As a kid my cousins and i made a promise to each other, that we would always stick together, no matter what. Each of us, at that point, had experienced divorce and moving and other events that disrupt the easiness of life for any and all young kids. So we banded together. United in our desire to help each other through the choppy waters of transition and change, and we did. But with any promise, there is a chance, a risk that someone will break the promise, so we did what careless kids will do, we made a pinky swear, with blood.
That's right. We stabbed, with a pin, each other, and we mixed our blood, proving our allegiance to one another. By shedding our blood, we testified to our commitment to this promise. We had a visual reminder, a real showing of how much we were going to give to this promise. And for a long time it lasted, until my cousins moved to New Mexico, and life happens for all.
I sense this is what God wanted from Abraham and all men who call on His Name: a real sense of commitment, something tangible, sacrificial, illustrating our vow to God. All too often we readily give our vocal promise, and all too often, at least i do, we fail to keep them. We get busy. We choose the "better" road. Perhaps we didn't realize the fullness of our promise, so we, with remorse, break it. Or, as often is the case, we simply forget. But when we have to give of ourselves, and in truly a sacrificial way, we can never forget. We, and God, will always remember the pledge we make with our Creator, and that makes the promise all the more difficult to break.
And yet, it happens, doesn't it? Even though we have given of our blood, our flesh, as a testament to our covenant with God, don't we, like my cousins and I, break our promises still? Aren't there times when we still fail to live up to what God desires, demands of us? Or perhaps the demands God gives us are too strict, too costly, and we have to bow out, choose the other road? In some cases, even though we have given of ourselves, is it possible we even forget? If this is how we hold our end of the promise, what does God do with us?
It says in Genesis 17 that if, IF, Abraham remained faithful, God would give him a son: Isaac, which means "He laughs." Because at 100 years of age, having your first heir is laughable, but God made it clear: do this and this will happen. God was telling Abraham, show me your allegiance, once and for all, and the promise of the stars in the heaven will finally come true. God even gives the son a name: Isaac. But for the first time God demands something of Abraham--God wants to see how committed Abe really was. Abe, yeah he passed this test.
Abe does what is commanded, so Abe can expect a son, within a year. But what happens after the son? What happens ten years down the road? Twenty? Will Abe forget, as we all do? And if he forgets, as i have done so many times, what will God do? Here is our dilemma, and here is where we have to rely on God more than ever.
Sisters and brothers, God doesn't suffer from short term or long term memory loss. God never will have amnesia or alzheimers. God's faculties and cognition are beyond our ability to comprehend, and for that we should be thankful. Thankful that God remembers His covenant and His end of it. Thankful that God remembers our faithful times. And yes, thankful that God remembers our unfaith. So what do we do when the Almighty holds, in His hands, all that we have done well and poorly? We trust in His love.
For above all things, His love, as manifested in the person of Jesus, holds the ultimate covenant together. His love removes our past, clears our present, and prepares our future. God doesn't forget, but God never holds against us, how badly we have failed. If we will remember and turn to Him. When we do, God is the father of the prodigal son, God is the redeemer, and God is the one, from the cross, saying, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Why? Because God remembers His promise to us, no matter what.
And God's promise cost Jesus everything, so God will never forget! My cousins and I don't talk about that summer day in Chase, KS, but i do remember our promise to each other. And down deep, in our heart of hearts, i sense we still look out for each other, even from the miles that separate us. If we, as humans can do that, how much more can and will our God care for us, if we remember. Amen.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
I Do.
Dear Family,
Have you ever made a vow? A promise? Given your word? We offer these with the greatest intentions, but how often have we failed to keep our promises, our vows, or our word? Too often, i think, life happens, and we find ourselves betraying our friends or family, not intentionally and not to hurt them, but all too often, it happens. Why? As stated earlier, life happens.
