Wrestling and Blessing

I will not let you go, unless you bless me. Genesis 32:26

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

The Genesis quote above is from a fascinating story about Jacob returning home expecting trouble with his brother. Years earlier, Jacob had tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright at the firstborn. Now, as Jacob is returning home, he hears that Esau is on his way to meet him, accompanied by 400 men. Assuming the worst, Jacob prepares himself for the inevitable attack that will follow.

The night before they are to meet, Jacob doesn't sleep. The scriptures say "a man" wrestles with Jacob until dawn. Whether this "man" is an angel or God is not clear, but as the dawn begins to break, the "man" tells Jacob to let him go. Jacob's response is the verse above, and is an example of the determination and grit that characterized Jacob's approach. "I will not let you go, unless you bless me."

Years ago, I heard Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the chief rabbi of England, explain that this verse informed how he approached grief in his life; specifically, the grief following his mother's death.

We all know that there is this difficult and beautiful dynamic in the human spirit...in which hardship can, over time, breed compassion for others facing hardship; grief in loss can, over time, make us more deeply grateful for the lives we have; unmet expectations can, over time, make us more accepting of what is.

To get there, though...you have to hang on until it blesses you. This is the content of my prayer life many days. If I am enduring hardship, I cry out to God in frustration, trusting that God is big enough to take my anger. If I am saddened by loss, I cry out to God in grief, trusting that God is big enough to take my tears. If I am surprised by unmet expectations, I cry out to God in confusion, trusting that God is big enough to take my tantrums. Simply put, by being honest about my human emotions in prayer, I "hang on" to this relationship with God until it blesses me.

And it always does. Fearsome, difficult, painful blessings sometimes...but blessings nonetheless.

Today, I can honestly say I am grateful for the hardships, the loss, and the unmet expectations; because they continue to overturn the Kingdom of "Self" in my heart and invite me into a very different Kingdom.





PRAYER:
Lord God, help us to never shy away from conversing with you. Prayer is our way to talk with you. May the conversation never end. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Subversive Holiness

I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. You shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your ancestors. Ezekiel 20:41–42

The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

"Calling" is a funny concept these days.

I have had many conversations with people that end with some version of this sentence: "Sure, you have a 'calling' pastor, but I just have a job..."

But, if the scriptures are to be believed, this isn't a true statement. I do, indeed, have a calling...but so do you...the person reading these words. That calling, along with the talents and gifts placed in you, are absolutely irrevocable.

The general shape of this calling is revealed in the first passage posted above. The idea that God chooses to make his holiness known in us is still stunning to me every time I think about it...but it is true. Together, we are called to live the ways of the revolution that began 2000 years ago on Easter morning. We are called to surprise people with the values of the upside-down kingdom Jesus ushered in.

What does this look like? It looks like kindness when you have every right to be nasty. It looks like forgiveness when you have every right to hold a grudge. It looks like treating those you encounter as though they really are as valuable as you are, even when you have been told by the talking heads to be afraid of those different from you. It looks like mustering love when it would be far easier to hate.

This is our calling, and it has very little to do with what pays our bills. The places we are that we call "work" or "family" or "retirement" or "college" - these are just the locations we have been called to act out these surprising, subversive Kingdom values.

So...as we begin this day...the question these scriptures bring up in my heart is...how will God's holiness manifest itself in me today? In what ways will I surprise others with grace, mercy, forgiveness, or love when they are expecting exactly the opposite? And can I surrender myself to God's calling so that others don't see me in that surprising grace...but God.

May we all be part of the subversive Kingdom of holiness today. Go surprise someone with grace, mercy, forgiveness, or love.

PRAYER:
Your gifts to us are plentiful, dear Lord. Help us to use them to praise you and to show the nations that you are Lord of our lives. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

The Dog Park & Commandments

Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments. Psalm 112:1

Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14–15

As we discussed yesterday in worship, I know of many people who reject Christianity because they perceive it as a system of black and white "rules" that must be followed to appease God.

But the revolution of Love that began with the empty cross on Easter Morning isn't about rules; it is about relationship.

That does not mean there are not boundaries in this relationship. Like anything we love, our love for God comes with boundaries for our behavior. It isn't that God is going to smite us if we cross those boundaries...it is that loving God means respecting what it turns out are healthy boundaries for us.

The best analogy is the vows I made to my wife 13 years ago. They are not "rules" meant to restrain my freedom; they are the boundaries I respect because I love her. And ironically, living within those boundaries frees me to enjoy the shared life we have together.

In an ironic way, healthy boundaries actually free us. This means, we can "delight" in God's commandments...because they aren't rules meant to rob us of freedom...they are healthy limits to respect so that we can be fully free to enjoy the life God gives us.

In yesterday's children's sermon, I likened it to what our dog experiences when we take her to the dog park near us. At our house, we have no fence, so any time our dog goes outside, she has to be on a leash. But at the dog park, the fact that there are fences around the whole area mean she can run freely in a way she just can't at our house.

Whether it is vows you made to a loved one, time you spend caring for an ailing parent or friend, or restrictions in your schedule because you chose to adopt a pet, we all respect boundaries for the sake of love.

