Today's Psalm - Leaving It Up to God

David spent several of his younger years on the run from King Saul. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel as a replacement for Saul, when Saul displeased God. Early on Saul actually had him serve in his house. Later as David's popularity with the people grew, Saul became jealous until he tried to kill David. David fled and took up a robin hood existence, largely preying the favorite bad guys of the book of Samuel, the Philistines.

On a couple of occasions when Saul came hunting David, David could have turned the tables and killed Saul. But he refused because Saul had been anointed king before David and David refused to lift his hand against God's anointed. But he certainly prayed about it all. Today's psalm (54) is set in this one the run time when some folks have protected David. David asks for God to be the one to right the wrong and get him the vengeance and justice he is due.

Now David's non-violent ethic was pretty limited. He refused to kill the current king. He was also loathe to kill fellow Israelites unless he could see no other way out. We have another example of a non-violent ethic in the Bible that is even more amazing. Jesus told Pilate he could have called down angels to wipe everyone out. But Jesus did not. He accepted the violence of the world for the sake of the world.

We are still learning what it means to leave vengeance in God's hands. I have never been a pacifist, but I will freely admit that that position is probably as influenced by lack of faith as it is by carefully considered theological interpretation. May God teach me today a little more how to not seek vengeance on my own against my enemies but instead leave my deliverance in God's hands.

I'm back!

Hello to my followers. I was on vacation last week and actually did very little on the computer. Probably a good thing. Oh, I did insure my fantasy football team was up to date and for a change I am giving my opponent a good thrashing. See what one can accomplish with a clear mind?

I will probably post once more before Thanksgiving, but let me say it now, lest I forget.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. If you are bearing extra burdens this year, then I pray that God will also send some unexpected blessings your way!

Today's Psalm - Accountablity

Will you behave yourself if no one's watching? The psalmist doens't think so. Psalm 53, ascribed to David, puts it bluntly. Fools say there is no God and so they do whatever they want. Atheism and anarchy in the view of David will lead to abominable acts. Atheists and anarchist, of course, will disagreed because they see the perversity of power and terrible acts committed in the name of faith. But the biblical view is simple. When people aren't held accountable both now and in eternity, they will do whatever they want to advance their own agendas.

Atheism equals foolishness. Sooner or later, though God will rain down judgment.

It's easy to throw stones at atheism. I was on a pastor's retreat recently and I was introduced to a different term -- functional atheism. That's living our lives as though God didn't exist. And the greatest practitioners? Why Christians, of course. We claim we believe in God, but we go through the motions of our day as though God didn't exist. God will excuse me for being rude, inconsiderate, short tempered, and selfish. Maybe the psalmist saw some of that in his own day and that is why he lamented that there was no one who did good. If those who claim faith act as if there is no faith, then what will become of the world?

Today's Psalm - I am jealous

Psalm 73 brings us face to face with that most human of emotions - jealousy. The psalmist checked out all the rich people and found himself jealous of their status, comfort, and their apparent freedom from the worries of life that plague others. Why do they get away with having life so good? Why do the ones who have gotten their money by deceit seem to get away with it? He was all wrapped up in huge fit of jealousy until he went to the temple and then saw things in the right perspective. In just a moment, the blink of an eye, their ruin can come. And he also realized that despite his bitterness and anger with God over the state of things, God continued to lead him and guide him.

So I started making a mental list of all those folks that make me jealous and sadly I realized how long that list could get. It is so easy to get caught up in the why does he/she have it so good and I have it so lousy. But it is such a waste. God doesn't want to see us throw our emotional energy away on jealousy. We need to rejoice over what we have and enjoy the good things and particularly people that are part of our life.

And isn't it good news that the psalmist realized how close God was even when he was angry and bitter. As much as we might think we can push God away, God always, always stays close by. I am so glad, because there are days I don't live a very faithful life, but God still stays close and guides me. Amazing!

Today's Psalm - Your Basic Leader Worship

Psalm 72 is what is called a royal psalm. It is all about the king (I know I have blogged about this kind of psalm before.) Basically the psalm asks God to bless the king and make everything (and I do mean everything) fantastic for the king and thus for all the people. All our enemies conquered. May he last as long as the sun. May the rivers and oceans obey him.

Hmm, sometimes we still vest this much hope in new political leadership. For that matter some churches have believed the new pastor will somehow save them. Human leadership is never, never perfect. The leaders are part of the problem and those of us who are followers are also part of the problem. Thinking that we can control rivers, oceans, etc is over reaching. Later Christian interpreters reassigned the praises in this psalm to Jesus as the only true king worthy of this kind of trust.

Now, all that being said, there is a poignancy to this psalm. The prescript speaks of it being "of Solomon" which could mean it was written about Solomon perhaps for his coronation. And the last line of the psalm points in that direction also -- "the prayers of David son of Jesse are ended." David has died. Solomon is now king. One era ends. Another begins. Let the new king be prosperous. David is remembered fondly and we hope the new king also does as well.

