Peacemakers

Saturday November 12th Matthew 5: 9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. Who was your peacemaker teacher, the one who taught you that you don’t get someone to stop hitting by hitting them? I don’t see anything in Jesus writings about blessed are the war makers, it is the peace makers who get the Lord’s attention. I think that is because we are created in God’s image and Jesus taught us that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Our call is for peace, not war. There seems to be a large learning curve on that one.

Care for and Cared for

Friday November 11th Matthew 5: 7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being "carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and love you neighbor as yourself. This is the truth Jesus came to bring us. When we care for others, we find ourselves cared for. When we care only for ourselves, looking out for good old, “number one”, we find that these are the times we are cared for the least. God is kind of funny that way.

this "Little" light of mine

Thursday November 10th Matthew 5: 3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. As a person gets up in years and looks back over their lives, they are sometime amazed at the times when God seemed most strong in their lives. They are often the times when things were not going so well. Does that mean that God does not want things to go well for us? Not at all. What it does mean is that when things are going well we often become so busy shining our own light, we forget that Christ is the light in our lives. Sometimes we even forget there is another light altogether. But the darkness in our lives is just an illusion. These are simply the times when our own light is either dim or almost out. These are also the times when we can look back and see that we truly are bathed in the light of Christ all the time. We just don’t see it all the time.

Holy Surprises

Wednesday November 9th, 1st John 3: 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. With our kids we often play the game of “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Perhaps we should rephrase that a bit to say “What plan do you think God has for you when you grow up?” What plan do you think God had for you? From where you are at now, what plan do you think God has for you? How have you been called to go about “being” a child of God? What we will be has not yet been made known. It is kind of exciting when you thing about it. Every time we think we have turned “the” corner we find God has something even better around the next corner. Life is full of surprises and when you ride with God at your side, they become holy surprises. They become the things of saints.

They will know we are Christians by our love

Tuesday November 8th, 1st John 3: 1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! Sunday November 6th was All Saints Sunday. When you think of the saints in your life, who are they? I don’t mean the ones officially recognized by the church, I mean the ones who brought to you the idea that Jesus Love You. Was it a Grandma or Grandpa? Was it an Aunt or Uncle? Maybe it was someone who you can’t even remember the name of. Jesus Loves me this I know for God’s people tell me so (the song says the Bible tells us, but the reality is that it is the people of God). Most often how they tell us is not by the words they say but by the love they show. What do you show?

It's the vision thing

Monday November 7th, Revelation 7: 16They will never be hungry or thirsty again. The sun or any burning heat will not shine down on them. 17For the Lamb Who is in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to wells of the water of life. God will take away all tears from their eyes." This is a part of the final vision of what a God centered world would look like. After all our dealings over the ages, I think we have ask the question, how are we doing on accomplishing this vision. This vision is not just in the book of Revelation. It is also a vision of what we are to be working on. There are other warnings as in the sheep and the goats about what happens when we don’t work on completing this vision. How are we doing? Personally? Culturally? Nationally?

Who are all these people?

Sunday November 6th, Revelation 7: " 9After this I saw many people. No one could tell how many there were. They were from every nation and from every family and from every kind of people and from every language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white clothes and they held branches in their hands. 10And they were crying out with a loud voice, "We are saved from the punishment of sin by our God Who sits on the throne and by the Lamb!" While Jesus was on the earth, he was always reaching out and drawing new people into the kingdom. That landed him in a great deal of hot water. By and large, we don’t want new people. We all tend to like the arrangement of us and them. When you start inviting the “them” in then the next thing you know the “us” have to face change. Other languages are spoken on our street corners. Other foods are cooked and served in our restaurants, other music, thoughts, ideas and problems begin to invade our sensibilities. In order to include these “others” we have to change even though it is our country. I think that was God’s plan all along.

