The Tongue and the Bridle

This weekend's Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) text included a verse from James that really got me pondering:

"If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless."  (James 1:26, NRSV)

Our tongues too frequently betray us, getting us in all sorts of trouble. From gossip to slander; even words intended for good sometimes cause harm to others. James speaks at length about the problem of taming out tongues in chapter 3. And many verses in Proverbs talk of the ways our tongues fail us.

"A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin." (Proverbs 26:28, NIV)

But there is hope; Proverbs also provide great wisdom on how to properly use on our tongues. Namely, we must make every effort to use it only for good - to speak well of others, to offer compassionate, healing words, and to express our love for one another.

"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18, NIV)

And when we feel we cannot use it for good, we simply must use the bridle (and any other control we may have) in order to restrain it.

"Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity."  (Proverbs 21:23, NIV)

How is your tongue doing? Are you able to use it wisely? Are you able to control it? When we struggle - and we will struggle - we will do well to consider God's word on the matter. We can review James' thoughts and read (and re-read) the wisdom of Proverbs. The more we use our tongue to praise God, the less we can use it for ill.

Gracious God - Your word makes it clear that you know all too well how we struggle to control our tongues. But we thank you for those words that offer encouragement and wisdom to aid in our efforts. We pray that each one of us honors you with our words, for when we are doing so, we cannot also be using our tongues for harm. May your Spirit continue to guide us in our efforts. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

7 (or 8) Habits of Highly Effective Christians

If you browse the shelves of your local library or bookstore, you are sure to find plenty of books describing how to be a better Christian - from Bible study aids to commentaries, from books on spiritual disciplines to prayer journals, from guides to healthier living to "how to" books on serving others. There are many and various ways to grow in Christ.

Nearing the end of a transition period at my church, our interim pastor (Pastor Bob), following the pattern of Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," offered the following habits of a growing follower of Jesus Christ:

• Worship Weekly - everyone worships something or some body; Christians worship God!
• Believe Boldly - faith in God can stand the tests and trials of life.
• Study Seriously - search for God's truth in the One who is "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6, NIV)
• Pray Persistently - God is available but not on demand. Don't give up on God's love for you.
• Care Compassionately - people are not things and need the compassion of Christ as we do.
• Give Generously - generosity if beautiful and reflects the very nature of God's love to us.
• Witness Winsomely - live faith in an attractive, genuine manner.

As I visited with Pastor Bob about his list, I pointed out that Stephen Covey had later written a follow up to his original "seven habits". In that same fashion, I offered (and share with you now) an eighth habit - one that I believe is both implied in the list above and in the way Pastor Bob lives.

• Relate Rightly - we are one body, one community in Christ; as such, it is important that we revere God, trust in the salvation earned for us by Jesus, listen to the Holy Spirit's prompting, and treat one another as cherished siblings, each a child of God.

With all due respect for Pastor Bob's well conceived list, I believe that if we are truly "relating rightly" to God and one another, we will indeed have made a habit of the seven items on his list. If we are to relate rightly with God, we must first know Him through serious study and persistent prayer. Once we have even an inkling of who God is, relating rightly to Him will entail weekly (even daily) worship. When we understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us, we will most certainly believe boldly. And having established a firm foundation with God, our right relationship to others will certainly include compassion, generosity, and witness to all those around us.

In coming weeks, I hope to share a few more of my own thoughts on each of these habits. (I may also consider Stephen Covey's habits alongside.) For now, I hope this list whets your appetite and has you pondering how you might grow in your faith. God's peace!

- - - - -

Note: The premise of this post came in early June from an interim pastor serving my congregation. As he was preparing the way for our newly called pastor, Pastor Bob wanted to answer our question, "What now?" In doing so, he offered his "Seven Habits of a Growing Follower of Jesus Christ." In light of the recent passing of Stephen Covey, it seemed a most fitting tribute to share this list now. I was "raised" in the business world on Mr. Covey's habits and I greatly appreciate Pastor Bob's own list. My thanks to Pastor Bob and God's peace to the family of Stephen Covey.

Who is to blame for the death of John the Baptist?

"...for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man..." (Mark 6:20, NRSV)

This past weekend's Revised Common Lectionary text included the story of the beheading of John the Baptist from the Gospel of Mark (chapter 6, verses 14-29). My Master Builder's Bible for Men asks (among other things) the following question regarding this text: "Of the people involved in the death of John the Baptist, who do you hold most responsible?"