Today's Psalm - Talking to Yourself

If you thinking talking to yourself is a sign of being crazy well then the psalmists were one loony bunch. Take Psalm 42. It's a running dialogue between the writer and himself about why he is having a bad day. "Why are you cast down, o my soul?" I have been crying night and day, but remember when we had that great time of rejoicing. Trust God, it will get better. God, I can trust you, right? Have you forgotten me? I feel like have been wounded, run through by my enemies. Hope in God and times will get good again.

Talking to yourself and doing it so God can hear you is one form of prayer. Asking God questions like, "Have you forgotten about me?" is not faithless. When we quit asking questions, that's when we really lose touch with the eternal.

If you feel like chattering with yourself about life's troubles. Don't hesitate. If it helps to have a friend listen so you don't feel crazy, well then go right ahead. If you want to ask God all the hard questions of life, go for it.

Today's Psalm - Get 'em God!

Today's psalm, psalm 35 which is one of David's, raises an interesting question. Is it ever okay to pray for God to bring vengeance on your enemies? Certainly it is an an honest psalm. We have all wanted to ask God to get those who are out to get us.

This psalm speaks of a time of suffering when others rejoiced over David's suffering. Evidently those same folks had suffered and David had prayed for them and mourned for them. But now that he is down, they are happy. Wow! We have those times when someone we treated with love and caring turns their backs on us when we are down. Most of us have felt the cold knife of a backstabber.

Turn the other cheek or ask God to bring ruin upon them? I know Jesus calls us a to a higher standard when it comes to dealing with our enemies. He forgave Peter and I am convinced if Judas would have asked, Jesus would have forgiven him as well. Glad to know that David's honest prayer is there. Somedays we probably have to pray Psalm 35 before we can open ourselves up to the deeper commandment that Jesus gave.

Today's Psalm - Are You Sure About the All Times Part?

Psalm 34 is another psalm of David's. He begins with an out there kind of statement. "I will bless the Lord at all times. . . " So now that just sounds like an invitation to trouble right? Can we have a few times maybe, David, when we might just want to gripe and complain and dispense with the blessing God?

What about when we are sick or when we are financially destitute or when our loved ones are suffering or when (fill in the time when life really leaves you down). I mean a statement like, "I will bless the Lord at all times . . " sounds like an open invitation to step into Job's shoes and suffer all manner of trouble while maintaining your faith steadfastly in God.

Oh wait, I guess that is kind of the point. Faith isn't a matter of convenience that I hold onto just cause life is going my way. Hmm. The psalm does go on to talk about good times and bad. Timidly, fearfully, grudgingly, the opening line is to be our statement of faith. "I will bless the Lord at all times . . "

Should I duck right after I say that, God?

My week as a slug

Even slugs get grace, right? So this past week I was laid up with the flu. H1N1 I presume, although I was never sick enough to require a doctor's care. I have been plenty sicker in my life but this particular flu just held on and held on and held on. Relentless. I am still not 100%. So I am preaching today and doing communion and already formulating ideas for how to insure as much space between me and hopefully healthy members of the congregation. Sometime being pastoral means keeping your distance!

I have been told plenty and preached often that God rejoices over all men, women, boys, girls, etc of creation. God rejoices even over those who are ill and unable to do much. Hope God still found something to rejoice over me about as I basically did nothing but breathed (and that not too well at times), coughed, slept (that also not too well), went from sweating to chillled, but enough of the details.

Thank God for supportive members, a patient wife (who was sick herself but managed to rebound more quickly), and a window of opportunity in my life where an illness wasn't devastating. Many or not so fortunate. And thank God it was only the flu!

Today's Psalm - Identifying the Landowner

The first line of this psalm is known to many - "The earth is the Lord's and all that it is in it." That doesn't mean we always act like it. From abuse of the earth through pollution to acting as though we can do anything we want cause, "it's mine and I earned it and my neighbors, government, (insert favorite figure you love to hate) can just go stuff it."

It is interesting after just being reminded that God owns it all the psalmist turns to a discussion about clean hands and pure hearts. Intent seems to matter to God. Falsehood and deceit get a very, very bad review in the scriptures. Lying to God is just not a good idea.

The fact that many of the psalms were actually poetry and likely may have been sung can be seen in the final verses where we get a call/response set of lines. Imagine two choirs (likely all male, sorry ladies but this was definitely a sexist world) singing this back and forth. Wonder if anybody who had been less than honest thought that week suddenly remembered they might have forgotten to tie up the donkey and slipped out?