Today, my prayer is that we feel FREE in that love...that we can delight in God's commandments, because they act like that fence does for my dog. Today, may we embrace the freedom we have to love those in our lives. That gift is what I am most thankful for today.

PRAYER:
Source of all wisdom and truth, teach us to sow words of love and peace instead of hate and war in this world that we call home. Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves as we seek to do your will. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Tell God Your Plans...

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. Proverbs 16:9

You ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:15

Strategic Plans are a useful tool...budgets are important to make and keep...policies and procedures help a church be clear about how business is done...but sometimes, all our planning can fool us into thinking we are ultimately in charge.

The Strategic Plan at St. Luke is just that; a plan. It's like picking the route for a road trip. Often, unexpected changes come...roadblocks, detours, construction...all of that can change the details of the route, but the anticipated destination remains the same.

St. Luke's current Strategic Plan was born in May of 2015, after many Town Hall meetings and much prayer. It represents the best of where we thought we were called to go from 2015-2020. If you have not read it recently, please follow this link and do so! These things only work if it is a shared vision, and everyone understands the direction the church is headed together.

BUT, the more organized we become as a congregation, the easier it is, I think, to get lost in the details and forget the final destination. The details change. The final destination is always God. All the plans, strategies and policies lead to one over-arching goal: that our church foster an environment where we are drawn into closer relationship with God, to become followers of Christ. That's it. Put simply, the world doesn't need more church members. The world needs more disciples of Jesus.

Today, I am proud of where our church has come. We are more organized and more focused. But as your pastor, I simply want to make sure that I, and all of you, don't ever put our ultimate trust in the plans, procedures, or people of St. Luke (no matter how great each of those pieces are!). Our ultimate hope rests in a God who takes us as we are; broken, imperfect, and messy...and dares to shine light to a dark world through our cracks.

So, let's never forget...our mistakes are forgiven by a God who often uses them to reveal his glory! We can make the plans, and plans are subject to change...but God will direct our steps. Let that be our solid foundation.

PRAYER:
Lord, guide our feet so that we will be in your will and do the goodness of your Spirit. Be our sure feet in this life so that we may rejoice with you in the next. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Remembering

 Psalm 77:11-15

11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;

   I will remember your wonders of old.

12 I will meditate on all your work,

   and muse on your mighty deeds.

13 Your way, O God, is holy.

   What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who works wonders;

   you have displayed your might among the peoples.

15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people,

   the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Reflection:

As we turn to the Holiday season, I have a special memory of a visit to a home-bound member from years ago I want to share with you... (for those of you who knew Arlene Thiel, she is the woman I was visiting...)

It was around this time of year, and the first thing we talked about was her Christmas tree. She explained to me that her family had always gotten a large, real tree each year. “It’s the smell of pine, pastor – it’s just not Christmas without that smell.” That year, however, her advancing years had forced her to change the tradition. In her living room stood a small artificial tree. “Real trees are too much work for me now,” she explained. “But the ornaments are the same…”

For the next 45 minutes, we looked at those ornaments. Some were from trips she and her husband had taken when he was still alive. Some were hand-made creations given by grandchildren. Each ornament brought with it a beautiful memory, and a smile. The more I listened, the more I got the sense I was in a holy moment; blessed to be present, as one of God’s saints remembered the gifts in her life.

“Remembered” is a common word in the Bible. Over and over and over again, the scriptures tell us that God “remembers” the covenants he makes; with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, and with us in Christ. God remembers the covenants, no matter what traditions change, or what traditions remain the same. God remembers the covenants, and smiles on us and on our world.

Today, it is my prayer that you and I may be filled with the same sense of memory. Let us, as the Psalm above says, “call to mind the deeds of the Lord,” and “…remember [God’s] wonders of old.” And may we be filled with the same sweet memories and profound sense of gratitude that I had the honor of witnessing around a tree that day many years ago...

Prayer: God of every age, even when everything changes, your love stays the same. Help us to pause and give thanks for your gifts today, that we might feel the simple joy that comes with gratitude and hope. Amen.

Down To Earth

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 125:2

John wrote: I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples.” Revelation 21:3

What does it mean to you when someone says that a person they know is "down to earth"?

To me, this means you can relate to this person. It means they don't carry themselves as though they are better than the rest of us. It means they are an "everyday" person; someone who is good at some things, not good at other things, comfortable in their own skin, and not judgmental of others.

The phrase is an interesting one, because being "down to earth" means they do not have their head in the clouds...and they do not think they belong on a pedestal. They are not an "untouchable."

Understandably, we tend to picture God as an untouchable. High and mighty. Powerful. Distant.

The most stunning message in the book of Revelation is not only that Love wins, but that Love comes HERE. It makes very clear that the "New Jerusalem" (Revelation's language for heaven)...descends to earth. And then the voice that John hears says, "See! The home of God is among mortals! He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples!"

My prayer today for all of us is simple; may our eyes be opened to the places God dwells with us. May we be sensitized to the moments of heaven that break in today, because they always do. May we participate in these in-breaking moments so we too can see...God IS "down to earth."

