Don't be too harsh! *grin*

[KagomeShuko]

Okay, so, I've decided to try starting this new thing about writing on at least one and up to all of the lessons for the upcoming Sunday. It just so happens that I was inspired when I read the lessons tonight. Don't be too harsh, okay?
------------------
First Lesson: Zephaniah 1:7; 12-18
Psalm: Psalm 90:1-12
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

“Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.”


As we get closer to the first Sunday in Advent, the lessons seem to remind us that not only did the world wait for Christ’s first coming, but we are in a constant state of a second Advent waiting for Christ’s second coming. While Zephaniah surely focuses on Christ’s first coming, it doesn’t make the lesson any less void for us.

Last Sunday (Nov. 6, 2005), the readings for Pentecost rather than the readings for All Saints Day included the story of the ten virgins. Zephaniah says that the day the Lord returns it will be dark for those who are complacent. Surely the five virgins who did not bring enough oil were those who were complacent. They were not ready.

Every year there’s somebody that is proclaiming Jesus is going to return that year. There’s always a new reason. People stand on street corners, in front of crowded shopping centers, in public parks, and anywhere else they can gain attention proclaiming that Jesus will soon return to earth. While they are certainly enthusiastic, this certainly is not the behavior that God expects from His followers. While God wants us to be ready, He doesn’t want us to be overly zealous. Sometimes this can be a problem for us.

Ever since Jesus ascended, people have been waiting for His return. Jesus’ disciples thought that He was going to return during their lifetimes. God had already surprised the Israelites by sending a tiny baby and a man who died on the cross instead of a king who overthrew the government. Surely that was not the Messiah that was promised. Yet, Jesus’ disciples taught from scripture. They taught how Jesus was the Messiah, but don’t think they did it on their own. In fact, they often asked, “What does this mean, Lord?” and “How can this be?” They only taught because Jesus taught them. However, they learned things in accordance with the scriptures. Once again, Jesus had surprised them as He never returned in their lifetimes. Surely the disciples had never imagined that Christianity would be a religion known around the world and surely they didn’t expect it to be around for over two thousand years.

Jesus was supposed to come back and take everybody to heaven. Yet, in the Psalm today, it tells us something important. The psalm tells us that a thousand years is like one day to God. For God, Christianity has been around perhaps two to two and a half days, and each day –which could possibly be thousands of more years, or Jesus could return tomorrow – the return of the Lord is near.

The Bible tells us to be awake, and not complacent. “Being awake” doesn’t mean to avoid sleep forever. When I was young I used to get confused, as I knew we needed sleep. I wondered how we were supposed to stay awake all the time and watch for Jesus. 1 Thessalonians tells us that in order to “stay awake” we need to keep following God – to not be complacent.

This brings us to the Gospel lesson. Many people know this lesson. The slave with five talents earned five more talents. The slave with two talents earned two more talents. The master was happy with both of them. However, the slave with one talent buried his talent and the master was not happy.

In biblical times, talents were money. However, it is quite convenient that today, we call our gifts and abilities talents. God blesses each of us with special skills. If God is to be happy with us, we should use our talents for Him. It is not necessary that we be extremely outgoing. God doesn’t say that we must use our talents in a certain way. We just need to follow God. Some of us may be like the slave with five talents and be extremely outgoing. We may do everything we can to help others and advance the ministries in which we work and volunteer. Some of us may be like the second slave and just be outgoing enough to share our talents. Our reward will obviously not be money, but happiness, and perhaps learning something new as well – and this way we gain more talents.

While sometimes this may seem like a problem because we say we need to love on another and from 1 Corinthians 13 we know, “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not envious. Love does not boast.” However, using our talents should not be boasting about them. We should simply do what we do to glorify God. It doesn’t matter if the talents are respected or not. God respects every talent He gives us. He made each and every person they are for a reason.

God just doesn’t want us to be complacent like the slave with one talent who did nothing but bury it. We can bury our talents and not use them whatsoever. Yet, if we do that, how are we following God? The master says that the slave could’ve at least put his talent in the bank so it gained interest. If we are shy and we really don’t want to do much, we can still use our talents. In the privacy of our own homes, we can praise God and work for Him. The smallest talent matters to God, and the more that one talent is used, the more it can grow. Just don’t bury it and never use it. Stay awake by following God and using your talents.

