A Reader Speaks!

I received this comment from my Blog on Friday.  First I want to  thank you for entering the conversation.  Secondly I appreciate your thoughts.  

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Mary and Martha Story": 

…continuing… The way this story is told reflects the thinking of the time for whomever told the story as one to include in the Bible. Jesus may, indeed, have invited Martha to sit or reflect as you suggest. The caution is to realize the possible human bias of those who decided the lesson and how it should be told in the Bible. 

"Human bias" is one of those all-too-often neglected points in Biblical exegesis.  Very astute of you!  There is also the cultural context of male dominance, that runs throughout scripture, that often discolors the story being told.  I have talked about this in other blogs.  Reading scripture is a multifaceted challenge between context, culture, language and other forms of conditioning

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So lets look at  the passage that came to my mind while working with the above discussion.   I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

God is reminding the wandering Israelites of  his famous Red Sea Event.  An event that Hebrews will never forget.  Then in verse 19 he tell them that things are going to change.  He tells them "Do not  remember former things, or consider the things of old, I am  about to do a new thing; now it springs forth.  Do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."  

God is telling them I am still working, still intervening on your behalf.  I have never stopped!  Never will! 

That was thousands and thousands of year ago.  But it is still true today as well.  And the sad thing is, we don't remember this precious truth.  As we attempt to exist in this sophisticated world of today. 

Question!  Have you ever been to the desert?  I am not talking about places like Plan Spring!  I am talking about undeveloped desert.  Like Death Valley, California.   When you stand on that kind of desert land you see nothing!  Nothing but sand, sage brush, cactus and  desert holy now and then.  You think you are standing on ground with nothing too it.  Certainly no water!  At least none that you can see.  

That is what, I imagine, the Hebrew people must have observed!  And, as they stood there, they must have wondered about God's promises. 

I was born and raised seventy-five miles from Death Valley.  I know, or have a pretty good idea, why the Hebrews might have had a difficult time "perceiving" anything resembling "a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

The desert soil in not soil!  It is grainy white, or beige, grainy sand that is dry.  Very dry! So dry that a strong winds can cause a blinding sand storm within moments.   If you think a rain storm is bad!  Try sand blowing in your face!  That blowing sand can remove the finish on your car.  Not funny!!!

You can stand on the desert floor and see nothing by sand and sage brush for miles.  Flat and wide and expansive barren land that goes forever. That is what your eye can see on most hot summer days.

What people don't see is the wealth of possibility flowing just beneath the sand.  A water table just waiting to be taped.  Water that can, and does, produce green life.  That after a rainy spring can produce the most breath-taking wild flowers.

But today we will, for the point I am trying to make, focus on just what normally is seen in places like Death Valley.  

What we see, isn't always what is!  

The promise?  God does do new things with the old, dried out places, of our lives!

So, when it comes to God's activity and purpose, it would be good to look past what we think we see.  To think past, what we think, we know.  Because there truth is, no matter how much we think we know one minute.  The next minute it could all change.  Just like that!

In the same way, we can never know what God may be doing; or planning to ask us to do.

You know one of the themes a pastor hear is "the good old days!"  When life was better and things were easier and all was well with the world.  Right!!!!!

When was it really ever that way?

What I want you to entertain, this morning, is the possibility!  The possibility that just maybe life could be better!  That God just might be trying to do a new thing!  A brand new thing within and around your being.

Remember!  God did a pretty good thing, when he brought the Israelites out of the oppressive condition of slavery, in Egypt. And yet those silly people kept falsely reminding themselves about how "good it was" slaving under Pharaoh's cruel rule.  

I think it is interesting how we humans tend to remember.  "Like it was  always greener on the other side of life!"  Right?

Now I invite you to remember the part of the story when God gave those complaining and absent minded people a Savior. A Savior whose name was Jesus!  That is when God came in Jesus' skin to help them learn a new thing.  A new way of being God's people.  To be in a new, and different, relationship with God.  

Do you also remember?   They rejected that gift, that change, too!

That has got to make us all wonder!  Wonder that is, when we are going to stop talking!  And begin to listen!

Because the truth is simply this!  God has been trying to get our attention since the beginning of time.

I have come to believe -- have great faith in -- this God who is quite capable of doing new with me!  And yes, even better things than before.  

And I faith that God is capable of doing that with you as well!  It may be different!  Quite possibility it will be!  But he will walk with you to make it all happen if!  If you begin to at least try to put your trust in him.  In him, not in your own ability or knowledge.  

God really likes it when we trust him.  That is made clear throughout scripture!

When we trust in God to work in us.  Actually, when we allow --  invite -- God to have his gracious way with us.  Life will begin to grow in that new way he promised all those years ago.  That is what I have learned in this long long life I've live.  When we put our lives in God's hand!  When our hope is in God!  All will be right!  Right God's way!  Will we have bumps in the journey?  Yes!  Absolutely!  We will fall and scrap our knees! It will hurt! But, it is all part of the journey!

However, along the way we will have learned some wonderful lessons.  Because we have listened!  Because we have trusted!