PRAYER:
Lord, we know that we are yours and yours alone. Help us to reflect the love that you have given to us so that others may join your fold. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from Moravian Daily Texts

Intricate Details

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2 (NIV)

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Luke 12:27

There is incredible beauty in the desert. Many who didn't grow up in that environment may not believe me, but there is.

Sure, on the surface, it looks barren. Dirt. Tumbleweeds (those are a real thing). Many different plants and animals that look like their sole purpose is to hurt you. But when you catch a desert sunset, with the colors bouncing off of the mountains, you understand the line in "America The Beautiful" that refers to "purple mountain's majesty."

The picture above is of a "Salt Heliotrope," a tiny flower with intricate detail in every petal. I found this walking along a path with one of the other participants in the conference I am at in AZ.

The words from Jesus above (in the Luke passage) are part of Jesus' famous "do not worry" speech. The words of Psalm 111 simply remind us that there is great delight in taking in the marvels of God's creation.

Today, this is my hope for all of us. Pause and marvel at the intricate detail around you. If you can read this devotion, it means that there are millions of receptor cells allowing that to happen in the marvel that is your eyes. If you can contemplate these words, millions of neurons are firing within your brain to make that happen.

May we marvel at the works of the Lord. May we be moved to gratitude for the beauty within us and outside us. May our eyes be opened to behold God's creation today.

*PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, your works are great! You constantly show us that you are with us in all that we do. Help us to stop worrying and to put our hopes and fears in your hands, O God. Amen.

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Uncertain Prayers

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Romans 8:26

Sometimes, silence can be a prayer.

We have this interesting idea that praying needs to be like what we see religious leaders do in front of others; crafted with beautiful words, delivered with a clear voice. Certainly, praying out loud with others is something that takes a little getting used to; but even there, the best advice is to simply be honest, and say what is on your heart.

I know many people who carry this image of a public, crafted prayer into their private prayer life as well. Many have told me they don't pray because they just don't know what to say. When I press them for what that means, I often end up learning that they expect themselves to have something profound to say, or at the very least that their prayer should be spoken out loud (even when alone), and that it should be articulate and beautiful.

However, if we look at the Bible, prayers come in all forms. Some of the most beautiful and honest prayers are in the Psalms, as the writer either shouts for joy, cries out in agony, or shakes a fist at the sky. Think of Jesus' words from the cross, where he is merely quoting Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Today, I am dedicating myself to finding five minutes of silence...to simply sit in God's presence. If you want to join me, find a few moments (even one or two minutes) where you can be alone, take deep breaths, and offer up whatever it is you are feeling to God.

One of the deepest truths I continue to re-learn over and over is that God cares for us exactly where we are. So often, we think we have to be, or look, or sound a certain way...but in a silent prayer with God, we can simply BE. If some words bubble up, speak them either in your mind or in your heart. If silence is all you can muster, trust the promise of the passage above. The Spirit breathes in you with sighs too deep for words...and you are never far away from God's presence.

PRAYER:
Though things in our lives may sometimes be uncertain, help us to keep our hearts and minds focused on you, Holy Spirit. Be our guide this day as we face whatever comes our way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts

Joy Might Be the Answer

Let all those rejoice who put their trust in you. Psalm 5:11 (NKJV)

Although you have not seen Jesus Christ, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

What brings you deep joy?

This is a question that takes a few moments to answer. We often think of the things that bring us fleeting happiness. But take a minute and think...what is it that makes you feel centered, at peace, joyful, and grateful?

For some, no doubt, thoughts of family will come to mind. For others who have strained relationships with family, it might be friends, or music, or a good conversation, or a meal with someone you love. It might be the beauty of nature, or the unquestioning love of an animal companion. Whatever it is for you...sit in that thought for a moment...think of the thing that brings you JOY.

Now, a simple question: is there a way you can make more time for THAT today? As you budget the hours you can spend over the next 24, can you intentionally put yourself in a place you will experience joy?

I believe we are at our best when we are feeling joyful and grateful. Conversely, I believe we are at our worst when we are afraid...because fear causes us to close in on ourselves...to protect what we cherish from that which we see as a threat. Fear is the "mama bear" instinct we all have, regardless of gender...and if you have ever crossed a mama bear, you know what that looks like. My one encounter with a female black bear and her cubs in the Alaska wilderness was enough to remind me that this tendency in me is fierce and does not bring out the best in my character.

When I am grateful and joyful, however, the opposite happens. Rather than contracting in on myself to protect, joy and gratitude cause me to expand outward. They cause me to reach out to others, to offer a smile or a kind word to a stranger, to let into my lane that jerk on the freeway who just HAS to get there 10 seconds before me. Put simply, joy and gratitude make me a better husband, father, pastor, and citizen.

So, as we all contemplate how to help with the divisions we see in our culture, may we each look to our own calendars and ask, "am I making time for joy and gratitude today?" It might just be that is the best thing we can do feel close to God and motivated to kindness. It might just be our time is better spent in things that bring us joy than in things that make us afraid. It might just be that JOY is the answer to some of the problems we face as a culture.

