Matthew 3

John the Baptist must have been a scary guy. Running around in camel skin probably barefoot with long strangly hair. It's a wonder people listened to him. But they did and they believed what he told them. Many came to be baptised and changing their lives. Then along came the Pharisees and Saudducees thinking that they would receive the same forgiveness. Sorry, you can't just get in the water and then come out to your same old life.

A few verses down John is telling the people that the real deal will be coming soon, One that will ignite a fire inside of you, changing you from the inside out.

Many of us are like the Pharisees and Sadducees, thinking that we can show up on Sunday, confess our sins, receive forgiveness and then go back to our lives. Changing our lives, living as God has planned for us, that is the real work. Come and light the fire I am ready!

What counts is your life.

"Is it green and blossoming?"

At Bible study on Sunday, we talked about the Spirit activating gifts in our lives of faith for the common good.

Last night at Confirmation, we covered the 3rd article of the Apostle's Creed. John's words rung true, "The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out."

Have we truly "turned our old life in for a kingdom life"? What does that look like and how can we model it to our children?

Mark - Matthew 3

Chapter 3 begins with John the Baptist preaching. (v2) "Turn from your sins...turn to God...for the Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon." is John's deliberate message. His words are so influencial that the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees even travel into the wilderness to be baptized. These high and mighty leaders are given a dope slap back to reality by the prophet who tells them repent or suffer God's judgement. John doesn't feel it is appropiate for him to baptize Jesus but in fullfillment of a plan that is unfolding he does. God is "wonderfully" pleased with Jesus after He is baptized. God's plan is taking shape to save mankind through his own Son who will make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

Jordan - Matthew 3

And just like that, Jesus is an adult.  I have always been so frustrated with the fact that there is so little mentioned in the Bible about Jesus as a young adult.  We miss a huge part of his life where he embraces his vocation and becomes determined to blaze the path he was called to walk.  Were those times of his life difficult for him or was he a model child?  I think there is a correlation to these missing years and the missing youth in our pews.  If we talk about being "little Christs" it might mean stick around while children, then disappear until you are an adult and come back!

Anyway, on to chapter 3.  I always picture John as a crazy guy in the desert.  Missing a sandal, a torn robe, an unkempt beard with a bit of locust still stuck in it...  But the best part is that the Pharisees themselves are drawn to this phanatic because baptism is "the cool thing to do" and John turns them away!   The Pharisees see baptism as another checkbox on their way to heaven and John calls them out.  How awkward that must have been!

Jordan - Matthew 2

After reading Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzer and his outrageous decrees immediately popped into my mind when reading about Herod today.  But there is something much more sinister and real here.  Nebuchadnezzer seemed silly and the story was an exaggeration.  However, this Gospel does not read with the same jovial cadence, instead you get the feeling that Herod's awful decision actually transpired in some form, ripping apart families who could have never seen this coming. 

God's Son comes into the world to save us all, but within the first year of his life his birth causes a king to kill many.  Gos gives Joseph visions to save Jesus, but i wonder how all of those other fathers felt?

Matthew 2

I also wonder, as does Matthew, what would happen if we followed God's plans for us. Are our dreams messages from God? I know that recently I have had 2 experiences where I felt that God was speaking to me and answering my cry for help. Since then I have been listening for God each day, asking for his guidance and support. Peace has returned to my life and I am looking at things in a different way. Thank you God for always being there and listening.

Wise guys

I am amazed by how much dreams and prophecy come into play here and very little we pay attention to them now.

"Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
"Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly."

"In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod."

"God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, 'Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him.'"

"That's when Jeremiah's sermon was fulfilled."

"God's angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: 'Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead.'"

"This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'"

The other thing that struck me is two simple words repeated twice: "Joseph obeyed."

Maybe the three scholars from the east weren't the only wise ones.

What would happen through our church and in the world if we obeyed God's dreams for us? I can see something emerging with the young adult living, learning community/Dorchester launch. Stay tuned...into what God wants for Faith.

Mark - Matthew 2

In fulfillment of the prophesy king Herod orders the death of all baby boys two years old and under with the expectation that Christ will be among these children. How terrible an action from such a man with such a lust for power and control. I wonder how Herod was received upon his death. Can there be redemption for such an act? When I unfortunately view or read of man's inhumanity to man I think of the phrase...vengeance is the Lord's. Their is evil and their is good.
Jesus was sent to us to save us from the evil. Thank you God!

