DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS LEADING TO Sunday October 30, 2005
Monday:
Isaiah 1 Lamentations for Israel
Once again we find a prophet beginning with a long lament for the people of God. Trouble seems to be the common starting place for renewal with God’s people. Still is today.
Tuesday:
Isaiah 6 Holy, Holy, Holy
A brief chapter focusing on a dream Isaiah had where God calls him to be a prophet. In the midst of the call God forgives sin in a new way.
Wednesday:
Isaiah 9 The Messiah King
This chapter shares prophetic news of the new King. This king will be the Messiah, the Christ.
Thursday:
Isaiah 11 More About the Messiah
Further vision of the new Messiah. From a stump which appears to be dead, a new sprout appears and will rise again and offer life to the world. A passage of hope for us all.
Friday:
John 6:48-69 The Bread of Life
Jesus speaks in teachings which inform his disciples that they are to become one with him by sharing his life. The way this will happen is through sharing in the sacrament of the Eucharist or Holy Communion. In this passage Jesus does not share how this is to occur, but Jesus is clear that this sharing must occur for life to be reality for the disciples.
Saturday:
Isaiah 6:1-8 God Calls Isaiah
When we look at our lives we must reconcile ourselves to how God must surely see us. We stand before God full of sin corrupted from our perfect created self. How can we ever “go home” again? What will it take for God to love us and offer us a place in the everlasting song? This dream from Isaiah offers a vision of our lives renewed by God’s love. At the end of all this all we can do is to offer praise to God.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8
Sermon Title: “Dreams, Visions, and More”
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
Scriptures Leading to Sunday October 23, 2005
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS LEADING TO Sunday October 23, 2005
Monday:
Jeremiah 11-13 The Covenant Crumbles
This passage tells about the state of the covenant and finds Jeremiah and God both lamenting. It finishes with some interesting little exile stories.
Tuesday:
Jeremiah 17:5-18 Trust in God
The prophet offers praise of God along with a pretty good picture of the heart of humanity.
Wednesday:
Jeremiah 18:1-6 The Potter’s House
An allegory of the potter taking a lump of clay and forming a new vessel offers a vision of the new covenant which we will be reading this week.
Thursday:
Jeremiah 29, 31 God Loves Us
Right here are the two reasons why I love to read Jeremiah. These two chapters offer peace for our daily life. I feel like God is caring for us. I feel it!
Friday:
Luke 14:15-35 Dinner is Served
Jesus tells a story about a great dinner where lots of folks are invited but everyone has a reason why they will not attend. Jesus turns this story back on to the guests gathered around that table, and ours. The passage continues on to share the conditions of discipleship. This is not an easy passage and sounds almost harsh. We must hear and respond.
Saturday:
Jeremiah 31:27-34 The New Covenant
God offers by way of the prophet Jeremiah a vision of a new covenant. The old covenant was based on the law and keeping the law. This new covenant is based in grace and accepting God loving grace into our lives. Big difference in game plans, big difference in the outcome. One very interesting thing is that our lives have come nicely equipped for this new covenant plan of salvation by God’s grace. God understands how we are wired. This plan seems perfect. But then; perfect is as perfect does.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34
Sermon Title: “Nicely Equipped”
Monday:
Jeremiah 11-13 The Covenant Crumbles
This passage tells about the state of the covenant and finds Jeremiah and God both lamenting. It finishes with some interesting little exile stories.
Tuesday:
Jeremiah 17:5-18 Trust in God
The prophet offers praise of God along with a pretty good picture of the heart of humanity.
Wednesday:
Jeremiah 18:1-6 The Potter’s House
An allegory of the potter taking a lump of clay and forming a new vessel offers a vision of the new covenant which we will be reading this week.
Thursday:
Jeremiah 29, 31 God Loves Us
Right here are the two reasons why I love to read Jeremiah. These two chapters offer peace for our daily life. I feel like God is caring for us. I feel it!
