Naomi saw a nagging determination in Ruth. Ruth was not going to leave her mother-in-law to fend for herself. You may recall, both women lost their husbands. Naomi lost two sons and her husband. One of her daughters-in-law already left for home after her husband died. Naomi's charge to them both was to leave because she had nothing to offer them. They were still young enough to build a new family.

But Ruth was not having it.

Once Naomi realized this, she "said no more to her." She accepted her companionship. Still, her heart was empty.

The two women journeyed to Bethlehem, where Naomi was from. When they arrived there, the town recognized her. And yet they weren't sure they did. "Is this Naomi?" they asked. It probably wasn't her years away from Bethlehem that made her almost unrecognizable. Instead, her loss and deep grief had taken a toll on her. While her people were happy to see her, she had a different response.

Naomi's name means 
pleasant. But she told her people to now call her Mara, which means bitter. Remember the bitter waters from Exodus 15?

While Naomi saw Ruth's determination, it hadn't changed her feelings much yet. I wonder how much she paid attention the "beginning of the barley harvest" (Ruth 1:22). Even if it meant anything to her, she would have no idea what it foreshadowed. The rest of Naomi's story centers around the attempt to connect Ruth to Boaz. That new marriage would redefine their family. It would even shape Jesus' family (Matthew 1:5).

What I'm reflecting on today is Ruth's determination to stay with Naomi. She had every right to return to her home and rebuild her life. But she chose Naomi. She walked with her through the darkest time of her life. Both of their lives.

Ruth's name comes from the root word for friend. As we see, her friendship would be a strong encouragement through Naomi's bitterness.

By God's grace and mercy, may the same be said of our friendships as well.

Stay blessed...john

In Noah's story, depending on your sources, millions or billions of people died (Genesis 6-8). Those who opposed Daniel and his three friends were "torn limb from limb" or didn't last long in the lion's den (Daniel 3, 6). And just about everyone in Job's life died. All that to say, death surrounds these biblical heroes. A lot of death. In one of Ezekiel's visions, death would still follow them.

The prophet's message was that of God's coming judgement. God's people had not been faithful, taking "their idols into their hearts" (Ezekiel 14:3). So much so, the impending consequence could not be avoided. Not even if Noah, Daniel and Job showed up together in one place! No ark, no lion's den and no dung heap would halt God's coming judgement. Humans and animals would be "cut off" from Jerusalem (14:21).

But a remnant would remain. What a glorious reminder repeated in scripture!

This remnant would offer consolation and hope to those who withstood God's judgment. I can't decide how Ezekiel saw this happening. It could be their previous unfaithfulness would be clear. That would demonstrate God's just cause and the need to repent. Or their repentance would be obvious. That would show the necessity for a renewed repentance. Either way, don't miss repentance.

Bringing together the stories of Noah, Daniel and Job, Ezekiel offers a faith lesson. In the midst of sorrow, sin and injustice, our call is to remain steadfast in our trust in God. Don't take that to mean we must be silent or out of the way. Noah built, Daniel prayed and Job complained. But it is God's promise to carry out justice. Whatever judgment is coming is God's, not ours.

Often, we're too good at and too willing to pick at the speck in our brother's eye. I wonder what damage the log in our eye does to those around us.

Instead of trying to be judgement makers, let's be a faithful remnant. We can't doom or save the world, but we can show the world how good God is.

Stay blessed...john

Many of the "acts" of the apostles were miracles that brought healing and restoration. I'd love that every prayer would bring immediate power like that today. Some would say I can't or won't see that because I haven't believed strong enough. I don't know how to pray for such a thing to happen, apparently.

Well, if that's true, it's not for a lack of desire! Oh, how I wish we would see more miracles. I trust God has the power for them. And I'm convinced God desires our wholeness. Still, many prayers find their answers apart from the healing we might pray for. That seems to be how prayer "works."