For me, it destroys me when i break a vow, when i don't keep my word. Sometimes i am not even aware of it until someone illumines the fact that i failed, and when that happens a rush of guilt and shame overcome me like a flood. And i want to hide my head and run away. But i can't. I have to live this and live in this world, which means that i will, again, break a vow, a promise, or go back on my word. Which raises, at least for me, a vexing question. Should we remain unattached to one another, never offering a promise or a vow at all? Should we be completely uncommitted, so that we don't have to fail, miserably?
Both are risks, aren't they? We can give our word, whole heartedly, with all the intentions and desires to see it through, only to fall when something happens, unexpectedly. We appear as aloof, irresponsible, a liar. Or. We can do the other and never commit to anything, remain neutral. Sure it affords us the right to come and go as we please, without ever letting anyone down. But doesn't it also keep us at a distance from others? Being non-committal doesn't seem to be the answer either. What are we to do?
I sense this is an age old question. How to balance the desire to commit with the reality of a life full of uncertainties? Often times i fail, terribly. How about the rest of you? Have you found yourselves falling short of a committment you made? Or have you failed to commit at all, hoping the safety of distance will keep you out of the frying pan?
Which is the path of God? In chapter 15, we have another odd addition to the Abraham narrative. We don't have a story, per se, in this chapter, instead we have a conversation, or a series of conversations, between God and Ole Abe. This isn't so much about Abe's interactions or behaviors as it is a dialogue between the Creator of the promise and the receiver of the promise.
And it has to happen, doesn't it? I mean Abe has to be at a point where Abe begins to question God's word, all together.
Abe didn't have a child. No blood heir, so Abe was going to have to leave his wealth, status, and the promise with someone who was born, as a servant, into Abe's household. Abe laments this reality to God, which is a powerful thing. Abe doesn't let God off the hook, does he? Abe calls God into accountability. "Where is my heir that you promised?" Abe knows that Abe is well past childbearing/rearing years, so the promise has to be something of a daydream, long gone. And Abe left his homeland, because God promised land and a nation, both of which seem like broken promises. Abe is, rightfully so, angry with God.
God allows, no more than that, embraces the anger of Abe. Why? Because most of us would not get angry or confront someone, who broke a promise with us, if we didn't trust them. We would do it only if we knew the relationship would survive. Abe isn't blasphemeing God. Abe is honoring God. Abe shows God incredible respect by being open and honest with Abe's feelings of failed dreams. God, on the other hand, listens and reassures Abe that the promise still holds. And here's the kick in the pants: Abe accepts God at God's word. Why? Because as God put it, Abe is a righteous man.
Righteous people can handle a delay in any promise, because they know that God will see His promise through. Righteous people don't fear the darkness, because they know that the author of Light will, once again, illumine the darkness, helping them find their way. And righteous people, like Abe, look to the stars and hear God offering reassurance, and they say, OK. Faith in God, trust in God leads to a lifetime of peace. If our lives are in turmoil, it is time to regain that faith/trust in God, which spoke peace to the storm.
Our small group read this text as a reminder of how intimate God longs to be with all of us. God allows our questions, our anger, and all the He asks is that we, like Abe, stare into the night sky and proclaim that God is God. God wants to walk between our offerings and engulf what we bring to Him with His glorious fire. He longs to take us by the hand and show us the journey He has in mind for us. And He waits, as Abe did, for us to return to the promise we made to Him at our baptisms.
It is time, folks, to return to the promise. Our promise to each other. Our promise to God. But also God's promise to us: "Surely i will be with you, even to the end of the age." In order for that promise to hold, we must be trust Jesus at his words. When we do, we will be that tree which bears good fruit in season. And isn't bearing fruit what we have desired all along? Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Have you ever made a vow? A promise? Given your word? We offer these with the greatest intentions, but how often have we failed to keep our promises, our vows, or our word? Too often, i think, life happens, and we find ourselves betraying our friends or family, not intentionally and not to hurt them, but all too often, it happens. Why? As stated earlier, life happens.
