normal child

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom. After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t know it. Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends. When they didn’t find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We’ve been looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he said to them. Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother cherished every word in her heart. Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:41-52, CEB)

I think this passage shows that Jesus was a normal child. Defiant and self-willed.

Jesus was where he knew he needed to be, regardless of what Mary and Joseph thought or wanted.

He was teaching as a 12 year old people twice his age and much more learned according to society, and yet he was not really keeping the commandments as that society would tell him he should.

But he was where he needed to be.

Where do we need to be?

Know Jesus was being in the place God wanted him, even when society would say he was self-willed and defiant.

Be where God calls you. Love out Loud.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

The Holy Innocents

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt. When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and much grieving.
        Rachel weeping for her children,
            and she did not want to be comforted,
                because they were no more. (Matthew 2:13-18, CEB)

We don’t talk about this Holy Day a lot.

The day we remember Herod killing male children 2 years and younger because that is the time frame of when the Magi arrived after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

The Magi visited Jesus and the fam in a house, not the manger. And they were warned in a dream to not go back and tell Herod where they found him, so that Herod couldn’t kill him. So Herdo killed the children in the range that could be Jesus.

There was great weeping. Because innocent lives were taken because power was threatened.

Power is not ours to yield, it is a tool to be used for the betterment of the world.

If you have power, work for inclusion, mercy, grace, and justice for all, and know it is not yours to keep.

You are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

others

He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the one who had leaned against Jesus at the meal and asked him, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw this disciple, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you? You must follow me.” Therefore, the word spread among the brothers and sisters that this disciple wouldn’t die. However, Jesus didn’t say he wouldn’t die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you?” This is the disciple who testifies concerning these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. (John 21:19-24, CEB)

Do not worry about other followers.

Prepare your own heart and mind and follow Jesus.

Get yourself in order and be where Jesus has called you to be.

Do not let other’s place or life get in your way, nor should you get in their way because they are not measuring up to what you think should happen.

Never ask, “What about them?” Concentrate on yourself.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Service

About that time, while the number of disciples continued to increase, a complaint arose. Greek-speaking disciples accused the Aramaic-speaking disciples because their widows were being overlooked in the daily food service. The Twelve called a meeting of all the disciples and said, “It isn’t right for us to set aside proclamation of God’s word in order to serve tables. Brothers and sisters, carefully choose seven well-respected men from among you. They must be well-respected and endowed by the Spirit with exceptional wisdom. We will put them in charge of this concern. As for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and the service of proclaiming the word.” This proposal pleased the entire community. They selected Stephen, a man endowed by the Holy Spirit with exceptional faith, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. The community presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. God’s word continued to grow. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased significantly. Even a large group of priests embraced the faith. (Acts 6:1-7, CEB)

So the 12 set in place 7 who would do the physical service of caring for the growing number of followers while they continued to proclaim God’s love through word. These 7 were the first deacons of the church and Stephen was the first martyr.

We are all called to serve in the body of Christ. All of us have a gift that is needed for the body to flourish. Be who God has called you to be for the enrichment of the body.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

life

In the beginning was the Word
    and the Word was with God
    and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
    and without the Word
    nothing came into being.
What came into being
    through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
    was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
    and the world came into being through the light,
        but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
    and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
        those who believed in his name,
    he authorized to become God’s children,
        born not from blood
        nor from human desire or passion,
        but born from God.
The Word became flesh
    and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a father’s only son,
        full of grace and truth.
(John 1:1-14, CEB)

The word was life and nothing came into being without the word.

And the word stepped down from heaven and dwelt among us.

And that word authorized us to become God’s children, not by blood, not by our passion or desire, but by God.

The word stepped down from its exalted place and tented with us to show us love.

Know on this most holy day, when our savior was born, that you are loved beyond measure by God and by me.

May the Christ child ever live in your heart and His love be shown through you to the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

In Bethlehem.

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20, CEB)

In the lowest of places, the king of the world is born!

Sent there by the power in place, Mary gives birth in the town of Joseph’s ancestors, a place that most probably couldn’t find on a map.

