pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Know the Lord is God

Reading: Ezekiel 37:7-14

Ezekiel 37:6b – “The Lord proclaims, Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into three dead bodies and let them live.”

Photo credit: Marek Piwnicki

Continuing in Ezekiel 37 today, the prophet speaks as directed and the bones come together. Sinew, flesh, and skin cover them – and they lie strewn all over the valley floor. There was no breath in them, no life. So Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy to the breath. Doing this he declares, “The Lord proclaims, Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into these dead bodies and let them live.” Just as God had done with Adam and Eve, the breath of God enters this multitude. Given life, they stand, ready for what comes next. In the same way, without the breath of life in us, we are just flesh and bone. Without the Spirit in us, leading and guiding us, we are chasing after death as we pursue the things of this world.

God confirms this fact about Israel. Ezekiel learns that the dry bones represent “the entire house of Israel.” Because of their time in exile, their hope was gone, they feel “completely finished.” And as with the bones, God will not leave them there in a place of despair and hopelessness. God will rescue them from death. God “will put my breath in you, and you will live.” They will be replanted in their own land, becoming fertile again, and then they “will know that I am the Lord.”

We too can wander from our faith. We too can chase and chase after things other than God. Eventually we feel as the Israelites felt: tired, empty, without hope. We feel as if we were once again dust. But even when we aren’t faithful, God is. The Holy Spirit stirs in us, brings our faith back to life, stands us up, readies us to walk again with the Lord our God. This too is how we know that the Lord is God. Thanks be to our God.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your love that never lets us go. Thank you for the grace that does not leave us in the dust, wallowing in our pride, greed, envy, lust, and more. Thank you for reviving us with the breath of the Spirit, giving us new life once again. Keep us close to you, O God, breathing deeply of your love and grace. Amen.


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Leaving Trails

Reading: Psalm 23:4-6

Psalm 23:6a – “Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life.”

Photo credit: Christopher Beloch

Returning to Psalm 23 today, we delve into verses 4-6. In verse 4 we are reminded that the good shepherd of verses 1-3 is also with us in the “darkest valleys” of life. The darkest valleys are many: addiction, depression, death, grief, divorce, forced relocation, loss of employment, friendship, and security, illness, disease, homelessness, poverty, injustice, oppression. These dark valleys are situations and circumstances that we would rather avoid than go through. We’ll try and go around them. We’ll try and pretend that they are not really there. Faced with the reality of the dark valley, we’ll try everything in our power to get through or to climb out. And then, when there’s nothing else to try, we’ll turn to God. Surrendering our fear, loneliness, anxiety… to God, we feel a power and presence that walks with us. We’re not airlifted out of the valley, but God is with us, giving us hope, comfort, peace, strength… in the darkest valleys.

As we experience God’s presence again and again, we trust more and more into our relationship with God. Even when “enemies” – those listed above and more -are right in front of us, we feel safe and blessed by God’s presence. We are not alone. We can declare as David declares, “Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Aware of God in deeper and more trusting ways, we come to see that God doesn’t just show up when we really need God. No, God pursues us. All of the time. God fills us with goodness and faithful love – so much so that these blessings overflow out of us, leaving trails of goodness and love behind us as we live as light and love in the world. In this way, God’s goodness and faithful love fill other’s cups too, bringing God’s power and presence into their lives. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your goodness, love, and mercy that draws us to your heart, to your family, and to our place in your house. Draw us into your power and presence again and again, empowering us to truly walk with you all of our days. Walking closely, Lord, use us to be goodness and love in the world, inviting others into your power and presence. Amen.


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Kingdom of Love

Reading: John 9:18-41

John 9:41 – “If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

As the story of the healing of the blind man continues, we see the dangers of holding “power over.” The power the religious leaders hold over the man’s parents and many others causes fear and dishonesty. This reminds me of the guilt and shame many churches is used to employ to force obedience. This is still used today in some churches. The use of power over separates, divides, weakens, harms.

Jesus, by contrast, uses power under. He lifts up and welcomes. He seeks to build community and a sense of belonging and worth. In the healing process, Jesus takes the first steps and then empowers the blind man to take the step of faith that brings physical healing to his eyes. And later, after hearing of what happened to the man under the guise of being religiously correct, Jesus seeks the man out. Jesus once again empowers the man to take the step of faith. Jesus places the power to believe, to choose Jesus as Lord in the man’s hands. This restores worth and dignity. It is an invitation into community and relationship. It’s not a command or a guilt trip.