Friday:
Luke 14:15-35 Dinner is Served
Jesus tells a story about a great dinner where lots of folks are invited but everyone has a reason why they will not attend. Jesus turns this story back on to the guests gathered around that table, and ours. The passage continues on to share the conditions of discipleship. This is not an easy passage and sounds almost harsh. We must hear and respond.
Saturday:
Jeremiah 31:27-34 The New Covenant
God offers by way of the prophet Jeremiah a vision of a new covenant. The old covenant was based on the law and keeping the law. This new covenant is based in grace and accepting God loving grace into our lives. Big difference in game plans, big difference in the outcome. One very interesting thing is that our lives have come nicely equipped for this new covenant plan of salvation by God’s grace. God understands how we are wired. This plan seems perfect. But then; perfect is as perfect does.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:27-34
Sermon Title: “Nicely Equipped”
Monday, October 10, 2005
DAILY READINGS for Sunday October 16, 2005
Monday:
Ezra 1-10 The Return from Exile
Have fun, read the whole book of Ezra today. The return from exile is a big piece of the story puzzle.
Tuesday:
Nehemiah 8 Reading & Celebrating the Law
This passage is a continuation of the Ezra story.
Wednesday:
Ecclesiastes 3 A Season For Everything
Enjoy this familiar passage. Sing the tune!
Thursday:
Proverbs 8-13 Collected Wisdom
Ever wonder what wisdom would look like? Here is a good start. Note that the Hebrew word for wisdom, “Sophia,” is feminine. I’m not surprised.
Friday:
1 Corinthians 1-3 Spiritual Wisdom in Christ
After reading about wisdom in the Old Testament all week enjoy this look at New Testament wisdom from the Apostle Paul. Our life in Christ Jesus is the very core of the life of wisdom. I believe the task of the church is to develop this life of wisdom in ourselves and our neighbors. True wisdom is always extremely attractive to the world around us. It is also rare, even in the church. Ouch!
Saturday:
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Wisdom of God
Bounce this passage of what is wise verses what is foolish off the return of the exiles and their wisdom in following God’s plan for their lives found in the Ezra and Nehemiah passages. Understanding the path of solid footing seems the first step toward a satisfying and fulfilled life. Wisdom is seeing and traveling that path. Notice the place humbleness and being vulnerably authentic play in this road to wholeness. Some things I highly valued, I now find unnecessary to carry on the journey of life. In whose name do you find your solid footing? Try coming home with new eyes and a new Spirit this week. Seek and hold faithfully the promises of God in your life.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Sermon Title: “Finding Solid Footing”
Ezra 1-10 The Return from Exile
Have fun, read the whole book of Ezra today. The return from exile is a big piece of the story puzzle.
Tuesday:
Nehemiah 8 Reading & Celebrating the Law
This passage is a continuation of the Ezra story.
Wednesday:
Ecclesiastes 3 A Season For Everything
Enjoy this familiar passage. Sing the tune!
Thursday:
Proverbs 8-13 Collected Wisdom
Ever wonder what wisdom would look like? Here is a good start. Note that the Hebrew word for wisdom, “Sophia,” is feminine. I’m not surprised.
Friday:
1 Corinthians 1-3 Spiritual Wisdom in Christ
After reading about wisdom in the Old Testament all week enjoy this look at New Testament wisdom from the Apostle Paul. Our life in Christ Jesus is the very core of the life of wisdom. I believe the task of the church is to develop this life of wisdom in ourselves and our neighbors. True wisdom is always extremely attractive to the world around us. It is also rare, even in the church. Ouch!
