Choosing Wisely

As part of the 'sermon catch-up project' I am also going to be posting some of the short 'meditations' that I have been sharing as part of our monthly Shepherd 701 service.  After the meditation there is usually a time to interact with the Word and think about God's leading in our hearts as we 'experience' the Word through various prayer stations.  Obviously you don't have the chance to share in that part with us but I do hope that you hear God speaking in this meditation about Mary and Martha and the priorities we have and so often confuse.  God Bless:

Luke 10:38-42

 ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”     ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Prayer: God, as we have gathered together this night, help us remember and focus on what is important and essential and let the rest fall away.  Help us to fix our eyes, hearts and minds on you and fill us with your Spirit so that we might be led according to your will.  Amen.

I don’t know about you, but the start of the school year is a crazy time for our family. 

There just seems to be more than there is time to do. 

It is a time of year where I particularly identify with Martha. 

Martha who welcomes company into her house – and of course not just any company, but Jesus! – and she expects her sister to help. 

But instead, Mary just sits there and soaks in what Jesus has to say. 

When she can no longer stand it, Martha’s frustration boils over and she asks Jesus to make her sister help her. 

Instead of chastising Mary, Jesus instead explains to Martha (I like to think gently) that Mary has chosen correctly. 

And while it would be easy to simply leave it at that, that Mary got it right and Martha got it wrong.  I don’t think that is what we are supposed to take from this passage. 

Jesus isn’t saying that inaction is better than action; that listening is better than doing.  What Jesus is really trying to do is clarify where our priorities should be. 

Jesus was primarily concerned with relationships.  In this instance, in this culture that placed an incredibly high value on hospitality.  What Jesus was saying is that being with someone and being there for them is of a higher value and is a higher priority that what you do for them. 

Our relationship with God isn’t based on what we give to God or do for God and, although Jesus saving act on the cross is central, our relationship with God is first based on WHO God is.  And who we are able to be because of who God is. 

Everything that we know about God – including his willingness to send Christ to live and die for us – flows out of who he is.  All that we do – all that we are able to do – and all that we can become is in response to who God is.

To get at who God is we must be willing to first sit and the feet of Jesus and listen. 

That is why Mary chose the better thing. 

Jesus is saying that he has to be first. 

Knowing the person of Jesus Christ has to be the highest priority thing that we do.  It has to come first in our lives. 

When we put Jesus first, then that relationship and the person of Jesus Christ can be the only thing.  Because it, because Jesus is enough. 

When we make Jesus the first thing in our lives all that we need to be and everything that we need to do flows naturally out of and from Jesus and our relationship with him through the Holy Spirit.

Walking on Water and other churchy activities

Happy Monday!  Here is the manuscript from the message I gave yesterday in church.  It is a pretty personal one and, I think, a really important one.  

Matthew 14:22-33 (Today's New International Version)

Jesus Walks on the Water

 ²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴ but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

    ²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

    ²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

    ²⁸ "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

    ²⁹ "Come," he said.

    Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

    ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

    ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Prayer: God we ask that you would come and be present with us know.  Help us to turn our hearts, minds, ears and eyes towards you.  Help us grow in faith and trust in you as we seek your will.  And now, Lord I ask that you would hide me behind your cross, so you are what’s seen and speak through me so you are what’s heard.  Amen.

I have Spent the last two weeks talking about ‘Stewardship’ and how God is calling each of us to respond to the gifts of time, talent and money that he has given each of us.  Per the message calendar this is supposed to be the 3^rd week with that same message.  It is an important message and one that is worthy of at least three weeks – certainly more than the one week it often gets. 

But I think, I believe, that many if not most of us know and understand that all that we have is a gift from God and we have a responsibility to respond to that gift by sharing generously what we have been made stewards of.   I also spend a lot of time this past week reflecting on what we have talked about the last few weeks and all of the information that was shared during our Bread and Soup luncheon. 

