“THE LEGEND OF THE PELICAN!!”
From time to time I’ve had the opportunity to observe brown pelicans at work. These birds hover in small groups over the water watching for fish. When they see their prey they dive beak first into the water with a loud plop and come up with the fish in their beak. Or they can be seen perched on a piling watching with envy as fishermen land fish, even, occasionally trying to intercept the fish as it is being reeled in. Or they can be seen hovering in their group alongside the fish cleaning station, acting the lazy hunter waiting for an easy kill. They are a delight to watch.
I was surprised, however, to learn that the pelican has, in religious art, long been a symbol of self-sacrifice -- even though none of the behaviors of the pelican had the appearance of being self-sacrificing.
It is not the pelican’s behavior that symbolizes self-sacrifice. The legend of their self-sacrifice comes from their red-tipped beak. The legend says that when a mother pelican cannot find food for her young, she thrusts her beak into her breast and nourished her little ones with her own blood. The early church saw this as a picture of what Christ did for us in His death and resurrection.
By the time you read this we’ll be well into Holy Week. Some of you will even read this after Easter. But the point remains the same: God’s love for us is so great that God is willing to reach into Himself to give His one and only son. God’s love for us is so great that he’d rather sacrifice His son than live without us. God’s love for us is so great that He is willing to nourish us with forgiveness and new life by giving us his very own body and blood as a communion meal.
However, God’s gift was not just in the sacrifice. It was in the resurrection of Jesus to new life. It is in the conquering of death and the grave so that we who, are fed by our Lord, can also have by faith new and eternal life. In God’s own sacrifice, God has given us a new life, a new relationship with God and the open door of eternity.
May God strengthen your faith and bless you in these Holy Days as we contemplate the mighty acts of God and His wonderful gift of love and sacrifice. And may God fill you with His Holy Spirit as you live out the wonder of God’s grace in your life.
T. O. M.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Reflections on "being innocent of evil"
Last week I had e-mail exchanges with two different workplace believers regarding our behavior and our choices when it comes to good and evil. Each one of these people are on a different road as it pertains to their faith, but their insights are so pertinent to how all believers walk in faith under God.
It all began with a question about whether one ought to avoid contracting with a particular company that this person discovered had some roots to scientology.
My response went something like this:
When we face choices like this it always has to do with spiritual battles and our spiritual well being. Paul said the battle is not with people, but with the demons and principalities of the world. (Ephesians 6: 10 - 18) This means we are always in positions of having to do "spiritual battle" with our internal sinful nature. And we are always in positions in the world where we are challenged by the evil one.
For the most part, we do pretty well in this battle. But, satan is always looking for other holes and cracks in our armor.
So, in all of our choices, it is helpful to do the best we can to insulate ourselves from those things that have the potential to draw us off course.
Sometimes, a choice like what company I consult with doesn't seem very important. But it can be. A particular choice might put us on the path of choices, actions, challenges that have the potential to draw us away from our appointed spiritual purpose or, in the worst case, our faith commitment. Or we might make a choice to work with folks who share values and faith in similar ways as I do -- which in turn is supportive for the faith, up building of spiritual values and a further defense against being drawn into places where values might be compromised.
It wasn't so much later in the day that another person was sharing some thoughts about the Adam and Eve story and the Garden of Eden.
This person observed:
I always wondered why "knowledge of good and evil" was forbidden? It struck me when I saw your notes with Good and Evil capitalized that, of course! To know evil was to let it into one’s life. It called to mind a statement in Romans: "Be innocent of evil". To be innocent of evil is never to know evil.
Humans were given the power to choose obedience to God or to listen to the voice of evil. Our very human nature made/makes it inevitable that we would listen to the voice of evil. The paradox to me is that our human nature, which gives us the ability to survive in nature, also gives us the tendency to sin. If we did not have that inner selfishness, aggression, lust for power, curiosity, and willingness to challenge authority, I suspect the species would not have survived in the harshness of nature. Yet, if the first people had not had those tendencies and acted on them (in choosing to know evil), they could have stayed under God’s protection and not needed those qualities.