In Acts 9, the immediate healing of Aeneas is a short story--three verses. People had known Aeneas bedridden for several years. Peter told him to get up and make his bed, and he did. From there, "all the residents...saw him and turned to the Lord" (9:35). His healing (and Peter's prayer?) was a testimony for other people to see.



Since we don't always experience healing like that, there's a question to ask. What do people see? What do people see in us if there is no dramatic turn of circumstance? What will they see from us and what kind of faith will they see in us?

As we seek the fruit of God's Holy Spirit, we can show the world what love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control look like (Galatians 5:22). Yes, we can teach what those things are and what difference they can make in the world. But our true witness is how we live by the fruit. I'm not sure how many people experience God through first learning theology, as important as it is. I suspect more often God uses your witness to be the miracle people need to see.

Stay blessed...john

Most of us can probably relate to Moses.

God showed up in a burning bush and told Moses he had a new job. Moses either realized the absurdity of the call or felt the pressure of his insecurities. Or maybe a little bit of both. For anyone who has ever doubted themselves, this story hits home.

Don't think you're the only one that's ever tried to convince God to pick someone else. We come from a long line of excuse makers. So, you might as well forego the temptation to negotiate with God.

Just listen to the call!

As much as we might relate to Moses, though, we actually connect more with the rest of the Israelites. There was only one Moses. While he may have battled with self-doubt, he was sure the people of God wouldn't believe or listen to him. Why would they? Who was he to lead them? He had no eloquence or, seemingly, real confidence. And if you know the Exodus story, you know the constant struggle between Moses and the Israelites. They followed his lead, and they didn't. They thanked God for him, and they didn't. Moses was right to question whether the people would believe him.

And we do well to acknowledge our unwillingness to hear people like Moses. No, we shouldn't give anyone a free pass because they say they're speaking for God. That's where spiritual abuse comes from. But we Christians should consider how we let eloquence, prestige or preference determine what we're willing to hear. God speaks through whom God wants.

The first time I really learned this was during a reading in worship. The pastor had arranged for several people to read parts of a call and response prayer. Several adults read various prayer calls and the response sections were God's response. The pastor chose a little girl to read each of God's responses. Her frail, squeaky voice shocked me at first. Shouldn't God's voice be booming? Maybe. Unless God needs another voice to speak.

The lesson, then, is to learn how to hear what God is speaking, no matter who is talking.

Stay blessed...john

Nehemiah 8:10 is an important verse for me. You may remember Nehemiah's words to the people as they wept: The joy of the Lord is your strength. That was his response as the people mourned their sin. They had just heard from God's word. And there were those who explained what they heard. The people, then, knew they had transgressed. So, they wept. Nehemiah, though, shifted their sorrow.

I've long since traded my sorrow for God's joy. It's the reason I'm annoyingly hopeful and cheerful. Some might say joy is the only thing I take seriously. I'd be okay with that.

Just know the joy of the Lord isn't superficial. It's not an escape from what is really happening in the world. Joy is the conviction of God's goodness despite life's cruelty. Nehemiah wasn't asking the people to forget their sorrow. He was showing them how to hold it in perspective.

Remember this: the scene where Nehemiah shares that encouragement started someplace else. In the first chapter of the book that bears his name, Nehemiah inquired about "the Jews who escaped, those who had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem" (1:2). The news was horrible. Nehemiah "wept and mourned for days" after he heard that. Their trouble and shame were his. He fasted and he prayed day and night for God to hear him. He remembered God's promises of redemption.

Now, there's a lot of the story to fill in from that moment. Suffice it to say Nehemiah's grief kindled an idea that would lead him to the scene in Chapter 8. I'll say Nehemiah relied on the joy he knew from God. That's how he walked through his grief. That's how he rebuilt Jerusalem. And that's why he knew it was something the people needed to hear later.

Choosing joy doesn't mean you don't know or experience pain. You do. Your own and that of others. But choosing joy is a way of affirming God's goodness and power to come.

Stay blessed...john

We know little about Melchizedek. Most of what I've ever read about him is a repeat of what's written in Hebrews 7. He's an important figure in Hebrews because, in part, of his appearance in Genesis 14. If you recall, he met Abram, bringing bread and wine to celebrate the patriarch's victory. Then he blessed Abram. That's when Abram gave the priest a "tenth of everything." Abram's tithe came from the spoils of defeating "Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him" (Genesis 14: 17). Four different kings, if you're keeping score.

For Hebrews, Abram's tithe to Melchizedek illustrates the priest's superiority. Abram's offering is no small act and Melchizedek is no small figure. As important as he was, though, Jesus as our high priest is greater. Though Melchizedek's priesthood remains forever, it is now unnecessary because of Jesus' priesthood.

Melchizedek stands out because of one act. We remember what he did--he received Abram's tithe. But we have a priest now who isn't remembered for just one thing. Yes, there is one thing Jesus did that stands out from all other things. He gave his life as an offering, once and for all, for all people. No priest ever needs to make a sacrifice to atone for our sin. And no priest could ever even give the kind of offering Jesus did. That one act is sufficient for all things.

Still, whereas we remember what Melchizedek did, we now also see what Jesus is doing. Jesus the high priest is active. He relates to our suffering and accepts our lives the way they are. I don't know how it all works, but I know the Lord hears our praying. Jesus receives our confessions and comforts our worries. He gives strength to the weary and hope to the down-trodden. Jesus gives peace and rest to our souls.

What has Christ done for you today?

And because Jesus' work is active, we can keep trusting him. We can keep offering him our lives with the full assurance we are in God's care. May our trust and faith in him be as active as he is.

Stay blessed...john

There's some knowing and not knowing happening in John 13.

Jesus knew his hour had come (13:1). He also knew "the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God" (13:3). Peter didn't know what Jesus was doing washing the disciples' feet. But Jesus knew which disciple would soon betray him. After the foot washing, the Lord asked the disciples, "Do you know what I have done to you" (13:12)? Finally, blessings come to those who "do" the things they know Jesus taught them.

I'm going to give the disciples a little more credit than we tend to in this story. At least Peter, since he's the one mentioned. Jesus has had time to reflect on the outcome of his ministry. He understood what things were probably going to happen leading up to his "hour." That hour, of course, isn't a specific time. It's an event. And Jesus had spent time in prayer about all this. He had reflected on what this would mean for himself and even his disciples.

Peter hadn't. This was all still so new to him. Yes, Jesus had taught the disciples about this hour. But they didn't understand him. Or they misunderstood him. Can you blame them for not getting that someone was going to die and pop out of a grave?

Perhaps they understood a little more when Jesus washed their feet. At least they had a lesson that would stick with them. But we know later they would fully understand all Jesus taught them.

I'm reflecting on our later. How many things have we learned from the Bible that we didn't understand in the moment? We heard something we thought was important, but that didn't mean it made complete sense. It wasn't until later, through prayer and reflection, that things became clear. While there are some lessons you'll learn quickly, there are many more that won't connect for a while. Be patient with yourself and excited about what else you might learn later.

Stay blessed...john

I had a Psalm 75:1 moment this weekend.

Our church hosted a community event and hundreds of people stopped by for candy and fun. Most people had something to say about my almost costume. I've lost a few pounds, but I can still play a great Shrek.

One person, though, could not have cared less about what I was wearing. A woman approached me, ready to share something I needed to hear. She had come to our annual event for several years. Her daughter and grandchildren were always with her before. But her daughter wasn't there this year. That's because, "Pastor," she said, "we put my daughter through school!" Yes, her daughter went to class and did all the school work, but "we all finished with her." The daughter now has a master's degree and a dream job in a new city.

I could hear her emotion louder than the music blaring next to us and the hum of hundreds of candy goers. She wore a smile better than any costume anyone else was wearing. All the struggle and sacrifice paid off, and she was thankful. Right there in front of the bouncy house, she thanked God. The Lord, she recognized, gave her the strength to care for her family and watch her daughter fulfill her dream.

Psalm 75's encouragement is to wait for God's justice to come. It will come, even though it may look like it won't. With that assurance, we can continue to work in the world trusting in God's coming judgment. God steadies the pillars of the earth. And we can stand steady as a result. We can also rejoice at what we see God doing in the meantime.

Ironically, the daughter's master's degree related to criminal justice. I'm not sure what Criminology has to say about waiting for God to act with equity. But our faith ensures us God is moving and God's name is near.

Stay blessed...john

Wesleyan theology puts an emphasis on sanctification. Entire sanctification at that. We value the belief our faith can come to full fruition even in this life time. The other word we often use to label that experience is perfection.

Yes, child of God, you can be perfect here and now.

Many of us often mistake what we mean by perfection. No, we aren't perfect people, without fault or sin. We're not Jesus. But we do have the Spirit Jesus promised working within us. So, our faith is growing. We're becoming more like Jesus in thought and deed. The fruit of the Holy Spirit takes root in our hearts as we continue in life. And that can fill us so much with the love of God there's no room for anything else: perfection.

For most of us, our journey to perfection takes a lifetime. But I appreciate greatly Phoebe Palmer's conviction. Church history considers her the mother of the holiness movement. She had strong Methodist roots and a great desire to pursue Christian perfection. While she knew and experienced the camp meetings and revivals of her day, those could sometimes take a while to, what we might say, "work." Phoebe believed in a "shorter way." This was a short process to experience the full sanctification of your faith.

Her deep conviction rested on her belief in scripture's command.

Be holy.

Simple. Short.

Also, she learned that "duty is plain." Once you understand what holiness is, do it. Again, simple. Short.

Why wait for perfection to be a reality in heaven when it seems God promises we can experience it now? Even right now! This perfection conviction also affirms the very real power of what God can do within our faith. If we say it's impossible for us to reach perfection, are we suggesting God can't do such a thing for us?

You might be experiencing something of Phoebe Palmer's shorter way. Praise God! Or yours might be a more prolonged perfection. Praise God! No matter how you find yourself getting there, as Hebrews says, "Let us go on toward perfection."

Stay blessed...john

"Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age." I haven't found the context for that quote from Colin Powell. But bad news is bad news. So, I can appreciate what his quote means.

We can even apply it to scripture today.

First, let me confess. I don't always look forward to writing a reflection on anything from Revelation. Do I have to describe beasts and battles again? But, today, a little apocalyptic literature might be good for the soul.

In our reading today, guess what, there's a beast. It has seven heads. There's also, though, a woman John sees. His vision is of a woman "clothed in purple scarlet and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls" (Revelation 17:4). In other words, she has it all. This is, of course, no ordinary woman. Most likely, the woman, labeled the "great whore," represents Babylon and her religious practices. John sees her "drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus" (17:6).

And this surprised John. He was "greatly amazed."

To be sure, if the empire is after you, that's bad news. Where do you go to escape? How do you outrun this woman? Well, here's more bad news; you might not be able to.

That's why the revelation of Revelation is so important. To those who stand astonished at the brutality of world systems, Jesus still reigns. Christ will make all things new. I remember a title of an old gospel song: The good news is the bad news was wrong. Even so, the bad news of persecution is real.

Please don't think these systems are not here today. Bad news is still around. But these systems, this woman won't be around forever. And so, we keep our faith in the One who reigns. We work with him to restore peace in the world of bad news.

Stay blessed...john

If it weren't for the references in Hebrews 5, 6 & 7, most of us would not give much attention to Melchizedek. We'd just be glad it wasn't our turn to read scripture when his name came up. There are two Old Testament passages that mention the ancient priest-king. Psalm 110 first mentions his perpetual priesthood--whatever that means. Genesis 14 offers a brief interaction between Melchizedek, Abram and the king of Sodom. From this story, chances are, you may come away with more questions than answers about who he was.