Be prepared for the Second Coming of the Lord and boldly proclaim, “Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.” May God always bless you and keep you. Amen.

 

[AngelusSax]

I enjoyed this very much. I look forward to reading more from you.

 

[saami]

Last Sunday (Nov. 6, 2005), the readings for Pentecost rather than the readings for All Saints Day included the story of the ten virgins. Zephaniah says that the day the Lord returns it will be dark for those who are complacent. Surely the five virgins who did not bring enough oil were those who were complacent. They were not ready.

Every year there’s somebody that is proclaiming Jesus is going to return that year. There’s always a new reason. People stand on street corners, in front of crowded shopping centers, in public parks, and anywhere else they can gain attention proclaiming that Jesus will soon return to earth. While they are certainly enthusiastic, this certainly is not the behavior that God expects from His followers. While God wants us to be ready, He doesn’t want us to be overly zealous. Sometimes this can be a problem for us.

Thank you
Perhaps those virgins that ran out of oil were thinking Jesus was coming sooner - like those who said Jesus was coming in 1942, 1988, 2000, or will in 2005 ( 7 years short of 2012 the end of the Mayan calendar cycle). Being prepared is not assuming too much it would seem.

 

[AngelusSax]

Heheh, we had a guy in our church, when talking about the rapture and end times, say "You know how many ends of the world I've lived through?"

Flippant but poignant.

 

[KagomeShuko]

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 95:1-7a
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46

If I may be bold, I am going to make one statement. Everything is God's. Oh, I guess all Christians wouldn't consider that so bold of a statement, but it is a bold statement nonetheless, isn't it? Today's world is so filled with consumerism and concern about property rather than people that it seems pretty bold. God certainly isn't concerned about physical items here on earth - at least, not in the sense that we're concerned about them. He certain cares about the needs of his people while we're here on earth.

Why say all of this? It certainly seems like today's lessons from Ezekiel and the Psalm are telling us that everything belongs to God. The Psalm is praising the Lord, it says that all things are His and He made them. It seems that this is often forgotten in today's world. Every item on earth is God's. It can only be ours in the sense that we have it right now, but it will always be God's. We'll always be God's too. Every single thing is God's. Even those people who do not believe are God's. Their unbelief doesn't keep them from not being His people. Of course God would want them to believe, but they are still God's nonetheless.

Paul writes to the Ephesians giving thanks because of their faithfulness. In his letter, he also reminds them that Christ is the head of everything. He reminds them that the church is the body of Christ.

The lesson in Matthew today tells of how God will separate people one from another based on their acts towards others. It is the same message given in Ezekiel. The strong and fat sheep do not help the weaker sheep. God separates the strong sheep from the weak sheep.

While the image of a shephard in the scriptures is usually comforting, in these passages, it isn't so comforting. Christ is separating people by works done or not done.

This gospel lesson is never an easy passage for me to read. Sure, most people may say that I'm nice and I'm kind. It feels great being told that. However, I'm only human and I know there are plenty of times that I've certainly not helped when I could have helped.

I don't always stop for somebody that's broken down on the side of the road. Not too much later, usually the words, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it
to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me" are echoing in my mind. Yet, it's too late. "Does this make me a bad person?" I wonder.

What about that one person I may see who needs food or money? Society says to be safe. That's understandable. Don't just hire somebody to do some type of work. Yet, at the least, couldn't I have bought some crackers or a piece of pizza and given it to that person? Why did I not do that? Why did I leave them standing in the parking lot without so much as an offer? "Does this make me a bad person?" I once again wonder. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it
to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."

In those times, have I disappointed Jesus? Surely, I must have. However, I can't be righteous, either.

Thankfully, it is not me who determines if I am righteous. It is not ourselves who determines if we are righteous. Our righteous comes from God through Christ. Our good works are produced by our faith. We can humbly repent and ask for forgiveness and Christ has granted us this forgiveness. He granted it for us when he died on the cross, and the offer never expires. It is just that Christ knows when we are purposefully not helping. Christ knows when it is an oversight, when we feel bad that we don't have money to help, when we fear for our safety. Christ is there to forgive the sins of not helping.

