light

“Now I am deeply troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason I have come to this time. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard and said, “It’s thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to him.” Jesus replied, “This voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours. Now is the time for judgment of this world. Now this world’s ruler will be thrown out. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (He said this to show how he was going to die.) The crowd responded, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Human One must be lifted up? Who is this Human One?” Jesus replied, “The light is with you for only a little while. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness don’t know where they are going. As long as you have the light, believe in the light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light.” After Jesus said these things, he went away and hid from them. (John 12:27-36, CEB)

Jesus says, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” and the crowd responds that the Christ will remain forever. Do they think Jesus is the Christ? Then they ask about the Human One, that Jesus mentions a few verses before our reading today, when Jesus says, “The time has come for the Human One to be glorified.” Jesus has made the connection that he is the Human One but the crowd doesn’t get it.

Jesus is here to give us light and to help us dispel the darkness. We who are in the light can show the light to the world and need to be salt and light so the darkness doesn’t take over.

Follow the light and love out loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

Golden Calf

“This is the same Moses whom they rejected when they asked, ‘Who appointed you as our leader and judge?’ This is the Moses whom God sent as leader and deliverer. God did this with the help of the angel who appeared before him in the bush. This man led them out after he performed wonders and signs in Egypt at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness. This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ This is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with our ancestors and with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. He is the one who received life-giving words to give to us. He’s also the one whom our ancestors refused to obey. Instead, they pushed him aside and, in their thoughts and desires, returned to Egypt. They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will lead us. As for this Moses who led us out of Egypt, we don’t know what’s happened to him!’ That’s when they made an idol in the shape of a calf, offered a sacrifice to it, and began to celebrate what they had made with their own hands. So God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the stars in the sky, just as it is written in the scroll of the Prophets: Did you bring sacrifices and offerings to me for forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel? (Acts 7:35-42, CEB)

I know the calf is an idol and the people should not have made it, but really how did they make it?

They melted down gold that they had taken from Egypt. But they are in the middle of the desert and they are forming a calf out of gold. This is a huge undertaking of engineering. And we just look over it because it was wrong. They shouldn’t have down it, but seriously.

Moses was God’s chosen leader and the people didn’t want to follow him. Or they didn’t like where he led them.

We are all like this. We don’t want to go where God is leading because we think our way is better.

We need to let go and follow where we are led and know that God’s way is far better than ours ever could be.

Loving People. Loving God.

holy ground

“Forty years later, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush in the wilderness near Mount Sinai. Enthralled by the sight, Moses approached to get a closer look and he heard the Lord’s voice: ‘I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Trembling with fear, Moses didn’t dare to investigate any further. The Lord continued, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have clearly seen the oppression my people have experienced in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning. I have come down to rescue them. Come! I am sending you to Egypt.’ (Acts 7:30-34, CEB)

What would you do if you saw a bush burning but not consumed by the flames?

I would probably do what Moses did which was going closer to check this out. And then you hear a voice. I love how the reading tells us, Moses heard the Lord’s voice. Like how did Moses know the Lord’s voice? Had he heard it before? I do not recall a story before this in the Bible where God speaks to Moses. Or is this simply a writer’s tool telling us it is the Lord because the Lord says, “I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.“

Anyway, when the voice comes Moses stops. I admit I would probably have run like a scared person.

God has seen the oppression the people are undergoing. God knows our circumstances. God will rescue us.

As we journey these 40 days with Jesus to the cross, let us remember that God knows our struggles and is going to rescue us.

Loving People. Loving God.

Ash Wednesday

“Be careful that you don’t practice your religion in front of people to draw their attention. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Whenever you give to the poor, don’t blow your trumpet as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may get praise from people. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that you may give to the poor in secret. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you. “When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.

“And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, CEB)

Most of us will gather this day to receive the imposition of ashes on our foreheads. We do this as a symbol of remembering we are created from the dust of the earth.

This is the traditional start to Lent where we journey for 40 days (plus 7 Sundays) to the great three days and to Easter. We prepare our hearts and minds this day to remind ourselves over the season of Lent of the lengths God went through Jesus to teach us to love. The sacrifices that Jesus made for us and the lengths God is willing to go to help us understand the depth of love God has for all of creation.

This text tells us it doesn’t matter how we look to others or what we think we have here. None of this matters in the grand scheme of things. We need to focus on God.

So this season of Lent, I invite you to focus on God. Don’t worry about giving something up, or taking something on. Just spend time focusing on God and where God is leading you. Let go of the things of this world. Let go of the things you think others are thinking about you. Let go of everything and focus on God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Never

The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa. They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I’m just a human.” As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.” Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me. He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him. Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.’ I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.” (Acts 10:23b-33, CEB)

According to the teachings Peter had as a youth it was not allowed for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. So, anyone who was not a Jew, you could not gather with them. But God through yesterday’s reading vision God showed Peter that all things and people are made by God and therefore clean.

Never should we call people unclean. We are to be salt and light to the world and calling someone unclean or unworthy doesn’t help us share love.

Our calling is to share love with the world, and when we judge others we are not loving them. We are saying if they are worthy of love or not and that is not our place.

