Jesus Comes to a World of Trouble

Getting to hear my son Ben preach the day after Christmas was like putting the angel on the tree after all the decorations were complete.  It's always a joy when my children come home and we can spend a few days together.  It is especially joyful at Christmas time.  Ben's sermon this morning was a welcome reminder that in spite of the happiness and good cheer that many of us experience this time of year we still live in a world of trouble. 

I couldn't help but think about those whose holidays were not so jolly because of death, disease, financial reversal, or other problems.  Matthew's gospel is a wake up call that even though the kingdom of God has come with the arrival of Christ, the kingdom will not be here in it's fullness until he comes again.  And so we live with hope in the midst of trouble. 

The twin accounts of the birth of Jesus serve as a wonderful contrast to what we experience in life.  Through Jesus we can sing hallelujahs with the angels as Luke's account compels us to do.  At the same time we can live in the midst of trouble without being overwhelmed because God is with us as Matthew's text reminds us. 

Thank you Ben, for bring us the word this morning.  My prayer is that no matter what situation those in attendance found themselves when they walked in the sanctuary, they went home with the hope of the Christ in their hearts.  “'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' (which means 'God with us')." (Matthew 1:22)

Celebrate Jesus' Birth

The sermon this morning was first preached in December, 1999 shortly after we had moved to Houston to begin working with the church.  Much has changed since that first Christmas message.  After many of us in the Church of Christ had grown up (myself included) keeping Christmas and Jesus' birth separate, the purpose of the 1999 sermon was to communicate that it really is a good thing to keep the two united and celebrate God sending his son into the world. 

 Our church building is now decorated with beautiful trees, ribbons, and ornaments.  Our annual candlelight service is our best attended event of the year.  As always tonight we will have a great amount of singing: congregational, choir performances, a soloist, and even two of our teenagers singing a special song for us.  Our children will be dressed in nativity costumes with "Mary" bringing in the candle from which all others will be lit.  I will preach a message in keeping with our theme, "Seeking the King" and three of our members will give video taped testimonies of what they found when they found Jesus. 

The purpose of the sermon this morning was slightly different than when I preached it 11 years ago.  This morning I wasn't so much trying to convince people it was o.k. to celebrate; I wanted to encourage us to do so!  May we join with the Apostle Paul in proclaiming, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Joseph's 15 Minutes

Of all the highlighted characters in the Bible, one would think that the legal father of Jesus would get a little more press than his "fifteen minutes of fame!"  There is so much that I want to know about this man.  How did he develop such strong, obedient faith?  Who influenced him in the forming of his understanding of God?  What other stories from his life involved trusting God?  Alas, we must be content to know only what is contained in the 18 verses where he plays the dominant role. 

I mentioned in the sermon a foreign student who, without my knowing it, watched my actions for some time to determine if my faith was for real or if I was just acting.  It was simple things he was watching.  As I sat in chapel every day he would watch me to see if was singing or sleeping, praying or playing, being attentive or being oblivious.  He was watching others as well.  As a non-believer he was watching those who claimed to be believers to see if it made any difference in their lives. 

Even though that was almost 30 years ago I think about it from time to time.  I want to be the kind of person who lives the same whether anyone is watching or not.  I want to be a person of character and integrity who makes decisions based on principles.  That way, if the spotlights ever turn on and the whole world becomes interested in me for a brief period of time, people will see Christ living in me.  And when the world quits watching, I'd still be the same and God would continue to be glorified in my life. 

The Mary We Never Knew

Where did I develop my ideas about Mary being a quiet, meek, gentle soul?  For years now I've believed the myth that she we a frightened little teenager who bravely and quietly, endured shame, ridicule and embarrassment for  conceiving a child out of wedlock.  This morning's sermon presented a very different view of Jesus' mother. 
June Cleaver may have been a wonderful t.v. wife and mother of the 50's, but she is a far cry from the outspoken, determined voice of Mary as recorded by Luke in his Gospel. 

I think my former image of Mary came from looking at her through the eyes of a comfortable, suburban Christian.   How terrible it must have been, so this line of thinking goes, to be a chaste, godly women and be required by God to forever more be the subject of rumors and whispers.  Looking at Mary though the story of the prophet Deborah gives a far different image.  Mary never says a word about how terrible her situation is; rather, she is full of joy that God has chosen her to deliver his people from their oppression.

My prayer this morning was that the sermon on Mary might inspire our young ladies to be women of conviction, courage, and determination.  Women who would, not simply be willing to endure suffering for the sake of Christ, but would actually rejoice to "be counted as worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" as later followers of Jesus were described (Acts 5:41); and as Mary voiced in her song:

 “My soul glorifies the Lord
 ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”  (Luke 1:46-55)

Walk This Way

It's interesting what people talk about after a sermon.  Donna told me the teenagers all perked up when I said something about the "swagger" James and John were walking with when they asked Jesus about sitting at his right and left hand.  Evidently, "swagger"  (or is it "swag"?) is a new buzz word among our teens. 

Someone else mentioned the quote from the movie Million Dollar Baby by Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris, played by Morgan Freeman, "Boxing is an unnatural act. Cos everything in it is backwards. You wanna move to the left, you don't step left, you push on the right toe. To move right, you use your left toe. Instead of running from the pain - like a sane person would do, you step into it."  It seemed to be the perfect illustration of Jesus' teaching on the kingdom: it is backwards to how one naturally thinks and what one naturally values.

For me the prayer I used at the end was the perfect summation of the "backward" style servant-life that Jesus modeled for us to imitate.  I have used it on several occasions in some small group meetings and feel it is the perfect prayer for one who truly desires to follow Jesus "on the way."  My source credited it to Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930).  Other than that, I don't know anything else about it's origin or development.  

O Jesus!  Meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
Amen.

Expressions of Thanksviging

I had a few requests for the final prayer that we read as a congregation to conclude our service today.  It was a prayer I found on the internet credited to "Book of Common Prayer/Book of Divine Worship."  I plan to use it again at our Thanksgiving meal this year. 

Accept, O Lord,
our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.
We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation,
For the beauty of this world,
For the wonder of life,
and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends,
and for the loving care
which surrounds us on every side.