Luther’s Small Catechism

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean for us? We are to fear, love and trust God above all things. (Exodus 32)

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, practice magic, lie, or deceive using God’s name, but instead use that very name in every time of need to call on, pray to, and give thanks to God. (Leviticus 24:10-16)

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God, so that we do not despise God's Word or preaching, but instead keep that Word holy and gladly hear and learn it. (Luke 10:38-42)

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
Honor your father and your mother.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God, so that we neither despise nor anger our parents and others in authority, but instead honor, serve, obey, love and respect them. (Luke 2:41-2)

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not murder.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we neither endanger nor harm the lives of our neighbors, but instead help and support them in all of life’s needs. (Genesis 4:1-16)

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that lead pure and decent lives in word and deed, and each of us loves and honors his or her spouse. (2 Samuel 11)

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not steal.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we neither take our neighbor's money or property, nor cheat them by using shoddy merchandise or crooked deals to obtain it for ourselves, but instead help them to improve and protect their property and income. (Joshua 7:1)

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light. (Luke 22:54-62)

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not try to trick our neighbors out of their inheritance or property or try to get it for ourselves by claiming to have a legal right to it and the like, but instead be of help and service to them in keeping what is theirs.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not covet your neighbor's spouse or male or female slave, or ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not entice, force, or steal away from our neighbors their spouses, workers, or livestock, but instead urge them to stay and remain loyal to our neighbors.

II. THE CREED

The First Article
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?
Answer: I believe that God has created me and all that exists. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. God provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil. All this God does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey God. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?
Answer: I believe that Jesus Christ—true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary—is my Lord. At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. Jesus has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil—not with silver or gold, but with his precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. All this Christ has done that I may be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as Christ is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

The Third Article
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?
Answer: I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith. In the same way, the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church day after day the Holy Spirit fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.

III. THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven.

What does this mean?
Here God encourages us to believe that God is truly our Father and we are God's children. We therefore are to pray to God with complete confidence just as children speak to their loving father.

THE FIRST PETITION
Hallowed be thy name.

What does this mean?
God's name certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?
God's name is hallowed whenever God's Word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the Word of God dishonors God's name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father!

THE SECOND PETITION
Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?
God's kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this prayer that it may come also to us. When does this happen?God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us the Holy Spirit, so that by God's grace we believe God's holy Word and live a godly life on earth now and in heaven forever.

THE THIRD PETITION
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may be done also among us.When does this happen?God's will is done when God hinders and defeats every evil scheme and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful self, which would prevent us from keeping God's name holy and would oppose the coming of God's kingdom. And God's will is done when God strengthens our faith and keeps us firm in God's Word as long as we live.This is God's gracious good will.

THE FOURTH PETITION
Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?
God gives daily bread, even without prayer, to all people, though sinful, but we ask in this prayer that God will help us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanks.What is meant by "daily bread"?Daily bread includes everything needed for this life, such as food and clothing, home and property, work and income, a devoted family, an orderly community, good government, favorable weather, peace and health, a good name, and true friends and neighbors.

THE FIFTH PETITION
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?
We ask in this prayer that our Father in heaven would not hold our sins against us and because of them refuse to hear our prayer.And we pray that God would give us everything by grace, for we sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. So we on our part will heartily forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

THE SIXTH PETITION
And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?
God tempts no one to sin, but we ask in this prayer that God would watch over us and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful self may not deceive us and draw us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins.And we pray that even though we are so tempted we may still win the final victory.

THE SEVENTH PETITION
But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?
We ask in this inclusive prayer that our heavenly Father would save us from every evil to body and soul, and at our last hour would mercifully take us from the troubles of this world to heaven.

THE DOXOLOGY
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

What does "Amen" mean?
Amen means Yes, it shall be so.We say Amen because we are certain that such petitions are pleasing to God in heaven and are heard by God.For God has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us.

Call!!

Call your senators and representatives on Monday, Oct. 24 to urge them to oppose the irresponsible budget cuts to important programs and to vote against any proposed extension of tax breaks for the wealthy!