PRAYER:
God, though we may not see you face to face, help us to see you in the blessings of our lives. Move us to joy and gratitude, and show us how to share that joy with others. Amen.

God in a Storm

Psalm 29:3-11 The Voice of God in a Great Storm

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

   the God of glory thunders,

   the Lord, over mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

   the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

   the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

   and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

   the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,

   and strips the forest bare;

   and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

   the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.

May the Lord give strength to his people!

   May the Lord bless his people with peace!

If you have ever been awed by nature, you get the point of this psalm. As a kid who grew up in Arizona, and remembers well the thundering rainstorms that would rage across the desert, this psalm holds a special place in my heart. I remember standing outside in the wind and rain, watching the flashes of lightning and being stirred to recognize that in the grand scheme, I am so small and God is so great.

In the end, that’s the beauty of this psalm. You can imagine yourself outside in a strong thunderstorm. Imagine the wind whipping against your cheeks. Imagine the trees bent over in worship of the one who brings the life-giving rains. Imagine the piercing lightning that makes even the darkest night alive in a flash. If you imagine all this (or if you’ve experienced it as I have), you too may find yourself viewing it all and being able to say only, “Glory!” (as the psalm writer cries out).

Prayer: God of majesty and awe, we are so full of ourselves that we often forget your presence in our lives. Help us see that everything about us, our accomplishments and our failures, is washed away in the enormity of your love for us. Amen.

Drawing Near

This is what the Lord said, “Through those who are near me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.” Leviticus 10:3

The word that jumps out at me in this morning's reading is "near." And the first thought, as I begin this new week; am I drawing near to God? Is God drawing near to me?

I am a physically affectionate kind of person. When someone means something to me, I want to hug them. This is just how I am wired...it is how I was raised. I respect those of you who do not connect with others primarily in this way, but I have to be honest that this is the way I connect with others.

This is particularly true in my family. When my kids are sick, even though it is not in my self-interest to do so, I pull them in close. I will hold them when they are sad, or sick, or angry, or happy. It is one of the primary ways I express my love for someone...by drawing near to them.

This is probably why, as I contemplate the beginning of this week, I find myself wanting to draw near to God. Spending a few moments in Scripture as each day begins is part of how this happens. Deep breaths and prayers for peace is part of how this happens.

However, I have to admit there are many times when I am not choosing the things that draw me near to God. I find comfort in the idea that even in these moments, God draws near to me.

Today, my simple prayer is that we all draw near to God, and that through that, God's glory may be seen in us and through us. Whatever that looks like for you today...draw near to God. Take a deep breath. Pray for a friend...or an enemy. Ask God to give you the peace that passes all understanding. Then, God will be glorified in our life, and in our love for each other.

PRAYER:
God, draw us near to your love. Give us the courage to reach out, to pray, to set aside time in our schedule to be still. Help us to know today that you are God, and we are not. Amen.

Do Not Be Afraid (It Isn't Good For You)

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ (Genesis 15:1)

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive for ever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. (Revelation 1:17-18)

A consistent message in the Bible is in the title of this post. The phrase "do not be afraid" shows up 67 times in the Bible. Above, I placed the first time this happens in the Bible, when God speaks to Abram (later to be called Abraham) telling him that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars...and I place the last time it happens, at the beginning of the book of Revelation, when Christ himself reassures John (the writer of Revelation) that this vision is meant to be written down and shared.

A similar phrase, "do not fear," shows up 55 times in the Bible. This is a pretty consistent message.

It is consistent because God knows us. We are people who are easily frightened. It is in our biology. A key to survival is perceiving threats and avoiding them.

But we do have to be honest that this instinct does not bring out the best in us. Fear makes us circle the wagons and take care of ourselves and those who are like us. It is, simply put, a survival technique. And God's consistent message of "do not fear" is God's way of reminding us that our survival is not dependent upon us.

The awful divisions in our culture are built on fear. And my question is...can we see each other as fellow human beings and honor the fear we hold?

It is difficult.

On the one hand, it means those who are bothered by Trump's election have to recognize that, no matter how ill-informed they think it is, some of their brothers and sisters are afraid of the demographic changes that are happening in the United States. There is a fear about white people being a minority (which will happen within my lifetime). There is fear about corruption in Washington, and what that means for the peoples' power to effect change. There is fear that Second Amendment rights would be infringed upon. There is fear of terrorism, and the impulse to want to know who the "enemy" is so they don't have the power to hurt me or my family.

Again, whether these fears are reasonable or not is the stuff of public debate. What I am asking is...can we hear the fear and see each other as fellow human beings?

On the other hand, it means those who are excited by Trump's election have to recognize that, no matter how wrong they think it is, some of their brothers and sisters are afraid that being "different" is not going to be tolerated in Trump's America. This is why there are protests happening. If those brothers and sisters are Muslim, they are afraid he meant what he said about making them all "register" so he can keep an eye on them. They are afraid we'll wander back to the era of internment camps. If those brothers and sisters are African-American, they are afraid that the chants of "Make American Great Again" actually mean "Make America White Again" (as some graffiti in the last couple of days has actually said). So before we get angry that some are protesting, can we hear the genuine human fear behind their protests?