Matthew 1

I have to admit that I am really glad to be back in the New Testament. These books are much more familiar to me and easier to read. I have a hard time keeping track of all the people in the Old Testament and don't know enough background to follow the story lines all that well. Matthew is like an old story I am re-reading, very familiar and comfortable.

Christmas is my second favorite time of year (Easter being my first). I love the trees, and decorations but much more than that I love being reminded of the greatest gift of all, Jesus. For many this season is just one of how much can I buy, and how much money did I spend? We get caught up in the retail aspect of Christmas and forget the real reason. Being in the retail field, at least part time, I get to see this first hand. Every year I wish that we could go back to simpler times but know that in reality that will not happen with the world, we just have to make it happen within our own homes.

As I read this chapter 2 things jumped out at me. 1. The geneology, isn't it strange that the number 14 comes up three times between generations? Is there something with that number?

2. Joseph is an amazing man, first he takes this woman for his bride even though she is pregnant! Second he does not consummate the marriage until Jesus is born! This is a strong man one worthy of being Jesus' earth father.

Mark - Matthew 1

In Matthew's Gospel we begin with the greatest gift God gave to man, the conception and birth of His Son. Jesus, perfect in every way sent to save all whom call His name. The story is beginning in the most humble of circumstances.

Jordan - Matthew 1

The very first encounter in this gospel is an act of faith.  Joseph is thrown into a very delicate situation when he discovers his fiance is pregnant.  He wants to take an inconspicuous way, but he has a dream that tells him to have faith in God and his young girlfriend.  This must have been immensly difficult given the culture of the time.  With this decision, did Joseph and Mary become outcasts?  Is this why they travel alone to Bethlehem and are turned away from the inns?  With these great acts of faith, no wonder God chose this family to raise the Son of Man.

Five ladies walk into a story

Tamar
Rahab
Ruth
Uriah's wife
Mary

Five very unlikely women are named in the beginning of Matthew's Gospel. We expect to see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Boaz, David, and Solomon. Even Joseph, Mary's husband, doesn't surprise us.

Emmanuel, God with us, does surprise us. May God surprise us again and again this Advent season!

Mark - Daniel 9 thru End

Upon reading the final chapters of Daniel the emphasis is focused on his understanding of the trials,tribulations, and persecution of the many. These kings are driven by an unquenchable need for power and control over all that they deem to be their dominion. They battle, slaughter,and pillage over and over. In the end though, God's people are the true champions(12:3) "And those who are wise-the people of God-shall shine as brightly as the sun's brillance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever." To be warmed by the sunshine that is freely God's gift to us. How great is that!!! Another Thanksgiving has come and gone and my blessings overflow. Thanks be to God.

Act out of who You are

"...not out of what we are."

Daniel is confessing his sins and the sins of a nation, relying on God's compassion.

I love his prayer:
Master, listen to us!
Master, forgive us!
Master, look at us and do something!
Master, don't put us off!
Your city and your people are named after you:
You have a stake in us!

The start of this chapter is even better, how Daniel comes before God:
Meditating on the Scriptures
Asking for an answer
Praying earnestly
Fasting from meals
Wearing rough penitential burlap
Kneeling in the ashes
Pouring out his heart
Baring his soul to God

That sounds more like Lent than Advent, but what if every active member of Faith came before God with that type of posture every day.

What would happen?

See you at worship tonight. Please bring a list of the things you are thankful for. Mark, thanks for priming the pump.

Mark - Daniel 8

The theme the mighty and strong will triumph and persecute God's people is interpreted once again by Daniel to his dismay. The silver lining, if you will comes in (v25)...So great will he fancy himself to be that he will even take on the Prince of Princes in battle; but in so doing he will seal his own doom, for he shall be broken by the hand of God... How powerful is that. I pray to keep my minds eye on God's plan for me. I have many things to be thankful for, my life has been blessed with an abundance. The reason I can appreciate all that has been given to me is that I try not to forget were I came from.Today my gratitude is for faith,family,friends,health...the list goes on. I must give up my worry and angst to God just as freely as I praise Him for all that has been bestowed on me.

Following God

Reading the book of Daniel brings home much of what I have been listening to on my drive to and from work. Feeling lost a little lately I decided to listen to our speaker, Mike, from last summers mission trip. He was very inspiring and motivating. Upon returning to Quincy from the trip I was filled with a new sense of purpose and drive. Recently though, I have lost that and miss that feeling so I decided to renew that feeling by listening to Mike's CDs.

