June 30: Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read aloud in church

June 29: Job 4-6; Psalm 147; 2 Corinthians 6

Paul pleads with us to "open wide your hearts...."

Open wide your heart to God.  God will "heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds."  With God there are no secrets; no thing is unknown.  Reveal yourself to the Almighty and you will be strengthened.  You will be led to wholeness.

Of course, we can still refuse the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit.  We can still abstain from drinking the holy and restoring waters of life that God provides.  But, our first step is to open wide our hearts.  To bring all that we are and all that we have before our Creator in order to be sanctified.

We need not fear.  God's deepest desire is our wholeness, our shalom.  God's deepest desire is our deepest desire.  Yes, the realization of our desire will be difficult, painful, and trying.  But, God will remain with us---healing and restoring us along the way.  If we open wide our hearts.....open wide your heart.

June 28: Job 1-3; Psalm 146; 2 Corinthians 5

The book of Job reveals the struggle within us to understand how God acts and moves.  An ancient concept of God---and one we still utilize today---is that God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked.  This is the understanding Job has and why he questions what happens to him.  It is the understanding Job's friends have and why they are certain Job must have done something wicked to "earn" the punishment that has befallen him.

As we journey through this story of Job's---a fictional story that wrestles with theology--- we are confronted with many of our own questions: Why do bad things happen to good people?  Does God care about justice?  Where is God in the midst of suffering?  Throughout Scripture, we are presented with different answers and understandings to these questions, and as followers of the Way, we are responsible for working out our own understanding.  This may be an understanding that changes throughout our life and study.

From the Psalmist today, we do hear thoughts on these questions: "The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.  The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.  The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin."  (Psalm 146: 7-9)  How does Job's story reflect or negate these verses? What does our own story, our own experiences, have to say to these verses?

What do you think?  Theology: Faith seeking understanding.

June 27: Esther 9-10; Psalm 145; 2 Corinthians 4

Goodness!  As happy as we are that (in this fictional story that has a historical framework) the plot against the Jewish people was foiled and the Jews were allowed to defend themselves, it is still hard to read and hear about the death and killing that happened while they defended themselves.  So much bloodshed.

We read these stories and think:  What about peace?  Isn't Jesus' way about compassion and forgiveness?  Yes, yes it is.  But, we are not there yet...and this story serves as a reminder at how very little distance we have come when it comes to "nation vs. nation" situations.  Using might and warfare is still our way.  We quickly think of the other as the "enemy;" and we delude ourselves into thinking we are the good guys, so God is for us and God is against the other.

God is not against the other.  The Psalmist reminds us: "The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made." (Psalm 145: 8-9)

God feels compassion and steadfast love to all that God has made....which is all, period.  When we get into battles---whether they are in war, in relationships, at work, in the parish, wherever----we allow our vision to narrow down to our side only.  But God always has the good of all in God's sight.  God always sees the bigger picture.  When we find ourselves on the opposite side of a line drawn in the sand, we need to take the time to consider the other view----to ask God to grant us a bigger vision---to try to consider what is at stake for everyone involved and then to find a way forward that isn't based solely on our own good or our own preferences, but a way forward that is based on that picture which includes all---God's vision.

June 26: Esther 7-8; Psalm 144; 2 Corinthians 3

" . . . you are a letter of Christ . . . written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

Each one of us is a letter of Christ---a public message.  Our actions reveal Christ; our words reveal Christ; our thoughts reveal Christ.  What does your letter say?

June 25: Esther 4-6; Psalm 143; 2 Corinthians 2

Such examples of living the Way in today's story of Esther.  First, when Esther is granted the opportunity to ask for anything she wishes.....half the king's Kingdom.....she asks for the advancement of God's Kingdom instead of pleasing her own desires.  She puts the needs of others (the Jewish people) ahead of her own comfort, wealth and wants.  As we all know, when we are faced with the opportunity to gain wealth, things, luxuries, it is so often the case that we do not consider the human cost to our wish or our selfishness.  Esther shows us another Way to be.

And Mordecai----even when he puts himself in peril, he refuses to bow before another as Lord.  For him, only YHWH is LORD.....no other deserves his fidelity.  A hard thing to do, then and now....to return the steadfast love God gives to us.  But through Scripture and the saints among us, we having living examples of the Way.

Almighty God: grant us the strength, the wisdom, and the opportunity to return your steadfast love today.  May we love others as You love us.  Amen.

June 24: Esther 1-3; Psalm 142; 2 Corinthians 1

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be bable to console those who are in amy affliction..." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Life is hard.  Sometimes physically, sometimes financially, sometimes ethically----all these affect our spirit.  The struggles of life that is found in everyday living wears on our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.  But hear this Good News:  God consoles us when we struggle.  "Console: to alleviate the grief or sense of loss; to comfort" (Webster's Dictionary)

God alleviates/lessens/takes away our loss and our suffering.  But first, we must bring that pain before God.   "With my voice I cry to the LORD:" (Psalm 142:1)  We must share with God all our struggles and doubts, our fears and anxieties and lay them at God's feet.