Starting in verse 38, Jesus addresses the religious leaders who seek to hold power over others. Jesus declares that he came to “exercise judgment” by opening blind eyes and by exposing those who think that they see and know the will and way of God. The Pharisees recognize that he is talking about them. Jesus responds, “If you were blind you wouldn’t have any sin, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” They have seen the healing, the lifting up, the love that fuels the exercise of power under. They choose to hold onto the ways of the world, being blind to the true kingdom of God. They do not choose to see all people as worthy of God’s (and their) love. They do not choose to see all people as ones created in God’s image. My friends, may we choose to live with eyes and hearts wide open to Jesus’ kingdom of love and to the outcomes of practicing power under others – building community, instilling worth and belonging, making space at the table, loving without strings. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we pray today for those who continue to exercise power over others – those in government, in business, and in the church. Change these hearts to be hearts of love, lifting and empowering others. Use us, O God, to help initiate this change. With your power lifting us up, may we bring justice, community, belonging to others and to our world. Through your love, unite us as your children in the blessed community. Amen.


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Healing Brokenness

Reading: John 9:1-17

John 9:2 – “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was born blind, this man or his parents?”

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema

Today’s gospel reading begins with an important question and an even more important answer. The disciples ask Jesus about the root causes of a man’s blindness. It is a question wrapped in that culture’s understanding of disease and illness. Because medicine had not yet provided explanations for blindness, skin disease… the assumption was that sin or some other brokenness in the community caused the illness, disease, plague… To be healed or cured was to be restored to community or for the community to return to wholeness.

In answer to their question, Jesus responds that neither the man nor his parents sinned. It was not a grandparent or great grandparent either. The blindness (and its healing) are an opportunity for “God’s mighty works” to be displayed. Being light to the world and to this particular man, Jesus makes some mud, puts it on the man’s eyes, and sends him to wash in the pool of Siloam (which means “sent.”) The man is healed – he can see. There is some disagreement over the healing. There is concern over when the healing happened. We delve into all of this tomorrow as we press on in John 9.

But today, within the context of the community’s wholeness, we wrestle with the brokenness of our world today. In a world that produces enough food to feed itself many times over, why do many go hungry? What sins cause this? In a nation with the best possible medical care, why do many go untreated? What sin causes this? In a place where there are abundant resources and space, why do we refuse to welcome some in? What sins cause this?

Prayer: Lord God, heal our hearts, heal our nation, heal our world. The sins of some cause many to suffer or to live in scarcity. The desire for the pleasures and riches of this world lead some to turn their backs on the sufferings and injustices of our time. Our own sins of omission result in silence and inaction, allowing evil and darkness to reign. Lord, pour your healing love into our hearts. Use us to engage in healing the brokenness of our world, of our communities, and of our lives. Amen.


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Hope Grows

Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1b – “We have peace with our God through Jesus Christ.”

In this world of trial and trouble and suffering, we have one in Christ who died for us and walks in Spirit with us every moment. The presence of God in Spirit is something we definitely need. Our world and our nation and often our lives feel full of violence and war, oppression and injustice. While it feels now and then that the evil has left us, our present reality is that it will return in another city, another policy, another scandal, another country, another injustice. Prayers for peace are crescendoing right now.

In Romans 5, Paul declares that because of Jesus’ faithfulness, “We have peace with our God through Jesus Christ.” Because of his sacrifice, Jesus opened the way for us to freely experience grace again and again, reconciling us to God, bringing peace back to that relationship. From this place of peace with God, we can face the “troubles” of this life. Paul states that we can “even take pride” in our problems. In fact, we can rejoice in trials, knowing that our faith is being refined and strengthened. Enduring in faith, God develops our righteous character. This character guides how we interact with, treat, and respond to others in our trials. We are aided and encouraged by the Spirit that has been “poured out in our hearts.” This righteous character and empowering by the Holy Spirit also enables us to walk with others in their troubles, building community.

Enduring faithfully, developing a righteous character, we find that hope blooms. As our steadfast God remains ever present, leading and guiding us by the Holy Spirit, we come to understand our troubles for what they are: temporary. They are confined to this world. Our true home is not in this world. As our companion walks with us, hope grows – for peace in this world and for joy in the life to come. May both be so for you, for me, for us all.

Prayer: Lord God, when the troubles and trials of this life ramp up, may your powerful Holy Spirit guide and lead us faithfully through. Fill us with strength and hope, trust and peace. Relying not on self, draw us deeper and deeper into faith in you. Amen.


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All Is Not Lost

Reading: Psalm 95:8-11

Psalm 95:8-9 – “Don’t harden your hearts like… when your ancestors tested me and scrutinized me.”

