The World Really Is Flat (or at least it needs to be)

Isaiah 26:7-15

Reflection:

Who would have known? North Dakota may be the holiest place in the U.S.

As many of you know, I lived in Fargo, North Dakota for three years from 2005-2008. Every year, when Advent would come, and we would hear from the prophet Isaiah about “preparing a way for the Lord,” I would start to wonder if North Dakota really was a exceptionally holy place. Why? Because Isaiah tells us that “valleys will be raised and mountains will be brought low” to prepare the way of the Lord. Essentially, the Lord really likes walking on flat ground…and North Dakota is FLAT.

In the Bible reading linked above, we hear the ancient prophet explain a little more about what this means. However, his explanation challenges our modern associations with the word “judgment.”

In the passage above, Isaiah says that “the way of the righteous is level,” and “in the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you…”

When I read that, I picture God’s judgments a bit like an earth mover preparing for a new freeway; filling in the low places and bringing down the high places so the roadbed is perfectly flat.

Understood this way, God’s judgments are like the judgments of a judge – case by case, making wrongs right and bringing equality and justice. It is not that God judges us like people judge us – making assumptions about us and treating us differently because of those assumptions. No, the Bible tells us that from his throne, THIS judge raises up those who are low and humbles those who are on their high horse. If the unexpected turns of life have us feeling low, this is good news – God will make the wrongs right. However, if we are comfortable and resting high above those in need, this passage can be a warning. God really prefers flat ground – where those in need are fed and those with plenty understand themselves as blessed TO BE a blessing to others.

So as I read the passage above one more time, I take great comfort in the fact that my main job is to wait in the path of God’s leveling love. Maybe, my time in North Dakota helped me see the beauty of flat ground…

Prayer: God of justice and love, if we are low, raise us up to live in your love. If we are too high, humble us and bring us into the path of your joy and abundant life. Amen.

Falling into Thanksgiving...

Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’

(Luke 22:19)

Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

(2 Corinthians 4:15)

Reflection:

As I write this, just outside my window I can see the last few leaves letting go of the trees. Even from inside, the air looks crisp with the temperatures of late fall. Even the smell of that air brings up memories of Thanksgivings past and the anticipation that Christmas is near.

Today is one of those days we all have from time to time. I am working from my dining room. My wife has the flu, my son has an ear infection, and my daughter doesn’t have school. Tonight, we are slated to be the overnight hosts for Family Promise at the church. The mounting responsibilities I must attend to, combined with the family responsibilities that were unplanned make for a stressful mix of long to-do lists and little time.

If your life is like mine (and from conversations with many of you I know that it is), you are often in situations where it is tempting to focus on what is not going right…to be upset about the ways in which things are not as they should be. I wish my wife were feeling better. I wish my son were well. I wish I had more time today to get the things done that must be done. I wish I didn’t have to work late tonight to make up for this unplanned time at home attending to my family. I wish, I wish, I wish…

Beneath all of that, though, runs a quiet sense of peace today…and the peace I feel begins with thanksgiving. Not the day, but the attitude. That sense of peace begins with a recognition of how richly blessed I am.

Every Sunday, we re-tell the story of how Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it for his disciples. This part of the service is even called “The Great Thanksgiving.” Biblically speaking, being a grateful person is part and parcel of being a Christian. We live in thanksgiving – a recognition that all that we have an all that we are is pure gift. Then, like the second verse linked above, our main job as the church is to do the things that extend to others that sense of thanksgiving.

It all boils down to this; there is a simple truth that many modern self-help books will tell you – but it is a truth that existed in the pages of the Bible long before that: GRATITUDE IS THE HEART OF JOY.

So today, take 5 minutes. On a piece of paper, or a blank document on your computer, attempt to make a list of everything you have to be thankful for. Keep writing. Keep typing. We all have much to be grateful for, and intentionally focusing on that tends to put our sorrows or hardships in the proper perspective.

Then, take a moment and look at your list…and offer a simple prayer of thanks to the One who has blessed you with it all.


Happy Thanksgiving from your Pastor & your St. Luke family!

Prayer: God of every good gift, inspire in us deep sense of gratitude for the lives we have. Help us not to measure our days by what we don’t have, but live in the joy that comes from recognizing what we do have. Amen.

Which Comes First?

Romans 2:1-4 (click link to read passage before continuing on to Reflection)

Reflection:

Some timeless questions:

Which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Which comes first? Repentance or forgiveness?