Today's Psalm - David's Number One Hit

It's still playing on the Jerusalem top 40. Thousands of years and it has maintained it's number one spot. That's right. It's Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, etc. All of us have days when we want someone to take care of us. How many of us as adults when were we sick have voiced, "I want my mommy!" Well this psalm is about wanting/expecting/believing in God's care when we need it the most. Those dark valleys are scary places and knowing the Big Guy is with us with a rod and staff is a good thing.

Oh, do keep in mind that the rod and staff are there to help us along as well. The shepherds crook was in use for grabbing long before Vaudeville discovered it as a tool to pull people off stage. Where you think they got the idea? So with the care comes direction and guidance. With the table full comes some reminders about who we need to listen to. Remember it's a relationship where we need to listen, listen, listen.

And now back to a week full of meetings. Sometimes those have dark valleys. Time to reread the psalm.

Today's Psalm - It's Good to be the King

Psalm 21 is one of those sometimes called a royal psalm. The psalm is a conversation with God about the king. And it's pretty good to be the king. (Which coincidentally is a line from a Mel Brooks move, History of the World, Part I, I believe. But don't take this as a recommendation for the movie -- not particularly spiritually edifying :-) and also not one of Mel's bests.)

With all the riches and the line about the king being given his heart's desire, Solomon springs to mind as a possible king that the writer has in mind. Solomon asked for wisdom and got much more because he was wise.

There is a vengeful note to the song. God's enemies will be discovered and destroyed. It fits with the times -- the world was and often still is a violent place. One challenging consideration in anytime is just who are God's enemies. We often think we can easily identify them, but perhaps we should be think carefully and wonder if some days we don't make ourselves God's enemies.

History has proven that kings for all their good intentions are often corrupted by money and power. One of the politically charged pieces of news from both the Old and New Testament is there is only one ultimate king and one ruler who we can trust. No wonder the Romans hated the Christians and the Jews. Earthly powers are secondary and don't command our ultimate allegiance. Only God deserves that loyalty. Even the king can be God's enemies and then it isn't so good to be the king!

Today's Psalm - I told you so!

Remember the last two day's of psalms have David at a low point. Surrounded by the deceitful and really wondering if God was ever going to listen. But it would appear a new day has dawned.

David is gloating. "The fool says in his heart there is no God. I know better. I know there is one. And I know he sees all those who folks who deny the existence of God. And God will judge, yes God will judge."

Might seem like a rather petty prayer. Might not always fit with the loving attitude we see displayed in other passages. But remember, the psalms are prayers. They are absolutely overflowing with human emotions and all that this entails. There are rants. There are cries of desperation. There is anger. There is bitter weeping. And some days you just feel deep down like saying, "All you fools who don't believe in God, just wait! God will judge."

And just so you don't think that David was completely self centered. Over and over his psalms speak out on behalf of the poor. While he was on the run, he may have been poor, but even after he became king, he seemed to always remember that his leadership was a trust from God that involved responsibility for those less fortunate.

So if you want to rejoice with David about the fools of the world who say there is no God remember it comes with a caveat. God doesn't appreciate those who say they believe in him and then act like they don't. Justice will be exacted at some point. Sobering words.

Today's Psalm - From Bad to Worse

Yesterday, David spoke of being surrounded by the deceitful. He felt alone. In today's psalm (Psalm 13) he asks, how long will God forget about David's plea? Will it be forever.

Each psalm was likely written independently. However at some point later an editor (or several editors) arranged the psalms into a particular order. Most scholars believe it was not a casual or accidental arrangement.

The progression from yesterday's psalm "Help things are bad" to today's "God you must have forgotten about me" is a not an unusual struggle we all share. I'm all alone and I wonder if God even cares is the middle of the night heartache feeling most of us have experienced.

But the psalmist remains faithful. He will still proclaim God's love and trusts that he will experience God's salvation and so he sings. Faith at its strongest is faith when life is toughest.

Tomorrow - "I told you so!"

Today's Psalm - Help I am surrounded

In Psalm 12 David laments the world is filled with deceitful, godless people who are just interested in flattery but not honesty. Hmm, anyone remember junior high? Many of the psalms carry the theme that everyone else is against me. Remember, psalms are prayers and there are times in most of our lives when we might feel like most of the good people have dropped of the face of the earth.

One could easily see this is an emotion David felt during his days of persecution. It's also possible that he encountered a subject coming and asking for justice. David could have heard a story of betrayal and lies and decided he would compose an psalm based on this person's experience.

The conclusion of the psalm is a proclamation of God's trustworthiness. Faith in the midst of adversity? Maybe reminding God he had better come through? If I say this enough I will believe it myself? Any and everyone of these are possible when it comes to a heartfelt cry to God. Help, I am surrounded by deceivers. Who can I trust God? Can I tust you? Help!

YOB - Where Is God When You Need Help?

October 8, 2009
Job 23:1-9, 16, 17

Job is having a bad day, week, month, year. Read the first couple of chapters of the book if you forgot the story. And he is angry. For good reason. His life has been beset by calamities not of his own doing. My mother likes to remind her children, life happens to everyone. Well life is certainly happening in a very harsh way to Job.