We talked about stewardship and its importance, but we also talked about the financial situation of our church.  As I have been thinking about all of that information, I realized that it was a year ago – almost exactly – when I began having conversations with the Pastor Nominating Committee of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church.  Good Shepherd has been on a journey for 20+ years now; a new leg of that journey began a year ago when God began to draw us together. 

I believe that I am not here accidentally.  I believe that we have been called together for a special purpose.  I believe that God has called us – and is equipping us – to play a role in his Mission and Plan for this world that only we can fill and that we have been uniquely gifted and brought together to fill.

From the very first conversation with the PNC, and several times from this pulpit I have shared the general vision of what I believe we are being called to do and who we are being called to be.  The word that captures what I believe God is calling us to is Missional.  It is a relatively new word that describes a call that God has been placing on the lives of the people of God from the beginning of time.

Simply, being Missional means opening all of yourself up to the work and will of God’s Holy Spirit and accepting God’s invitation and call to become a part of God’s mission in the world.

It involves having eyes to see: 

First, to see the things in and around our communities and our world that are breaking the heart of God. 

Second, to see the ways in which God’s work and mission are already being done & to see where there are places of need that are not yet being addressed.

Third, to see how we (as individuals and as a congregation) might be uniquely gifted to participate in that mission or how our unique gifts, abilities and interests have equipped us to reach out into our communities and the world in new ways to fulfill the call and mission of God.

It involves being willing to really put Jesus Christ at the center of your life – your whole life.  We are really good in our world today at compartmentalizing every aspect of our lives.  We put school or work in one box and our family in another.  We put our friends in another box – or maybe a couple.  We put our hobbies and our interests in yet another.  And then there is the ‘God’ box. 

Jesus is not asking to be the box at the center of our lives or even the biggest box.  Instead God asks to be in, connected to and at the center of every ‘box’ of your life.  Even more than that God asks you to get rid of all your boxes and reorder your life with him at the center, connected to each and every aspect of our life.

With Jesus centered in your life it allows God to open your eyes to see the world through his eyes.  It allows your heart and mind to be tuned to the heart, mind and will of God.  And that, at the heart is what it means to be Missional.  There isn’t a blueprint or a step by step process for becoming a Missional person or a Missional church because God calls each of us to different and unique parts of the mission of God.   

How each of us lives into God’s call to be a part of his mission in the world will determine what it looks like for Good Shepherd to be the Missional church God is calling it to be.

[now I am not supposed to do this – I am going to talk about myself – I was told several times in seminary not to do this.  But, I think it is important to share how these beliefs and thoughts are manifesting themselves in my life]  For me the particular places God has opened my eyes and my heart and mind to are: Orphans, the world water crisis, hunger (especially in children) and modern-day slavery. 

How does that translate into change in my life:

Marathon for Living Water International

Beginning the process of looking into adoption

Giving too and talking about in IJM

Regular work and giving to combat hunger (through World Vision – including child sponsorship)

How might this translate into our life together as a church (if these interests/concerns are shared by others in the congregation:

Focus on ‘the least of these’ and how we can share our blessings: through giving, through organizations like ‘Trade as one’, World Vision, LVI and IJM

Increased hands-on involvement in combating hunger locally

Beginning to explore what we as a congregation can do to care for the orphans among us and around us. 

Focus on mission in these areas

While there is no ‘step by step’ process.  There are a few key elements that must be present for us to live into this call of being the Missional church that God intends us to be. 

Trusting in God:

Gideon – as we heard, God winnowed down and already numerically overmatched army and used this small group of soldiers to win a great and amazing victory – with no doubt as to who was responsible

Sending out of the 70 Disciples – In Luke 10 Jesus sends out the 70 disciples in pairs and intentionally has them leave everything behind that they could use or rely on to help them succeed or even survive – even their shoes – again so that they would have no choice but to trust in and rely on God – and in turn be clear in pointing to God in all that they did.

Keeping our eyes on Christ

Peter walking on the water:

Remember Peter DID walk on the water.  It was only once he took his eyes off of Jesus that he began to sink.  If we are focused on Jesus, if we are focused on what Jesus is concerned with then we will be able to do amazing and impossible things through the strength and power of God’s Holy Spirit available to us because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

These two things, trusting in God and focusing on Jesus Christ are the key for us as we face difficult and trying times invididually and as families.  They are the key for us as we focus difficult and daunting times as a church, financially or otherwise. 

We didn’t spend much time on the miracle that was Peter walking on the water, but I want us to hold on to the truth for us in that story –

Nothing is too hard for God.  Nothing, when done in Christ’s name for the glory of God is impossible.  Difficult times, stacked odds and great challenges are merely opportunities for God’s glory to shine through.  

Peter was distracted by real danger: a strong whipping wind, rolling, rollicking waves, and the sheer impossibility of what was happening.  The same is true for us – there is real danger all around on the path that we are being called to, legitimate concerns that seen to demand our focus and attention. 

But by trusting in God and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ we get the opportunity to be a part of the amazing and even impossible work of God in our lives and through us in the world.  

What does God want?

Today we get back, at least a little bit, to the daily lectionary readings, which as always can be found here: http://gamc.pcusa.org/devotion/daily/2010/10/21/
In the Gospel reading we find Luke 10:25 - 37, which includes the story of the Good Samaritan.  There are few stories in the Bible with more widespread recognition than this particular parable.  As such there is in some ways, not much new that can be said about it.  
But having said that there are still some things we can glean from the familiar, and maybe even some things that we don't think about so much.  
And that is exactly where I want to start today.  At the beginning, as it where.  We all know the story of the Good Samaritan, but we often miss or overlook the fact that it is a story that Jesus tells in response to a question.  The question, 'Who is my neighbor?'
That question was itself a follow-up to another question asked by a lawyer (religious authority), a question meant to test Jesus.  That question was a simple one - 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?'  
Jesus asks the man a question in response, asking what is written (in the Scriptures).  The man then responds by quoting the Scripture: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 
Jesus commends the answer and says that if you follow those words you will indeed 'live'.  
Luke then says that the man wanted to 'justify himself', asking 'who is my neighbor?'  Justifying himself meant finding out what the requirements are.  Finding out who qualified for the status of someone that he would be required to help.  
At this point is when Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan.  A story of a member of one ethnic group reaching out and going above and beyond - really sacrificing and giving of himself - to help a member of another ethnic group in need.  But of course these were not just members of different races - the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans was much more complicated than that.  The relationship is better understood as something closer to a blood feud.  These groups had actively been at odds for centuries.  
In a time when all travel was difficult, costly and time consuming it was common for Jews to go up to 50 miles out of their way to avoid travelling through Samaria.  Jews loathed the Samaritans and the feeling was mutual.  
The point Jesus is making in using a Samaritan in this story is that if anyone would be thought of as 'other' by the Jews it would be the Samaritans.  And as one of my seminary professors always put it, this is a 'kitchen sink' story.  Meaning that Jesus used the relationship between Jews and Samaritans to illustrate that if a Samaritan could be considered 'neighbor', then really everyone you meet, come into contact with and are aware of that is in need must be understood as our 'neighbor'.  
Simply put, Jesus is saying that if you see or are aware of someone in need that person is, by definition your neighbor.  Probably not the answer that the lawyer was looking for and probably not 'new' thoughts for you.  But always good to be reminded of.  

Can I trust you?