Thus, we can rejoice and say "O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"

May God always bless you and keep you. Amen.

 

[BethMae]

"The lesson in Matthew today tells of how God will separate people one from another based on their acts towards others. It is the same message given in Ezekiel. The strong and fat sheep do not help the weaker sheep. God separates the strong sheep from the weak sheep."

Does this mean that we are saved by works and not by grace?

 

[KagomeShuko]

Nope, it is not an issue of salvation at all. Refer to repenting and asking for forgiveness - which comes from faith. Faith is what produces work. We are NOT saved by works.

 

[KagomeShuko]

Advent Never Really Ends

Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If you know me well, or just read a lot of things I write, you know that Advent is my favorite time of the church year. I see all the times of the church year as important and love them all, but I absolutely love Advent. I think that the lessons for this first Sunday in Advent give the best reasons why I love Advent so much.

Chapter 64 of Isaiah, starts with the pure expectation and joy of God coming to earth. Isaiah's first words are, "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down." However, as Isaiah continues, he gets into the depravity of sin. Yet, he begs God to remember that we are indeed his people, and even through the lament, he never gives up hope.

The psalmist also laments, but he laments with a pure hope of God coming to be with His people. While these two lessons definitely orginally dealt with the first coming of Christ, and we are focused on remembering the first coming of Christ during the season of Advent, they are also pertinent for this time. We should have the same hope of Isaiah and of the psalmist.

1 Corinthians and Mark let us know that Jesus is going to come a second time. Mark lets us know that we do not know when Jesus will return, but that signs will continue to appear as the time nears. Things may seem scary. We may still sin, and we need the forgiveness of God that was given to us through Christ's death. We need to remember the hope of those who hoped for the first Advent. We must also remember that we are in a constant state of the Second Advent as we await Christ's second coming.

These lessons are great lessons for a first Sunday in Advent, however, they are also great lessons for every day of every year. They can be read to rekindle the hope inside and to recreate the feeling of hope on the outside as well. Don't fear lamenting that we are sinners, but also have hope and rejoice in the fact that Christ has come and Christ will come again. Lament in the old Adam, rejoice in the new Adam.

May God watch over you as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Lord.

Recommended Listening: Four Candles by Jonathan Rundman
Recommended Hymn: Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah, a Yiddish Folk tune (Tif in Verdele)

 

[KEPLER]

The Bible tells us to be awake, and not complacent. “Being awake” doesn’t mean to avoid sleep forever. When I was young I used to get confused, as I knew we needed sleep. I wondered how we were supposed to stay awake all the time and watch for Jesus. 1 Thessalonians tells us that in order to “stay awake” we need to keep following God – to not be complacent.

Funny; I had a brief episode as a child very similar to this. I grew up in a Hal Lindsay-esque church and someone had given a sermon on the thief in the night... I spent the next week or so TERRIFIED that I was going to miss out, and I slept with my light on.

Nice post.

 

[KagomeShuko]

If you've been wondering why I hadn't posted this eariler, it's been a very busy week! Anyway, moving on. . .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Righteousness and peace shall go before the Lord. (Ps. 85:13)
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

So, we're still waiting for the Lord, the Savior, the Christ. Seems there's not much else to say at times. What else can one say about waiting?

In Isaiah, the prophecy about John the Baptist is made. We revisit the idea of a thousand years being like a day. Each lessons tells us to try to stay on a path and in Isiah it tells us how hills and valleys will be made flat.

I don't know how many of you have ever taken upper level math courses, but I have. I certainly don't remember everything. However, I can remember thinking that I'd never take Calculus, yet, in 12th grade, there I was sitting in Calculus class - often discussing how to do problems with my classmates, if not almost debating at times.

I know, I know, so what does this possibly have to do with the lessons for Sunday? Not a single thing mentions math.

The thing is that before I took calculus, I could stare at a calculus problem, but all I could see was tons of numbers, letters, and symbols. Maybe by the time I had taken Algebra II, I knew what they all meant. However, I didn't know how to solve those problems. Perhaps after tons of trial and error, I could solve the problem.

My road to solving a calculus problem was full of hills and valleys. It was a difficult road. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I knew that the solution existed. I just had to be very patient about it all.