We thank you for setting us at tasks
which demand our best efforts,
and for leading us to accomplishments
which satisfy and delight us.

We thank you also
for those disappointements and failures
that lead us to acknoweledge
our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ;
for the truth of his Word
and the example of his life;
for his steadfast obedience,
by which he overcame temptation;
for his dying,
through which he overcame death;
and for his rising to life again,
in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit,
that we may know him and make him known;
and through him, at all times and in all places,
may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

Entering the Kingdom

I've actually heard it said that if the rich man had agreed to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, Jesus would have responded, "Now that I know you will, you don't have too."  Or in other words, "Just kidding."  Kind of like Abraham offering his son Issac.  Just before Abraham actually sacrificed Issac God stopped him and told him to offer the ram nearby instead.  One of the problems with historical narratives is that you never know what MIGHT have happened; you only know what happened.  My personal opinion, however, is that Jesus meant exactly what he said.  When he looked at the man and loved him, Jesus knew that there was no way he could be a follower because the true love of his life was money.

I preached this text several years ago and used the title of the then popular t.v. show, "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?"  While that may be the goal for a lost world who worships Mammon, a disciple of Jesus must have higher priorities.  That was why I began the sermon today with the prayer of Proverbs 30.  Pray this, if you dare:

"...give me neither poverty nor riches,
   but give me only my daily bread.
 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
   and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
   and so dishonor the name of my God." 
(Proverbs 30:8-9)

Marriage Matters

Normally I blog AFTER I preach so I can talk about my "sermon reflections."  Today, however, I'm making an exception since I plan to begin my annual prayer retreat immediately following Sunday's sermon and had several links I needed to include in this blog. 

First, if you heard the sermon, I made mention of the article I had written on Jesus' teaching on divorce.  That article, as well as several others I've written, can be found here on our church web page.

Second, last year Christianity Today published an interesting article entitled The Case For Early Marriage.  The author boldly advocates young adults marrying early in adulthood instead of waiting to get all their schooling finished, their careers well established, and their bank accounts full.  As a couple who married early (ages 21 and 22) my wife and I thought his arguments made a lot of sense.  Read it and tell me what you think.

Third, the one book I now recommend to married people above all others is entitled, Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas.  The subtitle sums up the contents well: What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?  Thomas calls all married people to stop insisting that their marriage give them what they want and instead began to focus on what God wants.  In other words, marriage is more about self-denial and service than about self-gratification and being served.  Click the link below for more information.

Finally, the book, Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers, is a thought provoking analysis of a rising trend in America.  I would recommend this especially for those currently cohabitating, thinking about cohabitating, or parents of children that are.

Pass the Salt, Please

My initial problem preaching this text was deciding if it should be four sermons or one.  I decided that, although there would be benefit in taking a  closer look at each of the topics raised individually, looking at them all together would make better sense of Jesus' final words in this context.  Jesus said, "Salt is good. . . .  Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another"  (Mark 9:50). 

I don't normally use acrostics in my preaching but thought it might be a useful way to pull everything together in the text.  At lunch there was a family from church eating in a booth not far away from my party.  One of the teenage boys came over to talk with us.  They had tried to remember the four points of the acrostic but had missed the "A".  If two teenage boys could remember 3 of the 4 I consider that sermon a success! 

For those who are wondering the acrostic is for the word SALT:

Serve (even those considered least - Mark 9:33-37)
Accept (Christians who are different than you [or don't be judgmental] - Mark 9:38-41)
Love (the weak and new believers - Mark 9:42)
Tenacious Self-Denial

No one who heard the sermon will forget the "T" since it doesn't really fit.  Odd isn't' it, that when something seems like it doesn't really belong it is never forgotten.  Come to think of it . . . that's exactly what it means for us to be salt.  We stand out because we don't really fit in this world as it is.   But I love the last verse and how it envisions the kingdom that will soon cover the earth, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  The peaceable kingdom - that's where we all belong!

The Disciples' Most Embarrassing Moment

I want formulas; the Lord wants faith.  I want the world to work in such a way that if I do the right things the right consequences are automatic.  The Lord wants me to trust him to provide all that I need to accomplish his will in this world.  I want guarantees of painlessness, absence of suffering and constant happiness.  God wants me to accept his promises by faith even if my time here involves suffering and a cross. I wonder why God won't answer my prayers.  God wonders why I don't utilize prayer as a means of getting to know him better.

I want my faith to grow stronger so I confess my confusion, my selfishness, my pride and arrogance.  I confess that I no longer want to be in charge of my life; instead I want God to use me for his purposes regardless of who gets credit or glory.  I'm having trouble believing that God could do anything with such a pitiful excuse for faith but I hold my little mustard seed-sized faith up to him and say, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief."  God say, "Alright!  Now we're getting somewhere."

The End?  No, this is the Beginning!

Preview of Coming Attractions

How appropriate that after Jesus dropped the bombshell of his upcoming suffering and death on the disciples the inner circle (Peter, James, and John) was given a preview of Jesus' Glorious Appearing!  After Jesus sought to destroy the short-sighted dreams of the Twelve, they are more disillusioned than ever.  Even coming down from the Mountain of Transfiguration they have a discussion among themselves about "what 'rising from the dead' meant" (Mark 9:10).

Jesus has already explained that "rising from the dead" meant that first the Messiah would have to suffer, be rejected and die on the cross.  Self-denial in order to do the Father's will dominates the center section of Mark's Gospel.  Indeed, it must dominate the center section of our lives if we are to be included among those who truly follow Jesus.

But what exactly does it mean for our lives today?  I love the mountain top experiences but must realize that Jesus never stayed on the mountain.  His work was in the valley.  More specifically, in the words of the Psalmist, his work was in the valley of the shadow of death.  Am I willing to follow him on that road?

Some of my favorite passages describe the return of Jesus to his earth.  At that time will the renewal of all things.  It will indeed be a Glorious Appearing when Heaven and Earth are united eternally.  Let the image of the risen and glorified Christ fill your heart as you follow the self-denying, crucified Christ as he teaches us how to live today.