Once again, whether you agree with those fears or not is not the point. The point is...we have all been tricked into being afraid of each other...and we can ALL agree that it does not bring out the best in us. My diagnosis of WHY our political divisions have gotten so deep and poisonous boils down to this one word: FEAR. We are afraid of each other.

Fear is not good for you.

Fear is not good for us.

Do not be afraid, brothers and sisters. We must stand together in this time and HEAR each other...and fear makes us plug our ears to the concerns of those who differ from us.

Do not be afraid, brothers and sisters. We must stand together in this time and SEE each other...and fear makes us shut our eyes to the suffering of those who differ from us, so we won't have to accept any responsibility for their suffering or responsibility for alleviating it.

Do not be afraid, brothers and sisters. Why? Because it is God's command. Because God has given us to each other. Because God has given US the ministry of reconciliation. Because freedom is our greatest gift from God, and fear binds us in chains.

Again, I will repeat: Take time today to pray for someone you seriously disagree with. Why? Because it helps soften your heart toward them and helps you see them as people just like you, with equal value.

If you are confused or angered by the fact that some are protesting, pray for those protestors, who are so afraid and angry they don't know how else to be heard. They have reasons for their fear and anger (even if you disagree with those reasons), just as you have reasons for yours. Pray for their health, and wholeness, and happiness, and safety.

If you are upset by the election, pray for those who voted for Mr. Trump. Pray for God to calm their fears and angers. They have reasons for their fear and anger (even if you disagree with those reasons), just as you have reasons for yours. Pray for their health, and wholeness, and happiness, and safety.

This is really, really hard. Seemingly impossible, I know. But it is our only hope; to take God's Word seriously, we must not be afraid. And praying for each other, I believe, is a first step toward dismantling the fear and being able to hear and see each other.

PRAYER:
God, we are all afraid. Some of those fears are well founded. Most are not. Help us to breathe deep today, and give us the courage, the grit, the determination to see common humanity beyond the fears. Open our eyes to the suffering of those with whom we disagree. Soften our hearts toward those we hate. Teach us to see each other more as you see us all. Amen.

A Letter From the Bishop

Today's post is a letter written by Paul Erickson, our new Bishop in the Greater Milwaukee Synod...

Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Mark 12:31
The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’

Romans 13:9
The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Galatians 5:14
For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

To be honest, I didn’t sleep much on Tuesday night. I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a political junkie, paying close attention to election results whenever they occur, taking note of the trends and patterns, the numbers and the polls. But it became increasingly clear as the night and morning and following day wore on that this is altogether different from any other election I’ve been a part of. I’ve had many conversations and I’ve read countless summaries and tweets and posts from friends and strangers, folks who are on many different points of the political spectrum, and it’s becoming clear that we are a deeply divided nation, church, and people.

We are divided not just by having different opinions and strategies on how to strengthen our society, we have fundamentally differing views on who we are as a people, how we want to live, and how we want to engage with those who differ from us. These differences are displayed in the variety of responses to this election. While many in this country and in the congregations of this synod may be feeling glad and hopeful, and others are confused and disengaged, we need to acknowledge that many in our communities are feeling sadness, fear, anger, and resignation.

I recognize that, as a white male with some measure of status in this world, the life that I and my family enjoy would have been largely unaffected no matter how the election turned out. But that’s not the case for countless folks whom I love and have been called to serve. Many people with whom I have spoken, folks whose skin color, language, citizenship status, sexual orientation, religion and gender differ from mine, have deep and painful fears for their safety.

So here’s what I would invite us to consider in the weeks, months, and years to come, regardless of how you voted and how you are dealing with the results:

- As Christians, our allegiance is not to any political party, leader, or set of policies. Our allegiance is to the God of justice, mercy, and reconciliation; the God whose primary demand is for us to love our neighbor.

-This love of neighbor means that we need to learn how to listen to each other. By this, I do not mean the patient, passive approach in which we simply keep silent while the other takes their turn speaking, but the active, engaged listening that presses the other to more clearly articulate their stories, their passions, their fears, and their hopes.

-This active listening then needs to drive us to clarity and to action as we combat the forces that dehumanize, disempower, and diminish our neighbor.

I am hopeful, not because of what is happening in our political systems or even in our church, but because we belong to a God who has claimed us in our baptism for times such as these. As your bishop, I intend to fulfill my vows to listen, to love, and to lead as we seek to be faithful to our call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

In Christ’s love,

Bishop Paul Erickson

The Morning After

The morning after the election, there are many emotions across the United States this morning.

Some are elated at the possibility that a political outsider might shake things up enough to root out entrenched corruption.

Some are despairing that a public figure so prone to reactive and harmful speech will now represent this great nation on the world stage.

Some people are profoundly hopeful this morning.
Others are deeply afraid.

The Word of God, as contained in the pages of the Bible, and made flesh in Jesus Christ, outlasts every single one of these fleeting emotions.

God's Word has stood through democracies and dictatorships; through plagues, and wars, and economic booms, and economic busts...
And through it all, one consistent message is that whenever we base our hope (or even our despair) on frail humans, we are missing the point.