Mike talks a lot about giving yourself to God, following his will, letting him take over your life and following his lead. Not an easy task! The readings from Daniel corrolate quite a bit to some of what Mike talks about. These Kings thought that they were above following God, they could follow their own hearts desires. How wrong they were!

We are just like them to some extent. We do things that we know are wrong, we do not always listen to God speaking to us and we get stuck in the trap of going along with society. It's easier that way, right?

No one said that following God was going to be easy, but the reward at then end will all be worth it. That's the message I listened to tonight. The hard part is living this out in our daily lives when we feel alone.

Jordan - Daniel 8

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.  In Daniel, we are continuously reminded about the frailty of power.  But that doesn't stop all of us from trying to achieve lofty goals.  Yet, we love and worship the most powerful God with the humblest incarnation.  That word "contentment" keeps popping into my head since Pastor Mark preached about it and Pastor Matthew posted it on our wall.  Especially now with the season of spending right around the corner!

Jesus, the one who was supposed to come into the world and showcase raw power, instead came into the world to demostrate the power of humility and selflessness.  And his story has lasted longer than any of the great civilizations.

Vision of the end times

Daniel seems to be both an observer of the unfolding situation and a primary player, representing God, the true king in the midst of this mess.

At church, we like to have everything neat and tidy, but life is messy. If we are honest with ourselves, we're not in control most of the time.

When we take it down from a global, political level and make it personal, our lives of faith are quite simple.

Tomorrow night, Mark will read from Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." Why? "The Lord is near."

Bea Harries is dying. She is ready to be with Jesus forever. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. The Lord is near."

Please pray for Bea as she goes through the toughest transition of her life...or maybe it's the easiest.

Mark - Daniel 7

Reading this chapter doesn't bring a warm and fuzzy feeling. Daniel's dream and subsequent interpretation point to very hard and frightening times. The saving grace for me is that in the end God's people will triumph. Bringing this perspective into my life today, every where I turn
there are instances of brutal and shocking situations. Turn the tv on ,read the newspaper and the stories are very disheartening at times. The key for me is to live in the sunshine, have faith that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a train bearing down on me and mine. I pray that whatever the circumstance, whatever fear or pain befalls me that I don't lose focus. God is the one in charge. The war is already won. He sent Jesus to make sure of that.

Jordan - Daniel 7

I find it very comforting that Daniel is terrified at the end of this chapter, cause frankly "terrified" isn't the half of it for me!  I can't even comprehend such vivid dreams with strange animals and talking horns.

But I also find it interesting that the imagery of a single form coming from many taking over the whole world in some rebirth is the same imagery that King Nebuchadnezzar had with his statue.  Certainly, something is up here and tough times are ahead.  In the end, God's kingdom will prevail.  Is there comfort in this?  Not for me, and it doesn't seem like Daniel is too thrilled either.

On Saturday was the New England Campus Ministry summit.  Campus Ministry is, like many other ministries in the church, struggling financially.  Over the next couple of years, if nothing changes, one or more of these vital ministries will shut down.  Peggy Wuertle, the Campus Ministry director in New England described our current state as a woman in labor.  Its difficult and painful, but something good will come out of it.  I am President of the Board for the Lutheran Ministry in the Fenway which governs the Northeastern and Boston University campus ministries and this process of rebirth terrifies me.  Will these ministries collapse under my watch?  What is God's will and how will I be an instrument in the plan?  Someone show me a vision and please, no whammies!

Mark - Daniel 6

...and then there was Darius. These rulers all have one thing in common. Their drunk with their station in life. This is the third one and still there has been no marked conversion on who is calling the shots. God through the Holy Spirit gives Daniel insights and blessings abound, Daniel inturn gives thanks to his King daily through pray. King Darius like the others before is driven by his ego and pride and believes his own press. I find myself at times in this same boat. It's good to be confident in what you do and how you carry yourself but not at the detrement of others. I was
once told by an aquaintance, "you don't suffer fools well Mark." This statement struck me as being right on. In hindsight though this phrase just points out I have alot of learning yet to do.
The key for me is to always remain teachable.

The apple doesn't fall...

King Neb is gone and his son has taken the throne. Unfortunately, the nature/nurture thing works against us both ways and our children turn out to be like us. Fortunately, we can break these vicious cycles once we allow God to take over the trajectory of our lives.

