AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem" (Isaiah)

 

Isaiah 61:1-4, 11

When we look at the world around us through the lenses of television, movies, and social media, we see that the favored ones are the powerful, the wealthy, the strong, the good-looking. But, those lenses are not the only way to see the world.

In Isaiah, we see that the favored ones are of a different sort. Speaking to those returning from the Babylonian captivity to the broken, destroyed, neglected world they were taken from, Isaiah reveals the favored ones to be the poor, the brokenhearted, those who have been captives and prisoners, those who mourn. Through God's Spirit, Isaiah promises good news, healing, freedom, light, praise...repair, renewal, and regrowth. Indeed, Isaiah is pointing the people to something yet to come, another act of God’s redeeming work in this broken world. He points them towards Bethlehem.

After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and the world changes, everything changes. As Jesus begins his ministry in Nazareth (Luke 4) at the local synagogue, he reads the same words from Isaiah 61: 

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Reading these Spirit-filled words, Jesus indirectly speaks against the strong, the rich, the free, the enlightened...at least, against those who think this way and ignore God in the process. But, the story does not end there. In Acts 2:1-4a (Pentecost), that same Spirit that Isaiah speaks about, that Jesus talks about, is poured out on the church. Now, what does this mean for you and for me?

Because we, too, receive God's Spirit, these words first spoken by Isaiah and repeated by Jesus are now our words. These words and this work are now yours, mine, ours: the Spirit of the Lord is on us—on you and on me, because he has anointed us to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent us to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. These ancient words are now our words because that same Spirit is now upon us…all because Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Sunday, December 15, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem—Isaiah”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem" (Joel)

Joel 2:12-13; 28-29 (Acts 2:1-4; 14-16)

We continue our journey towards Bethlehem this week, hearing again the ancient voices of the prophets as they pointed to something new that God would do as a part of redeeming the broken world in which we live. Hear today the words the prophet Joel spoke to the people almost 3000 years ago as Jerusalem and the surrounding areas are facing possible starvation. A plague of locusts has stripped the land bare. The people do not even have enough grain to make the bread for the Temple offering. Farmers have no harvest, and everyone has just the grain remaining from the last harvest.

Plagues and starvation—these are so far outside our own experience. Right? Or are they…?

Plagues—are unpredictable. The locust swarms in Joel’s time came when they came with no warning. Plagues usually come this way. Unlike the predictable rainy and dry seasons, the locust swarms happened when the happened, and when the happened, the results were devastating—potential starvation.

We know something of plagues—the bubonic plague—The Black Death— that killed around 35 million people in Eurasia and North Africa in the 14^th Century, the so-called “Spanish Flu” of the early 20^th Century that killed over 50 million, and “COVID-19” of the early 21^st Century that killed over seven million. So, plagues—those unexpected, unpredictable disasters that happen upon our lives—these, we do know.

Starvation—From the number of pictures of food I see on social media, I’d say not too many folks are starving. The CDC reports that our national obesity rate is around 40%...so not too many of us in the US are starving. But, this last month, our food pantry here at McAllen First UMC served over 165 families. According to our regional food bank, almost 150,000 people in the RGV face “food insecurity.” Maybe physical starvation is a thing….

Emotional and spiritual starvation have become epidemic in the world here at the beginning of the 21^st Century. We now know that our amazing smartphones with their unbelievable apps that connect us to thousands, even millions, of people around the world are leaving us emotionally starved. Some strive to address this emotional starvation with food, some with shopping, and still others with another app.

In the 17^th Century, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal writes Pensées:

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in [us] a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?

This [we] try in vain to fill with everything around [us], …though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.”[1]

In other words, “There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of each of us which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God.”

Our spiritual starvation is as real as an empty stomach, and we try to fill it with food, with new gadgets, with new clothes, with new experiences, with social media, with “everything around us.”

Conclusions—The people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas craved protection, safety, and security from the plagues of their world. And, once the plague hit, the hungered for the grains, fruits, and vegetables that would quell the emptiness of their stomachs.

We crave to be protected, to be safe, to be secure from the plagues of this world. We hunger to be full, to be satiated.

