The Third Sunday of Advent, 2011: The Dream Isaiah Saw

I've been postponing an Advent post, but when I heard this song performed live this past Sunday at the 2011 installment of the annual Morganton Combined Choirs Concert at First Baptist Church-Morganton, NC, I figured it would be the best of anything with which to start my new year of blogging. By the second chorus, I was overwhelmed, completely undone by the Spirit's Word given to Isaiah, poetically rendered in English by Thomas Troeger, set to music by Glenn L. Rudolph, and performed by an 80-something voice choir, organ, brass ensemble, and percussionists, in an aesthetically Beautiful building:

Lions and oxen will sleep in the hay,
Leopards will join with the lambs as they play,
Wolves will be pastured with cows in the glade,
Blood will not darken the Earth that God made.

Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
Life redeemed from fang and claw.

Peace will pervade more than forest and field:
God will transfigure the violence concealed
deep in the heart and in systems of gain,
ripe for the judgment the Lord will ordain.

Little Child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
Justice purifying law.

Nature reordered to match God’s intent,
Nations obeying the call to repent,
All of creation completely restored,
Filled with the knowledge and love of the Lord.

Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
Knowledge, wisdom, worship, awe.

-Thomas Troeger

Tears streaming down my face, I believe I perceived the Spirit pulling my soul to long for the fulfillment of God's promise given to Isaiah...in my life, in the lives of those I know and love, and in the life of our world. It is this particular longing that finds natural expression in observing season of Advent. And for those of us who recognize that all is not right with the world, I think it's the only honest thing to do, really...observe Advent before celebrating Christmas. Personally, I cannot but do just that; I feel the darkness, it is so real to me: the fang and claw, the violence of [both my] heart and systems of gain, the reality that Creation is not as God intends.

So, I pray with with Israel: (Psalm 80:19): "Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts; cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved," and sing, believing in the joy to come, "Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves" (Psalm 126:6).

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Second Sabbath after Pentecost 2011: Our Joyful Gospel--Reflections on Eastertide and Pentecost 2011

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tipsbcfuB4

This post is a little late in coming, but I figured now was the time to write what I believe I've been hearing from the Spirit lately...

Ours is a Joyful Gospel. No, really! It is. I know, right? Hard to believe sometimes, especially the way we act...

Our Creator is redeeming fallen creation, and invites us to join!

Our Savior has passionately endured our just punishment, showing us the mercy of God, and blazing the Way for us through death to Life Eternal: knowing the Father by abiding in Jesus!

Our God's Holy Spirit is renewing the face of the Earth, working in us and through us, despite of our constant backsliding and failures, as a people of God being formed into God's community of reconciliation and goodness: the Church, made up of us who claim Christ and Lord and Savior on Earth and our fellow members cheering us on from a great cloud of witnesses!

The Kingdom of God is ever-growing, the Gospel ever-spreading, and regardless of our understanding, or misunderstanding, nothing...NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ.

The Gospel...our Good News...offers abudant, purpose-filled, Joyful Life to all who will listen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyyZg6BAnaA&feature=related

There is Gospel work (and rest) for all...what is your's today?

Triune, Joyful God,
make us into Your relational, Joyful likeness,
so that we may proclaim Your Joyful Gospel,
and live it out here and now, even to eternity.
Through Christ, Your son, Our Lord, who
rejoiced in Your Spirit,
Amen.

Sabbath after Pentecost: A Pentecostal Reflection

The following is still a work-in-progress (aren't we all?) based on the lectionary texts for the Pentecost Vigil, plus some. Technically speaking, these are lyrics (the "music" is in my head for the moment, and as such, I thought twice about posting it, because part of the meaning is in in the "music," which you can't hear), but here they are regardless.

Prominent are Ezekiel 37, John 17, Psalm 130; there are several other allusions, all Sciptural with the exception of the first line, which refers to a lecture given by C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory.


I am crushed by the weight of your glory.
I am crushed by the weight of my sin.
O LORD, who can stand?
O LORD, who can stand
before You?

My failings rise up like a flood;
the darkness--surely it covers me!
I cannot follow.
I cannot follow
Your Word.

Refrain:
Thus says the Lord:
Rise up My people!
Rise up - out of your graves.
Come to the waters and never be thirsty again.
Recieve My Spirit; recieve My Life:
breathe my Breath in your lungs,
feel my Heart pulsing through you.
Let My Spirit bring you
Resurrection!

We have marred Your Image, O God.
We are but dust and dry bones.
All hope is gone;
we are cut off from
Your Presence.