For example, I grew up in two homes: one dry and one where alcohol flowed freely. I have chosen not to keep alcohol in our home for this reason. My parents' 8 year marriage ended when my dad met my step-mom working at a bar. Enough said.

King Belshazzar is drunk and decides to take the chalices from the sanctuary and toast his gods (little g) with them. I can imagine the Father (BIG G) was angry.

Daniel's name is rarely mentioned without talk of the Holy Spirit being with him. The reason? He gives credit and all the glory to God for everything he is able to do. God has given him the gift of dream interpretation and the boldness to use it. He's not in it for the rewards. He actually asks the king to give them to someone in need.

The word that jumped out at me today: competition. Daniel tells the new king, "You are Neb's son; you're as arrogant as he ever was. Look at you, setting yourself up in competition against the Master of heaven!"

What I have learned in this ARE synod process so far is that God is working through the church and in the world and we can either help him or serve our own interests. As we answer the question, "Who is Faith?" this year, I hope that we are looking through God's eyes and not our own.

Mark - Daniel 5

I have had very little exposure to the Bible until recently. The stories leave me with more questions than answers which is a good thing. In my life I like to have the answers and that is not how it works. I've had many experiences in my life were my will has brought me both pain and suffering. When I think I have it all figured out that is when I'm most dangerous. My world is filled with an abundance of riches, I celebrate one of them today. Eleven years ago Dyan and I kneeled at Faith in front of God, family and friends to start a new chapter in our lives together.
All that has been given to me is a gift from God. The challenge I face is not forgetting this. I have
to remember were I've come from. These kings believe their own press until their shown that God calls all the shots. My pray and hope is that my focus stays the course of were God leads me to.

Humbled

Daniel is full of the Holy Spirit, so he is able to interpret the king's dreams. That's the only reason and Daniel knows it. He leads from a position of humility. It is humbling to read the Bible every day, to check in with God before you make a move.

In blogging Genesis, the number 7 came up a few times (7 years of plenty, 7 years of famine). According to numerology, 7 is the number of completeness, it's every direction/level of the world you can go (north, south, east, west, underworld, world, heavens). That's why 666 is the mark of the beast: the epitome of incompleteness.

King Neb needs to completely give himself and his kingdom over to God. At Faith, we are struggling with this very issue. Do we try to keep the church the way we like it...or give it (and ourselves) completely over to God?

If we really believe that all are welcome (as it says on our sign), all might show up and things would change. Are we ready for that?

"That's why I'm singing and praising the King of Heaven: 'Everything he does is right, and he does it the right way. He knows how to turn a proud person into a humble man or woman.'"

Do that work in us, God. We are your humble servants...or at the very least we'd like to be.

Remember Daniel's advice to the king: "Start living for others. Look after the needs of the down-and-out. Then you will continue to have a good life."

Daily, I need to repent of my selfish ways and turn around and give thanks to God. The quickest way to church from the parsonage involves a U turn, so I am reminded of this truth almost every day.

Mark - Daniel 4

Neb gets a teaching moment from God. I expected Daniel's interpretation was going to get him
"torn limb from limb" but no threats or outburst. This chapter once again proves God is all powerful and we are His instruments. The question for me is whose tune will I play today, God's or mine.

Jordan - Daniel 3

Every Easter at home in Philadelphia, the seminary would hold a vigil on Easter eve.  The service would start at around 10pm with 12 readings followed by hymns.  The last reading, at around 11:30ish, was this one, and inevitably my family, or another rambunctious bunch would read it.   And every time you heard the sound of the horn (kazoo), pipe (harmonica), lyre (plastic guitar), trigon (something that would ding), drum (drum) and entire musical ensemble (everyone playing together) we would play our little fake instruments in awful unison.  We would exaggerate our words and emphasize the insanity that is this chapter.  The king is just nuts and the only sane people in the land are Daniel and his friends.

I love the memories of those nights and the fun we had.  The reading certainly woke people up and it makes me think that the exaggerated rendition was just the way the author intended it.  But the great story of God's power was yet to come as the vigil ended by processing to the seminary chapel where the Easter lilies were abundant and an Easter sermon was preached.  He is risen!