The Second Touch

I often walk away from sermons wondering what might resonate in people's hearts from the lesson.  Different things stick with different people.  For myself, it is the phrase "deny self".  What does it mean for me to "deny self" this week?

There are some things I need to do this week that I don't particularly want to do.  They involve people and my participation might help in some tangible ways.  Is sacrificing my own desires and doing what is best for others an example of denying self? 

I can serve others for the purpose of self-interest or self-advancement.  It's tempting for me to think, at times, that when I do some small act of kindness that God is fortunate to have me on his side.  It's easy for me to glory in my self-sacrificial service! 

Tomorrow I will participate once again in the weekly reading of the Gospel of Mark.  I will watch Jesus as he again demonstrates unbelievable power and demonstrates that he is indeed the Son of God.  I will then watch again as he lays that aside and is abused, rejected and brutally murdered.  He willingly gave himself for others.  How can I claim to be his follower if I am unwilling to do the same? 

Resurrection is the final note of triumph in the Gospel of Mark; but the emphasis of the book lies in the cross.  Resurrection is when God takes our self-emptying, self-denying lives and ushers in the kingdom of God.  We don't make it happen, we are simply the empty vessels God chooses to use.  This week, I want to continue to ask myself, "what does it mean for me to deny self"?

Worried About Bread or Watching For Leaven

After the sermon someone commented that they thought it was good that I had left the interpretation of leaven open so that each person could discover what what happening within their own heart.  Indeed, the success of any sermon is not what happens on Sunday, necessarily, but what happens in the days that follow.  I love it when people tell me, "I haven't been able to stop thinking about . . . . that was mentioned (or read) in the sermon."  When preparing a sermon I wrestle with a text and it's meaning which often causes me to wrestle with my own heart and soul as well.  Sundays it sometimes feels like I hand off my discoveries to the church so that they can let it roll around in their hearts for awhile.

The text I preached this past Sunday (Mark 8:1-21) is actually the end of the first section of the book.  Mark is bringing a conclusion to his teaching on the identity of Jesus and the failure of the Twelve to really understand. This story is built on the previous stories, especially the preceding ones where Jesus challenges the disciples to learn the difference between internals and externals; what truly makes a person clean or unclean.  The list he gave on that occasion would so well for someone searching their heart for leaven to clean out:

"For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly." (Mark 7:21-22)

When Jesus warned against the leaven of the Pharisees and that of Herod he at least had these in mind.  It would do us all well to pay particularly close attention to these things and clean them out of our hearts before they take root and spread their venomous evil.  After all, bread is no problem for Jesus - he can make as much as is needed.  Leaven, on the other hand, causes him all kinds of problems.  Let's prove the genuineness of our faith but keeping the leaven out of lives.

Jesus Is Doing Something New

I love Isaiah's pictures of the kingdom.  He gave us such wonderful word pictures which so graphically illustrated what God was going to do.  The one Mark seemed to be alluding to in this morning's sermon text was from Isaiah 35:5-6:

"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert."

Why couldn't the Twelve understand what God was doing through Jesus?  Why did they continue to miss the point?  Because they kept trying to squeeze God's kingdom into their own preconceived ideas. As Jesus will say later in the Gospel of Mark, they have eyes but cannot see and ears but cannot hear. 

I wonder if my eyes are truly open to see what God is doing.  Do you ever wonder about that? What is he wanting to show me that I keep refusing to look at?  Two things that keep me from looking are fear and pride.  I don't know where Jesus might take me so I am afraid.  I don't know what areas he might require me to change through repentance and so I am prideful.  These same two things keep churches from seeing the new thing God is doing among us.  We are afraid because who knows what he might call us to lose. (One man I heard of was told to sell everything he had and give to the poor!)  We are prideful so we refuse to acknowledge even the possibility that we might be wrong about something.

Which brings me back to the wonderful word pictures of Isaiah.  God wants to do something new in our generation.  The only question that remains is: Will we open our eyes and see what he is doing?

Is Jesus a Conservative or a Liberal?

Today's sermon will surely generate discussion for some time to come.  Calling attention to our need to reexamine our "oral tradition" concerning instrumental music and restrictions on women is no small matter.  It is as though there has been a large elephant in the room that everyone is aware of, but nobody wants to talk about.  Some will surely become very excited thinking that the church is about to change dramatically.  Many will be optimistic about this and many others depressed or even angry. However, calling attention to the elephant in the middle of the room is NOT advocating doing anything about it necessarily, except acknowledging its presence. Then we are in a position to talk about it and decide if the Lord desires us to make any changes, or to leave things as they are.  But for the sake of our teens and young adults especially, we must address the subjects!

Unfortunately, I fear that in the midst of highlighting these two areas in need of discussion we run the danger of missing the heart of Jesus' message; which is the heart!  There is no way we can preserve the unity of the Spirit if evil is coming out of our hearts.  The track record of churches talking about sensitive subjects is not good.  Because of this churches are reluctant to honestly examine controversial issues.  The problem is not in talking about difficult topics but in the arrogance and slanderous manner in which church folks conduct themselves.  If we will all repent of the evil that lives within our hearts we will surely be able to talk about any subject, no matter how controversial, and together discern the leading of God's Holy Spirit.  True followers of Christ would not have it any other way.

Soft Bread and Hard Hearts

How much stock should I put into comments made to me after the sermon?  It seems today I invited an unusually large number of statements to be made concerning my inept math skills.  (Will I ever become ept?) I have come to expect this if numbers play any role in my sermon.  Today's blunder, however, was a mere slip of the tongue, not a true math miscalculation.  Be that as it may, a fair percentage of you made sure that it did not go unnoticed.

Others were much kinder making sure they communicated their good feelings about the sermon and it's presentation.  I have learned that anytime I get children from the congregation involved at least that part of the sermon will gain congregational good will.  

Before leaving the building I heard one comment that indicated someone managed to get past the financial misspeak and grasp the intended point of the presentation.  This person told me that they were having some difficulties at work and the sermon served as a good reminder for them that just as God has helped them in the past he will continue to provide what they need in the present.  Indeed!  As much as I enjoy a good laugh over my verbal mistakes; and as good as it makes me feel to know that my lessons are appreciated, the highest compliment I can receive is that someone found God in the midst of the sermon.