Some friends show up to comfort him, but they are no help. They tell him he must be a sinner. His wife tells him to curse God and die. Harsh! Harsh!

Job wants to know why God is allowing him to suffer. Good question Job! And Job can't seem to find God's presence anywhere either! Another good point. I think the book of Job is in the Bible because Job says all those things that we say/think when we suffer. God does seem far away at times. There are times when we don't think we are getting a fair shake in life. We want God to know and we want to hear an explanation from God.

I know there are folks who will tell you the Bible has all the answers you need. If they mean by that there is a simple formula waiting to solve all of life's woes, then I don't agree! The answers in the Bible are often the kinds of answers that Job received -- life is mystery and is often filled with pain. What God offers in those kinds of moments is presence and comfort and the strength to grow when life happens. The Bible's answers are honest and not simplistic or stupid.

And thankfully most of us can find much better friends that Job had. I have found some who stood by me when times were dark and helped me. I pray you can do the same when you have those Job like moments.

Today's Psalm - Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Psalm 8

Hmm, once again some funny words in the prescript - "Gittith." Sounds like something from the King James times. "If you sinneth, you will gittith some judgment." The Bible dictionary is rather clueless although it tries to cover that up. "An instrument, or else a tune invented in Gath. . . Others take it from garb, "a winepress," being used on occassions of joy like the vintage." Are we back to yesterday's post?

Moving onto to the text. It is a joyous psalm and the source of one of the most often quoted passages even if people don't realize it. "(Psa 8:2 NRS) Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger." God has used the weakest to foil the plots of the enemy.

We are nothing in God's sight and yet God has given us so much -- a world to care for and a relationship with God almighty. Blows the mind! On days when we don't feel like much, when life presses down, remember the God who made everything, loves humans and wants us to rejoice!

Today's Psalm - 99 Wineskins on the Wall

Okay, I haven't even made it past the prescript of the psalm and run across something interesting that sent me surfing the Web.

Psalm 7 indicates it is a "Shiggaion" of David. What the ???? So I pop the dictionary up on Bibleworks and find that it is from the verb "to wander" and that it's like a Greek dithyramb. Been too long since I studied Greek culture so I head for the Web and find reference to dithyrambs being associated with Dionysus. Without even starting to read the page my brain can recall enough about Greek mythology to remember that Dionysus was the Greek God of wine -- real party animal.

(The image is from a company called Impression Games from a presskit of theirs.)

So back to some more search on the web on "shiggaion" and I find a little more honest Bible dictionary. The word is actually from a verb that means to wander around under the influence of drink.

Now the "official" explanation given is that it can refer to a song/poem that is influenced by strong emotion. So to the text to see what it says.

David is feeling persecuted by enemies. (Certainly could have caused him to drink.) He says early on, if I have done anything wrong, God, then you judge me! (Daring God to find wrong with you is not the action of a sober or sane person!) The psalm continues in calling for God to establish the righteous and seek revenge on those who are evil.

Now I will grant you strong emotion (fear, anger, etc) could have been the cause, but is it possible that David also composed this psalm (as well as a few others) with some fruit of the vine in his veins? I think so. No matter what my Baptist friends told me when I was growing up I know Jesus drank and so did almost all his fellow Jews save for a few like John the Baptist who opted to teetotal.

There is one other "shiggiaon" in the Bible. Habakkuk 3. Seems a little less extreme in emotion but you can read at home and make your own judgment.

Caveat: It's been a while since Hebrew so I don't claim scholarship on this post. I do recall when taking Hebrew that there were often disagreements about the roots of words. So I might really be barking up the wrong tree. Pass the wineskin!

Additonal Caveat: Don't show up Sunday with your flask in your pocket and tell folks I inspired you! I will confiscate all such items and empty them before returning them. Don't worry, I will find a good home for what you bring. And no, I don't drink when I write the sermons, although some will no doubt suggest it may improve them.

YOB - The Light's in My Eyes

October 7, 2009
John 12:44-50

Jesus came to shine as a light in the darkness. Light to see in the dark is good. Light to keep from smacking our shines or tumbling into a hole in the ground is good. The ancient world was not bathed in ever present light like we are.

At left is a satellite image of a blackout in 2003 (courtesy of the Earth Institute at Columbia). Note how dark Long Island is. Must have been pretty spooky in the big city that night.

Sudden bright light in a dark room can also be very irritating. Jesus must have seemed at times like an overly bright light shining in the eyes of people. Even his popularity among the common folks was brittle. They didn't care for his talk about sacrifice and crosses.

Some days I feel like the light's in my eyes and some days it's on the path ahead of me. Probably depends on what I am most in need of that day.