It was quite like those people who were waiting for the Lord to come - and it should be quite like us still waiting for His second coming, in a way.

It was only after I learned techniques in Calculus - and why things were solved the way that they were, that I could use shortcuts to arrive at the answer to a Calculus problem. A problem that may have taken me all day to solve could've easily been solved in five minutes by then.

So, it is easy for us to see that Jesus the Christ has come once. The road is not as bumpy. coming to faith is easier now. There are not so many laws and rules. Jesus is the way. He is the road just like those math processes were the road to solving Calculus problems, Jesus is the road to faith. If we stay with Him, we'll be good to go.

They say that the road is straight and narrow, and it is, but we all wander. This is when we find ourselves back in God's amazing love, forgiving us and bringing us back to the straight and narrow. From here Jesus speaks peace.

May God grant you peace and forgiveness. Amen.

Recommended Listening: Voice in the Wilderness by 4Him

 

[KagomeShuko]

I did write this before Sunday - I just didn't get it posted here before Sunday!


Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

For many, many years the Isrealites and Jews waited and waited for the promised Messiah. They were expecting a great king and for things to be right. The words in Isaiah may have been a bit confusing, but at most were comforting. They promised redemption and comfort. It seemed things would be right. To the Jews, the thought of this being accomplished through a great ruler, a great king - never a simple man who would spend days with outcasts and days in the wilderness. The fact that it says the Lord loves justice went hand in hand with the levitical laws that they followed. As Christians, we can look back and see that the justice, righteousness, and peace that is mentioned comes only through Christ - however, the statement gave the Jews comfort and hope and this way they could still have faith.

So, just as the Jews had faith in the Messiah's first coming, we need to have faith in Christ's second coming. It is interesting that John did not write his gospels like the others. He does not start with Jesus' birth, but rather with Jesus coming to the Jordan. It is quite surprising at the lack of faith of some of the people near John. Why did they ask him the questions that they did? Were they people of little faith as it can sometimes seem or were they just confused. Surely, we can definitely agree that we are sinners. what if a person in your congregation suddenly made an announcement like John the Baptist had made? What if a man in regular clothes of the day walked forward? Would we want to hide like Adam and Eve in the garden because of our sin? Would we feel fine in letting Jesus know our sins and transgressions?

I know that if that happened suddenly that I'd probably at first be afraid and feel like hiding. I cannot truly say what I would do afterwards. However, I would have to have faith and I'd have to know that this truly is Jesus - and that I would not let anything overcome my faith.

Isaiah tells us to hope - and to keep that hope. Through Jesus the Christ comes great things.

So, with this, it is best to take Paul's advice to the Thessalonians and "rejoice always, pray without ceasing." Listen to prophets and to the spirit - yet test everything. Pray about it. Keep the faith. Do not let evil things take hold of you. This is where things become a problem - after all, we are just human. The old Adam always fails and is always full of sin. It is what makes us feel so ashamed. Yet, we must remember that Christ forgives sins - this happens when we repent and when we have faith. We do not do this work, it is only through Christ that it happens. So, hope, have faith, and let Christ be the one who gives you peace.

May the love and peace of God be with you always. Amen.

 

[KagomeShuko]

This has been online over at my myspace, I just didn't get around to posting it over here.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
In today's gospel, Gabriel tells Mary that she is going to give birth to Jesus - a miracle that a virgin should conceive a son. Almost every Christian and maybe even almost every person on earth knows this story. As Christians, it is a very important story - the story of our Savior's beginning. The child was born to save us - by his death on a cross.

However, there's more to this story than simply that one point. When Gabriel first greeted Mary, her reaction wasn't a simple greeting in return. She found the greeting odd and found that it confused her. She did not answer, but she thought about the greeting.

Here, the angel did not stop, but rather continued with, "Do not be afraid, Mary." We can assume that not only was Mary confused, but she was also scared. Every day a person is confused, scared, or both. Venturing out into ministry or simply evangelism and discussing your faith can be scary. Mary, just like many of us, was afraid. Yet, God didn't go back and choose somebody different. God used Mary.

Gabriel told her how she would conceive a son and name him Jesus. Yet again, Mary was confused. She did not understand how this could happen and she questioned Gabriel. We may feel called to do a certain ministry, but we may not know how. There should be no shame in asking God how things are going to be or should be done. God is there to listen to us and to guide us in His way. Asking questions to know how to do things only helps us get them accomplished.