Once evil was/is known and acted upon, humans could not stay in God’s kingdom, because, in so doing they would bring evil in, and that would destroy God’s kingdom. So, the real punishment for sin was/is separation from God.
The adversity that came/comes about as the result of sin has to be present in order for us to obtain salvation because it is only through adversity that we will realize how much we need God. It is through adversity that we are able to turn to Jesus and allow him to work in our lives to turn our character into what God wants. I don’t think God creates the adversity or deliberately sends it our way. It will happen naturally because that is what happens in nature.
This person goes on to talk about a particular personal experience along these lines.
Of course, the two go together. We have the option of staying more innocent of evil by the choices we make. We have the choice of insulating ourselves from some of the more obvious opportunities for the devil to act in our lives. But when we see the adversity that results from our sinfulness, we recognize God, our need for God and our opportunities to put on the "whole armor of God."
Now, to take this a step further, later that same day I was forwarded a video by "Bishop" T.D. Jakes, Chief Pastor of the Potter's House, Dallas, Texas. The video was called, "How to fight the devil". In it he gives this advice on how to beat the devil every time: "Don't get in the ring with him."
In other words, don't make the choices which put us in the way of having to fight off the devil, or the choices which open the opportunity for us to act on our very nature that leads us to "know" evil.
Workplace believers will want to check out the work of Ox Hillman of Marketplace Leaders. You might especially want to look at his daily devotion "Today God is First" (TGIF).
It all began with a question about whether one ought to avoid contracting with a particular company that this person discovered had some roots to scientology.
My response went something like this:
When we face choices like this it always has to do with spiritual battles and our spiritual well being. Paul said the battle is not with people, but with the demons and principalities of the world. (Ephesians 6: 10 - 18) This means we are always in positions of having to do "spiritual battle" with our internal sinful nature. And we are always in positions in the world where we are challenged by the evil one.
For the most part, we do pretty well in this battle. But, satan is always looking for other holes and cracks in our armor.
So, in all of our choices, it is helpful to do the best we can to insulate ourselves from those things that have the potential to draw us off course.
Sometimes, a choice like what company I consult with doesn't seem very important. But it can be. A particular choice might put us on the path of choices, actions, challenges that have the potential to draw us away from our appointed spiritual purpose or, in the worst case, our faith commitment. Or we might make a choice to work with folks who share values and faith in similar ways as I do -- which in turn is supportive for the faith, up building of spiritual values and a further defense against being drawn into places where values might be compromised.
It wasn't so much later in the day that another person was sharing some thoughts about the Adam and Eve story and the Garden of Eden.
This person observed:
I always wondered why "knowledge of good and evil" was forbidden? It struck me when I saw your notes with Good and Evil capitalized that, of course! To know evil was to let it into one’s life. It called to mind a statement in Romans: "Be innocent of evil". To be innocent of evil is never to know evil.
Humans were given the power to choose obedience to God or to listen to the voice of evil. Our very human nature made/makes it inevitable that we would listen to the voice of evil. The paradox to me is that our human nature, which gives us the ability to survive in nature, also gives us the tendency to sin. If we did not have that inner selfishness, aggression, lust for power, curiosity, and willingness to challenge authority, I suspect the species would not have survived in the harshness of nature. Yet, if the first people had not had those tendencies and acted on them (in choosing to know evil), they could have stayed under God’s protection and not needed those qualities.
Once evil was/is known and acted upon, humans could not stay in God’s kingdom, because, in so doing they would bring evil in, and that would destroy God’s kingdom. So, the real punishment for sin was/is separation from God.
The adversity that came/comes about as the result of sin has to be present in order for us to obtain salvation because it is only through adversity that we will realize how much we need God. It is through adversity that we are able to turn to Jesus and allow him to work in our lives to turn our character into what God wants. I don’t think God creates the adversity or deliberately sends it our way. It will happen naturally because that is what happens in nature.
This person goes on to talk about a particular personal experience along these lines.
Of course, the two go together. We have the option of staying more innocent of evil by the choices we make. We have the choice of insulating ourselves from some of the more obvious opportunities for the devil to act in our lives. But when we see the adversity that results from our sinfulness, we recognize God, our need for God and our opportunities to put on the "whole armor of God."