The fiscal year '06 Budget Resolution called for $35 billion in cuts to discretionary programs. Some conservative House Republican leaders are demanding that additional cuts - up to $50 billion - be made. These same conservatives are using the recovery costs for Hurricane Katrina-ravaged areas as the reason these cuts are necessary - an outrageous use of a national disaster to further right-wing fiscal policy.

Among the many likely budget cuts are ones that would harm women and their families. The $574 million in cuts to the Food Stamp program could cause 300,000 people to go hungry, while cuts in Medicaid could cause 1.2 million children to lose health care coverage. Another $15 billion in budget cuts will harm millions more needy families. Related measures being promoted under the camouflage of Katrina aid are a host of tax break extensions that would total up to $90 billion over five years. Of course, these tax breaks mainly benefit large corporations and the top 1-2 percent of income earners.

The House has postponed voting on the budget cuts until the week of Oct. 24th, the same week the Senate is slated to vote on their version of the reconciliation bill. Contact your senators and representatives by using the toll-free number, 1-800-426-8073, or directly by phone or e-mail with the message: Congress must not cut aid to the poor, uninsured, hungry and homeless!

We must demand that they oppose the upcoming reconciliation bill with its reduction of funds and services for Medicaid, Food Stamps, TANF, student financial aid, and other critically necessary programs.

Smoke and Mirrors

Saturday October 29th, Matthew 22: 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." When we hear the religious right banter about all the do and don’ts it is easy to forget that it all boils down to this, Love God, Love others. If it doesn’t fit into those two areas it is just smoke and mirrors.

Love Your Neighbor

Friday October 28th, Matthew 22: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " …. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' First we need to learn to love ourselves. You are a child of God, created in the image of God and loved by God. Think on that the next time you are feeling a bit down on yourself. Loving your neighbor is what we are called to do because we are loved by God. It is not all fun and games. Sometimes it is work. The love here is not meant as a feeling, it is a verb, it is what you do. The following is from Fredrick Buechner, Wishful Thinking) To say that love is God is romantic idealism. To say that God is love is either the last straw or the ultimate truth. In the Christian sense, love is not primarily an emotion, but an act of the will. When Jesus tells us to love our neighbors, he is not telling us to love them in the sense of responding to them with a cozy emotional feeling. You can as easily produce a cozy emotional feeling on demand as you can a yawn or a sneeze. On the contrary, he is telling us to love our neighbors in the sense of being willing to work for their well-being even if it means sacrificing our own well-being to that end, even if it means sometimes just leaving them alone. Thus in Jesus’ terms, we can love our neighbors without necessarily liking them. In fact liking them may stand in the way of loving them by making us overprotective sentimentalists instead of reasonable honest friends.

Love God

Thursday October 27th, Matthew 22: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. Ever since that pesky tree in that beautiful garden, humanity has struggled between wanting to be god and wanting to Worship God. It is so easy to get caught up in ones self. So easy to see all the blessings you have as yours and yours alone. Scripture tells us that we are blessed for one reason, to be a blessing. If our blessings are only for ourselves then we suffer from spiritual gluttony. “A glutton is one who raids the icebox for a cure for spiritual malnutrition.” (Fredrick Buechner, Wishful Thinking) Down in our very souls, what we hunger for most is a relationship with the God who loves us. The best cure for the desire for midnight raids on the icebox is to extend that loving relationship to others. How you work out the details is what life is all about.

as a mother cares for her children

Wednesday October 26th, 1 Thessalonians 2: 6 Even though we had some standing as Christ's apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. 7We weren't aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. Love your neighbor as yourself. Caring for the poor in our midst has two aims. To free the poor from a dependence on others so they may in turn help others in need, and to free those who are able to help from their bondage to the things of this world so they may form a closer bond with the God who loves them. Justice is never a one way street and the sweetest blessing is the one that is shared.