The words with which Gabriel ends are important for us to remember as well, "Nothing will be impossible with God."

At that Mary said, "Here am I." As we await the coming of our savior, let us not be afraid of asking God for directions and help us to commit to his will in saying, "Here am I."

Recommended Hymn: Here I Am, Lord.

 

[KagomeShuko]

The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Eve

Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20

Merry Christmas! Our Savior is born! Rejoice, the Lord has come!

The world waited with anticipation for a savior - the Promised One, the Messiah. Then, one dark night, a young woman and an older man arrived at an inn and a baby was born. A star shone in the sky and angels sang announcing His birth, and the shepherds listened and followed the star and found their Savior and spread the word.

In Isaiah, it says that the people dwelt in darkness. Certainly the shepherd and those awaiting dwelt in darkness, but we must also remember that we are those people. We dwell in darkness. Whenever we focus on our own life, when we remember that we live in sin, we are those people dwelling in the darkness. Jesus is our light. Jesus shines through our darkness every day.

When Jesus brings light into our darkness, it makes us want to lead good and godly lives as it says in Titus. Jesus is our hope and our salvation, our rock in whom we trust. He makes us want to be better people while always providing us the light we need - it is never our duty to provide the light. The light just makes us want to be better, in essence, to reflect it to other people in the world - and let the light cut through their darkness.

Let us rejoice in the birth of our Savior, an ever-living and ever-loving God and Lord. We are His forever.

Let us, with the psalmist, sing a new song of hope, of joy, and of peace.

May God bless you as we celebrate the arrival of our Savior.

Recommended Hymn: The First Noel (17th century English carol)
Recommended Listening: Arise Shine by Lost And Found; Indian Creek by Alathea

 

[KagomeShuko]

The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Dawn

Isaiah 62:6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-20

This morning we continue celebrating the birth of our Lord. It is still A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Isaiah tells us that God will establish Jerusalem. While Jerusalem, as a geographical location, is known as "the holy land" this is NOT that Jerusalem. This Jerusalem is all those people who believe in Christ. We are Jerusalem, we are Zion, we are the Holy People.

Once again, we read the narrative of Christ's arrival in the flesh on earth. Christ, fully God, fully man - a paradox of faith that can never be described - 100% God and 100% man. There is nothing else. There is no 50-50. Jesus, God in flesh, Immanuel - as a baby, lying in a manger, born among the straw and animals - not even safely in an inn or a home. Born out in a stable, laying in a manger, our Lord, Immanuel. A wonder, a miracle, our Saviour - a true time to celebrate.

Titus write something that is very important to the whole story. God did not send Christ because of anything we did - or anything anybody did. God sent Christ because of His Grace, and only because of His Love and Grace. We cannot earn our salvation on our own. It is through faith in Christ that salvation comes.

So, let us rejoice with the psalmist and say "The Lord is King; Rejoice in him!"

Recommended Hymn: Rejoice, the Lord is King.
Recommended Listening: Faithful One by Alathea

 

[KagomeShuko]

The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-12
John 1:1-14

Those who believe are given the power to become sons and daughters of God.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Again I say rejoice!

We are STILL in the midst of celebrating Christ's birth! He has come, Alleluia!

A tiny child, lying in a manger, born for us, all of us who believe.

This child was not any ordinary child. He was and he still is, Jesus, the ever living and ever present Lord. As Hebrews tells us, Jesus was higher than the angels. This is very special. For only God is higher than the angels. The Bible tells us that humans are lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7) and that Christ was only made lower than the angels for awhile (Hebrews 2:9), and this is only referring to Him being in the flesh.

As John proclaims, the Word, being Jesus, already existed in the beginning, and the Word was with God and the word was God. Today, the Word still is God. We continue to celebrate that the Word became flesh and lived among us.

Let us now with the psalmist rejoice in the victory of Jesus Christ our Lord, for he came not to condemn, but to love and save us.

He has come! Alleluia!

