Living by Holy Loving

" And now faith, hope, 

and love abide,

these three; 

and the greatest of

 these is love."

(1 Cor. 13:1-13)

How many times I have used this scripture in a wedding as a sort of biblical guideline for a solid marriage. Follow these words of advice from the apostle Paul, I say, and you will live happily ever after.

Not really.

I chose this photo from a wedding, which, for the boy, gives him a new parent. Adjustments are in his future.

I imagine this would be the apostle Paul's reaction if he heard these verses used in a wedding.

That's because he was writing to the Corinthian church experiencing deep divisions because of moral and ethical issues. He wanted new life for the church based on higher righteousness and honorable principles. 

He is convinced, that with holy loving at the center, people in the church could co-exist  and attain these higher principles. Holy loving, Paul believed, would create, sustain, and build Christian unity among the Corinthians.

In reality, holy loving isn't easy.

Holy loving is easy to say, but a whole other thing practicing it.

The boy's face represented mine when a new worshipper offered a prayer request based, in my view, on a conspiracy theory with unintentional, inflammatory wording.

I cringed.

I also realized our church reflects society with a variety of opinions, but the same Lord.

Challenged by Paul to live by holy loving I spoke with the person after worship. I said I disagree with the prayer request, but it would be fruitful to know each other better as worshipping members of the church.

Next Sunday, even if a "conspiracy theory prayer" is offered, I will ask the person how the week went.

My prayer is that this small act of holy loving will create, sustain, and build Christian unity within our church.

How has God put this challenge to holy loving before you?

Jesus Crashes A Wedding

"Jesus did this,

the first of his signs,

in Cana of Galilee,

and revealed his glory;

and his disciples believed in him."

 (from John 2:1-11)

Every young bride wants a perfect wedding. 

It didn't happen for one bride. Just before the ceremony started, the groom asked the best man if he had the ring. The best man reached into his pocket, discovered it wasn't there. It was in the motel 20 miles away.

In this parable running out of wine was the end of the wedding. No wine. No wedding. 

Jesus' mother pleads with him, get some wine so they can party on. 

Jesus orders six jars, which hold 18-20 gallons, to be filled with water. The water is transformed into good wine, about 60 bottles worth. They now have enough good wine for the whole village not just a few guests. 

The custom was to serve the good wine until the guests got drunk, then serve the lousy wine. Jesus reversed that. He served the good wine to the drunk guests. 

Note the setting. Cana is in Galilee known for its thieves, rebels, and Gentiles. Meaning Jesus ministry begins where he lived among Gentiles, thieves, and rebels. These are the very people the religious establishment rejected. 

 

Faith in Christ is the purpose of the story. 

Faith in Jesus transforms human experience as the water was transformed into wine.

During times of anxiety and stress we our souls can feel empty. It's possible to feel as though we don't have the energy to face what's next. 

Faith in Christ is the source for filling the emptiness of our souls. It is the good wine always available to transform the emptiness into fullness. 

I recently talked with someone diagnosed with Covid-19. The person, unvaccinated, is waiting anxiously for whatever comes next.

The wedding story tells us, through faith in Christ, God will respond to the emptiness of

that soul.

The Day When I Called

"On the day I called, 

you answered me, 

you increased my strength of soul."

(Psalm 138)

Elaine's mother, at age 97, was living through her last days suffering terribly with spinal multiple myeloma. She wanted to die at home, so a hospital bed was rented and home health services were called in. On the day the ambulance brought her home, she insisted on walking into the house, not carried on a stretcher. She must have been in excruciating pain.

The psalms call this "a day of trouble"(Psalm 20:1) Someone is going through a really tough time.

The term “day of trouble” is vague on purpose. It can mean times of physical illness, spiritual struggle, financial peril, or military threat.

This crisis is also known as a “day when I call.” Times of crisis are also times of prayer when a suffering person or people “cry out” to the Lord.

In this psalm, the poet has, by the grace of God, been brought through the "day of trouble". 

When referring to the "strength of the soul" the poet is most likely referring to a physically recovery. It is more like " “I once was weak, but now I’m strong.” 

The psalm ends, "the steadfast love of the Lord endure forever." 

In other words, not only has the Lord brought the poet through "day of trouble", so also will the Lord bring others through what ever crisis is before them.

Whatever our "day of trouble", the unwavering love of God will see us through.

The Man, The Message, The Plan

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

 because he has anointed me

 to bring good news to the poor.