Mark - Daniel 3

King Nebuchadnezzar needs to take a chill pill. He has this edifice built in order to show his power over his minions and these three don't even blink. This guy has very low self esteem for a king. He doesn't have much substance but has a propensity to threaten to have you torn limb from limb if he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed or doesn't get kudos on his lawn ornament.
I suppose there is a good reason God chose him to reign during this time. I'm very curious what is to unfold in the chapters ahead with him.

4th in the fire

For the past 11 summers, I have taken youth groups on mission trips with TeenServe. We're not going in 2011, so that we can focus on a local need at a church in Dorchester. My first summer with TeenServe, they had a band called 4th in the Fire, based on Daniel 3.

Jordan's post about a golden head and a granite foundation made me think, "If Jesus is the head of Faith, then we are called on to be the granite, something rock solid that our members and those in our neighborhood can count on to be solid."

We had a lengthy Finance team meeting last night. A handful of gentlemen and our treasurer, Barbara, have worked extremely hard to make sure that we're in the black. Our Council has also been burning the midnight oil to ensure that we're focused on our purpose, why God has us here as the church on the rock.

While it may have to do with youth ministry, outreach, or using our gifts to give God the glory, one thing is certain: without Jesus, we are headless...we have no vision. How can we, as individuals, families, and a faith community see the world with Jesus' eyes? How can we have the mind of Christ?

We just need to open our Bibles to Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross."

Beautiful. Thank you, Jesus! Help us live into that kingdom life.

Daniel 2: The Power of Dreams

As I read Daniel tonight I was amazed at the power of dreams. Maybe not in the traditional sense but in God's ability to take even the scariest moments in life and make them about praising Him. Here is Daniel, in exile in Babylon forced into servitude of a king who literally wants him killed. A king who is so focused on his selfish desire of having his dream interpreted he would actually kill all of the wise men in his kingdom. What does Daniel do? Run scared, no. He asks to speak with the king, prays to God for His help and praises Him for giving him wisdom and power. I'm amazed at the way God took the king's dream and selfish desire to get it interpreted into an opportunity for Daniel to worship and praise God. My prayer tonight is that I remember even in life's scariest moments to seek God for help and relish the opportunity to praise Him.

Jordan - Daniel 2

Over the last year or so the economy has been recovering from a bad dream.  What seemed to be a glorious statue of gold proved to have a foundation of clay.  As some point, something broke through and the whole thing began to come down, but not completely, that would have been devastating.  In patching up the system, we won't have a rebirth of an economy based on what we earn, we will continue to live off credit.

But this isn't an economic lesson, its a reflection on Daniel and the dreams of an opulent king.  Dreams can only exist within a reality.  As a country, a church, an individual, we need to figure out whether we are going to be a big golden head on a pile of straw or something with a stronger foundation, perhaps more granite like...

Mark - Daniel 1 and 2

Daniel seems to have mastered the art of negotation. He's not into rich foods and wine and is able to get the stewart to agree with a trial period of vegetables and water with excellent results.
Then faced with certain death he doesn't miss a beat, (2:16) So Daniel went in to see the king."Give me a little time," he said, "and I will tell you the dream and what it means." The guy is as cool as a cucumber.

Daniel or Joseph?

This chapter reminds me of what happened to Joseph...interpreting dreams for a powerful man and then finding himself in power.

"The king ordered the whole company of Babylonian wise men killed. When the death warrant was issued, Daniel and his companions were included. They also were marked for execution."

This is the part that floors me: "When the chief of the royal guards was making arrangements for the execution, Daniel wisely took him aside and quietly asked what was going on: "Why this all of a sudden?"

I would absolutely be freaking out, but Daniel is a non-anxious presence during probably the most stressful time in his entire life.

I can learn a lot from Daniel. God still gives us dreams and visions...just as much is at stake.

Jordan - Daniel 1

What I find most interesting in this story is how God seems to support Daniel in his decisions rather than God leading Daniel.  In verse 8, "Daniel resolves that he would not defile himself with royal rations," and it is Daniel who later asks to have the others tested.  I feel like normally, either one of two things happen in these old stories: either God leads someone, or someone makes a bad decision and God helps rectify the situation.  Daniel, through his Faith, seems to have a more integral relationship with God, one that almost doesn't need words.  I wonder if this comes from endless study and devotion :)  So I guess, what I need to be closer to God is some rich sponsor who can house me and only ask me to study, and then, of course, become a vegetarian!

Vegetarians unite!

Daniel, Rack, Shack, and Bennie lived "on a simple diet of vegetables and water" and were healthier than all the rest.