Joel proclaims that these things will come. God will give to the people, to us, the very thing we need. We will live securely in the assurance of life unending. Our spiritual hunger will be satiated as God pours himself into us through His Spirit. True security, true satiety comes to us through Bethlehem. Today, we can turn to God for security, today we can allow God to begin filling the emptiness of our lives. Oh, the gift that God gives us all in Bethlehem….

 

Sunday, December 8, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem—Joel”
Watch/Listen: HERE

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[1] “The Correct Quote of Blaise Pascal.” It’s Just Me: SARAH. Last modified October 14, 2011. https://itsjustme.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/the-correct-quote-of-blaise-pascal/.

 

AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem" (Jeremiah)

 

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The season of Advent begins today (Dec. 1st). Really, we Christians should greet each other on the first Sunday of Advent with, “Happy New Year!” because this is the beginning of the new Church year. But, Advent—what is that? Advent comes from the Latin adventus, a word that translates best as “to come to.” Every year (if not every day!), we need this season to be reminded that God has come to us, so Advent is that initial season of the church year when we remember.

I really love this season for the lights, the decorations, the music. And, I love this season because it reminds us that we are connected to an ancient story. This is the season we hear the words of the prophets of old reminding us that this Jesus story is not something new but something ancient that God planned long ago…a plan for God to come to us.

The prophets of the Old Testament serve as harbingers, leaving hints of things to come. Some of their prophecies are straight up, clear; others are suggestions of what will be. Our reading today from the prophet Jeremiah comes some 600 years before Jesus’ birth. But, his words had everything to do with Jesus’ birth.

Jeremiah talks about a new covenant, a new agreement between God and humanity—

    ·   God’s law will be within … written on hearts.
    ·   God and the people will belong to each other.
    ·   God will be known.
    ·   Sins will be forgiven…and forgotten.

What better place to have God’s law than written in our hearts?

For God to be ours and for us to belong to God?

To know God, to really know—not just know about—but to know God?

And, to have our missteps and mistakes, our “trespasses,,” our sins – all forgiven…all forgotten?

In Jeremiah, we get a glimpse of things to come. Today, in this season of Advent, we begin our journey towards Bethlehem. Today we begin looking with anticipation and expectation to what will happen when God fulfills his promise “to come to” us. As we gather each Sunday for worship over the next few weeks, let us remember that the lights, the tree, the Chrismons, the poinsettias, the wreaths—all of these point us towards the One who comes to us in Bethlehem.

Amen

Sunday, December 1, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Old Stories, New Lives: God's Plan"

 

Daniel 6:25-28

History is the grand unfolding of God’s plan—a plan begun the moment humanity sinned, a plan put into motion through the life of Abraham to redeem the broken world, to bring blessing to all of humanity.

Besides God’s grand plan of redemption for humanity and earth, God also has a plan for our lives—hopes and dreams of what we might be able to do. And, these plans will not be stopped.

Today’s reading from Daniel is the end of the “Daniel in the Lions’ Den” story. This story reveals that God had a plan for Daniel’s life, and nothing would stop it.

How many of you have heard this line: “God has a plan for your life!”? This is true, but it’s not true how some (too many) think it’s true. God’s plan for us is broad, wide, open—space for our freedom. We do not live narrowly scripted lives in which every thought and action is defined and determined. If so, free will is a lie and our “choice” to live lives of loving kindness is an illusion. God’s plan for our lives is broad and open and gives us a chance to live free and express creativity. Best of all, God’s plan will not be stopped.

The Babylonian home team wanted to stop the plan of Daniel’s life. But, they could not.

Paul, in Acts 23 as he recounts the story of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, relates Jesus’ words: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will” (v.14). Paul could not stop the unfolding of God’s plan for the Church or God’s plan for his own life.

The Romans crucified Jesus—the Jewish leaders were sure this would put a stop of Jesus and his message. Put a stop to God’s plan of forgiveness and redemption? No, they could not stop God’s plan.

