Integrity

“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him into slavery in Egypt. God was with him, however, and rescued him from all his troubles. The grace and wisdom he gave Joseph were recognized by Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole palace. A famine came upon all Egypt and Canaan, and great hardship came with it. Our ancestors had nothing to eat. When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there for the first time. During their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives—seventy-five in all—and invited them to live with him. So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had purchased for a certain sum of money from Hamor’s children, who lived in Shechem. (Acts 7:9-16, CEB)

Joseph was a man of integrity. Many tried to hang him out to dry and make him do something he knew he shouldn’t, but Joseph never did.

And Joesph being a man of integrity not only affected him but those around him. Pharaoh heard of Joseph’s family and brought all of them from their home to live with Pharaoh. The whole family, because Joseph was who he is all the time.

Why should you be a person of integrity? For what it gets you? No not for what it gets you, but for what it gives the world.

More love. And we all need more love.

Loving People. Loving God.

What is prayer actually?

My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action. It’s good that you believe that God is one. Ha! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble with fear. Are you so slow? Do you need to be shown that faith without actions has no value at all? What about Abraham, our father? Wasn’t he shown to be righteous through his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? See, his faith was at work along with his actions. In fact, his faith was made complete by his faithful actions. So the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and God regarded him as righteous. What is more, Abraham was called God’s friend. So you see that a person is shown to be righteous through faithful actions and not through faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute shown to be righteous when she received the messengers as her guests and then sent them on by another road? As the lifeless body is dead, so faith without actions is dead. (James 2:14-26, CEB)

How many times a day do you tell someone, “I’m praying for you”?

And what does that actually mean?

After all of the shootings, which seems to be a daily occurrence now, we hear people say sending thoughts and prayers. But what are the thoughts and what are the prayers?

I recall seeing somewhere a meme of a Pope saying that prayer is us asking God to do something about hunger (or insert worldly need here) and then going and feeding the hungry.

Faith without works is dead, and we as Lutherans have a hard time with this because we are saved by grace so we can’t earn our way but just because works don;t get us to heaven doesn’t mean we don’t have to do them. James clearly says Faith without works is dead. It will help no one.

And our out verse for doing things as Lutherans is Ephesians 2:8-9 “You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. ” We can not earn our way, that is God’s doing, but we leave off the next verse, verse 10 which says “Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.” God planned good things for us to do to be the way we live our lives. We are saved to do good for others.

So don’t just say I’m praying, do something.

Loving People. Loving God.

Terrible

“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin. How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida. If the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their hearts and lives long ago. They would have sat around in funeral clothes and ashes. But Tyre and Sidon will be better off at the judgment than you. And you, Capernaum, will you be honored by being raised up to heaven? No, you will be cast down to the place of the dead. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:13-16, CEB)

I read this and I think of Jar Jar Binks from The Phantom Menace. “The bosses will do terrible things to me if I be going back there…” Some people like Jar Jar and others think he is the downfall of the Star Wars empire. I think he is a great character that adds to the move and brings in a new race of beings. Why fault someone for adding a creature we do not like. And why do we have to like everything?

We all have been warned of things before. And sometimes we listen and sometimes we don’t. And that sometimes leads to things we wish would not have happened.

The bottom line in all of this is we are to love all and share with all.

We are give love to share with the world and we need to do that. Not based on who is worthy or how we view people or things but equally to everyone.

So go and love.

Loving People. Loving God.

What are you for?

Once they heard this, they were beside themselves with anger and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The city was thrown into turmoil. They rushed as one into the theater. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from the province of Macedonia. Paul wanted to appear before the assembly, but the disciples wouldn’t allow him. Even some officials of the province of Asia, who were Paul’s friends, sent word to him, urging him not to risk going into the theater. Meanwhile, the assembly was in a state of confusion. Some shouted one thing, others shouted something else, and most of the crowd didn’t know why they had gathered. The Jews sent Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd directed their words toward him. He gestured that he wanted to offer a defense before the assembly, but when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” This continued for about two hours. The city manager brought order to the crowd and said, “People of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you must calm down. Don’t be reckless. The men you brought here have neither robbed the temple nor slandered our goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftspeople with him have a charge against anyone, the courts are in session and governors are available. They can press charges against each other there. Additional disputes can be resolved in a legal assembly. As for us, we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since we can’t justify this unruly gathering.” After he said this, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:28-41, CEB)

A lot of people spend a lot of time talking about what they are against.

Even when they phrase it as a positive, it is usually slanted towards what they are against. If I were to say that someone is Pro-Life, I usually think that someone is anti-abortion.

The people of Ephesus were worried that Artemis was being defamed. But the ones there speaking for the Way were not saying anything against Artemis. They were proclaiming God’s love. We do not speak about what we are against but what we are for.

We as followers of the way are for love.

We are for everyone understanding that God loves them.

Loving People. Loving God.

God vs gods

Once these things had come to an end, Paul, guided by the Spirit, decided to return to Jerusalem, taking a route that would carry him through the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia. He said, “After I have been there, I must visit Rome as well.” He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he remained awhile in the province of Asia. At that time a great disturbance erupted about the Way. There was a silversmith named Demetrius. He made silver models of Artemis’ temple, and his business generated a lot of profit for the craftspeople. He called a meeting with these craftspeople and others working in related trades and said, “Friends, you know that we make an easy living from this business. And you can see and hear that this Paul has convinced and misled a lot of people, not only in Ephesus but also throughout most of the province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands aren’t really gods. This poses a danger not only by discrediting our trade but also by completely dishonoring the great goddess Artemis. The whole province of Asia—indeed, the entire civilized world—worships her, but her splendor will soon be extinguished.” (Acts 19:21-27, CEB)

What god(s) do you worship?

I have said in sermons before if you show me your check book I can tell you what you worship. The register of where our money is spent will show what we worship.

And there are many gods. But only 1 God. And yes you can say, but there are 3 persons to God. Well yes. Christians believe that God is 3 in 1 but not 3, just 1.

I have icons in my office and cups that look like Budha. We can turn any thing into an idol and any idol into a god.

But we must be a light to the world that there is only 1 God and that is the God we should all worship. Not an idol or a handmade replica, but God.

Worship God. And share the love God has given you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Peace

After these things, the Lord commissioned seventy-two others and sent them on ahead in pairs to every city and place he was about to go. He said to them, “The harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest. Go! Be warned, though, that I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves. Carry no wallet, no bag, and no sandals. Don’t even greet anyone along the way. Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house.’ If anyone there shares God’s peace, then your peace will rest on that person. If not, your blessing will return to you. Remain in this house, eating and drinking whatever they set before you, for workers deserve their pay. Don’t move from house to house. Whenever you enter a city and its people welcome you, eat what they set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘God’s kingdom has come upon you.’ Whenever you enter a city and the people don’t welcome you, go out into the streets and say, ‘As a complaint against you, we brush off the dust of your city that has collected on our feet. But know this: God’s kingdom has come to you.’

Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” The seventy-two returned joyously, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name.” Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot. I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, CEB)

After these things… The sending out of the 12 and the transfiguration and Jesus calling others to follow and them giving excuses as to why they needed time.

Jesus sends out 72 in pairs. To share God’s love. To proclaim peace to places they are welcomed.

Would you go now? With a friend?

Shake the dust off your feet if they don’t accept you. Don’t even take the dust from their floor if they do not want to hear of my love. I wonder how many of us take this to heart and are ready to run when the heat goes up just a bit. We see the slightest hint of trouble and we are ready to turn tail and run.

God gives us strength and love to stand in the midst of our enemies. In Psalm 23 we ask for God to prepare a table in the midst of our enemies, so we can eat with them. Jesus ate with Judas and washed his feet!

We should be able to stand in the midst of those who do not want to hear about the love God has for them and still tell them God loves them.

Let us share the love we have been given so all may come to see and know the love of God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Would you go?