Now, to take this a step further, later that same day I was forwarded a video by "Bishop" T.D. Jakes, Chief Pastor of the Potter's House, Dallas, Texas. The video was called, "How to fight the devil". In it he gives this advice on how to beat the devil every time: "Don't get in the ring with him."
In other words, don't make the choices which put us in the way of having to fight off the devil, or the choices which open the opportunity for us to act on our very nature that leads us to "know" evil.
Workplace believers will want to check out the work of Ox Hillman of Marketplace Leaders
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Meaning of "Zion"
The word "Zion" showed up a couple of times in recent Sunday readings. It's appearance led to a young man asking me what it means or to what it refers.
"Zion" appears some 154 times in scripture. It refers to Jerusalem, and, by extension, to the land of Israel. "Zion" more specifically refers to a high hill (Mt. Zion) which became the location of Solomon's temple. In that usage it comes to also refer to the place where God dwells.
The young man later asked if "Zion" is also figurative. Yes, it is. it has been a metaphor for a Promised Land, an ideal place or a distant or much longed for goal.
More recently we've heard the word used in the context of "Zionism",a largely secular movement to establish a state of Israel. It can also have a negative or pejorative meaning.
"Zion" appears some 154 times in scripture. It refers to Jerusalem, and, by extension, to the land of Israel. "Zion" more specifically refers to a high hill (Mt. Zion) which became the location of Solomon's temple. In that usage it comes to also refer to the place where God dwells.
The young man later asked if "Zion" is also figurative. Yes, it is. it has been a metaphor for a Promised Land, an ideal place or a distant or much longed for goal.
More recently we've heard the word used in the context of "Zionism",a largely secular movement to establish a state of Israel. It can also have a negative or pejorative meaning.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
After the Rain
I guess I had forgotten how grungy the world can look in late winter.
After the rains of last night it appears that all the worst in our yard and on our street has been uncovered. There is the trash that had accumulated under the cover of the snow and the push of the snow plows. There is the debris that had blown into corners and covered with drifts. There are those spots in the grass torn by the blade of the snow plow with the nearby clods of sod in mangled array.
My, how grungy our world can look in late winter.
For some, this season we call Lent has the same feel about it. Partly because our spirits tend to reflect the world and nature around us. I know mine does. Indeed, we are pretty deep (just over half-way) there. Along the way, we long for the good news of the resurrection, but it's not quite time. Along the way, we long for an announcement of victory, but it isn't quite time.
We know, though, that soon the grass will be green, the grunge washed away, the flowers blooming and the trees greening. We know that life always comes after winter's death.
In our faith, we know the end of the story too. God's new life always wins. The grave can never stay closed. Darkness cannot beat out light. Sin is always forgiven.
In these days, we live with the grunge and in-between times as we await the glory of new life and the transformation of the resurrection. In these days we live with the sure and certain hope of new life, of God's new life in and for us.
After the rains of last night it appears that all the worst in our yard and on our street has been uncovered. There is the trash that had accumulated under the cover of the snow and the push of the snow plows. There is the debris that had blown into corners and covered with drifts. There are those spots in the grass torn by the blade of the snow plow with the nearby clods of sod in mangled array.
My, how grungy our world can look in late winter.
For some, this season we call Lent has the same feel about it. Partly because our spirits tend to reflect the world and nature around us. I know mine does. Indeed, we are pretty deep (just over half-way) there. Along the way, we long for the good news of the resurrection, but it's not quite time. Along the way, we long for an announcement of victory, but it isn't quite time.
We know, though, that soon the grass will be green, the grunge washed away, the flowers blooming and the trees greening. We know that life always comes after winter's death.
In our faith, we know the end of the story too. God's new life always wins. The grave can never stay closed. Darkness cannot beat out light. Sin is always forgiven.
In these days, we live with the grunge and in-between times as we await the glory of new life and the transformation of the resurrection. In these days we live with the sure and certain hope of new life, of God's new life in and for us.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Car Wash and Forgiveness
I got my car washed the other day. Yes, I did find a car under the crud and guck that had accumulated over the last couple of months. Yes, I did remember what the color of my car was (but it is a bit harder to find it in the parking lot now).