If you don't know the full story, please read the passage from Mark before continuing here.

Before answering the question, a caution is necessary. The form of this question sets us up to make a value judgment - who is worst - when Paul and Jesus specifically caution against such things. In Romans 3:22-23, Paul tells us "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...." In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that anger is subject to the same judgment as murder. The point is, in God's eyes, no one sin is worse than another; we all fall short of God's desire for our lives. So please do not allow such questions to bait you into believing that you will be alright as long as you are better than most.

I believe, however, that the question is worth considering for another reason. It aims us at a key principle for living the Christian life. Who is our ultimate authority? If we review each character and consider who is their ultimate authority, we can see a relationship between one's authority and their responsibility. To whom does each person answer?

In order to consider who is most responsible, we must first clarify who could be assumed to be responsible. The primary players are: John, Herod, Herodias, Herodias' daughter, and the soldier of the guard.

John: In the sense of being a sinner (like us all), John could bear some responsibility for his own death. The wages of sin are death, so on one hand, except for the saving grace of Jesus Christ, John would one day die as a result of his sins. On the other hand, at this particular moment, John is merely sharing the truth revealed to him by God. It is this truth that aggravates Herodias and causes her to hold a grudge. John is completely unconcerned with what Herodias or Herod (or anyone else) cares to think; his ultimate authority is God alone and he is sharing God's truth.

Herodias' daughter: While the Bible text does not provide much detail - not even a name - for this daughter, some other ancient texts offer some potential detail. Flavius Josephus's Jewish Antiquities gives her name as Salome. As her age is not given it is difficult to decide between various depictions of her that range for cold and calculating to lighthearted and foolish. These details turn out to be insignificant to the question at hand. When given the opportunity to ask Herod for anything she desired, up to and including half his kingdom, she turned to her ultimate authority - her mother, Herodias.

Herodias: Herodias bore a grudge against John simply because John spoke God's truth about her relationship with Herod after she apparently left Herod's brother Philip. This anger and resentment led her to suggest that her daughter ask for John's head. (What kind of mother puts her daughter in such a position? Even if Salome is the cold, calculating femme fatale, John's head is of no real value to her. If Herodias had even her daughter's interest in mind, she may have chosen another option.) Herodias' ultimate authority appears to be herself. She, more than any other person in this story, desired John's death. And as such it would be simple to hold her most responsible. But let's consider the remaining players.

Soldier of the guard: Having committed the actual beheading, this soldier certainly bears some responsibility. However, as with all soldiers, they follow a chain of command. In this case, the soldier's ultimate authority was Herod. Perhaps the soldier could have refused, but in so doing would most likely have lost his own life and not saved John's. Herod would simply have found a more loyal soldier.

Herod: That brings us to Herod. Of all the people involved, many of whom bear some responsibility, Herod fell victim to his ultimate authority. Even though he knew John to be "a righteous and holy man" and was grieved at the request, he order John's killing out of "regard for his oaths and for the guests." He was more concerned with what others thought than with what he knew was right.

So, who do I hold most responsible? I would have to say Herod, though he certainly was not alone in this responsibility. Except for John, every person in this story chose an ultimate authority other than God. Consequently, every one of them sinned and fell short of God's glory.

So, who is your ultimate authority? Will you, like John, share God's truth regardless of the consequences? Or will you be more concerned with another authority?

Lord, I pray that each one of us recognizes you as our ultimate authority. Strengthen us that we might share your truth regardless of personal consequences and give us courage to stand up against those who would desire to be our authority. In Jesus name. Amen.

All Scripture Worth Studying

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)

There are countless ways to go about studying the Bible. We can study book by book or study by topic. We can study alone or with a group. (See the note at the bottom of this entry for my preference.) There are various books on different methodologies for study. All of these can be valuable and useful. But I would like to talk about a couple of small notions that I've found helpful - repetition and the anti-pattern.

Regardless of any method we may choose, we must be willing to read carefully. Really pore over the words. Try to understand them in the context that they occurred then determine how they might be applied today. As we do this, we will see that the text of the Bible is often filled with patterns, repetitions of words or concepts. These repeated concepts are always important.

