Back to Where we First Belong

Sisters and Brothers,

We took a brief hiatus from Genesis, so we could focus on specific Advent messages, but as we move past Advent and Epiphany Sunday, this Sunday, we have a chance to return to where we began. Genesis.

I realize that, for some, this book has little relevance or vitality to their story, today. And for thsoe that feel that way, I am sorry. I believe they are not only relevant, but when read through the lens of our current context, i sense Genesis has a lot to say to us. More than we may know. I also asked for a vote, and the church, as a body, chose to stay in Genesis, which i am thankful for. Because i am beginning to understand, finally, that if we begin something, we have to end it. It does no good to stop, halfway, and then move to something easier, more comfortable.

So we travel back, back to where it all began, back to where our story, as a people of faith, finds its foundation, and back to where the heroes of the faith discovered the God of all Creation. We go back.

This week's text comes from Genesis 31, and it is the rehearsal of when Jacob left Laban and journeyed back to Jacob's homeland, Hebron. Now this story, in its literal form, may not be able to "speak" to us, thousands of years later, but these stories, i feel, at least for today's time, should not be viewed only as history, but as a moral, as a teaching tool, to guide us in our own journeys. And if we allow ourselves to view this story as a way of illuminating our own story and struggles, i sense it speaks volumes to us.

In the text, Jacob flees Laban, because Jacob is afraid of what Laban would do if Jacob went to Laban and requested permission to leave. Jacob feared Laban would keep him from leaving. So, like a coward, Jacob fled, at night, with all his possessions and two wives. Laban never got the chance to kiss his daughters or grandchildren goodbye. If i were Laban, i would be angry too. But it raises a question. Does Jacob have a right to leave, so quickly, under the protection of darkness? Some would say yes, because Laban had treated Jacob terribly in the 20 years Jacob worked for him, and some would say yes, because God told Jacob to come home. However, when we run from any situation, without proper closure, are we ever free? Can the past catch up to us?

Yes. And it will. Laban caught up to Jacob, as our past, our choices, and our broken relationships will catch up to us, and we will have to deal with them, eventually. We cannot, like Jacob did, continue to run and hide and hope it "passes" over. It wont. Whatever is causing our pain, our struggle must be dealt with. And i sense if we, like Laban and Jacob did, finally sit down and work through our issues, we will find an amicable resolution. We can be healthy people. We can have healthy relationships. And we can face our past, resolutely, because we know God created us to handle anything and everything, if we put our faith in Him.

So folks, its time to quit running. Its time to quit hiding in the shadows playing games with each other. Its time to treat each other as family, sitting down together and, in love, God's love, work through whatever it is that is causing our struggle. Its time to face our demons and let God heal us. And its time to embrace the year of Jubilee that God is going to give us, so that we can be whole, joyful, and free. Come to the table, there is plenty of room, and God's love is abundant. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry

Love

Family,

I am sitting here, swaying back and forth, trying hard to focus with the amazing pulsating pressure in my head, but its not working very well. It seems that one's balance is directly connected to one's middle and inner ears, which means mine is completely stuffed. So. I feel like i am swimming at the bottom of a deep pool and trying to walk across a ship on some massive waves. Its a fun time for me, right now.

I bring that up because this past week i have felt a lot of love. I have felt the prayers of all of you. And i have felt the support for me and my family as i get better and, with God's help, hear better than i have ever been able to hear, before. So thank you. And this is vital, this feeling of being loved is key, for us and for Advent.

In our Scripture focus, Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, because Elizabeth is about to give birth. While visiting her, the baby, John the Baptist, jumps in his womb, because the Holy Spirit wants to let Elizabeth know that Mary was chosen by God for a special task. Did Elizabeth show jealousy because Mary's child would be greater than hers? No. Elizabeth celebrated Mary's call and journey and purpose. "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!"

Elizabeth celebrates with Mary and gives her a blessing. Why? Because of love. Love doesn't need to be right. Love doesn't need attention. Love doesn't need its own way. Love is greater than these, and love pushes us to embrace the other. More than that, love, true love, Godly love, the first fruit of the Spirit love, celebrates and delights in the ways God blesses others. Love doesn't look in the mirror and proclaim, "why me?" Love looks into the eyes of our sisters and brothers, and with all the enthusiasm we can muster, says, "Blessed are you!"

Love lifts up the other in our midst and makes sure they feel loved. Love walks with the widow, so that in her times of lonliness, she knows God is still with her. And love looks beyond the faults and pasts of others, instead it sees potential in that person. More than that, love helps that person see their own potential and God given purpose. Why? Because love, true love, Godly love is like the farmer spreading seed. Its our job to throw as much love out there, so God can produce a harvest of loving Christ followers who are ready to change the world.

I know the power of that love, from God and from all of you, now its my job, our job, to share that love with any and all. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry

Peacemaking...