Saturday:
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Wisdom of God
Bounce this passage of what is wise verses what is foolish off the return of the exiles and their wisdom in following God’s plan for their lives found in the Ezra and Nehemiah passages. Understanding the path of solid footing seems the first step toward a satisfying and fulfilled life. Wisdom is seeing and traveling that path. Notice the place humbleness and being vulnerably authentic play in this road to wholeness. Some things I highly valued, I now find unnecessary to carry on the journey of life. In whose name do you find your solid footing? Try coming home with new eyes and a new Spirit this week. Seek and hold faithfully the promises of God in your life.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Sermon Title: “Finding Solid Footing”
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Sunday Sermon October 9, 2005
Job 42:1-6 “Suffering for What”
I do not like the book of Job.
Job calls for my attention…asks for my consideration… questions my priorities.
In a world where peaceful, grace filled days define our level of success;
Job asks me to bite down on the leather strap,
to face into the pain,
and look honestly at the evil surrounding us.
I struggle with this book of Job.
I think we all speculate: if Go is so powerful, then why is evil so prevalent in our lives.
Job was very much like a typical Educated North American, Married, Family, Good Job, House. Job has everything, and then loses everything. Everything!
As one disaster follows the next he asks the question, “Why is this happening?“
His wife and his friends are quiet for a time and then one by one they all offer that Job must have done something to deserve this catastrophic calamity.
Simply put they all tell him the same thing:
“Job you must have sinned, therefore God is punishing you.”
However, Job has not sinned and he knows it. He is angry and inquires of God, Demands of God!!
“If I am guilty, name my sin.” All the while Job offers his innocence before God.
What would your friends say if tomorrow, your life just completely fell apart?
What would your wife say to you, if you lost everything in a matter of days?
What would you think of yourself, say to yourself?
Even if you knew you were not to blame?
Who to Blame? Got to blame somebody?
Can things go bad in our society today and not have somebody be at fault?
We are so into blaming and finding fault; Interesting; so were Job’s friends.
We are want to manufacture our lives. We attempt to discover and then direct the minute details of every hour with a manic precision. Our days are frenzied. Even our rest is deemed “unproductive.” When life gets too hot; we turn to fantasy (now called reality) to find relief.
But there I go: offering up the blame game. Blaming, finding someone at fault, is so deep into our culture that we often do not even recognize it. Nothing ever seems to be our fault.
And yet just like Job, every so often, there is no fault. Sometimes stuff just seems to happen (Like the weather, (two old boys: man on moon messes up weather)) and like Job we turn to God for answers.
Well God we are listening, How about Katrina, Rita, 9-11, Vietnam, Hitler, or something simple like death for that matter, or how about the death of a child, young mother, drug addict, Why is anyone ever addicted to drugs. Are they guilty of something? Is everybody guilty?
I suggest the opposite of blame is trust.
Trust stinks, cause you don’t get to blame anybody. That is why it is so rare.
Consider whatever it is you are going through right now.
Now think what this mess would be like if you were suddenly, magically able to trust.
Maybe you would need to trust your spouse, or your child, or your doctor, and how about God!!
We are so used to controlling and manufacturing our lives that we do not believe in anything but our own power to make change in the world around us.
Chariton wrote, “ So long as you hold on to even a little hope of achieving something by your own powers, the Lord does not interfere.”
As if God says to us, “Think you can do it by yourself? Go ahead!!”
Trust, not patience, is the key to the book of Job.
Trusting God in the midst of storms and disasters really calls everything into question.
What do we believe about God?
“Trust Me,” is God’s word to Job, “Trust Me.”
“Trust Me,” is God’s word to us, “Trust Me.”
Trusting God is not easy,
When disaster strikes we generally fall back into one of two responses.
Free Will Defense: God allows evil in order to protect free will.
God becomes author/supporter of evil. Nursing home deaths??
Mystery Defense: God’s purposes are hidden and there must be some good reason for evil
God becomes distant and uninvolved. God does not matter at all.
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zolla Neal Hurston
Young back woman from Florida at turn of last century, her life, her struggles.
She accepts and trusts and lives.
All the time watching God. Trusting, heroic spirit.
Trust Me – How?
We believe God has conquered evil and death through Jesus Christ.