And then comes the truly hard part.  We must wait.  And listen.  And be patient.  God will show us a way through the affliction. And we will be able to recognize the path God provides us because it will line up with the characteristics and traits of God.  God's answers will align us with Jesus and Jesus' reactions, responses and choices.  This is how we will know.

 God will be our light in the darkness.  Trust in that.  Oh may we trust in that.

June 20: Nehemiah 7-9; Psalm 139; 1 Corinthians 14

In Nehemiah, we hear Israel's story yet again.  A wise people the Hebrews; they knew how important it is to know our story.  And, our story is found in God's story, not the other way around.

As the Psalmist so beautifully reminds us, God has known us and God knows us----all of us: "no secrets are hid."  While there may be times we wish this wasn't the truth, this truth should release us from fear and shame.  God knows our greatest weaknesses, our darkest truths, our blackest thoughts, our worst actions......and God loves us anyway.  And God desires to remove those blemishes from us and restore us---again and again---as many times as it takes---so that we can live in the freedom of God's love.

"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;"  What wondrous love is this, o my soul.

June 19: Nehemiah 4-6; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 13

The people attempt to rebuild the wall.  It is hard work and it seems an impossible task.  And then, in the midst of it, they are being exploited---which so often happens to a vulnerable and worn-out people.  Others see their weakness and misfortune as an opportunity to make a buck and to increase their own benefit.  Not much has changed in thousands of years.

But the people keep at it.  It's incredible what a group of people with a like mind, a like mission, can accomplish.  Even more so when God is invited into the work.  "On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul."

When we live in community as God desires---as we hear it described in 1 Corinthians 13---then our strength of soul is increased.  Then together we can accomplish what God deeply desires----that all people are reconciled to God and each other in Christ.  It may seem and sound impossible.  But all things are possible through Christ.  All things.

June 18: Nehemiah 1-3; Psalm 137; 1 Corinthians 12

Nehemiah is a continuation of Ezra; in fact, in early Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, Ezra-Nehemiah was one book.

I find it refreshing as Nehemiah opens (but it is the case for all prophets) that we hear someone taking responsibility for his/her actions: "We have offended you deeply...."  This is so hard for us to do, isn't it?  Our first reaction is often to justify our actions (I did this because you did...) or to blame someone else (It wasn't me who caused this to happen.....).  And here we see Nehemiah say: Yes, God, we have done wrong.

Admitting our lostness is the first step.  And it is hard.  Turning around is hard as well....but both these difficult steps lead us to our wellness.  Just put one foot in front of the other.

1 Corinthians 12 is so important to our life together.  Alone we can only do so much, but together---together we are the Body of Christ with many gifts and talents.  Together---inspired by the Holy Spirit---utilizing our gifts---we can change and be changed.  And we need each and every gift---we can not think there is one (or one person) we can do without.  If we were to take this seriously, and urgently, what might change about how we speak and act today?

June 17: Ezra 10; Psalm 136; 1 Corinthians 11

As we close out Ezra, we are in the midst of the turmoil of intermarriage.  In fact, it is still a topic up for debate in some parts of Judaism.  It was debated here, and we see another take on intermarriage in the book of Ruth.

However, for those of us who claim Jesus as Lord, the matter is settled.  "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3)

Christ breaks down all social, ethnic, status, and gender barriers----all barriers that humanity uses to divide itself.  For in Christ there is no us and them.  There is only us.  Give thanks to the Lord, his steadfast love endures forever.

June 12: 2 Chronicles 35-36; Psalm 132; 1 Corinthians 7

"I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LROD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob." (Psalm 132:4-5)

I wonder what might happen if we all took this vow.  That we won't rest until God has a dwelling place.  Because God has proclaimed that God's dwelling place is in mortals----our hearts and minds and  souls.

God desires to dwell within us and live among us.  Will you prepare a home for God?

**Note: In 1 Corinthians, bear in mind that Paul has issues and conflicts about sexuality in general, but Paul in this letter is also addressing this issue because Paul believes that last days are upon them.  At this point, Paul expects Jesus to return very soon, so that is part of the reason he has such interesting directives in this letter.**

June 11: 2 Chronicles 32-24; Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 6

Psalm 131 is such a beautiful song of humility.  It goes something like this:

God, I am putting myself in my proper position.  I recognize you are God, and I am not.
              ***Notice the image of God in this Psalm is that of a mother.
And God, I can be calm (even in midst of things too great and marvelous for me) because I know you are God.  You have it covered.  You are holding me close so that whatever comes my way-----positive or negative---I am protected.  I am held.  I am fed.  I am loved.  I belong.  I am Yours.

What a great song.

June 10: 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 130; 1 Corinthians 5

Hello Bloggers: if any of you are out there, I apologize for my late entry today.  I am chaplain at Senior Camp, so my access is spotty.  Please be patient and keep checking in.....and if you think of it, make a comment or two.  A blog should be a conversation, and so far, I feel alone!

"Now when all this was finished all Israel who were present went out to the citites of Judah and broke down the pillars, hewed down the sacred poles, and pulled down the high places and the altars..." (2 Chronicles 31:1)

Here the people are re-turning to God.  Taking down the altars and poles of worshipping idols (other gods) in the high places.