So my invitation, to you this morning, is to begin to listen, to trust in God's possibilities moving in, around and through you.  Making a new and different place of grace for you to live in.

 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 

17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 

18Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 

19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 

20 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,

21 the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.(Is. 43)

"Lord Teach Us To Pray!"

The disciples ask Jesus: "Lord, teach us to pray!"

Let me share with you some common thoughts, I have had or heard, on this religious activity call prayer.  

"Does prayer really work?"  
"Does God really even listen to me?" 
"If God knows everything, what is the point of prayer?"  
"Why doesn't God answer my prayers?"  
"How do I pray?"  
"How often do I need to pray?"  
"How long should my prayers be?"  
"Does Jesus really mean, that if I am persistent enough, that God will give me what I ask for?"  

And the BIG question:  
                                    "Does God talk, communicate, with us?"

I can't help but wonder if those kinds of question filled the disciple's minds when they asked the question of Jesus.  And  he gave them the Lord's Prayer.

Because, the Lord's Prayer, is the perfect prayer!  First it gives God due respect, by acknowledging his Holy presence in our lives. Then it tells us to ask a wonderful request!  The request that, God's will is lived out on this earth, as it is done within God's realm.  It is a prayer that  asks God for help in supplying our daily needs, for forgiving us and helping us to forgive.  A prayer that God would help us to stay away from evil things.   It is an all encompassing prayer.  A prayer that  relies on God for all of our needs.  Telling God that we know he is God!

As I am writing this the movie Bruce Almighty popped into my brain.  If you haven't seen it, it is a story about how Bruce get discussed with God for not being God.   That is for not doing things Bruce's way.   So God comes to him and gives him the job of taking God's place.  Bruce quickly finds out what it is like to be God.   And just as quickly want to give the privilege  back! 

When we pray we need to let God be God!  We can't give something to God!  And then take it back because God isn't moving fast enough or doing in our way.  

Jesus did it this way:  First he told God what was on his mind.  Then always ended the prayer, "Your will not my will!"

That is my own practice today!  I began to use it many years ago.  I did it mostly because I didn't want to be just telling God.  I wanted to be trusting God. 

When we let God be God.  When we pray with confidence, about  what we want and need, God to take charge of our lives.  And the  world around us!  Actually we are trusting that God knows best!  Trusting that his' will is going to be done his way, for the best.  It actually takes huge burdens off our own shoulders.    To do that is pretty powerful stuff!

Now we can read many books that instruct us on "How to Pray."  You will find all kinds of formulas.  But I find Jesus' way works best for me.  Because, when we attempt to pray as if prayer has rules, we enter into a conversation that we are bound to fail.  Fail not because we have done it "wrong."   But because we are not being real!  We are not being ourselves!

If you want to be an eloquent,  say a perfect prayer, then stick with the Lord's Prayer.

If you want to be yourself with God,  then be yourself!  If you want to really get to know God, then go into prayer by bing your-real-self!  Using your thoughts and feelings; asking your own questions.

Prayer!  Real honest prayer!  Come out of our own personal needs, wants, wished, concerns and hopes.  Said, or thought, in our own ways.  Everyday ordinary ways!

Now I need to stop there amount.  Because another thought just came to me.  It is when someone tell us:  "You pray to show God your appreciation; and to thank him for all he has done for you." 

Now I do believe it is a good, and right, thing to thank God.  However, there is a continual flash of qualification that comes to me when I hear those words.  

Here is the qualification: What if the person honestly does not know!  What if they have no idea what God has done, or is doing, in their lives?  And, by the way, many don't!  

You know, my dream is that they could be brave enough -- vulnerable enough -- to talk to their pastor about that.   Most of the time that will never happen!  Sad!

End of qualification!

Let me tell you my most favorite way to realize how much God has done for all of us.  

His amazing creation!  

Most of us know this astounding silence prayer.  It is so common that we don't even realize that we are praying.  It most often comes to us out of a silent expression of the wonder the our eyes observe!  Or our hearts hear!

A child's laugh! 
   A magnificent sunrise or sunset!
       High mountains crags above the tree line!  
          A perfectly still lake as morning dawns in quiet wonder!
                Standing beside the ocean that appears to have no end!

Or how about driving through rolling hills, on fall day when the sun is high,  and the trees are full of rich color?  Totally amazing!

Those are the moments of wonder that need no words!  Just gratitude!  

So!  How do we pray?

We pray by being ourselves!  With our own words! Just for God's hearing.  Just God and you!  In your pajamas, holding your morning coffee or tea, discussing the day before you or the day gone by.  You are there with God just being real!  No make-up, or shaven face, just morning breathe and messy hair.  No pretense of any kind.  No rules!  No formulas!  No one grading the time spent.

In those moments you find out what is truly important.  You are able to separate the trivia, that gets in the way of the essential!  And as you allow those moments each day, each week or whenever; I believe you will find something quite extraordinary.
  Maybe an answer! 
    Maybe some direction! 
       Or, maybe just a sense of peace!
          Just something good and fulfilling!
And you find yourself wanting more of what you've begun to find.  