Defiant of the opposition

Tuesday October 25th, 1 Thessalonians 2: 1 So, friends, it's obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. 2We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn't slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God's Message to you, defiant of the opposition. Social justice issues are not popular right now. Somehow the religious message has gotten framed as; anti-abortion, anti-homosexual, anti-UN, anti-environment instead of loving God and loving others. The world needs now more than ever the Lutheran perspective that we are loved by a loving God and saved by the gracious gift of Jesus. It is not a message about what others are doing wrong, it is a message about what we should do that is right, and what is right is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Budgets are moral documents

Monday October 24th, Leviticus 19: 16 Don't be a gossip, but never hesitate to speak up in court, especially if your testimony can save someone's life. 17Don't hold grudges. On the other hand, it's wrong not to correct someone who needs correcting. 18Stop being angry and don't try to take revenge. I am the LORD, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself. It all seems so simple; love others as much as you love yourself. Step one is to love yourself. Step two is to love others. Sometimes the two are intertwined so that in order to be able to truly love one’s self, one needs to feel good about how well they lovingly act toward others. This quote from Sojourners puts it in a present day context. “Just weeks after Hurricane Katrina exposed the crisis of poverty in America, Congress will debate as early as Wednesday how much money should be cut from the budgets of health care, nutrition assistance, and other vital services for poor and working families….. Perhaps equally astonishing, they will decide how much - up to $70 billion - they will cut taxes for the richest people in America. In Washington, this may be business as usual, but as people of faith, we believe that budgets are moral documents, and so far this budget is morally bankrupt.”

More than symmetry

Sunday October 23rd, Leviticus 19: 9 When you harvest your grain, always leave some of it standing along the edges of your fields and don't pick up what falls on the ground. 10Don't strip your grapevines clean or gather the grapes that fall off the vines. Leave them for the poor and for those foreigners who live among you. I am the LORD your God. God does not want you to be a good farmer or a good business person. God would prefer that you were generous. The purpose of being an inefficient farmer was so the poor could come and glean from the fields and get enough to eat. I will close with a quote from A Passion for the Possible by William Sloane Coffin. “It is very hard to convert the heart, mind, and purse. It is very hard to have possessions and not become possessive, to be completely dependent upon God and independent of everything else. So, a prophetic concern for the poor should be matched by a pastoral concern for the rich. As I read the Bible, judgment against the rich spells mercy not only for the poor, but finally for the rich as well. It suggests that just as the poor should not be left at the mercy of their poverty, so the rich should not be left at the mercy of their wealth. If a minimum wage is just, there’s more than symmetry to commend a maximum wage. After all, the primary reward for a job well done is not a higher salary but greater responsibilities.”

That which you do to the least

Matthew 25: 37 “Then those "sheep' are going to say, "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? 38 -39And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40Then the King will say, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.' 41"Then he will turn to the "goats,' the ones on his left, and say, "Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. 42And why? Because-- I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.' 44"Then those "goats' are going to say, "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?' 45"He will answer them, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me--you failed to do it to me.'

From Sojourners:
Just weeks after Hurricane Katrina exposed the crisis of poverty in America, Congress will debate as early as Wednesday how much money should be cut from the budgets of health care, nutrition assistance, and other vital services for poor and working families. That's right, they will cut funds - and the question is by how much. Perhaps equally astonishing, they will decide how much - up to $70 billion - they will cut taxes for the richest people in America. In Washington, this may be business as usual, but as people of faith, we believe that budgets are moral documents, and so far this budget is morally bankrupt. The root of the problem of skyrocketing deficits is new tax cuts for the very wealthy, not new spending. For the past three years, tax revenues as a percentage of the economy are at a 30-year low. Nevertheless, many in Congress will stop at nothing to enact new tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.

Between now and 2010, the cost of the Bush tax cuts (if extended) will total $1.7 trillion. Katrina relief - even when you amount interest costs, is projected at $240 billion - less than 15% of what the tax cuts will cost. And yet there is momentum behind a plan this year to add an additional $70 billion in new tax cuts - mostly for the very wealthy. Simply put, this plan is out of touch with our values.

