Lord or serve?

Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the ones who are considered the rulers by the Gentiles show off their authority over them and their high-ranking officials order them around. But that’s not the way it will be with you. Whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant. Whoever wants to be first among you will be the slave of all, for the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.” (Mark 10:42-45, CEB)

Should we seek to be a Lord over people? We see what happened when Anakin did this in Star Wars… Lord Vader was not a great person. Instilling fear and dread in people.

When we serve others and seek to fulfill their needs we are loving as God calls us to be and do.

Jesus came to serve and show love, not ask for it and be served.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Worships and does what is right

Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen, not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:34-43, CEB)

Whoever worships God and does what is right…

What is right? And who decides what is right?

I mean Jesus loved everyone and welcomed everyone. Jesus went with the people most “religious” people would avoid. I know that a lot of people don’t go to church now because they find Jesus in people who don’t go to church or aren’t welcome in church because they aren’t doing it right according to the rules.

But “Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. “” Why can’t we get that?

When we exclude one person the body isn’t complete and it is not our place to say who is in and who is out. That judgment belongs to God.

Love.

Love like Jesus.

Eat and hang out with the people who aren’t “right” to make a difference.

Loving People. Loving God.

what?!

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. 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. 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.” Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. (Acts 10:1-34, CEB)

Never consider unclean what God has made pure.

I am currently working on a paper for my Doctor of Ministry Program on the inclusivity of Paul. The class is an independent study and is entitled, Paul’s Radical inclusivity according to Galatians. Specifically Galatians 3:28. As I have looked at this many people believe that this verse is a quoting of an early baptismal right. All are one in Christ.

Who are we to say that something is unclean? Over and over again God and Jesus tell us to love, and yet we pull verses that point out the way people different from us sin and how that will lead them to separation from God for eternity. Why don’t we focus on the verses that tell us to love and we are one, and that everyone is invited?

Never consider unclean what God has made pure.

If we worry about our own lives and getting them right with God, maybe we will love as God does.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Never alone

“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asked, “Lord, why are you about to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. I won’t say much more to you because this world’s ruler is coming. He has nothing on me. Rather, he comes so that the world will know that I love the Father and do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up. We’re leaving this place. (John 14:18-31, CEB)

Have you ever felt alone?

I’ll be honest and say yes. In a crowded room, surrounded by people I love and love me, I have felt alone. Like no one cared or saw me. I felt like I was invisible and no one cared that I wasn’t there. It actually happens more often than I want to admit. Darkness surrounds me and it seems like there is no light. I understand how people get to the point of ending it because it seems the only way out.

In those moments I call out to God, and sometimes I feel like Saint Teresa and wonder why God has left me. She said that in the moments she did the most work for God, she felt like God was nowhere near her. And yet God promised us to never leave us. Here Jesus says the Holy Spirit is always with us.

We are never alone. I know that, and yet the times come. Remind yourself that you are loved.

You are loved by God and never alone.

Let us share love so when the darkness comes, people will know they are not alone.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Sow Peace

What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. (James 3:17-18, CEB)

What does your life bring?

Does it bring peace? As I type that I think of all the trouble in the world and think sometimes peace is not what we need, but then I read the last line of the text again, “Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.”

When we sow seeds of justice, looking out for the down trodden and the forgotten, and those who people want to legislate out of existence in a peaceful way, we are living peacefully.

Work for justice always. And do it peacefully…

Loving People. Loving God.

Think of others…

I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law. The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. Let’s not become arrogant, make each other angry, or be jealous of each other. (Galatians 5:16-26, CEB)

The idea of living in the Spirit will produce good fruit.

And that fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I have heard some say that the fruit of the Spirit is love. And the rest describe what love is. When you love, there is joy, and peace. You are patient with everyone, you are kind, and goodness freely flows. You are faithful to God, and gentle with everyone and you are in control of what you are doing.

That is what we are all called to do and be. Love and loving.

All of us are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28), and we should love each other like God loves us.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

Connected

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples. (John 15:1-8, CEB)

You can not have faith and produce fruit unless you are connected.

We are all connected. Here Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches off the vine. We need the connection to the vine and the vine keeper to produce fruit.

We aren’t able to do it without him.

We are all interconnected and need each other to be the vineyard of God.

Welcome all and know that they are as valuable as you are.

Loving People. Loving God.

Smallest?

He continued, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32, CEB)

If you know anything about seeds you know the mustard seed is small. However, it is not the smallest seed, and while it might have been in Jesus’ time, I am not even sure that is true.

The point of the parable though is still good, and true. A very small seed becomes something massive.

And what is now a very small thing will one day engulf all of creation.

Know that while now we only get glimpses of God’s Kingdom, one day it will be every where.

Loving People. Loving God.

Use what you got…

Before Philip’s arrival, a certain man named Simon had practiced sorcery in that city and baffled the people of Samaria. He claimed to be a great person. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, gave him their undivided attention and referred to him as “the power of God called Great.” He had their attention because he had baffled them with sorcery for a long time. After they came to believe Philip, who preached the good news about God’s kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Even Simon himself came to believe and was baptized. Afterward, he became one of Philip’s supporters. As he saw firsthand the signs and great miracles that were happening, he was astonished. When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria. Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. (This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) So Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon perceived that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. He said, “Give me this authority too so that anyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter responded, “May your money be condemned to hell along with you because you believed you could buy God’s gift with money! You can have no part or share in God’s word because your heart isn’t right with God. Therefore, change your heart and life! Turn from your wickedness! Plead with the Lord in the hope that your wicked intent can be forgiven, for I see that your bitterness has poisoned you and evil has you in chains.” Simon replied, “All of you, please, plead to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said will happen to me!” After the apostles had testified and proclaimed the Lord’s word, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news to many Samaritan villages along the way. (Acts 8:9-25, CEB)

We can not earn a gift from God, nor can we buy a gift from God.

We have all been given what we need to do what God needs us to do in the world.

Use the gifts you have been given to share God’s love and do not look to get something else.

Loving People. Loving God.

Past…

Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder. At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him. Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison. Those who had been scattered moved on, preaching the good news along the way. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and began to preach Christ to them. The crowds were united by what they heard Philip say and the signs they saw him perform, and they gave him their undivided attention. With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many people, and many who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. There was great rejoicing in that city. (Acts 8:1-8, CEB)

Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. Penned by Oscar Wilde is very true. If it was meant in the connotation it is now taken or not is to be debated. But in the above passage, we see the person most of us look to as the one who started the majority of congregations in the bible approving of the killing of Stephen the first martyr. Saul, who is Paul, was there when Stephen was stoned to death, and while the text says he held the cloaks of those doing the stoning and did not participate, the above text says he did approve of the stoning and Stephen dying.

So Saul has a past that is not favorable. Just like most of the towers of our faith.

Do not let your past, or anyone’s past get in the way of God’s love.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.