the Lord’s word endures forever

Since you call upon a Father who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism, you should conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land. Live in this way, knowing that you were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle you inherited from your ancestors. Instead, you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb. Christ was chosen before the creation of the world, but was only revealed at the end of time. This was done for you, who through Christ are faithful to the God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So now, your faith and hope should rest in God. As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly. Do this because you have been given new birth—not from the type of seed that decays but from seed that doesn’t. This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word. Thus, All human life on the earth is like grass, and all human glory is like a flower in a field. The grass dries up and its flower falls off, but the Lord’s word endures forever. This is the word that was proclaimed to you as good news. Therefore, get rid of all ill will and all deceit, pretense, envy, and slander. (1 Peter 1:17—2:1, CEB)

We are all merely travelers on the road and none of us belong here. We are all strangers in a strange land and we should conduct ourselves as though that is the truth.

All human life on the earth is like grass, and all human glory is like a flower in a field. The grass dries up and its flower falls off, but the Lord’s word endures forever.

No one will maintain the glory they create for themselves, and it is all fruitless.

We should work for the kingdom of God and love like Jesus loves us, unconditionally.

Loving People. Loving God.

God will win…

“Brothers, children of Abraham’s family, and you Gentile God-worshippers, the message about this salvation has been sent to us. The people in Jerusalem and their leaders didn’t recognize Jesus. By condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Even though they didn’t find a single legal basis for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they finished doing everything that had been written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! He appeared over many days to those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people. “We proclaim to you the good news. What God promised to our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it was written in the second psalm, You are my son; today I have become your father. “God raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be subjected to death’s decay. Therefore, God said, I will give to you the holy and firm promises I made to David. (Acts 13:26-34, CEB)

No matter the human plans that go against the will of God, God will win.

Love will win.

We must not lose hope, and focus our lives on Jesus and what he has told us to do.

Love God. Love People. Love neighbor. Do justice, walk humbly, seek to lift the lowly, and be God’s light in the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who needs Jesus?

Afterward, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him. Then Levi threw a great banquet for Jesus in his home. A large number of tax collectors and others sat down to eat with them. The Pharisees and their legal experts grumbled against his disciples. They said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to call righteous people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.” (Luke 5:27-32, CEB)

Those who think they have their lives together need Jesus. Because they judge others and say they are not good enough for Jesus.

None of us are good enough for Jesus. We all fall short and do not deserve to have him in our lives.

When we judge others rather than looking at ourselves, we miss the mark and really need Jesus.

Jesus came to show us how to live and maybe he realized the people that felt the most unloved would actually pick up on the understanding of loving all more than those who really loved themselves.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

who?

This saying is reliable: if anyone has a goal to be a supervisor in the church, they want a good thing. So the church’s supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching. They shouldn’t be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy. They should manage their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect, because if they don’t know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God’s church? They shouldn’t be new believers so that they won’t become proud and fall under the devil’s spell. They should also have a good reputation with those outside the church so that they won’t be embarrassed and fall into the devil’s trap. In the same way, servants in the church should be dignified, not two-faced, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. They should hold on to the faith that has been revealed with a clear conscience. (1 Timothy 3:1-9, CEB)

According to this, no one can be a supervisor or bishop in the church. No one is without fault.

We are all sinners, and we all seek our own way before God’s way. We all fall short and are not always sober or honest, gentle, and peaceable.

So who can be a bishop? No one according to this, but when we honestly try to follow Jesus and love. Then, maybe we will follow Jesus and love like him.

Loving People. Loving God.

Uhm…

What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God’s people, the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting. Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40, CEB)

This reading goes along about prophecy and speaking for God when we get “the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting.” Out of nowhere! Honestly, why is this here?

If you read this without those verses, and possibly 33b you get:

What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.

A section about prophecy without an interjection of hatred on women in the middle. God’s word did not come from us, so we do not get to decide what is in and what is out, or who is in or show is out. It is clear from the whole of scripture that women were leaders in the church. Paul lifts up many women in the final chapters of his letters, so why would he say here that women must be quiet in church and learn from their husbands at home?

We know God created all of us to be his people, and gender, or nationality, or social status does not change that.

Read all of scripture and see what it says, and ask others. And when you read scripture, read it through the lense of love, love of God, and love of neighbor and see how that reads.

Loving People. Loving God.

I’m a sinner

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, CEB)

After the catch Peter was overwhelmed and did not feel as if he could be in the presence of Jesus.

None of us are worthy of being in Jesus’ presence, we are all sinners and all fall short of what he called us to do.

But always remember, Satan knows you name and calls you by your sins, and God knows your sins and calls you by your name.

Never fail to try and love as Jesus does.

Loving People. Loving God.

Keep going…

When daybreak arrived, Jesus went to a deserted place. The crowds were looking for him. When they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s kingdom in other cities too, for this is why I was sent.” So he continued preaching in the Judean synagogues. (Luke 4:42-44, CEB)

Do not let others keep you from doing what God has sent you to do.

We can not let others get in the way of the message of God.

Jesus gave you a message. Do not let anyone keep you from giving that message.

Loving People. Loving God.

encouraged

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers. (Acts 9:26-31, CEB)

The Spirit of God moves in mysterious ways and does things we do not expect.

The disciples never expected Saul to meet Jesus and change teams, so they were obviously concerned when Saul came to meet with them. But God has changed Saul.

How can we be encouraged by those who have changed?

Loving People. Loving God.

Change

He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared. Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?” But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall. (Acts 9:19b-25, CEB)

Have you ever run into an old friend and they seem different?

Just today actually a friend said, you changed. And yes I have trimmed my beard and it is purple, or blue depending on the light, but those who know me know my facial hair has a tendency to change color.

But Saul had changed from persecuting the followers of the way to being a follower of the way and proclaiming Jesus.

And that can happen with all of us. Do not let a person’s past control their future, only God controls the future and God can and does work in and through all things.

God can and will change people, give time, and do not judge people by their past.

Loving People. Loving God.

peace…

As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it. He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes. The time will come when your enemies will build fortifications around you, encircle you, and attack you from all sides. They will crush you completely, you and the people within you. They won’t leave one stone on top of another within you, because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.” (Luke 19:41-44, CEB)

As I am writing this I am preparing to go on and help lead a spiritual retreat. The retreat will have happened by the time this deviation is published, but I am struck by the notion of peace here as I prepare to go help others see and learn and know the love of God for them. And I am not at peace.

I am worried about being on a team leading a retreat for people to learn of God’s love for them and deepen their faith with people who voted for hate to be in power. I am not at peace knowing some of the people helping me lead a retreat of God’s love voted for love to be removed from our way of life.

I pray I find peace in the solace of time with God, my creator and gracious friend.

I pray I do not let those who voted for hate to take my peace.

For peace is not the absence of trouble, but the assurance we are with God.

I am with God. I stand for love. I stand against the exclusion of any of God’s children and against hatred running for power in this world.

God will always win and walks with us every step of the way.

Know peace. Know Love.

Know you are loved.

And help others to see that love, when the world tries to take it away.

Loving People. Loving God.