That is just the way it is ...

This morning's reading (Romans 1-4) was from a letter that has often been referred to as a summary of Christian beliefs. It is the letter of Romans in the New Testament. It speaks of subjects such as God the Father, Jesus, Spirit; chosenness; righteousness; sin; grace/mercy; justification; and sanctification.

The writer of Romans is at least wrestling with the "how-to's" of salvation -- what it means to be made right with God. On this subject, the human side of the writer wants to keep saying, 'It all depends on how well I do in the sight of God'. And the divine guidance in my own words to the human writer keeps on encouraging this thought -- 'You are not loved by God based on your works no matter how good they may be, but rather you are loved by God only because God wants to love you (even if it is in spite of yourself).'

Verses that stuck out to me were as follows. As a background to them, Abraham has always been seen as the father of Israel kind of like George Washington is seen as the father of the United States.

For if Abraham was justified by works,

he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say,

"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due.

But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly,

such faith is reckoned as righteousness"

Romans 4:3-5

(bold & italics added)

The aim of the Judeo-Christian life is to be made righteous/holy/good/upright/godly/right by God. But it can only be a work by God on me and God's work on me enables me to work for God. Sounds so odd, but for all that is just the way it is.

I was waiting ...

Wednesday night of this past week (11/26/08), I arrived home as the sun was beginning to set so I hurriedly got out the lawnmower to chop up the leaves in the back yard. I did not put as much gasoline in the mower to be sure and burn up all the gasoline before putting it up for the winter. Nevertheless, after the back yard was finished, the lawnmower kept running so I cut the side and front yard again. And even with all of that the mower kept running so I cut the back yard again for it was stacked high with leaves before it was cut the first time. When it was all cut, some twice, the mower just kept running so I finally put up the mower with a bit of gasoline in it! There are still a couple of trees with leaves so my plans are to cut under them again to finish burning up the gasoline.

In my life I try to look back at events to see if there is any evidence of the presence of God. One way that I see this event is God may have walked beside me laughing as I tried to use all the gasoline. Another way I see this event is that God just wanted me to get more exercise. Perhaps also God wanted to remind me of one of the themes of the Advent/Christian Season which awaits God's coming as I was waiting to run out of gasoline. Could it have been the timing for the moment I walked in the house after cutting the yard I was hearing of the captives in India over the television?

I does help me in experience to try to see God so I take the time.

See you tomorrow at Arlington UMC.

Another reason for Thanksgiving

I have just read the final chapter of the gospel of Matthew. Admittedly, it begins with one of the favorite times of day I have which is sitting up and watching the light gradually increase as the sun rises. In that scene colors begin to gradually appear as the light increases. So it must have been in Matthew for, as the sun was rising, there were women on the way to Jesus' tomb.

As I picture this scene, I wonder how fast are they going, and what is their posture. Are they silent? Are they talking? Are they moping along with uncertainty? Or do they walk with a purpose in their steps?

"Suddenly there was a great earthquake". And an angel, literally "messenger", of the Lord appeared to them. And he announced that the executed Jesus had been raised from the dead, and he invited them to see the empty tomb where the night before Jesus' dead body lay.

My mind stops right there as I imagine the scene. The women looking at each other with eyes wide open, eyebrows raised, and jaws dropping. Some of them are looking directly into the messengers face while others are dropping to the floor with fear. Although there is no reference to any verbal reply in Scripture, I can easily imagine them saying phrases like: "What?"; "You've got to be kidding!"; "I can't believe that!"; "Do you believe?" or "You mean..."

Irregardless of their reply suddenly the risen Jesus appeared to them and said, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me" (Matthew 28:10b).

The resurrection of Jesus and the hope it gives us to share with those around us is now another reason for thanksgiving.

Setting the mood for Thanksgiving ...

The following comes from a book written by one of the members of Arlington United Methodist Church. Her name is Susanna Lahde, and presently she is in heaven. These words of hers are drawn from her reflections on Psalm 106:1-3, 48. I see them as fitting to read aloud and set the mood or theme of a Thanksgiving prayer or meal. This may even be used for a prayer. Copies of her book are available at AUMC.

