"To Hear or Not To Hear"

When you hear the words Selective Hearing, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

My wife would say "Sim."  I hear, get some peanut butter at the market please. So I pick up the house brand Shop rite.  She say I told you specifically Skippy smooth. I don’t think I heard that? 

Isn’t it odd how some people only hear part of what you say? Some people only hear what they want to hear and then there are others who hear you say one thing, and interpret it as something entirely different. And I am sure it happens to us all. 

A man walked up to the front door of a big farmhouse, and knocked on the door until the owner came. The man said, “Sir, could I please have something to eat? I haven’t had a meal in over 4 days.” The well-to-do owner of the house said, “I have made my fortune in the world by never giving anything away for free. If you go around to the back of the house, you’ll fine a fresh gallon of paint and a clean brush. Paint the porch out back and I’ll give you a good meal.”  The man headed off to the back of the house. About an hour later he knocked on the front door. The homeowner was surprised. “You’re finished already? That was quick! Come in and the cook will bring you a meal.” “Thank you, sir!” the man said. “I must tell you though, you really don’t know your cars sir. Oh, The Porsche I painted out back is actually a BMW." 

Matthew 21: 28-32  The authorities of the Law in Jesus day were always trying to trap Him with a question that might lead them to lay charges against Him so they could turn him over the Roman Emperor for execution.  In most cases Jesus was able to return their request with a question or parable that usually stopped them in their tracks.  This is one of those examples. 

John the Baptist, in their eyes was not a prophet but a heretic.   On the other hand the people saw John as a prophet sent by God to proclaim the coming of the Messiah.  Therefore the chief priests and elders could not answer Him without setting the crowds against them.  By affirming that Johns authority to baptize came from God they would turn the heretic into a prophet.  They couldn’t do that, and if they claimed his authority came from man, then the crowd who saw John as prophet would turn against them.   No matter how they answered the question it would now back fired on them.  So they do not answer and in the process do not get an answer from Jesus.   But Jesus doesn’t stop there and He never does folks.  He tells them a parable.   Parables are a great ways to tell the truth without having to be factual and they can be more effective because a parable can hold many truths.   The Key to any parable or story within the scriptures is to be able to relate its truth or truths to your own life and the current events of the day.  In other words you don’t just read it, you need to put yourself in the parable or the story so you can see the truth about yourself.  How many of us when reading a good book, or the bible often think “I know someone who needs to hear this”?  Well, if that someone isn’t you, then it probably won’t be of much benefit to “YOU”. Did you hear that?  No pun intended!!  You have to find or put yourself in the situation to gain any wisdom.  You have to love all of yourself folks, the good stuff and the errors, otherwise, as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 13: 1, we just become a noisy gong. 

 I have two sons and a daughter, I have 5 grandchildren and another on the way.   When my three were growing up I would often asked for help when there were choirs to do around the home but I would not always get an instant yes from all three.  One might be glad to help, one might be reluctant and the other just might say yes but somehow always find an excuse to have skipped out.  For those of us who are parents maybe that has been your experience too.  Since I was brought up in a very structured background skipping out was not acceptable.  When you resisted the will of my grandfather, a wrathful voice or something else would show up.  How did you feel and react when resistance to your will is thrown in your face?  Many of us have been there not just as parents but as adults too, what emotion comes to the surface for you?  Is it anger, frustration, revenge, what?

But I want you to imagine this resistance from the view point of God.  We are all God’s children at heart not matter how old you are and our God is inviting us all to work with Him in the building of a better world, the building of His kingdom come.  Now here is where this parable gets real personal folks.  Out of the two characters in the parable, which one is you.   What is God’s will for you and how are you responding to that will? Are you listening to the spirit speaking to you?  Is the will and way of our Heavenly Parent the most important thing in your life these days?  You know, I think we would all including myself have to say no to that question.  Forgive me Father.  These are tough personal questions folks, and you have to humbled yourself in order to answer them truthfully. 