Recommended Hymn: Joy to the World (Text: Issac Watts Tune: ANTIOCH, George F. Handel)
Recommended Listening: Emmanuel by Alathea

 

[KagomeShuko]

Isaiah 61:10—62:3
Psalm 148
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:22-40

December hasn't been an easy month for me. One of my dad's coworkers died. My grandpa's girlfriend died. I liked both of them. It leaves me wondering about the death of my grandparents and my parents at times. Surely, my parents aren't that old, but my dad does have a lot of health problems and he's on about five medications. I definitely don't want them to die, but dying is inevitable.

I know, this seems like a strange topic to start with when we're still in the midst of celebrating our Savior's birth. However, when it comes to thinking about death, sometimes I cannot help wondering about what I'd inherit. I'm certainly not wanting to inherit lots of stuff. I may have a lot of things, but I really don't care that much about materials. In fact, I know, that if I inherit anything, it'll probably be my parents debt.

Yet, I consider myself very rich. How, you ask? Simply from the message given in Galatians! I am God's heir through Christ! I am God's child! How could I be any richer than that? All believers are God's children! We are all God's heirs! We are rich beyond our wildest imaginations!

Yet, not only are we rich, Isaiah tells us that God sees us as His treasures as well! What a blessing! We do nothing to earn such a thing! We are God's heirs and God's treasures.

Can you imagine how blessed Simeon must have felt to know that he was holding God's own Son, the Promised One, the Messiah, and that the promise of not dying before seeing the Messiah! Simeon was then ready to die whenever God saw the time was right. He praised God and said words similar to what some of us may know from some of the liturgy used in church:

Lord, now let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to lighten the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

So, let us with the psalmist praise the Lord, praise God, and urge everybody and everything to praise him. After all, he is a great God, a loving Father, an eternal friend.

Recommended Hymn: What a Friend We Have In Jesus
Recommended Listening: Smiled On Me by Alathea

 

[KagomeShuko]

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

January 6 is always Epiphany. Epiphany arrives on January 6 just as sure as Christmas eve is December 24 and Christmas day is December 25 - at least in the Western churches.

We tend to put wise men or the magi at the nativity scene, but this really is not a correct representation. Epiphany celebrates when the magi found the baby Jesus - and as Matthew says, they were now in a house. At least a day had to pass, if not a few weeks or more.

The magi finding Jesus fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah that Jesus would become the light to the kings. The shepherds had already heard the news and started to come the evening of Christ's birth.

Isaiah once again tells us that the people in darkness will find a light. Those people were not people who were necessarily actively seeking a light. These were simply people who believed the message of the good news that was proclaimed. Both shepherds and kings believed. The good news of Christ was not limited to a certain economical status. It was and still is intended for all.

In Ephesians, Paul makes the message clear that Christ is for EVERYBODY who chooses to believe. There were people who believe that Christ came only for the Jews, but Paul told them otherwise. He said that Christ came for the Jews and the Gentiles.

Everything comes from God and from Christ, even our belief in Christ. It's when we want to know the truth that Christ comes to us. When we try to CHOOSE belief or to CHOOSE to try to understand, we are in as much darkness as those that do not believe. We are the people in darkness. Our human nature only makes us want to understand. We are in a constant darkness in our doubts, our sins, and sometimes even our wonderings. However, we are also in a constant light. That light is the light of Christ. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the only ones that can truly cut through our darkness and make us see.

Just as the magi "found" Christ (after all, God provided the star and guided them and provided everything), let us "find" Christ every day in our lives.

Recommended Listening: Arise, Shine by Lost And Found; Are You Out There Tonight by Greg Adkins; Indian Creek by Alathea
Recommended Hymn: Bright and Glorious Is the Sky (text: Nikolai F.S.. Grundtvig; tune: DEJLIG ER DEN HIMMEL BLAA [I'm told the tune name translates to "pretty is the blue sky")

 

[KagomeShuko]

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
First Sunday after the Epiphany
Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11

These lessons focus on the baptism of Our Lord. This event always happens the first Sunday in Epiphany. For those of you that do not follow the church year, this is usually the third Sunday after Christmas.

Surely Jesus did not need to be baptized. After all, what would be the point in being baptized in your own name? Yet, Jesus said that he did need to be baptized to fulfill everything and for things to be "right."

However, of course, it might be odd to say that one did not believe in Himself when He is the Messiah.