Consider the way you learn to do most anything. You see it done, you try it, and "if at first you don't succeed, you try, try again." Repetition. If God felt compelled to tell us something more than once, it stands to reason it is very important.

But the technique of particularly interest to me is looking for the anti-pattern. Just when you think you understand the repetition and have that urge to skip ahead, keep reading - do not skip ahead. (Do not pass Go or collect $200.) Just as there are frequent patterns in the Bible, there are frequent anti-patterns. And just as the repeated bits are very important, so too are the subtle differences.

I'll provide a few examples and leave it as an exercise for the reader to find more. First, consider Genesis chapter 1. Depending somewhat on your text, you'll find that near the complete of His creation work for days three, four, and five, God sees that "it was good." (I won't try to explain why day one and perhaps day two didn't have a similar message.) But at the end of day six, when all creation is essentially done, God sees that "it was very good." Why was this sixth day given more emphasis? Some would suggest that this is because the sixth day was the day mankind was made in God's image. Or perhaps, as is suggested in verse 31, God is simply surveying the whole of creation, and is commenting about the relationship of all the parts. Each was good, but together it is very good. A specific answer is not the point of this entry; what is important is that we pause to ponder why the pattern changed. There is something important about the break in pattern.

A second example is found just later in Genesis. Chapter 5 lists Adam's descendants to Noah. We know what important roles Adam and Noah each played. But this list goes on for 32 verses telling us who fathered who and how long each lived. The basic pattern is roughly this: When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh; after fathering Enosh, Seth lived another 807 years and had other sons and daughters. In all, Seth lived 912 years "and he died." But in verse 24, that pattern is broken. "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." Enoch didn't die; God simply took him. For more on Enoch, read Hebrews chapter 11 and Jude.

My final example can be found in the genealogy of Matthew 1. If you know much about ancient genealogy (and, frankly, genealogy in general), it is very paternal in nature. It was particularly important to know who one's father and grandfather were. It is tempting to breeze past Matthew's genealogy as "just a list of names" and assume that we will or have read details of the important ones elsewhere. We start with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and conclude with Jacob, Joseph, and Jesus. But among all those names, a few should stand out (as the anti-pattern): Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah's wife, and Mary. Significant women in the genealogy of Jesus. As all scripture is useful for teaching, it is worth your time to learn more about these women.

The point here, so aptly described in 1 Timothy, is that all scripture is worthy of our study. God breathed each and every word for a reason. Sometimes He chose to make the importance known through repetition; other times He broke a pattern. Look for these things in your studies. (As you find others, share them in the comments.) May your studies be as fruitful as God desires.

- - - - -

Note: I highly recommend a small group setting where each member first studies independently and then shares within the group. This allows each member to work through the study themselves but the group ensures that no individual runs too far astray. I've been a member of my local Bible Study Fellowship International (BSF) class for several years. It's a solid program with over 1,000 classes world-wide. To learn more or to find a class near you check out their website.

The Joy of a Father

Following the death of my grandmother, my dad and I set out on a bittersweet journey to return some family mementos to his uncle in California. On the second day of our trip, Dad asked me if I had ever been to the Grand Canyon. When I said I had not, Dad declared that a side trip was in order. He couldn't allow me to come this near without seeing this natural wonder.

As we made our way from Interstate 40 to the south rim of the canyon, it became overcast – almost dreary. Upon arriving at Grand Canyon National Park, the overcast had turned to a light mist and…fog! My dad’s disappointment was palpable. He wanted so much for me to see the canyon in its entire splendor. But with the fog, the best I could do was to look down the near wall from an overlook. Though I could perceive its depth, I could not see the canyon floor nor could I begin to see across it.

I tried to cheer my dad with hollow-feeling words of “It’s OK, Dad. It’s the thought that counts.” I did appreciate his effort, but was equally disappointed. I vowed to return some day, but knew it wouldn’t be the same. Dad suggested that we stick around a while longer. If the fog would clear even a little, I might get some sense of the canyon’s spectacle. Little could either of us have known how that perseverance would pay off.

Sometime later – it may have only been minutes, but the disappointment made it seem like hours – a gentle breeze began to blow. As it blew down through the canyon, the fog began to shift. It lifted right out of the canyon to reveal a wonderful, sun-drenched view. This is a moment I will never forget.

