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.

draw where?

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause people to trip and fall into sin must happen, but how terrible it is for the person through whom they happen. It would be better for them to be thrown into a lake with a large stone hung around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to trip and fall into sin. Watch yourselves! If your brother or sister sins, warn them to stop. If they change their hearts and lives, forgive them. Even if someone sins against you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I am changing my ways,’ you must forgive that person.” (Luke 17:1-4, CEB)

We are going to trip and fall into sin, but if you intentionally do that to someone, it is better for you to tie a huge rock around your neck and throw yourself into the sea. If you intentionally cause someone to be drawn away from God you might as well drown yourself…

That is hard, but honestly, if we are loving everyone, then we are not trying to draw people away from God but towards God. We warn them that they are going in the wrong direction and try to help them. We do not take them to a place to walk away from God.

Love out loud, put others first and always try to send people towards God.

Loving People. Loving God.

without correctly understanding

Now I don’t praise you as I give the following instruction because when you meet together, it does more harm than good. First of all, when you meet together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. It’s necessary that there are groups among you, to make it clear who is genuine. So when you get together in one place, it isn’t to eat the Lord’s meal. Each of you goes ahead and eats a private meal. One person goes hungry while another is drunk. Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on God’s churches and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Will I praise you? No, I don’t praise you in this. This is why those who eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord inappropriately will be guilty of the Lord’s body and blood. Each individual should test himself or herself, and eat from the bread and drink from the cup in that way. Those who eat and drink without correctly understanding the body are eating and drinking their own judgment. Because of this, many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few have died. But if we had judged ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. However, we are disciplined by the Lord when we are judged so that we won’t be judged and condemned along with the whole world. For these reasons, my brothers and sisters, when you get together to eat, wait for each other. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22,27-33, CEB)

You eat the Lord’s Supper to your own damnation is how I remember this passage from my youth. The people of Corinth were gathering when they could get to the place where worship was and ate as they arrived. Meaning the wealthy were there early and the working folks came later. And those who got there first would eat their fill of the Lord’s Supper and not leave any for those who would come later.

When you do not understand that the Lord’s Supper is grace for all, and when you do not share it with all as it was meant then you are taking it in a way that it was not intended and are therefore judging yourself.

But if we understand it isn’t only for us and not for us to get full on but to obtain grace, then we will wait and eat when we are all together.

Community is key.

Loving People. Loving God.

Women…

I praise you because you remember all my instructions, and you hold on to the traditions exactly as I handed them on to you. Now I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered shames his head. Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head. It is the same thing as having her head shaved. If a woman doesn’t cover her head, then she should have her hair cut off. If it is disgraceful for a woman to have short hair or to be shaved, then she should keep her head covered. A man shouldn’t have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is man’s glory. Man didn’t have his origin from woman, but woman from man; and man wasn’t created for the sake of the woman, but the woman for the sake of the man. Because of this a woman should have authority over her head, because of the angels. However, woman isn’t independent from man, and man isn’t independent from woman in the Lord. As woman came from man so also man comes from woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it appropriate for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him; but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? This is because her long hair is given to her for a covering. But if someone wants to argue about this, we don’t have such a custom, nor do God’s churches. (1 Corinthians 11:2-16, CEB)

I read this, and I read it again. I really don’t know what to say about this other than there seems to be a hang-up on heads being covered and uncovered and who should have long hair and who shouldn’t have short or no hair. And whose glory comes from who or whom.

The only thing here that really didn’t make me wonder is “But everything comes from God.” So then if everything comes from God why all the rules?

We think we can keep things nice and neat but sometimes the rules make it harder and push people away. Rules are good for order, but when we go too far it makes a mess of things.

The easiest and hardest thing to do is love. We should love as God loves us.

Loving People. Loving God.

Love your enemies

“But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you. “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.” (Luke 6:27-38, CEB)

This passage and concept is the one thing that keeps many from joining a church or following after Jesus because the “followers” of Jesus they see are not doing this.

Just like a meme I recently saw and shared, it was a picture of Jesus saying “Love your enemies” at the top, and at the bottom, it said, “While I punish those who hate me eternally.”

We need to love people as they are where they are and not expect them to change before they come to worship. We are changed by being in the presence of God and being changed doesn’t mean everyone will be like us, because if we are truly present and open we will also be changed.

We need to love everyone as God has loved each of us.

Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.