How can we do this?  How can we tear down our worship of other gods?  What needs to be removed from our lives---the idols that take us away from maintaining focus on God?  Some people are real good at doing this during Lent...but we must do it whenever we recognize that we are worshipping---focusing on and adoring---something or someone other than God.

Is it a sport?  a hobby?  a group of friends?  a job?  a form of media?  What is it that we feel we can't live without so instead we live for it?  If it's not God, then we have to decide how we will turn from that idol and back to God as our center.  I do not say this lightly.  It's hard.  The world won't understand.  But, how else are we going to follow Jesus?

June 9: Enjoy hearing the Scriptures read alound in church

June 8: 2 Chronicles 26-28; Psalm 129; 1 Corinthians 4

"But when he had become strong he grew proud, to his destruction." (2 Chronicles 26:16)

There is much to learn from Uzziah...mostly how not to be.  Be we are all like him because pride is our deepest and most original sin.

For even when we have done something incredibly well: got a good grade, built a wonderful house, raised good kids, completed a successful job, hit the winning homerun, forgave the sinner, fed the hungry, and gave water to the thirsty-----all this was done through the power and gifts given to us from God.  All comes from God's abundance.  It is okay to feel satisfied and to enjoy the goodness of living generously and utilizing these gifts given to us.  But in the end, let us always remember:
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have I given thee.

Pride is our greatest weakness; Humility our greatest strength.

June 7: 2 Chronicles 23-25; Psalm 128; 1 Corinthians 3

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"

God doesn't live in a temple or a mosque or a church or a tabernacle.....God lives in us.  That's the whole point of Jesus----that we might finally and fully understand that God dwells among and in God's people. INCARNATION.

How can we live this truth today---as individuals and as communities: God lives in us.  We are holy.  God makes it so.

You are God's field, God's building----and the foundation is Jesus.

June 6: 2 Chronicles 20-22; Psalm 127; 1 Corinthians 2

"We have received...the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God."

We have God's Spirit.  Because we are sealed by the Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ's own forever, we are enabled to have the mind of Christ.
To think like Christ.
To act like Christ.
To see like Christ.
To heal like Christ.
To forgive like Christ.
To love like Christ.

So, empowered by the Spirit, let us live like Christ.

June 5: 2 Chronicles 17-19; Psalm 126; 1 Corinthians 1

"Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you  be united in the same mind and the same purpose." (1 Cor. 10)

Wow!  Paul is asking a lot of this church in Corinth.  God does ask a lot of community, the Body of Christ, including that we be united.  But, we all have so many differing preferences; how can we be united?

When we make decisions for our community, even for ourselves, our preferences do not take front seat.  Our way forward cannot be based on preferences because there is only diversity in preferences.  Our way forward must be made in unity---the unity we have in God's mission to reconcile all people to God and each other in Christ.  We are united in our mission to be revealers of God---agents of the Kingdom who make God known by doing what we believe.  By living our faith.

June 4: 2 Chronicles 13-15; Psalm 125; Romans 16

Have you felt like you are already re-reading the Old Testament?  Well, in a way, you are.  The Book of Chronicles (now split into 1st and 2nd Chronicles) is the chronicling of the lives of men and women (okay, mostly men as according to the time and culture) as they experience God in their lives.  And these are stories we have already read---about people we have already met.

Chronicles always makes me wonder: how will my life story, my experience with God, be told by others?  What will be the highlights and the challenges---the pitfalls and the triumphs that others will tell about me?  Will my life show my faith in God?  Will it show a willingness to trust?  Will my life reveal that I love God by loving others?

Our life stories may tell many things----the actions in our lives will reveal our true beliefs and values.  What will our life stories tell the world about what we believe?

June 3: 2 Chronicles 10-12: Psalm 124; Romans 15

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you," (Romans 15:7)

I walked into the room that was to be "mine" for the next few days when I was to be a guest in her house.  I found a robe laid out on the bed, slippers next to the bed, lotions and coffees on the dresser, and a lovely "desk" area set up where I might do some work.

She knew me well.  She knew how I didn't like to be cold (especially my feet), and how I love to be comfy at home.  She knew my love of coffee and good smells, and that I had plenty of work to be done while I was in town.

It was obvious from all that was in place, that she had made some specific visits to stores, etc to purchase what was in my room---including a lovely vase of flowers.  Long before I arrived, she thought about me and my needs and prepared for them.  She wasn't there when I arrived, and yet, she welcomed me.  In fact, I have never felt so welcomed as I did in her home.

How can we welcome others into our lives, into our everyday?  How can we prepare ourselves for them---even strangers we do not know?  Can we prepare our hearts, minds, and souls to meet others as they are with a generous spirit by opening ourselves in prayer to Jesus as we start our day?  As we prepare for certain tasks and meetings, can we think of those we will meet and determine how to say what will need to be said in ways that can be heard---taking the other's perspective and concerns in account?

Welcoming often means putting the others' needs and preferences ahead of our own.  This is an intentionality that can be incorporated into our everyday lives---through prayer, listening, discernment, and generosity.  How will you welcome others today?