Many will have seen the Grand Canyon. Some may even see fog rise like a theatre curtain to reveal the beauty of the canyon more slowly. But only my dad and I will share our pure joy in that moment – a father being able to “deliver” one of the world’s treasures to his son. He was able to witness my first viewing of the Grand Canyon. And, just as the fog lifted to reveal the canyon, I got to witness my dad’s disappointment lift to reveal his joy.

[Originally posted on FaithWriters.com - January 2008.]

Freedom Through Dependence

My latest devotion - on the topics of freedom and dependence - can be found on Knitted Together By God (formerly Devotionals for Bloggers). While you're there, read some of the other devotions and check out the author pages to find other places these fine writers share God's word.

Read It Again

The Bible is not a "one and done" read. Scripture provides unique meaning in each new season of life.

Note: This thought is an adaptation of a portion of the Wisdom Hunters devotional "A Grandmother's Gift" dated 7 May 2012.

Christ is Risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
May God's peace and blessings be with all of you on this most joyous occasion.

Blessed Lord - Thank you for you sacrificial servitude. Remind us throughout the year what you first did for us and help us to show our love for one another through service. Amen.

And Now We Wait...

Christ has died. He has been buried. And now we wait. Each year, between Lent and Easter Sunday, we commemorate this state of waiting during the Tridiuum, or the three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The Tridiuum is the most sacred time in the church year, marked by intense somberness and mystery surrounding the Lord's Passion and death.

In my church, Maundy (from the Latin mandatum meaning "mandate" or "command") Thursday is marked by a stripping of the altar. This is a symbolic remembrance of Christ's stripping and humiliation at the hands of the Roman soldiers. At the end of the service, we remove all ornamentation - paraments, banners, candles, the Bible, the processional cross, etc. - from the altar area of the sanctuary. As each item is removed, lights are turned off. Once all the items have been removed, our cross is draped with a black cloth, the only lights remaining are to light the cross. We're left to sit in silence, pondering Jesus suffering and humiliation.

Good Friday brings a Tenebrae (Latin for "darkness" or "of shadows") service. This service is a continuation of the Maundy Thursday service. It consists of a series of readings and further extinguishing of light - the light of a few candles. This gradual darkening symbolizes the flight of the disciples, the dark hatred of Jesus' enemies, the resentment of the world, and finally, Jesus utter isolation on the cross. At the end, we're left with a single lit candle - the Christ candle - pointing us ahead to a new dawn on Easter morning. Again, the service ends in silence with time for personal reflection and prayer - this time on Jesus' death.

And now we wait... As with the disciples in Jesus' day, we are left to ponder a life without Jesus. But we know His resurrection is just a day away. We place our faith in His overcoming death and escaping the tomb. As we wait, we pray. At my church we have a continuous prayer vigil - beginning after the Friday Tenebrae service and continuing until the Easter sunrise service. Members take shifts (30 minutes, an hour, perhaps more) praying in the sanctuary.

I've just returned from my turn at the prayer vigil - each year it is one of my most powerful experiences. Sitting or kneeling in a semi-dark sanctuary, the altar barren except for the draped cross, you are left alone at the foot of the cross to ponder what it means to you. Being quite tired, I found myself thinking of the disciples in the garden who could not stay awake a single hour while Jesus prayed. Physically, I remained awake, but mentally I could not. My mind drifted; I didn't seem to be able to focus. I thought of Jesus' death and then I thought of my family. I considered Jesus coming resurrection and then drifted off to work. I tried meditating on Psalm 46, verse 10 - "Be still and know that I am God." I read scripture in an attempt to regain my focus on God. But even as I read, my mind would drift. In the end, I was little different than the disciples; I just didn't seem able to fully focus for even one hour.

But perhaps something important happened in this mental drifting. Perhaps God was bringing to mind those with whom I need to share, those for whom I should pray. In its wandering, my mind thought of Christ and of others. I can't be sure whether God was directing my thoughts, but I can certainly follow through as I wait for Him.

Christ has died. And now we wait. For we know in a few short hours we will find an empty tomb. Christ will rise. And He will come again.

Gracious God - In this time of waiting we ponder all that you have done for us. You sacrificed your one and only Son on our behalf. He has died, but He overcomes death. Through His coming resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life. Send us your Holy Spirit so that as our minds wander, you might direct it toward those who need us most. Let us boldly share your good news with each person who comes to mind. We ask these things in the name of the one who is to rise, Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. Amen.