(from Luke 4:14-21)

A preacher often says this before preaching: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord" from Psalm 19:14. It's a prayer for the Spirit of the Lord to rest on the preacher.

Luke 14:18 has the same meaning.

The Man

The man, of course, is Jesus. 

After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus returned home to Galilee. While in the wilderness has been tested and overcome temptations. 

Jesus, filled with the Spirit, begins teaching on the Sabbath in the synagogue. One Sabbath, he's the reader. He's handed the scroll, opens it, and reads Isaiah 61:1-2. 

This is Jesus’ manifesto.

 

The Message

Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus begins his ministry of proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom for prisoner's, recovery of sight for the blind, setting the oppressed free, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.

The Spirit is Jesus' empowerment for ministry.

The Plan

Our era needs good news.

The era we live in needs Spirit empowered Christians, to proclaim good news to the poor, the economically disadvantaged, and the marginalized of our society.

The plan works like this. The doctor treating my skin cancer asked what I do for work. I told him I was a pastor. The Spirit moved him as he asked about my congregation, where it was, how many people attended. 

The Spirit energized him as he said, repeatedly, "You do good work caring for people! We need pastors caring for people in today's world! You do good work. Keep doing good work.!"

After the surgery and during each follow-up, he kept saying, "You do good work caring for people. Keep doing good work!!

As a Christian, you are Spirit empowered, keep doing good work!!!

Remember, You Are Baptized

 "The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus 

in bodily form like a dove. 

And a voice came from heaven, 

“You are my Son, the Beloved; 

with you I am well pleased.”

(from Luke 3:15-17-21-22 and Psalm 2:2-7)

I have great expectations for 2022.

But, I am not naïve. I have just lived through an unimaginable year.

That's why the Sunday we renew our baptism vows is so important to me.

I am reminded, along with the whole church, I have promised to "resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves."

John the Baptizer, makes it clear some "wrath to come" is possible, especially for the hungry. We ask, like the people gathered at the river, "What then should we do?"

John declares, "Repent and be baptized."

Repent means to turn away from involvement with the old age's values of evil, injustice and oppression and turn towards God's coming age in Jesus Christ.

In this setting, Jesus comes to John for baptism indicating his turning from the old age to God's new age.

Jesus goes into the water, is baptized and the Holy Spirit descends on him. A voice declares, "This is my Son the Beloved"

God's new age is beginning. Look at the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to see it.

Our baptism by water and the Spirit, assures us our we will make a difference in bringing about the new age of Christ and overcoming the old age's rulers. 

When I see someone say their vows, be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, I am reminded of the hope and power in God's new age in Jesus Christ.

I am reminded of people like Elaine who work for the coming of Christ's new age. For over 45 years Elaine has been living out her baptism covenant of "resisting evil, injustice, and oppression" through feeding the hungry. 

Whatever this year brings, remember, you are baptized. You have s role in "resisting evil, injustice, and oppression 

Remember, you are baptized.

Rise, Shine, Glorify God

"Arise, shine; for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord

 has risen upon you."

(from Isaiah 60:1-6)

The darkest time of the year is upon us. 

Celebrating Epiphany, the arrival of the promised coming of a light the darkness cannot overcome, is a sign of hope.

The Magi's story (found here) is a familiar one. 

Not so familiar is the reality that The Magi were traveling in the darkness of a broken world. The brokenness of fear, oppression, poverty, and violence created by a power-threatened Herod.

Over 2000 have passed and it seems as though we are living in the darkness of a broken world. The brokenness of fear, oppression, poverty, and violence are still with us. 

It can feel as though the promised light that the darkness cannot overcome has yet to arrive.

Where are the Magi following a star and offering gifts to the Christ child? 

Where has the glory of the Lord risen upon us?

God IS redeeming this broken world.

"Raise your eyes and look about” (Is.60:4) What do you see?

I see the church arising to its mission looking out at the world to see where the hungry need to be fed, the naked clothed, and the sick healed. 

It doesn't matter how deep the darkness, or powerful the rest of the world seems, God is working work through the church. 

We can see the glory of God when the church arises to its mission of meeting needs in Jesus name.

For example, Hedding UMC in Barre, VT is remodeling its kitchen to feed more people in the community. The kitchen can also be used as a type of culinary school for high school students. The church developed a mission statement, "Feeding the hungry body and soul", which it is working to fulfill.

"Raise your eyes and look about." Where do you see the glory of God shining through the church?