ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 22, 2019 Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23 God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way. Thought for the Day: As you gather for worship this morning – wherever you might be – look around at those who worship with you. It doesn’t matter if there are 3 people or 300, look at them through the lens of Paul’s words: Christ’s “body, the church, is the fullness of Christ…” Let those words soak in for a moment. With all the flaws and faults found among the group, to see the community as the fullness of Christ in the world is quite extraordinary. We are not perfect, and any attempt to suggest such a thing should be squelched. At the same time, the perfect love of God made real in Jesus makes possible some near perfect expressions of love through this community. In fact, it might just be those flaws and faults that God will use to demonstrate and make real perfect love as only God can do. Prayer: Give this body, your body in the world, the encouragement needed to become the mechanism by which your love is delivered and distributed to every person, no matter who they are or where they live or how they look. Amen. – via WordPress https://ift.tt/30gedQK
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 21, 2019 Scripture: Ephesians 1:17-18 (the Message) But I do more than thank. I ask – ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians… Thought for the Day: Did you notice the phrase, “…knowing him personally…”? Paul hopes his readers will know the living Christ, not in some abstract theoretical way, but with the intimacy of a friend. You can know all kinds of things about a person – date of birth, address, color of hair, height and weight. But will any of those facts allow you to understand what is important to that person, what s/he values? In the last year, I have made a conscious effort to shift my thinking in regard to God – in the full trinitarian expression. I am a geeky theological nerd. I enjoy the abstract and theoretical conversations and discussions, and though I believe they are very important in understanding the broader concept of God and the vision for life presented in Jesus, there is something about having a relationship. You may notice that some of my prayers do not mention God by name. Some of my prayers do not begin with the words, “O Lord God” or “Lord of Heaven and Earth” or any other name/title. For though prayer can be formal and instructive, I believe it should be more conversational, with a genuine rapport and warmth to the exchange. And when I am conversing with a friend, I don’t continually say the person’s name. When the relationship is good enough, there are certain things that go unsaid. It is about a relationship that is light on the formalities and heavy on honesty and authenticity. Prayer: Thanks for being my friend, my encourager, the holy and eternal presence when life seems so uncertain and shaky and out of control. Help me make more room for these moments of companionship and growth. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2OgrguL ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 20, 2019 Scripture: 1st John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols! Thought for the Day: This is how the letter we call 1st John ends. It seems almost anticlimactic, a bit unsatisfying. Throughout the closing verses there appeared to be a big push in regard to who can sin and how prayer can or cannot help in certain situations. And then, the very last line of the entire letter feels like a, “Oh by the way, be cautious of the idols!” Each time I come across that verse, I look to see how chapter 6 begins because I assume it must be a continuation of the thought…forgetting that there is no chapter 6. It’s like getting an email from a family member who gives updates on the kids, the weather and how the local sports team is doing well. And then ends by saying, “Be on guard against biting turtles!” What? The whole last chapter of 1st John feels a little choppy as if the author had a long list of other issues that needed to be raised, but was running out of paper. In a world where we, using the computer, can have as many drafts of a letter as we want, it is hard to imagine what it was like to write a letter in the first century. And in reading 1st John again, I feel as if the author was not criticizing or railing against the community. Instead, it comes from a deep love and concern. When I was in college, I would receive letters from my mother. They were full of news and updates, but inevitably she would have a string of cautionary statements: “Make sure you’re taking your vitamins. Get plenty of sleep. I know they have orange juice in the cafeteria, so drink a couple of glasses. I’ll send some cold medicine just in case.” When you’re 19, you roll your eyes and think, “Oh, mom! I’m fine. Don’t worry.” But as you get a bit older, you appreciate the concern and love. I imagine the audience of 1st John might have had a few who rolled their eyes, but most of them heard the concern and knew it came from a place of love. Prayer: Give me eyes to see the love that others share, even when that love comes in a string of seemingly unrelated thoughts. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/30i4id8 ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 19, 2019 Scripture: 1st John 5:5 Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son? Thought for the Day: Hogwash! I had a grandfather who enjoyed using that word. I kind of knew its meaning from the context, but I always struggled to make the connection between cleaning a pig and something being nonsense. I was probably in my late teens when I was reading a book in which one of the characters described the bucket of leftovers as wash. Sadly, this not so bright young lad still did not make the connection. It was only later, when I heard someone use the term ‘hogwash’ that it finally clicked. That’s a long explanation to get to the point — the above passage must have sounded like hogwash to many people. To speak of the crucified Jesus, the one executed by the Romans for treasonous behavior, as God’s son must have sounded like hogwash. To suggest that the followers of this executed traitor, the one who had no armed military, would defeat the world would have sounded a little like hogwash. Even with the resurrection, Jesus only provided a few good words and his Spirit as the tools for the task. When the author of 1st John speaks of “the world,” it was a philosophical trope to describe everything that was hateful, mean and broken about human systems and relationships. To suggest that those of us who follow Jesus will defeat this world makes me want to say, “Hogwash,” but one thing keeps me from saying it. Simply put, “Hope!” The breath-taking hope provided through Jesus, the one who loved without pausing to determine if someone had met a predetermined level of worthiness. He just loved with a radical and relentless power. Strangely, I believe that kind of love can defeat everything in this world that is not of God, leaving a world that is gentle and kind and at peace. You may read this and say, “Hogwash,” and that’s fair. But I hope you might join me in the good work of love if for no other reason than you want to make me feel good. Prayer: Give us some encouragement, O Lord, because this struggle against the world armed only with love seems a bit foolish. Stand with us as we follow in the ways of Jesus, including finding and taking up our own cross. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/32UssYO ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 18, 2019 Scripture: 1st John 4:21 This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also. Thought for the Day: Jesus summarized all the laws with just one that had a Part-A and Part-B. We are to love the Lord and love our neighbor. The author of 1st John wanted to make sure we did not read it as an either/or. It was not one or the other. In fact, the very concept of claiming to love God, the One who demonstrated the value of every human life through the gift of Jesus, has no other logical point than to love our neighbor, to love our brothers and sisters. Too often we make loving God into more of a show, a worshipping frenzy or overly wordy prayer. Centuries earlier, the Prophet Isaiah sharply criticized those who had made loving God into nothing more than following rules and rituals. It wasn’t love, but some sort of self-serving act self-righteousness. This is why the author of 1st John was able to declare without hesitation that those who did not love a brother or sister that they could see did not love God who they could not see. The practice and experience of worship is healthy and helpful, but it is not a demonstration of love. If we love God, we don’t need to ask how that love is made real for others to see. Prayer: I love you, O Holy God, and today I will do my best to show my love for you as I love those who I meet along the way. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2IaPZNx ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 17, 2019 Scripture: 1st John 4:7 Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. Thought for the Day: I know a lot of people who love, and do so in powerful ways, but they claim to be atheists or agnostics. The author of 1st John expresses the belief that “everyone” who loves is born from God and knows God, and this argument is concluded in the next verse where we read, “…because God is love.” Now I could stir a big debate here from many different directions, but as a pastor, many of the folks who I come across who claim the designation of atheist or agnostic have, in fact, been injured or expelled by the church. The very institution birth and inspired by the Spirit of Love has rejected its core value and mission. Many of these people love from a place of deep conviction and a commitment to high moral standard, but because the idea of God is attached to the concept of church, they have chosen to distance themselves… and in many situations, I would have probably done the same. So how does the church respond? This is where those of us in the church must double down in our devotion to the power of love, while also being confessional about our failures. There are probably many places where followers of Christ can serve alongside atheists without anyone compromising their beliefs or non-beliefs. And at the end of the day, if what we see is love in these other people, don’t we need to acknowledge that they are born of God and know God…just maybe by a different name. Prayer: Keep me focused on the multitude of opportunities to love. Keep my focused, O Source of Love, for I can become defensive or frustrated, distracted or consumed with the wrong agenda. Keep me on the task of loving this world you love so much. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2QgaYoB ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 16, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Though we’d like to believe that we have chosen you, O Source of Life and Love, the story of our faith recounts your diligence and patience, your fidelity and sacrifice to the holy task of choosing us. It was more than a tap on the shoulder, more than a nod or a wink. It was comprised of – faithfulness in the face of betrayal, mercy for those who felt no remorse, and the death of the one who refused to constrain his capacity to love. Are we really worth it? Do we score high enough on the exam? Can you find enough positive within our flawed nature? Though many would be quick with their self-righteous doubt, you have suggested otherwise. In fact, you have provided an explicit and candid indication of your opinion – your conviction – revealed in one from Nazareth: love wins; we win; the world wins. Thank you! Thank you! Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2QsRQUz ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 15, 2019 Scripture: Mark 5:41-43 Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Thought for the Day: Once again, we have an example of the Messianic Secret in Mark’s Gospel. This is, perhaps, my favorite example because Jesus ordered them to keep what happened to themselves, but then he explicitly says, “Give her something to eat.” It’s as if the miracle isn’t quite complete. Don’t get too excited; don’t start your dancing yet; don’t leave behind this girl as you rush to share the news with others. First, take care of her. In fact, taking care of her might be the better proclamation of the Gospel of love. We can be so taken by certain WOW moments that we miss the very basic need that is right before us. I can almost hear Jesus saying, “Take your eyes off the glittery sparkling thing and take note of the one standing before you who needs your attention.” Prayer: I can be easily distracted, and so I seek your assistance in trying to see what you, O Lord, believe to be important. Guide my attention and energy to those who could use some attention and care. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/34FZ3DH ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 14, 2019 Scripture: Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Thought for the Day: I love each of the Gospels for the unique gift each of them brings to the larger story of Jesus, but I must confess the special place I have for Mark’s Gospel. I think it is because Mark’s Gospel was the place where I first started to understand the complexity of scripture, as each Gospel had a different messenger and a different audience. Mark has this notable quality called the Messianic Secret. At key moments in the ministry of Jesus, the very moment when the events should wow the crowds and word should spread, Jesus tells folks, “tell no one.” You have this amazing experience at a restaurant, and you call for the manager so you can brag on your server and the food, and the manager thanks you for your comment and then says, “And please tell no one.” It makes no sense. In Mark’s Gospel, everything hinges on the resurrection. The Son of Man (probably better translated as the model human being) must first rise from the dead, and then you can begin sharing the message. It’s as if understand miracles and special happenings will only be comprehended fully through the prism of the resurrection. If you think about it, resurrection is a bit of a game changer for every aspect of life. Prayer: Provide me, Holy God, with adequate vision to see all the hints and glimpses of new life and rebirth that are before me. Let me embrace this gift for myself so that I live as one reborn into your life of love. Amen. via WordPress https://ift.tt/2NYkx8G |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
April 2024
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