So, God does have a plan for your life—a life to the full, as John reminds us (John 10:10; a life of joy and gratitude, as Paul points out (1 Thess. 5:16-18); a life of purpose and direction, as the prophet reminds us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Jesus was the great “reductionist.” “You shall love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” The whole of the Old Testament is reduced to a few lines. I, too, stive to be a reductionist, and I’ve reduced God’s plan to this: “Live a life of joy and help others to do the same.” It’s simplistic, but it’s a starting point for me that guides me generally day to day.

God has a plan for our lives—for yours and for mine. For a few, there will be specific tasks, but for the most part, our lives are planned in broad strokes: Life to the full, joy and gratitude, purpose and direction.  You and I have a choice—to live into the plan and enjoy the life that God dreams for you and for me, or to reject—stall, delay, ignore—the plan and live lives of frustration, or—as Thoreau put it—“lives of quiet desperation.”

Decide today to live into God’s plan for you, for me, for us. Live lives of joy and bring joy to others. And, as Thanksgiving is upon us, let us give thanks that we seek and serve a God who cares enough to have loving plans for us and our world. Amen.

 

Sunday, November 24, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Plan”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: “Old Stories, New Life: God’s Call”

 

Isaiah 6:1-8

Some calls we don’t want: The IRS, the boss on a weekend, the teacher after we’ve had a bad day at school, the “robo call” or marketing call. Perhaps it’s because of the negative calls like these that we don’t want to hear from God…? Or, maybe the examples in Scripture kind of terrify us.

In Isaiah 8, we hear Isaiah’s call—smoke, fire, seraphim, and more! Perhaps we have bumped into other great calls in Scripture: Abraham’s call in Genesis 12 – “I am going to make a new nation out of you” …no pressure; Moses’ call in Exodus 3 – “My people are in bondage in the most powerful kingdom in the world, and I’m using you to set them free” …again, no pressure.

In the New Testament, God continues to call people, and some of those calls are no less dramatic that the Old Testament: Paul’s call - Damascus Road experience is incomparable; Peter, James, and John’s call – “Follow me and fish for people...” (be prepared to leave it all!)

Perhaps because of these somewhat overwhelming, life-altering calls, we are reluctant to even listen to hear if God is calling us to something in our lives. We may not even want to dive into the disciplines of prayer and Bible study because God might just call us to something!

When I was 18 years old, I was called to Christian ministry after a time of searching and making sense of life. My call story is my story. Too often, we think someone else’s call is going to be a pattern of how our call plays out. We fear that God is going to call us to something we don’t want to do or think we cannot do.

I’ve learned at least two things about God’s call in our lives as followers of Jesus. First, God can put new desires, hopes, and dreams into our lives (see Psalm 37:4). Second, God equips us and enables us to do what we’re called to do: Abraham was unable to have children, yet God gave him children; Moses was not able to speak clearly, so God gave him a spokesperson, Aaron; Paul did not have a heart for others and had nothing to do with Gentiles, and God gave him a heart for others—especially Gentiles.

God may call us to do … or God may call us to be. One of my favorite call stories is found in the Gospels—Matthew 11:28.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus calls us to himself—not to a task, not to a job. Jesus calls us to simply be with him.

Listen for God’s voice—it comes to us in song, in prayer, in Scripture, and in the voices of those around us. Listen for God’s voice—it brings our lives us purpose, direction, and meaning. Listen and respond—God is putting new dreams, hopes, and desires in your life, and God will give you everything you need to do what He calls you to. “If God calls you to it, God will take you through it.” Listen and respond—God may be calling you to action, or God may be calling you to rest.

Whatever the call is that comes to us, God is moving you and me closer and closer to the better life God has for us, and God will use us to touch the lives of others. God calls. We can respond. Amen

Sunday, November 17, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Call”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: “Old Stories-New Life: God’s Persistence”

 

Jonah 1:1-17

I. Jonah’s Story – Are you familiar with Jonah’s story? Here’s what happens:

Jonah is called to go and preach to the great city of Nineveh…and promptly turns around and goes in another direction. Caught in storm at sea, he is thrown overboard and ends up in the belly of the fish. There, Jonah prays, repents, and goes to Nineveh. The city repents and turns to God. But, Jonah is angry and resents God for doing what God does best—God is good. The story in Scripture doesn’t really end—it’s open-ended with no resolution.

