aSacredRebel

Good works ~ it’s what we do…

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. (Titus 3:1-8, NRSV)

We can not make it there ourselves…

The chasm is far too wide for us to even think we could do enough to get there. But does that mean we only look out for ourselves, and live foolish, self centered lives?

We are saved because of His mercy, and because of His love for us. And because of this we are moved to do good things for other, not for our reward, but because He loved us and made us to do good works.

Church \/ State

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. (Romans 13:1-7, NRSV)

In today’s age this is a difficult reading to swallow sometimes. We do nto always see the government as a body that is in existance because of God. But the underlying theme here is that we, as Christians, should be thankful for the government.

For with out the government there would be anachy and rampant evil…

And we also know from our readings of the Hebrew Scriptures that sometimes God gives us good authorites as a blessing and sometimes there are not so good authorities for times of testing or judgement…

But we as Christians should respect authorites and hold to what they are telling us to do. Even in Paul’s day when the Roman Empire did not use the money collected from taxes for godly purposes they were told to pay taxes. So in our day when we are to honor our leaders even if (when) they are not always fully admirable.

Be who God has called you to be, to be the change we need in this world!

Trust

Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king’s court. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams. At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus. (Daniel 1:3-21, NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar sought to assimilate the exiles into the Babylonian culture by taking away their identity and creating dependence upon him.

He changed their names form ones linked with their culture and religion to ones that were linked to Babylonian deities.

Daniel means God is my Judge was changed to Belteshazzar O Lady [wife of the god Bel], protect the king!

Hananiah means Yahweh is gracious was changed to Shadrach I am very fearful [of God] or command of Aku [the moon god]

Mishael means Who is what God is? was changed to Meshach I am of little account or Who is like Aku?

Azariah means Yahweh is a helper was changed to Abednego servant of the shining one [Nebo]

They were schooled in the language and mythological literature of the Babylonians, and their food was assigned from the king’s table, reminding them constantly of the source of their daily bread.

But these four did not defile themselves by allowing their names to be changed, or by accepting the kings food…

And because they remained loyal and trusting in God, He prospered them, more than the others, and they were found to be the wisest in the group…

So trust in God to provide and walk with you, and trust not in yourself or other men…

שְׁל֣וֹם

These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah, and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It said: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:1-7, NRSV)

Take up residence, because you are going to be there a while!

Do not be looking to leave, or get out of there.

I need for you to look out for your welfare, but also for the welfare of the people around you.

Welfare…

Welfare here in verse 7 is שְׁל֣וֹם. Shalom…

Shalom is peace

Shalom is plenty

Shalom is completeness

Shalom is wholeness

Shalom is health

Shalom is perfect

And in you helping your surroundings find shalom, you will find your shalom…

and to truly find shalom we must be in God, and through Him will be able to see to the shalom of our surrounding community and through that fin dour shalom in God…

Tribute

When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.” (Matthew 17:24-27, NRSV)

When I read this I thought about the Hunger Games series…

From where are the tributes taken?

Not from those who live in the capital, but yes they are but those are trained and are usually the victors…

Yet we take from the ones who should not be taken.

We take from others to feed our own needs, to make what we want be the thing that we get.

But as children of the King, we need to give tribute, not like the Hunger Games, for the pleasure of the one in charge, but because everything we have is from Him and we should use it for the betterment of others.

We give tribute to God, not because He needs it or wants it, but because our lives over flow with rich blessings we are moved to do it.

Give no offense, but give to all as you have been blessed!

Give what?

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22, NRSV)

Have you ever been asked a question that there wasn’t a good answer for?

That is what those questioning Jesus ask Him here. Taxes are a hot button issue now and in Jesus’ day.

So they ask Him if they should pay taxes…

So He asks for a coin, a denarius. This coin would have been something like the picture here, on the one side with the profile of Tiberius Caesar and the inscription “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus”. And Jesus asked those questioning Him, “whose head is this, and whose title?” So they said Caesar…

And Jesus’ response is a bit amazing, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

You see Jesus did not come to establish a political kingdom in opposition to Caesar. He came to help us understand how we are to live and what God is asking from us.

But if we actually break down Jesus’ answer it gets a little deep, really quick…

You see the coin had Caesar’s image and is easily identifiable as Caesar’s then, but what has God’s image on it?

If this is what shows us what is Caesar’s and what is God’s by their image on it, what has God’s image…

The word for head in our reading is actually the word image, and it is the same word used in a passage from the Hebrew Scriptures:

“Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; …. So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:26-27)

And it is used again in Genesis 5:1: “This is the list of the descendants of Adam. When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God.”

And again in Genesis 9:6: “… for in his own image God made humankind.”

So what is stamped with the image of God?

Or what contains the image of God?

We are. All of us. Every last little minute part and tiniest thought belong to God because they were created in the image of God.

So we have to pay taxes, but we also have to give the whole of our lives to God.

A friend of mine, Brian Stoffregen, said it this way:

Some may give God their minds,
but have hearts far from God.
Some may give God their hearts,
but are unwilling to learn from God in the Word
Some may give God their muscles,
but are unwilling to bring their bodies to worship or education classes.
Many give God 1 or 2 hours a week,
but God wants all 168 hours a week.
Many give God 2% of their income, perhaps think about 10%
but God wants 100%.

We have to give the whole of our lives to God.

shadow

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! (Psalm 36:5-10, NRSV)

I love this picture and the imagery…

The woman is resting peacibly in the wing of her God. She has no concerns or worries that keep her from being at peace and resting.

That does not mean there are not concerns around her, but the shadow of His wind is a place we find rest and peace.

For His love is steadfast and He will provide, that is the promise we can rest upon!

testimony

And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.” Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:5-10, NRSV)

Ever wonder what all of eternity will be like…

Well if we see here in the vision from Revelation a picture of heaven, it will be eternal praise of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We will sing out hallelujah!

Be dressed in white and sing with all of the heavenly hosts.

Much like at communion, where we join in the hymn of the church on earth and all of the hosts of heaven. We praise the name of Jesus and join the unending hymn!

We will worship God for all of eternity, that much is 100% for sure!

And all of our lives will and do play a testimony to the love He has given us.

So what does your life speak now?

Subpoenaed Sermons

A Great post by a wonderful bishop…

And yes do we not want the world to be pouring over our proclimations of the Word!

MichaelRinehart.com

So yesterday I was contacted by folks here in Texas and also from other places in the country about a news story that claimed Houston city attorneys had subpoenaed some pastors’ sermons. As it turns out, the story is true.

I don’t have access to the lawsuit or the subpoena, so what follows is based on what we know at this point. I’ll update this post as things unfold.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. Houston passed an equal rights ordinance. (We are the only major city without one.)

2. While many churches supported the ordinance, some churches opposed it, and petitioned to have it revoked.

3. The city determined the petitioners did not have enough signatures.

4. These churches filed a lawsuit.

5. As part of pretrial discovery last month, pro bono attorneys for the city subpoenaed the parties connected with the effort to get the ballot initiative…

View original post 192 more words

wonderful things

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled. On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 25:1-8, NRSV)

The Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces. And take the disgrace of His people away…

The Lord has done great things for us, and brought us from lowly to exalted.

He has captured our hearts and we love Him, for what it will get us, but because of all He has given us.

He is our refuge and our strong foundation.

He is our conqueror and defender.

He is the one we can trust and find shelter in.

He is our God!