What fascinates me more is that Daniel "was gifted in understanding all sorts of visions and dreams."

I would love to have someone like Daniel on our Council. We could dream, cast visions for the church God wants us to be, and he or she could tell us what was from God and what was bad burritos.

Lord, lead and guide us into the future. Help us live into your kingdom today.

Jordan - Ecclesiastes 12

This poem in chapter 12 is noted in my Lutheran Study Bible as imagery for the frail human body.  The bent men are the spine and the grinding women are teeth etc.  I can certainly see this and its a great end to Ecclesiastes.  This book can be summed up as frailty and mortality of the flesh.  It would be simpe to say that the words of wisdom here is that "all is vanity," but its really a reminder that vanity is both knowing you will die and then doing nothing with your life but focus on the human creations rather than God's creation.

Just like the book of Ecclesiastes, life is simple and yet amazingly complex.

The hum of the household

People with children and youth in their home are busy...sometimes too busy enjoying/keeping up with them to blog. =)

I was humbled by the words of this wise old sage today. His body is giving out. While I feel the aches and pains of my mid-30s, it's nothing compared with what is coming. I'd better "honor and enjoy my Creator while I'm still young".

"The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd."

Everything I learned about Faith and myself at the Council Retreat yesterday was wisdom, hand-delivered by God. I need to take it that way.

"The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you."

For the next three years, I am going to strive to Do what matters to my household, our church, our neighbors, and God. Please join me in this journey.

Jordan - Ecclesiastes 9

"Enjoy life with the wife whom you love.." (v. 9)

This guy is pretty smart.  The people who you love the most are the ones you also take for granted when life gets busy.  Life is a constant balancing act!  Of course, I bet its a lot easier for this author, who sound like he had a pretty good life and is now retired, to preach about enjoying life.  But those of us just starting out, still need to keep our priorities straight.

The real reason for balance is in verse 12:

"For no one can anticipate the time of disaster.  Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity."

You never know whats coming.  So hug the person (people) you love today!

King, yes, king!

"Do what your king commands; you gave a sacred oath of obedience. Don't worryingly second-guess your orders or try to back out when the task is unpleasant. You're serving his pleasure, not yours. The king has the last word."

Today is Veteran's Day. My dad fought in Vietnam. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those who can follow orders to a T, "Sir, yes, sir!"

"The good life is reserved for the person who fears God, who lives reverently in his presence."

You will be hearing the following questions a lot, especially if you come to the Emerging Synod Ministries meeting tonight at Good Shepherd in North Quincy (7 pm), worship Sunday morning (8 and 10 am), or to the Council retreat that afternoon (2:30 pm):
What in the world is God up to?
And how can we help?

Not only is today my half birthday, but it marks the beginning of my 11th month at Faith. We are finally starting to see a plan take shape for the church. On Tues, Dec 7th, we are gathering at Faith for a clean-up night. I'd like to see us transform the building to be as visitor/new member friendly/uncluttered as possible. Of the 10 deceased people we honored on Sunday, only 3 of them were members. On Sunday, we will be bringing on our 28th new member this year. We're going to need as much space as we can get.

But hear me clearly: It's not all about butts in the pews and bucks in the plate. It's about being a healthy congregation and tapping into what the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst. We need to keep our eyes and ears open for God's movement and then be bold to follow our king obediently into the future.

Jordan - Ecclesiastes 7

Thanks Pastor Matthew for catching that I fell a day behind!

This author is so dramatic..but I loved the last verse (29):

"..God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes."

 A number of times in my life I have imagined that if I just left civilization and money, found a small uninhabited bit of land, that I could probably make do.  In actuality, I would probably be dead in a week because I am hardly worldly enough to figure out how to build a shelter and provide food and water for myself.  And God knows what I would do without a toilet.

With all of our material things we have really over complicated life.  People and relationships are what this earth is all about.  We can advance science, mathematics and the arts in order to keep ourselves healthy and smart, but most of our effort goes to advance our leisure activities and especially in that US.  Yet another study has come out that US kids are falling further behind the world in math.  I feel like I have been hearing this for 20 years, which means, that now those students who were falling behind are teaching the next generation and lowering the standards.  Yet, the US is the mecca for entertainment.  I think that that when God made us "straightforward"  that was to mean simple-minded, it was supposed to mean forward thinking.  Instead we exhaust our energy scheming to entertain ourselves in the present.  Vanity! :)

Proverbial

Today's text seems more like the book of Proverbs than anything else. Here are a few that caught my eye:
"Crying is better than laughing. You learn more at a funeral than at a feast."
"Sticking to it is better than standing out."
"God arranges for both good and bad days, so that we won't take anything for granted."
"It's best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue."
"God made men and women true and upright; we're the ones who've made a mess of things."