I keep a post-it note above my computer monitor that has two statements written as quotations.  The first one reads, "Thank you preacher for enlightening me."  The second, "Thank you God for saving me."  This serves as a reminder to me that whenever I preach I want people to walk away with the second statement on their hearts, minds, and lips. 

Traveling Light

We suffer from Bible over-familiarity.  By this I mean we know the Bible stories so well that they no longer produce an emotional reaction in us.  For example, in today's sermon I told the story-in-the-story of John the Baptist's unjust murder.  He upset some powerful people and they have his head cut off and placed on a dinner platter.  We've heard that story so many times that it has lost much of its power. 

Today I tried to "re-frame" the story by telling about the horrible murder of five missionaries more than 50 years ago.  Hearing about the incredible faith, not only of the young men, but also of their young wives and later of their grown children, makes the story produce many emotions.  Someone said I should have provided tissues in the pews. 

This story impacted my life when I was a college student and continues to shape it to this day.  If you would like to learn more I would recommend the following resources:

•  Elisabeth's Elliot's classic book, Through Gates of Splendor is avaliable at most public librarys
• At least three DVD's are available
• Through Gates of Splendor is a documentary narrated by Elisabeth Elliot.  It is 36 minutes in legnth
• Beyond Gates of Splendor is professionally produced documentary which appeared in theaters in 2002.  It features Steve Saint, son one of the slain missionaries and is 96 minutes long.
• The movie clip I showed today was from The End of The Spear produced in 2006.  It is a powerful retelling of the story bringing it up to the current day.

Below (if reading this on my blog) you can find some easy links to buy each of these items on Amazon.

Impact Week 2010

My favorite part of the service today were the interviews I was able to have with so many of our members who were involved in Impact Week.  Even though Impact Week is a youth driven activity it is supported by a multitude of people.  That is why I designed the interviews to reflect all ages, both genders, long term members as well as new Christians, singles and marrieds.  Everyone that was involved has a story to share and it was good to get a small sampling of those this morning. 

Nobody could keep up the pace of Impact, and nobody should even try.  Impact Week is designed to be a sprint.  The gun sounded last Sunday and the activity was fast and furious.  We hit the finish line today and now we rest.  After resting, it will be time to get up and move again - not at a fast run but at a nice walking pace.  Let's take the lessons we learned from Impact week and fit them into our daily walk.  As we walk let's remember to:

• Invest yourself by moving through fear by faith

• Meet people seeing others through the eyes of Jesus

• Pray constantly

• Do Acts of Kindness by serving those in need

• Live in Community with like minded believers in Jesus sharing our lives

• Continually offering Thanksgiving to God

Crazy Love

Of all the wonderful sights and sounds we experienced Sunday morning in worship; there was none more beautiful to my eyes than our communion service.  As the praise team began to sing I watched people turned to face each other or place their arm around one another throughout the sanctuary.  The sounds of joy were abundant as people expressed their thankfulness for their own salvation and their gratitude for the salvation of their brothers and sisters.  We all ate the bread and drank the cup in unison and pledged our selves to allow God's love to flow through us so that others might know the "Crazy Love" our Father has expressed for us in the gift of his son, Jesus. 

There is nothing more beautiful than a swift flowing Colorado river.  The water is crystal clear.  The snow packed mountains are the source and the rivers flow on and on and on; blessing the earth and all her inhabitants.  God has given us that river as an illustration of how he desires for us to live.  He is the source of abundant waters.  We are the river letting his love flow through us on and on and on, so that all might experience the blessing of knowing and being known by their Loving Father. 

Impact Week 2010 has begun and we have adopted our theme this year from a wonderful little book written by Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.  May God's "Crazy Love" flow through us so all that we come in contact with might know that they are loved.

Don't Be Afraid, Just Believe

I am continually amazed at the ways in which Mark's picture of Jesus speaks to my heart.  Who would have thought that the most dangerous place to be in 1st Century Palestine was Jesus' hometown of Nazareth?  At least, it was dangerous in terms of faith development. 

Sure the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem made it challenging to put one's faith in Jesus.  But, I get the sense that people kind of enjoyed "stickin' it to the man" and Jesus gave them plenty of ammunition when it came to disregarding the petty rules and senseless legalism of the religious leaders. 

But in Nazareth, it wasn't just a challenge to put one's faith in Jesus, it was downright impossible!  How could one stand up against the people who had known Jesus from infancy?  They'd watched him grow up.  Jesus had played in their streets.  His mother, brothers and sisters were all still living there.  If you think it's hard to go back to your hometown and have people respect you as an adult . . . . perhaps you can understand why it was so difficult for those living in Nazareth to develop faith in Jesus as the Lord of the universe and Savior of the world. 

The most challenging part of this for me is realizing that the most difficult place for one to develop faith today may very well be the place where Jesus is best known -- the church!  After the sermon I was speaking to one of our long term members about how much easier it is for new Christians to "just believe" than it is for us seasoned members.  Do these new Christians grow bolder in their attitudes and actions because of their association with us; or do they tend adopt our ways of doing church and just kind of blend in? 

Perhaps the best thing all of us "veteran" Christians could do is take a giant step backward away from all our "knowledge" and begin the journey again.  Stop listening to all those voices defining and refining the faith; putting limits on the power of God.  Listen to the voice of Jesus and he will tell you, "don't be afraid, just believe" (Mark 5:36). 

Managing the Unmanagable

"I'm just doing the best I can!"  This can be a commendable statement made by one who is truly making the best of a bad situation.  On the other hand, it could indicate the fear that keeps one in a bad situation.  No matter how horrible life becomes it is often not as frightening as the unknown.  One of the problems faced by contemporary Christians is the "tame" Jesus; the smiling, happy, good buddy Jesus. 

