What are we going to do now?

What are Christians going to do now?  The Christmas season is over.  (Oh wait - please don't jump down my throat about the whole 12 days of Christmas stuff.  Just go up to someone and say Merry Christmas today and check out the look they give you.)  What battles are we going to fight?  Where will our 'culture warriors' go?

The week before Christmas is supposed to be a time where we are in reflection about the Incarnation.  In the midst of the busyness of the season and finishing the mandatory holiday outings for shopping, wrapping, and visiting, somewhere we are supposed to think a little bit about God becoming flesh for us and for our salvation.  This can be a challenge but it's something that is important to me.  I make it a point to 'not be busy' the week before Christmas.  So while I am trying do this I am overwhelmed with Duck Dynasty.  By the way - Go duck yourself. 

I have friends on both sides of this issue.  This is not a blog for that - we have been overwhelmed with hipsters and conservatives waxing all poetic about this already.  My point is that as a younger generation Christian, I look to my elders with almost shame this time every year because all the ranting and raving about Keeping Christ in Christmas sort of stuff.  Christmas is over.  Did we succeed at keeping Him in it?  Did we help people truly remember that Jesus is the reason for the season with all the annoying times we have to say that?  Just stop. 

What are we going to rant about now old timer Christian dude?  Back to the same old stuff? It's like we don't have a platform in which to offer a genuine Christian witness or voice.  The problem is that the whole manger in the town square argument is just ridiculous.  Stop it, please.  Can we actually be a people that looks to issues that are truly important.  Now that we have been the cultural warriors for the season of Advent, Epiphany is upon us and we look to the light.  What are you going to do with the light that has come into the world?  What will your voice cry out?  Justice doesn't have a season.  It's always needed.  Maybe we can give voice to something that really matters.    

Not a Silent Night

Christmas Eve 2013

Not a Silent Night

God come not because it is peaceful in our lives, but because of the chaos.  That's the reason for Christmas.  

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Raising Jesus

Mary, Mother of God

Advent Sermon Series

12 year old Jesus in the Temple - Mary treasured all these things in her heart. 

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A Pierced Soul

Advent Series

Mary, The Mother of God

Mary at the Foot of the cross - what did Christmas mean to her then?

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Those with Hope

Advent Series -

Mary, the Mother of God. 

Christmas through the eyes of Mary.  What did Christmas mean to Mary at the end of her life? 

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The child with the star on his head

It's that time of the year - Hooray! Nothing but Sufjan Stevens all day everyday until Christmas!

Here are the lyrics to "The Child with the Star on His Head"

Once in a while, you may think you see better than the others
Scrambling around in the dark with your drum
There is a time when young men must grow up and be brothers
Are you afraid of growing too fast?

And the child with the star on his head
All of the world rests on his shoulders
And the mother with the child on her breast
Blessed is she among women

And the trust we put in things
In small ideas, in engineering
The world of sports and second best
In consequences we will not put to rest

Why crawl around in the snow 
When you know I am right here
Waiting for you to expect something more?

For I am warm, I am calling you close to my table
Where I have made us a feast 
For the year of troubles, they have gone
The winter brings a Christmas song

And the child with the star on his head
All of the world rests on his shoulders
And the mother with the child on her breast 
Blessed is she among women

Does all the world know better than
When Christmas comes the troubles end
The troubles end, the troubles end

And by the time there’s nothing left
An empty tree, a winter vest
A winter vest, a winter vest

And all the trust we put in things
In dictionaries, in engineering
In calendars, and television
And father’s friends, and consequences

Service

Transformed Living - 

Final week of Series - Service

"You're gonna serve somebody."

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Freely Receive - Freely Give

Series - Transformed Living

Gifts. 

As you have so freely received - freely give. 

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Metaphors for Transformation

Metaphors for Transformation

by Nancy Thomas

I like a quick miracle - 

the slap-dash comedy

of a here's-mud-in-your-eye healing, 

the hilarity of the lame man's leap,

the now-you-see-it-now-you-don't vanishing act 

of the leper's sores, 

the amazing multiplied bread.

I love to see him pull death 

from his black forever hat, 

and instantly change it to a pidgeon

or a sun-flower.

I wish all transformations were so quick, 

so silver-slick and sudden

The deeper changes move slowly.

The Maker nudges, 

and root hairs grope in the dark,

grubbing the soil

for the words that bring life.

