Now what?! 3-30-20 What we want - What we need

Brief reflection for you today -

looking at Matthew 21:1-11.

Palm Sunday is coming up - and we see Jesus ride into town, with everyone cheering! Everyone wants JEsus to come and do just what they think he should do. Unfortunately, that’s not at all what Jesus is going to do.

We love to project what we think we need on to others, only to be disappointed when they don’t live up to our expectations, or worse, they deliver something we actually need or that God might have intended for us!

1. What are some times you thought you needed something only to discover you were wrong?

2. What might happen if you were to ask God to see what God has for you rather than what you have told God you need?

3. How might you be someone who brings what God has to offer to others?

Christ’s peace! PrCR

Now What!? 3-25-20

Devotions for John 11:1-45

Greetings everyone! Glad you stopped in to think a little bit about what God is up to - and reflect on what God might be doing right now in your life - and how you might participate in what God is doing.

This week we are looking at John’s Gospel and the story of the raising of Jesus’ close friend, Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus.

So to start - a prayer:

Lord God - in this life there is terrible pain and loss. There is fear, doubt, suffering, pain, guilt, loneliness, and all kinds of hardship that we go through. Sometimes it can seem like you are absent or unconcerned. Show us, remind us, that in your love for us - you walk with us each day. You know our pain, you know our worry, and you hurt for us as a good parent hurts for their children. God - help us to see your love shining even in the midst of the dark times of this life. Amen.

• Lets read the text. Take your time. Take a deep breath, breath out the day, and then read with a pen or highlighter in your hand. (if you don’t like to write in a bible, click here for the text and read that way or print a copy to scribble on:)

• Take a few minutes to underline, highlight, jot down a note. Notice what:

  • catches your attention

  • confuses you

  • causes memories to come forward in your mind

  • resonates with your life at the moment.

• Now read it one more time - and this time - listen with your heart engaged.

  • Did the same things catch your attention?

  • What might God be wanting you to notice in all this?

  • What challenges you about this text?

  • What do you question or disagree with?

  • What questions would you ask Jesus, or Mary, or any of the characters?

This text is full of so many fascinating things - and a quick google search or read will show you all sorts of things you didn’t know about the history of the time - the ways Israelites of this time dealt with death, funerals, and such, and just how much trouble Jesus was probably causing in this moment of healing. Imagine the amount of money the family wasted on this funeral - how many had already come to morn. Can you imagine having to return gifts received at a funeral because someone came back and complained? Or what if you had already sent out thank you cards? I’m sure there’s someone out there who would say it was a conspiracy the whole time! Then, also, the emotions and anger and astonishment, and fear that are involved! Wow.

As regards our lives today - I hope the reading and reflecting above was productive. Below are some thoughts for you from my perspective. Every time I see this text, something new pops out. This time - a few places that caught my attention this time were:

Verse 4: Jesus is calm and collected here. I struggled with this a little as I read it this time. With a funeral fresh in my mind from this morning, with the fears of death and sickness all around us, and with the anxiety and worry I have been hearing from many within the congregation - I am a little frustrated. It seems like Jesus is being too confident here. Then again - Jesus knows things we don’t. Jesus sees the larger truth, that death will be defeated and this is only a going to be a sign of the time to come. Still - I am walking the earthly walk. I wish I had his confidence and peace.

• Do you ever have a hard time seeing the larger picture of God’s love and care for creation?

• When do you struggle to see what God is up to? How might you look deeper into that?

Verse 16: Thomas says - then let us go and die with him. Thomas is probably the most faithful of the bunch - consistently. When the others are hiding in the upper room - Thomas is out doing the work of ministry, NOT hiding form the pharisees and others. Thomas in this situation is talking about how dangerous it is for Jesus and the disciples to go to Bethany - it is just a little way, a mile or so, from where the Sanhedrin wants Jesus to be caught and imprisoned or killed. Jesus is taking a big risk here. The disciples don’t want him to go just as much as THEY don’t want to go.

• Are there places you don’t want to follow Jesus?

• What sorts of pain, embarrassment, or fear have you sought to avoid - even when called to love your neighbor?

• Are there people like Thomas in your life? People who show loyalty and devotion strongly? Have you ever told them so?

Verse 33-39: “A deep anger” is how the Message paraphrase translates the greek here. Other translations say, deeply disturbed, or disturbed in Spirit. The Greek phrase is more like “snorted like a horse”. It is a sign of deep rage, frustration, anger. Its almost like Jesus growls.

Jesus is visibly upset seeing the reaction of the people, those he loves, Mary and Martha, and also those he has not yet met gathered. Their emotions and reactions deeply affect him.

And then - we have an anger reaction. Our God - upon seeing our distress with death, our pain and loss, is angry! Our God steps up and calls Lazarus up, back into life - tears still on his cheeks. Our God knows grief. Our God knows pain. Our God knows the deep unfairness and injustice of sickness and death. This knocks me over every time I read it. Another time I’ll write more about what this also means when we think about God’s goodness and how there’s still pain and suffering in this life, and sickness. But for now. Wow.

• How does Jesus’ emotion resonate with you? What does it mean for you that your Savior knows your heart because your Savior has felt that pain too?

• Jesus literally overcomes one death in this situation, and later, overcomes all death in his resurrection. What do you think it would look like to dwell in God’s presence with no fear of death? Can you imagine it? Why? Why not?

• How is the fear of loss different from the fear of death? How might this text address that?

Thanks for spending some time reflecting on scripture with me! I hope this has been useful for you and I hope you find comfort and peace as you spend time in God’s word. Feel free to email me ideas, questions, and thoughts.