Our hope comes from the God who is still reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19)...and that work is not dependent on the work of any government. Instead, as followers of Christ, we get to participate in the work of reconciliation. And we do that best together. Playing partisan games or spending energy hating each other over any other human being is an absolute waste...because, as the eternal words of Psalm 146 remind us, "when their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day, their plans perish."

So, to those who are elated this morning, and those who are despairing this morning: May we ALL  read the words of Psalm 146 and take both warning and comfort from the eternal words "do not put your trust in princes, in mortals in whom there is no help."

Take some time and read the Psalm below, letting God's Word speak to you, challenge you, comfort you, and remind you that our hope is in God alone...

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
   in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
   on that very day their plans perish.

5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever;
7   who executes justice for the oppressed;
   who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The Lord will reign for ever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

The Common Good

To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)

We are all used to hearing complaining about the political system in the United States. We are all used to complaining about it. We all decry the rabid partisanship that deadlocks action and poisons relationships.

And yet, the next time we read an article about "our candidate" or talk with a friend about how terrible the "other side" is, we eat it up...reveling in how RIGHT we are and how WRONG they are. It's like a Pavlovian response...just as the famous scientist had trained his dogs so that they salivated at the very sound of the bell, so we have been trained. It's hard for us to admit that we are part of the partisan problem.

But make no mistake; any time we identify an "other," lumping diverse individuals into a group we think we can speak with authority about, we are becoming part of the problem...because that tendency of ours (and we ALL share this) actually destroys any sense of what the "common good" even is. It changes the question from, "what would be good for all of us?" to "what would be good for MY group?"

Michael Sandel, a political philosopher and professor at Harvard University, makes an interesting argument that part of what has allowed for the deepening divisions and partisanship in the United States is that we lack what he calls "shared spaces." He defines these as public spaces where we would regularly come in contact with people outside our echo chamber...people who are different from us economically, socially, racially, etc.

Professor Sandel explains that years ago, there were more spaces to interact with those who were very different from us. Public transportation would find elected officials sitting next to blue-collar workers, sitting next to business owners. Ballparks, like the iconic Wrigley Field, would find this same kind of mixed crowd.

Those shared spaces are disappearing. In many cities, public transportation is only taken by those who can't afford a "better" way. Ballparks have skyboxes. We simply don't have as many places where we regularly interact with those who are in a very different life situation than we are. This means, as we discuss important policy issues and proposals, it is easier to turn "them" into a caricature rather than seeing "them" as fellow human beings. This means we speak about whole groups with an authority we don't have, because we just don't know very many of "them."

Back in 2011, Jessica and I heard Professor Sandel speak at the Chautauqua Institute in New York. His topic: The role of the church in finding a sense of the common good. He argued that our Sunday morning gatherings have the potential to be one of the last shared spaces left in the culture...a place where we regularly gather with people who are different from us, and speak of each other WITHOUT the easy caricatures.

This is my prayer today, as we head to the polls. By tonight, we'll have a President-elect. But the challenges aren't over. Sure, the political ads will mostly stop. But we still have to live together. We still have to figure out how to discuss a common good instead of simply what's good for me and my group.

The passage above is reminding us that this isn't just a civic duty; it is a spiritual duty...a task given to us at our baptism. We have been given gifts, "the manifestation of the Spirit," and those gifts are for one thing: THE COMMON GOOD.

So today, let's start with step one: let's pray for the people with whom we most strongly disagree. Just as you have good reasons for believing what you do, so do they. Just as you love your family and want what's best for them, so do they. It's a lazy move to turn others into a caricature or write off a whole group. Let's do the hard work of seeing each other as equally valuable, even if we disagree.

Prayer is a good way to start toward the path of the common good. Today, pray. Pray for the most irritating person in your life. Pray that they be happy, healthy, and blessed. God will begin to soften our hearts...and in that soft soil, seeds of the "common good" are grown.

PRAYER:
God, our hearts are hardened against our neighbors. Soften them. Our minds are closed to the arguments with which we disagree. Open them. Our eyes are closed to ignore the suffering of those who are different from us. Open them, too. Give us the humility and grace to want what's best for all...and the courage to fight for it. Amen.

Turning Your Back

It was in a Texas airport. My wife Jessica was having a wonderful conversation with a woman as they sat waiting for their plane to board. The conversation was cut short, however, when the woman asked her what she did for a living. When the words "I'm a Lutheran pastor" came out of Jess' mouth, the other woman frowned, turned a bit sideways in her seat to turn her back on Jess, and the conversation was over. It turns out that woman was raised in a tradition that didn't agree women should be ordained ministers, and turning her back on Jessica was her way of expressing her disapproval.

This is one of the ways we express our disapproval...we literally turn our backs on things we don't want to see, don't want to deal with, and don't want to have to face. For that reason, the phrase "to turn one's back" has become an idiom in English...meaning "to abandon or ignore someone or something."

Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness. 2 Timothy 2:19

Now, let me be quick to say: we always get ourselves into trouble when we identify people as "wicked" and turn our backs on them. The mistake the woman in the airport made was that she took an issue she disagreed with and turned her back on a whole person. This is always a mistake. Good for us to remember 24 hours before Election Day.

