itself. “The complainer influences the behavior of the listener, and the listener’s response to the complaint subsequently affects the behavior of the complainer.” This creates a complaining loop whereby people feed off one another’s negativity which drains each of them emotionally….So, if complaining effects relationships this much and effects it negatively…why do we still do it? It’s hard to break the pattern once you’re in it and maybe there are even times when we want to stop, but it’s gotten too hard or the habit is too ingrained…I’m too old to change…I’m too young to change…It’s too hard…It’s just silly…
The truth is that our words have consequences to our relationships…Whether we mean what we say or we think we’re being funny or cute…Words can hurt…The little phrase that says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I think that’s a good attitude, but it’s not true…Tell that to the two mothers who lost their sons ages 7 & 11—these two boys committed suicide because of the words that were used in their schools and the bullying that they endured. Words do have meanings and words do hurt. In the same way that words can build up or comfort…Not all words are bad and there is a huge difference between complaining about someone or something and offering feedback. What do your words say to another person?
What kinds of relationships are you in? As I was contemplating my relationships, I realized that some of them are very healthy and wonderful relationships and some of them really are not and I wonder why I’m even in them…It’s probably like that for most people…Oftentimes we see people not as the individuals of sacred worth that they are, but as a way to get ahead or a way to make ourselves feel better or sub-human…Not as the individuals of sacred worth that they are…which effects how we see ourselves and makes us view ourselves as something less than an individual of sacred worth…But that’s not what God views us as….
In the movie, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno is an 8 year old boy whose father is a captain in the German army during WWII…One day Bruno’s father tells them that they are moving because he has been promoted…What Bruno doesn’t know is that his father’s promotion means that he is in charge of a concentration camp where many Jewish people are kept because they are considered evil, immoral, unclean…In Bruno’s mind, this place that he sees is a farm where the people wear funny clothes…Bruno has no other children to play with at his house, so one day he wanders away and comes across the fence to this “farm” and one of the “farmers”…(Clip: Exploring)…In Bruno’s understanding, this farm is a better place to be because there are people and friends that you can play with all day…throughout the movie and as the boys’ relationship grows into a friendship, Bruno slowly learns the truth and his reactions are mixed—sometimes he knows what is happening is wrong and other times, he gives into fear…But what Bruno is most often able to do is look at people as individuals of sacred worth…
If we look at the first Gospel reading that we have from the Gospel of Luke…Where Jesus is calling the first disciples. In Luke’s Gospel, we have an interaction with Jesus before the disciples answer the call—Jesus has told them where to fish and they realize that there’s something different about him because they have caught more fish than they could ever dream of! So, Jesus tells them that they will no longer be catching fish, but catching people…Here’s what is happening there…
Around the age of 12 in Jesus’ time there was an opportunity for boys to become disciples of a rabbi…all children would have been in school up until then and at age 12, when the girls would be prepared for marriage and the rabbi would make a decision whether he thought that the boys were smart enough and gifted enough to enter into training with him or if they should be sent off to be trained in a particular vocation—like fishing, carpentry, or something along those lines…The boys who were trained often grew up to be rabbis themselves or scribes in the temple, lawyers, doctors…The way that the rabbi would invite the boys to become his followers or his disciples was to say, follow me and the boys would leave everything behind and follow the rabbi and live in the temple and learn the ways of God…Sound familiar? Here’s the twist…When Jesus calls his first disciples, where are they? They’re fishing….Which means that they have already been through the screening process of the rabbi and the temple and have been found to be lacking for one reason or another, so they are sent out to learn a trade—in this case, fishing…So, they have been told by the rabbi and the temple that they are not good enough/smart enough/capable enough to become a follower of a particular rabbi and therefore they must find work elsewhere…When Jesus encounters them, they are older than 12 and have been at work for quite some time and Jesus calls them to be his disciples…The ones who were told that they weren’t good enough/smart enough/capable enough to be a disciple have just been called by Jesus…And Jesus has told them that they are good enough/smart enough/capable enough to be his disciples…and well because we know what happens on Easter, we know that Jesus is more than a rabbi…Jesus is God in flesh…So it’s not just any rabbi who is calling the “B” team into the game…It’s God who is calling all people…Jesus’ disciples were a rag tag kind of group…Not only did he call the kind of “B” team, but he called well educated people as well—tax collectors and such…So in the same group, you’ve got this whole mix of people going on…
Simon Peter, for example, was probably a Zealot…Zealots were a particular group of Jewish people who were completely dissatisfied with what was happening in their society because of the Romans…If only we could get rid of the Romans, then everything would be much better…Zealots were often causing violent uprisings or committing murder of anyone affiliated with the Roman Empire—tax collectors, soldiers, governors…As an initiation to being a Zealot, they were given a dagger to keep with them at all times just in case they may find one of these Romans in a compromising position and they could kill them….So, Simon Peter was probably one of these…And later Jesus calls Matthew, or Levi as he is sometimes called…And what was Matthew’s occupation? A tax collector…and who was one of the people that Zealots often killed? Tax collectors—because they worked for the Roman empire and were often stealing from their own people—they were Jewish men who were collecting for the Roman Empire and themselves…So in Jesus’ group of disciples we have a Zealot who is willing to kill tax collectors and…a tax collector. Who does Jesus say has sacred worth?
How many remember being in school or even at work and having to do group projects? I don’t know about you, but I always had a really hard time with group projects, especially when I didn’t pick the group out…Because you never knew who you were going to get stuck with, if they would do their own work or do their work to the standard that you had set and usually your grade depended on them…It could be brutal! In college, I took a dramatic communication class and we had 3 projects by which we had to act out a scene—one monologue, one dialogue, and one group…Well, my monologue went great and when it came time to pick partners for the dialogue, well I was sick that day and instead of getting to pick my own partner, I got assigned…I was assigned to Ricky who was notorious for not showing up to class and if he did, he was probably sleeping…I begged the professor to let me change but it was too late…Ricky let me pick out the dialogue that we were going to have to present and act out to the class and he agreed to do whatever…Our rehearsals didn’t go that amazing and once again I begged the professor to let me change partners…Of course I never said any of this to Ricky…Well, the day came for Ricky and I to give our dialogue in front of the class and I was nervous that it wasn’t going to go well or that it was going to be a disaster and I was prepared for a lower grade and had already figured out how the rest of my coursework would compensate…When Ricky and I got up there, it was flawless…Ricky had truly done a lot of preparation and was ready for this and we got an A. I was blown away! Ricky came up to me after class and said, “Thanks for believing I could do this.” And I felt about 2 inches tall…because I didn’t believe that he could do it—I had been trying to change partners. But the work that we did together was better than if I was assigned with anyone else…
Building the kingdom of God is like a group project…Sometimes you get assigned with people who you think really don’t have a clue or are going to mess up the project that you have in mind…Which may be very true and sometimes that’s the risk that you take in group projects…But the thing about the Kingdom of God is that there are no grades or no final evaluations…It’s not about the final effort because ultimately, that’s left up to God…It’s what we do while we’re together…God’s not going to ask—how many churches did you build or how many books did you write or any questions like that….God’s concered with how we care for one another…Did you love your neighbor as you loved yourself? And your neighbor is not necessarily the person that you like…You know the person that drives you crazy and may be the person that you complain the most about—that’s your neighbor…Do you love all of your neighbors as you love yourself? What kinds of relationships do you have with God’s people? The two boys from our clip earlier, from the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas have this interaction later in the movie as Bruno starts to understand what his father is in charge of and what is happening at the camp. (Clip: Proud Father)…Unfortunately, Bruno’s response is not the one that we hope for, but it is an honest response and a response that we all give sometimes…We deny relationships with one another to make ourselves look better or worse…Just like we deny our relationships with God to make ourselves look better or worse…
As a human being, we crave being in relationship with one another…it’s what we were created for and not just in relationship with the people that we like, but in relationship with all of creation…Our relationship with God is just as important as our relationship with people…Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves…How are you able to answer those questions?