52 ELCA Synod Bishops Urge Congress To Stop Budget Reconciliation 05-194-JB

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Saying they are "religious leaders seeking justice for millions of vulnerable and dispossessed people in our nation," 52 bishops representing synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) wrote to the U.S. Congress urging members to oppose attempts to move forward on budget reconciliation measures Congress is considering. Copies of the letter were delivered Oct. 12 to members of Congress. The bishops said they represent diverse regions but speak with one voice about the "fundamental responsibility of the government, as an expression of the will of the people, to protect the least of its citizens and provide for the poorest in our society." The synod bishops' letter follows a similar request from the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. He joined with four other U.S. religious leaders Sept. 13 urging Congress to stop the federal budget reconciliation process for 2006. This year's federal budget resolution binds Congress to reconcile or cut mandatory or "entitlement" programs by $35 billion, said Karen Vagley, director, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, the ELCA's federal public policy office,Washington, D.C., in remarks to the recent ELCA Conference of Bishops meeting Sept. 29-Oct. 3. The Gulf Coast hurricane disaster and its consequences have added pressure to stop the reconciliation process for this year, because the programs to be cut are an important part of the disaster relief services that are needed, she said. In their letter the bishops noted the cuts to mandatory spending called for in the reconciliation package "would decrease valuable assistance to millions of low-income families, children, elderly and people with disabilities." "Even as the number of people living in poverty and without insurance has increased dramatically in the past five years, the last few tragic weeks in the Gulf Coast area have put a face, indeed, thousands of new faces, on poverty in the heart of our society," the letter said. Examples of programs to be cut in the reconciliation process cited by the bishops included Food Stamps, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The programs "help to keep struggling families together and assist low-income working families in moving to higher economic ground. This is not the time to cut such important programs while using the cuts to pay for tax breaks for those who don't need them," the bishops told members of Congress. The "biblical record" is clear, the bishops said. "The scriptural witness on which our faith tradition stands speaks dramatically of God's concern for and solidarity with poor and oppressed communities while speaking firmly in opposition to governments whose policies place narrow economic interests driven by greed above the common good." Jesus "speaks and acts unequivocally on behalf of those on the margins of society," and St. Paul wrote forcefully about the importance of community and expands the definition of those we call brothers and sisters in Christ, the bishops said. Noting that Americans have opened their homes to help people from the Gulf Coast states and that non-profit and religious organizations are providing relief services, the bishops strongly urged each member of Congress "to reflect on your role as a government official in providing for the least in our society and (we) ask that you oppose any attempt to move forward with the budget reconciliation process."--- A copy of the ELCA synods bishops' letter to Congress is at http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy on the ELCA Web site.For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.orghttp://www.elca.org/news

We are in God's image

Saturday October 22, Matthew 22: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." God cannot be bought off. You will not get to heaven by giving more, you will not go to hell for giving less. Failure to be generous however slowly turns our greed inward on ourselves. Living generously helps us participate in the work of a generous God, who gave his only son so that all who believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Living cheap turns us in on ourselves and slowly eats away until nothing is left. What should you give to church? The Bible says 10%. For some that is not practical or fair, for others it only scratches the surface. Money has the image of the state on it. We have the image of God in us. We have to ask ourselves what God would have us do. If you have to ask the question, 10% of what, gross or net, you are most likely focused on what is the least you can get away with. How does that fit into the calling of a generous God?

What would Jesus do with taxes?

Friday October 21, Matthew 22: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's. Taxes has become a bad word. Government has become a bad word. Both of those indicate just how selfish we have become. We don’t want to pay taxes because we feel it does not benefit us. That is true most of the time. Those who are trying to rebuild from Katirna are benefiting from the taxes you and I pay. The government is nothing more than an administrative extension of the collective “we”. At it’s best, it serves the best interest of all concerned and helps to provide an infrastructure that benefits everyone and helps those in need get the help they need to no longer be in need. At its worst, it uses self interests of a few to start wars, cut help for the needy to benefit the wealthy and offer no-bid contracts. If the government is to follow the teachings of Jesus it would offer sight to the blind as well as medical help to all in need, bring hope to the poor and help them get a leg up, and bring about the “year of the Lord” were there would be a great economic leveling of society. Instead what we see is more people without medical coverage, benefits cut for those who are most in need and tax cuts for those who have received the most benefit from the infrastructure already. We now have the greatest difference between the haves and the have nots in the history of our nation. This is in direct contrast to what Jesus calls us to do. We are still called to give to Caeser, but in a democracy we are also called to get involved so that Caeser acts in the best interest of the collective "we" rather than as a cash cow for the few.

