Blog Archives

Shovels

4/29/2015

Scripture: Acts 13:26-35 Click here for the reading

Observation: Paul continues to preach and in doing so uses the psalms to make his case for what he is saying about Jesus. His preaching is well informed because of his life being shaped by the Word of God.

Application: I was once given the image of finding God's presence through regular devotion and prayer in God's word as a shovel. This shovel, these shovels help dig into what God is saying to me daily. It is a vast improvement than my previous form of having to go and look for some verse or scripture when the time felt right.

Shovels helps me dig into the soil of God's word so that when I need to share some Good News, some helpful connection to God's presence in the life of others around me, I don't need to go looking it is already happening. I can't help but think of all the times, since this revelation, I have used the phrase 'in my devotions today.'

Prayer: lord equip us with your word and give us these shovels to deepen our relationship with you.

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Those who don't know their history are bound to.....

4/28/2015

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Scripture: Acts 13:13-25 Click here for the reading

Observation: In Paul's preaching, he recaptures the entire history of God's activity in the life of the people of Israel and of Jesus, the gift of salvation.

Application: Seeing history repeat itself in our specific time and place, specifically in Baltimore this day, it is worth repeating the embattled history of our country in race relationships. More importantly it is worth recapturing the history of God's saving activity. That is, in every time and place, God has saved God's people....from multiplication and growth, to the deliverance out of slavery in Egypt....From the time of judges and kings, to sending THE King of Kings, Jesus.

God delivers God's people and saves them from sin, death, and evil.

Prayer: Lord, save us! Save us from our divisions, save us from our hatred of each other, save us from destruction!

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Being sent

4/27/2015

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Scripture: Acts 13:4-12 Click here for the reading

Observation: Paul and Barnabas are sent out. They take with them John Mark. This will be an important aspect of the movement of missionaries upcoming disagreement. But here, the missionaries; Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark reveal the Lord's teaching to the governor of the land. This governor was being misled by a Jewish Sorcerer. This sorcerer was attempting to keep the governor from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet Paul casts aside the sorcerer and strikes him bling, and the governor then believes.

Application: When I hear people talk about 'being missional' or 'reclaiming the apostolic church' or any other churchy words and phrases that helps us understand the movement of the Holy Spirit sending us out into the world to preach the Good News, these people seem really excited about doing this work. Being Sent is difficult work. We encounter all kinds of people not ready to receive what we think they should be happy to receive. being sent means not only encountering resistance but bold defiance. In being sent out one time, I encountered a belligerent drunk, who was close to pummeling me, even though I was not actively engaging him but others. Yet, in that sending, I relied on who was doing the sending not my own ability to engage in the defiance. it was an experience I am glad I had, but not one I hope to repeat. Verse one reminds us that Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit blows in different directions as we learn the very aspect of being sent. Being sent is not always happy classy work, and sometimes it is not even rewarding. BUT, it is always spirit driven.

Prayer: Lord for those who go by your spirit's sending, strengthen, encourage, and equip them for your work. Send us all out as your missionaries into a broken world in need of your good news!

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Can I get a witness?

4/27/2015

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Acts 14:15 "Friends,why are you doing this? We are merely human beings-just like you!

I have known some captivating people in my life. People who were very inspirational. People who could move me out of my comfort zone. People who could pull me into realities I never imagined for myself. People who have comforted me in the darkest of times. I know some pretty outstanding ordinary people as well. People who day by day live out the good news everyday. People who make a difference in small ways by being who God created them to be. I have never mistaken the captivating or the ordinary people for God. That would be idol worship.

This very thing happens to Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. People mistake them for the greek gods Zeus and Hermes. It got me thinking about the level in which some colleagues of mine have been lifted to super star status. Nadia Boltz Weber, a lutheran rock star pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver Colorado, was in the same mission developers training I was in 2008. When people talk about her, they view her in a kind of god-like status. I know her as a faithful person who was trying to figure out being the person God called her to be and share the love of Jesus with some very weird people.