The whole point of the matter is, Jesus was to fulfill things. The example He was to make needed to be made. He wanted those people who believed in Him to be baptized in His name, so He Himself needed to set the example.

So, now we are baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are not baptized with a human baptism. God is the one that works through the water when it is combined with His Word. We are simply servants. We perform acts, but God is the one that does all the real work.

Now, lately I've been wanting to rant about things that really aren't worthy of a rant. It makes me so glad to see tons of Christians on the Internet in many different places. The one thing I continuously see, however, are prhases such as the following:

I chose Jesus
I give my sins to Jesus
I asked Jesus into my heart

While I'm okay with the fact that people use these phrases, they simply do not fit into what I believe - call it my theology - Lutheran theology - if you like, as that's what it is. However, it also seems to be what I find in the Bible. I do not find phrases like those above in the Bible.

I don't think I have the "best" theology. God is teaching me new things every day. I certainly did not have the "best" theology a few years ago.

I've written some poems where I've written such phrases as "those who choose to believe." However, the fact is that we don't truly choose to believe. Our belief only comes from God. When we want to know the Truth, God comes into our lives and lets us know the Truth. It's as simple as that. If we were not baptized as infants, knowing the Truth, will compel us to want to be baptized. After all, once we know the Truth, we'll want the Holy Spirit to be with us, as having the Holy Spirit is a way of getting to know the constant truth. God provides it all - even this want to be baptized.

So, here is where it seems we are really TRYING to choose, behave, and do what is correct, but in reality, it is still God that is doing everything. It is amazing to see such things. When God enters our hearts, we are His. It is not our choice. It was never our choice. Our desire to please God only comes from God.

The only things we can truly do is repent and tell God that we are horrible sinners living in a world of sin. We can certainly behave and do good, but we still sin. God knows every little sin that we commit. This is why he sent Jesus - to die for those sins. Jesus died for those sins - redeemed those who don't block the Truth from their hearts - because we confess that we sin, and thus God forgives our sins because of sending His Son.

Nothing is truly done on our part. It just seems that way at times. It is the same with baptism - God is the one that urges us to be baptized if we are not - or for parents to have their children baptized. We are not truly the ones who choose.

However, if Jesus had not been baptized, there probably would have been a lot of questions as to why we should be baptized. Jesus needed to set the example. Plus, the people gathered there got to know that the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus at that time and know that he was God's beloved Son.

Recommended Listening: Be My Dad by Agape (Dave Scherer - www.hiphopoutreach.com)
Recommended Hymn: On Jordan's Banks the Baptist's Cry (text: Charles Coffin; tune: PUER NOBIS)

 

[KagomeShuko]

1 Samuel 3:1-10 [11-20]
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51

I often just stay in my bed in the morning. I lie there and I pray and I wonder why I am on earth. I wonder what my purpose could possilby be. Sure, I had some answers once, twice, thrice, and more. Yet, that question seems to constantly arise in my mind. Does that sound familiar?

I once thought that perhaps my purpose in life was just to make whoever was going to be my husband happy. I did whatever my boyfriend wanted when I thought I had found the man that I was going to marry. It now makes me very ashamed, even though I know that it's been over a year and a half and that God forgives and people forgive.

Paul tells us that our bodies are temples. I didn't treat my body like a temple during that time, but there's certainly more to it than that. If we deny Christianity and if we try to be part of a different faith, we aren't letting our bodies be temples for Christ. The different faith is the prostitute. We give our bodies to a prostitute.

Then, there was Samuel who had thought Eli was calling. Once he knew it was God, Samuel didn't want to tell Eli many of the things that God said. Often, we don't want to tell others the good news. What inhibits us from telling the good news to people? We certainly don't need to force it and to shove it down their throats, but why can't we just tell them what we believe? What's so bad about that? We are often giving into those who openly admit to giving their bodies to prostitutes.

Yet, God knows every one of us. He knows every person that lives. He knocks at our hearts asking them to open them to Him. When we do that, we are forgiven. There are certainly things we still don't want to say, but God is with us. He helps us and He guides us. He always has the least likely thing just ready to surprise us. It's something we never expect in the slightest. Right around the corner, and suddenly, we see the miracles and suprises. We find all the connections that God provides. They are truly amazing.