That’s what it means to be a disciple of Jesus…It’s what the rag tag group of followers that Jesus had were asked to do…It’s what we’re asked to do…And there were times that they fell short and didn’t believe what Jesus was saying…They didn’t know the end of the story—they didn’t know that Jesus was going to die and be resurrected…We do…We can look back at what Jesus said and realize what he meant in there…The disciples were learning as they were going…But when Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection and while they were eating breakfast together when they had finished catching their fish, none of them asked who are you, because they all knew who it was…
Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and do you love all of your neighbors as you love yourself? If the answer is no or not yet…that’s okay…we’re all there…but the goal is to move toward being able to answer those questions with a yes and when we are able to do so it will not be because of our own understanding or our own strength…but by the strength and grace of God…
Well, for the last few weeks we’ve been recognizing Easter and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what that means for us…As part of our Easter celebration, we are working at making this world that we live in a complaint free world…For those who have chosen to participate, we have purple bracelets that remind us not to complain or when we do, we move the bracelet over to the other wrist. Now, I must confess that I was on day 17 of not complaining when it happened and I had to move my bracelet…And for me, when that happened, I gave up for a couple days and figured…eh, I had to start over anyway…So, what about you? How’s it going? (Wait for Responses)
Sometimes the things that we complain about most have to do with our relationships…Whether they are positive relationships or negative relationships…It’s easy to complain about people. Or it’s easy to complain in a group about something because it seems like that will bind us together…Here’s some facts about people who complain—these came from the complaint free world website. Complainers lose friends: “People who complain too frequently are labeled as whiners and may risk being excluded from valued social groups or relationships.” Complainers are braggarts. “People may complain about the characteristics of objects or people to convey they are discriminating in their tastes and choices.” For example, people may complain about the food at a restaurant to show that they have discriminating culinary standards.” And, “People may complain about the behavior of another as a means of making themselves look superior or intimidating.” Complaints, therefore, are often a type of bragging and no one likes a braggart. Complainers drag down conversations. “Complaining is often contagious. After one person has complained, the incidence of others also complaining seems to increase, resulting in a domino effect of complaining.” Complaining hurts others and feeds on itself. “The complainer influences the behavior of the listener, and the listener’s response to the complaint subsequently affects the behavior of the complainer.” This creates a complaining loop whereby people feed off one another’s negativity which drains each of them emotionally….So, if complaining effects relationships this much and effects it negatively…why do we still do it? It’s hard to break the pattern once you’re in it and maybe there are even times when we want to stop, but it’s gotten too hard or the habit is too ingrained…I’m too old to change…I’m too young to change…It’s too hard…It’s just silly…
The truth is that our words have consequences to our relationships…Whether we mean what we say or we think we’re being funny or cute…Words can hurt…The little phrase that says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I think that’s a good attitude, but it’s not true…Tell that to the two mothers who lost their sons ages 7 & 11—these two boys committed suicide because of the words that were used in their schools and the bullying that they endured. Words do have meanings and words do hurt. In the same way that words can build up or comfort…Not all words are bad and there is a huge difference between complaining about someone or something and offering feedback. What do your words say to another person?
What kinds of relationships are you in? As I was contemplating my relationships, I realized that some of them are very healthy and wonderful relationships and some of them really are not and I wonder why I’m even in them…It’s probably like that for most people…Oftentimes we see people not as the individuals of sacred worth that they are, but as a way to get ahead or a way to make ourselves feel better or sub-human…Not as the individuals of sacred worth that they are…which effects how we see ourselves and makes us view ourselves as something less than an individual of sacred worth…But that’s not what God views us as….
In the movie, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno is an 8 year old boy whose father is a captain in the German army during WWII…One day Bruno’s father tells them that they are moving because he has been promoted…What Bruno doesn’t know is that his father’s promotion means that he is in charge of a concentration camp where many Jewish people are kept because they are considered evil, immoral, unclean…In Bruno’s mind, this place that he sees is a farm where the people wear funny clothes…Bruno has no other children to play with at his house, so one day he wanders away and comes across the fence to this “farm” and one of the “farmers”…(Clip: Exploring)…In Bruno’s understanding, this farm is a better place to be because there are people and friends that you can play with all day…throughout the movie and as the boys’ relationship grows into a friendship, Bruno slowly learns the truth and his reactions are mixed—sometimes he knows what is happening is wrong and other times, he gives into fear…But what Bruno is most often able to do is look at people as individuals of sacred worth…
If we look at the first Gospel reading that we have from the Gospel of Luke…Where Jesus is calling the first disciples. In Luke’s Gospel, we have an interaction with Jesus before the disciples answer the call—Jesus has told them where to fish and they realize that there’s something different about him because they have caught more fish than they could ever dream of! So, Jesus tells them that they will no longer be catching fish, but catching people…Here’s what is happening there…
Around the age of 12 in Jesus’ time there was an opportunity for boys to become disciples of a rabbi…all children would have been in school up until then and at age 12, when the girls would be prepared for marriage and the rabbi would make a decision whether he thought that the boys were smart enough and gifted enough to enter into training with him or if they should be sent off to be trained in a particular vocation—like fishing, carpentry, or something along those lines…The boys who were trained often grew up to be rabbis themselves or scribes in the temple, lawyers, doctors…The way that the rabbi would invite the boys to become his followers or his disciples was to say, follow me and the boys would leave everything behind and follow the rabbi and live in the temple and learn the ways of God…Sound familiar? Here’s the twist…When Jesus calls his first disciples, where are they? They’re fishing….Which means that they have already been through the screening process of the rabbi and the temple and have been found to be lacking for one reason or another, so they are sent out to learn a trade—in this case, fishing…So, they have been told by the rabbi and the temple that they are not good enough/smart enough/capable enough to become a follower of a particular rabbi and therefore they must find work elsewhere…When Jesus encounters them, they are older than 12 and have been at work for quite some time and Jesus calls them to be his disciples…The ones who were told that they weren’t good enough/smart enough/capable enough to be a disciple have just been called by Jesus…And Jesus has told them that they are good enough/smart enough/capable enough to be his disciples…and well because we know what happens on Easter, we know that Jesus is more than a rabbi…Jesus is God in flesh…So it’s not just any rabbi who is calling the “B” team into the game…It’s God who is calling all people…Jesus’ disciples were a rag tag kind of group…Not only did he call the kind of “B” team, but he called well educated people as well—tax collectors and such…So in the same group, you’ve got this whole mix of people going on…
Simon Peter, for example, was probably a Zealot…Zealots were a particular group of Jewish people who were completely dissatisfied with what was happening in their society because of the Romans…If only we could get rid of the Romans, then everything would be much better…Zealots were often causing violent uprisings or committing murder of anyone affiliated with the Roman Empire—tax collectors, soldiers, governors…As an initiation to being a Zealot, they were given a dagger to keep with them at all times just in case they may find one of these Romans in a compromising position and they could kill them….So, Simon Peter was probably one of these…And later Jesus calls Matthew, or Levi as he is sometimes called…And what was Matthew’s occupation? A tax collector…and who was one of the people that Zealots often killed? Tax collectors—because they worked for the Roman empire and were often stealing from their own people—they were Jewish men who were collecting for the Roman Empire and themselves…So in Jesus’ group of disciples we have a Zealot who is willing to kill tax collectors and…a tax collector. Who does Jesus say has sacred worth?