Taxes to Caesar or not

Thursday October 20, Matthew 22: "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus was just looking for the steel spring to snap. They thought they had him this time. If he said yes, he was in trouble with the Israelites, if he said no, he was in trouble with the Romans. They thought they had Jesus because it didn’t dawn on them how much more God wants from them. For the kingdom of God the answer is not either or, it is both and. When you live your life on the surface you ponder questions like the Pharisees proposed to Jesus. When you live your life in the Kingdom you begin to understand that God wants more from you because God wants more for you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else just seems to fall into place.

You're the message!!

Wednesday October 19, 1 Thessalonians 1: 8The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master's Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore--you're the message! Talk is cheap. Out of every 100 people, one will read the Bible and the other 99 will read the person. When the word of God comes into your life, not just as something interesting to listen to on Sunday morning, but into your life such that every aspect of your life is blessed by its presence, things begin to change all around. The greatest tool for evangelism is not knocking on doors or passing out brochures, but living a changed life. Others see it. Others notice, and soon they find their lives changed also. Evangelism is the blessing passed on.

Steel in your convictions

Tuesday October 18, 1 Thessalonians 1: 4It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. 5When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions. Each of us has something special for the Kingdom of God, gifts given to us by God. It is when we flip that switch and turn on those gifts for the Kingdom that things start happening. They happen in our lives. They happen in the lives of those around us. They happen in the life of the church. The words become more than just words, they become life. God has put a hand on you for something special. How do you find out what it is? The same way you decide a major when you go to college. You give it your best shot, you find out where your passion lies, you go for it, you keep your eyes and soul open for any changes in course that may lie ahead. And don’t forget to surround everything in prayer.

The Year of the Lord

Monday October 17, Isaiah 45: 5Only I am the LORD! There are no other gods. I have made you strong, though you don't know me. Cyrus did not know God as God. God used Cyrus to do God’s will. God never ceased being God. Sometimes we need to keep our eyes and ears and hearts open to what God is telling us though non-religious entities. Sometimes the religious community has it’s mind so made up about what God wants that it cannot hear what God really wants. Do you know what God wants? It can be summed up as loving the Lord with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. It can be summed up the way Jesus started his ministry by reading from Isaiah and claiming his ministry is to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, bring recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. That last one meant the year of the Jubilee where there would be a great economic leveling of society. Somehow I think that has too often been overlooked by many of Jesus’ most zealous followers. Keep your ears open.

Cyrus, you don't even know me, but!!!!

Sunday October 16, Isaiah 45: 4Cyrus, you don't even know me! But I have called you by name and highly honored you because of Israel, my chosen servant. Cyrus was the leader of the Assyrian army. He was not a follower of God (YHWH). God used Cyrus to take over Babylon and free the Israelites (who did follow the God YHWH). There were other captives from other nations also in Babylon. Cyrus freed them also and told them as well as the Israelites to go home and build temples to their gods and to tell their gods what a good guy Cyrus was. When Jesus came on the scene, he also chose many who were not of religious elite to do the work of God. What they all had in common was a heart to do the work of God. Maybe God is less interested in our ideologies and loyalties than in our passion and desire to do what we think God is calling us to do. Cyrus became a religious hero of a religion he knew nothing about. Imagine what God can do through you if you just give God half a chance.