-----

Note: Portions of this piece have been adapted from information in my church worship bulletins from this Holy Week.

Shout Outs and Holy Week Devotions

Tonight I'm taking a moment to give "shout outs" (perhaps that should be "shouts out") to several fellow bloggers. These are not only blogs that I follow and read; they are blogs that share something in common with Pew Ponderings (in my humble opinion). If you enjoy what you read here on Pew Ponderings, you may also enjoy these blogs. They are unique unto themselves, but something about each struck a chord with me.

The first is "Devotionals for Bloggers" owned by Christine M. Miller-Ramey. Christine enjoys sharing her faith through the written word. With a desire to have a devotion for each day, Christine has gathered other writers to help fill one or more days per month. I feel privileged to be included among this group. If all goes well and I fulfill my obligations, you'll be able to read a devotion from me on the 5th of each month. But don't stop there! Read the encouraging words of the other writers as well. It's a diverse group with a variety of life experiences and perspectives - a joy to have that variety with each new day. So, this "shout out" goes to Christine and each of my fellow writers at Devotionals for Bloggers.

For Holy Week, because the 5th fell on Maundy Thursday, Christine accepted my offer to write a series of devotions. So this week, you will find three devotions - "The Last Supper" on Thursday, 5 April; "Sacrifice of the Forsaken" on Friday, 6 April; and "Christ is Risen" on Easter Sunday, 8 April. My heartfelt thanks go out to Christine for giving me the opportunity to write this series and sharing in the monthly writing for her site.

In addition to the blog itself, you can follow Christine and "Devotionals for Bloggers" on Facebook and Pinterest.

My second "shout out" goes to Marti Pieper and her "Read. Write. Pray." As I read about her love for reading, passion for writing, and thanks to God for the gift of each, I felt a certain kindred connection. As the home page of her website suggests, she hopes to "share [her] passion for reading and books of many kinds; for the craft and business of writing; and for prayer, the living expression of relationship with an all-loving, all-powerful God." Not only is there good reading available on Ms. Pieper's site and blog, they are very well done sites. (As a software developer specializing in professional web sites, I appreciate a clean, well-designed site.)

After taking a moment to read here, please take the time to support these other fine bloggers.

God Saves Red Green

A bit of humor to lighten the somber mood as we head into Holy Week. I'm a big fan of The Red Green Show on public television. At the end of each show, it's "meetin' time" and all the men of Possum Lodge gather, in part, to recite the man's prayer. While the lodge members' prayer may epitomize the plight of modern men, I've morphed the original prayer into something a bit more positive. (The words of the original man's prayer are in bold.)

I'm a man

But I can change

If I have to

I guess

 

I'm a man - You are God
But I can change - with Your help
If I have to - because I must
I guess - I am certain.

You are God
And with Your help
I can be changed
to be more godly
because I must
I am certain.

Lord - With your help, I am certain that we can each be changed to the men you want us to be. You can touch our hearts until there is no need to guess. Thank you for having provided the perfect example. Amen.

His Crown For My Soul

"When I was sinking down, beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul." (from the hymn "What Wondrous Love Is This")

If you're not familiar with the hymn, this YouTube video provides a wonderfully original arrangement.

I recall a conversation with a wise pastor who recognized that the scripture readings and sermon may not be what reaches a specific worshiper on any given Sunday. Some Sundays we may be "touched" by a prayer, the sharing of peace, a moment of silence, lighting, or perhaps a hymn.

This past weekend, I had just such an experience. Had I not jotted a few notes on my bulletin, I would have little recollection of the sermon. (Sorry Pastor!) But I remembered the above line from our opening hymn.

In so very few words, the hymn writer paints a glorious picture. There we are sinking, one might imagine, under the weight of our own busyness, our broken relationships, our sins. Sinking, I imagine, in sand because we've not based our lives on the firm foundation, our rock.

God the Father frowns on what he sees. This version of the hymn calls it a "righteous" frown; others refer to it as an "awful" frown. Either way, we are compelled to recognize God's deep disappointment and sadness. It is indeed an awful thing for us to face God's holiness. Like Peter, after just a step or two on the water, we are scared and sinking.