For me, it destroys me when i break a vow, when i don't keep my word. Sometimes i am not even aware of it until someone illumines the fact that i failed, and when that happens a rush of guilt and shame overcome me like a flood. And i want to hide my head and run away. But i can't. I have to live this and live in this world, which means that i will, again, break a vow, a promise, or go back on my word. Which raises, at least for me, a vexing question. Should we remain unattached to one another, never offering a promise or a vow at all? Should we be completely uncommitted, so that we don't have to fail, miserably?
Both are risks, aren't they? We can give our word, whole heartedly, with all the intentions and desires to see it through, only to fall when something happens, unexpectedly. We appear as aloof, irresponsible, a liar. Or. We can do the other and never commit to anything, remain neutral. Sure it affords us the right to come and go as we please, without ever letting anyone down. But doesn't it also keep us at a distance from others? Being non-committal doesn't seem to be the answer either. What are we to do?
I sense this is an age old question. How to balance the desire to commit with the reality of a life full of uncertainties? Often times i fail, terribly. How about the rest of you? Have you found yourselves falling short of a committment you made? Or have you failed to commit at all, hoping the safety of distance will keep you out of the frying pan?
Which is the path of God? In chapter 15, we have another odd addition to the Abraham narrative. We don't have a story, per se, in this chapter, instead we have a conversation, or a series of conversations, between God and Ole Abe. This isn't so much about Abe's interactions or behaviors as it is a dialogue between the Creator of the promise and the receiver of the promise.
And it has to happen, doesn't it? I mean Abe has to be at a point where Abe begins to question God's word, all together.
Abe didn't have a child. No blood heir, so Abe was going to have to leave his wealth, status, and the promise with someone who was born, as a servant, into Abe's household. Abe laments this reality to God, which is a powerful thing. Abe doesn't let God off the hook, does he? Abe calls God into accountability. "Where is my heir that you promised?" Abe knows that Abe is well past childbearing/rearing years, so the promise has to be something of a daydream, long gone. And Abe left his homeland, because God promised land and a nation, both of which seem like broken promises. Abe is, rightfully so, angry with God.
God allows, no more than that, embraces the anger of Abe. Why? Because most of us would not get angry or confront someone, who broke a promise with us, if we didn't trust them. We would do it only if we knew the relationship would survive. Abe isn't blasphemeing God. Abe is honoring God. Abe shows God incredible respect by being open and honest with Abe's feelings of failed dreams. God, on the other hand, listens and reassures Abe that the promise still holds. And here's the kick in the pants: Abe accepts God at God's word. Why? Because as God put it, Abe is a righteous man.
Righteous people can handle a delay in any promise, because they know that God will see His promise through. Righteous people don't fear the darkness, because they know that the author of Light will, once again, illumine the darkness, helping them find their way. And righteous people, like Abe, look to the stars and hear God offering reassurance, and they say, OK. Faith in God, trust in God leads to a lifetime of peace. If our lives are in turmoil, it is time to regain that faith/trust in God, which spoke peace to the storm.
Our small group read this text as a reminder of how intimate God longs to be with all of us. God allows our questions, our anger, and all the He asks is that we, like Abe, stare into the night sky and proclaim that God is God. God wants to walk between our offerings and engulf what we bring to Him with His glorious fire. He longs to take us by the hand and show us the journey He has in mind for us. And He waits, as Abe did, for us to return to the promise we made to Him at our baptisms.
It is time, folks, to return to the promise. Our promise to each other. Our promise to God. But also God's promise to us: "Surely i will be with you, even to the end of the age." In order for that promise to hold, we must be trust Jesus at his words. When we do, we will be that tree which bears good fruit in season. And isn't bearing fruit what we have desired all along? Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Turn of Events
Dear Family,
There is a wise cliche, "The grass is always greener on the other side," and it is often used, in case we have forgotten, to reference how we often think life has to be better than our own existence. We see our neighbor's huge house, and we want it. We watch as our sister or brother buys a brand new car, and we want that too. Or, we see the lush green pasture our mother farmed, and we long to be the next to till that soil. However, as is often the case, looks can be deceiving.