As I was riding through the car wash, I got to thinking about my daily life and how easy it is to collect grit and grime, crud and guck. I'm talking about the emotional and spiritual stuff that builds up. I'm talking about the things we decide to carry with us, even though we don't need to. I'm talking about falling short of God's glory and sin.
As the rinse waters washed over the car, I imagined again my baptism. I imagined God's "life wash" for me won in the death and resurrection of Jesus. I imagined all the stuff I'd collected over the last while being rinsed away by the love and power of Jesus.
I don't know if I came out as "shinny" as my car. But I know I had my spirit back and felt the loving glow of Jesus.
As I was riding through the car wash, I got to thinking about my daily life and how easy it is to collect grit and grime, crud and guck. I'm talking about the emotional and spiritual stuff that builds up. I'm talking about the things we decide to carry with us, even though we don't need to. I'm talking about falling short of God's glory and sin.
As the rinse waters washed over the car, I imagined again my baptism. I imagined God's "life wash" for me won in the death and resurrection of Jesus. I imagined all the stuff I'd collected over the last while being rinsed away by the love and power of Jesus.
I don't know if I came out as "shinny" as my car. But I know I had my spirit back and felt the loving glow of Jesus.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Water, Nature, Lent and Redemption
During these weeks of Lent, the theme of water emerges quite regularly. This Lent I'm noting the waters of Baptism, and Isaiah's (Chapter 55) call "Ho!! Come to the waters." And, of course, the Easter Vigil Service (April 3 this year) will focus on the redemption of God through water.
Not so long ago, I discovered the photography of Clark Little, a former surfer who now gets up close and personal with ocean waves. His photography is beautiful and awesome, capturing the power and majesty of the ocean waves.
His work inspires in me a renewed sense of the power of God's redemption in Jesus' death and resurrection and in my baptism.
Google "Clark Little" to check out his photography.
Not so long ago, I discovered the photography of Clark Little, a former surfer who now gets up close and personal with ocean waves. His photography is beautiful and awesome, capturing the power and majesty of the ocean waves.
His work inspires in me a renewed sense of the power of God's redemption in Jesus' death and resurrection and in my baptism.
Google "Clark Little" to check out his photography.
March 2010 "Sketchings"
“KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE ROAD!”
I’ve been noticing that, as a congregation (and for me personally), there are several things in our life together that are “anxiety” producing. It seems, in my experience, when there are items and issues producing anxiety, the results are usually a series of distractions. Distractions take our eyes off the road. Distractions lead to a more “inward focus” and a good deal of “looking in the rear view mirror”.
Earlier this winter I said that Morning Star is a vital, spiritually growing mission center. We are busy laboring in the kingdom of God. God’s abundance is fueling our kingdom work. This is worthy of our thanks and praise. Furthermore, we are a community focused on what lies ahead. We are placing our trust in God to empower us to speak, believe and do more than we ever dreamed or imagined.
In order to be faithful in the kingdom work as a vital mission center we have to keep our eyes on the road or we run the risk of getting stuck in the ditch.
I’ve learned (and preached a couple of sermons on) the idea that my bicycle will go where I’m looking. If I’m looking at the pothole, I’ll end up there. If I’m focused on the rut can potentially topple me, I’ll soon be toppled. The same holds true for skiing and other physical activities. We tend to go where we look. Therefore, we want to look where we want to go.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t be up front and honest about the issues that produce anxiety. We need to engage our anxiety and determine what we can learn from it. We need to talk fears and anxiety and lift up our history, our “rear view mirror” look. We need to be accountable to our budget, our plans for our life together and our desire to be “debt free.” Along with these we recognize that during this “renewal leave” year we’re doing something we’ve never done before – taken two separate renewal journeys for the sake of a stronger ministry together. In addition, it is important for us to talk though possible changes in ELCA ministry guidelines.
At the same time, we can’t become fixated on these things and take our eyes off of the road. If we do, we run the risk of getting stuck in the ditch.