Perhaps it's reflected in a t-shirt I saw not long ago that read, "Jesus is my Homeboy".  Now, I don't want to judge anyone wearing the shirt as I appreciate those who are unashamed of their faith.  But the townspeople of the land of the Gerasanes did not beg Jesus to leave their region because Jesus was too cool for them.  They begged him to leave because he had just demonstrated his unbelievable power over an army of demonic forces.   They were scared of him because a man with that much authority and power could not be controlled.  He would do whatever he wanted to do.

By" taming"  Jesus we have unintentionally turned him into our buddy instead of our Lord.  We expect Jesus to do what we want him to instead of giving him the obedient allegiance he deserves.  We wonder why we don't walk more in victory over sin and instead have to just "do the best we can" trying to manage it.  The man formerly known as Legion could tell you.    

"I've got a plan Jesus," he said.  "Let me become one of your followers."  It was a really great plan and I'm sure the man thought it was a great idea for him to leave his old life behind and go with Jesus everywhere.  He could give testimonies and listen to Jesus teach.  He could grow in his faith and be trained to do wonderful service in the future.  Jesus said, "I'm not going to do your plan.  Here is my plan.  Go back to your family and friends and  tell them what the Lord has done for you."  The man didn't argue.  He didn't continue to beg Jesus to follow the plan he had offered.  He just did what Jesus said. 

How different our lives would be if we just did what Jesus said.  We did what he tells us to do with our money, our relationships, our priorities, our principles, our . . . well, our everything.  Stop trying to manage your unmanageable life and give Jesus control.

Master the Tempest is Raging

Someone asked me last week if I got my sermons from the internet.  That question could be interpreted a number of different ways, both positive and negative.  However, I think the question was asked, not about the quality (or lack thereof) of the sermons, but so that the person could do some further research on something of interest.

For those who are now wondering, I do in fact, write all of my sermons.  However, I have found a number of resources helpful. Morna Hooker's small book is very insightful and has illuminated a number of texts. One of the newest additions to my library is Kelber's work, Mark's Story of Jesus.  Both of these books are less than 100 pages and well worth reading. For those who would prefer a verse by verse commentary I have found Mark Black's addition to the College Press Commentary series to be useful.

Of course, nothing should ever be substituted for reading the Gospel yourself, often and in a variety of translations.  As you consider comments by various authors and preachers you will quickly discover that they do not agree with each about many details of Mark's Gospel, or perhaps even the point of the book itself!  That is why all reading and listening should be done critically.  Well-studied students can enlighten you, but in the final analysis you must let Mark tell you who Jesus is.

And Now, A Word About Seeds

Sermon production is a strange craft.  Preaching a sermon in a series like "Jesus Through the Eyes of Mark" begins by wrestling with the text seeking to understand it's meaning.  The next step is determining exactly what message from the text  the congregation needs to hear.  Finally, the preacher must decide the best way to communicate with his audience.  These steps are not so much walked through in sequential order as they are always in my mind as I work on a sermon. 

This week's sermon seemed to be particularly difficult to put together.  What do the three seed parables mean when read together?  What is the proper interpretation of that strange Isaiah quote where Jesus essentially says he speaks in parables so outsiders will not understand and thus be unable to repent?  How does the statement about the lamp and the bowl fit into the three seed parables?  What is to be made of the repetition of the words "hear" and "listen"? 

As I worked on the sermon it just didn't seem to be coming together until it finally hit me that since the germ of life is in the seed, and sense the seed is the message, then the seed needs to be envisioned as Jesus himself.  He IS the message.  Life is found ONLY in him.  With that revelation, the message of the sermon took shape. 

Are you crazy?

Following Jesus is sometimes difficult; but often we make it more difficult than it should be. We do this when we allow our expectations to blind us to God's desires. We do this when we let our ideas form our decisions instead of Jesus' teachings. As we continue to study Mark's Gospel we will see the Twelve fail in just these ways over and over and over.

In this morning's sermon we examined the threefold commission Jesus gave to the Twelve from Mark 3:14-15. In our eagerness to prove our worthiness to God we often jump ahead of the Holy Spirit and attempt to do something wonderful for God's kingdom. Our triumphant expectations eventually splatter against the reality that working with people is hard! We then begin to experience resentments, anger, bitterness, and a whole host of other unpleasant attitudes. Finally, we turn our disappointment to God in utter disbelief that He would let these things happen to us after ALL we have attempted to do for him.

At this point (as the disciples would have to learn) we need to go back to EXACTLY what it is that God has called us to do. Yes, God did call the twelve to preach and to exercise authority over the enemy. But, before they were to even attempt to do any of that they were to "be with him." As we spend time with Jesus he makes us into the people who can do his work. He shapes us and forms us. He supplies us and equips us. He also clarifies the work that he specifically has in mind for us.

THEN, when we do our work; it may be difficult at times, but it fits who we are, and the gifts God's Holy Spirit has given us. As we spend time with Jesus he transforms us into people through whom he can work by means of his Spirit. If people think we're crazy because of how we live and love, may it not be because we've run ahead of Jesus on our own ideas; but because we have come to know him so well that we are like him. After all, Jesus was accused of being crazy himself (Mark 3:21).

Follow Me

Today's sermon was an experiment with narrative preaching or preaching in the first person. It seemed appropriate to try this type of sermon since Mark was written in a style that invites the reader to join in the journey. After living in Palestine for awhile, watching Jesus at work and listening to his teaching; it's time to come back to the 21st century and live in our world again. The real question is not what DID it mean to follow Jesus; but what DOES it mean today?

One thing we learn from studying Mark's Gospel is that NOBODY follows Jesus without experiencing changes. Following Jesus requires changes in thinking, changes in attitudes, changes in what's valued, and changes in actions. In other words, when someone follows Jesus they experience, not just a make-over, but a complete do-over!

As we study Mark's portrayal of Jesus, it is encouraging to me that EVERYONE is in the process of discovery. We, as readers, are invited to join in as learners, students, and disciples. Nobody has Jesus all figured out (and the people who think they do are the most scary). We are always to be following and to continue learning.

I'm looking forward to our continued journeys together with Jesus. So, grab your walking stick and let's keep following him wherever he leads. And when you go to your 21st century workplace tomorrow - remember who you are and keep following your leader.

What Did You Expect?