Our world seems to becoming a world that is all about “ME” these day?   Isn't that the way it is with so many of our sons and daughters today, not only with many young people but with many of us adults as well?  A common quote these day is:   my 5 minutes of fame, and you know the worst part of that 5 minutes for some is, it has cost them their reputation or even their very life.   I appears today that is, all about “ME.”   Yet we have been blessed with an Island that many call paradise to be our homeland– we were given the materials to constructed our homes, talents to support an income and blessings too numerous to count and still many say to God who is the source of things, "Who are you?  I owe you nothing, I am deserving of my riches because of my labor, I have earned these things.   A faith community is not a necessity, neither is go to church and I have earned the right to do as I please with my money and my life.  Is that not what is being expressed by many of the young and old of today, by what others see us doing, hear us say, often without much thought of the consequences.   It has even found its comfortable home within religions, churches and governments today.   I believe many are blinded by something called selective seeing?  A topic for another day.

Have we forgotten that in the beginning God created out of the chaotic darkness the universe and that the earth was formless and desolate? Genesis 1: 1.  Have we forgotten that everything in the heavens and on the earth was made for and through “Christ”, so “The Christ” { the incarnate Jesus} could offer it all to the sons and daughters of the human race, Genesis1: 26-31.  How could we forget this?  Are we teaching our children about materialism without teaching them from where it all came?  Who then will teach them and us to be grateful for what God has done? 

May I suggest that in order to really get Jesus’ point in this parable you will have to decide which of the two characters in the story most resembles you?  Oh Darn and I thought it was all about the other guy.  You see it really is, all about the other I mean,   but not the way the world is presenting it to us and to our youth today.  They see it as, it’s all about me and not about the other.  Jesus once again turns our world upside down and point the finger back at us. We can be either the wayward or obedient child, it is up to us to choose.   There is no wiggle room here folks.  I remembering a good friend of mine told me once I was sitting on picket fence concerning a crucial decision that I needed to make in my life.  You know what a picket fence look like sticks have a point at the top.  He told me I couldn’t stay there forever.  Eventually I would fall off to one side or the other but it was inevitable I had to choose.    His comments were right.  Eventually I fell over to Theology and ministry leaving my lucrative last secular career in Pedorthics.  Making a decision to sell my home and practice and to work with God full time changed my life big time.     You don’t have to become a minister to do that folks.  All you need to do is begin to live your life as a reflection of how you understand the life of Jesus.  That decision can make big changes in your life.   Just because I chose ministry doesn’t mean that I have gotten it all together either.  For me it is still a work in progress.  Let us never forget that God has given us all things both physical and spiritual, I own nothing, and I have no right.  Reverence this with gratitude and by example you to will become part of the Kingdom you have been called upon to help build.   We are all called to work within Gods Kingdom.  

"Jesus turns Fairness upside down"

Sept. 24, 2017 Readings:  Matt 20: 1-16

 I would like to rename the parable we heard today as “the radical landlord.”

The parables Of Jesus are often very difficult for us to understand.  They seem to play havoc with your human reasoning at times.  Mainly because the messages they proclaim, especially about God’s amazing love, grace, or how we will be received in the Kingdom of Heaven, do not go along with our worldly view of what is fair and what’s unfair.   God’s love, mercy and grace are radical.  So radical in fact, they often teach the opposite of our worldly understanding of how things should work, who should receive and who shouldn’t.    God’s ways of doing things often make no sense to our human logic and our human nature, especially when it comes to love and forgiveness that has no conditions.   When we were young our piers and family began teaching us about what is fair and what is unfair.   If you work very hard to accomplish something then you would expect to be rewarded.   The size of the reward should be in proportion to the work accomplished.  Do an ok job, receive you’re ok pay, but if you do a better job, well, you can hope to and should expect a little more for your extra effort.  Those who work real hard and produce more, why they should not only get a good pay but can expect a bonus right?  The problem here is that this parable turns that teaching upside down and goes against human logic and worldly teaching and therefore should be subject to a good argument about the unfairness of the landowner, I would you say.      

Folks: This parable has similarities to the parable of the Prodigal Son.   You know the story.  The elder son in the story is peeved because the younger brother who squandered his inheritance is welcomed back into the family by his Father with a feast.  Then the Father wraps his wayward son in his best robe and kills the fatted calf in his honor.   The father receives this wayward child with gifts and celebration???    In other words the boy is given a royal homecoming.    It’s just not fair to the elder son, who stayed home worked long and hard for his father as he was expected to do, where is his just reward?  No, it is not right, it is not fair and when I read this parable for the first time, many years ago, that is what I heard.   That’s not fair.   It seemed to me that an injustice was taking place here, to give those who labored all day in the hot sunshine the same pay as those who only worked and hour in the cool of the late afternoon.   That’s Just Not Fair!!!!   