I get more excited every day, as I acquire more knowledge of A Renewal Enterprise and the work they are doing with our synod AND as we move closer to our Council Retreat on Sunday. This plan we've been talking so much about is starting to take shape! God is alive and well, the kingdom is unfolding, and we have the privilege of being in on it.

Jordan - Ecclesiastes 5

It is fitting to read Ecclesiates in November when Thanksgiving is on the horizon.  Verses 18 and 19 sum up the holiday for me:

"This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of life God gives us; for this is our lot.  Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil - this is the gift of God."

These words aren't to comfort the blessed, they are words of thanksgiving.  But these words are surrounded by cautions because there is a difference between thanking God for our rich life and dwelling on our own possessions, and measuring ourselves againt what we have versus others.

Hungry

"We work to feed our appetites; Meanwhile our souls go hungry."

On Sunday, we will have our 5th baptism in 4 weeks. In Confirmation, we just finished the Lord's Prayer and are moving into the Apostle's Creed. If we say these words on Sundays (and we all do), then we are admitting to the fact that we are apostles, sent out ones. Mission is not optional.

We believe that God created us and all that exists. We are co-creators with the almighty.

One of the students knew the ELCA bumper sticker logo: God's word, our hands.

God's creation, our stewardship. We are responsible for the planet and everyone in it. As Americans, even in the midst of 10% unemployment and a down economy, we are blessed beyond reason. Our power went out for 7-8 hours yesterday.

No internet and the temp dropped to 69! Boy, did we have it rough. Yet, there are homeless and hungry in our midst.

Let's not feed our appetites; Let's feed them. House them. Care for them.

Let's start by feeding ourselves spiritual food that lasts. Empowered by God, we will have the energy and will to do his kingdom work.

Triple-braided cord

I normally don't blog on the Sabbath, but I couldn't pass on lifting up my wedding verse, "A triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

For nearly 16 years since we met, Heidi, Jesus, and I have experienced the truth of this verse. We are tight. And boy does it help get us through the tough times and know who to thank in the good times.

The Spirit is churning at Faith. Thank you to those who spent some time with Knute, Herb, and I between the services dreaming about ministry passions that we can invest ourselves in. I heard a few that excite me: youth, world hunger, etc. Which ones excited you?

Let's tie together with Christ and do this!

Timing is everything

"There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth."

The last two days, I was on retreat with A Renewal Enterprise. The New England Synod has embarked on a three year journey:
Be who you are.
See what you have.
Do what matters.

About 1/3 of the 190 ELCA churches in our region were represented today. I am one of 18 on the team that will facilitate this process.

Next Sunday, our Council retreat will focus on the first phase: Who are we? Why do we exist? What are our guiding principles? How can we work together, playfully and creatively? Our leaders will wrestle with these questions first and then involve all 391 members between now and May, so that Faith as a whole can live into who we actually are, discovering our purpose.

Contrary to what Solomon says, I think if we walk through this process slowly and prayerfully, we can determine what God is up to in the world and throw ourselves into it as co-creators.

Two verses stuck out to me today:
"Make the most of your job. It's God's gift."
"We all came from dust, we all end up as dust."

Getting involved in what God is doing is the only way to truly do what matters.

Jordan - Ecclesiastes 2

"There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil." (v. 24)

When I was younger and even throughout college, I distinctly a number of occasions where someone would ask me why I was always smiling.  I frequently have a smile plastered on my face and like to see the joys in life, even in harder times.  So I am glad that the author of Ecclesiastes has found joy in some things and hasn't exactly called everything in life worthless!!  The author writes that those who make God happy make themselves happy and those that don't end up serving those that do.

I really hope that when I am old and gray, I can recall all the pleasure I had in putting smiles on God's face!

Wisdom

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Solomon, who wrote Ecclesiastes, was once asked by God, "What do you want? Anything for David's son, the anointed king." This was when Solomon was young and just taking on this HUGE task of leading God's people.