We spend our time building white-washed sepulchres.
We spend our time chasing wealth, fame, and pow'r...
We spend our time fitting "gospel" into Our lives,
verses letting Your Story shape ours.
We spend our time
spending time
spending time.
O LORD, redeem it!
O LORD, redeem us:
us dry bones.

Refrain.



May we remember: Christ is with Us always,
even until the end of the age.
In the Name of God:
Father, Son, and Spirit,
AMEN.

Third Saturday of Eastertide: A Walk Worthy of God's Glory and Kingdom

A continuation of a devotional series of blogs. If you have already read the devotion I posted that was published in Gardner-Webb University's 2010 Advent devotional guide, some of this might seem familiar, as it should. I wrote this devotion in preparation for writing that particular one for the Advent guide. However, as this devotion is based only on the Thessalonians text, it has some things the other one does not, and as I was reading over it, its specific thrust seemed especially appropropriate for an Eastertide post.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

In chapter one, Paul writes to the Christians in Thessalonica, expressing thankfulness to God for them and affirming them for "how [they] turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come."

Verses one through two of chapter two seem to be an elaboration of verse five from chapter one, explaining in detail how both the Gospel of God had come to the Thessalonians "with full conviction," and "what kind of men" Paul and Silas and Timothy had "proved to be" when they had come to share that Gospel "among [them]."

These are the ideas that keep popping out at me as I read 2:1-12:

Vv. 1-2 After much suffering and amidst oppostion, Paul et al. preach the Gospel of God.

V. 3 There is no "error" or "impurity...[or] way of deceit" in their motives for preaching;

V. 4 they have been "approved by God," who "examines their hearts."

Vv. 5-8 They didn't abuse their power, but were gentle as they proclaimed the Gospel of God. They developed an affection for the church and the people became dear to them.

V. 9 Paul et al. worked as to provide for themelves and not be a burden on the Thessononians, and, (V. 10) "behaved devoutly," "uprightly," and "blamelessly" towards the believers.

V. 11 In sharing the Gospel of God, the evangelists "[exhort]...[encourage]...and [implore]" the people as a father would his children, all for this purpose, spelled out in verse twelve:

"so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God
who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."

Paul, Silas, and Timothy have gone through much suffering in their time of work of announcing, or proclaiming, the Gospel of God to the Gentiles. In the city of Philippi, they had been mistreated, but it seems that in these trials, God had been strengthening them for their work of evangelizing in the midst of opposition in Thessalonica. I draw the inference that it is by these sufferings mentioned in verse two that God had taught them to "speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines their hearts." Their hearts...which are free of any erroneous or impure or deceitful motive for exhorting the people.

Now, verse three could be read as being as being placed after the sufferings in verses one through two to show that, because they had endured the hardships to witness, their motives in preaching could be trusted.

I tend to think that while that inference might be true, it might also be true that it is, in fact, these sufferings that God used to purify their motives. That each suffering Paul went through was another journey through the refining work of God, who is a "consuming fire" (see Isaiah 1:21-31, Hebrews 12:29).

Paul and Silas and Timothy exemplify kingdom-of-God living in vv. 7-11, and how could they act otherwise? They have suffered for the Gospel (vv. 1-2), their motives are pure (God has searched their hearts...vv. 3-6), and we see the fruitful results of their ministry as a result of their faithfulness and God's blessing: they are a living witness of the Gospel they proclaim: they not only preach with their words of hope and salvation, they reassure people that there is something to all of this Gospel-talk by the way they behave.

Then you get to verse twelve. This is the punch-line, or at least it punched me pretty hard: all of this suffering, all of this concern over being pure of heart and motive, all of this Christ-like living and proclaiming, and exhorting and pleading, for this purpose:

"so that [the Thessalonians] would walk
in manner worthy of the God who calls
[them] into His own kingdom and glory."

God called the Thessalonians into "His kingdom and glory," and that's where God is calling us.

Don't miss what Paul and Silas and Timothy not only understand, but worked tirelessly in order to share with the Thessalonians: this call from God demands our walking in a way that is worthy of such a God.

Not that we ever could walk worthy of God on our own.

But this is the Gospel of God we're talking about here, the same Gospel the prophets had been heralding for thousands of years, the same Gospel to which the Spirit of the Law had given witness: love God, and love neighbor. And it is not us who are the workers of this Gospel in our own lives, but God (Philippians 2:13). Just as God had chosen Paul, Silas, and Timothy, brought them through trials, purified their hearts and motives, and worked in them to produce the fruit of the Spirit--in essence, made them worthy of their calling--God wanted to work the same thing out in the Thessalonians' lives, and in ours.