We do know what his name meant. Melchizedek means "king of righteousness." In this encounter we get a glimpse of the righteousness he upheld. He blessed Abram and gave God praise for Abram's important victory. Now, what do we know of the king of Sodom? For our reflection today, we only need to recall Sodom's reputation.

Both kings have approached Abram after his defeat of an opposing king. Both have something to offer.


Melchizedek offers a blessing. Sodom's king offers a, seemingly, okay deal. But Abram can already tell it may come with unwanted consequences. Abram doesn't accept the king's offer, but he does give one tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Abram could have left with more riches by taking the king's offer. He chose, however, to offer to God a literal tithe.

Abram's choice reminds me of what Jesus chose in his desert temptation. The choice was between two kingdoms. The enemy's kingdom came with a quick promise--a kind of sweet deal. God's kingdom came through suffering. But Jesus knew choosing God's kingdom was the only way he would be able to give God glory. Abram knew the same thing.

Do we? We all have choices to make in life. Often, we don't always recognize the kingdom consequences of our choices. The ease of better deals can seem appealing--too good to be true.

Abram recognized Melchizedek's service to God. He offered the enigmatic priest something of himself in return. May God give us faith and the righteousness necessary to offer God our best in service to God's kingdom.

Stay blessed...john

Recently, I watched a presentation by Reverend Candace Lewis. She shared something at the Leadership Institute at Church of the Resurrection I've been reflecting on since.

It's taken a while, but one lesson has come across enough in local church ministry that it's easier to talk about. More of us can now distinguish between ministry to someone and ministry with someone. To someone is a service. Now, it may be a necessary and beneficial service. To someone can quickly meet needs and provide relief. Our perspective changes, though, when with replaces to. With someone ensures dignity and compassion. It also nurtures relationships and fosters greater community. It's also a reminder we're all in this world with each other, with God.

Dr. Lewis presented a third option.

She asked listeners if their churches were simply "in" their neighborhood or community. To-someone ministry is helpful. With-someone ministry is relational. Simply in isn't much of ministry at all. It's isolated. In fact, in churches often prefer their isolation. It keeps strangers, maybe some of "those" people, away. Being a church in a community allows for things to stay the way they've been.

That's a silly notion, by the way. As a local congregation continues to deteriorate, how can we say things are the same? A church that has lost most of its people and resources cannot be the same that it was before.



I'm grateful the churches I've served have never been merely "in" their neighborhoods. Sometimes, the needle wanted to bend that way. Thankfully, God's Spirit moved us in a different direction.

In churches remind me of the rich man in Jesus' parable. He lived in the same place as Lazarus. But they lived completely different lives. In the parable, the man learns of a chasm between he and Lazarus in the afterlife. But there was already a dividing line that kept them separated in their life together. The rich man, probably, was okay just being in around Lazarus. It didn't require much of anything from him. 

Imagine what might have been different if he was with him. What would've been difference for Lazarus? For the rich man? For his family?

Now imagine how God would bless your church as you seek to be more with one another.

Stay blessed...john

A few weeks ago I preached a sermon based on Mark 9. Jesus said if your hand, foot or eye causes you to sin, cut it off. I told the congregation to consider what body parts they'd be left with if they had to cut off what made them sin. After worship, someone jokingly confessed they'd never speak again. They would have had to cut off their tongue.

I imagine that's true for a lot of us.

What is it about putting our foot in our mouth that is so common? We all say things we don't really mean. Words pour out that we didn't even know we were thinking. The maturing among us learn to acknowledge when that happens. We own up to what we've said and how it came across. Some stick to blaming others for taking things the wrong way.

We aren't given a specific circumstance behind the words of Psalm 39. The psalm's title says it's merely a psalm of David. Some have suggested the psalm relates to his experience with Bathsheba. Others suggest David is an older man reflecting on past experiences. We don't know what experience he had, but we know we can relate.

