Reflection for February 26, 2017

 "So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."(Luke 14:33)

One of the focuses of the church's mission these days, though frankly it always should have been, is "disciple making."  The notion is to share your faith as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and to invite others into that relationship and help to guide them as they discover the benefits of this relationship.

But what would happen if we were to try selling the above caveat, that you have to get rid of all your possessions in order to be a disciple?  My hunch is most if not all of us Americans would fold.

We like our possessions, they define us sadly.  We are known by what we have rather than whose we are.  And it is hard to be a disciple of Jesus when you're trying to keep up with the Jones and always needing the latest thing.

I'm thankful that this is not the one and only litmus test.  However there is a challenge in it.  How much are we really willing to let go of in order to follow Jesus?

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 25, 2017

"He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind."(Luke 14:12-13)

It is pretty rare that I actually host a luncheon or a dinner. Though I will admit that in those rare occasions that I might, I'm probably inviting either family or friends.  I've never opened my home to strangers, and honestly I doubt that I would.

In church of course it is different. While we should be inviting our friends and family we also need to be open to those who are not just like us. The banquet that is offered is Christ's, we are just called to be those who make sure that it runs smoothly. It is the sending of the invite that is harder.  Do we really want "others" to be with us?  And if they are not in our usual circles what do we need to risk in order to invite?

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 24, 2017

"Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ "(Luke 13:26-27)

Have you ever tried to figure out where someone is coming from?  I don't mean from a specific location, but more from a what are they thinking, or what are they really about kind of way.

All of us have a point of view that comes from our experiences in life.  How we were raised, the environment we grew up in, the company we kept.  And when we understand someone we might say, "I see where you are coming from."  That doesn't always mean we agree with them or approve of what they've said or done.

I hope that what I do or say Jesus would approve of where I'm coming from.  And while I feel that I am in his presence always, just showing being there may not be enough. I need to show that being with Jesus is where I'm coming from, by how I interact with others.  I don't want to be told to go way.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 23, 2017

" He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.  If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”(Luke 13:8-9)

How much time are you supposed to give something before you figure it isn't going to work and move on to something else?  Many things in life have a set time limit.  We might get an extension but not forever.  Of course it is important to be patient with things and see how they grow or work themselves out.  Not everything in life is instant.

The other thing that is true is that sometimes we haven't done all that we can do to make something work. There may be just one little thing to do that should have been obvious but wasn't. Most likely we missed it because we were in a rush.

If something isn't working the way you think or hope that it should, can you give yourself enough time and space to see what you haven't tried.  It might not work and you can then at least walk away knowing you did everything that you possibly could have.  But if you're in a rush and don't want to pay attention, many things won't turn out the way you hoped or imagined.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 22, 2017

"Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!"(Luke 12:51)

If you were to listen to the news you would believe that Jesus is truly among us, given the amount of division right here in our country. While I don't think Jesus is the cause of our divisions, I'm sure he finds them sad.

It does seem strange to hear the Prince of Peace offering this statement. Does our faith just inherently call for division? To a certain extent yes it does.  We may agree about Jesus being Lord and head of the church, but how we live out our faith is often very different from denomination to denomination, and sometimes even differently within.

And while we are the "United States" we know that there are real differences in how folks view what makes America great.  And while we've avoided armed conflict for almost 150 years, we are not at peace with each other in this country.

And perhaps the real problem may be that we are somewhat divided internally. We're not always so sure where our loyalties should lie. And unless we are at peace with ourselves, it will be hard to heal those other divisions.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 21, 2017

" And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”(Luke 12:15)

I have a hard time throwing things out.  I'm not a hoarder and I don't have a lot of stuff at this point to give away.  I guess that's one of the benefits of moving, we got rid of a lot of stuff that had begun to have a life of its own.

But there are still a few unpacked boxes in the basement almost a year and a half later.  Perhaps the yard sale in April will help.

There was a Lenten challenge I saw that said instead of giving up sweets for Lent or something else, how about each day getting rid of a bag of clutter and donating it somewhere?  Might be worth considering.