Continuing in Psalm 95 today, God speaks. Yesterday’s verses ended with these words from the psalmist:“If only you would listen to his [God’s] voice right now!” If only we’d always remember that God holds us and all of creation in the divine presence. If only our lives were a reflection of the joy and salvation that can be ours when we walk in a right relationship with the Lord our God.

In verses 8-9 we read, “Don’t harden your hearts like… when your ancestors tested me and scrutinized me.” While Meribah and Massah are likely unfamiliar places to us, they represent times when Israel questioned, grumbled against, and complained to God. We can name many places and times when we have done just these things. We often allow our selfish and sinful nature to harden our hearts. Even though we, as did the Israelites, see God’s “acts,” we quickly forget God’s love, care, protection, provision… The sheep of God’s pasture continue to wander into other fields.

We read about how God “despised” this generation with “twisted hearts.” We read, “They will never enter my place of rest.” When we live with a twisted heart, whether temporarily or for a season or for almost our whole lives, we displease God because we are not listening to God’s voice. When we’ve focused our hearts and lives on the things of this world, we’ve certainly experienced a lack of rest – and peace, joy, contentment… When our thoughts and actions anger God, all is not lost. God is gracious and merciful, loving and forgiving. Humbly kneeling before our maker, we can swiftly return to our place in God’s pasture. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, oh how we can wander. Oh how our hearts can turn inward, away from all that you offer. Forgive us, Lord. Redeem and restore us. Thank you for your hand that always guides us back to you and for your love that always heals our brokenness. Amen.


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New Life – Now and Then

Reading: John 3:4-17

John 3:5 – “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter the kingdom of God.”

As we continue today in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, we go deeper. Nicodemus scoffs at being born again: “it’s impossible.” What if Nicodemus understands Jesus’ spiritual reference, but doesn’t think he can actually give up his status and power to follow Jesus? He’s worked so hard to get to his place on top of society. And he’s old – how can he change? How can this devout keeper of the Law become child-like in his faith, guided about here and there by the Holy Spirit, like a child being led by a loving parent?

Jesus offers him this assurance: “Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter the kingdom of God.” Born of water might just be our human birth – “flesh is flesh.” To be born of the Spirit is to be born anew from above. Later the church would link baptism to these words of Jesus. Baptism was symbolic of dying to the old self as one was immersed in the waters, washed clean. Emerging from the waters, the new self received the Holy Spirit into their new, in-Christ heart. While today many of us are baptized as infants, in reality we all come to the point where we must decide to die to self and to the world in order to follow Jesus. For some, this surrender comes as a teen or young adult. For others, like Nicodemus, it comes later in life.

Connecting to Nicodemus’ Jewish roots, Jesus tells him that the Messiah will one day be raised up like Moses raised the golden snake – both in order to save people from death. Connecting to the new life then and now that Jesus offers to all who believe in him, he tells Nicodemus, “God didn’t send his son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” In that moment, Jesus is inviting Nicodemus to accept the salvation that Jesus offers. The offer is always open to us all. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, it can be scary to put our hand in your hand, trusting you to lead and guide as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. Where you lead, like the wind, we do not know. But we do know that it is away from a love of this world, into a love for you and for neighbor that calls us to surrender our life again and again. As we walk this new life, our hearts become full of love and peace, grace and mercy, joy and forgiveness – full to overflowing. Thank you, God. Amen.


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Grace Unending

Reading: Romans 4:13-17

Romans 4:16 – “The inheritance comes through faith, so that it will be on the basis of grace.”

Turning again to Romans 4 today we read that the promise of God to “inherit the world” did not come through the Law. The Law was not even yet in existence when Abram was declared righteous because of his faith. So for Abraham’s descendants – those Paul was writing to then and to us now – the inheritance also comes through faith. One can work really hard to keep the Law (or to do any number of things that we think are pleasing to God), but we will always ultimately fail, bringing upon ourselves the “wrath” that Paul references in today’s reading.