YOB - The Inner Struggle

October 6, 2009
Romans 7:9-21

Paul opens up and in so doing reminds us all of the inner battle. We know what's right. But we do what's wrong. Sometimes we even like doing what's wrong. Sometimes we see wrong coming from a mile and way and instead of heading in the other direction, we run headlong for it.

It isn't the law that's the problem. There is a standard of behavior that we know we ought to follow. But doing what benefits us in the short term is so much more enticing and even at times fun!

And with perspective we can often see the choices were not only wrong but self destructive. Most sin has some pretty bad consequences down the road waiting for us somewhere.

Verse 25 reminds us that Christ is the only hope for us sinners. Grace saves and continues to transfer us who would be hopeless otherwise. God is always ready to forgive and heal and help us put our lives back together. Thanks be to God!

Psalm of the Day - Tough Guy Flute Section

Today's psalm is Psalm 5. The prescript says it is a psalm of David written for the flutes. We think flutes and by and large we think light and airy and fun. Sunshine dancing across the hills and Disney animated satyrs.

I suspect ancient flute sections were a tougher breed. This psalm is a cry for help from enemies and a call for God to destroy liars and evildoers. God will bless the righteous but God is going to destroy the liars.

So think more Jethro Tull than the lighter parts of Fantasia. David Carradine always seems to show up with a bamboo flute in his portrayals of Kung Fu masters. He would calmly play it and then peacefully bludgeon someone to death. (I can just see the wheels turn in Ed's mind right now reaching for some rather obvious comments on Carradine.)

I suspect most of the music in biblical times (and we really have little idea what it sounded like) was strong and earthy and passionate. It would have matched the faith of the people.

Psalm of the Day - God is laughing and angry!

I had a Facebook chat recently with a friend about humor and laughter. I cited Psalm 2 when the issue of God arose. In Psalm 2 God is laughing and angry at the same time. It says God laughs in derision or scoffs at the rulers of the world who think they are in charge. The psalmist goes onto to say that the rulers had better kiss God's feet or else!

Now I am sure some commentators would like to see this as a psalm where the writer paints God in altogether too human a form. Surely, God must not scoff at us humans! But why not? We do some pretty stupid stuff. Why wouldn't God scoff at our efforts to control our lives when we do so pridefully and without a hint of humility and acknowledgment that just maybe we might need some help from outside ourselves?

My congregation completed a congregational life survey this spring. One of the questions was about emotions experienced in worship. Do you feel joy, boredom, inspiration, etc? Presbyterians (and our congregation) were fairly low on the awe scale. That's wrapped up with the fear of the Lord cited so often in the Old Testament. Part of the burden for that has to fall to us worship leaders. Maybe we don't do enough to remind people God is in charge and we really, really, really need to kiss his feet in a completely respectful, we love you with all we have sort of way.

Today's YOB - Big Claims!

Our congregation gave our members and friends a booklet at the beginning of the year with passages for every day of the year -- "Year with the Bible." That got renamed in my mind to Year of the Bible because we used something by that name a couple of years ago and I am getting old and confusing things. Just to add laziness to the picture I sometimes refer to it as YOB.

Our church has a Facebook group where I post comments 3 or so times a week about a reading. So why not get double duty

Today's YOB - Psalm 26

October 2, 2009
Psalm 26

This is another psalm of David. He claims he walked with integrity and has always trusted God. He has been faithful. Hmm, David couldn't have always said this. He didn't always walk with integrity and faithfulness. There is the whole Bathsheba cycle and some serious mistakes as a father. Perhaps he wrote this psalm before those incidents. Or perhaps he wrote them afterward and really understands how God forgiveness works. Once you have confessed and received God's grace and practiced true repentance -- asked God for helping in fixing the mess and following God's guidance, then you really truly are forgiven. No need to beat yourself up again. Now you can stand before God and I say, "I am faithful."

Whose Sneeking Up Behind Me?

The psalmists understood paranoid thinking. One might say they even wrote the book on it. (Yes, bad joke.) Take Psalm 31. It is credited to David. David spent several years on the run from various powerful people. His father-in-law Saul wanted to kill him. So he bolted to an enemy country to try to live there. Claimed he had gone over to the other side. Made a habit of raiding villages of that very country and being sure to not leave any witnesses. (Yes, it's bloody and horrible but that was the world David lived in.) Course those kinds of secrets don't stay secret for ever so he had to take his men and run again. In one king's court he feigned madness to give everyone a laugh and to avoid being thrust through by a sword or spear.

So when David writes a song and says, "For I hear the whispering of many -- terror all around! -- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life," it's for good reason. Paranoid thinking became a survival instinct.

Some still live in that kind of fear -- victims of domestic violence, those in warn torn areas. And sometimes that kind of fear speaks to a fear of the demons that lurk on the inside. For some they are overwhelming strong and they need plenty of outside help.