How many remember being in school or even at work and having to do group projects? I don’t know about you, but I always had a really hard time with group projects, especially when I didn’t pick the group out…Because you never knew who you were going to get stuck with, if they would do their own work or do their work to the standard that you had set and usually your grade depended on them…It could be brutal! In college, I took a dramatic communication class and we had 3 projects by which we had to act out a scene—one monologue, one dialogue, and one group…Well, my monologue went great and when it came time to pick partners for the dialogue, well I was sick that day and instead of getting to pick my own partner, I got assigned…I was assigned to Ricky who was notorious for not showing up to class and if he did, he was probably sleeping…I begged the professor to let me change but it was too late…Ricky let me pick out the dialogue that we were going to have to present and act out to the class and he agreed to do whatever…Our rehearsals didn’t go that amazing and once again I begged the professor to let me change partners…Of course I never said any of this to Ricky…Well, the day came for Ricky and I to give our dialogue in front of the class and I was nervous that it wasn’t going to go well or that it was going to be a disaster and I was prepared for a lower grade and had already figured out how the rest of my coursework would compensate…When Ricky and I got up there, it was flawless…Ricky had truly done a lot of preparation and was ready for this and we got an A. I was blown away! Ricky came up to me after class and said, “Thanks for believing I could do this.” And I felt about 2 inches tall…because I didn’t believe that he could do it—I had been trying to change partners. But the work that we did together was better than if I was assigned with anyone else…
Building the kingdom of God is like a group project…Sometimes you get assigned with people who you think really don’t have a clue or are going to mess up the project that you have in mind…Which may be very true and sometimes that’s the risk that you take in group projects…But the thing about the Kingdom of God is that there are no grades or no final evaluations…It’s not about the final effort because ultimately, that’s left up to God…It’s what we do while we’re together…God’s not going to ask—how many churches did you build or how many books did you write or any questions like that….God’s concered with how we care for one another…Did you love your neighbor as you loved yourself? And your neighbor is not necessarily the person that you like…You know the person that drives you crazy and may be the person that you complain the most about—that’s your neighbor…Do you love all of your neighbors as you love yourself? What kinds of relationships do you have with God’s people? The two boys from our clip earlier, from the movie The Boy in the Striped Pajamas have this interaction later in the movie as Bruno starts to understand what his father is in charge of and what is happening at the camp. (Clip: Proud Father)…Unfortunately, Bruno’s response is not the one that we hope for, but it is an honest response and a response that we all give sometimes…We deny relationships with one another to make ourselves look better or worse…Just like we deny our relationships with God to make ourselves look better or worse…
As a human being, we crave being in relationship with one another…it’s what we were created for and not just in relationship with the people that we like, but in relationship with all of creation…Our relationship with God is just as important as our relationship with people…Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves…How are you able to answer those questions?
That’s what it means to be a disciple of Jesus…It’s what the rag tag group of followers that Jesus had were asked to do…It’s what we’re asked to do…And there were times that they fell short and didn’t believe what Jesus was saying…They didn’t know the end of the story—they didn’t know that Jesus was going to die and be resurrected…We do…We can look back at what Jesus said and realize what he meant in there…The disciples were learning as they were going…But when Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection and while they were eating breakfast together when they had finished catching their fish, none of them asked who are you, because they all knew who it was…
Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and do you love all of your neighbors as you love yourself? If the answer is no or not yet…that’s okay…we’re all there…but the goal is to move toward being able to answer those questions with a yes and when we are able to do so it will not be because of our own understanding or our own strength…but by the strength and grace of God…
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
American Idol: Top 3
I have to say that these are the 3 that I would have put in the top 3...Well, maybe not Kris right away, but I did grow into seeing him in the top 3. I think that it's going to come down to Danny & Adam in the top 2, but depending on what happens tonight, I think that they all could stand a shot in the top 2. I don't have a strong feeling on who should win, I think that there are reasons why they should all win or why they all should not.
Danny Gokey: Danny has always been consistent and has not ever raised the bar. Last week he started to a little bit, but I still don't think that he raised it quite enough. I will be very interested to see what genre he falls into if he does not win American Idol.
Dance Little Sister--I felt like he shouted a little bit too much or pushed a little too hard. I thought it was a good song choice because it did fit his range really well and in a genre that seemed to fit him well. I don't think it raised the bar and it seemed like a performance that he would have given the first week he was on the show.
You Are So Beautiful--When he first said that this was the song choice, I thought he was done and I thought it was a complete cop-out...But then he started singing and this was the song that I could finally say he raised the bar. It was just fantastic. He showed emotion and was able to show restraint as well. Vocally it was spot on. He may need to grow as a performer, but he can sing no doubt.
Kris Allen: The very first time I saw Kris, I thought he was good but I didn' tknow if he could overcome the lack of airtime that he had before. He fits the marketability of Idol completely and if it were based on what the Idol should be, Kris should win hands down. But I don't know that he's the most talented of the 3 that are left either.
Apologize--I am not a fan of playing at the piano and no interaction with the audience-- it leaves a disconnect and I didn't feel as connected with him as an artist as when he's playing his guitar. I don't know that it was the best song choice for him because it doesn't fit him as an artist. I agree with Simon that you can't criticize him for a song when he didn't pick the song. I do think he should have taken more license, but he also didn't have as much time to work on that.
Heartless--What a HUGE risk and WOW!! I was so nervous for him but I figured that he knew what he was doing with such a big risk. I really liked this version of the song and his interpretation. This is what he should have done with the previous song. But, it was really fantastic.
Adam Lambert--There is no doubt that Adam is talented and has been launched farther in his career because of American Idol. I still struggle with seeing him as a pop star or even a rock star...I still see him as theatrical. If it were based on the judges, I think Adam will win. Who knows what America will say...
One--Hmm....Torn on this one...I don't know how I felt about the arrangement. I think I liked it. I think he was pitchy at times though and didn't do it justice either. I don't know that it was as good as the judges said, but it was decent.
Cryin'--Another great performance by Adam and it was a great choice. He did it much better than the first song hands down. In comparison to the other 2, it wasn't as big of a risk as the other 2 took. But, he didn't need to take as much of a risk because his whole time on the show has been risky...
Honestly, I don't know who will be in the top 2. I can see all of them there...I would say that Adam is going to be there based on how the judges talked him up, but again it is up to America and the judges don't get to vote and there is no judge's save here! Tomorrow will be very interesting....
Danny Gokey: Danny has always been consistent and has not ever raised the bar. Last week he started to a little bit, but I still don't think that he raised it quite enough. I will be very interested to see what genre he falls into if he does not win American Idol.
Dance Little Sister--I felt like he shouted a little bit too much or pushed a little too hard. I thought it was a good song choice because it did fit his range really well and in a genre that seemed to fit him well. I don't think it raised the bar and it seemed like a performance that he would have given the first week he was on the show.
You Are So Beautiful--When he first said that this was the song choice, I thought he was done and I thought it was a complete cop-out...But then he started singing and this was the song that I could finally say he raised the bar. It was just fantastic. He showed emotion and was able to show restraint as well. Vocally it was spot on. He may need to grow as a performer, but he can sing no doubt.