Sap swims slowly up the trunk, 

heavy, thick, resisting the downward pull.

In a narrow path it feels its way,

searches all trajectories,

inches out to the tips of the smallest twigs.

As it goes it hums a subtle song, 

a dim but certain gospel.

The tree hushes in anticipation,

waits for spring.  

Presence

Transformed Living 

Ecclesiastes 4

Two are better than one. 

A message on the presence of God and the presence with one another. 

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Invitation to Transformed Living

Dear Tabernacle member and friend:

Exciting days are upon us!

Last week we introduced a life-changing opportunity for our church family, and it’s a chance for us to dive deeper into all that God has for us, both individually and as a congregation.

In the month of November we will be going through a sermon series entitled, “Transformed Living.”  This is a time where we will be looking at four major areas: our prayers, presence, gifts, and service.  If those four words sound familiar to you they should, they are the four areas of the membership vow that describe how we will support the church.  This is a stewardship series that looks at the full picture of the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

To deepen your experience, I want to encourage you to participate in each of the Sundays of worship and even join in one of our small group/Sunday school classes.  This Sunday we are launching new classes for adult small groups!  Please do your best to attend worship services in the coming weeks, I’d hate for you to miss a moment as we all embark on this journey together.    

At the end of the study, we’ll all take part in Commitment Sunday, when we’ll have a chance to put our faith into action. For now, let’s focus on the task of praying for one another as we begin this journey together.  And please, join me in prayer that God would indeed “throw open the floodgates of heaven,” as he promises in Malachi 3:10, and pour out so much blessing individually and corporately that we don’t have room to contain it.

There’s so much more to God than we can even imagine. Over the course of this stewardship study, however, we’ll have an opportunity to see Him—and His presence in our lives—in an entirely new way.  Join us for this special time together.    

Sincerely, 

Pastor Michael Smith

Prayers

Transformed Living Sermon Series

Living from the inside out - by our prayers. 

Luke 18

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The Lost Brother

The story of the Lost Son (Prodigal Son) focuses upon the older brother.  Hear why there is an older brother in all of us. 

Luke 15: 11-32

Lost & Found Sermon Series

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The Prodigal Father

Lost and Found Series: 

Luke 15: 11-32

Recklessly Extravagant, Having Spent Everything - sound more like the Father than the Son. 

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The Lost Sons

Luke 15: 11-32

The Parable of the Lost Son - Both sons were lost.  

Which one makes it into the house?

Sermon Series - Lost & Found

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John and Charles Wesley

Rev. Dr. Robert Williams shares about the impact of the Wesleys on the Methodist Movement.  He is the General Secretary on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church.  

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two women.

A tale of two women.

One woman stands in front of me because she lost her son to a heroin OD.  He was 23.
Her questions are difficult to answer and she searches for hope in the midst of her devastation.  To this point what we offered to her as a church was not a place of hope or community of faith.  It was a seemingly irrelevant institution that would have been the last place to be on a Sunday morning.  Too many important things to do and tasks to get done.  Why come to church?  What have we invited her to? In a moment of crisis she turns to the church to offer comfort and peace.

Tonight, I attended the Lower Township Symposium on Substance Abuse.  I appreciated the response from our community leaders because they are willing to be open and honest about the issues and concerns in our town.  Other politicians in our state hide behind their office and turn a blind eye to the problems to make sure that their communities hold to a pristine image in the media.  Our town has a problem with heroin.  Every town does.  We are willing to acknowledge the problem and seek a solution. Here are just a few facts and figures of interest -

Usage of heroin with 18-25 year olds - up 24%
91 ODs so far this year - 5 last week alone.
Heroin is going for about $20 a bag.  Over 3500 bags were seized this year alone.
Adolescents - (15-18)  2009 reported a 9% usage.  2013 shows a 27% usage
Our counseling and treatment centers are revealing a 154% increase in treatment for heroin.  A noticeable impact is seen on younger students.

Our Superintendent of Schools gave a great talk about how we need to have a cultural change, an attitude change, and learn how to take ownership and respond to individual accountability.  This is one of the hardest, but most important, challenges of all.  In a culture that wants to blame someone else this is tough.  It seems that everyone I talk to about their problems has someone else to point the finger at.  It is certainly not 'their' fault.  How do we recognize our need if we are so quick to blame others for the problems?