Thankfully the story does not end there. Just as we are about to go under, there is Jesus, setting aside his crown, rolling up his sleeves, and holding out a scarred hand to us. All we need to do is reach out, take his hand, accept his help. He lifts us up! He saves our souls!

On every Sunday, every day, Jesus reaches out to us. It may not be through scripture or a sermon; it may be a hymn or a friend that reaches you. Look for his presence, listen for him, and when he offers his help, reach for it. He lays aside his crown for us. What will we lay aside for him?

*****

While most devotions are based on a piece of scripture, this experience helped me to realize that a devotion can also be based on a hymn, which was almost certainly based on scripture itself. God has many ways to reach us.

Will God Answer My Prayer?

I've heard it said that God always answers our prayers, but sometimes His answer is "No" or "Not yet." This sounds good and may even be true most of the time. I've probably even provided such an answer to others. But I need to correct that and be very clear here - God does not answer every prayer.

We certainly want to believe that God will answer our prayers. But can we be assured that He will? If we pray within His will, He will undoubtedly answer. Consider one of my favorite passages of scripture:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

So, why then do I suggest that God will not answer every prayer? When answering this question, let's consider two groups - first unbelievers and then believers.

Some may question whether an unbeliever ever really prays. Fair question, but if you ponder this for a while perhaps you'll recall someone saying "If God really exists, He'll do _____ for me." This is, in essence, a malformed prayer. We might instead rephrase it as "God, if it is within your will, please help me with _____." It is not for us to test God, but to ask Him. But there is a prayer from the unbeliever that God will answer. Wayne Mack, in Reaching the Ear of God, writes, "Jesus was not teaching unbelievers to pray because the only prayer that God will hear from unbelievers is a prayer for mercy and forgiveness." This may sound harsh, but what more do any of us need than God's mercy and forgiveness?

Perhaps more surprising, however, is the notion that God will not answer all prayers of the believer either. What makes me so sure? Consider these scripture verses:

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." (James 4:3)

"If I had cherished inequity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." (Psalm 66:18)

If our heart is not properly aligned with God, if our motivations are inequity, selfishness or otherwise self-serving, God may simply not answer. Some of you may be thinking, "But I know there is a passage that suggests God will grant all that I ask for." True, but we must always remember the full context of the passage. Consider this from 1 John:

"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." (1 John 3:21-22)

The middle of this verse does say "whatever we ask we receive from him." But look at the conditions that surround this - our hearts must not condemn us and we must keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

Take heart, my friends. God desires to answer our every prayer. He only desires that our hearts are aligned with His will. If our motivations are true and we are praying to do God's will, God will certainly answer those prayers.

Most gracious God - I trust that you will answer each prayer that is within your will. I pray that through these simple thoughts, your Word reaches many and you are glorified. Help us all to ensure our prayers will be answered by our remaining true in heart. We ask these things in the name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

[Note: There is so much more to be said about prayer. I intend for this to be the first in a multi-part series.]

The End of the World ... And I Feel Fine

Will 2012 be the last year of planet Earth as we know it? Frankly, I don't know. But you would have to be living under a rock not to have heard the possibility.

As a result of an end in the Mayan Long Calendar, there is a definite fervor surrounding the possibility of this year being our last. Books have been published, movies released, and all variety of news media have covered this "potential" event ad nauseum. (When searching for basic information, I found that USA Today covered this as early as March 2007.)

I imagine that there are some who are concerned about this possibility. There are certainly others who have and will continue to scoff. After all, apocalyptic predictions have occurred in many years, including at least twice in 2011 (see ABC News' "2012 End-of-the-World Countdown Based on Mayan Calendar Starts Today"). So far, none has been correct. And since I have no prophetic ability myself, I won't be making my own guess. My purpose here is merely to offer an alternative thought process.

In a recent Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotion, Pastor Ken Klaus recalled the words of Colonel Abraham Davenport, an American politician who served in the Connecticut legislature during the American Revolution. As the story goes, on New England's Dark Day (19 May 1780), the sky became so abnormally dark that candles were required from noon until midnight. The Connecticut State Council, fearing the darkness might be a sign that the Last Judgment was approaching, called for adjournment. In response, Colonel Davenport responded:

"I am against an adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause of an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought."