We do this with pastors. We do this with CEO (think Steve Jobs). We do this with athletes. People are often surprised to find out that these people are ordinary, people....just like you!

To confuse them with God confuses what we think about God. AND I'm sure if you asked them, they would not want God's job.

We are called to witness to God not to be God or even mistaken for God.

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Entrusting gifts

4/23/2015

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Scripture: Acts 11:19-30 Click here for the reading

Observation: After many gentiles come to faith and Barnabas brings Saul (paul) back with him to Antioch, they then stay for an entire year immersing themselves in the lives of the new Christians (first use of this term in the new testament) there.

The ending of this scripture reveals that these Christians send gifts of money and resources back to Jerusalem for the established church there. They entrust their gifts to Paul and Barnabas because they have been with them that year. Immersion has built trust in relationship and revealing a generous God allowed them to trust the relationship with other Christians.

Application: When was the last time you handed over valuables to someone you barely knew? How about someone you knew very well? Imagine that these new Christians are exuberant in their faith of a generous God who has freed them from all of their sins, given them life eternal, and brought them into an authentic community where everything is shared. The fact they they responded to others needs in such a trusting way should be no surprise.

What keeps us from holding back? Have we lost that new faith exuberance? Gotten into a routine of scarcity over abundance?

Prayer: Lord keep us attentive to trusting you in all that we have an all that we do.

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Standing in the way

4/22/2015

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Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 Click here for the reading

Observation: Peter gives his report to the council in Jerusalem about his encounter with Cornelius. This, of course, comes after the council asks why he was eating with Gentiles in their homes. Peter asks an important question in following God and paying attention to what God is doing; " And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”

Application: far too often we see people standing in the way of what God is up to in the world. We would rather think that God wants what we want rather than listening to the movement of the Spirit. his became important as the church shaped and formed and reformed over the years. Yet we still divide ourselves. Peter's report was convincing and the hearts and minds of those leaders in Jerusalem were opened to accepting gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. Are we this open when we are given a report of faith? When someone shares their story of God's spirit moving to accept people who are different from us?

In my recent conversation with God, the Lord reminded me of this important discipline.....I offered this back to a friend of mine in a more comedic way by saying 'Yeah, the Lord reminded me things are going pretty good right now, so He asked me not to mess it up."

That is a gift of the Holy Spirit, to recognize that God is the one doing and leading and inspiring. My default is often to create wonderful creative plans and THEN check to see if God is okay with them. Peter was wise to articulate not standing int he way of what God is doing but he also got to participate in it.

Lord, blow your spirit into our lives so that we might get ourselves out of the way and simply follow your lead.

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Objection!

4/21/2015

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Scripture: Acts 10:44-48 Click here for the reading

Observation: Peter says - " “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” The mission continues to be a equal playing ground, no longer based on rules and laws, but on baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit. The Jewish believers were amazed at when the Holy Spirit fell upon them.

Application: How often as Christians do we question and object to someone else's integration or initiation into faith? How many churches argue that baptism in other traditions doesn't count? So the obvious answer to Peter's question of weather or not anyone can object is yes....yes we can. But why? Because they were baptized as a child or even as an adult? Is it because they were brought up in traditions of faith that seem weird to us like speaking in tongues, or talking openly about the Holy Spirit?

Part of the reason the jewish believers were amazed at the Holy Spirit falling upon them might be because the gentiles were outsiders as far as they were concerned. Might we be a bit like them too?

Prayer: Lord help us recognize your spirit coming upon those we may not expect, but by your leading!

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Against the law

4/20/2015

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Scripture: Acts 10:18-43 Click here for the reading

Observation: Peter says:You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you." This is a HUGE deal for Peter to take a risk and live into God's vision given to him, to meet with a man named Cornelius and also to put aside all the laws Peter grew to know, observe and live in order to have a deep relationship with the God he worshipped. This all changed when Jesus came into the world. And that is what Peter ends up preaching to the gentiles, the barrier now broken down by God. God's vision for those viewed as outsiders is now inclusive for all people.