Today another woman stood in front of me.  She is removing her membership from our church because she felt like she wasn't being 'fed'.  Ah yes, the classic 'being fed' line.  Basically what this means is that I don't like the Pastor and am not able to listen to what s/he says.  I appreciate her honesty though.  I think it takes true courage to say it to someone's face.  She has been a long time member of the church.  The challenge is that we took one of the many sacred cows, and not only tipped it over, but BBQ'ed it and served it for lunch.  She didn't want to eat this kind of meal.  The change was too much, her institution that she loved was different than the way it used to be, and she is leaving.

I am upset about both of the women that stand before me. The experienced and more reasonable pastors would suggest to me that I should grieve about both women.  I don't.  I grieve the first rather than the latter.  The latter, for me, has had decades of an institution that meant something to her.  She will find the same irrelevant and insider-focused culture in the next church she is attending.  I am not upset about her salvation or her eternal destiny.  I am grieved that this is the product of disciples that we have produced too often in the mainline church.  After all the decades of discipleship we have created folks that don't know how to feed themselves.  Infants still.  Look - the language of being fed in church needs to stop.  Or at least let's talk about it in its fullness.  If people are allowed to talk about being fed or not fed, can we realize that we have spiritually overweight Christians?  Those who take in but never give back?  We have eaters but very few exercisers.

For those of you (all two of you who read this blog) - What bothers you more?  The upset church member who is leaving, or the mother who has never come?

The Lost Coin

Lost & Found Sermon Series

Luke 15: 8-10

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chasing the storm

"This house is safe and warm, but I was made to chase the storm."  - John Mayer

Comfort zone - comfort zone. What does this place look like to you?  We talk about this all the time, but the reality is that I don't think we can fully express what this looks like to us.  This is because it is the safest part of who we are.  We can't express it because it is us.  It is our default even when we don't want it to be.

We run from storms. We fear storms.  We want the storms to be calmed.  That is unless you are a storm chaser.  There has to be moments where we step out of our warm houses and be storm chasers.  I think in fact that there is a created part of us that wants to chase it.  We are just to afraid sometimes.

Rediscover who you are.  Maybe you need to go chase some storms.

The Lost Sheep

Luke 15: 1-7

The Lost Sheep

Lost & Found Sermon Series

The joy is not in being found, but in the finding. 

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Anniversary Sunday 2013

Our Annual Anniversary Sunday. Celebrating the past, living in the presence of the present, and hopeful for the future.  

Jeremiah 20:9

Isaiah 43

Rekindling the Fire

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genius of Mayer

I love it when we critique celebrities, (who we don't even know) because they are supposed to be the moral compass for our country, children, or lives.  While there has been a lot said about particular celebrities recently, I wanted to turn my thoughts to John Mayer.  I am a fan.  Most of the time when I mention that, someone responds by saying something about the not-so-recent-scandal that he had.  Yes he said some foolish things to reporters and is maybe not the nicest guy at certain points in his life.  Isn't this the whole point of his fleeing to Montana for the sake of restarting?  Reference Shadow Days - by the way.  We don't like it when our foes become admirable.  We don't like it when people become real, particularly when they break out of the boxes we have so carefully placed them in.  Let me tell you a little bit about John.

He is a genius.  Not so sure?  Go watch him play.  This is his gift, his sanctuary, his place in the world. He was made for this.  While watching him in concert a few days ago the word that kept coming to my mind about his playing was that he 'wails'.  I also appreciate his range, musicality, stylistic creativity, and of course lyrics.   He is trying to say something and at the same time he manages to 'entertain' us along the way.  Why do we want geniuses to be everyday people?  Let Einstein have his crazy hair.

I was in the hospital room visiting with a church member.  Their child was very sick (those are the hardest visits).  The doctor came in and he had terrible bed-side manor.  The doctor walked out and I could tell that the mother was not comforted.  She wanted comfort and the doctor didn't give it.  Good thing I was there, I guess.  Here is what I said: "I want that doctor."  Why did I say that?  I told her that he was the kind of doctor that would get the job done.  He was a genius.  He probably spends all of his time thinking about science that he doesn't have the time to pick up on social cues.  This is the kind of doctor that I want when my child is sick.  I don't want a Jerry Seinfeld or a Santa Claus.  Give me the awkward genius every time.  This for me is John.  So gifted in his area that yes some other areas may lack.  It is these suspected 'deficiencies' as a person that I believe helps make him to be the artist that we love to hear.  Remember - if he walked up to you and had a cup of coffee, you would like him.  You may not just like all of his life choices.  Guess what - he probably won't like yours either.  But last time I checked, I am not a genius and you aren't probably either.