Our place is to love. Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

Made pure

At noon on the following day, as their journey brought them close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds. A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven. Peter was bewildered about the meaning of the vision. Just then, the messengers sent by Cornelius discovered the whereabouts of Simon’s house and arrived at the gate. Calling out, they inquired whether the Simon known as Peter was a guest there. While Peter was brooding over the vision, the Spirit interrupted him, “Look! Three people are looking for you. Go downstairs. Don’t ask questions; just go with them because I have sent them.” So Peter went downstairs and told them, “I’m the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” They replied, “We’ve come on behalf of Cornelius, a centurion and righteous man, a God-worshipper who is well-respected by all Jewish people. A holy angel directed him to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” Peter invited them into the house as his guests. (Acts 10:9-23a, CEB)

There were laws about what one could eat as what was clean or unclean.

Peter saw a vision of a sheet containing unclean animals according to the law, and in the vision, Peter heard, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.”

You see everything was made by God and is clean. We did not eat certain things probably because they were not cooked right by someone and people got sick. There are laws about watching pots and hands because people were probably getting sick and washing was one way they knew that kept people getting sick to a minimum. Pork was one of the things on the unclean list and we know now that if pork is not fully cooked you can get worms. So maybe the laws are for health concerns and this is not bad, it keeps people alive, but when we say the creations of God are unclean because we do not know how to handle them or cook them is not our place.

God created and it is pure, clean.

This is why the Gentiles were invited in and Peter will go to see Cornelius.

We need to be light and salt to all the world.

Go. Love out Loud, and do not call unclean what God has made pure.

Loving People. Loving God.

Transfiguration

About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes flashed white like lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him. They were clothed with heavenly splendor and spoke about Jesus’ departure, which he would achieve in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were almost overcome by sleep, but they managed to stay awake and saw his glory as well as the two men with him. As the two men were about to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. We should construct three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—but he didn’t know what he was saying. Peter was still speaking when a cloud overshadowed them. As they entered the cloud, they were overcome with awe. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my chosen one. Listen to him!” Even as the voice spoke, Jesus was found alone. They were speechless and at the time told no one what they had seen. (Luke 9:28-36, CEB)

I always want to know how Peter, John, and James knew the two men that appeared on the mountain with Jesus, and them were Moses and Elijah.

Did they have a picture book in education classes at synagogue? Were Moses and Elijah wearing name tags?

And Peter does what he normally does of saying or doing the wrong thing. Why tents? Why would they be staying there? After everything that has happened up to this point why would they be staying there?

We are shown these things to help us know that our beliefs are founded in truth. We are given these visions and happenings so we will have a stronger resolve to be in the world.

We are light and salt for the world. Our story needs to be shared.

Go. Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

wise

At that very moment, Jesus overflowed with joy from the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and shown them to babies. Indeed, Father, this brings you happiness. My Father has handed all things over to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Happy are the eyes that see what you see. I assure you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.” (Luke 10:21-24, CEB)

Sometimes the wise have too much knowledge to be able to see and understand.

Sometimes we need to look at things from childlike wonder and know that we do not have to have all the specifications or answers to understand.

One of the greatest lines from Santa Clause 2 is, “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing.” I don’t have to see God to know that God exists, I know God exists because of all I see that God has done. I can’t see the wind, but I know it exists because of the effects of the wind.

We just need to let go and allow God to lead us where we need to be. We do not need to have all the answers.

Have faith. Believe.

Loving People. Loving God.

Vision

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Company. He and his whole household were pious, Gentile God-worshippers. He gave generously to those in need among the Jewish people and prayed to God constantly. One day at nearly three o’clock in the afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God in a vision. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Startled, he stared at the angel and replied, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said, “Your prayers and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to God. Send messengers to Joppa at once and summon a certain Simon, the one known as Peter. He is a guest of Simon the tanner, whose house is near the seacoast.” When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants along with a pious soldier from his personal staff. He explained everything to them, then sent them to Joppa. (Acts 10:1-8, CEB)

He clearly saw an angel from God in a vision.

I wonder what we would say if someone told us they clearly saw an angel from God in a vision?

I personally would want to know what the angel looked like because I have done studies on angels from the Bible and they are not really creatures we would want to look at. There is a reason after all most angels say, “Do not be afraid.” when they appear!

Most of us would have a hard time believing this. We would wonder if they are on something or what is going on in their life that they are seeing things.

Sometimes I think these things don’t happen anymore because we have medical ways to explain them, or we are shut off to the possibility. We need to believe what we are told and have seen in the Bible. Visions are real, and God still speaks to us by them.

Open your mind and have faith.

Loving People. Loving God.

Faith

While the healed man clung to Peter and John, all the people rushed toward them at Solomon’s Porch, completely amazed. Seeing this, Peter addressed the people: “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us as if we made him walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of our ancestors—has glorified his servant Jesus. This is the one you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, even though he had already decided to release him. You rejected the holy and righteous one, and asked that a murderer be released to you instead. You killed the author of life, the very one whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses of this. His name itself has made this man strong. That is, because of faith in Jesus’ name, God has strengthened this man whom you see and know. The faith that comes through Jesus gave him complete health right before your eyes. (Acts 3:11-16, CEB)

Faith comes through Jesus.

Miracles come through Jesus.

We do not do things of our own power. God works through us to bring healing.

If we follow Jesus, those around us will be healed. But remember healing doesn’t come how we want it, it comes as God gives it.

Believe in the promises we have been given, and have faith in those promises.

Love out Loud!

Loving People. Loving God.