10W for the 4th Sunday in Lent

Here is a short 10 minute worship service based on the text for the 4th Sunday in Lent, the Blind man sees.  If you wish to download it to your computer or smartphone you can go to 10w for L4, the blind man sees and click the download option

4th Sunday in Lent

John 9:1-41

Agendas, agendas

this just does not fit.

We have the world all figured out

and not this

it does not fit.

It is not E=MC2

or blue and yellow make green

This is pigs flying

and cancer cured

and it does not fit into the world

as I have created it.

            And Jesus spat on the ground

            Made clay and put it on his eyes

            And told him to wash in the pool

            Siloam.

How then can this be?

If the world does not run by my/our

fixed rules

Where can I put my trust? 

My faith?

            and his eyes were opened

            through faith

                        in Christ

                        of Christ

Opening Litany based on Psalm 23

Pastor: There are times when we seem almost blind to the blessings that surround us. In the midst of our fear, our pain, our complacency, we either don’t see or don’t care about the Lord’s presence in our lives. But then something happens, the scales fall from our eyes and we see what has been there all along.

Congregation: The LORD is our shepherd, we shall not be in want for the Lord makes us lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside quiet waters. The Lord restores my soul and guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Pastor: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for the Lord is with me; The Lord’s guidance comforts me.

Congregation: For the Lord prepares a table before us in the presence of those who would harm us. The Lord provides us with all we need and our cup of blessing overflows.

Pastor: Surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of my lives,

Congregation: And we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

wear a helmet

Sunday April 3^rd, 1 Samuel 16: 1 God addressed Samuel: "So, how long are you going to mope over Saul? You know I've rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your flask with anointing oil and get going. I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I've spotted the very king I want among his sons."  Things just weren’t working out as planned.  Israel wanted a king like all the other nations and now that they had a king, and he turned out to be a….. well, king.  We too have our plans and ideas about how things should be.  Lord knows I have gone down that road time and again in my life.  I think I know and understand the Lord, I get up a head of steam, take off full throttle and wham!!!!!!! into a brick wall.  It is usually after I pick myself up from hitting the brick wall several times that I finally stop following my own lead.  It is then I start to listen to the Lord, look around and find the open door and the Lord who is calling me in a direction I didn’t even know was a direction and I get back on the path.  How does the Lord lead you?  Is it with gentle breezes and a still small voice, or is it with a bruised forehead and bruised ego?  I think the bruised forehead and ego comes from too much “me” in the equation.  I pray that someday I will hear the still small voice, until then I think maybe I should wear a helmet. 

David was the runt

Monday April 4^th, 1 Samuel 16:  10 Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel. Samuel was blunt with Jesse, "God hasn't chosen any of these." 11 Then he asked Jesse, "Is this it? Are there no more sons?" "Well, yes, there's the runt. But he's out tending the sheep." Samuel ordered Jesse, "Go get him. We're not moving from this spot until he's here." 12 Jesse sent for him. He was brought in, the very picture of health— bright-eyed, good-looking. God said, "Up on your feet! Anoint him! This is the one." 13 Samuel took his flask of oil and anointed him, with his brothers standing around watching. The Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life. David was the runt, that is if you are thinking of power and might in earthly terms, if you are thinking of who you want on your side in a knock down drag out fight.  God sees the whole strength thing a bit different.  God thinks of who would be best on your side, not in a fight, but in a solution.  Yes I know David beat Goliath and there is the whole military strategist’s side to him, but in the end, the real power, from the slingshot to the grave, came in his passion and his devotion to God.  It was not always without a glitch, Bathsheba is but one of many examples of passion gone astray, but always there was an equally passionate return to the Lord.  How about you, do you gather your strength in selfish pursuits or in passionately returning to the Lord?  If it is in returning to the Lord, then everyone around you also benefits.  That passion is infective and maybe that’s the point.

dimmest among us

Tuesday April 5^th, Ephesians 5:  8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.  Just as light allows us to see the world as it is, the light of the Lord allows us to see the world as it should be.  As it should be, as in the way it was created, and as what it was called at creation, was good, and still is.  When our eyes are open we can look into the eyes of others and see there the good of God within them.  Yes I know, there are the Hitler’s of the world, as well as the many others that differing diverse groups would put into the same scoundrel category, but, I believe God, can see even see good in them.  After all, are they more evil, or are they more successful in the quest for power and control we are all quite capable of?  The light of Christ always turns our souls back to seeing the love of Christ.  The love of Christ as it is manifest in our lives, and the love of Christ as it is manifest in the lives of others.  Sometimes I must admit, that light is pretty dim, but it is there and God did call creation good including the dimmest among us. 

we are never alone

Wednesday: April 6^th, John 9:  1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" For some there just has to be a cause and effect reason.  Otherwise they have to accept the idea that they too, could be blind someday.  If there is a cause and effect reason, then I am safe, or at least have the illusion of being in control.  Sometimes the illusion of being in control feels safer than faith.  How often do we practice external judgment as a substitute for internal faith?  Instead of an internal judgment and an external faith?  But then of course, we would never judge others like that unless they are a convicted criminal, or a drug dealer, or a drug user, or an Islamic terrorists, or an unwed mother, or someone who complains too much, or is overweight,  or, or, or, or, or, or……………………………………..  all an attempt to keep reality at bay and us in control.  God offers a different approach.  No matter what befalls us in life, be it good or ill in the eyes of the world, we are never alone.  God is always with us. 

mud and spit

Thursday April 7^th, John 9:  6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.  8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man."  Mud and spit, was it magical or miracle?  The Pool of Siloam is in Jerusalem, in ancient times it was noted as a place of healing.  Jesus simply makes mud out of the earth and some spit, not a very appealing healing package, and applies it to the eyes and tells him to go wash in the pool.  If we think magical, then it was all Jesus and the spit.  If we think miracle, then the earth is available for us to bring forth cures for the world, healing for the ill, hope for the hungry.  God has given us all we need in this world to care for ourselves and to care for one another.  With the help of God and the creation of God,  miraculous things can be done, and those broken, from whatever they are broken from, can be made whole once again, restored to the family of God and the family of man.  Just some spit and some dirt, imagine the possibilities and protect this precious planet God has given us for the miracles yet to be found.