Application: The world would rather divide us and see us split than to acknowledge God might love all people. Peter's willingness to abandon the prescripts for a proper relationship with God, and go against the laws he cherished and understood as being meaningful is a very big deal for the mission and life of the church. The circle is being drawn wide.

In the times when the church is struggling with this (always), where signs are held up that 'God hates fags' or "Muslims go to hell" we are grasping at straws to see God as having favorites...and we are the favorites. Peter of all people identified as being part of God's chosen people, yet had the ability to grab hold of God's vision for salvation given to all people, gentiles included.

This breaking of the barriers might be against the law but it is God's vision for the world when Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead. This resurrection life has now changed the way society functions, the way the church's mission functions. Peter ends by saying "And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Prayer: Lord, when we exclude others from hearing the Good News of your Son, correct and direct us to your vision for salvation, especially when it goes out to people we might have a hard time understanding or break the law to reach.

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Breaking down barriers

4/19/2015

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Scripture: Acts 10:1-17, 34-35 click here for the reading

"I can see clearly that God shows no favoritism." - Acts 10:34

There are a lot of things that we once conceived of as taboo, or unaccepted or prohibited by society. Some of these things are perfectly accepted by society...now. When I was growing up, a few things were unacceptable behaviors or practices. If it helps, think about the things that might make your mother drop dead if she knew about them. My mother would have dropped dead on sight if she knew any of her sons had a tattoo. Well. My mother also would have dropped dead on sight if she saw any of her sons riding a motorcycle or as she kindly referred to them as murdercycles. These are two very taboo things that I just happened to have in my life, and my mother is still living. I laugh about them now because I watched my brother squirm and deceive my mother when he had his motorcycle, just so she wouldn't drop dead. When I told my mother to make room in the garage for two motorcycles I was bring back with me from Michigan, it was my brother who about blew his top not my mother. So, who is really the one perpetuating this prohibited behavior?

We hear a similar story in the book of acts, when Peter has a vision of a man named Cornelius. In this vision Peter sees a blanket of meat being opened to him. In that meat blanket were animals that previously were labeled unclean or taboo. Now, God has given him a vision to go ahead and eat. Things that we thought were unacceptable to God are now available to us. Here is the important part though, this God given vision is not for the benefit of Peter's stomach, it is for the benefit of Cornelius. These restrictive eating laws are a barrier to gentiles who are experiencing God in new ways. This is why Peter's vision opens up an opportunity for a deeper relationship with a man named Cornelius.

What are the taboos that might be getting in the way of our relationship with other people? Family members? Coworkers?

What are the taboos of our society that might be restrictive for people having a deeper relationship with God?

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Stolen

4/6/2015

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Scripture: Matthew 28:11-15
11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Observation: In an attempt to protect the system they have built up and have power in, the chief priests begin the denial of the resurrection. It was an attempt to squash the spreading story of Jesus being raised from the dead. So the story of Jesus body being stolen begins. The resurrection of Jesus uses the status quo and established systems of belief. The reaction of these systems is an attempt to keep things as they are.

Application: Some might argue that perhaps Christianity is holding onto the belief of resurrection in the face of scientific evidence that says that this is impossible. As a famous theologian N.T. Wright has stated: "The Christian belief is not that some people get raised from the dead and that Jesus happens to be one of them. It is precisely that people don't ever get raised from the dead, and that something new has happened in and through Jesus which has blown a whole through previous observations."

Something new is happening, now that Jesus is raised. We continue to find this newness both embracing and threatening. We embrace it when we need a fresh coat of paint in our houses or sanctuaries. We find it threatening when it changes the systems of power that we have built up and attempt to hold onto.

Prayer: Lord, bring on the new, this resurrection life, that changes us and the world around us, even when we don't embrace it!

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