II. Our Story – we, too, are Jonah. Jonah is not an example for us; he is an example of us. God calls us as well. Perhaps we’re not called to preach to a city but called to be kind to a co-worker, to make peace with a family member, or to follow God into missions or ministry. Whatever the call, at some time in our lives, we have heard the call or felt the nudge of God’s Spirit, and we took off running in the other direction.

Perhaps we didn’t take a ship to a place like Tarshish. Perhaps our “Tarshish” was a coffee shop, a new office, a transfer, or weekend office duty. Maybe it was ESPN—anything to keep from having to talk, or to listen. We have run away—geographically or internally.

And, like Jonah’s story, the ending of our stories is simply unsure. TBD.

III. God’s Story – We may hear Jonah’s story, see ourselves in this story, but we often fail to see our amazing God in this story. Let’s take a look.

After God calls Jonah and he runs away, what does God do? God doesn’t let go. God is persistent. God stays with Jonah. When Jonah gets on the ship and starts across the sea, God is with him. When the storm hits and Jonah is thrown overboard, God is there to catch him. When Jonah cries out in prayer, God hears him. When Jonah goes to preach in Nineveh, God is there and gives Jonah the message to proclaim … and God hears the repentant cries of the people and saves them. And, when Jonah is angry, God is right there … talking with Jonah and listening to Jonah. God is persistent. God does not let go of Jonah…or us.

IV. Why is God Persistent? – Why does God stick doggedly to Jonah? Why is it so important for Jonah—Jonah!—to preach to Nineveh (and not someone else)?

When God calls Jonah to do something, when God calls or nudges us to do something, God may change the situation or the people God calls us to, but God definitely wants to change us. God wants Jonah to do this because doing this will impact Jonah’s life. God wants you to respond to the calls and nudges in your life because God wants to touch your life, change your life.

V. God Stays with Us – At the end of the story, Jonah remains a bitter man. He is seemingly unchanged. Nineveh has changed. Even the sailors on the boat are changed. But Jonah? Not yet. Still, God is there with him. And, God is with us. No matter. Our God is a persistent God who loves us deeply, who longs for our change more than anything. This is Good News for us today.

 

Sunday, November 10, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Persistence”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Old Stories-New Life: God's Provision"

 

I Kings 17:1-16

We begin a new series as we move into November—a look at some of the ancient stories from the Old Testament…stories that we give new life by coming back to them, that give us new life as we see them in new ways. Today, as we look at this brief narrative from the life of Elijah, we discover something of God’s provision.

Elijah prophesies in the northern kingdom—Israel. King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, have ignored God, chased false gods, and gave grief to anyone who served the One True God. So, Elijah prophesies, against their reign.

In the passage we come to today, Elijah prophesies a coming drought, a drought God hopes will turn Ahab back to God. So, Elijah predicts the drought, and God sends him to a stream where he’ll have water, and ravens will bring him food. The drought comes in earnest, and even the stream dries up. God sends Elijah out of Israel to Sidon, to the city of Zarephath to a woman whom God will use to keep Elijah alive. Provision.

What we find in the Old Testament is often a hint of things to come, of what God is yet to do in the future. This story of physical provision—food and water for the hungry and thirsty—is amplified in the New Testament, in the life and teachings of Jesus. In fact, we find that Elijah and this very incident shows up in Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus is just entering his ministry, he arrives at his hometown, Nazareth. At synagogue on Saturday, they hand him the scroll to read. And, the reading he selects is all about God’s provision, found in Luke 4:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Talk about ‘provision!’ Wow. That’s provision at a whole new level.

Then, Jesus gets to Elijah—looking back on God’s provision. God provides not only for Elijah but also for the widow and her son—a broad provision that crosses lines of race and culture and religion. We find that Elijah’s story is a preview of the broadness of God’s grace.

Our God is a God of provision in all areas of our lives when we live into the faith, hope, and love of our God. And, God makes it all possible through Jesus Christ.

Sunday, November 3, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Provision”
Watch/Listen: HERE