But wait a minute folks, do you see it?  I was assuming something here wasn’t I.  The assumption was;  that God should follow my logic of fairness and equality?   What is wrong here, what are we missing in this teaching?

After many years of seeking and working with Jesus’ parables, after taking a second look I find this parable is not about fairness or unjust wages at all.  No, I discovered that the parable is essentially about our misunderstanding of God’s radical generosity.  Did you hear that God’s generosity is radical and it is not accountable to my human logic of fairness.   It is not about equity or wages earned either, it is about a generous landlord who offers laborers work and an undeserved gift.  We don’t deserved food, shelter, good health or work, if anything we are undeserving because we stray from the ways of God more often than not.   Sing  ” Undeserving As I AM”

In the eyes of God folks, no one deserves anything, do you get it!!  No on earns Grace, The real point here is God grace is sufficient for all and is given equally when God choses to do so.  It is not subject to our standards.    God doesn’t deny us work, God loves us and offers work to all, both early comers and late comers.   Some take him up on the offer and others reject the offer.   If we concentrate on the fact that all, were offered work and that all responded, then the parable gives us insight and our response should be with gratitude, gratitude for the gift and ability to do it.   The amount of time worked then becomes irrelevant to receiving and responding to the gift of grace.   The real teaching here is to be grateful, it’s not about fairness.  When our focus turns to fairness one of the cousins of pain show up, envy.   Envy invades our thinking and steals our gratitude.  The same can happen to me or you if we become preoccupied with our human logic, forgeting what God has done for us.  The thief on the cross next to Jesus did not earn his way to paradise in the moments of his death.   It had nothing to do with how much time he had spent in the Synagogue serving or following the ways of goodness and faithfulness.  Yet he was given the same opportunity that was given to all who followed Jesus for three yeas or months or weeks or even a day folks.  Think about that?    Those who made the sacrifice as did the disciples, gave up everything, denying their worldly life, its teachings, just to follow him.  This last moment request by a thief, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom” these words for mercy would allows him the assurance, that he would be with Jesus that very day in paradise.    That’s not fair, its radical Grace folks.    Luke 23: 39-43

The call here for the listener is a call of humility.  Not about goodness, devotion, long suffering, or earning the approval for God’s generosity.  On the contrary we learn that those who are first in the eyes of the world are not first in the eyes of God.  Those who God receives as the lowliest of all, are the ones God will exalt on the last day. {Matthew 23: 12.}   

I believe you and I are invited and challenged to reflect upon where we see ourselves in Jesus’ parable, both in our personal lives and in our church life.  Are we filled with gratitude for what God offers us or are we lost grumbling and complaining about others?   The parable is not about comparing how hard we work or how much time we have spent working.  It is not about fairness, and it is not about your neighbor folks.   The fact that God gives to you should produce gratitude in your relationship with God.  The parable cautions us:   God’s generosity towards others should not turn our gratitude into envy, pride or hardness towards a neighbor.   The parable also teaches us that God’s Grace is not determined by goodness or works either, nor does the amount or works give any one of us an advantage over the late comer.  God offers to love and care for us all equally, we have no right to judge others less we judge ourselves.  God sees us all as his children and no one but Jesus wears the crown of righteousness.   Jesus makes his offer.  Come to me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you eternal rest.   He makes a convenient from the cross of unconditional love and forgiveness not just for those who have been good but those who have also been not so good.   Jesus calls to us  “Give me your coat of many colors with its illusions of good deeds, bad deeds, greatness and smallness, your illusions of weakness and strengths and I will exchange it for my coat of righteousness and this is how I will present you to my Father, not in your illusions but in my righteousness.  Folks, all you have to do is to call out to him in humility for mercy and you to will be with him on your last day.     Isn’t that amazing???   Isn’t that GREAT!!!!  Isn’t that GOD.   
Give a listen: 

" Born Again" Whats up here?

                                What does being born again mean!  