1 John 3:16

How do we know what love is?

The answer - This is how we know - Jesus laid down his life for us, we ought to lay our lives down for one another. 

This is the self-giving and self-sacrificial love of God in and through us. 

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John 3:16

The Gospel in Minature.

Rev. Bruce Phillips continues in our series - 3:16

"Faith affects how we live here and how we live hereafter"

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The beginning of wisdom - 1 Kings 3:16

Most of us have heard of the famous story of how Solomon solves a great problem with two women claiming to be the mother of a child.  Solomon's answer - cut the baby in two!  Is this bringing back some memories? Did you know that these women were prostitutes?  Solomon is the most powerful man in the world at this point yet he still has time to help two desperate women.  Hear this story anew! 

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Crossing Over - Joshua 3:16

3:16 - Sermon Series

Joshua 3:16 - the people of God crossed over the river.

A lesson in context- a before, during and after of Joshua's life. 

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Judas - Measuring Worth

John 13

Sermon Series - The Other Guys. 

Our series concludes with one of the most 'infamous' of Jesus' disicples. 

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The day I've always feared.

It has arrived.  I knew it was inevitable, but part of me wished it would have taken longer. My son now realizes that I am gone.  When I leave for work in the morning he asks me not to go.  When he realizes that it is impossible for me to stay he tries to find things for me to do to keep me longer at the house.  "Daddy, get me this please." If anything it buys him a few more minutes.  With the end in sight he begins to negotiate a chance for him to come with me.  Each day when I leave the house a dance begins.  This waltz is a heart-wrenching, gut-checking reality of having to leave my children. Back and forth I enter the dance knowing what the outcome will be.  I will leave. My only hope is that I will return to see them and to pick up where we left off.  Some days my son continues to go back and play with his toys.  Other times he extends the mourning process (which always makes things fun for my wife).  He is confused.  

This confusion is also found in the disciples in John 14. "They are like children playing on the floor, only to look up and see Mom and Dad putting on their coats.  The children have 3 questions, always 3 questions: "Where are you going? Can we go? Then who will stay with us?"  Jesus' response - I am going to my Father and your Father.  You cannot come now; you can come later.  But I will not leave you as orphans.  I will send another friend, another helper who will never leave, but who will stay with you forever."(Fred Craddock)

I have to go. This is part of life.  So it is with the disciples.  Part of the life of a disciple is the anticipation for when Jesus will be back and our world will be safe again.  This new heaven and new earth may look different, but it will be home to us.  It is as if he never left at all.

Thomas the Hipster

THe Other Guys - 

John 20: 19-29

Jesus gives us what we need - as weird as it may be. 

Lessen doubt by increasing faith. 

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Simon the Zealot

Luke 6 - Simon the Zealot

The Other Guys: Sermon Series

What do you get when you take a Zealot and a Tax collector and put them in the same room?  The kingdom of God fulfilled. 

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The other James

The Other Guys - Sermon Series

Mark 15: 33-41

The only thing we know about James is from the 5 times his name is mentioned in the NT.  He is known by his relationships (Son of Alphaeus, Son of Mary, James the Younger.)  

Hear his story. 

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Thaddaeus the Questioner

Sermon Series: The Other Guys

John 14: 18-24

We know Thaddaeus by his question in John 14 - but did you know that his name was actually Judas?

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Nathanael the Seeker

John 1: 45-51

Who is Nathanael?  Who is Bartholemew?  This is the story of Nathanael-Bartholemew.  

Hear the story of a searcher, a seeker, and discover how Christ finds him. 

Sermon Series: The Other Guys.

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Finding Philip

The Other Guys

John 1: 43-51

The calling of Philip - Jesus invites even the particular and detailed into discipleship.  It's not just about being a Peter all the time, but God welcomes Philips' too. 

"Lost and Insecure, you Found me." - The Fray

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Why Doesn't God Intervene?

Rev. Bruce Phillips - Pastor of Visitation

Pastor Bruce shares with us about some of life's toughest questions.  Looking through the perspective of Job 30: 16-28, Pastor Bruce offer a message of hope and encouragement. 

June 9, 2013

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The Presence of the Holy Spirit

Who, What & Why of the Holy Spirit - 

Galatians 5 - Fruit of the Spirit

The Presence of the Holy Spirit - keep in step with the Spirit. 

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Beasts of the Southern Wild

Underneath the highways and nestled in the shadows of the overpasses are beasts.  Beasts of the Southern Wild.  They are a forgotten people, those who we have left to be the images of stereotypes or our unknown fears.  They are beasts mind you, beasts.  This week 21 people from NJ went to study these beasts.  We have become them.  The glitz of Mardi Gras and the shine of the Superdome do not overwhelm the powerful images left on the minds and hearts of the JUNO.  

I want to be cohesive.
I am a beast. A Beast of the Southern Wild.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Who, What, and Why of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1: 4-8

The Spirit gives power to be a witness.

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The Person of the Holy Spirit

Who, What, and Why of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday - the birth of the church. 

The gift of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2: 1-4

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Conditional Forgiveness

Matthew 6: 14-16

Matthew 18: 21-35

The parable of the unmerciful servant shapes our understanding of what it means for God to 'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us'.  

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When Better becomes Worse

Forgiveness in Marriage: When Better becomes Worse

Colossians 3: 12-14

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the last unicorn

This Sunday's message is looking at forgiveness in marriage.  In my reading, studying, and even listening I came across a powerful song that speaks to the brokenness of marriages through infidelity. 

The Last Unicorn by Passenger

Well we’ll kiss for that’s how it begins,
We’ll embrace just to warm our skins.I’ll think of her and you’ll think of him.

And we’ll talk to keep the silence from our ears,And we’ll laugh because we’re so close to tears,We’re just lonely, you know, that’s why we’re here.

Cause you don’t taste like you should,And you don’t fit in my arms like she would.Lying in the dark, it’s understood:We are both lost.And we won’t be found.

We will wake up with each other in our paws,You cover over white bits like I’ve not seen them before.We’ll say goodbye and then we’ll say no more.

Cause hearts won’t buy love and nor will they sell,And there is no love in this hotel.Though we’re walking home we know too wellWe are both lostWe are both lostAnd we won’t be found.

She was my compass,He was your map,We’ve come too far to be turning back.

And we’ll sit on our single beds,Nothing on our hearts and tears on our threads,For we know the last unicorn is dead.

Letting Go

Forgiveness in Families

Genesis 40

The story of Joseph

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Forgiving the Unforgivable

Forgiveness Series - Week 2

Romans 12, Matthew 18, Matthew 5 for Scripture reference:

How do we forgive others when they do not ask for forgiveness?

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The Need for Forgiveness

Forgiveness Message Series

Week 1 - The need for forgiveness

Psalm 32.  

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Easter People

How long does it take for us to forget that we are an Easter people?   For me, like many pastors, it is humbling to have the opportunity to stand before a congregation and speak.  It is the congregation that grants me the right to speak.  Even though the calling may come from God, it is the people who give the authority because they show up each week.  With this said, it is always humorous to think about what people have said to me as they leave the sanctuary each Sunday. 

I remember teaching on the verse ‘do all things without grumbling and complaining’ and wouldn’t you know it, the dear Jesus-loving folks just couldn’t even make it out of the room before they had to let me know what was on their mind about something going wrong.  At least let me have the surety of a job well done and hold your grumbling until you get outside in the parking lot like the rest of American Christians.  Some have even been able to make it all the way to the lunch table.  Now that is really getting it.   

Of all days when we celebrate the victory of God, the joy of the Resurrection, and the hope found in Christ, I thought we could at least have a moment after the service where we could wish each other Happy Easter and live in the beauty of the day of Resurrection.  Well… not quite.  Right after hearing a message about trusting God for the new things He will do and the new day He has brought, here we go living in the past once again. 

How quick we forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do.  Let’s take a moment to learn and remember together.

Easter people, raise your voices,

sounds of heaven in earth should ring.

Christ has brought us heaven’s choices;

heavenly music, let it ring.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing.

I wonder what sort of choices heaven has… does it look any different than the way we choose things?  What if we could choose, as even heaven so desires.

Fear of death can no more stop us

from our pressing here below.

For our Lord empowered us to

triumph over every foe.

Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.

If we no longer fear death, what then do we fear?  Why do we fear those who are different from us?  Why do we fear the unknown?

Every day to us is Easter,

with its resurrection song.

When in trouble move the faster

To our God who rights the wrong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! See the power of heavenly throngs. 

Today is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Every day to us is Easter.  What a powerful thought.

Easter people, raise your voices,

sounds of heaven in earth should ring.

Christ has brought us heaven’s choices;

heavenly music let it ring.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Easter people, let us sing!

Peace to you, Easter people.

llegitimi non carborundum

The Open Tomb

The tomb is not just empty, it's open.

Ephesians 2: 4-10

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Jesus the Prophet

An Interfaith Dialogue with Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz of Beth Judah Temple in Wildwood NJ and Rev. Michael Smith of Tabernacle UMC. 

What is the role of the prophets and how is Jesus' ministry prophetic in nature?

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retreating to the familiar

When we are afraid, when we do not know the way, and when we have lost our path our natural response is to retreat to the familiar.  When courage asks us to move forward, the familiar woos us back to the place of safety and static.

On a week where the disciples denied, betrayed, and fled, it is not so uncommon for us to remember how they retreat to the older versions of themselves.  I never knew the man - yes it seems that you still really don't.

Where have you retreated?  Don't be shocked if it's a place of familiarity.

Relationships

Mosaic - Relationships

Matthew 27: 57-61

Some begin the journey and others end it with us.  Hear the story of Joseph of Arimathea.

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Resources

Mark 6: 34-44

Mosaic - Resources

What happens when God can take what little we may have and use it for the sake of someone else?  

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Responsibility

John 14: 1-3

Mosaic: Responsibility - We are responsible for one another.  Am I my brother's keeper?  Yes, you are.

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we are the outsiders

In his new book, Deep and Wide, Andy Stanley looks at the mission of the church.  One of the most thought provoking questions asked is, 'who is the church for?'  It is not a shock that in the church today even though we are full aware of why Jesus came - (to seek and save the lost- Luke 9) and those who he came to call - (not the righteous, but sinners- Mark 2), most of the way we do things is for those who are already found.  Our budgets, ministries, programs, or fill in the blank to whatever term your church may use, are all clearly around another mission; keeping those in the church happy.  The most popular Christian book ever sold, other than the Bible, is  The Purpose Driven Life.  It begins by saying - "It's not about you."  How is it that we can "know" this, but not actually practice it?

We have forgotten that it is not about those on the inside or the outside.  For in fact, we are the outsiders.  Let's stop having the conversation around reaching out or going outside of our building.  Let's begin at the source and ask the tough question - why are we doing all of this stuff anyway?  Is it for us or someone else?  Maybe if we can look a little deeper we'll ultimately discover that there are no insiders or outsiders.  We are all the outsiders.

The Outsiders - Needtobreathe

Shortfalls and little sins
Close calls where no one wins
Stand tall but running thin
I'm wearing thin
Oh, why are we keeping score?

'Cause if you're not laughing
Who is laughing now?
I've been wondering if we start sinking
Could we stand our ground?
And through everything we've learned
We've finally come to terms
We are the outsiders
We are the outsiders

Rejection

Mosaic Lenten Series

Rejection - Matthew 9: 9-13

Jesus - the rejected - goes to the rejected, and ultimately creates acceptance for you and me. 

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a wee little man

It is unfortunate that we can only think of Zacchaeus as the 'wee little man' that we know him to be through the infamous Sunday school song.  Poor guy.  He is much more than that.  No one ever sings about him being a 'son of Abraham', do they?  This is what Jesus calls him.  Why don't we sing about that?

There is a powerful word from the passage in Luke 19.  It is the word, 'too'.  In referencing him to be a 'son of Abraham', Jesus makes sure to use this word.  Here is what it says from Luke 19:9 - 

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Why does Jesus speak like this?  On whose behalf is he speaking for?  Many might think that in the beautiful declaration that Jesus is speaking Zacchaeus' new identity into being. However, with the use of the word, 'too', he includes a different listener into his hearing.  He is not so much speaking to Zacchaeus, but to others, even us.  

How many times have we placed others on the outside of our category, group, or faith, while all along they were part of the 'too'.  Jesus is inclusive on this point.  He includes Zacchaeus as part of the great faith story that we share.  

Who are those that we have tried to keep on the outside that Jesus has been trying to say to us, 'Yes, this person, too, is a Son/Daughter of Abraham'.  

Regret

Mosaic Series

Lent 2013 - Regret.  

Luke 19: 1-10

The story of Zaccheaus is lifted up as an example for us to move past our 'past' and into the new life that Christ offers.  

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Sister Winter

It’s cold.

With our eyes focused upon the weekly forecast of potential snow, rain, or other frigid temperatures, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about Sister Winter.

Many have commented to me that Easter is early this year.  As we plan our ‘Easter Egg Hunts’ we not only have to plan on rain, but snow contingency plans.  Lovely.

With Easter being so early it can draw us deeper in the season that the Church refers to as Lent.  Though not all take part in some form of observance, most could probably relate to this season being a time of prayer, sacrifice, and fasting.  This is a time in the church where we try to get out into the wilderness, spiritually speaking.  What better way than for us to have Lent during the winter.  Easter comes with the new birth of Spring and we see life being renewed, but we still need that wilderness experience of winter.   

Unfortunately, for some reason God seems to do the best character-development work when we are in the wilderness.  Throughout the Biblical text we see men and women out in the wilderness and in the ‘wintertime’ of their spiritual lives and walk with God that God decides to do something new.  Jesus himself went out into the wilderness and was actually led by the Spirit into such a place.  If I was God, then we would learn the most in the summertime of our faith, but I am not God.  And in fact, we glad – God knows what He is doing.  God’s ways are different than our ways, and often – we need to be out in the wilderness. 

Don’t be afraid of the winter.  If we are honest with ourselves, we find ourselves there more often that we like.  The circumstances and situations of our lives have placed us in periods of restlessness, frustration, anxiety, and depression.  As difficult as those places are, God shapes us there.  Embrace the winter – spring is coming.       

“Oh my friends I've begun to worry right

Where I should be grateful, I should be satisfied

Oh my heart I would clap and dance in place

With my friends I have so much pleasure to embrace

But my heart is returned to sister winter

But my heart is as cold as ice”

 - Sufjan Stevens

Restlessness

Mosaic Lenten Series - 

God take take the broken pieces of our lives and create His masterpiece.  

This week - Restlessness.  Matthew 11: 28-30

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bow down to me

Matthew 4: 8-11

The final installment of the Jesus' Temptation series.  Where are we tempted to seek power or control?

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Justice & Compassion

There is a man who is drowning in a river.  We ought to feel a compulsion to throw him a life-raft and pull him to safety.  When we see this man and throw him a life-raft we have COMPASSION on him.

Compassion is a necessary part of life.  In fact it makes us the true people we wish to be.  Caring for one another defines our purpose in what it means to be a person.

What happens when we see another person come floating down the river struggling to swim?  Our natural inclination is to repeat our compassionate behavior and throw this person a life-raft.  Person after person we reveal our compassionate hearts as we help one another.  Other times we can become embittered and even tired in doing good and give up saving people from the river.  'It's probably their fault anyway', we think to ourselves.

In some of us there is a moment when we realize that the fact that people are floating down the river struggling and drowning isn't right.  We may even have the courage to walk upstream to investigate why people are getting into this river.  Are they falling?  Or are they being placed there by someone else?  When we seek the answer to why people are in the river in the first place, our compassion changes and is defined in another word; JUSTICE.    

As Christians we are called to do both.  I fear, however, that most of what we have been taught is that we should be compassionate.  There is nothing wrong with this, but when we leave justice out of the picture then people will just keep floating down the river.  Justice is always the harder conversation because it gets to the heart of why people are in the river to begin with.  To do justice require great courage, especially when the injustice is discovered.

"When I feed the poor they call me a saint.  When I ask, "Why are they poor?", they call me Communist."  - Romero

Micah 6:8 - What does the Lord require of you? Seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

throw yourself down...

Jesus is tempted to be spectacular.  We are continuing in the study of the Temptation of Jesus from Matthew 4. 

Jesus calls us to community and a mutual sharing together. 

We overcome solitude by confession and forgiveness. 

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my children's song?

Will this be the song of my children?  Is this my song?


Daddy was a preacherShe was his wifeJust tryin to make the world a little betterYou know, shine a lightPeople started talkingJust to hear their own voiceThose people tried to accuse my fatherSaid he made the wrong choiceThough it might be painfulYou know that time will always tellThose people have long since goneMy father never failed
ChorusEven when the rain fallsEven when the flood starts risingEven when the storm comesI am washed by the water
My response: 
Even when the Earth crumbles under my feetEven when the ones I love turn around and crucify meI won’t never ever let you downI won’t fallI won’t fallI won’t fall as long as you’re around me
- Need to Breathe's "Washed by the Water"