Listen to his opening words: I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth (Psalm 39:1).

A muzzle might come in handy sometimes, wouldn't you say?

Of course, there is no restraining device we can rely on. Instead, we have to look to God for that help. We ask the Lord for the strength to "not sin with my tongue." And this is where we're praying for the fruit of the Spirit to take root in our hearts. Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control all have a way to prevent us from having to cut out our tongues.

Stay blessed...john

Based on its etymology, you can say part of what it means to be arrogant is to be overbearing. An arrogant person can overwhelm others with their haughty attitudes and self aggrandizing. It can be much to listen to someone go on and on about how good they are, especially in relation to other people. To add injury to insult, arrogant people may rely on their lowly opinions of others to excuse or dismiss inappropriate behavior.

It's easy to mock someone you already think less of. Spend your time thinking too much of yourself and you're bound to belittle the people around you.

One word to associate with the message of the book of Obadiah is arrogance. Edom had been arrogant in their relation to Israel (even God). Edom refused to help Israel in their desert wandering (Numbers 20). One could, perhaps, chalk that up to sibling and tribal rivalry. But Obadiah's vision also includes other reminders. Edom joined Israel's enemies and even "gloated" over Israel's misfortune (Obadiah 12). Why this overbearing attitude and rejection of their brothers?

God already told them. "Your proud heart has deceived you" (3). Their lofty homes and, supposed, security fooled them. Who they were and what they believed about themselves comes out in their question, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" God was ready to.



What a reminder about our feelings. What you feel in your heart may be just that. Often, though, what you feel has a way of seeping through your life in ways you may not recognize yourself. Oh, but others see it. God certainly does. An arrogant heart has an uncanny way of dismissing the needs of others. Every man for himself, after all. But Edom's overbearing arrogance reminds us God cares about what is in our heart and how we care for others as a result.

Stay blessed...john

Preachers love GPS illustrations. Since those devices became wildly accessible, countless sermons have included them. Messages about directions of life, turn arounds, recalculating and even listening to the GPS voice. The illustration has navigated itself to almost cliché status.

So, here's my take on the GPS illustration.

When I attended seminary I also served a student appointment. That meant a full time school schedule and a (wink, wink) part time pastor's schedule. To say the least, if I wasn't at school, I was at church. And if I wasn't at church, I was at school. Consequently, in my four years in the DFW metroplex, I never got comfortable with the area, only my everyday route. I just wanted the GPS to take me where I wanted. 

I forget where streets end up and what neighborhoods are where. If I traveled on my own, I'd be lost without the GPS device.

If the Bible is God's GPS, that sounds like a good thing to say about it. In one sense, it is. But I used the GPS incorrectly. In actuality, the GPS was a crutch. It kept me from truly knowing my way around. I only went where that machine voice told me to go. As a result, I missed so much of what makes those communities what they are.

Moses was leading God's people to a land they hadn't known. They would need to find their way around so they could "live long" in this unknown place. And God's commands would guide them to their new life. But not as a crutch. They had already learned something about their communion with God. "We have seen this day that God may speak to someone and the person may still live" (Deuteronomy 5:24). Now, the Lord's wisdom would show them how to flourish in their new home.



Likewise, God's word isn't some banal voice telling us where to go in the fastest time. It doesn't keep us from living life. But it's possible to read it that way. To just read it. To only go where we want and simply take a Bible with us. Thankfully, there's a better way to hear God.

Through the Spirit's inspiration, we can truly hear God leading our lives through this beautiful world to a newness and holiness we couldn't know otherwise. 

Stay blessed...john

I took one preaching class in seminary. In that class, I learned how to preach a five minute sermon, even though I rarely preach a five minute sermon. And our professor encouraged us to preach a series on the Ten Commandments. It took me a decade to finally get around to doing that. His recommendation was to not preach a sermon on the commandments, but a sermon on each commandment. So, earlier this year, I did just that. And I appreciated the chance to look at each commandment on its own.