A man cannot re-enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time.   No Jesus said you must be born of water {mother’s womb} and then you must be born of the Holy Spirit.  This is a spiritual re-birth an encounter with the Spirit of God that opens yours eyes to the illusions of this world and gives you new eyes, a new mind and a new heart of compassion.  When this happens the spirit tells you the truth about Jesus “The Christ.”  Not what your church Sunday school has told you, but a much deeper truth that goes right back to the creation of the universe.  At its core, this re-birth is about truth not salvation. For we know that Jesus tells us that it is the truth that sets a man or women free from the fear of living and dying. Now may I suggest that this is truly what it means to be saved.  
 A foot Note: The new testament was written in Greek not English and the word used was "anagennesas" meaning "Born From Above" quite different than the English words Born Again, which by the way has been misused, does that help?

"Dark Night Of the Soul"

Seeing through Shadows

Spiritual transformation is often thought of as movement from darkness to light. In one sense that is true, while in another sense, this image is to simplistic and  fails to show us the whole picture.

Darkness is always present alongside the light. Pure light blinds; shadows are required for our seeing. We know the light most fully in contrast with its opposite—the dark.  The Height of your joy can only be expressed in comparison to the depth of your sorrow.   There is something that can only be known by going through “the night sea journey” into the belly of the whale, from which we are spit up on an utterly new shore.

There is truth behind the Jonah story, for those of us who cannot swallow the story as fact.  no pun intended!

Western civilization as a whole does not know how to hold darkness.   Rather than teach a path of descent, you can never really know light until you have experienced the darkness.  Just as you could not express how cold it is if you have never known how hot it was .

Unfortunately for us, Christianity in the West has  been preached as a system of winners and losers, a “prosperity Gospel.” Few Christians have been taught to hold the paschal mystery of both death and resurrection and how to acknowledge and address the dark side of the Church (for example, sexism, persecution of outsiders, pedophilia—to name a few). As a result, many people who formerly called themselves Christians have “thrown out the baby with the bathwater,” rejecting Christianity with the same dualistic, all-or-nothing thinking that immature religion has taught them in the first place.

In many ways, this struggle with darkness has been the Church’s constant dilemma. It wants to exist in perfect light, where God alone lives (see James 1:17). It does not like the shadowland of our human reality. In Christian history, we see Eastern Orthodox churches creating heavenly liturgies with little sense of social justice; Luther’s abhorrence of his own darkness; the Swiss Reformers outlawing darkness; the Puritans repressing darkness; the Roman Church consistently unable and unwilling to see its own darkness; the typical believer afraid of darkness; fundamentalists splitting darkness off into a preoccupation with Satan. Then comes postmodernism, with a predictable pendulum swing, seemingly in love with darkness!

Is that not what we are fed within the news, see in movies and on TV shows these days?  Is this not what dives the internet gaming systems that both youth and adult thrive on today. Waring, destruction, disaster, human degradation, dehumanization, and humiliation. 

We are hardwired to avoid the human mystery—that we are all a mixture of darkness and light—instead of learning how to carry it patiently through to resurrection.  There are no perfect institutions and no perfect people. There is only the struggle to be whole.  It is Christ’s passion, the “suffering of reality”  that will save the world.   Jesus says, “Your patient endurance will win you your lives” (Luke 21:19). He shows us the way of redemptive suffering instead of redemptive violence.  Patience comes from faith,  a faith which attempts to hold together an always-mixed reality of both darkness and light.  Perfectionism would only blind us for our human reality and would make us resentful and judgmental.  Grateful people emerge in a world rightly defined, where even darkness is no surprise but an opportunity.

Reference:  Adapted from Richard Rohr with John Feister, Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in an Age of Anxiety (St. Anthony Messenger Press: 2001), 163-164.

  

"Sin Is What?"

When you hear the word SIN what is the first thing that comes to mind.

How many of us here today have heard the term “Forgive and forget”?  Out of these two words which one is more difficult for you and why? 

Sept 17, 2017 Matthew 18: 21-35

I would like to start today’s message with somewhat of a history lesson in order to try and deepen our understanding of the words sin and forgiveness. 

In the passages before the reading today there is a lot of talk about “Sin”.  To deepen our understanding of forgiveness, may I suggest that we need to first examine where this modern day English word “Sin” came from, because you would not find it in the original Hebrew or Greek writings of the bible.  Does that surprise you? 

It is very difficult to talk about forgiveness if we have misunderstood the meaning of the word “Sin.  Did you to know that the original texts for the Old Testament were written in Hebrew and the original texts for the New Testament were written in Greek?  The first complete English translation of the bible in was in 1526 published by William Tyndale.  The King James version was published much later in 1611. 

If you were to have read the first written accounts of the Genesis story in its original language you would have heard the Hebrew word Chata’ah [Shay tay| which was understood as, missing the mark.   If you were to read the New Testament in its original language you would have heard the Greek word hamaritia {ha·mar·ti·a}, which was understood as, to fail, or to error.   Now folks these do not sound as harsh as we have come to understand the meaning of our English word Sin.  What then are we missing from the originals?   

Unfortunately for many of us the word “Sin” has been taken out of its true context and miserably abused by religion and religious leaders for centuries.  Mainly because it has been presented mostly as a deliberate conscious  act.  

  

These two ancient words can allow us to hear a deeper understanding of our word sin.  Viewed from the point of the Hebrew and Greek meanings of missing the mark, failure, or making an error, these expressions of sin contain something our English translation seems to have missed, the unconscious factor.   Let me try and explain this with a Greek Metaphor.  The Bowman draws aim with his bow and put an arrow to flight but it misses the mark.  What happened???  Somehow unce be knowing to the bowman, an unconscious error has occurred, the Archer does not purposely miss his target.    In the same way, we often with our good intentions miss the mark, why, all because of unconscious uncalulated errors folks!  Are you beginning to see it?  

I would like to suggest that even the most premeditated crimes are subject to the same unconscious, uncalculated after effects.  No one can completely know or understand the aftermath of their sin not matter how foolish or horrendous the act seems to us.  This is percisely the reason we cannot judge the sin of a brother or sister. The Bible tells us that all have fallen short of the glory of our heavenly Father,  read it for yourself in Roman 3:   As a parent of three children and now 5 grandchildren I know this to be true.  There were many times when I really didn’t know what I was doing. I only though I was doing the good and right thing.  Oh Forgive me Lord for the folly of my ways. 

If you can grasp this not so new, but deeper understanding of our word sin.  Then Jesus’ plea, on my behalf from the cross, can now be understood in a deeper more personal sense.   Jesus did not qualify this statement, it was meant for all of us young and old, bad and good. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23: 34:  The unconscious factor.

Jesus' statement ties together the unconditional love and forgiveness that our “Heavenly Parent” has so graciously extended to all His children, regardless of what they have done or have not done.   Why would God do that?   Because we really are not fully aware of the good or bad that we do.  There are always unconscious factors involved in doing what is right and good and you may never know the full extent of your goodness or who it has helped.    On the other hand, there are always unconscious factors involved in sin and we may never know the full extent of our sin or who we have hurt.   May I suggest that Jesus understood the unconsciousness of missing the mark because of His plea on our behalf?  Jesus would not have known the word Sin because it had not yet been invented.   Luke 23: 34:    We often miss the mark and come short of the glory of God in both the good things and the bad things that we do.   

But here is the incredible GOOD NEWS folks,  are you ready for it??  The hurtful power of sin ends when the forgiveness is applied to yourself.  That is something the unforgiving servant in the parable this morning had yet to learn.  Because of his unforgiveness, he brings wrath upon himself.  

I truly believe that my job is to take the log out of my own eye so that forgiveness can be completed in me, it can never be completed in you by only forgiving the other, read out it in Matthew 7:    May I suggest here that forgiveness can never be complete if you do not see the error of your own ways and are able to forgive yourself?  In fact one of the original Hebrew word for forgiveness was Salah {Sal la}.   The most interesting thing about this word is that forgiveness in the Hebrew context was not meant for others, this word actually meant forgiveness of self.   That’s right, you first, then you will be enabled to give to the other.    For you cannot give to others that which you have not given to yourself, you have to have it within you first, to be able to give it away.  

I would like to conclude today with this modern day parable to illustrate the power in forgiving yourself.   I have chosen to begin with Judas but at the right moment you can interject your own name here folks. 