Kris Allen: The very first time I saw Kris, I thought he was good but I didn' tknow if he could overcome the lack of airtime that he had before. He fits the marketability of Idol completely and if it were based on what the Idol should be, Kris should win hands down. But I don't know that he's the most talented of the 3 that are left either.
Apologize--I am not a fan of playing at the piano and no interaction with the audience-- it leaves a disconnect and I didn't feel as connected with him as an artist as when he's playing his guitar. I don't know that it was the best song choice for him because it doesn't fit him as an artist. I agree with Simon that you can't criticize him for a song when he didn't pick the song. I do think he should have taken more license, but he also didn't have as much time to work on that.
Heartless--What a HUGE risk and WOW!! I was so nervous for him but I figured that he knew what he was doing with such a big risk. I really liked this version of the song and his interpretation. This is what he should have done with the previous song. But, it was really fantastic.
Adam Lambert--There is no doubt that Adam is talented and has been launched farther in his career because of American Idol. I still struggle with seeing him as a pop star or even a rock star...I still see him as theatrical. If it were based on the judges, I think Adam will win. Who knows what America will say...
One--Hmm....Torn on this one...I don't know how I felt about the arrangement. I think I liked it. I think he was pitchy at times though and didn't do it justice either. I don't know that it was as good as the judges said, but it was decent.
Cryin'--Another great performance by Adam and it was a great choice. He did it much better than the first song hands down. In comparison to the other 2, it wasn't as big of a risk as the other 2 took. But, he didn't need to take as much of a risk because his whole time on the show has been risky...
Honestly, I don't know who will be in the top 2. I can see all of them there...I would say that Adam is going to be there based on how the judges talked him up, but again it is up to America and the judges don't get to vote and there is no judge's save here! Tomorrow will be very interesting....
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A Complaint Free World: Sabbath
A Complaint Free World: Sabbath
This is the 4th Sunday of Easter—remembering that Easter lasts 50 days and not just a single Sunday…Just before Easter, we spent 40 days in Lent…Lent is the time that most people remember to give something up or sacrifice in order to remember Jesus’ journey to the cross. Our theme for Lent this year was From Hurt to Healing…So, in our celebration and remembrance of Easter, as we live into the resurrection of Jesus and realize our own place in the Kingdom of God…Our Easter series is “A Complaint Free World.” This is meant to help us to fully appreciate the resurrection of Jesus Christ because God put on flesh to live among the people…the world that is not much different than the world that we live in…I mean sure, the technologies have changed and life spans have changed, but the basic issues really aren’t that different…People still have disagreements, people still get married, people still get happy or sad…If you think about it that way, the world hasn’t really changed all that much! And yet, through what happened on Easter morning as God raised Jesus from the dead, the very fabric of creation was changed. So, we should want to cherish every minute of our lives and not spend nearly as much of it complaining…So, just like the last couple of weeks, I want to do a check-in to see how it’s going…(Wait for Responses). Thank you for sharing and we keep pushing on! Remember the goal is to go 21 days straight without complaining. It sounds difficult, but it’s not impossible…
Something else that sounds difficult…Sabbath…Oh maybe it’s something that we remember as one of the 10 commandments or something that we’re supposed to do…but practicing Sabbath becomes something difficult in practice…Maybe it’s because we are just too busy to practice Sabbath or maybe we just don’t know what Sabbath really is? Well, I think we certainly know work…Watch this clip. (Mom clip)…Whew it did feel like the work was never going to end! And doesn’t it feel that way sometimes? That the work never ends? That life is too busy and there’s nothing that offers any kind of rest or break or anything? In 2007, Brian Williams & the NBC news offered this report…(Clip)…How much vacation time have you used? Because there will always be reasons why you can’t… “I can’t afford it.” “There will just be more work when I come back…I’ll need a vacation from my vacation.” “I’m the only one who can do this job.” All of which are very dangerous to our concept of Sabbath as well.
Now, to be very clear…Sabbath and vacation are not necessarily the same thing. You can experience Sabbath on vacation, but vacation is not Sabbath. Sabbath is an intentional spending time with God. That may be in silence or it may be with other people. It may be in prayer or it may be in reading Scripture. Sabbath is an intentional break from culture and saying, I will take this time to spend with God. As the commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”
The commandment was not only for God’s benefit, but also for God’s people…and it wasn’t just a nice thought either. Sabbath had and still has political connotations…As the commandments and laws were given to the Israelites, they were coming from a time in their life when they were slaves…when all they were forced to think about and do was make bricks…was to work. Because they couldn’t afford to leave…because they would just return to more work if they took a break…because they were the only ones who could make these bricks…So, when they left Egypt and left that slavery behind, they were a little lost…they didn’t know what to do because for most of their lives, they had thought about bricks and work and suddenly they didn’t have that anymore…So who are they to be known as if not the people who make bricks? Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Remember who you are and whose you are…Sabbath is a time for us to be reminded that we are God’s children. That the kingdoms of this world don’t hold power or sway over you…That you are a part of God’s kingdom and working on building for God’s kingdom today. Not to fall victim to the slaveries that this world imposes…Because if the kingdoms of this world had their way—we’d be making bricks 7 days a week…And no one does that, do they?
When was the last time that you spent intentional time in Sabbath? As we look at our passage from the Gospel this morning, Jesus has just finished calling his disciples and teaching the crowds. It has been a busy day, folks…So, of course the next thing that Jesus does is engage in a series of meetings to talk about the next steps and put a plan of action together because he only has a short time to spend, right? Hopefully, you heard the sarcasm in that because Jesus doesn’t do any of those things…Instead, Jesus withdrew to a quiet place to pray…Jesus had just called these men to be his disciples, he just finished giving a sermon that was one of the best the people had heard, and Jesus is just on the rise to his place of attention and what does he do? Instead of capitalize on what he’s got going…He leaves and goes away to a place to pray…The crowds, the disciples…they don’t define who Jesus is and he doesn’t let them define who he is…Instead he lets God define who he is….He’s not defined by the brick, brick, brick or work, work, work mentality of this world, but instead defined by his relationship with God. If we take what Jesus said and did seriously, why do we still think brick, brick, brick or work, work, work…
Now there are probably some who think… “I attend worship on Sunday morning, so I’m good. I practice Sabbath.” And while that’s a good start, it’s really not the whole thing…First of all; attending worship and worshipping are two very different things. There’s an expression that you may have heard…Standing in the middle of a garage doesn’t make you a car just like standing in the middle of a church doesn’t make you a Christian or make you worship…Worship is a vital part of Sabbath because it means that we acknowledge that we are not our own God…that there is no other God above us but God…If we constantly think brick, brick, brick or work, work, work…who then is our God…who then do we worship? And once one leaves worship—what happens? Is the rest of the day spent in prayer and worship or is it another thing that got done for the day?
Or maybe there are some who think, “I pray before I go to bed, so I practice Sabbath.” Which is also a great start! But how often do you make it through the prayer and stay awake? Or after you’ve finished listing off your needs to God, do you listen for what God needs from you? Prayer is more than just telling God what we need from God…But prayer is also about listening for what God needs from us. The relationship with God is not just one sided, but we have to be ready to submit ourselves to God.
Or another thing to think about…is your Sabbath causing work for someone else? I’ve worked at churches where the people who attended worship couldn’t wait to leave because it meant that they would get to the restaurants before the other churches and get good tables…But in doing that, they were requiring that someone else worked…Does our Sabbath cause work for someone else? And if it does…do we provide opportunities to let that person experience Sabbath? Have you offered to take a waiter or waitresses’ place so that they could go and pray for an hour? Or told a cashier that you would ring people up for a while so that they could go and worship God? Does our need for Sabbath cause work for someone else? When I was in LA recently, my family and I were driving to go out for dinner when we noticed many men with long beards and broad black hats walking along the streets. Someone made a comment about the funny people who walk the streets of LA…and I said, “Do you know who they are? They’re the Jewish men walking to Temple.” It’s their Sabbath…They walk so as not to have to work at driving…which means also that they don’t have to buy any gas that day or get their oil changed or worry about getting in any fender-benders…And the food preparation is all done ahead of time so there is no need to spend the time in the kitchen that day…and if there isn’t enough food, well maybe a neighbor will share or you’ll just fast…The orthodox Jewish people know what Sabbath is about and know how to practice Sabbath.
Sabbath is very difficult because it is so counter-cultural…It was counter-cultural when God commanded it and it is still counter-cultural today! Our society and our world tell us that we are defined by what we produce and what we make and what results we get by our actions. And God tells us that we are defined by being God’s children and being in relationship with God…
A friend of mine asked me once what I did all week with all of my free time…Because, it was explained to me, as a pastor you only work one day a week and really not even a full day, but a couple hours…I politely corrected my friend…And as I was preparing for this sermon, I struggled with how honest to be…If I should share the struggles that I have with Sabbath and with not being defined by brick, brick, brick or work, work, work…I was talking recently with some Christian friends and we were talking about Sabbath and they told me that I must have it easiest…Because in preparing for a sermon I’m always reading Scripture…To which I replied: “That’s work.” Or I’m always in prayer for the congregation and praying for those who are in need of prayer…To which I replied: “That’s work.” Or talking with someone about their faith journey and wrestling with their questions of God…To which I replied: “That’s work.” Now, I don’t share that to bring up any feelings of guilt or pity or anger or to make it seem like I don’t find those things fulfilling or important, because I do…But to share and be honest about my struggles with how to keep Sabbath. There are sometimes that I keep Sabbath very well and there are other times well…let’s just say that I don’t…Recently, I put into place “no-email Fridays” which means that on Friday I don’t get to check e-mail. And this is very difficult because e-mail is the only way for some people to get in touch with me…And I feel guilty if an e-mail is in my inbox and I don’t respond to it right away…But I’ve discovered that the e-mail waits patiently for me and the computer doesn’t explode while I’m not checking my e-mail…It does mean that my inbox gets a little full and I’m not able to respond as quickly…but it’s my way of saying that how quickly I respond to e-mails doesn’t define me… It is completely counter-cultural to say, “I need to go away and pray for awhile.” Or to say, “I’m not going to let bricks and work define who I am, but I’ll let God do that.”
In the end, God won’t ask us how many hours we worked or how many bricks we made…God will ask us, how well do we know each other? Because if the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves…How well do we know God—have we spent enough time with God to even begin to know? And have we spent enough time loving one another? Those are the things that are important to God…not how many bricks we made or how much work got done…But, do you love me with you whole heart, soul, mind, and strength and do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Then, that’s how we are defined and that’s who we are…It’s whose we are…
This is the 4th Sunday of Easter—remembering that Easter lasts 50 days and not just a single Sunday…Just before Easter, we spent 40 days in Lent…Lent is the time that most people remember to give something up or sacrifice in order to remember Jesus’ journey to the cross. Our theme for Lent this year was From Hurt to Healing…So, in our celebration and remembrance of Easter, as we live into the resurrection of Jesus and realize our own place in the Kingdom of God…Our Easter series is “A Complaint Free World.” This is meant to help us to fully appreciate the resurrection of Jesus Christ because God put on flesh to live among the people…the world that is not much different than the world that we live in…I mean sure, the technologies have changed and life spans have changed, but the basic issues really aren’t that different…People still have disagreements, people still get married, people still get happy or sad…If you think about it that way, the world hasn’t really changed all that much! And yet, through what happened on Easter morning as God raised Jesus from the dead, the very fabric of creation was changed. So, we should want to cherish every minute of our lives and not spend nearly as much of it complaining…So, just like the last couple of weeks, I want to do a check-in to see how it’s going…(Wait for Responses). Thank you for sharing and we keep pushing on! Remember the goal is to go 21 days straight without complaining. It sounds difficult, but it’s not impossible…
Something else that sounds difficult…Sabbath…Oh maybe it’s something that we remember as one of the 10 commandments or something that we’re supposed to do…but practicing Sabbath becomes something difficult in practice…Maybe it’s because we are just too busy to practice Sabbath or maybe we just don’t know what Sabbath really is? Well, I think we certainly know work…Watch this clip. (Mom clip)…Whew it did feel like the work was never going to end! And doesn’t it feel that way sometimes? That the work never ends? That life is too busy and there’s nothing that offers any kind of rest or break or anything? In 2007, Brian Williams & the NBC news offered this report…(Clip)…How much vacation time have you used? Because there will always be reasons why you can’t… “I can’t afford it.” “There will just be more work when I come back…I’ll need a vacation from my vacation.” “I’m the only one who can do this job.” All of which are very dangerous to our concept of Sabbath as well.
Now, to be very clear…Sabbath and vacation are not necessarily the same thing. You can experience Sabbath on vacation, but vacation is not Sabbath. Sabbath is an intentional spending time with God. That may be in silence or it may be with other people. It may be in prayer or it may be in reading Scripture. Sabbath is an intentional break from culture and saying, I will take this time to spend with God. As the commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”
The commandment was not only for God’s benefit, but also for God’s people…and it wasn’t just a nice thought either. Sabbath had and still has political connotations…As the commandments and laws were given to the Israelites, they were coming from a time in their life when they were slaves…when all they were forced to think about and do was make bricks…was to work. Because they couldn’t afford to leave…because they would just return to more work if they took a break…because they were the only ones who could make these bricks…So, when they left Egypt and left that slavery behind, they were a little lost…they didn’t know what to do because for most of their lives, they had thought about bricks and work and suddenly they didn’t have that anymore…So who are they to be known as if not the people who make bricks? Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Remember who you are and whose you are…Sabbath is a time for us to be reminded that we are God’s children. That the kingdoms of this world don’t hold power or sway over you…That you are a part of God’s kingdom and working on building for God’s kingdom today. Not to fall victim to the slaveries that this world imposes…Because if the kingdoms of this world had their way—we’d be making bricks 7 days a week…And no one does that, do they?
When was the last time that you spent intentional time in Sabbath? As we look at our passage from the Gospel this morning, Jesus has just finished calling his disciples and teaching the crowds. It has been a busy day, folks…So, of course the next thing that Jesus does is engage in a series of meetings to talk about the next steps and put a plan of action together because he only has a short time to spend, right? Hopefully, you heard the sarcasm in that because Jesus doesn’t do any of those things…Instead, Jesus withdrew to a quiet place to pray…Jesus had just called these men to be his disciples, he just finished giving a sermon that was one of the best the people had heard, and Jesus is just on the rise to his place of attention and what does he do? Instead of capitalize on what he’s got going…He leaves and goes away to a place to pray…The crowds, the disciples…they don’t define who Jesus is and he doesn’t let them define who he is…Instead he lets God define who he is….He’s not defined by the brick, brick, brick or work, work, work mentality of this world, but instead defined by his relationship with God. If we take what Jesus said and did seriously, why do we still think brick, brick, brick or work, work, work…
Now there are probably some who think… “I attend worship on Sunday morning, so I’m good. I practice Sabbath.” And while that’s a good start, it’s really not the whole thing…First of all; attending worship and worshipping are two very different things. There’s an expression that you may have heard…Standing in the middle of a garage doesn’t make you a car just like standing in the middle of a church doesn’t make you a Christian or make you worship…Worship is a vital part of Sabbath because it means that we acknowledge that we are not our own God…that there is no other God above us but God…If we constantly think brick, brick, brick or work, work, work…who then is our God…who then do we worship? And once one leaves worship—what happens? Is the rest of the day spent in prayer and worship or is it another thing that got done for the day?
