Today’s Readings: Psalm 96; Ezra 6:1-22; Matthew 13:10-17; Revelation 5:1-10
One of the things I treasure about The United Church of Christ is its wisdom in authorizing ministries that are “outside the box”. Take my friend Peter Sawtell, for example. Peter is an ordained ministry in Denver, CO who is the founder and Executive Director of an organization called Eco-Justice Ministries (EJM).
Among EJM’s primary purposes is to help churches “answer the call to care for God’s creation.” Peter’s ministry has increased my capacity to appreciate the ecological dimensions of many passages of Scripture. Today’s reading from the psalms is a perfect example of this.
Before I met Peter, I would have read a passage like Psalm 96:11-12 – a passage that reads “Let’s hear it from the Sky, with Earth joining in, and a huge round of applause from Sea. Let Wilderness turn cartwheels; animals, come dance; put every tree of the forest in the choir” – and received those words exclusively on a poetic level. After meeting Peter, however, I have grown to appreciate the power of what it means to be in relation with a God that draws all aspects of creation in a wonderful celebration of this thing called life!
As you move through your day today, I would encourage you to pay more attention than usual to the natural world and see if you can find glimpses of the celebration of which the psalmist spoke. Til next time…
Help support the vision of Woodland Hills Community Church!
For those of you who would like to support the vision & ministry of Woodland Hills Community Church (the faith community I serve that continues to encourage me to minister outside the box), please click on the link just above.
Tuesday, October 27
Today’s Readings: Psalm 12; Ezra 5:1-17; Matthew 13:1-9; Revelation 4:1-11
I learned an important lesson about human behavior (my own included) when I began teaching right out of college. I learned how common it is for people who need to hear something to tune it out because they are not ready to do so.
When it came to classroom behavior, for instance, I would see a couple of students talking disruptively and I say, “I need everyone in the classroom to be quiet right now.” The other students in the classroom who weren’t talking would hunker down and look at me while the ones who had been talking continued to do so. Other times – when I was giving an assignment – I would make a point of standing near the desks of those who were chronically late turning in their assignments and say, “Remember, the assignment is due next Tuesday at 9:00 AM.” And guess whose assignment would be late? The student I made of a special point of trying to communicate with. Ugh!
Over a period of time, I realized that these situations were modern embodiments of Jesus’ famous tagline to many of his parables and teachings: “Those who have ears, let them hear.” A tagline we encountered at the end of today’s Gospel reading. It doesn’t matter how young or old an individual is, or what the topic is (English or a teaching of Jesus’) – the key element in getting a point across to another person is the person’s ability to hear what is being said.
Perhaps there is an ongoing issue in your life that you have been turning to God for guidance. It’s been a while and maybe you’re still struggling to find some clarity in your process of discernment. If that’s the case, I would encourage you to ask yourself a question based upon Jesus tagline: “When it comes to this issue do I simply have ears, or have I opened myself to hearing?” Til next time…
I learned an important lesson about human behavior (my own included) when I began teaching right out of college. I learned how common it is for people who need to hear something to tune it out because they are not ready to do so.
When it came to classroom behavior, for instance, I would see a couple of students talking disruptively and I say, “I need everyone in the classroom to be quiet right now.” The other students in the classroom who weren’t talking would hunker down and look at me while the ones who had been talking continued to do so. Other times – when I was giving an assignment – I would make a point of standing near the desks of those who were chronically late turning in their assignments and say, “Remember, the assignment is due next Tuesday at 9:00 AM.” And guess whose assignment would be late? The student I made of a special point of trying to communicate with. Ugh!
Over a period of time, I realized that these situations were modern embodiments of Jesus’ famous tagline to many of his parables and teachings: “Those who have ears, let them hear.” A tagline we encountered at the end of today’s Gospel reading. It doesn’t matter how young or old an individual is, or what the topic is (English or a teaching of Jesus’) – the key element in getting a point across to another person is the person’s ability to hear what is being said.
Perhaps there is an ongoing issue in your life that you have been turning to God for guidance. It’s been a while and maybe you’re still struggling to find some clarity in your process of discernment. If that’s the case, I would encourage you to ask yourself a question based upon Jesus tagline: “When it comes to this issue do I simply have ears, or have I opened myself to hearing?” Til next time…
Monday, October 26
Today’s Readings: Psalm 62; Zechariah 1:7-17; Matthew 12:43-50; Revelation 1:4-20
While most folks are familiar with the notion of the phrase “biological family”, many outside the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community are not familiar with the phrase “family of choice”. The phrase arose because many members of the LGBT community have either been disowned or ignored by their biological families. As a result, many members of the LGBT community create an intimate group of friends around themselves that functions much life a family. Hence, they become one’s family of choice.
While some may think of this as a distortion of the word, one would be mistaken to assume the word family has only one meaning. In today’s passage from Matthew, for instance, we have a passage whereby Jesus himself redefines the notion of family (“the person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother” – Matthew 12:50 from The Message).
So how would you define family? Whatever form the word family takes for you, I would invite you to take time today and give thanks for your family. Til next time…
While most folks are familiar with the notion of the phrase “biological family”, many outside the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community are not familiar with the phrase “family of choice”. The phrase arose because many members of the LGBT community have either been disowned or ignored by their biological families. As a result, many members of the LGBT community create an intimate group of friends around themselves that functions much life a family. Hence, they become one’s family of choice.
While some may think of this as a distortion of the word, one would be mistaken to assume the word family has only one meaning. In today’s passage from Matthew, for instance, we have a passage whereby Jesus himself redefines the notion of family (“the person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother” – Matthew 12:50 from The Message).
So how would you define family? Whatever form the word family takes for you, I would invite you to take time today and give thanks for your family. Til next time…
Sunday, October 25
Today’s Reading: Mark 10:46-52
Rather than post the full text of my sermon’s on Sunday, I’ll just highlight the theme I raised in the sermon. That’s because my sermons don’t really fit the concept of the blog as they were meant for a different medium.
In exploring today’s passage, there was one piece of the text that jumped out at me. That piece had to do with Jesus’ response to Bartimaeus’ request for mercy. In hearing the request, Jesus asked, “What can I do for you?”
I find that question fascinating. That’s because from first glance at the text, Bartimaeus’ need was obvious (i.e. the restoration of his sight).
So why would Jesus ask that rather obvious question?
I believe it’s because of the way Jesus engaged those in need. He didn’t make assumptions or try to foist healing on someone. He waited until the person was ready.
Today, I would ask you to search your heart and see if perhaps there is a pain you are carrying. If so, listen for Jesus’ haunting question: “What can I do for you?” and ask yourself this question: “Have I reached the point in my life where I am ready for that healing to occur?” Til next time…
Rather than post the full text of my sermon’s on Sunday, I’ll just highlight the theme I raised in the sermon. That’s because my sermons don’t really fit the concept of the blog as they were meant for a different medium.
In exploring today’s passage, there was one piece of the text that jumped out at me. That piece had to do with Jesus’ response to Bartimaeus’ request for mercy. In hearing the request, Jesus asked, “What can I do for you?”
I find that question fascinating. That’s because from first glance at the text, Bartimaeus’ need was obvious (i.e. the restoration of his sight).
So why would Jesus ask that rather obvious question?
I believe it’s because of the way Jesus engaged those in need. He didn’t make assumptions or try to foist healing on someone. He waited until the person was ready.
Today, I would ask you to search your heart and see if perhaps there is a pain you are carrying. If so, listen for Jesus’ haunting question: “What can I do for you?” and ask yourself this question: “Have I reached the point in my life where I am ready for that healing to occur?” Til next time…
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