We understand our society and our position cause this “Trusting” to be more difficult.
We believe what will be is glorious compared to anything we experience today.
To Trust God is the key to Job
Trusting God is the key to our lives, eternal lives.
Job 42.2 “I Know My Redeemer Lives.”
I do not like the book of Job.
Job calls for my attention…asks for my consideration… questions my priorities.
In a world where peaceful, grace filled days define our level of success;
Job asks me to bite down on the leather strap,
to face into the pain,
and look honestly at the evil surrounding us.
I struggle with this book of Job.
I think we all speculate: if Go is so powerful, then why is evil so prevalent in our lives.
Job was very much like a typical Educated North American, Married, Family, Good Job, House. Job has everything, and then loses everything. Everything!
As one disaster follows the next he asks the question, “Why is this happening?“
His wife and his friends are quiet for a time and then one by one they all offer that Job must have done something to deserve this catastrophic calamity.
Simply put they all tell him the same thing:
“Job you must have sinned, therefore God is punishing you.”
However, Job has not sinned and he knows it. He is angry and inquires of God, Demands of God!!
“If I am guilty, name my sin.” All the while Job offers his innocence before God.
What would your friends say if tomorrow, your life just completely fell apart?
What would your wife say to you, if you lost everything in a matter of days?
What would you think of yourself, say to yourself?
Even if you knew you were not to blame?
Who to Blame? Got to blame somebody?
Can things go bad in our society today and not have somebody be at fault?
We are so into blaming and finding fault; Interesting; so were Job’s friends.
We are want to manufacture our lives. We attempt to discover and then direct the minute details of every hour with a manic precision. Our days are frenzied. Even our rest is deemed “unproductive.” When life gets too hot; we turn to fantasy (now called reality) to find relief.
But there I go: offering up the blame game. Blaming, finding someone at fault, is so deep into our culture that we often do not even recognize it. Nothing ever seems to be our fault.
And yet just like Job, every so often, there is no fault. Sometimes stuff just seems to happen (Like the weather, (two old boys: man on moon messes up weather)) and like Job we turn to God for answers.
Well God we are listening, How about Katrina, Rita, 9-11, Vietnam, Hitler, or something simple like death for that matter, or how about the death of a child, young mother, drug addict, Why is anyone ever addicted to drugs. Are they guilty of something? Is everybody guilty?
I suggest the opposite of blame is trust.
Trust stinks, cause you don’t get to blame anybody. That is why it is so rare.
Consider whatever it is you are going through right now.
Now think what this mess would be like if you were suddenly, magically able to trust.
Maybe you would need to trust your spouse, or your child, or your doctor, and how about God!!
We are so used to controlling and manufacturing our lives that we do not believe in anything but our own power to make change in the world around us.
Chariton wrote, “ So long as you hold on to even a little hope of achieving something by your own powers, the Lord does not interfere.”
As if God says to us, “Think you can do it by yourself? Go ahead!!”
Trust, not patience, is the key to the book of Job.
Trusting God in the midst of storms and disasters really calls everything into question.
What do we believe about God?
“Trust Me,” is God’s word to Job, “Trust Me.”
“Trust Me,” is God’s word to us, “Trust Me.”
Trusting God is not easy,
When disaster strikes we generally fall back into one of two responses.
Free Will Defense: God allows evil in order to protect free will.
God becomes author/supporter of evil. Nursing home deaths??
Mystery Defense: God’s purposes are hidden and there must be some good reason for evil
God becomes distant and uninvolved. God does not matter at all.
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zolla Neal Hurston
Young back woman from Florida at turn of last century, her life, her struggles.
She accepts and trusts and lives.
All the time watching God. Trusting, heroic spirit.
Trust Me – How?
We believe God has conquered evil and death through Jesus Christ.
We understand our society and our position cause this “Trusting” to be more difficult.
We believe what will be is glorious compared to anything we experience today.