LOVE

His love endures.

His love endures forever.

Thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Bless those who maintain justice, doing right.

Praise the Lord from everlasting to everlasting.

Proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord; declare his praise.

Praise the Lord from everlasting to everlasting.

Bless those who maintain justice doing right.

Thanks to the Lord for doing good.

His love endures forever.

His love endures.

LOVE

May your Thanksgiving Day be a God-centered celebration of hope and renewal.

Honestly, rough language for me to hear ...

Today, there are religious leaders who have different purposes. That is, there are Deacons in the United Methodist Church who are in such service as physicians, nurses, teachers, business administrators, musicians in every respect, Christian education directors and ... Such honors our God-given gifts.

There are also Elders whose purpose is in "word (proclamation), sacrament (Baptism and Holy Communion), and order (bringing order to the life of the church)".

During Jesus' life there were also religious leaders with particular tasks. There were "Scribes and Pharisees". Among other responsibilities the main work of the scribes was to hand write copies of the Hebrew Bible. And the Pharisees were responsible for its interpretation to daily life.

Jesus was toughest on the religious leaders of his day. Even though I believe in the mercy of a forgiving God, I confess that is a scary thought for me. The gospel of Matthew places emphasis on this side of Jesus when in chapter 23 of that gospel this phrase appears five times ...

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
(Matthew 23:13, 23, 25, 27, 29)
[in verse 16 they are referred to as 'blind guides'!]

From this I sense a call again to an outward holiness that others may see and an inward holiness (attitudes, thoughts, etc) that only God can see in each of us.

May I request this? Pray daily for today's scribes and pharisees, our religious leaders, for my hunch is that God's judgment on us will be the toughest. Pray that God's guidance, God's love, and and God's mercy will surround us as well as be delivered through us.

And, of course, pray for yourself.

Jesus said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

They said to him,
"Lord, let our eyes be opened"
(Matthew 20:32b-33)

Even though I am not physically blind, there is always a chance that I may not be seeing life as God sees it. That is always true and for that reason the story of Jesus healing the physically blind can give me hope that he will heal spiritual blindness that is not seeing things the way he sees them. With that in mind I remember an event from this past Sunday.

On Sunday, November 23, 2008 from 8:00 to 9:30 AM we had what is called a "Charge Conference". For United Methodist local churches "charge conferences" are at least one annual 'business review' meeting . The word "charge" refers to the place of an appointed minister. Even though we had good attendance at our charge conference (about 30% of our active attendees) I wish there had been more for this reason: it would have been a good opportunity for more of the people of our local church to hear the testimony of how God has been working through us. I have decided that in the weeks after Thanksgiving I will motivate our staff and laity to publicize what ministries for those outside the Arlington Church have occurred in the last year through at least our newsletter, website, and verbally in worship.

The whole point here is God is a very personal God who seeks to work through people to change the world. And maybe, just maybe, during this Advent and Christmas season he will use me to change a few people at a time toward goodness. From my perspective with all of us seeking to do so such can change the world.

May God continue to open my eyes to how God can work through me! And may God do so for you as well!

Jesus' coming

On Monday of this week, I will be looking forward to the coming of our heat and air conditioning service. Our heat is not working so last night our house temperature dropped to the lower fifties. The repairman's coming will no doubt repair our system.

Just as the heat and air conditioner service will come for repairs to our heating unit, so the coming of Jesus had this purpose to repair us in both our individual and community lives.

Advent is the Christian season before Christmas and it is a Latin word that means "coming". In long-standing Christian tradition Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas which this year that will be November 30, 2008. It recalls that before Jesus came the people of God believed that he was coming. Advent also looks forward to the day when Jesus Christ will come again at the end of time.

During Advent my family does little things to remind us of Jesus' coming. For example, we will place a nativity scene in our sight and will not place the statue of the baby Jesus in the scene until Christmas that celebrates the birthday of Jesus. May your Advent and Christmas season be Christ centered.

If you are further interested in celebrating Advent in your own home here is a good site that has given us good ideas ...

http://www.gbod.org/ministries/children/articles.asp?item_id=8405