Jesus called the Twelve together and he gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal sicknesses. He sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, not even an extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. Wherever they don’t welcome you, as you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.” They departed and went through the villages proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6, CEB)

If Jesus asked you to go out into the world and share the story of God’s love, but take nothing for the journey and rely solely on the generosity of others, would you go?

Jesus sent the 12 out and said take nothing but what you are wearing and go where you are welcomed and share love.

We are all called to go into the world and share the love God has given us.

Do we go?

Do you tell the story and share God’s love?

That is all we need to do.

Love Out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

Give beyond your means

Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia. While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity. I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily. They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this service for the saints. They even exceeded our expectations, because they gave themselves to the Lord first and to us, consistent with God’s will. As a result, we challenged Titus to finish this work of grace with you the way he had started it. Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you. (2 Corinthians 8:1-7, CEB)

I read this and I know that Paul is telling the Corinthians and us that we should give beyond our means. However, telling them and us about someone who gave more than expected may not be the way to do it.

Usually when I hear that someone else gave a lot of money that doesn’t motivate me to give. I honestly don’t know why.

But Paul here, I believe, is trying to get the Corinthians to give more than they think they can because God has given them what they need and will supply for those needs always.

When we share what we have been given it helps those to who we gave and it is a space for refilling, so it helps us too.

So give generously. Know you will always be refilled.

Loving People. Loving God.

Do…

We know that the Law is spiritual, but I’m made of flesh and blood, and I’m sold as a slave to sin. I don’t know what I’m doing, because I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do the thing that I hate. But if I’m doing the thing that I don’t want to do, I’m agreeing that the Law is right. But now I’m not the one doing it anymore. Instead, it’s sin that lives in me. I know that good doesn’t live in me—that is, in my body. The desire to do good is inside of me, but I can’t do it. I don’t do the good that I want to do, but I do the evil that I don’t want to do. But if I do the very thing that I don’t want to do, then I’m not the one doing it anymore. Instead, it is sin that lives in me that is doing it. So I find that, as a rule, when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me. I gladly agree with the Law on the inside, but I see a different law at work in my body. It wages a war against the law of my mind and takes me prisoner with the law of sin that is in my body. I’m a miserable human being. Who will deliver me from this dead corpse? Thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I’m a slave to God’s Law in my mind, but I’m a slave to sin’s law in my body. (Romans 7:14-25, CEB)

I do not do what I want to do because sin lives in me. We are all saints and sinners. We fight to do what God has led us to do but we live in our sin and fight against the urges in our flesh.

We need to follow after God and believe that God will fill us and help us to get over the urges in our flesh. Sin lives in us and causes us to do things we don’t want to do.

But remember we are all children of God and we all fight urges.

Let us all follow after God and trust that God will fill us and help us through life.

We all struggle and we need to help each other.

Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

stand firm

“Look, I’m sending you as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves. Watch out for people—because they will hand you over to councils and they will beat you in their synagogues. They will haul you in front of governors and even kings because of me so that you may give your testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Whenever they hand you over, don’t worry about how to speak or what you will say, because what you can say will be given to you at that moment. You aren’t doing the talking, but the Spirit of my Father is doing the talking through you. Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to be executed. A father will turn his child in. Children will defy their parents and have them executed. Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. Whenever they harass you in one city, escape to the next, because I assure that you will not go through all the cities of Israel before the Human One comes. “Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, and slaves aren’t greater than their master. It’s enough for disciples to be like their teacher and slaves like their master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, it’s certain that they will call the members of his household by even worse names. (Matthew 10:16-25, CEB)

The world is scary. How do we prepare for everything that will come at us?

Well, the good news is we don’t have to prepare for everything that will come our way. We need to trust in God and believe that we will always be held in God’s hand.

We do not need to be prepared because God is with us and will give us words to speak. We have all done this where we say things we do not know where they come from. God gave us the words to share love and defend the faith.

Know that you are never alone and that God will always be there to help you.

Love out loud.

Loving People. Loving God.