Or maybe there are some who think, “I pray before I go to bed, so I practice Sabbath.” Which is also a great start! But how often do you make it through the prayer and stay awake? Or after you’ve finished listing off your needs to God, do you listen for what God needs from you? Prayer is more than just telling God what we need from God…But prayer is also about listening for what God needs from us. The relationship with God is not just one sided, but we have to be ready to submit ourselves to God.
Or another thing to think about…is your Sabbath causing work for someone else? I’ve worked at churches where the people who attended worship couldn’t wait to leave because it meant that they would get to the restaurants before the other churches and get good tables…But in doing that, they were requiring that someone else worked…Does our Sabbath cause work for someone else? And if it does…do we provide opportunities to let that person experience Sabbath? Have you offered to take a waiter or waitresses’ place so that they could go and pray for an hour? Or told a cashier that you would ring people up for a while so that they could go and worship God? Does our need for Sabbath cause work for someone else? When I was in LA recently, my family and I were driving to go out for dinner when we noticed many men with long beards and broad black hats walking along the streets. Someone made a comment about the funny people who walk the streets of LA…and I said, “Do you know who they are? They’re the Jewish men walking to Temple.” It’s their Sabbath…They walk so as not to have to work at driving…which means also that they don’t have to buy any gas that day or get their oil changed or worry about getting in any fender-benders…And the food preparation is all done ahead of time so there is no need to spend the time in the kitchen that day…and if there isn’t enough food, well maybe a neighbor will share or you’ll just fast…The orthodox Jewish people know what Sabbath is about and know how to practice Sabbath.
Sabbath is very difficult because it is so counter-cultural…It was counter-cultural when God commanded it and it is still counter-cultural today! Our society and our world tell us that we are defined by what we produce and what we make and what results we get by our actions. And God tells us that we are defined by being God’s children and being in relationship with God…
A friend of mine asked me once what I did all week with all of my free time…Because, it was explained to me, as a pastor you only work one day a week and really not even a full day, but a couple hours…I politely corrected my friend…And as I was preparing for this sermon, I struggled with how honest to be…If I should share the struggles that I have with Sabbath and with not being defined by brick, brick, brick or work, work, work…I was talking recently with some Christian friends and we were talking about Sabbath and they told me that I must have it easiest…Because in preparing for a sermon I’m always reading Scripture…To which I replied: “That’s work.” Or I’m always in prayer for the congregation and praying for those who are in need of prayer…To which I replied: “That’s work.” Or talking with someone about their faith journey and wrestling with their questions of God…To which I replied: “That’s work.” Now, I don’t share that to bring up any feelings of guilt or pity or anger or to make it seem like I don’t find those things fulfilling or important, because I do…But to share and be honest about my struggles with how to keep Sabbath. There are sometimes that I keep Sabbath very well and there are other times well…let’s just say that I don’t…Recently, I put into place “no-email Fridays” which means that on Friday I don’t get to check e-mail. And this is very difficult because e-mail is the only way for some people to get in touch with me…And I feel guilty if an e-mail is in my inbox and I don’t respond to it right away…But I’ve discovered that the e-mail waits patiently for me and the computer doesn’t explode while I’m not checking my e-mail…It does mean that my inbox gets a little full and I’m not able to respond as quickly…but it’s my way of saying that how quickly I respond to e-mails doesn’t define me… It is completely counter-cultural to say, “I need to go away and pray for awhile.” Or to say, “I’m not going to let bricks and work define who I am, but I’ll let God do that.”
In the end, God won’t ask us how many hours we worked or how many bricks we made…God will ask us, how well do we know each other? Because if the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves…How well do we know God—have we spent enough time with God to even begin to know? And have we spent enough time loving one another? Those are the things that are important to God…not how many bricks we made or how much work got done…But, do you love me with you whole heart, soul, mind, and strength and do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Then, that’s how we are defined and that’s who we are…It’s whose we are…
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Why I Am United Methodist
This question was brought up a few months ago by Jenny Smith...I've pondered it for awhile and to be quite honest, at first I thought...Well, I know why I am United Methodist, and I live it so that should be enough, right? I am still content with that to a certain extent, but recently my United Methodism was challenged...Not in that I am not behaving as a United Methodist, but maybe I'm too big for the UMC or that the UMC is holding me back from what I'm truly called to do. My response was a pretty visceral response and I am truly offended by this accusation/request. In some ways, I see being told that the UMC is holding me back says that a vital part of who I am and who I have understood myself to be as a child of God is no longer valid. Granted, I fully believe and hope that people will experience God outside of the United Methodist Church because it would be irresponsible to assume that the UMC is the "one true church" and all other churches are wrong...but, I am United Methodist for a reason and with that in mind, I know why I stay in the United Methodist Church as well. So, here are those reasons for you!
1.) The UMC is my home-- I was baptized, confirmed, nurtured (and continue to be nurtured) in the United Methodist Church. There were times when I was younger that my family tried another non-denominational church and we didn't stay, but I vividly remember leaving that church in tears because they had told me something I believed was wrong. I was also nurtured in some ways by the Assemblies of God church when I was in High School because my home church didn't have a strong youth group at the time. While I appreciate the fellowship that came from that time, I did not have a strong connection with the church or denomination. The UMC has provided a home not only in the practical, local church sense, but also in terms of theology. I appreciate our diversity and feel most at home in it.
2.) Connectionalism--I absolutely love knowing that the congregations that I serve are a part of a much larger church. We have resource beyond what most people even know. I have seen this on the general church scale and I so appreciate the work of the General Boards & Agencies who are able to do things that the local churches can't do alone. I love knowing that within the UMC there are people who I can contact to answer questions about liturgy, worship, polity, or doctrine and I will be pointed in the right direction. Why is UMCOR allowed in places of the world where the church is not yet? Because we as United Methodists support this ministry and empower them to go out to meet needs in the name of Jesus Christ.
3.) Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors-- Yes, I know that it has become cliche and there are places where it can be argued that this is not true. Also, the new rethink church is moving these from being adjectives into verbs...Both of which I affirm! It is exciting to be a part of a church who is dedicated to including all people and ensuring that all people know of God's love & grace. While there are certainly times that we fall short, nevertheless, we keep trying!
4.) Diversity--It is encouraging to me to be a part of a church with so much diversity. I'm not just talking about racial/ethnic, although I can't tell you how wonderful that is...Or not just gender, which is wonderful as well! But also theological diversity. Now, I know that this is most troubling to some people, but I love that we can be in conversation about what we believe and who we know God to be. When we know individuals as people, it becomes far more difficult to demonize them and easier to build bridges.