Perhaps Colonel Davenport was familiar with the Gospel of Matthew. In chapter 24, we find these words from Jesus:

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [...] Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:36, 42-44, NIV - bold emphasis is mine)

No one knows but God, so it is pointless for us to fret over when. Of critical importance to us: What will we be doing when the time comes? If, like Colonel Davenport, we are going about our duty, then we can say (with all due respect to R.E.M.) "It's the end of the world as we know it and [we] feel fine."

Question(s): If you knew with certainty that this were the last year, would you change the way you live? If so, will you consider making these changes today?

Lenten Sacrifice

According to Wikipedia, Lent is "the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday." You probably recognize it as the season before Easter. The purpose of Lent (again according to Wikipedia) is "the penitential preparation of the believer - through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial." OK, a season of preparation; but for what are we preparing? According to the United Methodist Church website, we are preparing "for the coming of Easter." Our Sunday Visitor (a Catholic publication) concurs.

We prepare ourselves for the joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection, by first making a feeble attempt to understand His suffering and death. I know I can't possibly understand the magnitude of the Lord's suffering on my behalf, yet Lent is the season in which I'm asked to try. What would it really be like to be beaten within an inch of our lives, to be forced to carry a heavy crossbeam on our own death march, to be pierced with nails so that we hang in unimaginable pain, barely able to gasp for breath, and left to die? What would it be like in our dying breaths to feel completely forsaken by our family, friends, and even God? I simply can't begin to imagine.

In our human frailty, we attempt various forms of personal sacrifice. We may give up something meaningful to us for a period of just more than 40 days. We may set aside a little "extra" for the poor, the homeless, and the otherwise needy. We may also try to draw nearer to God through honest reflection and repentance, through prayer, devotional reading, or other daily disciplines. Good practices, one and all, but none that will compare to Christ's suffering for us.

And then... After all the suffering, all the pain, and a death that seemed so very final, there is cause for utmost joy and celebration. The tomb is empty, the graveclothes set aside. There is new light and new life. Death doesn't win!

To whom does Easter mean the most? Those that have sacrificed little or those who have given all they have? This Lenten season perhaps we should consider a deeper sacrifice. Whatever our practice has been in the past, maybe we can step it up a notch. The more we understand the Lord's suffering, the more joy we will have in understanding His resurrection.

Questions: Rather than giving up candy, caffeine, desserts, what if we gave up gossip, anger, or envy? Rather than providing an additional offering for the needy, what if we spent our time serving at a homeless shelter or sharing a conversation and a hug with the homebound? Rather than taking up a new devotional, what if we made it our practice to share God's Word with others? Can we "stay awake" for 40 days? The end - or rather the new beginning - will certainly be worth it!

God's peace to each of you during this Lenten season.

Abba, Father

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

-- Galatians 4:4-7, NIV

It happened in an instant, yet my mind’s eye replays it in slow motion. Pedals and legs, arms and handlebars – all blurring into one tires-over-head crash onto the sidewalk. And I couldn’t move fast enough to prevent it.

“Daddy, it hurts!” he cried.
“I know, buddy. I know.”

It was all I knew to do to comfort him – tell him I understood his hurt and hold him. I couldn’t wave a magic wand to replace the skin that was now missing from mid-forearm to elbow. And telling a child he was fortunate not to have broken a bone wouldn’t make the pain less severe nor stop it any sooner.

Daddy knows buddy; he has the scars to prove it.

What an amazing God we have. Like all good fathers, He gives us the freedom to make our own lives, our own decisions, and our own mistakes. We learn from these choices. Yet, when the pain comes, He is always there to comfort us.

During Advent we celebrate the fact that Jesus came to live among us – God with us. When He says, “I know. I understand your pain,” He also has the scars to prove it. The Bible doesn’t tell us whether a young Jesus ever skinned His knee or scraped His elbow, but we do know He suffered excruciating pain and has the utmost concern for every child in His kingdom.

What a privilege we have. When our pain comes, we can be wrapped in God’s embrace, call Him Abba (Daddy), and know His care. He won’t prevent every pain, but He is always there to comfort us. What a wonderful, compassionate Father we have!

[Originally posted on FaithWriters.com - December of 2008.]