What is on the road in front of us is God’s mission in and to the world. What is ahead of us is vital and uplifting worship, the preaching of the Gospel of salvation, study of God’s word and our individual faithful responses to God’s grace in our own devotional and prayer lives, our witness and our generosity. What is ahead is the offering of the promises of God’s grace to our world and living out God’s power in our daily lives.
Like any road, what is ahead is at the same time exciting and risky, challenging and rewarding, unknown and known (by the one who walks with us). What is ahead is walking with our God, our God who leads us into the future, which means an empting our selves of our own anxieties, fears, desires and personal preferences. In wonderful grace, the reward of such vulnerability is participation in God’s creative work in the world. It is a sharing of the miracles of God, which not only touch the world, but also touch and change us.
Friends in Christ, we don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future (as the old clique goes). Knowing that God is in the drivers seat, we can keep our eyes on the road and focus boldly on what lies ahead. We can continue to rest in God’s abundance in such a way as to get caught up in the miracles God is doing in our midst and respond with our own faithfulness in the mission and ministry on the road ahead.
We have ministry to do. We have a mission before us – “… to bring the light of Christ to all creation.” We are a vital and living part of God’s kingdom work.
So, let’s stay focused. Let’s stay on the road.
T. O. M.
I’ve been noticing that, as a congregation (and for me personally), there are several things in our life together that are “anxiety” producing. It seems, in my experience, when there are items and issues producing anxiety, the results are usually a series of distractions. Distractions take our eyes off the road. Distractions lead to a more “inward focus” and a good deal of “looking in the rear view mirror”.
Earlier this winter I said that Morning Star is a vital, spiritually growing mission center. We are busy laboring in the kingdom of God. God’s abundance is fueling our kingdom work. This is worthy of our thanks and praise. Furthermore, we are a community focused on what lies ahead. We are placing our trust in God to empower us to speak, believe and do more than we ever dreamed or imagined.
In order to be faithful in the kingdom work as a vital mission center we have to keep our eyes on the road or we run the risk of getting stuck in the ditch.
I’ve learned (and preached a couple of sermons on) the idea that my bicycle will go where I’m looking. If I’m looking at the pothole, I’ll end up there. If I’m focused on the rut can potentially topple me, I’ll soon be toppled. The same holds true for skiing and other physical activities. We tend to go where we look. Therefore, we want to look where we want to go.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t be up front and honest about the issues that produce anxiety. We need to engage our anxiety and determine what we can learn from it. We need to talk fears and anxiety and lift up our history, our “rear view mirror” look. We need to be accountable to our budget, our plans for our life together and our desire to be “debt free.” Along with these we recognize that during this “renewal leave” year we’re doing something we’ve never done before – taken two separate renewal journeys for the sake of a stronger ministry together. In addition, it is important for us to talk though possible changes in ELCA ministry guidelines.
At the same time, we can’t become fixated on these things and take our eyes off of the road. If we do, we run the risk of getting stuck in the ditch.
What is on the road in front of us is God’s mission in and to the world. What is ahead of us is vital and uplifting worship, the preaching of the Gospel of salvation, study of God’s word and our individual faithful responses to God’s grace in our own devotional and prayer lives, our witness and our generosity. What is ahead is the offering of the promises of God’s grace to our world and living out God’s power in our daily lives.
Like any road, what is ahead is at the same time exciting and risky, challenging and rewarding, unknown and known (by the one who walks with us). What is ahead is walking with our God, our God who leads us into the future, which means an empting our selves of our own anxieties, fears, desires and personal preferences. In wonderful grace, the reward of such vulnerability is participation in God’s creative work in the world. It is a sharing of the miracles of God, which not only touch the world, but also touch and change us.
Friends in Christ, we don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future (as the old clique goes). Knowing that God is in the drivers seat, we can keep our eyes on the road and focus boldly on what lies ahead. We can continue to rest in God’s abundance in such a way as to get caught up in the miracles God is doing in our midst and respond with our own faithfulness in the mission and ministry on the road ahead.
We have ministry to do. We have a mission before us – “… to bring the light of Christ to all creation.” We are a vital and living part of God’s kingdom work.
So, let’s stay focused. Let’s stay on the road.
T. O. M.
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