5.) Active--Church is not about sitting in the pews on Sunday morning and being done with it...Now, I know that there are many United Methodist Churches who function this way, but as a denomination, we don't. We work well beyond what happens on Sunday morning and truly work at doing church and being the Body of Christ at work in the world.
6.) Structure--Okay this one is a double edged sword because there are times that I think that the bureaucracy is not helpful in the slightest and is not conducive to ministry. However...There are parts of it that I do think are absolutely vital. I would much rather have a structure that I can learn how to work in than to feel as though there is no accountability or care to know what is happening and why.
7.) Mission-- Both in the mission of the church: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world...and the way that we live out that mission. The UMC is in places of the world where Christians are not yet allowed-- that is amazing to me to see how we are making disciples of Jesus Christ without compromising who we are and yet still meeting the needs of those who are in need.
8.) Theology--I would be remiss if I didn't mention the theology of the United Methodist Church. My personal theology may fit other places or I can trim it around to make it fit other places, but my theology fits the best within the United Methodist Church. The experience of grace, the grounding in Scripture, being able to reason through and leaning on tradition...It has profoundly affected the way I have come to know who God is.
9.) Loyalty--In a world and culture where many are quick to dismiss denominations or quick to move based on what happens in an individual church, I value loyalty. I meant what I said when I took my membership vows in confirmation...In our membership, it is both how we uphold those vows and how the church upholds their vows. There are times when we both fall short, but that doesn't mean that we leave one another to find some place else that will give me what I want when I want it.
10.) Because I am....It is who I am and to ask me to separate me from being United Methodist, I just don't know that it's possible...I am United Methodist through and through-- in polity, in practice, in doctrine, and in belief.
1.) The UMC is my home-- I was baptized, confirmed, nurtured (and continue to be nurtured) in the United Methodist Church. There were times when I was younger that my family tried another non-denominational church and we didn't stay, but I vividly remember leaving that church in tears because they had told me something I believed was wrong. I was also nurtured in some ways by the Assemblies of God church when I was in High School because my home church didn't have a strong youth group at the time. While I appreciate the fellowship that came from that time, I did not have a strong connection with the church or denomination. The UMC has provided a home not only in the practical, local church sense, but also in terms of theology. I appreciate our diversity and feel most at home in it.
2.) Connectionalism--I absolutely love knowing that the congregations that I serve are a part of a much larger church. We have resource beyond what most people even know. I have seen this on the general church scale and I so appreciate the work of the General Boards & Agencies who are able to do things that the local churches can't do alone. I love knowing that within the UMC there are people who I can contact to answer questions about liturgy, worship, polity, or doctrine and I will be pointed in the right direction. Why is UMCOR allowed in places of the world where the church is not yet? Because we as United Methodists support this ministry and empower them to go out to meet needs in the name of Jesus Christ.
3.) Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors-- Yes, I know that it has become cliche and there are places where it can be argued that this is not true. Also, the new rethink church is moving these from being adjectives into verbs...Both of which I affirm! It is exciting to be a part of a church who is dedicated to including all people and ensuring that all people know of God's love & grace. While there are certainly times that we fall short, nevertheless, we keep trying!
4.) Diversity--It is encouraging to me to be a part of a church with so much diversity. I'm not just talking about racial/ethnic, although I can't tell you how wonderful that is...Or not just gender, which is wonderful as well! But also theological diversity. Now, I know that this is most troubling to some people, but I love that we can be in conversation about what we believe and who we know God to be. When we know individuals as people, it becomes far more difficult to demonize them and easier to build bridges.
5.) Active--Church is not about sitting in the pews on Sunday morning and being done with it...Now, I know that there are many United Methodist Churches who function this way, but as a denomination, we don't. We work well beyond what happens on Sunday morning and truly work at doing church and being the Body of Christ at work in the world.
6.) Structure--Okay this one is a double edged sword because there are times that I think that the bureaucracy is not helpful in the slightest and is not conducive to ministry. However...There are parts of it that I do think are absolutely vital. I would much rather have a structure that I can learn how to work in than to feel as though there is no accountability or care to know what is happening and why.
7.) Mission-- Both in the mission of the church: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world...and the way that we live out that mission. The UMC is in places of the world where Christians are not yet allowed-- that is amazing to me to see how we are making disciples of Jesus Christ without compromising who we are and yet still meeting the needs of those who are in need.
8.) Theology--I would be remiss if I didn't mention the theology of the United Methodist Church. My personal theology may fit other places or I can trim it around to make it fit other places, but my theology fits the best within the United Methodist Church. The experience of grace, the grounding in Scripture, being able to reason through and leaning on tradition...It has profoundly affected the way I have come to know who God is.
9.) Loyalty--In a world and culture where many are quick to dismiss denominations or quick to move based on what happens in an individual church, I value loyalty. I meant what I said when I took my membership vows in confirmation...In our membership, it is both how we uphold those vows and how the church upholds their vows. There are times when we both fall short, but that doesn't mean that we leave one another to find some place else that will give me what I want when I want it.
10.) Because I am....It is who I am and to ask me to separate me from being United Methodist, I just don't know that it's possible...I am United Methodist through and through-- in polity, in practice, in doctrine, and in belief.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
American Idol: Top 4
So this is the top 4! I was surprised at the outcome last week, but not so much in who actually went home. I think Simon said it well that America decides and America votes on who they want and not necessarily who seems to be the front runners. So, I suppose we'll see what happens!
Adam Lambert: Whole Lotta Love--I don't see him as a rocker and I know that's kind of what he's been billed as...I see him totally in theater and I can't even say as a pop star anymore. I didn't really like the performance, but I don't like the hard rock genre either...I wasn't really in favor of the pimping from the judges either...
Allison Iraheta: Cry Baby--I kind of agreed with the judges...I don't think it was as melodic and showed enough of her vocal talent. I think she performed her song well, but I think I would have prefered her to sing her other choice.
Adam & Kris Duet: Renegade--I'm curious as to how the partners were put together...I didn't really like the two of them together...They did have good harmonies...This is also not their genre.
Kris Allen: Come Together--He sang decently...But I think that this was also not his genre either and I think he tried the best he could, but this isn't what he does. It might have been better for him to do a power ballad...
Danny Gokey: Dream On--I thought it was a great song choice for the most part, but the end...yeah, not that great....I thought he was solid until then though!
Allison & Adam Duet: Slow Ride--Great performance and I think Adam really did help Allison to be a performer. It was a great performance
Going home: Based on performance--Kris...But I think that the top 2 will be Danny & Adam....
Adam Lambert: Whole Lotta Love--I don't see him as a rocker and I know that's kind of what he's been billed as...I see him totally in theater and I can't even say as a pop star anymore. I didn't really like the performance, but I don't like the hard rock genre either...I wasn't really in favor of the pimping from the judges either...
Allison Iraheta: Cry Baby--I kind of agreed with the judges...I don't think it was as melodic and showed enough of her vocal talent. I think she performed her song well, but I think I would have prefered her to sing her other choice.
Adam & Kris Duet: Renegade--I'm curious as to how the partners were put together...I didn't really like the two of them together...They did have good harmonies...This is also not their genre.
Kris Allen: Come Together--He sang decently...But I think that this was also not his genre either and I think he tried the best he could, but this isn't what he does. It might have been better for him to do a power ballad...
Danny Gokey: Dream On--I thought it was a great song choice for the most part, but the end...yeah, not that great....I thought he was solid until then though!