We all know Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus and took his own life.  Judas’ unconscious sin has condemned him to the pit or eternal darkness.  For ten thousand years Judas weeps with his head bowed in the darkness of this deep pit of sorrow and agony.  One day Judas finally cry’s out, “forgive me Lord Jesus, for I truly recognize why I have condemned myself to this pit,” Here it comes!  Suddenly I realize Its no longer about Judas, it about me.  It is about my self FORGIVENESS and my darkness, then my tears begin to cease.  Not knowing why, I begin to feel alive again.  As I lift my head up from my darkness, my eyes are opened and suddenly I begin to see a small glimmer of light at the top to my pit of agony and despair.  I begin to climb towards the light but the walls of my pit are smooth are slippery, my footing gives way and down I go, back to the bottom.  But with a renewed strength of hope I try again and again and again.  Finally after what seems like an eternity I reach the top of the pit.  The light is so bright and blinding but all of a sudden I see an out stretched hand.  I grab the hand and a voice from the light speaks to me.  “Sim, welcome home, I am so glad you found your forgiveness.   The disciples are all here, all the Saints in heaven have been praying and waiting for your return.”   True freedom you see is found only in your own forgiveness it all starts and ends with you.   

"Living In The Light"

Sept 10 2017 Matthew 18: 10-17

Attending church regularly is not only good for your soul folks, it's

also a good time to take a rest.  A Sunday school teach taking her class back into the sanctuary said to her students, now children we must be quiet in church, “Yes I know teacher” said one of the students, “some people are sleeping.”

According to Time magazine, attending church regularly is not only good for your soul, it's also good for you mind, it can, if you allow it, get your mind out of the everyday world  for a moment and it is also good  for your health, both physical and spiritual.   In a recent cover story about changing attitudes to health, the magazine cited several scientific studies which indicate people who practice a faith are markedly healthier than those who do not.  Their blood pressure was lower, they have fewer heart problems, they're less prone to depression - they even recover faster and more completely from hip fractures the survey said, now isn’t that amazing.   “BUT” the story didn’t say which group was surveyed, the group that stayed awake for the hour or those who were resting in their sleep.  Now seriously folks, I can personally attest to this, as it has made a big difference in at least the last 40 years my life. 

At about the age of 16 I left the church for over 20 years and during that time I had major bouts of deep depression, loneliness, anger, and jealousy. I even had thoughts of taking my own life all because I felt unloved and my lust for things, materialism.  I often felt unloved even though there were people around me who told me they loved me, I just didn’t believe them.  How could I believe them when they would occasionally label me stupid, foolish, or a good for nothing?  I even had school teachers tell me that I would make university because I didn’t read well enough and because I struggled with math.  Little did they know then about dyslexia which I struggled with as a child and later and adult?  Are you aware of the condition, the reversing of letters and numbers when reading or writing?  Some of you have probably experienced my disability in my blog writings as I don't have and editor, or when I announce the next hymn for the morning.  
But as an altar boy with Anglican Church where I was first nurtured, seeds of faith were being planted.   There I felt important, accepted and cared for.   I didn’t know it then but somehow Gods extravagant mercy grace and forgiveness was always being extended to me in the background.   Maybe some of you had that experience too. Today, I account God’s unconditional love, His extravagant grace, mercy and forgiveness as saving me from the hands of Satan and death many times.  “Oh Lord Save Me Tonight”