Most of us know we can become possessed by our possessions.  We may even fear having to deal with someone else's stuff at some point.  But before we can really attack our issue we need to get to the root of the problem. It will certainly help to make sure that our life is defined not by what we own, but by how we live.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 20, 2017

 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;  but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God."(Luke 12:8-9)

A friend of mine put up one of those Facebook challenges where you are supposed to prove your love devotion for Christ, by proclaiming him on your page.  The assumption is that if you aren't doing this you are somehow denying Christ.

Personally I'm not convinced of that assumption.  I love Jesus, follow him as my Lord and Saviour, but I'm not convinced that bowing to a manipulative facebook post honors him.  Or to choose not to denies him.  If I were facing a firing squad because of my beliefs and were asked to deny Jesus and live, I'd choose death. 

I'll acknowledge Jesus in deed and words when necessary.  I get the point that you can't expect Jesus to know you if you don't want to know him.  But I don't think Christians challenging Christians in social media is the way to go.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 19, 2017

" And he said, “Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them."(Luke 11:46)

In my line of work I have encountered other clergy who are good at railing about "sins" and telling people what they should do, but do not apply their teachings to themselves.  

I also think I see this in politicians who make laws or take away benefits but don't do anything that would hurt themselves.

I try to not ask of anyone something I myself am unwilling to do. 

I'd prefer not to have a woe to you, that creates a woe is me.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 18, 2017

"Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”(Luke 11:26)

I am not a person that believes in demons, though I do believe that evil exists. I do believe that there are things that can control our lives in negative ways to which we battle.  My own personal one has been weight.  So food is my demon, or perhaps my abuse of food is.

There are lots of ways to work on this problem,  Many fad diets, or perhaps using a specific brand of food. All of those can work to a point but if you stop doing them once you've achieved your "ideal" weight it is amazing how quickly the weight returns and often more than what you lost in the first place.

What is needed beyond getting the "demon" out of you is also a need to learn how to not let the demon back in.  How to keep your "house neat and in order."

Through the lifestyle change that I'm doing I am hopeful that I will learn how to eat what I need, to enjoy it, and to be able to hopefully never go back to the physical state I once was in.

Won't be easy.  I love food.  But certainly better than being stuck.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 17, 2017

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you."(Luke 11:9)

Sometimes people will say I have a dumb question and I'm half tempted to say that I have a dumb answer. But Jesus isn't talking about questions he's talking about how to pray.  He started by giving an outline, moved onto the need to be persistent and then came this part.

Except that I've noticed that I don't always get what I asked for.  I've looked for things but haven't always found what I was looking for.  I've knocked on doors and found them closed to me.  

But even when things don't work out as I would have liked, I never stop asking, because you are assured of not ever getting what you want if you never ask.  If you don't seek for something, you are guaranteed not to find whatever it is you are looking for.  And no doors get opened if you don't knock or let people know that you are there.

Because I have asked for things and have received.  I have searched and found and have knocked and been allowed in.  Not every time, but sometimes once is enough.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 16, 2017

" But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;"(Luke 10:41)

The last few weeks I've been without my administrative assistant. When you've gotten used to someone else doing certain things and suddenly you have to do them it is overwhelming.  It's not that these things are hard, or that I'm not capable of doing them, I just hadn't had to worry about them for the last year and a half.

When we get overburdened by work or tasks, it is easy to get grumpy, to start wondering why nobody is helping. Some of us are workers and while that gives us joy, we don't like to see others not helping.

But Jesus seems to be saying we need to take time to be with him in order to get done the other things.  Otherwise we will be worried and distracted beyond our ability to be useful or fruitful. So if you are a more of a "Martha" type, tap into some prayer time.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 15, 2017

" Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”(Luke 10:20)

There are times that I simply amaze myself, and sometimes that's a good thing.  When I do something I didn't think I could.  I'm also amazed sometimes at the way I manage to fall short of the goals I set for myself.

I certainly rejoice at the positive and learn from the negative, but no matter what is going on, I try to rejoice that I am known by God and my name is written in heaven.

That guarantee is the foundation from which I go forth each day attempting to get it right.  To accomplish not only the things I need to get done, but also from time to time perhaps amaze myself.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 14, 2017

"‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'"(Luke 10:11)

Sometimes we just have to move on. Things didn't work out the way we'd hoped. This can happen in work, in relationships, sometimes in trivial matters like which sports team to follow.