But I do think there is value in this simple thought from Second Timothy. From what do I need to turn away today? Are there forms of wickedness either outside or inside me that I am allowing to affect me? Is the media I choose to view like an echo chamber that only reinforces my disdain for others? Maybe that's a wickedness I can turn away from today. Are there any resentments I am holding? Maybe that's a wickedness I can turn away from today. Are there any bad habits I know are not good for me or others? Maybe that's a wickedness I can turn away from today.

God's grace is free, indeed. I don't need to correct all the errors in my life to receive it. However, like a driver heading north when they need to head south, do I need to do a U-turn to be able to see the grace? Don't forget that the word "repent" was originally a sailing term for when you needed to turn your boat around.

May we all prayerfully consider if there is something we need to turn away from today...something that is keeping us from seeing the grace either in ourselves, or in others.

PRAYER:
God, clear our minds of things that distract us from the love you show, and call us to show others. Clear our schedules of things that do us or others harm. Clear our eyes so we can see each other as you see us all. Amen.

No Escape!

Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night’,
even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

We are used to escaping...
or at least, attempting to escape.

Some of us watch T.V. at night to escape the stresses of the day. Some of us read books.  Some of us go to the movies to forget, for just a short time, the piles of pressures that wait outside the theater doors.

Some of us eat to forget. Some of us drink to forget. Some of us hide in the agendas, schedules, and to-do lists of each day, all so we don't have to face head-on the things we fear.

But this psalm reminds us that in our running, only one thing is truly inescapable: God's presence. "Where can I go from your spirit?" the psalmist cries. "Where can I flee from your presence?"

The answer: nowhere. Even at the farthest limits, even at the end of our rope, even in the deepest darkness, God is there. For "even the darkness is not dark" for God.

May God's light of love continue to shine in your life, and may it be the one thing you have to face head-on every day.

PRAYER:
God of love, open our hearts, our minds, our schedules, and our eyes so that we are able to see you present with us in every detail. Thank you for walking alongside us, when we notice it, and when we don't. Amen.

The End of the World

My Mother-in-Law never thought she would see it. A life-long Cubs fan, but being born just a couple of years after the last time the Cubs were even IN the World Series, she never thought she would see this day. In the grand scheme of things, I am still a "new" Cubs fan, having been "converted" by my wife 15 years ago, but it is unbelievable to our family that somehow, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Forget the curse of the billy goat...after 108 years, it happened. There are no words for the euphoria in our house, or in Chicago. It's all tied up with memories of Harry Caray, Ernie Banks, grandparents who taught their grandchildren how to keep score, the Ivy, the old scoreboard, and the many friends and family members who didn't make it to see this day. If you aren't from Chicago and want to try to understand the emotions, just listen to Eddie Vedder's song "All The Way."

Among pastors, the jokes have been plentiful already. One headline I read a couple of days ago said, "Second Coming of Christ Scheduled for Game 7 of the World Series." If somehow, the Cubs won the World Series, we were all sure Jesus was coming back. The end of the world would be at hand!

All jokes aside, the end of the world does not (apparently) look like the Cubs winning, no matter how amazing that was. In the Bible, we actually get a pretty clear snapshot of what the end of the world will look like:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)

This vision of heaven stands in stark contrast to the world we inhabit. We know of water as a limited resource; here it is the very throne of God. We know of trees that only produce fruit part of the year; here, the tree of life bears fruit during all 12 months. We know of a world torn by war, hunger, division, and partisan tribalism; here, the leaves of the tree have one purpose - they are for the healing of the nations. This is the end of the book of Revelation - a reminder that God's love is what has the final say.

This passage became absolutely central to me this last summer while I was on sabbatical. So central, in fact, that I currently have a tattoo artist drawing up a design that will be placed on my right forearm in just a few weeks. (I share this simply so there are fewer of you who are surprised when it happens!) For me, this vision of how things will be in the end shapes how I live now, which is the purpose of apocalyptic literature in the first place. When I am weak, I am called to linger by this river and let the leaves of the tree heal me. When I am strong, I am called to be part of this healing for others.

My prayer for you today, as you read this, is that if you are feeling weakened by the trials of life, you have the courage to linger by the river for a bit and let the healing flow to you. Take time in silence. Take time to pray and be still, as Christ's Spirit prays in you with sighs too deep for words. If you are feeling strong, my prayer is that you take the courageous step of reaching out in kindness to someone you know who is struggling...and in that way, you will BE one of the leaves of the tree, falling on those who need Christ's healing.

PRAYER:

God of living water, heal me where I am hurt, strengthen me where I am weak, and send me where I am needed. Amen.

Only Free People Can Free People

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

As we celebrated "Reformation" Sunday a couple of days ago, we remembered that the church (whatever denomination) is called to be always reforming. Change may be tough in any institution, since institutions thrive on routine, but in Christ's Church, we are called to embrace change when doing so helps us proclaim the Gospel.

However, even positive, Spirit-driven change sometimes has unintended consequences.