To Trust God is the key to Job
Trusting God is the key to our lives, eternal lives.
Job 42.2 “I Know My Redeemer Lives.”
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Sermon for Sunday Oct 2
Micah 6:6-8 “Re-Acquired”
In the midst of lives tossed by a succession of rapid-fire deadly storms,
with un-thinkable destruction an almost daily occurrence,
faced with decisions on issues which did not even exist just months before…
We want to know…
What must living the Christian Life, today, look like?
What does it take in 2005 for us to “Get Right” with God?
Micah dares ask: What does God require from us?
What do you want God?
Micah - (Who is like Yahweh?)
Prophet from 8th Century BCE – Lived at the same time as the prophet Isaiah
Time of swift and sweeping change in world events
Assyria – has overthrown Israel, the Northern Kingdom
Refuges have overflowed into Jerusalem swelling the city beyond capacity
Time of Growing Division between Wealthy and Poor
Increased armaments and fortification to defend the country furthers the division
Injustice and lack of concern for the under-privileged is common place
The People of God are lacking in actions of basic piety and theological reflection
The religion of choice is of greed and self-service
The prophet Micah speaks a word from God in the midst of this time of incredible change.
Some familiar quotes from Micah:
Promise of a time of peace when nations will, “beat their swords into plowshares.” (4:3)
Prophesy of a new ruler to come from the town of Bethlehem (5.2)
Response to what the Lord requires, today’s reading, (6.6-8)
Micah is clear that
1. There is great sin in the Land and God is not pleased.
2. God will have to “deal with” this sin somehow.
There likely will be punishment involved for those who “have not/will not” return to the Lord their God.
So, What does The Lord require - from God’s people?
How can this punishment be avoided?
What can we:
offer to “Make it Right”?
do to become righteous? Can we ever be “Good Enough?”
Should we offer some sort of religious service to honor God?
Should we give ridiculous amounts of offerings?
(Thousands of rams or Ten Thousand Rivers of oil)
Should we sacrifice something, even human sacrifice?
What does Micah say the Lord requires: A Right Relationship with God
To Do Justice,
Love Kindness,
and Walk Humbly with your God
Doing Justice implies that people’s behavior toward each other will change.
No longer will folks offer or accept a station in life without grace and hope
No longer will society trap segments of the working population into financial and moral ghettos.
No longer will the hand-out be solicited as a acceptable way of life because of the demoralizing and dehumanizing qualities of a life lived in a state of constant welfare.
Doing Justice means there will be something required.
Simply put: We will ALL be held accountable before God for our actions toward our neighbors.
MICAH also calls the people to (Hebrew: (Ahab Hesed)) Love Kindness.
Hesed – translated Kindness
has to do with love, loyalty, and faithfulness
this is the KEY element in relationships
To love this relationship is to Love as God loved Israel. More than self, willing to sacrifice self.
Our relationships will be motivated by our love
Not by a misguided sense of obligation to the law or covenant
The law and the covenant represents (Reflects) the Love of Kindness
GOD DOES NOT demand loyalty by holding the covenant over our heads like a carrot on a string.
The covenant is never maintained
by a complacent subscribing to the rote practice of right doctrine.
Were not our hearts on fire as he (Jesus) spoke to us on the road? The pair from Emmaus exclaimed in Luke 24.
Micah goes on to offer that the people of God must also: WALK Humbly with Your God
Perhaps the key word here is to WALK with God
We usually gloss over the walking and go right to the humble pie. We like to think that if we are just “Nice People.” That is all God wants. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
God wants God’s people to Go with God, Walk with God, Talk with God.
God wants Relationship.
Constant, Ongoing, Conversational, Walking along through life together RELATIONSHIP.
OH!! Did I Say God wants this? That is incorrect.
God does not “simply want” this relationship.
God REQUIRES this relationship.
How do we get “there (Micah 6.8) from here?”
