Psalm 85:1-2,8-13

I guess with God's anger in the first two readings this week, it is appropriate that the lectionary leave out the middle portion of Psalm 85.  But verses 3-7 are very human.  They are a human questioning God's commitment for what must have been a great tragedy experienced by the author. 

"Will you be angry with us forever?  Will you prolong your anger through all generations?" (v 5)

There is no reason for us to question God's commitment, he gave His Son to die for us.  But we do question.  It is human! 

Where the lectionary picks up, verse 8, is actually the turning point of the psalm:

"I will listen to what God the lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants-but let them not turn folly."

Leaving out the middle of this psalm does us a disservice.  We should know that the psalmist wrestled with this.  Then, while questioning came to the realization that instead of asking and talking, he should listen!  For indeed, God is good!

Psalm 79

Kelly's post seems to be a running theme as of late. With advent upon us everywhere we are reminded of upcoming Christmas and urged to buy, buy, buy. Black Friday is a keen example of the consumerism of Christmas. Who goes out at 1am to get the best price? Is it really worth it to sleep in a tent outside of Best Buy to get that electronic item you have to have? I admit working in retail I do get caught up in the hype somewhat and think to myself is this really me? Do I belong working here? The philosophy of Kohl's does not truly jive with my philosophy. This has been a nagging thought in my mind for quite some time.

This Psalm is not bright and cheery either. God is angry and rightly so. As Mark Huber puts it, God's people are given many gifts, we squander them, don't follow God's plan or law and then when things don't work out we go crying to him to fix it. This was the theme of Marks sermon this week.

So how are we going to be any different this year in our preparation for Christmas? How are we going to show God that we truly value his gift to us, Jesus?

During this time of waiting and preparing, I am going to try to prepare my mind and truly celebrate the real Christmas. God deserves that from me.

Revelation 18:1-10

This past weekend we took the kids to the science museum to see the Pompeii exhibit and the IMAX film on ancient Greece.

I had no idea that Pompeii was such a rich city...the seaside luxury town of ancient Rome. It was filled with the summer vacation homes of the rich and powerful - like the Hamptons, Newport, or the French Riviera. And in all its luxury, it was destroyed in by fiery volcano 79 CE, roughly the same time the Gospel of Mark was written - our earliest gospel.

Greece gave us democracy, our concepts of art and music, philosophy and drama. The ivory and gold statue of Athena filled the parthenon. And today we hear stories about whether or not Greece will be able to pay its debts - draggging Europe and the world economy into turmoil.

But the first time I read these verses, the Babylon that I saw being criticized was not Greece or Pompeii. v. 3 "and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."

We are a nation of excessive luxuries - we use far more than our fair share of resources and create far more than our share of pollution and waste. We consume. And this is not the way of the Lord.

So as we prepare for the coming of the kingdom this Advent, where do our loyalties lie? Can we look at our nation through God's eyes? And can we accept that God's anger may be justified?

Readings for the week...

Monday: Revelation 18:1-10
Tuesday: Psalm 79
Wednesday: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Thursday: John 1:35-42
Friday: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Saturday: Ezekiel 36:24-28
Sunday: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all enjoy the day and we'll blog some more next week!

Psalm 95:1-7a

The Lord deserves my thanks and praise for all that He bestows on me.

Both joy and adversity are gifts from a loving Father.

In all things God is at work. His Light shines always but at times I overlook it.

Thank God for second chances and thirds and forths and...

What a wonderful opportunity to live a life knowing how much our Lord and Savior welcomes all of those who turn to Him.

Matthew 24:45-51

I remember in school there were two types of pop quizes.  One induced little anxiety because the teacher hinted that one was coming so I kept up to speed on the homework and readings and felt good about the material.  The other, came out of nowhere and as soon as the teacher said "quiz" silence and fear descended on the class like an anvil!

There shouldn't be any surprise about the material come judgement day.  God might put a sheet of paper and  #2 pencil in front of you and ask a single essay question:

"Have you loved your neighbor as yourself?  Please provide specific examples and cite your references.  Length: 2 pages.  Time: eternity."

If you studied and lived the material, the quiz might make you nervous, but you'll get through it.  But, if you decided that you would cram when the master called, you'll probably be the one sweating in the back of the class surrounded by crumpled failed attempts!

I should think of something Lutheran to say about grace...

Zechariah

Humans are curious creatures. We always want to know why, how, when, what size? Our reading for today involves a man who wants to measure Jeruselem. Why? What does he want to accomplish with this information? Then an angel comes and tells him don't bother with the measurement, you don't need walls, God will protect the city. I'm not sure what this means???

Should we not be curious living our lives by faith alone? After all as Christians we believe that God is with us and will protect us. But God did create us, didn't he make us want to know more, question why things are?

In verse 4 the angel is telling the man that Jerusalem will be a city filled with people and animals that is why it does not need walls. Also that God will be a wall of fire around the city and will dwell with them. So maybe what this is telling us that when we are together as a group of people (can I say believers) he will be with us. We can be secure in that thought and hold onto his promise.

Not sure at all what chapter 5 is talking about.....

Psalm 9:1-14

I've always struggled with Psalms like these...primarily because I don't really have enemies. Sure, I'm rather annoyed by the kids who sprayed silly string all over the lawn on Halloween...but I'll get over it, and I'm certainly not seeking vengeance (or even justice).

Even when I look at world events, I struggle to name "enemies." I see fanatics. And I see many many people who suffer because they are trying to live in the wrong area of the world. Everyday Afghans and Iraqis inspire my prayers more than my anger.