Because God doesn’t do things the way the people of the world think they should be done. God works behind the scenes and works for equality, mercy, and grace for all.

In a manger, Jesus is born. In a place most with power would never go, the king of the world is born.

Surrounded by animals, shit, and daily cares, God stepped into our world to show us how to love.

Don’t miss it.

See the baby.

See the love.

Know he is here for you.

Know the love he brings is for you.

Loving People. Loving God.

crafty myths…

We didn’t repeat crafty myths when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes. He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the magnificent glory, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. In addition, we have a most reliable prophetic word, and you would do well to pay attention to it, just as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:16-21, CEB)

A lot of people are going to celebrate a holiday in a couple days they think is a crafty myth. The birth of Jesus. Now it didn’t happen on December 25 and probably was during a warmer time given the events described in Luke. But it is not a myth.

The birth of Jesus is a step in the story of love we have from God for all of creation.

So as we celebrate Christmas, know you are loved, and the story is not a myth. While we may not know all the details, the foundation of the creator loving the world so much that they stepped down from their place and dwelt with us, to show us love is true.

You are deeply loved by God and by me.

I pray you never forget this.

Loving People. Loving God.

Promises

Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” Mary said,
“With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
    In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
    Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
        because the mighty one has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.
    He shows mercy to everyone,
        from one generation to the next,
        who honors him as God.
He has shown strength with his arm.
    He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
    He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
        and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty-handed.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
        remembering his mercy,
    just as he promised to our ancestors,
        to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”
(Luke 1:39-55, CEB)

Mary had every reason to be skeptical of what was happening. An angel came and told her she was going to have a child and it was from God. Well having a child was impossible since she had never been with a man and was not married. It was also impossible because now she would be pregnant our of wed lock and would need to be stoned/killed. This was problematic for her. But the angel said it was from God and God would watch over her and work with Joseph to make sure it worked out.

Elizabeth sees that and says, “Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” Happy here. Blessed other translations.

When we hold fast to the promises of God even in the face of ridicule and harm, we are blessed or happy. We all need to stand firm in our resolve to see the coming baby and coming Lord as the fulfillment of the kingdom and sharing of God’s love. Where everyone gets mercy.
Where the powerful are brought down.
Where the lowly are lifted up.
Where the hungry are filled.
Where all are cared for.
Where all are seen as God’s children.

We can usher in the kingdom by showing and being love.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

fox!

At that time, some Pharisees approached Jesus and said, “Go! Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Look, I’m throwing out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. However, it’s necessary for me to travel today, tomorrow, and the next day because it’s impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather your people just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. Look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you won’t see me until the time comes when you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.” (Luke 13:31-35, CEB)

Go tell that Fox exactly what I am doing.

Let him try to kill me because it will really not work.

We look for ways to protect God and think we need to stand up for God.

We do need to stand firm in our faith and our convictions, but God doesn’t need our protection. When push comes to shove no matter what happens, God’s will will be done, through us, in spite of us, or around us.

Do not worry about what is happening in the world. Stand firm in your faith and be a beacon of hope. Sharing love in all you do.

Loving People. Loving God.

endure

But remember the earlier days, after you saw the light. You stood your ground while you were suffering from an enormous amount of pressure. Sometimes you were exposed to insults and abuse in public. Other times you became partners with those who were treated that way. You even showed sympathy toward people in prison and accepted the confiscation of your possessions with joy, since you knew that you had better and lasting possessions. So don’t throw away your confidence—it brings a great reward. You need to endure so that you can receive the promises after you do God’s will. In a little while longer, the one who is coming will come and won’t delay; but my righteous one will live by faith, and my whole being won’t be pleased with anyone who shrinks back. But we aren’t the sort of people who timidly draw back and end up being destroyed. We’re the sort of people who have faith so that our whole beings are preserved. (Hebrews 10:32-39, CEB)

“we aren’t the sort of people who timidly draw back and end up being destroyed. We’re the sort of people who have faith so that our whole beings are preserved.”

We do not draw back, we stand firm in our faith, speaking truth into hate and love into the void.

We hold to our faith and overcome whatever may come after us.

Stand strong and endure. You are never alone.

Loving People. Loving God.