Expectations are normal in every walk of life. They create problems for us, however, when they fail to be fulfilled. Especially are they problematic when they are unspoken or even unacknowledged. One way you can discover your expectations is when you become angry, depressed, frustrated, etc.... ask yourself, "What did I expect?" Answer the question in writing (I journal a lot for this reason) and be honest. The answers might surprise you.

When we get angry, frustrated, or disillusioned with God it probably goes back to our unmet expectations. As you write out answers you may discover something like the following:

• I expect God to allow me to maintain my standard of living.
• I expect God to keep me and my loved ones free from sickness, especially terminal illnesses.
• I expect God to keep my marriage happy.
• I expect God to make my children obey me.

On and on we could go. The list is endless. By acknowledging our expectations we can get honest with God about our disappointments. We can also invite him to help us develop expectations based on His Word (not what we assume he's said but what he's actually promised us.)

Living in the kingdom of God may be quite different from what we've thought it was. However, when we truly follow Jesus we can be assured that everything he has truly promised us will come to pass. The kingdom of God is indeed GOOD NEWS! Let Jesus teach you what that Good news actually is.

On a related note, I am excited to have so many join our weekly reading of Mark's Gospel. Send me your email address if you want to be included in reading this "short" Gospel each week for the duration of the sermon series.

The Beginning of the Gospel

The best comment I heard today about the sermon was from a visitor. He identified himself as an evangelist and said that the sermon made him want to do more study in the Gospel According to Mark. I say that was the best comment I heard because that was exactly the effect I wanted today's sermon to have. I want us all to have such a desire to know Jesus better that we dig deeply into Mark's Gospel and let him teach us what it means to follow Jesus.

Several people told me that they would read the Gospel of of Mark but no one yet has accepted the challenge I gave this morning of reading the Gospel each week for the duration of the sermon series. I have done this in the past when preaching through Mark and look forward to doing it again. Won't you join me? Let me know if you want to do this and we can keep each other accountable.

Finally, I want to express my sorrow over losing David Layman as my co-minister. David has truly been God's gift to me for the past nine years and his leaving saddens my heart. However, I am confident that he made his decision prayerfully and am thankful that he will still be an active member of the congregation even if I don't get to work beside him every day. May God's blessing be on his family in this transition and may God give us eyes to see the direction and opportunities He has in store for our church in the future.

The Message in One Verse

This photo was taken during our sanctuary dedication service a few weeks back. I like how small it makes me look compared to the cross. What better way to preach than for the message of the cross to completely overshadow the giftedness (or lack thereof) of the preacher! That was what I attempted to do today - to tell the "old, old story" in such a way that the love of God was magnified.

I loved being able to interview Cimi, the native Albanian preacher. My hope was that by having him speak briefly God might stir our hearts (especially our children, teens, and young adults) of the need around the world for the message of Jesus. The Gospel really is good news! May we never forget how much our God loves us and how much he wants to work through us so that others might know his love.

Raising Your Ebenezer

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up . . . . He named it Ebenezer, saying 'Thus far the LORD has helped us.'" (1 Samuel 7:12) Preparing to speak on this passage this morning brought a flood of memories. How many times has God helped me and my family over my 50 years of life? In the sermon time I showed some of the objects I keep in my office that have special meaning. How important it is that we keep reminders around us of significant events in our lives.

In addition to this being a special Sunday for our High School graduates, it is also a special day for Liz and I as we celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. I am thankful to have one day each year to recognize the treasure that God has given me in Liz. She is a living memorial, a constant reminder that God has shown me great favor.

Unlimited Forgiveness

I don't think it's a coincidence that when Peter asked if he should forgive seven times that Jesus responded, "not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22). As I pointed out in the sermon those are the exact numbers that Lamech used in his vengeful boast (Genesis 4:23-24). It's as if Jesus is saying -- "We're going to change the world!" We've tired the revenge approach and as Ghandi said, if we keep requiring eye for eye "the whole world will go blind."

What does the new approach look like? Unfortunately, it has been so rarely practiced (even by God's people) that the world is still waiting to see. The remarkable thing about Debbie Morris' testimony in her book, Dead Man Walking, is not that she could forgive her rapists; rather it's remarkable that her story is remarkable. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians were known for their outrageous forgiveness? What if Debbie's story wasn't an isolated incident of remarkable faith, but simply another example of how God's people allow his forgiveness to flow through them, even in the worst of circumstances. That is our challenge.

On another note, I always approach using math or science in my sermons at Clear Lake Church of Christ with fear and trembling. It has reached the point that I no longer even wonder IF I will make a mistake, now I simply do not want to make a grievous error. Today I said that Lamech considered himself ten times better (or in the vernacular "badder") than God. It was gently pointed out to me after the sermon that actually 77 is 11 times the number seven. That means that Lamech considered himself 11 times better than God. I will grant the mathematical accuracy of that statement; but still think that "ten times" simply has a better verbal ring to it than "11 times".

And Melissa, (hopefully you've read this far), I will be looking forward to reading your blog comments.

Solomon's Temple Dedication

Someone asked me who planned today's service. The answer is a bit complicated. The Administration Team planned the major structure of the service. Individually, they each played a role in leading a prayer, reading scripture, and/or making various comments. Brian Carnes picked out the songs and I was responsible for my part in the service. The baptism was a total surprise so we will credit the Holy Spirit for that part in the planning.

What I really enjoyed about today's worship assembly was the focus. Everything that was done kept God, rather than us humans, in the center. Even the many "thank you's" that were reserved for the end of the service brought glory to God for the gifts he had given to various individuals. The prayer of dedication that I lead was a modified form of a sanctuary dedication service from the Book of Common Prayer. And, of course I built my comments around Solomon's prayer of dedication for the Temple so we will acknowledge his contribution to our assembly.

I left with a very real awareness that we had been in the presence of God; he was there and was honored through everything that was done or said. Truly, we have a sanctuary where every week God will meet with us. And may those meetings sanctify us for his service.