I suppose that some of this is because I have the luxury of being safe. Even in a world where terrorism is real..the odds are very much in my favor for a safe life with many choices. Others fight the fanatics on my behalf.

So most of this Psalm is difficult for me. Sure, I state with assurance that "those who know your name trust in you." (v. 10) But the emotions that inspire this Psalm are difficult to latch onto while sitting on my down comforter with an overfed dog snoring at my feet.

Readings for the week

Monday - Psalm 9:1-14
Tuesday - Zechariah 2:1-5; 5:1-4
Wednesday - Matthew 24:45-51
Thursday - Psalm 95:1-7a
Friday Revelation 22:1-9
Saturday Matthew 12:46-50

Psalm 90:1-12

10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Such an uplifting reading tonight. :(

My sinfulness is very apparent to me and some days it directs my actions all to willingly. My youth is but a faint memory(turning 47 in two months). But to look at these years as filled with trouble and sorrow, I'm not buying it. I've experienced some incredible lows during these years but they pale in comparison to the strength I get from my faith in Jesus Christ and the promise of His salvation.

I am a sinner, I will be judged by my Lord for my life and how I use this gift He has given me. My efforts will never measure up to the sacrifice of Christ dying for me but my role is to let His Light shine in me. That is my goal each day I am given. Some days this Light shines brighter than other days.

Matthew 24:29-35

This is definitely a "darker" chapter than anything I have read since we switched to the Celebrate readings.  Jesus is talking about the end of times, but to me, I can't help but think of the parallel between this chapter and the time shift from this past weekend.  The darker days that press on until you see the fig tree twigs become tender (or in our case, forsythia) and you know the warmth is near.

This time of year drives me crazy.  Missing out on the sun every weekday seems like a sin unto itself!  Yet a weekend snow or a cozy night watching a movie brings other joys that the days of summer cannot hold a yankee candle to.

What Jesus seems to be telling me in this chapter is that although the end of days will be dark and depressing, there is a joy in the midst of it.  That joy is the living God.  If there is joy and hope in the rapture, then certainly the winter is nothing to loathe!

1 Thessalonians

It's funny how things happen. I have been pretty worried about finding a male leader to come to the Youth Gathering with me this summer. There are 10 really excited kids and one excited/nervous leader ready to go, waiting for someone to come forward and volunteer to come along. What would stop anyone from going to New Orleans in mid July? I have heard it is marvelous weather, only like 110 each day!!!! Who wouldn't want to go?

Then I made a phone call about something unrelated to Kirk and guess what? He is going to come with us.!!!!! YEAH! He told me that he had been doing a lot of thinking and really felt he wanted to go. What a relief!

I have been praying about someone coming forward and I was not the only one. Thankfully God sent me Kirk. I can sleep easy tonight and thank God for his help.

Ezekiel 7:1-9

Wow - what a follow-up to Mark's posting last week.

I think this passage must set a record for number of exclamation points used in 9 short verses. God is quite angry, and the end is upon us all.

Not only is there no relief in this chapter, no relenting of God's anger...but God explicitly says "I will not show pity, I will not spare you." (v. 4) And reading the rest of the chapter does nothing but continue this strain...there is no relenting. God is angry.

A few weeks ago I gave a student a 0 because she did not follow the rule "full name or no credit." I figure by the time they're 14 years old, they need to know that last names are expected on their work. She protested - It's not fair! And she was right - she's a poor student who had put in real effort on the assignment and had done a great job. Her highest grade of the term was being turned into a 0. I ended up revoking the 0, but not before letting her spend a day living with it...living with the reality of what I had stated as the rule.

We need a few lessons like that student. Unless we live with our sin, we do not learn our lessons. Too often we run to grace without first truly confessing or contemplating how we have failed. We need our "time outs," our "consequences," and even our punishments. Growth requires acknowledging our shortcomings. And, yes, that can involve a little self-flagellation.

Sometimes God's love is found in being "judged according to our conduct." (v. 3 and v. 8)

Readings for the week..

Monday: Ezekial 7:1-9
Tuesday: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Wednesday: Matthew 24:29-35
Thursday: Psalm 90:1-12
Friday: Matthew 12:43-45
Saturday: Psalm 63
Sunday: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 24:1-14

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Are we living in the End Times? The disciples wanted Jesus to give them
the signs to look for and today we can read into so much of what happens in this world to be progressing toward a conclusion. Whether it's Nostradamus or Harold Camping, these "prophets" have gotten it wrong.

Today I am living the life the Father has granted me. My time isn't spent on wondering if the end is near. I'd like to believe that my faith is strong and when
the trials of this world befall me that I will give it to God through Christ. In the
end that is what living as a Christian is about, at least through my eyes.

Proverbs 16:21-33

Proverbs is one of the books in the Bible that will give you something new every time you read it.  A collection of fortune cookies without the calories.  Most of the verses of Proverbs are there to tell you that of all the things you look for in life, knowledge will pay the most dividends.  The warning is that you should never think of yourself as wise because once you have, you become foolish and the world passes you by.

In our Sunday bible studies, the last thing that we ask ourselves after reading the passage is, "what is God calling me to do?"  Proverbs, I believe, is a book meant for our society today.  One that prioritizes wealth and fame over education, humility and work ethic.  Our nation is far from humble and Proverbs is the first to tells us that being a wealthy nation does not mean that we can stop learning!