My 2016 Lenten Journey--Day 12

February 21, 2016 ~ Day 12

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

Matthew 5:38-48 ~ These teachings may be among the most difficult of all Jesus’ teaching. Never retaliate? Never? Turn the other cheek? Really?

Give to everyone who begs from you? Won’t that just reinforce their life-style of irresponsibility? or is it really my business to evaluate their level of responsibility--to judge their worthiness to receive my charity? And what if they don't measure up to my standard? Did Jesus qualify his statement; did he leave me an "escape clause?"

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’” This “ethic of limited retaliation actually was an improvement over the previous ethic of unlimited retaliation, which usually led to escalating retaliation. But now this: “Never retaliate!” Yeah, but...

And how about this: “Love your enemy?” But what if my enemy is a Muslim terrorist? or a child molester? What if he raped and murdered my daughter? Don't I get a 48-hour "kick-out" clause?

Surely Jesus wasn’t serious! He was just a naïve idealist, and his teachings are straight from “Never Never Land!” You try to live like that and people will take advantage of you! You try to live like that and people will destroy you!

You mean, like crucify you?

Hmmmm. This following Jesus thing may be more difficult than I anticipated.

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9 NRSV)

‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim

My 2016 Lenten Journey--Day 11

February 20, 2016 ~ Day 11

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

Matthew 5:27-37 ~ in these ten verses, Jesus’ teachings about adultery, divorce and oaths can be summed up quickly: “your behavior is but a reflection of what’s in your heart.” Pure thoughts and intentions virtually never produce sinful behavior. Theologian, Paul Tillich, says that sin always is a state (of mind—a condition of the soul) before it is an action.

At my age takes consistent effort to sustain any degree of physical fitness, and If I slack off from regular exercise for as little as a week, the aches and stiffness are back. My mind and my awareness, on the other hand, seem always to be in hyper drive! It seems as though I’m always the disciplinarian: over my body to keep it going, and over my mind to keep it from running away!

In the early days of personal computers, there was a phrase, “garbage in, garbage out” (sometimes in the form of the acronym, “GIGO”). A computer can’t output anything that isn’t first input. The human mind is not altogether different, although it’s more a matter of degree, because the human mind is always in “input” mode—even when we sleep.

Cut to the chase: the way to manage my behavior is to discipline my mind and my awareness. While my mind is always on “input mode”, and I don’t always have control over what goes in, I do have control over what I access. That’s why, if I am to follow Jesus, it’s so important to make time daily for intentional input: reading and study (in addition to sermon preparation), and prayer.

My primary hope in prayer is to align my will with God’s will. It’s a daunting task, and sometimes I actually make a connection. Still, there is value in the effort, even when the connection is not made. Life is more about the journey – and about whom I follow. If I follow Jesus, I don’t need to worry about the destination—or about my behavior.

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9 NRSV)

‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim

My 2016 Lenten Journey--Day 10

February 19, 2016

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

* * * * *

Matthew 5:23-24 (NRSV) So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Now Jesus has quit preaching and gone to meddling! I remember when my college suite mates got into a tiff that lasted several days, and almost came to blows on a couple of occasions. When one of them discovered he had been in the wrong, he apologized and extended his hand in reconciliation. The other suite mate looked at the proffered hand for a few seconds, and then retorted, “Hell! I’d rather be mad!”

He was teasing, of course, and then accepted the extended hand; but there is a growing environment in this country that can be expressed by my suite mates tease: “Hell! I’d rather be mad.” It's called "righteous (or self-righteous) indignation;" and it feels soooooooo good!

Jesus jumps right in the middle of that attitude. In 55 years as s a pastor I have encountered relatively few conflicts that were totally one-sided. Usually, both persons in any conflict bear partial responsibility. The saying goes, “It takes two to tango.” Most of the time it also takes two to fight; and yet, I have absolutely no clue how many times I’ve encountered interpersonal conflict in which one or both parties feel it’s the other party’s obligation to apologize. Few people are willing to stand accountable in times of conflict. It’s always the other person’s fault (“It all started when he hit me back!”)

Some people relish their anger and wallow in it. Jesus is having none of it. Notice that he doesn’t say, “When you remember that you have something against your brother or sister.” That’s the way we want it to be; but Jesus reverses it: “When you remember that your brother or sister has something against you.” No matter who is at fault, if I am to follow Jesus, I will initiate reconciliation! Always!

And note: in the midst of a religious culture that valued faithful adherence to a rigid liturgical and offertory system, Jesus gives reconciliation a higher priority than liturgical faithfulness! The prophets, notably Amos (5:21-24, et. al.), Jeremiah (7:1-7, et. al.), Hosea (6:6) and Isaiah (1:11-17, et. al.), had preached that priority 800 years earlier; but the message hadn’t been heard.

Has it been heard yet? Would I just “rather be mad?”