Repairing Broken Relationships

As far as I can remember, the 4-step solution to repairing broken relationships found in Matthew 18 is the only time Jesus gave such an easy to understand outline for resolving a problem. (If you are like me, such a statement will cause you to quickly think over all of Jesus teachings to see if you can come up an exception. . . . I'll wait for you before I continue. . . . all done? Then let us proceed.) Jesus, and the News Testament writers, tend to deal more with principles than step by step procedures. That makes this teaching an exception to the norm. This is written as if Jesus were answering our objections for not doing what he plainly wants us to do when we are offended or hurt by a brother or sister.

Jesus: If your brother or sister sins against you go and show them their fault, just between the two of you, alone.

Us: But what if they don't listen to us?

Jesus: Then take a mature brother or sister with you to see if they can help.

Us: But what it they continue to rationalize and refuse to listen to either of us?

Jesus: Then get the church involved. Gather those who truly love this person and all of you work together to help them.

Us: But what if that doesn't work? What if they refuse to accept what all of us are saying?

Jesus: Then there is nothing anyone can do for that person. They are not my disciple and should not be considered one. Any other questions?

Us: Uh, no I can't think of any.

Jesus: Then prove that you are my disciple by following my commandments. If your brother of sister sins against you go and show them their fault, just between the two of you, alone. Got it?

Us: But that sounds kind of hard.

Jesus: Where did you ever get the idea that following me would be easy? Be obedient to me and see if the end result isn't a community of people with deeper and more satisfying relationships than anyone else on earth has ever experienced. Trust me in this and put your faith into action!

I am second

The comment of the day was spoken to me right after our assembly ended. The person said something like, "After today's service I'm not worried about what will happen to the church after we're dead and gone." For those of you who were not with us, today's service was planned and conducted by our youth ministry. All of their planning and practice came together in a beautifully organized and meaningful time of praise and worship.

The theme, "I am second" reminded me of a book written decades ago by former Chicago Bear's star running back, Gale Sayers, "I am third". Gale told us that in his life God was first, others were second and he was in third place. Liz reminded me of the JOY acrostic that was popular in the 70's: Jesus, Others, Yourself. The phrase "I am second", however, seems to put priority on what is of first importance. If you are interested in learning more check out Iamsecond.com.

In reflecting on the service I initially thought there had been no scripture. We didn't open our Bibles once. Upon closer observation, however, I realized that the entire service had been structured around the passage that the Jews call the Shema and what Jesus said was the greatest of all commands: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5). What a powerful reminder that assembly was that God must always have first place in our hearts.

So, I'm not too worried either about the future of the church; as long as we continually put God first and remember that "I am second." Thanks Jeremy, Donna, Lauren, and all the others who put so much effort into making today's worship service the blessing that it was.

What if JesusHad Not Risen?

The sermon today began with the question, What if Jesus had not risen? As described in the lesson, the world would be a very different place. However, since Jesus did rise from the dead the sermon ended with another question: How does belief in Jesus' resurrection change your tomorrow?

Everyone was invited to briefly write their answers on small cards which were provided. After the cards were collected a sampling of them were read to the congregation. Many wonderful thoughts were expressed and it was a joy to read them one after another. However, one answer was repeated more often than another other. It was a single word: Hope!

"Hope" was my first thought as well. The beauty of Christianity is that no matter how bad life may become nothing can take away our hope. There is no economic slowdown, health crisis, governmental corruption, or anything else that can remove what God has made possible for us through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Because of our hope in Jesus' resurrection we can be positive about life, even when everything looks negative. In a world full of fear, worry, stress, and anxiety God offers joy, peace, comfort and hope. Let's keep proclaiming the Easter message through out the year. It is a needed message for a troubled world.

The Value of One

I like looking at this picture. I'm not sure what I think about the image of Jesus: perfect hair, trimmed beard, flawless features, etc.... I guess you have to picture Jesus in someway, but does he have to look so Caucasian? In spite of the non-Jewish looking Jesus, I still like the picture. I really like the lamb. It looks young, frail and helpless. It definately is a sheep in need of a shepherd.

It was easy preaching on the parable of the lost sheep this morning when I could use Toni Miller as an example. She and her husband, Dan have done such a great job in looking after those Jesus called the "little ones." And having the sermon followed by an honoring time for Elaine Pate certainly drove the point home.

The Miller and the Pates both know how to look at people without considering their financial worth, education, or any of the other markers we humans use to determine value. They have shown us the heart of Jesus by knowing that everyone is valuable in the eyes of God. They have also shown us that God is especially fond of the "little ones." "For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10).

Watching Out for the Other Guy

When working on this sermon I kept thinking about a phrase from a Public Service Announcement from the 60's. It was a television commercial about defensive driving with the catch phrase, "Watch Out for the Other Guy." The intent of the commercial was to avoid automobile accidents by always being aware that other drivers make mistakes. Defensive driving is defending yourself against the mistakes of others. I decided to use the title even though I wanted to make a totally unrelated point.

In the kingdom of God we are to be constantly on the lookout for one another. This is not so we can see the mistakes others are making and avoid them. Rather, we are watching out for one another so that we can help each other. Watching out for the other guy in the kingdom of God is not for defensive avoidance but offensive action! This involves intentionally doing what I can to keep from placing stumbling blocks in another's path.

In the opening illustration I kept putting more and more obstacles in David's path to make it harder and harder for him to "walk the walk." When I put the blindfold on him he got down on his hands and knees determined not to quit. I thought two things: 1) How commendable that he was ready to do whatever was necessary to finish the task; and 2) How pitiful that I would make it so difficult for him. Be thinking this week about how you can keep from making another's faith walk difficult. And on the positive side, what can you do to help make it just a little bit easier for your brother or sister to live a life of faith?

Humility

Jesus said we are to "... change and become like little children..." (Matthew 18:3). As Brianna illustrated so well for us this morning, little children are not valued for their productivity or usefulness. They are in fact, endless consumers rather than contributors! In spite of this we parents continue to feed, clothe, and provide for all their needs. When Brianna's daddy was asked why they do all these things for her, he replied, "Because we love her so much." Well said.