You know I see his mighty saving hand at work in my life even unto today.  Believe me folks, I was no saint growing up, but I have known persons who though they were so clean that they would squeak if you touched them.  I think the bible calls them, "the self-righteous,"  You probably know someone like that?   I never understood why I was I so comfortable around them until a friend pointed out that it was because I saw a reflection of myself in them.   But, for some reason or other I was always attracted to those who had a disability, the addicted, the lonely the lost and the forgotten.  I didn’t understand or realize it at the time, but it was there, that I found Jesus.  He was always standing somewhere in their midst.  Often just in the background in the form of kindness, compassion, humility, joy, and laughter, even when the circumstances were not good.  It was being shown to me through the works of Gods angles, who turn out to be ordinary people like you and me.   It was there that my life began to take a turn for the better.  It was there that I personally found out that I was being saved from myself, saved from my ego, my arrogance and my self-righteousness.  You see we are all plagued with some form of these things folks.  That is what Jesus is asking us to surrender our will and way for His way.  For me, there was no longer the argument of who would be favored in the eyes of God, I began to see clearly that we are all Gods offspring, Children of the light.  Matthew 18: 2-5.  For me, no one was bad enough to truly understand what they were doing or had done.  In Luke 23: 34 we hear Jesus utter these words: "Father, forgive them. for they know not what they do."  Jesus didn’t qualify that statement, He meant it for everyone, including the ones who were killing Him.   Now isn't that amazing!!  For me Love took on a new meaning because there was nothing I have done or had not done that could keep that love from me.  I like Peter learned to run with open arms to the Lord of love regardless of my sins, guilt or shame.  You can read about Peters love for the Lord in John 21: 15-19.   You see you cannot protect yourself from life’s circumstances.  You cannot demand that people love you.  True love can only be given and it must be without any strings attacked.  You cannot avoid the darkness that life often brings, but with God all things are possible in your life, Mark 10: 27.  With God you will be able to tolerate life’s ups and downs, life's pain and sorrow and still know that you are precious and loved in Gods sight.  Heavenly joy is found by letting go of things, while worldly pleasure and happiness demands clinging to things.   Folks, do not allow your human nature {flesh} to control the outcome of your life, Galatians 5: 17.  Our human nature or the flesh as Paul describes it is there to teach us to recognize that there is good and bad in everything.  It was not meant to control us, but we were given a nature, to control it.   Paul tells us to allow your spiritual nature to take control.  For it is the nature that leads you to an eternal life.  Both the flesh and the spirit require feeding, the one that gets fed the most becomes the strongest in you and it will dominate your life.  Should it not be the spiritual one then?   

This truly is what living in the light is all about.  The darkness will never completely go away but the spirit is stronger than the flesh and in time, with the help of our Lord, you can overcome any circumstances and the darkness will not win.       
                                               "Spirit Song"

"The Danger of A Single Story"

Images of Jesus seen through the eyes of other cultures

Not only do many see the images of Jesus, God and the Spirit differently.  Many see the Creation story differently also.     

One of the disabilities of having only a Single Story to explain Creation is that it eliminates a great deal of human history and culture.  The stories of creation need not be factual, but must illustrate within it's presentation universal truth to be of value to human history and to the evolution of our world and humanity itself.  Fundamentalism on the other hand, in any form, does not allow for the wisdom of other stories, culture and traditions.  The reason is because it is to narrow in its content and presentation.   This TED talk by  Novelist Chimamanda Adichie should help those who struggle with any one sided story.  

"The Danger Of A Single Story"

"A Question Was Asked"

Matthew 16: 21-28   Have you ever wondered? 

After a question from one of my perishers, Terry Benevides about a particular verse from Sundays reading of the gospel of Matthew 16: 21-28, I felt the need to write this.  His question came from verse 28, it reads:  New King James Version (NKJV)

28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”  Why did Jesus say that and what did He mean when He said some would not die before they would see Him coming in His kingdom?  His question inspired me to write this reply.  

I would have usually delt with this question next week but the lectionary moves on to chapter 18 for next Sunday so I want to deal with it now.  The answer Terry was looking for comes from the next chapter.   Remember I have often said from the pulpit that you need to read at least some before and after to get the meaning of a passage when studying scripture or looking for explanations.  The next Chapter 17 is the story of the transfiguration. Shortly after, 6 days the scripture said, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain top.  There Jesus is transformed just for a moment to another place and time, what is significant here and you should take note of is: both the living and the dead are present.  Peter, James, and John, are the living and Moses and Elijah from the Hebrew or Old Testament are the dead.  No one know for sure if this was to represent heaven or a dimension in between life and death.  All we know for sure is that what He said {according to Matthew} in verse 28 of Chapter 16 is now fulfilled.  In this place all the living and the dead are able to see Him and each other in His glory and in His kingdom, or as some say bibles translations say, as King.    Here is Chapter 17 for you to read.  This is my perspective, hope this may be helpful.    Blessings

Matthew 17:1-13New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us[a]make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first[b]and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

I Will Never Forget You My People

"Jesus Calls Peter Satan"

Question for you: Has anyone ever call you a derogatory name?  When I was growing up I weighed 90 pounds soaking wet.  I had a small head and my ears seemed enormous.  An older man that often call me “lugs” once said that I look like a car going down the main street with both doors wide open.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Ever hear that childhood saying. What derogatory name was forced upon you?  Well today once again we are going hear Jesus label someone with the worst of all derogatory names.   