Said another way:

Does repentance lead to forgiveness? Or is it the other way around?

I know for some, what I say here is going to be a little provocative – that's good. But consider the above verses. They were written to those who thought that the forgiveness offered through Jesus was like a free ticket. They knew they were forgiven, and used their freedom to cast judgments on others for their sins. Paul is reminding them that God's forgiveness, which is freely offered through Christ, is meant to inspire repentance not arrogance.

Here's the pitfall: When you think it is your repentance that causes God's forgiveness, it's an easy road to arrogant judgment of others. But when you recognize that God's forgiveness always comes as undeserved gift, it's a little harder to fancy yourself more deserving than anyone else.

So maybe, just maybe, we've answered one of the timeless questions above. Maybe we are doing it in the wrong order on Sunday morning – maybe God's forgiveness always comes first, and then leads us into a life of humility and repentance.

You'll have to ask someone else about the chicken/egg question…

Prayer: Gracious God, help us to avoid casting judgments on others – instead, help us to use our energy in humble self-assessment. Change our hearts, O God… Amen.

Declaration of Dependence

Exodus 16:11-16, 19-20

Reflection:

Take only what you need, and don’t hoard it for tomorrow.

Oh, how the promise of self-sufficiency lured the Israelites in. “If I gather a bunch now, then tomorrow I and my family will be well-fed, whether the bread comes again or not…”

For them and for us, this scripture is a lesson in dependence…and not the kind that renders us helpless, only to wait on the gifts of God – but the kind that breeds simple trust in God’s goodness and mercy.

In the grasps of our own materialism and consumer culture, it is a message we need to hear as well…So, as Steven Curtis Chapman (a contemporary Christian music artist) said years ago in a song, “This is our declaration of dependence!”

Prayer: Gracious God, help us to trust that come what may, you are faithful and your promises are sure. Amen.

Divine, Fierce Passion

Song of Solomon 8:5-7

Reflection:

Is the Bible one book, or a collection of many books?

The answer: Yes.

There is a rich story behind every book of the Bible and why it was ultimately included in the collection we now call “The Bible.” Some books were written as moment-by-moment historical accounts. Some were written as biographies (the Gospels). Some songs were included. Some teaching stories, like parables, were included. There was even some love poetry that got included.

The above reading is from the book “Song of Solomon,” which is Hebrew love poetry. It is a love song between two young lovers. At first glance, you might wonder why it is included in a Holy Book.

But…what is human love but an imperfect reflection of the love that spoke the world into existence? What is passion between young lovers but a faint echo of the passion that God felt for us most powerfully on the cross? If human love is powerful, and we know it is…divine love is more powerful still.

So, the people of God have claimed this love poetry as part of their scriptures because it is an example of the love God has for God’s people. And notice it’s not just a warm-fuzzy love, like we often like to think of it…it is as strong as death (and stronger!)…as fierce as the grave (and fiercer!). It is a raging flame.

May you be consumed by that flame today…so much so that you can’t help but go out and set the world ablaze with this fierce, strong love from above.

Prayer: Loving God, you are the source and ground of all that is, including the passion and love we feel. Help us to know that we can love because you first loved us…and transform our hearts so that we may more perfectly mirror your divine care. Amen.

Building a House

1 Peter 2:4-10

Reflection:

            As I type this, I can hear the sounds of hammers and the occasional “pop” of a nail gun. Just outside my window, there is a group of dedicated volunteers building a new storage garage on the church grounds.

            If you would have come by the church a few days ago, you would have seen a pile of plywood, a stack of trusses, and various other building materials laying on a concrete slab. Today, the work of our volunteers has transformed that seemingly random stack of materials into a building that will soon be used for a specific purpose.

            Peter, in his first letter, uses this same image for the church. Visiting the temple to offer sacrifices and “pay” for sins is no longer an option for his readers. So, he says, let us be built into a spiritual house for God – like living stones. Then, built by God into that structure, we will be used for a specific purpose – to “proclaim the mighty acts” of God.

            I see this happen every Sunday. A seemingly random collection of people from every different background are gathered, empowered, and sent to serve. Once we were not A PEOPLE, but now we are God’s people.

            So, the next time you are in church, listen carefully. You may not hear the “pop” of a nail gun, but you may just notice the construction of a holy people…

Prayer: Gracious God, you gather us and empower us for a purpose – to be the place you dwell in the world. Help us to serve our purpose well, and function as a place where all people can come to be connected with your love and your will for their lives. Amen.