That huge house comes with enormous heating and electrical bills that push one to the brink of foreclosure. That new car, well the insurance alone will cripple you. And as for your father's pasture, sure you have seen it produce, experienced its fruit, but maybe you never realized how hard you mom worked to keep it all going. The huge debt used to finance the crops often goes unnoticed or talked about. The outer appearance looks amazing, but all too often we miss the layers underneath that can stifle the soul.
This is what happens to Lot. He looks at the fertile soil of the region around the Great Salt Sea, and he runs to it, envisioning a crop a hundred times, no a thousand times what Abraham could ever expect from the rocky, hilly soil of Hebron. Lot probably begins making plans to expand his farm, his "flock," but what Lot failed to notice or realize is that he was no longer under the blessing of God. He was left, alone. To fend for himself. To secure his own way. To make it. And as is often the case, when we leave God behind, bad things happen.
Lot falls into enemy hands, and he becomes the war property of foreign kings. Not that this is the only bad reality for Lot. He lives with the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, who would play a significant role in his story not to far from now. Not only was he a victim of war, but he was also a victim of wrong time, wrong place. He lived with the sinful men of his generation, and he failed to see the ramifications of living with such men. I think i have a clue.
When we surround ourselves with godly men and women, we act accordingly. But when we allow ourselves to follow the ways of wicked humanity, all too soon, our actions become wicked as well. The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry when coupled with the wicked plans of wicked people.
Lot was two strikes away from being left out, but something happens to save him. Someone escapes the invading kings and warns Abraham about Lot's situation. Abe goes to the rescue. Abe not only chases after Lot, but Abe, with the fullness of God's blessing and promise resting on his shoulders, defeats the four kings with men trained in his flock. They may have known how to defend, but these weren't professional soldiers. They were members of Abe's household that had special training, in case something came up, demanding their speciality. And it did. These brave men, with the hand of God upon them, free Lot and win the war.
Here's where the story takes an odd turn. Marching in to bless Abraham is Melchizedek, a priestly king from Salem, or Jerusalem. This Canaanite king/priest offers bread and wine to Abraham, and he blesses Abraham. In response, Abe offers a tenth of the income from the battles to the king, a foreign king, who served a "foreign" god. But Abe gives Melchzidek a tenth, and Melchzidek gives Abraham a powerful blessing. What does this mean?
Who is Melchzidek? Other than what we have here, we have no other reference to him in the Old Testament. In fact, he is almost forgotten until Hebrews picks up on him in Hebrews 7. In this epistle, the author returns to the priestly king and paints a godly picture of this king. But then the author does something incredible, the author of Hebrews uses Melchzidek as a means to point to the ultimate Priest/King: Jesus Christ.
Could it be that Melchzidek was a divine presence, ushering in the promise of God, and Abe, being a faithful man, realized it and offered what he could? Could be? But whatever role Melchizedek plays in the Abrahamic narrative, ultimately the priest/king points to the One who is the ultimate example of Priest and King: Jesus. And Abe illustrates how faithful followers of the One should act: humble, faithful, and obedient. When that happens, life is good.
When we become obedient, worship becomes 24/7-365. When we surrender our will to Jesus' and become faithful, carrying our cross, peace becomes real, no matter what we face. And when we are humble before God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, confessing our sinful nature to and our dependence on the Triune God, life becomes meaningful and real. Life, my friends is what Abe experienced daily. Life is what the apostles knew so much about. And life is what Jesus promised to all: abundant life.