It gave me a chance to highlight something Moses said to the people. My series focused mainly on the Exodus recording of the commandments. But, in Deuteronomy, Moses tells Israel to "learn them and be careful do them" (5:1b). Two things came to mind in that reflection.

First, to learn them doesn't only mean being able to recite them. For example, one of the commandments instructs the people to put no other gods before God. I can recite that easily. But can I identify the gods in my life or discern when I've put them before God? I can when I learn what the commandment means.

Secondly, recall that Moses is speaking to an entire community. A few of the divine words seems to focus on individual behavior. Coveting your neighbor's wife seems pretty personal. Otherwise, most of the other commandments could relate to entire communities.

Think of the graven image commandment. Don't we have a familiar story in scripture about all the people worshiping a golden calf? Likewise, whole communities can misuse God's name or dishonor the Sabbath. Learn the other commandments and you can see how they might apply to Christian communities as well. Take the other gods example. When nationalism finds itself front and center in worship, something's backwards. 

While the wisdom of the Ten Commandments has a lot for you to reflect on and learn, there's a lot for us to chew on as well. We've got a lot of learning to do together.

Stay blessed...john

In scripture, the image of a faithful marriage is a reflection of our communion with God. And God's faithfulness to us. Of course, the opposite is true, too. We know what adultery is and what it does to a family. Do we know what unfaithfulness does to God?

Thankfully, God receives his adulterine children.

But God also knows who we are. A parent can sense when her child just wants to return to good graces. The child will say they are sorry. They may even clean their room or take out the trash. When Mom or Dad seem satisfied, the child carries on like before.

God's people fit that bill. Israel had turned from God and Judah followed her example. Notice words like divorce, faithless and "prostituted herself" in today's reading. God saw how the people chose to live and saw their lives as adulterous. This was adultery in the extreme. Still, the Lord told Irsrael, "I am your husband" (Jeremiah 3:14).

Judah, apparently, said they were sorry. Who knows if they would have used apologetic words. At the very least, they knew what they could do to appease God. The Lord said, "Judah did not return to me with her whole heart but only in pretense" (Jeremiah 3:10). Most likely, their returning act including forms of worship. That was the central piece of their communion with God. So, they gave offerings. They listened to the words of the covenant. Maybe they even went to Sunday School and signed up for church committees :)

But they weren't interested in living out their covenant with God. As a result, the Lord says they are more guilty than Israel (3:11).

Today's passage gives us a chance to reflect on our worship and what we do with our lives. The question is worth asking, How faithful are we to God? To be sure, we aren't talking about mere religious practice. And I don't mean to suggest our faithfulness only amounts to our willingness to do "work" for God. Rather, what does our communion with God look like? Are we being true to who God is and what God has called us to be?

Praise the Lord, even when we haven't, the Lord receives us back!

Stay blessed...john

I preach with a twofold goal I don't know I always fulfill. First, I want to inform, instruct and encourage. A listener shouldn't have to figure out what I'm talking about. There needs to be a clarity to what I say. But, secondly, I want you to leave a sermon wondering what else I meant. In a way, I want to point you towards more questions than certainty. Clarity and mystery should meet so that a message is more than a presentation or TED talk.

That's how I leave reading Paul's instructions on married life in 1 Corinthians. On one hand, there are straight forward thoughts. Don't divorce, mainly. Scripture doesn't promote or celebrate divorce. Still, there are exceptions where divorce is acceptable.

It's helpful to recognize Paul is addressing specific questions asked of him. And his responses may or may not be most helpful in all situations for us today. He's also aware of particular ideas circulating through the church. Some people would've argued it was their spiritual duty to divorce someone. No, it wasn't.

All that leaves questions for us to mull over.