Lets close with a prayer: Jesus - you know what it is like to feel your heart break, and to cry with those you love and those you’ve just met. Lord, sometimes our fear and grief can be isolating. Help us to reach out to you - and in so doing, connect us to our neighbors whom we need, and who may need us just as much. Thank you for your love, help us to trust your life and your truth. Amen.

That’s all for now! Christ’s Peace! PrCR

NOW WHAT?! March 16-22, 2020

Welcome to the first NOW WHAT?!

This devotional is inspired by the general sense of - well, NOW WHAT?! That pervades these early days of the COVID19 Pandemic in rural Minnesota, and likely - in many places around the US and the world. So what does it mean to be a Christian, right now? Today? And how do we do it? Read on for devotional material to reflect and wonder along with scripture and your life experience.

Living Water - for us, and to share

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of all love and meaning in the life. When things become unsettled, we look to you for guidance. Sometimes it feels like you are nowhere to be found. Open our eyes to your presence today and each day. Open our hearts to trust you over ourselves, and open souls to your saving peace and love as we surrender our preferences and need for control over to you during our devotional time. AMEN.

Scripture: John 4:1-42 (these texts follow the Revised Common Lectionary from the Sunday prior)

Please read John 4:1-42 in your own bible, or bible app, or click here to read.

1. Give yourself time after reading to think and reflect. (I suggest at least 2-4 minutes)

2. Look over the text one more time. This time, either highlight, underline, or even write into your bible some notes.

3. Note the following - what caught your attention? What thoughts or memories came up in your mind? What are you reminded of?

4. Having spent some time in reflection - how is this text speaking to you today? Hold that in mind.

Reflection: It has been a crazy week so far around here. When this is written we are still in the first week of the COVID19 shutdown and watching it develop. But regardless of when you are reading this - there are many crazy weeks in our lives - especially these days as the pace seems to only ask us to increase. Go faster the world shouts. Faster still! We struggle to keep pace - getting kids to all the right events and activities, getting parents into the best care facility or assisted living. We post things at all times, watch things at all times, and never slow down, until we crash in front of the latest diversion - movies, streaming, books, podcasts, games, and then eventually sleep fitfully only to do it all over again.

Yes - this is exaggerated. Yes, this is not everyone’s life. But it is a reality for many folks of working age up through early retirement. It is a reality for many children whose parents or parent is running at full pace in a marathon of action. It is a reality for our elders who are surrounded by such a pace and yet unable to directly participate. They may be satisfied with a slower pace and unable to understand the urgency they see in younger generations.

I have experienced some of the following in the last week- Have you?

Shock: that everything is changing quickly.

Anger: that I must adapt and try to use a different measuring stick for success and failure.

Sadness: that many will suffer in the weeks to come from fear, anxiety, financial stress, hunger, loneliness.

Anger Again: That God is somehow not doing what God is supposed to do!

Anxiety: wondering if I am doing what I am supposed to as a Child of God? As a person of Faith? As a father, husband, son - etc.

Restlessness: wanting to act more directly than I can do effectively - needing to get energy out in useful ways.

“We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!””

— John 4:42MSG

In the scripture for this week’s Gospel there are a few things worth noting.

1. Jesus intentionally chooses to travel through Samaria - a place of high conflict between Israel and Judea - ( read more here if you’re interested (especially the History section) Why would he do that? What was to be gained by entering a place that was antagonistic to Israelites?

2. Once they’ve arrived, he enters into conversation with a Woman who is gathering water and in their conversation - they move from Jesus being just a man she is talking to towards, Jesus is rabbi who is teaching, to Jesus is a prophet who proclaims mystery and truth, finally to Jesus is possibly the Messiah. What about Jesus could inspire that in a stranger danger sort of conversation? Have you ever had a conversation of quick trust like that with someone? How did it go?

3. The woman runs off - jar forgotten, into the city proper, and soon a hug crowd has gathered. What was it about what and how she told others about Jesus got a swift and powerful response? Remember - this is primarily a subsistence culture. Stopping work for the day also means not eating as well the next day. How do you communicate your experiences to others? Experiences of faith too?

4. After coming to hear form Jesus himself - (a life and death situation for a Hebrew who has now accosted a woman in the middle of town, and is teaching theological and spiritual matters. They could have just as well stoned him or thrown him out of town or down the mountain.) the crowd that has gathered asks Jesus to stay for 2 more days. Imagine the consequences to the towns daily life to shut things down as everyone comes out to listen! How inconvenient! How unusual?! Why all the bother?!

5. Finally- after listening and learning from Jesus - the crowd speaks in the reading - “ We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”

6. So in just a few days, an enemy stranger became their “Savior”. How can this be?

Thoughts for the week: When we can no longer accomplish our own tasks, when our normal lives are interrupted - we can be angry, frustrated, hurt, disappointed with God, and anxious. Jesus waltzes in to a city called Sychar and causes a huge disturbance. And yet - the result is trust and a recognition that God is on the scene and acting for the people.

For at least these early weeks of COVID19 and also for Christians in times of change in general, what does it look like to sit down, stop, and enter into conversation with Jesus? What does it take to listen, to discern what Jesus has for us - actions to take, reflections that are necessary, memories that arise and need processing, emotions that are percolating…are you able to in the midst of your daily work - like gathering water at the well, to stop for a moment and listen to Jesus?

And maybe the most intriguing part of this story - when we begin to make it a habit to listen and look for Jesus, will he make the move in our own hearts and minds from being our Messiah, to instead, being OUR actual Savior? One that we truly trust for rescue, redemption, salvation, and life everlasting?

Closing Prayer: Jesus - you are the source of our life. Show us where we have trusted in other sources, and bring us back to you. Your word, your truth, and your love are the foundation that our lives rest upon. Restore us to you so that we may hear your will and restore the world wherever we go in whatever ways you call us to. In your name we pray. Amen.