Life is what we seek, and when we surrender and obey and humble ourselves, life is what we get. True life. Authentic life. Joyful life. Abundant life. Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
There is a wise cliche, "The grass is always greener on the other side," and it is often used, in case we have forgotten, to reference how we often think life has to be better than our own existence. We see our neighbor's huge house, and we want it. We watch as our sister or brother buys a brand new car, and we want that too. Or, we see the lush green pasture our mother farmed, and we long to be the next to till that soil. However, as is often the case, looks can be deceiving.
That huge house comes with enormous heating and electrical bills that push one to the brink of foreclosure. That new car, well the insurance alone will cripple you. And as for your father's pasture, sure you have seen it produce, experienced its fruit, but maybe you never realized how hard you mom worked to keep it all going. The huge debt used to finance the crops often goes unnoticed or talked about. The outer appearance looks amazing, but all too often we miss the layers underneath that can stifle the soul.
This is what happens to Lot. He looks at the fertile soil of the region around the Great Salt Sea, and he runs to it, envisioning a crop a hundred times, no a thousand times what Abraham could ever expect from the rocky, hilly soil of Hebron. Lot probably begins making plans to expand his farm, his "flock," but what Lot failed to notice or realize is that he was no longer under the blessing of God. He was left, alone. To fend for himself. To secure his own way. To make it. And as is often the case, when we leave God behind, bad things happen.
Lot falls into enemy hands, and he becomes the war property of foreign kings. Not that this is the only bad reality for Lot. He lives with the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, who would play a significant role in his story not to far from now. Not only was he a victim of war, but he was also a victim of wrong time, wrong place. He lived with the sinful men of his generation, and he failed to see the ramifications of living with such men. I think i have a clue.
When we surround ourselves with godly men and women, we act accordingly. But when we allow ourselves to follow the ways of wicked humanity, all too soon, our actions become wicked as well. The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry when coupled with the wicked plans of wicked people.
Lot was two strikes away from being left out, but something happens to save him. Someone escapes the invading kings and warns Abraham about Lot's situation. Abe goes to the rescue. Abe not only chases after Lot, but Abe, with the fullness of God's blessing and promise resting on his shoulders, defeats the four kings with men trained in his flock. They may have known how to defend, but these weren't professional soldiers. They were members of Abe's household that had special training, in case something came up, demanding their speciality. And it did. These brave men, with the hand of God upon them, free Lot and win the war.
Here's where the story takes an odd turn. Marching in to bless Abraham is Melchizedek, a priestly king from Salem, or Jerusalem. This Canaanite king/priest offers bread and wine to Abraham, and he blesses Abraham. In response, Abe offers a tenth of the income from the battles to the king, a foreign king, who served a "foreign" god. But Abe gives Melchzidek a tenth, and Melchzidek gives Abraham a powerful blessing. What does this mean?
Who is Melchzidek? Other than what we have here, we have no other reference to him in the Old Testament. In fact, he is almost forgotten until Hebrews picks up on him in Hebrews 7. In this epistle, the author returns to the priestly king and paints a godly picture of this king. But then the author does something incredible, the author of Hebrews uses Melchzidek as a means to point to the ultimate Priest/King: Jesus Christ.
Could it be that Melchzidek was a divine presence, ushering in the promise of God, and Abe, being a faithful man, realized it and offered what he could? Could be? But whatever role Melchizedek plays in the Abrahamic narrative, ultimately the priest/king points to the One who is the ultimate example of Priest and King: Jesus. And Abe illustrates how faithful followers of the One should act: humble, faithful, and obedient. When that happens, life is good.
When we become obedient, worship becomes 24/7-365. When we surrender our will to Jesus' and become faithful, carrying our cross, peace becomes real, no matter what we face. And when we are humble before God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, confessing our sinful nature to and our dependence on the Triune God, life becomes meaningful and real. Life, my friends is what Abe experienced daily. Life is what the apostles knew so much about. And life is what Jesus promised to all: abundant life.
Life is what we seek, and when we surrender and obey and humble ourselves, life is what we get. True life. Authentic life. Joyful life. Abundant life. Amen.
Shalom,
jerry
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