The good news in the psalms is that deliverance in one form or another always comes. So take heart when it seems the enemies surround. Get help if you need it. Get out of your current circumstance if need be. And be sure you will find a lament in the psalms that matches your mood. God doesn't mind the prays of fearful and even paranoid.

Bargaining with God

Ever notice how often people bargain with God when they pray? It happens all the time in the Bible. In Psalm 30, David points out to God that what good will do for God to let him die? No one can praise from the grave. Moses told God I can't speak so God gave him Aaron. Abraham bargained for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to be spared if enough righteous people could be found. Even Jesus prayed if possible for the crucifixion to be avoided if at all possible.

I think God lets us bargain to give us room to at least seem like we have choice. Whether we do or don't actually have a choice is a question that has occupied theologians and philosophers. God gives us leeway and I think even appreciates a little bit of back and forth.

I can't help but think of bargaining with God without thinking of the movie The End. In it Burt Reynolds tries suicide (he mistakenly thinks he has a fatal disease) by swimming out to sea. He has a change of heart and begins bargaining with God. His first offer to God to save him is extravagant -- give everything away to the poor, etc. As he gets closer to shore the offers begin to go down until he stumbles out on the shore and basically is offering nothing of consequence to God.

Now that's probably not a good way to bargain with God. But if you do find yourself praying to God and bargaining enters your prayer life, take a moment to take stock of what you offering and why you are offering it. Maybe in that moment you will learn more about yourself and what you value in life. You might learn something about yourself which is one of the true powerful moments that can happen in prayer.

Stormy Weather

I am back to blogging after a bit of a break -- no good reasons other than the every present press of life and sometimes, something has to give.

I have been reading five psalms a 5 lately for personal devotions. Take the day of the month and start their then add 30 four times to find the next psalm. Today is September 29 so the psalms would be 29, 59, 89, and 149. Oops, you will say, he skipped 119. Only attempt 119 on the 31st of the month by itself.

Okay so I was reading Psalm 29 and found the writer (David is given credit) really liked storms. Where others saw destruction, he saw God' s raw power at work. Now we might be tempted to say, "Well sure, David safely protected in your solid palace, why wouldn't you feel safe?" But David spent plenty of time in the field -- shepherd, soldier, outlaw on the run -- living in outside circumstances. I would rather think he was inspired by those times to write this.

Certainly lives are touched in sad and terrible ways by storms, but plenty of folks come out of those experiences and create wonderful outcomes. Looking for God's grace in the storms is probably one of the best ways to cope with devastation. What good can come out of this stormy weather?

If storms are blowing in your life today, I hope you find shelter and I hope and pray you can see a bit of God's power in the midst of the struggle.

Buzzed by a Hummingbird

I was sitting on the front porch on Monday morning reading the newspaper. Suddenly I heard a loud buzzing sound within inches of my left ear. I thought a cicada had found its way near my head and I brushed my hand a couple of times back and forth near my head. I'm glad I didn't swing wildly, because after a few more seconds of buzzing a hummingbird flew away.

Poor bird, confusing my head with a flower -- that's the first and no doubt the last time that will happen! More likely, he/she was eying the reflection in the window right behind my head.

Hummingbirds are beautiful little birds. I have enjoyed seeing them this year at my wife's hanging baskets on our back porch taking a drink from a flower and then moving onto the next one. According to a couple of websites, these birds have to eat all day to keep up the energy needed to keep those wings moving. These birds are native to North America and the native Americans have plenty of myths about these beautiful little creatures, all very positive and uplifting.

I like to think of that visitor as a reminder of the grace of God in my life. I wonder how many times we think, "Now what is that humming, that intrusion, that interruption?" when all along it's God visiting us with a little grace. Perhaps next time if it's a cicada, I might even be able to think of that as a visit of grace as well.

Fine Lines

The text for this Sunday I am preaching comes from Ephesians. "Be angry but do not sin," we are admonished. It tells us there is a point where anger is allowed, acceptable, perhaps even a good thing at times. And there is a point where anger has crossed into sin, where we have made room for the devil to use the writer's phrase. Where is that line? Sometimes, particularly when we come close to the edge of it, it is a fine line.

If I am going to be a bearer of God's grace in the world, I have to learn where that fine line is. I have to learn how to be angry, but not sin, not cross the line. The closer to home the issue that stirs the anger is, the harder it is to stay on this side of that line. If the source of anger is family -- threat to my family or a conflict within the family -- it is very hard to stay this side of the line. Dorothy was right, there is no place like home, especially when it comes to stirring the passions! First, knowing the source of the anger is important. Identify what is causing the anger in your life.

There is a time component built into the warning in Ephesians. "Don't let the sun go down on your anger." While an attempt to handle this literally -- take care of the conflict that day -- is ideal, the greater message here is that don't hold the anger and brood on it. Anger taken into the heart and entertained like a guest will eventually push any of us across the line. Entertaining anger in your heart makes room for another guest -- the devil.