[Here is where I will insert new material. If the purpose of mission work is to share the Gospel so that others come to love, worship, and serve God, and walk worthily, et cetera, then why, so often, do we hear of Christians trying to entertain or attract an unbeliever into heaven? Entertainment shapes and forms people, but the shaping and forming it does leads to narcisism, not to the development of people who are willing to take up a daily cross and follow Our Lord. The Gospel is not entertaining. So what are we selling when we try to use entertainment as a method of evangelism? And, for that matter, when we plan a worship service around the unbeliever, (aka, using worship as a method of evangelism) who do we end up worshiping? Not God. If that were the case, we would plan the worship around God. I'll leave you to fill in the blanks. Hint: idolatry. Just a thought.]

God our Father, in Your love,
and by the blood of Your Son
and the power of Your Spirit,
make us, whom you have called into
Your kingdom and glory,
worthy of Your Self.
It is in your NAME we pray,
"Amen."

On the Eve of the 3rd Sunday of Lent, 2011

Every spring, millions of people in America
stop what they are doing to set
apart multiple times a week to
be shaped by a story.

The story is one of a journey,
and of conflict--of cosmic
proportions--the story is
celebrated by gatherings of
thousands, participation led
by trained professionals who
encourage active vocal praise
and exhortation, and broadcasts
that share the communal experience
with those who are homebound for
a variety of reasons.

There is intense loss and suffering
involved--felt and expressed in tears
and cries of anguish by the thousands
of participants--surprisingly, a majority
of which are men (or at least that's the
stereotype). There is also unbounded
rejoicing--especially at the final victory,
which lies at the end of the long, arduous
journey that leads through countless trials
of suffering and hardship. Much self-sacrifice
is required of the main characters in this story--
as well as those who follow it, allowing it the space
needed to shape their life--multiple gatherings
centering the story's text, actively participating
in the spirit of the story, praying for the ultimate
victory--for they have made the story their story--
most have chosen sides in the conflict, and have
vested vast amounts of emotional energy in the long
journey towards overcoming the final enemy.

At first there seems to be multiple competing parties
or camps vying with the hero for the victory, but towards
the end it becomes clear there is only one foe to vanquish.

When the victory is won and the musicians blare the hero's
hymn, grown men fall to their knees crying tears of
thankfulness and praise to the victor. Or they might dance
a dance of exultation or raise their voice as one in celebration:
the fight has been won, the battle is over!

Grown men and women, who teach their sons and daughters
that one of the most important things in life is the annual celebration
of the story, and how wonderful it is to talk about it all the time:
when you rise up, when you lie down, and when you walk in the way.

The victor has overcome.

Or victors, I could say.
Because the victor, or mascot, is actually a symbol of the team
of victorious basketball players who have completed the long,
arduous journey to the Final Four playoffs.

This victor isn't Christ, and the followers aren't the Church of Christ.

This isn't Lent, and we're not headed towards Good Friday and Easter.

This is March Madness, and it's Final Four or bust, baby.

So get your game on.

Yea.

Ash Wednesday, 2011

From Psalm 103, the eighth through the fourtheenth verse:



"The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide:
neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth,
so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children,
so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame;
he remembereth that we are dust."


God remembers that we are dust.



"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" are the words from the imposition of the ashes in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.


The connection between these two texts was impressed upon me tonight.
Just something to think about.

Fifth Week of the Epiphany: An Advent Devotion

So it is in this fifth week after the Epiphany that an advent devotion I wrote for the GWU Advent Guide 2010 is finally revealed to the blogging world. Or, more accurately, to those who follow my blog:

***************************

The First Tuesday in Advent, Year One (BCP):

Psalm 5
Isaiah 1:21-31
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Luke 20:9-18

*You really need to read the Scriptures before you read my devotional commentary. I suggest reading the Psalm between the Isaiah and the 1 Thessalonians reading.

The parable of the vineyard is one of those parables
I just don’t get. I don’t come away from it with a
simple “The kingdom of God is…” statement. But,
Jesus didn’t spell it out for us like that; he wrapped
up the Truth in a story – a story that is very
unsettling. For instance, why do the vine-growers
act the way they do? Who, in their right mind,
murders their boss’s “beloved son” and then
expects to get the boss’s inheritance? Regardless of
their reasoning, the way they are living reveals their
belief: the Owner is not a force to be reckoned
with. He’s gone “on a journey for a long time” (Luke 20:9).