That unexpected something is the other side of this conversation, called prayer, with God.   

And it has to do with the question:  Does God talk with us? 

I will boldly say:  Yes!  Yes I do believe that God communicates with us all the time. Not just when we close our eye, fold our hands, and bow our heads.   

Prayer is , by all definitions, a relationship!  A connection between God and you and me.  By its very nature, communication means it is a two way conversation.

Prayer is not ever one way!  Prayer is meant to help us get to know God better.   Just as any kind of communication is meant to do!

Through prayer we give God time to reveal himself to us!

Jesus said more than once: "Those who have ears, let them hear."

I happen to believe that our ability to listen is the most important  part of prayer with God.  More important than all, we think, we have to tell him.

When people come to me, about prayer,  I quite often encourage them to use their pencil instead of their mouth.  Because, what I have learned is that,  my pencil often is very successful at guiding my thoughts.  When we write to God about things!  We are often given new perspective through the words God puts into our minds.  
My pencil has taught me a lot about myself!  I have also learned a lot about this amazing God I have come to believe in and trust so deeply.

To end!  

Finally!  

As little children we learned the proper position for prayer.  Right?  Well, as adults we find that the position for prayer is however we come to God.  It doesn't matter!  We can be driving, walking, riding a bike, sitting by a river,  in our kitchen.  Wherever and whatever we are doing.  Prayer is simply bring God into the time we have.  

Everywhere all the time!

Try On Kindness!

                                            Part Two 

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

The lawyer knew!  He knew that Jesus was not talking about any law, or ritual, or cultural norm here.  His Jewish laws didn’t cover this kind of love.  Nor, did it cover, his limited imagination of, what Jesus meant by “neighbor.”

So let me get to the tip of the nail Jesus was hammering in here.  The Law, nor the Commandment to love God and neighbor, has nothing to do with “like.” 

Lets face it!  God certainly didn’t like very much about his human creation. At least after the beginning of creation that is.  This truth is pretty clear thought out the Old Testament.  But he never stopped loving them!   He has never stopped forgiving them! He never stopped caring for them.  Or showing them mercy!

So here is my simple take on this overly used word “love.”  And the idea that we are asked to love our neighbor “as we love ourselves.”  It has to do with the very simple fact that our job is not to "like" others.

Or judge others! 

   Or decide their worth! 

      Or what they believe!  

          Or how they live their lives!  

Our job is to do what is right and good, to others, according to God’s way of loving.

But there is more to this simple child-like request!  We are asked to treat them with love, despite our feelings about them.  Or who, or what, the other person is, or does, that is “different!”

I am willing to go as far as to say that, the love, Jesus talks about throughout the Gospels, is not a feeling at all.  But, perhaps a way of acting, or speaking, or thinking!  A way of approaching others!  Who, by the way, are all different in many and diverse ways.

Just for a moment I invite you to places yourself in this parable. 

That is what my mind is attempting to do right now. I am remembering a  certain Sunday afternoon.  I was in college at Oklahoma State University.  I was having lunch with a friend.  Her name was Merna.  We were sitting in the cafeteria, in our residence hall, at lunch time.  Being a Sunday it was pretty empty.  Merna got up to refill her drink, when a girl came up and asked if she might join me at the table.  Her name was Cherrie.  Her tray was piled high with food; and as she sitting down she was commenting on how hungry she was.  Just about that time Merna came back and sat down. That is when I noticed that Cherrie became noticeably upset.  She began to shake.  Literally tremble!  Then she got up quickly!  Mumbling something about not being hungry!  Left her tray on the table!  And was gone!

Cherrie was a very tall thin beautiful young woman from the deep South.  

Merna was an African American.  Also from the South!

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus’ little parable, about the arrogant lawyer and the Samaritan, is an exceptional example of what Jesus meant when he asks us to love as he does.  

It is meant of help us to realize that his definition of love covers a far greater depth of meaning; than that soft fluffy feeling portrayed in romance novels, in the movies or on television.  

Jesus’ love takes-care of others!  Whether you “like them or not!  Or, approve of them or not! 

It has nothing what-so-ever to do with whether someone “deserves” love or not.  Whatever that means!

Jesus’ love is not Conditional!   It is non-exclusive!  It does not separate by race, or color of skin, or religious belief, or sexual preference.    Jesus' love sets not limits!

Just love God and love neighbor!!  “As” I do!  “As” is a small word with a huge meaning!

This, all too overly-sentimentally used, parable breaks through all human limits that we would set-up.  And simply tells us to do what is right!  Then asks us to reconsider what we think!  What we think we know!

I will end this lengthy blog with one word:  Kindness!

I would like it if kindness replaced, the over used term love!

Sorry Jesus!

But we can understand that term better!   It doesn't get all mixed up with emotions and feelings like the term love does.

Just Treat others as we want to be treated!  That us the point of Jesus' parable!

             Amen!  Let t be so among all of God's Children!

 25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise.”(Luke 10)