According to the Gospel of Matthew this is the where Jesus begins to make reference about his journey to Jerusalem and to the Cross.   Jesus makes it very clear that following Him will require making sacrifices in their lives.  Going against what the world teaches is not an easy task folks.   Thus He tells his disciples and all those who would come after them, you must be willing to bear your cross to follow me a message that was also meant for us today.

We know the story but His followers back then would have no idea of what Jesus was really telling them, let alone accepting His words as fact.  In Matthew 16: 21 we hear Jesus tell them: “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life.”

Peter is the first to speak what most likely everyone was thinking and feeling.  “No way Jesus! this cannot happen to you.  We have made plans for the new Kingdom and it doesn’t include you dying before we get there.”  They were looking for a power filled ruler not a humble suffering sacrifice.  In the end, Jesus would willingly give up His human life in compliance with His Fathers will.    Now you think about this folks, Gods will for Jesus and for each and every one of us is the same.   We all must give over our physical body to the dust because it is mortal.  We were meant to live and then die.  That is the will of our heavenly parent.  How we live and die is partly up to us.  It can be a good life and a good death or it can be a chaotic miserable life and difficult death but there is a beginning and an ending for us all, and that included the physical Jesus.

Jesus once again uses another derogatory word to describe, not a Canaanite women, or the teachers of the law, but the man He just told moments ago, that he was to be the Rock that would lay down the foundation for a universal church.   I think this name Jesus lays upon Peter here is the most derogatory name of all names.  You could have called me a hypocrite, you can call me a dog, but not Satan Lord!  But that is exactly what Jesus does.  He says to Peter: “Get away from me Satan” imagine the downer, the shock, the impact that would have upon you, if you were to hear Jesus call you Satin.  We might think this name is fitting for a Hitler, Eddie Amin, Kim Jong-un of North Korea, but not Peter!  The one who will lay the foundation for the future Chruch!   Not you!! The one who will ------------------- and I leave that blank for you to fill in.

Folks I do not know when we are really going to get it, but our sin, any sin cannot keep God away from using anyone, including me and you, to fulfill His will in this world.  We all have a ministry to do, what is yours?  Fill in the blank.   In fact God “is” using you, as an example, even if you are a bad example.  Why then would anyone continue on the low wide road that leads to death?  We are called to surrender our will and take the narrower high road that leads to an eternal life that defeats fear and death.   Like Peter, nothing should discourage you from seeking Gods will for you. “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Ever hear that childhood saying.    It was Peter’s arrogance that produced this name calling incident.    

May I suggest here that Jesus was trying to shock Peter and the disciples back into reality?  Even though we miss the mark, we have not been abandoned.  I will never forget you my people Isaiah: 49.

Gods plan does not win the world with anger and violence, but with a sacrifice that defeats the fear of insecurity and death.    Letting go of this world and letting God take control is the only way to our eternal life folks.  There is no other way because it is the way of the Christ and The Christ is universal.   

The assumptions being made by the disciples were way off base.  Jesus says to Peter in verse 23: “you are an obstacle in my way because your thoughts are not coming from God, they coming from man.”  They were all still thinking of the kingdom in worldly terms.  His words were about to come true.  Their ideas and assumptions would be put to the ultimate test.  What does all this mean for us today folks?  I guess some of questions we need to ask ourselves here today might be:

1.  What ministry are you offering to God in your daily walk?   What does bearing your cross look like for you, what sacrifice have you offered up.  

1. How am I personally doing when it comes to harsh words or violent outburst within my own life?  Am I humble enough to allow others to just to be who they are?

2. How am I doing at controlling my own ego or arrogance?   As with Peter these two culprits usually produces name calling or hurtful comments from us.    

3.  How am I doing at being humble and surrendering to the power of Gods will in my life?

These are all good question and I’m sure that you could add a few more to this list at home. 

Jesus said to his disciples and I am saying this to you today, that in order to follow Him we will have to give up some of what we think is pleasure and security found in the things of this world.  That what needs to die in our lives is our ego, our arrogance our thirst for materialism, and our search for money and power.  Jesus assures us that these are false illusions and that in perusing them, we can short change the life God has planned for us.     Click the blue link and listen! 
https://soundcloud.com/sim-rushtonuser-360084415/i-will-never-forget-you-my-people