An important change that I appreciate in the modern church is the focus on making a difference with this Love we have been shown. Denominations such as ours do a good job at talking about, teaching, and acting on God's call "not to BE served, but to serve." At St. Luke, we talk a lot about the ways God uses us in the lives of others throughout the week. This is a positive change from the days when churches were mostly navel-gazing; the purpose was individual salvation only, and not much emphasis was put on how redeemed people then participate in God's redemption of the world.

However, I have come to realize that this positive, Spirit-driven change has caused at least one unintended consequence. I will speak only for my context, which is a suburban middle-class context, but I think the unintended consequence is that now, any time we hear a Bible story about helping others, we assume we are the ones called to help, rather than the ones who need the help.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, we assume we are the Samaritan, not the guy in the ditch. This assumption works great for those times when we are feeling strong, but when we (often secretly) feel like we ARE the guy in the ditch, assuming we are supposed to just pull ourselves out of the ditch and help others only adds to our burden and pain.

In the parable of the Lost Sheep, we assume we are called to seek the lost, no matter the cost, just like Jesus did. But what if we hear this parable and we secretly FEEL lost? Again, our Protestant work ethic swoops in and tells us, "well, find yourself! There are lost people out there, and the church is asking you to be part of the rescue mission!"

In short, when we read the Bible like this, it doesn't sound like good news...it sounds like another to-do list item for people who are already so busy we don't take time to ask for healing as it is.

Take today's reading. For many of us, we hear "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve," and we think, "yeah, I am called to serve others, just as Jesus did!" True enough. But let's pause today and recognize who we are in the story. We are not just those who serve. We need to BE served. Don't ignore the ways you are still held captive; the ways you still need someone to ransom you. Only free people can free people; are you free from the weight of brokenness, or is there something holding you back today? Pause the ask God to ransom you; to free you from your addictions (small or large), to forgive your shortcomings (noticed and ignored), and to give you a grateful heart.

If you are feeling pretty centered and free today, maybe it is your day to serve those you need.

However, if you feel held back by something...anything...grief, anxiety, worry, past mistakes, resentments...you name it...if you feel held back by those things, maybe today is your day to be ransomed. Maybe right now, as you read this, is the moment to silently pray, "God, I feel like a mess today...put the pieces back together. Forgive me. Help me to forgive others. Free me from everything that holds me back."

So...don't always assume it is your job to serve. Only free people can free people. Are you free today? Because Christ is waiting to break your chains...

PRAYER:
Almighty God, help us to be still today as you break the chains that hold us captive. Break us out of past patterns, addictions, anxiety, grief, worry, self-destructive choices, and resentment of others. Free us in your love. Then, as freed people, help us to find others that need this same freedom. Amen.

For All The Saints

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9

The Bible contains all sorts of different genres of writing; biographies, styled histories, songs, wisdom writings, and letters. These types of writing are familiar to us...we have read biographies, histories, and letters before; but there is one type of writing in the Bible that is less familiar to us...called "apocalyptic" literature. Examples in the Bible include some small sections in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, and the book of Revelation in the New Testament.

The word "apocalypse" doesn't mean "frightening terrible end of the world" as we have come to think of it in popular culture. The root word behind it simply means "revealing" or "unveiling." Picture a game show host asking for the curtain to be pulled back on the proverbial "Door Number 1" and you get the idea. The curtains are pulled aside and we get something revealed to us.

The reading from Revelation above is revealing something important to us about those who have gone on ahead of us...they hold palm branches in their hands!

While this may not seem like a big deal at first, think about the last time you knew of palm branches in the Bible. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, the people participate in what was for them a familiar ritual; a military conquest parade. Like our own practice of a "ticker tape" parade, palm branches were thrown down when soldiers would return from battle victorious. The crowds that lined the streets for Jesus were predicting he would lead a revolution that would kick out the Roman occupiers and restore independence to Jerusalem. Indeed, just a few days after that, they learned that this God conquers through love and not through war.

Today is All Saints' Day; a day historically set aside to remember those who have died. Who are the saints in your life who have gone on to glory? Maybe friends or family members; maybe someone who was a "giant" in the faith and an example for you. Take a moment of peace...a deep breath...a little silence...and hold their names in your mind and in your heart. Then, re-read the passage above.

After that passage, it goes on to say this:
"They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 9:16-17

Indeed, there has been a victory! Throw the Palm Branches down! Today, we can celebrate that, regardless of the circumstances of their death, these saints who you remember today are part of a vast multitude no one can count...singing praise to the one who brought them through the great ordeal, with palm branches in their hands! They are wrapped in white robes, covering up every sin and scar and pain! No more tears, no more suffering...they rest forever in endless praise.

Today, I give thanks for those of you reading this devotion, and for those who you remember. I give thanks for my stepfather, Steve, who joined this crowd just one year ago...and for all those who have been "giants" in the faith for me. I sing my own praise to the God who holds them, and us, in his love.

PRAYER:
Loving God, we thank you for the saints in our lives, for those who have entered into your more immediate presence, and for those still with us. For all the saints we give you thanks, in Christ’s name. Amen.*

*Prayer taken from the Moravian Daily Texts