But making a total break from something is never easy.  That notion of even the dust that clings to our feet being wiped off is hard. Dust is such a small thing, yet there are things that remind us of what we once had.  Memories both mental and physical.  And as long as those things are present it is tough to truly move on.

I don't know that I've ever fully let go of anything. People, places and things, who are no longer play a prominent part in my life, pop into my mind from time to time.  Sometimes it is okay and I can just smile, give thanks and then put it back into the deep recesses of my mind from which it comes.  Other times a different emotion comes up and I wish I could wipe it away.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 13, 2017

" So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well."(Genesis 26:25)

Most of us at one time or another have moved, at least once, probably more than once actually. And with every move there is usually something we do, to mark the new place as our own. Perhaps you have a picture that until it is hung the place is not actually home.

My father used to joke that you could find the houses he lived in in Haddonfield when you saw a black iron eagle near the front door.  Apparently my grandfather liked those.

I'm not sure how I would say something begins to feel like my home, since I've never actually owned a home. The one piece of furniture that has accompanied Gail and I wherever we have landed is her wind up Phantom of the Opera musical doll.  Though I don't know if I'd call that a marker.

Apparently in ancient days building an altar and digging a well was one way to mark a place as home. The well is a good thing to have since water is essential for life.  But perhaps more enlightening is the building of an altar, a symbol of God's presence in that place where you plan to dwell.

What ways do you mark God's presence in your home?

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 12, 2017

" Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob."(Genesis 25:28)

Much like this patriarchal clan I also have two sons.  While they are not twins, they are close enough in age, that they've never known life without the other.
Like most close siblings they had their moments.  But the one thing I can say is that neither their mother or I had a favorite son.  We admired and rooted for them equally.  Like any children they might claim they felt the other was favored, but they weren't.

In the case of Esau and Jacob this was not the case and their relationship went well beyond sibling rivalry.  Jacob while smarter than Esau, knew that Esau could destroy him easily.

Since all of us are children of God we need to get beyond any sibling rivalry. We need to see that in the eyes of God we are all created equal and loved the same.  We should do all we can do to make God proud of us, but we should also avoid believing that we are more favored in God's eyes than any one else.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 11, 2017

" Let the girl to whom I shall say, ‘Please offer your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”(Genesis 24:14)

We are always looking for signs that this is the right decision or the right whatever. I've never fully thought about what a sign would look like for me.  So I'm always impressed by the biblical stories where people tell God how to let them know that this is the right decision or person or whatever.  Almost like asking what's the secret password.

I will say that there have been times that in hindsight I've seen the hand of God guiding me.  Things have just worked out for me, in ways that I could not have imagined.

So the story tells us that Rebekah was found for Isaac because she said a very specific sentence.  I'm sure it helped that she had poise, good manners, and was also attractive.  How nice that the rest worked itself out so specifically.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 10, 2017

“My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver—what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” (Genesis 23:15)

One of the guarantees in life is that at some point we will die or have to bury someone we love. I haven't yet had to be in charge of funeral arrangements for my parents or my nuclear family, but it will happen eventually.

I believe my parents have written down what they want, and we've had some conversations around where they want their cremains to go.  Both are being cremated.  Hopefully they've also planned out what hymns they want at their service, since they are both active in church.

I know as a priest planning a service is easier when the person being celebrated has given it some thought ahead of time.  One less thing for a family to have to worry about while they are grieving.

Yet this isn't always the case, because talking about death is hard and many of us would rather talk about almost anything else.  I know that I haven't totally thought out my service.  I know that I want to be cremated. I know where my cremains should go.  I have some hymn thoughts.  I also know that if I have any salvageable organs they can be taken before I'm sent to the crematorium.

I do think having a plan is important.  Abraham had to get into a negotiation when Sarah died.  If we plan ahead for what is going to happen at some point, we are helping those who continue on their earthly pilgrimage without us to not be so overwhelmed.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 9, 2017

" and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,"(Genesis 22:16)

There are times in life when I feel I'm being tested, often by others, but perhaps by God as well.  I'm not certain why I need to be tested. Frankly I hate tests. But in this part of Genesis we read of a "test of faith."  Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, or potential sacrifice of Isaac.  It is viewed as a tremendous show of faith on Abraham's part, though I don't see it that way.