Rejected Cornerstone

One of the great things about Sunday school is the opportunity to discuss scripture - especially with people of different ages and life experiences. Early this Sunday school year, our class was discussing the weekend's gospel passage which was from Matthew, chapter 21, verses 33-46 - The Parable of the Tenants. I was new to teaching, but had led discussion groups with Bible Study Fellowship, so felt the best approach was to have a set of prepared questions that would prompt discussion.

My first question was "Who is given the kingdom of God?" This is the type of question that can be answered directly by reading the text at its face value. In explaining the parable Jesus says "...the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." (Matt. 21:43, NIV) We could also talk about the "you" in this text referring to the chief priests and Pharisees and how they were none to pleased to realize Jesus was talking about them.

The technique I had been taught was to lead with a question that can be readily found in the text itself. Once answered, you can move to deeper question about what the text means (interpretation) and how it might be applied in our lives (application). I was prepared to follow up with "What are the fruits of the Kingdom?" and "How different might the world be if we produced these fruits regularly?"

These later questions were held as a homework assignment. It seems the teacher had a lesson to learn as well. While it is good to be prepared, when we are working with God, we also need to leave room for the Holy Spirit to guide us in other directions. During these discussions, we came to our first "Stump the Teacher" question - What is a cornerstone?

This was a very good, very important question. While I was prepared to guide discussion toward the fruits of the kingdom, this question gets at the heart of the kingdom. In the passage (verse 42) Jesus asks the chief priests and Pharisees if they had never read the scriptures and goes on to say:

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes."

This is actually a reference to Psalm 118 (which the chief priests and Pharisees quite obviously would have known). But more importantly it was a prophecy pointing to Jesus himself. Those around him were rejecting him, even then looking for ways to have him arrested. But what is significant about a cornerstone?

Wikipedia tells me that a cornerstone is "the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation." It is important because all other stones are set in reference to this first stone, thus determining the position and orientation of the entire structure. My dictionary also suggests an "indispensable and fundamental basis; a person or thing of prime importance."

For the Christian, Jesus is this person of prime importance, the indispensable basis of our faith. While producing fruit (fruits of the kingdom) are certainly important, the central purpose of this passage is to point us to the importance of Jesus as our firm foundation. The teacher learned a lesson that day; I trust the students did as well. Thanks be to God!

Question: We also discussed the term capstone - where is that term found in scripture and how might it also point to Jesus?

Follow Me (or Come and Go)

Originally written in 2009, this was my first real attempt at Haiku. It attempts to capture two main themes in Jesus teaching - first, we must come to Him, then go to others. Come and go; follow and lead.

Follow Me

Come and follow me
I’m the way, the truth, the life
Come! And follow me

Come and follow me
I’ll lead you to my Father
Come! And follow me

Come and follow me
Always love the Lord your God
With heart, soul, and mind

Come! And follow me
You’ll be fishers of men – so
Go! Make disciples

Go make disciples
Love your neighbors as yourself
Go! Make disciples

Go make disciples
You will lead them each to me
Go! Make disciples

Go make disciples
Let your light shine before them
Tell them – follow me!

[Originally posted on FaithWriters.com.]

Stump the Teacher

Rather than the teachers asking all the questions, in our Sunday school class we allow (even encourage) the students to ask any faith or Bible question that comes to mind. The only caveat is that the teachers are not expected to answer the questions on the spot - we're allowed at least a week (and often times more) to research the question, asks pastors and others, read commentaries, etc. Whatever it takes to provide a quality answer. The goal is not really to "stump" the teacher, but to provide opportunities. An opportunity for students to get answers to those questions that really concern them; an opportunity for teachers to be challenged and to continue their own learning; and, an opportunity to share techniques for going about answering challenging faith questions.

Coming Soon!
In coming weeks I'll add entries with these questions and answers. This provides additional opportunities - to show the quality questions that our high school students are asking and to share what answers we can with others who follow here. This blog will also offer you the opportunity to get involved in this discussion - feel free to post responses to the topic in the comments. And there will be a few questions posed for the readers.

A Question for You
Here is one such question for you to consider now: The Bible holds all who would teach to a higher standard - what are the risks in being a teacher? (Always provide book, chapter, and verse when providing a Biblical answer.) A future entry will provide an answer.

Special Thanks
I'd like to extend special thanks to my cousin (Melody) and her husband (Kurt) who were willing to share their experiences in teaching Sunday school and who provided this idea to me. Thanks to you both - this has been a treat and a blessing.