Allison & Adam Duet: Slow Ride--Great performance and I think Adam really did help Allison to be a performer. It was a great performance
Going home: Based on performance--Kris...But I think that the top 2 will be Danny & Adam....
Sunday, May 03, 2009
A Complaint Free World: Joy
A Complaint Free World: Joy
It’s the 3rd week of Easter as we recognize the 50 days of Easter and live into the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ…As we live into our resurrection, we are working at making this a complaint free world by wearing our purple bracelets and working on not complaining…So, just like last week, I’ll ask if there is anyone who would like to share how it’s going. We’ll use this as a testimony or confession time! You can share a general statement about how it’s going or if there was one specific time that you’d like to share! (Sharing)…
Well, I don’t know how many of you have watched the news recently, but according to the media there is a lot to be concerned about and a lot to be nervous about and a lot to be scared of…And most likely this morning there are things that you have seen or heard on the news that has given you pause or has made you nervous or scared. Now, I’m not going to say that your fears are unfounded or wrong because it’s certainly one way to react based on what we hear and see. Another way that we can react is not out of fear, but out of hope…See because as Christians, we have hope beyond all of our fears. In Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus defeated the last stronghold and proved that he was stronger than death.
This morning, our New Testament passage comes from 1 Thessalonians. Now, one thing that may help to understand 1 Thessalonians a little bit more is that most scholars believe that this letter was written as a consolation letter or a funeral letter. The people of the church of Thessalonica had written to Paul because one of their beloved members had died. Throughout the letter, Paul shares messages of hope and life as the community grieves and struggles to understand their loss. Our passage from 1 Thessalonians this morning gives the instructions to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and pray without ceasing.”
The Sunday after Easter is known as “Holy Humor Sunday” as a tradition of the early church. Many of the church members would tell jokes and play practical jokes on one another. Now there were several reasons for this—there had been such a prolonged time of sacrifice through Lent, that a release of some kind was needed…But also because the thought was that God had played the biggest practical joke of all…By allowing the world to think that Jesus had died forever…and allowing the powers of evil to believe that they had won, only to prove them wrong once again…Because Jesus defeated death and the powers of death had no more weight…So, God played the biggest practical joke of all! A professor of mine told us that we needed to start each lecture with a joke because we always needed to start in the right frame of mind…So, this morning, I have a joke for you. Two brothers are terrible trouble makers. They are always breaking things, stealing things, lying, and making all kinds of general trouble. The parents have tried everything to get the boys to change, to no avail. Finally, out of options, they ask their pastor if he can help. He says he will talk to the boys, but only one at a time. The parents drop off the youngest and go home, promising to return to get him soon. The boy sits in a chair across from the pastor's desk and they just look at each other.
Finally, the Pastor says, "Where is God?"
The boy just sits there and doesn't answer.
The pastor begins to look stern and loudly says, "Where is God?"
The little boy shifts in his seat, but still doesn't answer.
The pastor is starting to get angry at the boy's refusal to converse and practically shouts "Where is God?"
To the pastor's surprise, the little boy jumps up out of his chair and runs out of the office.
The boy leaves the church and runs all the way home, up the stairs and into his brother's room. He shuts the door and pants, "We're in BIG TROUBLE. God's missing and they think we did it!"
So, although the world tells us of all the things that we should fear and be afraid of, our God tells us differently…So in thinking about joy…I want you to share the things that bring you joy…Maybe it will take a while to think of those things and maybe they’re right on the tip of your tongue…What brings you joy? (Responses)
Rejoice always…It is all too easy to give into what the world tells us we should believe about our God, and what we should believe about what our God has for us or in some cases what our God cannot do for us. But what we know is different—that our God is able and that our God is full of hope and not of fear. As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 16, our heart is glad and our soul rejoices in the Lord…
So, these joys that we share are what sustain us and remind us of the hope that God does indeed share with all of us…That God is a God who was willing to put on flesh in order to be with God’s people…That joy and hope is stronger than any fear.
It’s the 3rd week of Easter as we recognize the 50 days of Easter and live into the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ…As we live into our resurrection, we are working at making this a complaint free world by wearing our purple bracelets and working on not complaining…So, just like last week, I’ll ask if there is anyone who would like to share how it’s going. We’ll use this as a testimony or confession time! You can share a general statement about how it’s going or if there was one specific time that you’d like to share! (Sharing)…
Well, I don’t know how many of you have watched the news recently, but according to the media there is a lot to be concerned about and a lot to be nervous about and a lot to be scared of…And most likely this morning there are things that you have seen or heard on the news that has given you pause or has made you nervous or scared. Now, I’m not going to say that your fears are unfounded or wrong because it’s certainly one way to react based on what we hear and see. Another way that we can react is not out of fear, but out of hope…See because as Christians, we have hope beyond all of our fears. In Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus defeated the last stronghold and proved that he was stronger than death.
This morning, our New Testament passage comes from 1 Thessalonians. Now, one thing that may help to understand 1 Thessalonians a little bit more is that most scholars believe that this letter was written as a consolation letter or a funeral letter. The people of the church of Thessalonica had written to Paul because one of their beloved members had died. Throughout the letter, Paul shares messages of hope and life as the community grieves and struggles to understand their loss. Our passage from 1 Thessalonians this morning gives the instructions to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and pray without ceasing.”
The Sunday after Easter is known as “Holy Humor Sunday” as a tradition of the early church. Many of the church members would tell jokes and play practical jokes on one another. Now there were several reasons for this—there had been such a prolonged time of sacrifice through Lent, that a release of some kind was needed…But also because the thought was that God had played the biggest practical joke of all…By allowing the world to think that Jesus had died forever…and allowing the powers of evil to believe that they had won, only to prove them wrong once again…Because Jesus defeated death and the powers of death had no more weight…So, God played the biggest practical joke of all! A professor of mine told us that we needed to start each lecture with a joke because we always needed to start in the right frame of mind…So, this morning, I have a joke for you. Two brothers are terrible trouble makers. They are always breaking things, stealing things, lying, and making all kinds of general trouble. The parents have tried everything to get the boys to change, to no avail. Finally, out of options, they ask their pastor if he can help. He says he will talk to the boys, but only one at a time. The parents drop off the youngest and go home, promising to return to get him soon. The boy sits in a chair across from the pastor's desk and they just look at each other.
Finally, the Pastor says, "Where is God?"
The boy just sits there and doesn't answer.
The pastor begins to look stern and loudly says, "Where is God?"
The little boy shifts in his seat, but still doesn't answer.
The pastor is starting to get angry at the boy's refusal to converse and practically shouts "Where is God?"
To the pastor's surprise, the little boy jumps up out of his chair and runs out of the office.
The boy leaves the church and runs all the way home, up the stairs and into his brother's room. He shuts the door and pants, "We're in BIG TROUBLE. God's missing and they think we did it!"
So, although the world tells us of all the things that we should fear and be afraid of, our God tells us differently…So in thinking about joy…I want you to share the things that bring you joy…Maybe it will take a while to think of those things and maybe they’re right on the tip of your tongue…What brings you joy? (Responses)
Rejoice always…It is all too easy to give into what the world tells us we should believe about our God, and what we should believe about what our God has for us or in some cases what our God cannot do for us. But what we know is different—that our God is able and that our God is full of hope and not of fear. As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 16, our heart is glad and our soul rejoices in the Lord…
So, these joys that we share are what sustain us and remind us of the hope that God does indeed share with all of us…That God is a God who was willing to put on flesh in order to be with God’s people…That joy and hope is stronger than any fear.
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