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NRSV)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,
Jim

My 2016 Lenten Journey -- Day 9

February 18, 2016

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

The Sermon on the Mount continues: Matthew 5:17-20.

The Scribes and Pharisees were uber conservative, known for their self-righteous legalism. They believed it was possible to live a perfect life, and were pretty sure they were doing so. The trick, they believed, was to obey all the rules. There was a teaching that said if all of Israel would keep the law for one day, Messiah would come. But the distinction had become very vague between the laws of God and the rules of the Pharisees. And they weren’t the same thing!

From early on it seemed to them that Jesus played fast and loose with the law. Social conventions (including religion) tend to become ends in themselves, at which time they generally become counterproductive. Such was the case with the Scribes and Pharisees in their obsession with perfection.

The Pharisees obsessed over observing the letter of their rules and then boasting of their righteousness. Jesus said they missed the point. The tail was wagging the dog. He said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (vs. 20).

Jesus didn’t discount the law; indeed, he said the dotting of every “I” and the crossing of every “t” would be kept with integrity “until all is accomplished” (vs. 18). Until what is accomplished? What was God up to? Obviously the Scribes and Pharisees didn’t know—in spite of their attempts to make it all happen through their own efforts.

I’ve read the last chapter; so I think I know. But, could it be that my efforts to figure it all out fall as short as theirs? Perhaps I should simply celebrate the mystery and follow Jesus, trusting that where he leads is where God’s purpose is accomplished.

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NRSV)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim

My 2016 Lenten Journey -- Day 8

February 17, 2016

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

Matthew 5:13-16 (NRSV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Jesus isn’t commanding us to be salt or light. He is describing who we are, if we are his followers. We are salt. We are light. The only question is (1) whether we’ve “lost our taste,” or (2) whether we’ve hidden our light. I think there’s a third factor in the equation. We are light; but we choose the source we reflect or radiate.

I remember a preacher once saying, show me your checkbook and I’ll tell you what is important to you. I can spend time with your kids and tell a lot about you. We are light.

Do I reflect Jesus, or do I reflect the materialistic values of a culture in which “image is everything?”

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NRSV)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim

My 2016 Lenten Journey -- Day 7

February 16, 2016

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

In yesterday’s phase of this Lenten Journey Jesus called his disciples with the words, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Cool metaphor; but what does it mean? The disciples used nets; but when I catch fish I set a hook in the fish’s jaw and yank and crank while the fish thrashes and splashes in an attempt to get away. In fishing for people, shall I use baited hooks, like a carnival hawker or a used car commercial on TV? I’m not sure that metaphor works for us today. I hope not.

But follow the text (what a concept!). Immediately following the call of the disciples there is a general summary of the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry. It includes going among the people, teaching, preaching “the good news of the kingdom” and healing the sick. Is that what he meant by “fishing for people?”

Then Chapter 5 of Matthew begins with what we call the Sermon on the Mount. It begins with what we call The Beatitudes. I’ll not use space to reproduce it here; but read it. In those eleven verses Jesus describes nine qualities of human behavior that are blessed. These eleven verses are among the most beloved verses of Holy Scripture. They establish a standard of value by which we can all compare our own lives. Am I “poor in spirit?” I know I have mourned. Am I “meek”; do I “hunger and thirst for righteousness” in my life?

I’m drawn to these values. I’m not “hooked,” but I am enfolded in a net of grace as these words draw me closer to who I want to be.

Can I cast that same net?

“Lord, I want to be like Jesus

Ina my heart, ina my heart…”

 “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NRSV)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim

My Lenten Journey 2016 #6

 February 15, 2016

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like. ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

Matthew 4: 18-19 (NRSV) As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

One of the great mysteries about Jesus, at least for me, is that the families of the disciples are rarely mentioned. Jesus called them to leave their jobs and follow him. OK for the disciples. They can scrounge and do day labor to earn the necessities; but, what about the families they left behind?

I sang with a gospel quartet for twelve years. We sang several concerts most weekends, and spent a week of our vacation touring each year. We released two albums, and promoted two singles nation-wide. Our singles made some significant charts and enjoyed valuable air time in several radio markets in the southeastern states, but we were not able to spend the time traveling and promoting them; so their impact was short-lived.

One of our group was single, and another was retired. Both of them favored either quitting our jobs or taking an extended leave of absence (without pay) to take the quartet on the road. But, two of us had families with kids still at home, and no source of income other than our jobs.  So we stayed put.

When I’ve focused on God’s call upon God’s people, I’ve virtually always said, “Whom God calls, God equips.” Was that the principle at work when Jesus’ disciples left their jobs and went on the road with him? Would that have been the principle at work had we left our jobs and taken our quartet on the road? How do I discern the difference between God’s call and my ego?

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Do I have the faith to do that?

“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NRSV)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim