Bless our God ...

Psalm 66, that I read this morning, has a simple invitation within it -- to just worship God. In response to God it

• calls for joyful noise;
• to envision all the earth worshiping God;
• to look upon what God has done;
• to see life as a gift from God;
• to realize that even in times of trouble God sticks with people;
• responds to God with offerings; and,
• gives witness to how God listens.

The words that spoke so closely to me were as follows:

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me. I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer. (Psalm 66:16-19).

Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard ...

A preacher wrestling with God ...

There are a lot of Scriptural stories where God is at war defending his people, Israel. As you read their history in biblical books such as Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings wars occur again and again. In admission, such makes me uncomfortable with God. One work I read years ago explained the warring God by saying that he must, at times, remove the 'cancers' of the world. Such a thought is not a total solution to a warring God in my mind and heart but it is helpful.

The common thread I see in the warring God stories is that nations must realize how dependant they are upon God. In this stressing of our dependance upon God I can better relate. Such is true in the following verse ...

"When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then be on the alert;

for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines."

(2 Samuel 5:24).

Healing ...

They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel (Matthew 15:30b-31).

For me, this is an affirmation that Jesus can help us wherever we are at the moment for Jesus' curing applies to more than just the human body. It also applies to soul, mind, relationships, communities, nations, and the world. So I place myself in the healing hands of Jesus.

May you do so as well.

Healing grace surrounding ...

As I was cutting the grass on Friday, March 23, 2009 I grazed upon my left arm again on the same limb of the same tree. And the thing of it is this ten foot tree is on the last part of the yard I cut and by the time I get to it there is at most five minutes of cutting left in the about 100 minute push-mower yard. This time I took care of that limb with a saw.

Oh well, I thought of that when I read from Matthew this morning because the scrapes on the arm and the wounded self-pride.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed (Matthew 14:34-36).

Different?!

He came to his home town and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.’ And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

(Matthew 13:54-58)

You would think that the home town of any person that has become popular for the common people would be popular at home. Perhaps even a hero. But not so for Jesus. He was one of those odd fellows for he did not follow all the rules. As an example, on the Sabbath Day he was supposed to rest. Sabbath rest meant not doing one thing that could wait until the next day. Jesus, the rebellious God-centered one, would instead heal people on the Sabbath who could have waited a day.

OK, Jesus, how am I to be different today?

Arlington UMC

http://www.arlingtonum.org/

8:30 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM Worship

1360 Murfreesboro Road

(South of Briley Parkway and North of Donelson Pike)

Nashville, TN

(615) 361-4896

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

(Matthew 11:28-30)

LORD God, who invites us all to follow you: We give you thanks that in our weariness and burden-carrying you share the heavier part of the load. We pray that we will follow your leadership and learn from your unceasing love. Praise your name for all ... for all that is good. Amen.

You are invited to:

Arlington United Methodist Church

Murfreesboro Road

(between Briley Parkway and the airport runway bridge)

arlingtonum.org

(615) 361-4896

8:30 AM: Breakfast

10:00 AM Worship Hour

Just amazing

As Jesus was walking along,

he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth;

and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

Matthew 9:9

Where is Jesus calling me this morning?
Will I immediately follow as Matthew did?

Peace in the midst of struggling...

Family fights are so difficult to understand at times and the fight between Saul, king of Israel, and David his 'adopted son' was one of those times.

The story began when Saul's army was fighting against the Philistines and who had an undefeated warrior named Goliath. He was exceedingly tall and an exceptional. At that time, a young boy named David just came to bring food to his brothers who were fighting in Saul's army, but when he saw Goliath he volunteered to defeat him. And then he killed Goliath the giant with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17). After that David was 'adopted' into King Saul's royal family and he became close friends with Saul's son, Jonathan. Unfortunately, for King Saul, David became more popular. So Saul's jealousy arose to rule him and he kept attempting to kill the hero David.

David's followers had the opportunity to kill King Saul, but did not do so. And when David told Saul of this, the following biblical conversation took place.

When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ‘Is that your voice, my son David?’ Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. Now I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father’s house.’ So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold. (1 Samuel 24:16-22).

Unfortunately, as the days follow, Saul's jealousy of David will still be in rule.

Lord, may your peace rule this day in the midst of struggling ...

Today ...

‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you;

for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:1)

Such makes life a lot easier!

LORD, may I live by this today!

This is the day ...

Oh well, this has been one of those days. Believe it or not, even preachers have them. But even with one of those days, I cannot help but remember a Scripture passage in the psalms that says,

"This is the day that the LORD as made; let us rejoice, and be glad in it".

Did everything go right? No. But the LORD made the day, and in it and through it I have experienced God. He gives what it takes to face both the bad and the good.

Right now at 3:55 PM it is good to take a deep breath. Such relaxes the body, mind and soul.

I trust your day has gone quite well.

Prayer and invitation

‘Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us to the time of trial,

but rescue us from the evil one.

For the kingdom and power and glory are your forever. Amen.

(Matthew 7:9-13)

You are invited to our breakfast at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning.

Our worship hour is at 10:00 AM

arlingtonum.org

Yes, God is love, but do I have to?

Jesus did say, ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. " (Matthew 5:43-48).

Do I really have to love my enemies? I do want to ask God that question sometimes. There are moments when loving those I wish would change is easy. And there are other times when it is like changing the light bulb in a ceiling fixture on a twelve foot high ceiling without a ladder. Where is that ladder? I am tired of walking around in darkness. 'Maybe, God will change that light bulb out of reach.'

Ahhhh, and it takes God to change people. OK, God, you win and we win. I will change by remembering that you are the light. So you said. And I will change by loving my enemies -- such will change me. And anyway, do you not always call me to change to become more like you each day? Yes, I will change. Look, the unreachable light is shining once again.

just a little humor ...

I have been reading a work by Ben Campbell Johnson entitled Pastoral Spirituality: a Focus on Ministry. I have read a good many of his works. And while reading this evening I was sitting at the observation point at Beersheba Springs Assembly in Tennessee. It has a beautiful higher altitude view of high hills and triangular shaped valley with the green grass of Spring in view. Johnson had a one liner quotation that grabbed my attention that came from a Christian thinker named John Calvin. It went like this:

"Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God".

At first I sat there and thought that over. In confession, the first was self-reflection. You know, I am a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, an elder in the United Methodist Church, a child of God. Now, will these thoughts help me know God better? Well maybe ... God can use any means of grace, or mercy, he chooses.

Right or wrong now I believe the knowledge of God and self indeed go together like water and soil for mud. So to know God better is to know one's self better, and to know one's self better is to know God better.

On the humorous side, maybe I will learn to better see through the mud. This one thing I do know ... God is love.

Righteous.

"For the LORD is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face"

Psalm 11:7

There is that word righteous again. The Scripture writers love it as a descriptive word for God. Definitions of righteous are ...

• "acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin; morally right or justifiable as in 'a righteous decision';
• arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality as in 'righteous indignation', or
• genuine and excellent.

God is all of that but I will be honest that I like best the words genuine and excellent so that I will try to be.

Psalm 121

Psalm 121 is special to me. I love the imagery it has of searching for God until one realizes that one's help comes from the LORD.

So guess what the place where I am sleeping this week has over the headboard of my borrowed bed.

"I will lift my eyes up unto the hills..." which is the first part of Psalm 121:1. The rest of it, together with verse two, goes like this -- "from whence will my help come? My help comes form the LORD, who made heaven and earth".

May I sense the LORD's help as sermons are planned for 2009-2110.

And may you sense his help as well.

An unreal reality ...

As the day ended last night, I read the chapter entitled "The Pastor as Preacher: Servant of the Word". It is in a book by William Willimon that is entitled Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry (2002).

A one-liner from that chapter that has stayed with me is as follows: for Luke "...the church (for better or worse) is the presence that Christ has chosen to take in the world" (168).

After experiencing the better and worse of the church I took a deep breath after reading it. And although there was no sound but air blowing through the mouth in my exhale there was a silent sigh.

Considering the now and then rebelliousness of the church to that which is good to believe that Christ has chosen the church is more than a pleasant surprise. It is an unreal reality.

If you will ...

This morning I will be beginning the sermon plans for the next Christian year that begins around December 1 of each calendar year.

It includes the seasons of Advent; Christmas; Epiphany; Lent; Easter; Pentecost, and for some Kingdomtide. The ancient traditions for the Christian Year pull from our Jewish brothers and sisters pattern of worship. That is, just as they chose Scripture lessons to be read each worship day so do we. We choose an Old Testament lesson; a Psalter reading; one from the New Testament writings, and one from the gospels.

I will be reading over each of these lessons in the hope that God will guide my preaching decisions. In addition to that I will be listening to suggestions of the laity in preaching topics and issues. Honestly, for me it sounds virtually impossible to hear God. But I believe in a God who is one of those boundary-crossers that now and then makes his voice heard that once said, "Let there be light ... ". Well, perhaps this week God will say, "Let John have God-centered sermon plans for next year".

For such I pray. If you will, pray that my sermons will be God centered.

Christ is risen!

Today is Easter Sunday -- the day when they discovered that Jesus Christ who had been executed for no just reason had been raised up from the dead.

Thanks be to God.

Easter Service this morning at Arlington United Methodist Church will be at 10:00 AM.

preacher's confession ...

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.’
1 Samuel 12:23-25

OK, LORD. I will pray for those who would complain about Jesus.

May you do so as well.

God once again listens ...

This morning I read of Israel's plea to have their first human king even though for generations their ruler had actually been God alone. While God was ruling they would at most have human judges to settle conflicts that arose. Basically, their plea for a human king was a multi-generational plea to be just like ever one else as their own words indicate: "... we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king govern us and fight our battles" (1 Samuel 8:19b-20).

God once again listens to his people and, even though he notes to Samuel that they are just tired of God, he instructs Samuel to look for the human king God has chosen (8:7). Samuel is led to a man named Saul who becomes Israel's first human king.

The point here for me is God allows us to make choices even when tragedy results from them. The words of tragedy said of many kings of Israel in Scripture are simple: "he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD".

One other point: If you get a chance, read 1 Samuel 9 and 10 for the 'coronation' of Saul does have some parallels with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11).

The great stone

The great stone, beside which they set down the ark of the Lord,

is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

(1 Samuel 6:18b)

For me, holy places are those places in life in which I can say, "Yes, there was God!" The place can at times be geographical settings such as a curve in Interstate 24 toward the east that is south of the Manchester exits. Decades ago while making that curve I remember seeing trees of various fall colors. I was on my way to Emory University to attend Candler School of Theology. Even today that seems like a holy place.

For me, there are also holy moments, too, such as a tennis court where my wife and I played tennis on our first date. Another is the front porch of my home church where I sensed the call of God for the first time. And then there is the birth of my children ... and grandchildren. Now since I have grown older the holy moments are almost wherever my feet walk.

Such was the time and place of the stone in the field of Joshua for in that place the ark of the covenant that symbolized the presence of God was returned by the Philistines to Israel.

From griping to giving thanks ...

The 77th psalm I read this morning to me has a pretty clear outline. The first ten verses are a complaint against God. They indicate that the psalmist does not sense that God is listening at all to his/her pleas in spite of what he/she is doing. For that reason, the questions are asked of God in verse ten ... "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?"

In the last ten verses the psalmist recalls how God has listened well in the past as One "who works wonders". It is this remembrance that keeps building the trust of God's people in tough times. Such was a help for me today, so I share these words of Psalm 77 with you in these harder times --

I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;

I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your work,

and muse on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is so great as our God? You are the God who works wonders;

you have displayed your might among the peoples.

With your strong arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalm 77:11-15

Sharing the good news ...

So often telling others of the love of God in Jesus Christ is placed in a pattern that must be followed step by step. My own style is more of a trust-building style. My first goal is to build the trust levels of a friendship. It begins with treating those to whom I would like to witness of Jesus as if they were my best friends.

A bit of friendship is taking action to be of help. Such the people of Arlington did when they took doughnuts and coffee to the business in our area that were damaged by a tornado half a mile from our church. Such we did on checking upon our neighbors who had damaged property. Taking action to help is a good first step.

A second step is building upon our friend-actions by listening as we look for an opportunity to share Christ. For me, when people tell of issues they are looking at in life this opens the door for me to tell how Jesus Christ has helped me in the issues I have faced.

Such is living up to the words of Psalm 66 ...

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.

Psalm 66:16

Timing ...

As we work together with him,

we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.

For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,

and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

(2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

To be listened to at times can be even one of those saving moments for it is through listening that we can discern how we may be of help.

And the next step is find the acceptable time ... to time the help we offer well.

Wisdom

God looks down from heaven on humankind

to see if there are any who are wise,

who seek after God.

Psalm 53:2

Just a chuckle ...

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Let's see. I am 53. With my now and then aching knees, balding and greying head, wrinkling face, and the beginnings of the bush eyebrows it was enough to read this and have an inside chuckle.

May this bring a chuckle to you.

Mission, Values, and action ...

Scripture: Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)

Observation: Before Paul, who wrote 2 Corinthians, came up with Jesus his list was detailed to a minuscule level on both what to and what not to do for such was the list for Pharisees, religious leaders, like Paul. But in meeting up with Jesus his list was thrown out the door. Christ is a radical freedom giver. Yet, in the same moment, his freedom is so demanding for it calls us to strive toward a perfect love.

Application: I am a list of things to do person based upon my personal mission and vision. To have a list of things to do is definitely easier in my daily living. I confess, I almost cherish the Franklin-Covey daily list based on my mission and values ... such I have been using since 1993. It is an excellent way to plan! Yet .......... at times, I wonder what parts of the daily tasks cooperate best with Christ Jesus, and how do I still need the change my priorities to become more like Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Praise you, God, from whom all blessings, all happiness flows! May all creatures praise you every moment! Praise your gift of creativeness! Praise your gift of release! Praise your work in creation, even me! Praise! All those in heaven praise your Name. Amen.

Yield: It is time to look again at my mission, values and actions.

The aroma of Christ ...

It helps me to know where a writer is coming from -- a bit of the writer's history. Such is true for Paul's letters in the New Testament as well. Before and after coming to Jesus he was a religious leader. Before Jesus he focused more on his good works in response to the love of God. And, after coming to Jesus, he focused more on the love of God that motivated his good works. (For more on this read Philippians 3).

That God-love motivation that changed Paul's focus was God's free gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. It was free -- Paul did not have to do one thing for it. But it was not cheap -- it cost Jesus his life.

I have a hunch Paul had this in mind when he wrote 2 Corinthians 2:14-17. The reason I believe that are a couple of words Paul uses in these verses that could have been used to describe animal or plant sacrifices burned before God: "fragrance" and "aroma". Paul confidently states that 'the fragrance comes form knowing Christ' and that "we (the community of faith) are the aroma of Christ to God"!

To imagine that I am the aroma of Christ! To imagine that the Church is the aroma of Christ!

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.

Easter is approaching ...

The Christian Day of Easter is near. This year it will be April 12, 2009. Because of that, the Scripture readings that are catching my attention are the ones of hope. Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 1:9 convey hope. They are written at a time when Paul has been persecuted for being a Christian. In his letters of the New Testament he talks of being arrested, imprisoned, and whipped for just following Jesus. So he writes:

"Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death

so that we would rely not on ourselves

but on God who raises the dead."

Paul admits that they may have felt that way but God delivered them once again. With that thought in mind I will once again recall that the God who can raise the dead can aid me in whatever difficult moments I face. Such is hope.

I invite you to remember such as well.