Even Philip, one who believed that the Messiah would come, said, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Then, Jesus walked in his presence and everythig changed.

May Jesus walk in your presence and let everything change for you.

Recommended Listening: Are You Out There Tonight by Greg Adkins; Fearfully by Lost And Found
Recommended Hymns: Here I Am, Lord; God Whose Almighty Word (Italiam Hymn - LBW 400)

 

[KagomeShuko]

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:6-14 (Psalm 62:5-12 NRSV)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There was a time that I would chat in a Christian chat room. Now, this really isn't a story about myself, per se, but a realization of what God can do. Because I would chat there, I would also end up chatting with individuals on instant messengers. Of course I talked to many great Christians, but I also found myself talking to self-proclaimed atheists who seemed to be searching rather than disbelieving.

I talked one boy, Mark. Mark wanted to know how I could believe in God if I never saw God. He could accept that God was a spirit, but he couldn't seem to handle the fact that I still didn't know how God looked.

There was a lot of questions, but it eventually came down to one answer. My simple answer to him was that God could look however He wanted to look. Upon this answer, Mark asked me, "Does God have a purple hat?" I had started to respond that I didn't know, but I quickly changed my answer - for I did know, and I knew much better than answering "I don't know" to somebody who was searching after the answer I had just given. The answer was that God had all the purple hats in the world because everything is God's.

The line of "God has a purple hat" still makes me laugh today, but that's besides the point.

Mark and I continued talking almost every time both of us were online together. He seemed to open up about faith. It never got to where he was talking about finding a church or a group of Christians for fellowship, but I prayed for him and I still pray for those searching and I certainly hope that Mark was able to really want the truth and God would enter.

The Gospel today tells of how Jesus recruited some of the least likely disciples. He didn't end up with educated people following Him. Instead, there were fishermen following Jesus. These fishermen often said things like "Lord, we do not understand" and argued among themselves over Jesus' teachings. However, Jesus still used them. Without disciples, the Good News would not have been spread. Somehow, these "stooges," as I like to call the disciples, were able to spread the word.

Just like God was surprisingly able to use me. I'd have never thought I could do this on my own. Sure, I may be "educated," but to witness was not something I'd do purely by myself or even necessarily want to do. However, there I was, a high school student witnessing to a person who was doubtful of God's existence.

I don't know about Mark, but I do know that some other people had thanked me for helping them change their lives. They needed to know that they were loved. They needed to know that God existed. Surely they gave me way too much credit. I did not deserve this credit, but they were often gone before I could refuse telling them to thank God. Those people, God forgave. Many of them had been deceitful and had told many lies. There were even some that had caused major trouble among some of my friends. However, they soon became good friends. They loved the Lord - God forgave them, just as God forgave the Ninevites, even though Jonah thoguht it was not fair. After all, it is God that knows the human heart, and not us humans. God knows us better than we know ourselves.

It would seem these things would've kept me focused completely on Christ. It would seem these things would've kept my friends focused completely on Christ. However, they didn't. We grew. We became curious. We wanted relationships. We wanted to know things of the world. We explored on our own. It never seemed that we truly lost faith. I know I didn't quit believing in God, Jesus and what He did, the HOly Spirit, or forgiveness. My friends always seemed to believe, too. However, we were out in the world. It was a new experience. We strayed. Our hearts were lustful. We wanted fun. We wanted to know about things like love and sex. We trusted the ways of the world instead of trusting God.

In 1 Corinthians it tells us that everything is changing. The message is to keep our hearts focused on God and Christ more than anything else in the world. It certainly did take awhile, but most of us returned to faith. We believe in Christ, forgiveness, God's love. We knew that God knew better than we did. Thus, just like God forgave the people who doubted and forgave the Ninevites, he forgave us, even though we knew that we did not deserve His forgiveness. We still know that we do not deserve God's forgiveness. Yet, we receive it simply for repenting.

God is amazing, as the psalmist well knows. He sings that faith and salvation come from God alone. This is true. Let us sing of God's love, grace, and forgiveness. Amen.

Recommended Listening: So Help Me, God by dc talk
Recommended Hymn: Chief of Sinners though I Be (text: William McComb; tune: Gethsemane by Richard Redhead; LBW 306)