When Jesus told us to become like little children he certainly didn't mean that we were to become childISH. (Although the way some Christians behave might lead one to think that.) He was likewise not telling us to be cute, cuddly, lovable, etc... He was not thinking about any child-like quality that one would normally desire. He was, in fact, pointing out that a child is "worthless", at least in terms of productivity.

The kingdom of God turns everything upside down. The most valuable are the one's who don't realize that they are the most valuable. They are in fact the humble. The one's who realize their great need for God. Like obedient children looking to their parents, these humble ones believe God knows best and that God is going to take care of them. They don't look down on others because they haven't put themselves on a pedestal. And when they look into the eyes of the even the least deserving, they see the eyes of an approving Jesus looking back at them. "Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18:5).

Ordination of Elders

Before writing the sermon for this morning I looked over some past elder ordination sermons. It's difficult to re-preach sermons because people change; both congregations and preachers. What a joy it was to realize that the sermons preached for elder ordination in the past are no longer needed.

In past sermons I had focused on the congregation being submissive so that the shepherds' job would "be a joy and not a burden." I still believe that as evidenced by my quotation from Hebrews 13:17. However, it seems to me that we have matured as a congregation and do not currently need that lesson. Thankfully, there is a great spirit of unity among us and a willingness to work together and be gracious with those to whom we might disagree.

Instead, I decided to focus attention on showing appreciation for the men we have asked to serve. Nothing makes me want to do a good job like knowing that people are truly thankful and blessed by my work. I know the same is true for our elders. May we all regularly and sincerely let them know that we are always in prayer for them and that our prayers always begin with thanksgiving for God having blessed us with the gift of shepherds.

Faith That Moves Mountains

One line in the sermon has caused some reflection in my heart. "What if, faith that moves mountains is not what you should have in God, but is the faith that God has in you?" My first reaction is to reject this. Of course, I might argue, Jesus is speaking of our faith in him. On further reflection, however, it is remarkable that God has so much faith in us.

Jesus only hung around 40 days after his resurrection before he ascended into Heaven never to be seen again until Resurrection Day. Even during that 40 days he seems to have appeared only to believers. Why not Pilate? How about Herod? Or the Pharisees? Apparently, Jesus believed that the message of the Gospel by eyewitnesses of his resurrection would be sufficient. He also believed that the witness of those of us far removed from the historical act of Jesus' death and resurrection, would be all people would need to come to faith.

God really does have a LOT of FAITH in his people. How should we respond to that? Like the man in the video said, Stop saying, "I can't" and begin to say "I can". Jesus believes in you - Put your faith in his faith.

Conforming to Non-Conformity

I would sum up my impression of spending this past weekend with Dr. Scott Hamm in one word, "Transformation." Scott returned to this concept over and over. What's the purpose of the Sunday morning Bible class? To assist in the process of spiritual formation; or in other words, transformation. Who is best suited to teach an adult Bible class? One who is in the process of being spiritually transformed into the image of Christ. Who makes the most lasting spiritual impact on people? The one who has been, and is continuing to be, transformed.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2a) Change your thinking and God will change you! How can we help each other to think more like Jesus and less like the world?

"Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2b) There is certainly a place for determining God's specific role for our individual lives. However, this verse is about the community. We all offer our bodies together as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1). As all of us surrender ourselves as an act of worship to the Lord Jesus our thinking changes. Things that once were of vital importance now take a back seat to the things that Jesus taught are are truly important.

The power the world has to shape the way we think is changed as together we seek to know and understand his Word, his Will and his Ways. The adult Sunday School is a great place for this kind of learning and sharing to begin.

Job Almighty

I wasn't sure what to think about Bruce Almighty when it was first produced in 2003. My reservations were largely due to the crude humor and one sexual scene. However, the underlying theme of the film has caused me to use it as an illustration in several sermons. As I thought about preaching today's final sermon in the Job series I returned once again to the film.

When the question of suffering arises how easy it is to think that a "good" human (like myself) could do a much better job running the universe than God is doing. One only need look at the evil that exists in the world and the horrific things that cause people pain to think this.

The book of Job opens another option. Perhaps we humans don't know all the facts. None of the human characters in the story do. Neither Job, his wife, or his friends have any idea why Job is suffering. Only the reader knows because we've been given a peak behind the curtain into Heaven. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the heavenly glimpse given to the reader thus solves the problem of pain. (Aha! The reason there is suffering is because Satan and God are duking it out again!) Rather, we are given what we need to make sense of the story. We thus know from the beginning that Job is righteous and is not suffering because of sin. That sets the stage for the real drama to begin. Therefore, the other option is NOT figuring out why there is suffering. The other option is realizing that God is God and I am not.

After God asks Job the 70 questions at the end, this is Job's conclusion. And it is in this fact that we must ultimately put our faith. I don't have all the answers because I don't even know the right questions to ask. Like Job, I don't have enough information to even begin to run the universe. I'm simply going to have to trust God. And when suffering comes, I can at least find some measure of comfort in knowing that God's one and only Son suffered on earth as well. I can trust a God like that, even if I don't understand everything.

Theology Matters

Were you surprised to learn that the arguments made by Job's friends are the same arguments Christians make today to explain why bad things happen? I found it relatively easy to pick out certain statements regarding AIDS, Hurricane Katrina, and the most recent devastation in Haiti to illustrate that point. After today's lesson, however, someone mentioned the sermon I preached after the 9-11 tragedy. As I remember I took that opportunity to point out our national sins and issued a call to repentance. In retrospect; not my finest hour.

What a beautiful story Job would have been if instead of trying to explain and offer solutions for Job's suffering, his friends could have gone to him--simply to be with him! They could have listened to Job as he voiced his fears and doubts without trying to "fix" his theology. They could have offered to bath his fevered body and perhaps fed him some broth to ease his hunger. They could have expressed care and concern in a number of very significant ways. Instead they did the one thing that made God angry; they tried to make sense of Job's suffering by explaining what God was doing. They didn't have enough information to even begin to guess. Thus, God's judgment, "I am angry with you . . . because you have not spoken of me what is right" (Job 42:7).

My we learn and not repeat the mistakes of the past. May we do our job of loving, caring, and serving without falling into the trap of explaining and blaming. God help us.