Nice Threads

Saturday October 15th, Matthew 22: 11When the king went in to meet the guests, he found that one of them wasn't wearing the right kind of clothes for the wedding. 12The king asked, "Friend, why didn't you wear proper clothes for the wedding?" So what was this person wearing? In those days, when someone was invited to such a banquet, they were given clean party cloths to wear. Maybe this person was just thumbing their nose at God and saying, “no thanks, no grace for me, I am going to do it my way” (remember the tree in the garden in Genesis?). The next time you hear a modern Pharisee telling you everything you must “do” to enter the kingdom, remember, they are just trying to make their own cloths for the party. God’s gifts aren’t good enough.

Turn it down so you can hear

Friday October 14th, Matthew 22: 8Then he said to the servants, "It is time for the wedding banquet, and the invited guests don't deserve to come. 9Go out to the street corners and tell everyone you meet to come to the banquet." The banquet will be full. The banquet will be filled with people who love God. The invitation has gone out to you. Will you be there? Sometimes it is the ones on the street corners who hear the call. Not because they are any more deserving than anyone else, they just don’t have as much noise around them from all that stuff we seem to collect in life. Turn off the noise once in a while and come to the banquet.

Your Table is waiting

Thursday October 13th, Matthew 22: 2The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3The king sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused. 4He sent other servants to say to the guests, "The banquet is ready! My cattle and prize calves have all been prepared. Everything is ready. Come to the banquet!" What can get you too wrapped up in to have time or energy to go to the banquet? What is taking your time and energy? If we knew it was a banquet for God then of course we all would come. Somehow we forget and get to busy to come Sunday after Sunday. The trouble is, slowly but surely, one step at a time we find ourselves out and away and to busy to come. The banquet is there; make sure you take time for it.

Don't slip in the garbage

Wednesday October 12th, Philippians 4: 8Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Remember those days when you didn’t feel to well and you were thinking of calling in sick. Sometime you really were sick. Other times you just didn’t feel well and as soon as you called in sick, bingo, you felt better. You were no longer focused on not feeling well. Now suppose you focus your life on all the things of God. Suppose you fill the voids and the dips with praise. Suppose you fill your life with beauty and grace. You may still have sick day, but somehow even that feels better. Generally speaking, if you fill your life with good, good happens, if you fill your life with garbage, garbage happens. It’s not rocket science, but if your are not careful, it is easy to slip on and into the garbage.

Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the music

Tuesday October 11th, Philippians 4: 4Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Sometimes when you put on a new outfit that just brings out the best in you looks wise, it also brings out the best in you in other areas, the way you talk to others, the way you hold you head, the way you think about things, it just brings out the best. Now revel in God, wrap yourself up in the love of God, immerse you life in God’s grace and love and see what happens. The more you surround every aspect of your life with God’s love and grace, the more you show that love and grace to the world around you. Then you find yourself back on the receiving end of love and grace shown by others. If you celebrate God all day, every day, you will find your life and the lives around you being more of a celebration.

Keep your focus

Monday October 10th, Isaiah 25: 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; This is not to be misunderstood as “with God everything in your life will be wonderful.” That is not only wrong; it is not all that healthy either. What it does mean, is that in the midst of the many wonderful things life brings your way, and in the midst of some of the garbage life brings your way, keep your focus on God and what your relationship with God brings. In the midst of today’s troubles and today’s joys, remember that in the end, death has been swallowed up. Live your life immersed in that thought, and live a life of praise. It helps put everything else in perspective.

Stop and smell the flowers

Sunday October 9th, Isaiah 25: 1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things. The one being faithful is the Lord. We do not always do so well in the faithful department. How we do better in the faithful department is to focus our life on praising God for all the marvelous things God has done for us. If we focus on what we want and do not have, then the devil wins, and what the devil wins is a bit more of our time. The more we focus our lives on exalting and praising God the more our life is filled with praise. The more we focus on our unfulfilled wants, the more unhappiness and anxiety we have. In life, take time to stop and smell the flowers (metaphorically speaking) and then don’t forget to stop and thank God for those same flowers. Without that, your life slowly starts to fill up with a big emptiness, and that emptiness slowly starts to edge out the very thing that is a cure for that emptiness, God.