I've always found it fascinating that Abraham who had no problem dickering with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, is eerily silent when God makes this request of him.  And of course Sarah isn't even consulted as to what she thinks of this idea.  We are told that God shows up at the last moment and basically says "you pass! Here's a ram to sacrifice instead."  

I've pondered whether it is possible that maybe God isn't the one doing the test. Is it possible that something else asked this of Abraham and God puts a stop to it before it was too late.  The problem is that except for a continuing story of Isaac, who by the way isn't a strong leader as a patriarch, this passage says that Abraham returned but doesn't mention Isaac returning.  Even the letter to the Hebrews we read " By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,  of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”  He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."(Hebrews 11:17-19) What does it mean to figuratively receive him back?

I know that today if we heard that someone had endangered the life of their child, and claimed God told them to, we'd call the authorities and look for drug paraphenalia. We wouldn't applaud it.  

Do we get tested in life? Absolutely! When things go wrong, when we struggle it feels like a test.  But my rule of deciding whether it is God speaking or testing me is this, if I'm being asked to hurt myself or someone else to prove my faithfulness, I might want to ask is that really God talking?

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 8, 2017

"  Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink."(Genesis 21:19)

I feel fortunate that I haven't had too many, if any, times in my life. when I have felt hopeless.  If I tried to place myself in Hagar's shoes though I could sympathize.  Not much if anything is going right for her.  She's been cast out because of the jealousy of another.  What little she was sent out with is gone. And there seems to be no way for her child to survive.

Throwing up her hands and walking away is something that most of us can understand when we feel hopeless.  And crying it out can feel like the only productive thing we can do.

But it is through that pain and her crying out that God shows the way of hope.  Who knows whether that well was there all the time or not.  But we do know that she finally saw it.  And perhaps it is when we don't give our selves over to despair that what we need to bring ourselves back suddenly appears.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 7, 2017

"But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;"(Genesis 19:4)

When people engage in fighting the cultural wars of human sexuality and bring the bible into the war, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is often cited.  
The story makes it appear that what has brought the wrath of God down upon those cities was gay sex.  We certainly have created the English word sodomy from it, and all the laws that were once written and in some places still on the books, had this instance in mind.

There's a problem however in my opinion of such a narrow focus.  The first problem is that the story never says what the wickedness is. This last threat to Lot is actually pointing to gang rape, which no matter what the gender of the perpetrators and the victims are, most of us would say that is a huge problem.  I would also point out that Lot's solution is just as heinous, have at it with my daughters.

Interestingly the book of Ezekiel we are told what the sin of sodom was, and it wasn't gay sex.  ""Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."(Ezekiel 16:49)  Nothing about sex there.

The people of Sodom severely violated the manners of their day towards guests.  And apparently it went deeper than that.  In our time we'd do a lot better to focus on our attitudes toward the poor and needy in our midst and a lot less time on who is sleeping with whom.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 6, 2017

"Then he said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”(Genesis 18:32)

If there's one thing I'm no good at it is bargaining.  I'm very impressed by folks who can. Always managing to get the best deal possible.  That's just not my strength.  So if I can't do it with humans I seriously doubt I could do it with God.

And yet that is what Abraham does.  God has told him that he's going to destroy the city of Sodom, because they are really a very wicked people.  God doesn't tell Abraham what the problem is at this point, but Abraham believes in a just God, and trusts his relationship with him, enough to dicker with the Most High.
And he succeeds in getting God down from 50 righteous people to 10 righteous people.  10 apparently is God's best offer.  It doesn't stop God from visiting Sodom to see if there are even that many folk there, but it gives them a chance.

A lot of people do try to bargain with God.  Making all kinds of promises of what they will do if God will only do whatever it is they are hoping for.  I haven't found that this is the most successful way to get what you want or need.  it is probably true if the only time we talk to God is when we want something.  I'm not saying that regular conversations are the key to success, but it certainly improves the chances.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 5, 2017

" Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” (Genesis 17:17)

Has someone ever told you something and you just burst out laughing? That's okay if in fact they were telling you a joke, but sometimes what they say is so unbelievable that you wind up laughing, or at least snicker.But when the person says, wait a minute I was serious, you then need to pay attention.  