On the opposite end of the scale, we find God’s grace. This free gift of grace is the “basis” for inheriting God’s promises: forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God does not weigh out our worthiness or keep track of how much good we need to do to settle our account. Salvation is not centered on a contractual relationship. There are no transactions needed between us and God in order for us to inherit the promises. There is a grace that washes away our sins and welcomes us back into connection with God and with one another. There is a transformation that occurs – again and again and again…

Paul speaks of this transformation at the end of our passage. This rebirth, this gift of new life over and over, it occurs when God “gives life to the dead.” Once dead in our sin, grace redeems and restores us to life in Christ. Rooted in God’s unconditional love, grace is unending. For the promises grounded in love and grace, we say, thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, living in this world, it can be easy to slip into doing and trying to earn. It is the way of the world: checklists, comparative analysis, judging, then self-doubt, shame, defeat. Your love offers a different way, a better way. Driven by love, you call and reach out in mercy. Fueled by mercy, your grace draws us back to you again and again. Standing there once again, in your love and grace, it feels like we never left. Thank you for loving us this completely, this unconditionally. How great is your love, O Lord. Amen.


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Remember the Promise

Reading: Psalm 121

Psalm 121:8 – “The Lord will protect you on your journeys – whether going or coming – from now until forever from now.”

Photo credit: Felipe Correia

Psalm 121 was one of a small collection of Psalms that were sung by pilgrims heading to Jerusalem. It is a song about God’s protection, something we often need on our journeys. There is a practical side to the Psalm. Safety when traveling in the heat of the day or in the shadows of the night could be a real concern. For God to shade or protect the pilgrims – whether going or coming – this could be a real need.

There was likely also a spiritual need held in the Psalm. As Disciplines writer Mark Feldmeir points out, the mountaintops around Jerusalem held shrines to Baal and Asherah at many times in Israel’s history. Seeing these idols of false hope, one could be drawn in. Perhaps the question, “Where will my help come from?,” was one asked to snatch one’s focus back to God. For many in our modern world, we may scoff at the idea of worshipping false gods at altars and fertility poles.

We scoff until we consider the idols that we look to (instead of God) in our times of need and want. Primary is self. If I can just work hard enough, be good enough, try long enough… success and happiness will come to me. This drive is often to gain the things of this world: wealth, popularity, status… So the psalmist speaks to us too. As we look towards the mountains, we remember that is where Moses, Elijah, and Peter, James, and John all met the Lord almighty. When we need strength, guidance, direction, protection… may we too look to the Lord our God as we remember the promise: “The Lord will protect you on your journeys – whether going or coming – from now until forever from now.” Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, you are our only hope, our only help against the desires and pulls of this world. When we are tempted to look elsewhere, may you Holy Spirit turn us away from the altars of self and the towers of consumerism, individualism, and materialism. May the Spirit within us draw our eyes and hearts to you – to your love, care, provision, protection… Guide us on our journeys and walk with us each day, leading us to peace and contentment and joy. Thank you, God. Amen.


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Go Where God Calls

Reading: Genesis 12:3-4

Genesis 12:3b – “All the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.”

Before entering vocational ministry I was a middle school teacher. For most of my teaching years I helped with or led the youth group at my church. At school I would host a Bible study for students one morning a week. By extension, this group would organize and lead the annual “See You at the Pole” (SYATP) event each Fall. We’d gather, sing, read scriptures, and pray for our school. One year I was at a Promise Keepers event the weekend before SYATP. The message boards in the arena were streaming all sorts of messages. God moved me to see if the event organizers would stream info for SYATP so all these fathers could attend the prayer gathering with their children. I was told no – it was not a Promise Keepers affiliated event. But I was asked to come to the prayer room so they could pray for me and the SYATP event. More than upset, I followed the man to the room. They laid hands on me and offered many prayers of blessing. As I was leaving, a young woman asked if she could share something with me. She shared that during the prayer she had a vision. She saw me in heaven wearing a really full charm bracelet. She shared that each charm was a youth impacted by my ministry. Very humbled and deeply blessed I made my way back to my seat.

In the second half of verse 3, God declares to Abram, “All the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.” Not just your family. Not just the families of the nation that God will make you into. All of the families of the earth. This blessing is predicated upon Abram being obedient to God’s call to “go.” God’s intent for our lives is also to be a blessing to others. So we must ask ourselves: where or to whom is God calling me to go? It might just be to lead a Bible study in your classroom or at work or at your church. It might be to gather food for a food bank or free pantry. It might be to visit folks at a local care facility. It might be to volunteer or to lead a program at your church or in your community. There are many ways that we can be a blessing (and will be greatly blessed in return) if we will but go where or to whom God calls us. GO!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for those words of blessing and promise spoken into my heart many years ago. Thank you for the fire that it lit within me. Lord, as we each respond to your call to be in ministry to others, I pray for your words of blessing and promise to fall on all who obediently and faithfully respond to your call to go. Light a fire in each heart, Holy Spirit. May we each hear, respond, and minister to others, all for the transformation of our world. May it be so as we go forth in faith. Amen.