So, sorry that there was no blog yesterday - I think the lack of the blog wisdom probably was responsible for the stock market finishing lower, not to mention the flooding in Asia, all I can say is sorry.  Seriously though, yesterday - for the first time that I can remember I just was not in front of the computer at all, all day.  Nothing exciting or special involved just a day with other, non-computer tasks.  
I did however read the daily lectionary and in this post will share a few thoughts from yesterday's passage from Luke 10.  My plan is to do that now and then later today 'catch up' with thoughts on today's readings.  We will see how that pans out.
Anyway, here goes.
As I was reading the Luke 10 passage, which begins with Jesus sending out 70 disciples to the surrounding regions to preach (with the words that 'the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few'), teach and heal in His name, I was particularly struck by the description of how they were sent out.  
Here is what we have, starting at verse 3:  ³Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 
What I find interesting here is two-fold.  First, in the beginning of this passage it says that Jesus was sending these 70 out to the communities where he intended to visit - so in a way they were preparing the way for Jesus, getting the people ready to hear and experience Jesus.  They were also going to gauge people's willingness to hear and receive the Word of God through Jesus Christ.  
So, the point is that Jesus had something riding on how 'successful' the disciples were.  He was not sending them out as some sort of exercise or practice, but as the precursor to Jesus himself drawing near to them.  
So with that in mind, we turn to the second interesting thing about this: that Jesus sends them out like 'lambs in the midst of wolves.'  What is most interesting here is that it seems at least like this is a choice.  Jesus is instructing them not to carry a purse or bag or sandals.  He isn't saying 'even though you don't have any of those things, go anyway'.  He seems to be saying don't take all that you have at your disposal - just go as you are, all by yourself.  
This doesn't really make sense, at all, right?  Why would Jesus not want the disciples to be as fully prepared as possible?  Why would Jesus not want the disciples to use every resource at their disposal to 'succeed' in their mission?  
As much as this doesn't make 'sense', there is precedent for it in the Old Testament.  God has Gideon send home many of his soldiers (sorting them by how the drink water from a river) before entering a battle where they were already outnumbered; God has Joshua and his men march around the city of Jericho with trumpets playing - announcing their presence and giving away any tactical advantage they may have had - and eventually literally bringing down the walls without any military action.  
In all these cases, what is the point?  Why does God act in the way that he does, in those cases  doing things that don't seem to make military sense and in this case why does Jesus not want them to use all that they have at their disposal?
I think the answer is about trust.  Simply put, God wants us to trust him.  On a daily basis God wants us to use the gifts, talents and abilities that we have been given to the best of our ability.  But God doesn't want us to judge our 'ability' to fulfill a task or succeed at a goal based on our resources, our gifts or our abilities.  It is a bit of a trite saying, but it is one that is appropriate here: God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called.  
The point is that the truth is that if God has called you to something, you have all need to be 'successful' because you have God.  When we fail at things that God has called us to it isn't because God failed us or because we didn't have all that we needed to 'do the job', it is because we tried to do it on our own or relied solely on our own gifts, talents, resources and abilities.  
Again, I am not saying we are not supposed to use what God has given us - quite the opposite - what I am saying is that to fully and 'successfully' follow God's call on our lives and live into our part of God's plan we must always begin with trust and faith in God.  
In certain times and in certain situations God we may be asked to do something we simply don't have the skills or resources to do on our own or we may be called to not use all that we have (as Joshua, Gideon and the disciples were).  
Why?  Not to make it harder, but to make it clearer to us and to all of those around that what is happening is happening because of the power of God and God's Holy Spirit working in and through us.  
Philippians 4:13 says 'I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength' - I fully believe in the truth of this statement.  If God has called us to do something, by definition we have what we need to do it.  The question is are we willing to trust in God's strength enough to be faithful in trying even when 'we can't do it ourselves'?  
The times in our lives when we are faced with great difficulty or great 'odds', I think are opportunities for us to grow in our faith and trust of God and allow God to use us and our lives to demonstrate to those around us the miraculous power of really, fully trusting in God.  
The bottom line is that if we are willing to trust, really trust in God to be faithful to what we have been promised and live our lives according to that trust - it sets us up to witness and participate in extraordinary things,  done in extraordinary ways.  To live an extraordinary life - all for the glory of God.  
We don't need to come prepared, we just need to be prepared to trust in the God who calls us.