FOR LIFETIME: Gather, Grow, Go
FOR TODAY – RIGHT NOW: Prayer, Forgiveness, Communion.
In the midst of lives tossed by a succession of rapid-fire deadly storms,
with un-thinkable destruction an almost daily occurrence,
faced with decisions on issues which did not even exist just months before…
We want to know…
What must living the Christian Life, today, look like?
What does it take in 2005 for us to “Get Right” with God?
Micah dares ask: What does God require from us?
What do you want God?
Micah - (Who is like Yahweh?)
Prophet from 8th Century BCE – Lived at the same time as the prophet Isaiah
Time of swift and sweeping change in world events
Assyria – has overthrown Israel, the Northern Kingdom
Refuges have overflowed into Jerusalem swelling the city beyond capacity
Time of Growing Division between Wealthy and Poor
Increased armaments and fortification to defend the country furthers the division
Injustice and lack of concern for the under-privileged is common place
The People of God are lacking in actions of basic piety and theological reflection
The religion of choice is of greed and self-service
The prophet Micah speaks a word from God in the midst of this time of incredible change.
Some familiar quotes from Micah:
Promise of a time of peace when nations will, “beat their swords into plowshares.” (4:3)
Prophesy of a new ruler to come from the town of Bethlehem (5.2)
Response to what the Lord requires, today’s reading, (6.6-8)
Micah is clear that
1. There is great sin in the Land and God is not pleased.
2. God will have to “deal with” this sin somehow.
There likely will be punishment involved for those who “have not/will not” return to the Lord their God.
So, What does The Lord require - from God’s people?
How can this punishment be avoided?
What can we:
offer to “Make it Right”?
do to become righteous? Can we ever be “Good Enough?”
Should we offer some sort of religious service to honor God?
Should we give ridiculous amounts of offerings?
(Thousands of rams or Ten Thousand Rivers of oil)
Should we sacrifice something, even human sacrifice?
What does Micah say the Lord requires: A Right Relationship with God
To Do Justice,
Love Kindness,
and Walk Humbly with your God
Doing Justice implies that people’s behavior toward each other will change.
No longer will folks offer or accept a station in life without grace and hope
No longer will society trap segments of the working population into financial and moral ghettos.
No longer will the hand-out be solicited as a acceptable way of life because of the demoralizing and dehumanizing qualities of a life lived in a state of constant welfare.
Doing Justice means there will be something required.
Simply put: We will ALL be held accountable before God for our actions toward our neighbors.
MICAH also calls the people to (Hebrew: (Ahab Hesed)) Love Kindness.
Hesed – translated Kindness
has to do with love, loyalty, and faithfulness
this is the KEY element in relationships
To love this relationship is to Love as God loved Israel. More than self, willing to sacrifice self.
Our relationships will be motivated by our love
Not by a misguided sense of obligation to the law or covenant
The law and the covenant represents (Reflects) the Love of Kindness
GOD DOES NOT demand loyalty by holding the covenant over our heads like a carrot on a string.
The covenant is never maintained
by a complacent subscribing to the rote practice of right doctrine.
Were not our hearts on fire as he (Jesus) spoke to us on the road? The pair from Emmaus exclaimed in Luke 24.
Micah goes on to offer that the people of God must also: WALK Humbly with Your God
Perhaps the key word here is to WALK with God
We usually gloss over the walking and go right to the humble pie. We like to think that if we are just “Nice People.” That is all God wants. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
God wants God’s people to Go with God, Walk with God, Talk with God.
God wants Relationship.
Constant, Ongoing, Conversational, Walking along through life together RELATIONSHIP.
OH!! Did I Say God wants this? That is incorrect.
God does not “simply want” this relationship.
God REQUIRES this relationship.
How do we get “there (Micah 6.8) from here?”
FOR LIFETIME: Gather, Grow, Go
FOR TODAY – RIGHT NOW: Prayer, Forgiveness, Communion.
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