Seek reconciliation quickly. Seek redress. If none is available turn to God and seek the redress there. Yell at God if need be. Let God know how angry you are. If you doubt that's acceptable, read a few of the psalms where the writers rail against God for all in the injustice in the world. In so doing we can stay this side of that fine line.

Do this as often as is necessary. Anger doesn't usually subside in one treatment if the hurt is deep. Let God know about the anger that remains and seek the Spirit's comfort in being angry but not sinning. Remember your anger is not the enemy. Your anger is part of what you are and part of who God loves.

The space in between the heartbeats

I remember reading in a book about the physics of the universe that one mathematical theory for the universe leaves open the possibility that creation is destroyed and recreated at each moment. Don't know if I got that interpretation quite right or not, but it does make one think about the grace of God that sustains creation from moment to moment. Our lives are lived heartbeat to heartbeat. There is grace that our hearts continue to beat and we know the stark reality of how short life can be when a friend or family members suffers a heartbeat and the beating stops. All this sets me to thinking about the grace in our lives in between those heart-beating moments, those times of silence of waiting for the next movement of life, those times when the creation ceases to exist and we are awaiting again to see if the universe will be recreated.

The times of silence are the hardest. Many folks have found themselves wrapped in those moments of silence waiting for life to begin anew. In hospital rooms. In courtrooms. In the midst of divorce. When a career is lost. Watching someone we love suffer deeply. And we ask the question of God, when will this moment of silence cease and we can hear laughter and the other wonderful sounds of creation again. God, when will the heartbeats begin again?

I can't help but think of moments of silence in the scriptures: Noah in the ark waiting for the water to subside; Adam and Eve in the garden both hoping for and hoping against the coming of God in the evening after they had sinned; the silence of the exile in Babylon awaiting God's call back to the Holy Land; the silence of those imprisoned for their faith; and of course the silence of the tomb after they buried Jesus. One has to think that even the angels wondered what exactly God had in mind.

In those long moments of silence, those moments in between the heartbeats, those times when the universe seems to have been destroyed and we await its creation anew, even then God is present. We often don't recognize his presence at the moment of destruction, but only after we look back from the newly created world and understand God was indeed there in the silence. After all Genesis 1 tells us that before creation in the beginning when there was chaos God's presence hovered there. May God's Spirit hover today over those who are living in between the heartbeats.

Beefy cheesy glory

There it was in huge letters on the billboard -- an advertisement for the world's most famous and largest hamburger chain. Hmm, they have used a theological word to advertise a cheeseburger. All sorts of thoughts spring to mind.

First, it's not kosher. Never beef and cheese together. Okay, but then I am a Protestant Christian and have eaten plenty of cheeseburgers and even (sadly I must admit this) some from this particular establishment.

One of the definitions of glory according to dictionary.com is "a state of absolute happiness, gratification, contentment"which I guess is what the advertising exec was thinking. We could argue that from a culinary point of view -- I am no chef and I think I have made a better cheeseburger at times.

I can't help but think about scriptures passages that warn us to be careful of worshiping our appetites. Satisfaction can be achieved in the short run from a good meal, but absolute happiness?

I think I would like to see the word saved for other uses. The glory of nature which speaks of the beauty of nature and can also point us to the creator. Going to my glory -- a description of our passage into the eternal and loving arms of God. Another good use -- a similar word to praise -- giving God the glory. And then the final and ultimate definition of glory which gathers up so many of the other uses - fulfillment, beauty, awesomeness, eternity, and all the other positives of glory -- the glory of God.

Ezekiel and Isaiah saw visions of it. John in Revelation witnessed it. God's glory shown through Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. Leave the cheeseburgers out please.

Happy Birthday, John Calvin!

Five hundred years ago today in France a little tike named John Calvin was born! He was of course called Jean by his parents who didn't realize the extraordinary life that awaited this little one.

For me, John's enduring legacy is to remind us of the overwhelming grace of God. John saw humans as sinful creatures. He did see the wonderful imprint of the creator upon us, but he saw that sin marred that reflection of God to the point that without intervention from God we were lost. Amazingly God chose to intervene! God's grace made it possible for us to accept the gracious offer of salvation that God gave in his son Jesus. Humans were sinful, but God's grace was greater!

Now John is probably best known for his emphasis on predestination, although I think he would be appalled by some of the ways this idea was used by his successors. In his Institutes, he spoke of this doctrine in the context of why we didn't need to spend all our time worrying about whether we were saved or not -- predestination was for him an assurance which lifted the burden of worry that was so common for the day. I think he would be horrified to think anyone would use is as a excuse for a casual approach to the faith or a way to dismiss the likelihood that others would see the kingdom.

Thank you John C, for talking so much about God's grace. Thank you so much for speaking of the actions of the Holy Spirit in our lives that make that grace more and more understandable to us each day. Thank you for reminding us that God is in charge!