For example, we often say divorce is acceptable in response to abuse. But where does Paul say that here? In the last several generations, people have often portrayed divorce as a one-sided issue. Women get a lot of that one-sided blame. But how many of those women finally recognized abuse for what it is? They decided to live with dignity and respect for themselves and that happened to include divorce. What would Paul's message be to them? And do we have to define what constitutes abuse? And there we go being one-sided again. What would Paul tell abusive husbands?



Paul also was ready for Christ's imminent return, which we're still waiting for. Would Paul have recognized irreconcilable differences for a couple after a few more years?

Now, none of these questions take away from what we know to be true of God's desires for our relationships. If we are growing in grace, if our lives are connected emotionally, physically and spiritually, why would God want that torn away from us? And who are we to tear it away?

You see?

More questions as we best discern how God wants us to live in peace with God and each other.

Stay blessed...john

Ever had a "wanna get away" moment? In the Southwest Airlines commercials people find themselves in circumstances they'd rather not be. It's humorous for us onlookers because we can feel the tension.

Being in those moments is different.

And I'm not thinking of the awkward kind in the commercials. No, think of the trying times you've endured before. What valleys have you struggled to find your way through? Reflecting on my moments, I had times I would have preferred to get away.

Lord, take me away--another famous line of commercials. Remove me from the situation, from the pressure and the stress of it all. Let me be anywhere in the world besides this meeting. This argument or this circumstance.

The psalmist understood this feeling. His situation had something to do with betrayal and deception. You expect your enemy's opposition. But there's a certain sting when "sweet fellowship" turns against you. This was a "wanna get away" moment for him. He said it this way: "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

Not only would he want to get away. He'd want to stay away. Of course, that's not how prayer or life works.

Instead, we stay. We remain where we are and figure out how to maneuver through our pain and distress. Hopefully, we find healing. Do we know to seek healing or do we settle for revenge or resentment? We can't get away from everything we deal with. So, it's best to learn to find God's peace within our troubling times. Prayer doesn't remove us from every trial. It doesn't even remove every trial. But it does strengthen and renew us. And if we're not going anywhere for a while (another commercial), thank God we are made stronger.

Stay blessed...john

Confirmation Sunday is a wonderful day when our youth confirm the faith their family has given them. We say that part of their confirmation is deciding to make their faith their own. It's a rite of passage acknowledging their maturity and the calling God gives to us all.

And confirmation has a long-standing tradition in some churches. I'm still reflecting on something I learned about our Methodist association with confirmation. Did you know early Methodists did not have confirmation? Oh, they had young people, to be sure. But they hadn't incorporated this practice. Confirmation was something other established churches did.

The Methodists had no need for it. Methodists confirmed their faith every week! Their desire to "flee the wrath to come" centered their conversations around God's grace. They knew their sin kept them experiencing new life in Christ. So, they confessed their sin to one another. Prayer wasn't a task best left to some clergy person. Worship and mission was central to who the Methodists were. There was little room for ceremony.

Then we got rich.

That may sound harsh and dismissive. So, I'll say we got comfortable. Our denomination grew and become a status symbol for people. Long story short, we had to keep up with the spiritual Joneses. Those other established churches, with other comfortable people, had confirmation. And we wanted it, too. Yes, confirmation in the Methodist tradition stemmed from a bit of denominational jealousy. Covetousness, perhaps.

Now, borrowing the practice would have been one thing. But confirmation also made sense because our church had smothered that first great desire. We needed a ceremony to give us a sense we were on the right track.

Again, I love Confirmation Sunday--you know how much I thank God for our young people. But guess how many youth I've known who "completed" confirmation only to never be seen in church again.

I'm using confirmation as an example to connect with Romans 8. Paul speaks of freedom from sin and death, submission and pleasing God. He affirms life in Christ, living according to the Spirit and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Is that what we're teaching our young people? Are those priorities for our churches today? We don't want to rely on our ceremonies to motivate us through life. We want the power of God. We need the power of God.

Stay blessed...john