Abraham laughs at God which seems audacious to me. And of course also raises doubts in his head. I think the same thing would happen to me too.  But because God knows what we're thinking, but doesn't want to end the conversation he keeps talking and explaining.

It often takes a lot of faith to trust in the promises and direction that God gives us. Somethings feel at first laughable, but in reality are quite serious.  And when we're through laughing it is time to listen and to take action.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 4, 2017

" As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age."(Genesis 15:15)

None of us actually knows how long we'll live.  I personally would like to live a good long life.  One where I can see grandchildren grow up.  I would like to visit most of the countries in the world.  And if you know me well enough I'd like to see a ballgame in every baseball stadium.

I don't spend much if any time dwelling on my death or fearing it.  I could be at the midlife stage meaning I could come close to living for a century. I could just as easily die tomorrow, though I hope not.

What I won't do is live in fear of dying.  I will live life fully so that I can go to my ancestors in peace.  Folks who live in the fear of dying whether by their own actions or the actions of others, cease to live. Being afraid is death.

We are not guaranteed any specific time on earth, we are guaranteed that it will end at some point.  But as a Christian that end is just a momentary mid life crisis.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 3, 2017

" that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ "(Genesis 14:23)

Most of us want credit when we've done something.  My hard work got me to where I am.  We don't really want people taking credit for our success, especially if they had nothing to do with it.

But it is also true for me that I didn't get to be where I am all by myself.  Yes I work hard, yes I studied but I had teachers, mentors and others in my life, who played a role in making me the person that I am.

And because everything doesn't have to be about me, I can share the credit or the wealth if you will.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 2, 2017

" The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;"(Genesis 13:14)

If you have ever been on the great plains, or on top of a high mountain, you know the view is amazing.  As the Who said, "I can see for miles and miles."
One of the reasons of course is there is nothing to obstruct your view.  No buildings, no trees, nothing. While we may not own all that we see, it is still ours to enjoy.

As I sit at my computer typing this, I have a very limited vision.  I only have windows on the East and can't see much than the houses across the street.  The other directions are all yellow walls, albeit with some nice photos and paintings on them.

Often in life we are invited to take a wider view of things.  When we choose only to look in one direction we may miss something amazing, or worse may not see something coming.  And of course the more walls we surround ourselves with, both physical and mental, the less we can truly take in.  And in fact we have no way of really understanding what is actually happening around us, if we only have one perspective.

As we go through life our vantage point may change. But the invitation from God remains, look all around you and see what's happening for you, where you are at that moment.

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for February 1, 2017

"And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. "(Genesis 11:6)

One of the most frustrating things for me is my ineptitude in languages.  Sometimes I think I barely have English mastered. It frustrates me because I am reliant on others who might know English in addition to their own native tongue.  I'd love to be able to travel to other countries, and I know I can, but only because someone else knows English.

And while that is frustrating, it is even more frustrating to see how even when we are all speaking English, we often don't understand each other. Our ideological and theological biases often cause as much "babel" as anything else.
And sadly what occurs is strife, misunderstanding, and generally nothing getting accomplished.

God was right to say when we are "one" there is nothing that is impossible.  So why is it we continue to seek things that divide?  Is it so that we don't actually have to do anything hard?

Blessings,
Ed

Reflection for January 31, 2017

"I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,  I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh." (Genesis 9:13-15)

Most of us have seen a rainbow after a storm. We know that it is light refracted through vapors, but even with that scientific fact, it still creates a sense of awe and wonder.  It has inspired legends of pots of gold, a major song in the movie the Wizard of Oz.  Rainbow flags are now part of the LGBT communities sign of unity.  You taste the rainbow when you eat Skittles.

What's interesting though is who the rainbow is for according to Genesis.  While we may see the rainbow it is there to remind God, not to do the flood thing again. It is God's promise to us, that inspite of the fact that we mess up time and time again, rebooting is not part of the plan.

So the next time you see a rainbow, let it remind you that you have a relationship with a God who can see us in all our stripes and colors. And that world wide destruction by flood is not on God's agenda.

Blessings,
Ed