His answer: wisdom. Because he chose this, God also gave him fame, fortune, and health too. Pretty good deal, huh? In The Story yesterday, I read about Solomon. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. This was the wisest guy on the planet? I barely have enough time in the day to be a husband to one wife, a father to two children, and a pastor for 390.

Because he took on so many wives, some of them had other gods. God gives two commands over and over and over again in the Old Testament:
1. Worship only me.
2. Take care of widows, orphans, and foreigners.

Solomon amasses a tremendous amount of wealth and loses sight of God as the only true God. He knows light is better than darkness, but some of his wives lead him that way anyway.

The reason he is so jaded in his old age is that he has a lot of regrets in this regard. Whether we have a lot or a little, we need to focus on loving and serving God always. Since we are God's children, that is really the only path to contentment and true happiness.

Just ask Solomon.

Jordan - Ecclesiastes 1

"..it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with.  I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind." (v. 13-14)

Those are the words of a jaded old man.  Yes, I know that many of us pursue worldly treasures and those material things won't last, but are all the deeds done meaningless?  What is this old dead dude trying to say?  Do we live in vain?  If all things are meaningless, then, as the author has noted "that this [writing] also is but a chasing after the wind" (v. 16).

I think, if I read between the lines, the author is really saying that only things done through God are of importance in this world.  They are lasting treasures.  The other things can be done and need to be done to survive and provide for yourself and family, but if you can always be clear to yourself of what is important and what is vanity, you can be a better person and actually make a difference.

Jordan - Joshua 24

How many gods do I serve?  Joshua calls upon the people of Israel to cast out all of the false gods of their ancestors and serve the one true God.  They agree and bear witness to one another.

I, myself, can honestly say that I serve other gods.  I know there is only one God, but every day my mind is consumed by thoughts of money and my own success.  I do not sing songs of praise to these gods or publicly worship them which makes them all the more dangerous.  These are things I worship and covet in private.  Telling myself that its ok, as long as I also worship The God on Sunday, read my Bible, pray...

To some extent I know God understands this, God just wishes we did not go to such extremes.  Its a lot easier for the Israelites now to "incline [their] hearts to the Lord" (v. 23) because at the end of the day the go back "to their inheritances" (v. 28) which God delivered to them on a silver platter.  False idols come to be when times are tough, when one is in the wilderness, so to speak.  I do find that times are tough right now, its silly, obviously, considering how much more fortunate I am than 99% of the world.  Still, I don't come home to my inheritance, I come home thinking that I should be doing more and making life even better for the beatiful family that I have.  So that they have an inheritance!
(And don't tell me my inheritance is in heaven, that doesn't pay the bills :).

God, I pray, help me to see clearly at times when I am most "preoccupied" that you are the one true God.  That my inheritance is your Son, Jesus, whose sacrifice has set me free to do more with less.  Amen.

I love to tell the story

Joshua, on his death bed, before he delivers the line in Scripture he is most known for--"Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord"--spends his last breaths recounting all that God has done for his people.

He tells the stories of:
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob and Esau
Moses and Aaron
Balak and Balaam

Finally, he mentions Jericho, which brings them up to the present day. Then Joshua says, "Fear God. Worship him in total commitment."

With all that God had done for them, you think they could get rid of their other gods.

Do we truly appreciate what God has done for us or are we more thankful for the country we live in and the opportunity it provides?

Hopefully, you voted yesterday, but remember to make your voice heard through the church and in the world too. Let your light shine. Worship God.

Stick-with-it-ness

Joshua is about to die. He is talking to God's people about what they need to do in order to stay in the game. Think about Paul's example, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."

At Confirmation last night, we talked about times of trial and temptations. We looked at Ephesians 6 and the whole armor of God. The two main "weapons" at our disposal for this fight are the Word and prayer.

People who endure are passionately spiritual. Most Lutheran churches aren't and we are losing the battle as a result. At Faith, let's put a stake in the ground. Bible study will be important. More and more people will join us Sunday by Sunday (come this Sabbath day for a stewardship conversation in the sanctuary after each service). Prayer will become a natural part of who we are.

God's kingdom is unfolding, right here in Quincy!

Witness

The 2 1/2 tribes on one side of the Jordan did something to connect themselves and their childrens to the rest of their brothers and sisters on the other side: they built an altar.

Without proper communication, this story could have ended badly. The new altar wasn't meant to be in competition with the true Altar of God.

Does this sound familiar?

Connecting. Communicating.

This month, our Council leaders will create a plan!