Isaiah’s prophecy is strikingly parallel to the Gospel
parable: the righteous-city-turned-harlot is suffering
the consequences of its own sin. Its “silver has
become dross;” once the home of “righteousness,”
now its citizens murder and are completely without
concern for the helpless among them.

The psalmist praises: “You are not a God who takes
pleasure in wickedness” (Psalm 5:4). Those who
choose to turn away from God choose selfdestruction.
But the psalmist concludes Psalm 5
with rejoicing – rejoicing in the shelter the LORD
gives those who will look to God as their refuge in
the time of trouble.

Paul and company know all about trouble. They’ve
been evangelizing and have suffered persecution.
They’ve endured their trials – I imagine them
singing Psalm 5 along the way – and are able to live
and preach the Gospel “amid much opposition” (1
Thessalonians 2:2). They stick to their calling,
proclaiming the Gospel of God amongst the church
in Thessalonica by kingdom-living and kingdomspeaking.
Their purpose: “so that [the
Thessalonians] would walk in a manner worthy
of the God who calls [them] into His own
kingdom and glory” (I Thessalonians 2:12).

Maybe Paul and company need to visit the
vineyard in Jesus’ parable, or the harlot-city
described in Isaiah.

Or maybe they need to visit us.

Too often I share in the sinful attitude of those
vine-growers: forgetfulness – or willful
ignorance – of the Owner of the vineyard. Too
often my silver turns to dross; I grow oblivious
to the cry of the helpless and to the still, small
voice of God’s Spirit. Too often my walk is far
from worthy of the God who calls me. What
about you?

During Advent, we are invited to realize the
darkness of our slavery to sin, but also to hear
prophecies of the way things should, and will,
be: “Zion will be redeemed with justice and her
repentant ones with righteousness” (Isaiah
1:27).

God, make us repentant, redeem us, and make
us to walk in the Way worthy of You. Sing with
your Spirit a song of rejoicing in our hearts, and
shelter us even as You are consuming our
sinfulness with holy fire. Remind us that You
will come back after Your long journey, and
give us the Hope we have in our Christ: Jesus,
by whose suffering all bad is made good, and
all wrongs, right. Through Him we pray, Amen.

The First Monday after the Epiphany: A belated Christmas "meditation"

This blog post is the result of a "meditation" I wrote to share with my church, the First Baptist Church of Morganton, NC, on Sunday morning, January 2, 2011. The worship service was led by college students, and the text for my "meditation" was Jeremiah 29:10-11, although I reference more of the surrounding text in order to clarify context. Okay. I've already explained too much. I'm trying to work against that tendency. Oh wait, one more thing: we celebrated communion that morning as well, hence the reference that you will see. Here it is:

***

Israel has been exported. They are in a foreign land. They are hopeless.

They get this message from God:

"For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." Jeremiah 29:10-11

Did you hear that? "I will visit you."

God will visit the people who are hopeless.

Isn't that what we are celebrating right now? [God in a manger?]

Isn't that what we are getting ready to celebrate in communion? That God will come...that God has come...that "The Lord IS come?"

But...so what? That's the question we are faced with when we proclaim this message to the world. God really IS one of us! The Word is made flesh!

So what?

Maybe that's what Israel in exile said. Great. Another message from the LORD. Doesn't God see that we are actually here in this place thousands of miles from home, strangers in a foreign land, with all hope gone?

Maybe that's what the world says: God was born into a manger and a bunch of shepherds came and did this thing called "worship," all the while angels were flitting around singing in some dead language that nobody speaks anymore.

Maybe that's what we say. Not explicitly. But think about it. Do our everyday lives reflect a belief that God's incarnation...the Word made flesh...has any impact on the way we live, the way we act, the way we speak, the way we work, the way we play, and the way we rest?

Do we believe that this story we proclaim matters? God says, "I will visit."

God has visited. So what? We're still here in the 21st century dealing with school, jobs, money, vacations, problems at work, sickness, death, and all the rest. When we strip away the distractions of ipods, phones, computers, and other media, and reflect on where our lives are going, the result can be pretty depressing. We can find out that we're a long way from where God wants us to be. We're a long way from any meaning in our lives. As an individual, as a church, and as a world. We could find that we're a long way from home.

But...God will come. Just as promised. Just as already fulfilled. "Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in."

Or in the words of the prophecy given to Jeremiah:

"When when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile." (29:12-14)

God will bring us back home.

***

"Where meek souls..." The Christmas carol referenced is "O Little Town of Bethlehem," written by Phillips Brooks (1835-1903).