Happy Birthday, John Calvin!

Why me? Why not me?

Have you ever wished you weren't in a position that seemed thrust upon you? Have you ever looked with jealously on someone else who seemed to have a good situation seemingly not of their choosing?

I just read today's daily lectionary selection of the annointing of David by the prophet Samuel to be king of Israel. David was picked for the job of king by God. It doesn't get much more thrust upon you than that. The first group that was not doubt jealous was his brothers, all older, and all passed over for the job. When we read this part of the story of David or the part where he kills Goliath, we all want to be David. When his star was rising and he was gaining popularity, it's easy to look upon someone like him and say to ourelves, "Why can't my life be like that?"

But being chosen for positions of responsibility, great or small, carry a price. Chosen people attract folks looking for influence and power themselves. That can play out well and sometimes it can play out it in violent and tragic ways. Abner and Joab found themselves in David's orbit and the story contains tragedy from their collisions.

Chosen people also carry within themselves seeds that bear good and bad fruit. David was popular and often made wise choices. But he also make some sad and tragic choices that caused him and others deep personal pain. The infedelity with Bathsheeba is one such case and there were others.

Michael Jackson was in a sense chosen. He began his career and became popular because of his family. Most folks fell in love with the 10 year old who could sing and dance. Michael also used his gifts to build his own very successful career, breaking free from his family's control. Sadly he also carried within himself seeds that bore fruit that caused tragedy.

When providence or fate chooses us (depending upon your view of life), we need to remember that in all those cases we are still flawed creatures who need God's grace working in our lives. We need God's grace to help us become the best we can be, to help us avoid the worst of what we can be, and to help us pick up the pieces when our choices or the choices of others cause damage.

Yes Man

I just saw the Jim Carrey movie this evening Yes Man on DVD. Carrey is a lonely man drawn in on himself after a divorce. He is losing his friends, his job is dead ending, and he has no romance in his life. He becomes so desperate that he goes to a self-help seminar where the guru convinces him to say yes to all the opportunities that life gives him. Hilarity, of course, ensues and he winds up succeeding in life, making many new friends, and finding love again. (BTW, parents this is PG-13, but you might not want to even let your 13 year old watch it. There is one segment that could have been dropped/altered without damage to the plot.)

Carrey's character came to realize that yes to every opporutnity wasn't healthy or necessary to have a fulfilling life. He could pick the yes and no moments in life. But the premise got me thinking about the offers we get in our lives from God, that we turn down. God gives us so many chances to learn, to grow, to serve, to love. Too often fear, selfishness, or pride prevent us from saying yes.

"Drop your nets," Jesus said, "and follow me." The disciples did have to give up something, careers, to learn something new, a new kind of fishing. Just a few verses later after Peter has answered this call, Jesus visits his home and finds Peter's mother-in-law was ill. Jesus heals here. When we say yes to Jesus' commands, what he gives in return is always far greater than what we sacrficed.

So let's see what opportunity God will send my way next and I pray I have the openness I need to say yes!

Grace Transportation, Inc.

I passed a truck on the interstate yesterday with the company name Grace Transportation, Inc. This is a Canadian trucking company. But what a great idea for a church name. "Welcome to Grace Transportation. We don't make grace, but we do deliver it!"

The universal message of the reformation was that we needed God's grace in our lives. We can't achieve it through works, worry, penitence, or effort. It is God's free gift. But once we have it, we can share it with others.

God forgives me. I can forgive others. God heals a pain, physical or spiritual, in my life. I can now turn to someone else and help them with their pain. God blesses my with a financial blessing. I can share some or all of that with others. I am the carrier, the transport, the big truck or small car on the highway taking a load of grace and sharing it with others.

A truck with a load is meant to make a delivery. No one would hire a trucking company that didn't make deliveries. God didn't save us, didn't give us grace for us to simply travel through life never stopping to give it to others. Make as many deliveries as possible!

Blogging Grace

As I make this first entry, the news is being announced of Bernie Madoff's 150 year prison sentence. It is both the worst and best of times to consider the topic of grace. Evidently the judge that passed the Madoff sentence received no letters of support for him. No one wants to see him receive any kind of grace.

Yet his serious sins (theft, false witness, idolatry of money, to name just a few) are reminders that humanity is far less than perfect. And we, the far less then perfect, need God's grace.

Grace should not be confused with getting off the hook. If grace is ever to find Madoff, he will walk the path of repentance. But grace does offer a hand, guidance in walking that path. Jesus tells the story of a man who owed a large amount of money but begged for forgiveness. The gracious owner of the debt at first let him off the hook, until he discovered the big debtor left and tried to collect money owed him from a small debtor.

Grace working in our lives should change our hearts. If it doesn't then we have falsely claimed that we are accepting God's grace. Grace changes us and changes the world!