Dear Family,

We have made our way to the third Sunday in Advent. Although each Sunday is not only significant and foundational to the Christian faith, i sense that this Sunday, peace, is one that we, all too often, overlook or ignore. Why? Because it is easier to hate an enemy and go to war with them, whether with words or swords, than it is to love them, pray for them, and reconcile with them. Christian peace is more than not drawing swords against a military, it is living a life of peace. Within yourself. And with the sister and/or brother you worship with. And this, my friends, i sense we dont do very well.

I know i dont. I hold grudges. I speak ill of those who i perceive have wronged me. I do my best to draw sides, so that others will feel the same way as i do, or so that i can ensure i win, even if it means a sister or brother must lose. I am ashamed of this behavior. I get sick to my stomach when i rehearse how poorly i have acted towards those i might have an "issue" with. My actions are far from Christ like, in fact they mirror more of the deeds and intentions of the enemy than that of Jesus.

But i know that i am not alone. In fact, i sense the church suffers from this ailment, and i dont know that we are moving towards a peacemaking position, any time soon. When we choose sides, and we speak our will over someone elses or even God's we make peace impossible. When we refuse to come to the table to work through our problems with others, we make peace a joke, a lie. And when we continually point fingers at others, blaming them, instead of examining our own faults, we destroy the chance of reconciliation. Peacemaking is about loving one's enemy all the way to Jesus. It is not about getting one's way.

Why can't we come to the table? What stops us from releasing our issues, our struggles, our anger, our hatred, and letting Jesus handle it? Where have we lost the message of Jesus? And when did we take up the mantel of us versus them? If we want to honor the Author of peace, the Prince of peace, we must lay our swords down, even if the swords are the most violent ones, our tongues, and let love guide us.

That is one of the most foundational parts of Advent. It is anticipating that the Lord of Lords, Jesus the Christ, will take up our struggle and hear our cries. It is releasing our anger to God, so that we can be reconciled to those we worship with. And it is about refusing to take up arms against anyone. ANYONE! When we, as followers of Christ, accept our cross, we commit to a life, not of this world, but of the One beyond the world: Jesus.

And He calls us to love our enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Reconcile with your fellow believers. And live in peace with any and all. When we embody these truths, the world will finally see that Jesus is real. More than that, the world will witness something it hasn't witnessed since the Genesis of the church, 2000 years ago, the church as God intended her to be. A loving, accepting, discipling, and ministering body of people who have chosen to love without limits. Serve beyond common sense. And forgive seventy times seven. This is how the world will know our Father in heaven is perfect. Are we ready to show them?

Amen..

Shalom, Salaam, peace,
jerry

Every dark cloud...

Family,

There is a story that circulates around the internet about a young girl who witnesses a horrific scene. This story, though widely popular, is an urban legend. It is not verifiable. But it does tell a wonderful, powerful, moving truth about Jesus.

The young girl, whose dad was/is an alcoholic, and her mother fought him all the time. The fights would get violent, and the young girl would hide behind the couch, for her own safety. Both parents ignored her. They were too consumed in their own existence to even know that they had a daughter who watched and experienced every violent detail of their lives. But their fighting was about to escalate to a level unseen.

One night, after her dad had been drinking, yet again. Her dad and mom got into it, and it turned bad, quickly. The father grabbed a gun and shot and killed her mother and then turned the gun on himself, a murder-suicide. In a few seconds this beautiful young girl became an orphan. Or did she?

After some lovely people, from the community, decided to take her in, her story, (even if only legend), becomes historic. This new family, this loving family was different. They lived differently. They acted differently. They treated each other differently. And their reason? Jesus.

The young girls parents didn't go to church, but her new family did. And on her first trip to church, sitting in Sunday School class, she looked up and saw Jesus on the cross. She started to cry. She then said, "I dont know who that man is, on that cross, but i do know that he came down from there." Her teacher asked, "How do you know?" The young girl replied, "That night, when my daddy killed my mommy, that man on that cross was behind the couch, with me, holding me, protecting me."

You see sisters and brothers, whether the previous story is real or legend, doesn't matter. What matters is the truth it conveys. When we are in our darkest hour, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, Jesus comes down, once again, from His cross, to protect us, to nurture us, to grant us peace. In our journeys of life, it is not a matter of if we will face dark days, it is a matter of when. And our stories becomes testimonies of faith and healing, if and only if, in those dark moments we can, like the little girl, lean wholly on Jesus.

He is there, you know. In those dark moments. When sin overwhelms. When pain becomes too much. When addictions destroy. And when a young girl cowers behind her couch. Jesus is there. That is the message of Advent, and it is the message of what we need today. We are in a darker time in our church's story, and now, more than ever, we, like the little girl, must lean on Jesus. We, like John the Baptist pronounced, must repent and turn around. And we, like so many who have come before us, must trust that the little sliver of light is more than the sun trying to break through the clouds. That little sliver is THE SON knocking at our doors. Let's let Him in and find the true joy of this season. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry