Sunday is "Pentecost"...the day we remember the unique descending of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's apostles. In an amazing narrative (Acts 2) we read of how Peter stands among the amazed crowd, who hear the praises of God in their own tongue,  and speaks of how Joel's prophecy is now being fulfilled.  The Good News of Christ and His Kingdom is now being taken to the world like never before!  And by the power of the Spirit of God!  It is often referred to as the birthday of the Church.  

In Peter's letter to the churches of Asia Minor (present western Turkey) and the text we'll be exploring Sunday, he alludes to this event when he reminds the recipients: "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." (I Peter 4:14)  And that same Spirit of God rests upon us and it is by the indwelling Spirit of God that we can endure patiently in times of suffering and kept humble in times of blessing.  

As we come together to worship this Sunday, may we give thanks for the gracious gift of God's indwelling Holy Spirit.  And may we endure suffering and be humble in blessing as we walk with God in this great mission of proclaiming the Good News of His Kingdom to our city through our words and our works.  Let's celebrate Pentecost and the birth of Christ's Church, together; for how else could it be celebrated, but together?

Love,

Dave

Jesus Christ at the Right Hand of God

This Sunday is Ascension Sunday.  It is the 7th Sunday of Easter and the time when we remember the ascension of Jesus, the Son of God, to the right hand of the Father (Acts 1).  And it is one of the least noticed and remembered holy day in the Church year.  Sadly.  

To have Jesus at the Right Hand of God the Father means that we have an advocate in the Most Holy Place.  When I pray, I remember that I can approach God boldly (as the author of Hebrews encourages us), because Christ sits as my advocate before our Holy Father.  And he is your advocate, too.  It encourages me to know that the One who understands the human predicament, stands before the Father on my/our behalf, and intercedes for us.  He knows our pain, he knows our struggles, and he knows how we've missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God.  And yet he still stands as our advocate.

To have Jesus at the Right Hand of God the Father also means that all authority has been given to him.  Our God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is sovereign over all creation: time, space, matter, everything!  There is no situation that is beyond his knowledge.  There is no "unglorified" person beyond redemption.  There is nothing in all creation that he does not stand over as Lord.  Christ has been given all authority and now sits at the throne: King of kings and Lord of lords.

There is more we could say, but to remember the Ascended Christ as our Advocate and Lord is a great start.  This past Thursday a number of us ascended into the Upper Room and witnessed a marvelous musician perform at the Big White House.  After the concert in the "Bird Room" a few of us stuck around to hear more of his story (of which I knew next to nothing).  In a nutshell, he shared that he had chased all the things in life that he thought he needed and came up short and wanting. He shared how he had come to his nadir, his lowest point, last fall.  Then after crying out to God, "What do you want?!", he heard, "Everything."  And that, he said, was when he really began following, trusting, even loving Jesus.  He met his advocate and found grace; and upon finding grace surrendered everything to his Lordship.  

It was a beautiful story of the power of Christ's ascension and purpose (advocacy and sovereignty), and a timely one.  I was encouraged to remember Christ my Advocate and Lord...and to live in that reality, though presently veiled.  I hope you are encouraged, too.  Let's come together to celebrate our risen and ascended Lord tomorrow!

Grace and peace,

Dave

Honor Christ the Lord

Peter in his letter (I Peter) is writing to followers of Jesus who are on the margins of their culture. Their beliefs are misunderstood, their practices slandered, and their Lord, Jesus the Messiah, rejected.  Never before in our own country and culture are these things more true for us. Our beliefs are often misunderstood, our practices sometimes slandered, and our Lord increasingly rejected.  It can be discouraging.  

So what does Peter encourage his 1st century readers to do? Argue? No. Fight back? No. Give up trying to live in that culture and form an insulated "Christian bubble"? Certainly not!  Peter urges these early Christians to be people who love when hated, to be a blessing to those who curse, and to above all to "honor Christ the Lord" and not to fear others, in essence giving them lordship.  And if they suffer for doing good, then so be it. The Lord suffered, as well.  

And those words couldn't be more timely for us today in our culture. We are not to be fighters, but peacemakers; we are not to be haters, but lovers; and we are not to be people of fear, for Christ is Lord over all.  

Let's honor Christ the Lord tomorrow together!

Dave

Peter wrote a letter to the followers of Christ sown in a region which is now western Turkey. In the letter he reminds them that as citizens of God's Kingdom through faith in Christ they are now exiles, aliens, strangers. Why? Because they are now operating under a different Lord, namely Jesus, and they are called to a different standard of living, namely God's.  

In the text we will be exploring Sunday, Peter urges the recipients of his letter (even us!) that as "set apart" one's we are now "a people"...that is "God's people".  They/we are called out of the "darkness" into "his marvelous light" and set apart (made "holy") for the task of representing their/our Lord of the Cosmos through their/our words and actions; we are to "grow up into salvation"...that is, we are to mature in godliness...reflecting the One who delivered us.  We are to live "honorable" lives, so that others "may see [our] good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." (Christ's return)  

God's glory alone is our call and purpose...and it is in His glory that we experience life and joy and hope and grace and peace...and love.  May we reflect all of that as we draw nearer to Him individually and collectively.  And may reflect on all of that this Sunday together, as we worship the King and consider afresh what it means for our church to represent Him in our city at this time.

See you Sunday!

Dave

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and pastor executed by the Nazis, prior to his death wrote a poem called "Stations on the Road to Freedom" (http://www.swordofthespirit.net/bulwark/february2012p3.htm).  

The second stanza of the four stanza poem goes like this: 

Action 
Daring to do what is right, not what fancy may tell you, 
valiantly grasping occasions, not cravenly doubting – 
freedom comes only through deeds, not through thoughts taking wing. 
Faint not nor fear, but go out to the storm and the action,  
trusting in God whose commandment you faithfully follow;  
freedom, exultant, will welcome your spirit with joy.

Bonhoeffer recognized that the road to freedom in Christ was not about personal happiness and comfort, but about the stages of Discipline, Action, Suffering, and even Death.  In the stanza above he speak of the "daring to do what is right", the "valiantly grasping (of) occasions", and, ultimately, the "trusting in God" as we "faithfully follow" in carrying out his commands; commands that, as Jesus states, are rooted in love.  

In I Peter 1:13, Peter exhorts the hearers: "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  We, the Church, the ones called out of darkness into his marvelous light, are to be people of action.  And our hope is to be rooted fully on the grace of God that will be fully revealed to us at the coming of Christ; this is our encouragement to action.  

Peter goes on and reminds the hearers that they (we!) are to be "holy in all [their] conduct".  "Holy" again means to be set apart.  Followers of Jesus are to be a people called out and set apart for the good of others and the Glory of God:  a people of action!  

May we be just that.  Let's come together this Sunday to explore this more.  

God's grace and peace be with you,

Dave

These are the only words that Mark records Jesus saying at his trial before Pilate.  Pilate had just asked, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  And Jesus replied, "You have said so."  That seems peculiar, doesn't it?  What's going on?

Here's what's going on.  In the Greek word order, Pilate asks this way, "You are the King of the Jews?" with "You" being emphatic: "YOU are the King of the Jews?".  That makes sense of Jesus's response, doesn't it?  And it has been the point of Mark's gospel all along to demonstrate this fact.  And more.  He not only is King of the Jews, but King of the whole world. He is the Son of God!  

Tonight (Friday) we will remember how he is "exalted" mockingly on the cross.  We will remember his death and his burial.  

And Sunday morning we will remember how he is exalted gloriously at his resurrection!  And that the witnesses now have seen the Kingdom of God "come with power"...just as he said they would.  (9:1)  And so have we!  

Let's celebrate Him together.

Grace and peace,

Dave

During the summer of 1988 I was working on a project that was studying the effects of pesticides on Great Horned Owls.  My role was to nightly map out the home range of owls that we had previously affixed radio transmitters. I drove lonely gravel (and sometimes dirt) roads for hours at a time during the night to triangulate signals from various birds.  During the day, as part of my graduate research, I was searching for Cooper's Hawk nests.  Let's just say, hooting with the owls at night, didn't lend itself with soaring with the hawks during the day!  Or vice versa.

Staying awake, especially at night, was an issue. One evening on my owl route, I remembered fighting sleep while driving.  I saw a sign that warned of a sharp turn ahead.  I then saw the sharp turn just 50 yards ahead or so and told myself, "Don't fall asleep."  But I did!  And my head bounced up just in time for me to make the turn.  The sign was there, but I couldn't stay awake.  

In Mark 13, Jesus before his betrayal, conviction, and execution, points out the signs that his disciples should take note of...signs of the end of the "temple age" and signs of the absolute end of the age.  And he warns them (three times!) to "Stay awake!"  

Ever since his ascension to the right hand of the Father, 40 days after his resurrection, God's people have been in the end times. Signs throughout the centuries remind us that Christ will return.  And today is sooner than yesterday.  In light of this, we must also "stay awake!" We must stay awake and not be lulled to sleep by wealth and health and comfort...and then before we know it make wealth and health and comfort our gods!  We must be vigilant in remembering that as followers of our suffering Christ, we also must be willing to lay ourselves down for the world.  Even when we are betrayed, falsely accused, and suffering.  It's the way of love.  More so, it's the way of God.  

Sunday we will explore this most difficult text some more and hopefully be encouraged to more faithfully follow the Master as we enter this annual reminder of his way of suffering, even to the cross, because of God's love for the world.  

Grace and peace,

Dave

Mark 11 is a fascinating text with 5 short pericopes that focuses the "hearer" (reader) to the heart of things, figuratively and literally.  The chapter begins with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem with all the signs of power and authority (pericope #1).  The chapter ends with Jesus's power and authority questioned (pericope #5).  Following the initial scene, there is an odd story of Jesus cursing a fig tree that was not bearing fruit, even though it wasn't in season (pericope #2).  Preceding the final scene is the withering fig tree that catches the disciples attention, to which Jesus proclaims, "Have faith in God."  He then proceeds to encourage his disciples to faithful prayer (that can move a mountain!) and forgiveness (pericope #4).  

The arrangement of these stories then points forward and back again to pericope #3...the heart of the matter, the heart of Jerusalem, the heart of the worship of God...the temple!  In the temple Jesus's wrath is never more on display when seeing the worship of God turned into the worship of money. (Though not stated here, Matthew records Jesus saying on the mount, "You cannot serve both God and money!")  Instead of a place where the nations will come to know God and seek their Creator, the temple has become  instead a place where "God's people" come to prey upon the nations and seek their treasure.  The purpose of the temple is turned upside down, and Jesus's upturning of the tables reflects His righteous response!  

So what about the tree and authority?  What about mountains and prayer?  What about power and questions of authority?  What do all of these have to do with this temple scenario? You know what, why don't you read the text that Jesus is quoting (Isaiah 56) when he says, "...for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples", and see if you can't figure out a bit of what's going on?  Sunday we'll try to figure this out together as we come together to worship the King!

Dave

"What is my purpose?  I know I was made for something more than just this."  I've heard this question and statement (or a similar variation) often in my life. The question asks for a basic human need to have a reason. The following statement then declares a basic human sense of worth...and a frustration of whether our lives are worthy ("made for something more than just this"). Sometimes in this latter statement there is an element of vainglory...wanting to be somebody "special"...our culture flocks to such things in our idolatry of celebrity. But many times it is simply a pure desire to do something or be somebody of worth...to know that we've lived our lives well.  

In our text Sunday (we will "hear" the voice of God on the mount of transfiguration as He speaks to Jesus's disciples and says these words:  "This is my beloved Son; listen to Him."  In this statement God the Father directs the disciples (and all humanity) to God the Son and to our purpose:  "Listen to Him."  The word for "listen" in the Greek (as well as in the Hebrew Scriptures) carries with it the meaning of not just "hearing", but also of "obedience". As children of God and as His creatures our purpose is to "listen" to Him, to "obey" Him.  That's it. He's not impressed with anything else, to be honest. Nor should we be impressed with ourselves (or others) for anything else; we are to live lives of simple devotion to Christ...in all things, and in all relationships.  For this, and this alone, might we receive those amazing words that tell us our lives had worth: "Well done, good and faithful servant."  Let's come together and worship Him and listen to Him this Sunday...the One of Ultimate Worth.  

Grace and peace,

Dave

A couple of days ago we celebrated Ash Wednesday together at the Big White House.  The day marked the beginning of a 40-day period of fasting (excluding Sundays and leading up to Easter) in which we consider our mortality and our sinfulness.  We remembered that we are dust and to dust we will return and that death is the result of sin (to which we've all contributed).  During these 40 days, we are seeking Christ together and asking, in light of our brief life, "How might we live in accordance to his will and be more transformed into his image?"  The ashes, that were administered to the foreheads of the recipients in the symbol of the cross, reminded us of these things and that, but for Christ, we are doomed.

Typically, the ashes used in Ash Wednesday services are from the burned palm fronds of the previous year's Palm Sunday service.  Since we didn't have these, Sharon (a very recent widow in Genesis Church) suggested that we burn flowers and vegetation from her husband Mark's memorial service.  I thought that very fitting, so that is what we used.  And it was a very solemn experience.  

The marking of two individuals especially stood out to me. When Sharon herself came forward to be marked, by ashes so personal to her, I said, with the same personal formula for each participant, "Remember, Sharon, you are dust and to dust you will return."  With this her eyes lit up, even playfully, and she asked quietly yet hopefully, "Tomorrow?!"  To which I responded firmly, "No." (It caught me off guard and I was surprised by my authoritative response.  How do I know?!)  The next day we met and joked about it and I expressed how when I once faced death while be air-lifted to emergency surgerey, that I, too, felt a sense of relief at the prospect of the battles of life being over and that I understood her hope for escape.  To this she gently rebuked me and said that her hope was not driven by the thought of escaping this life, but one of excited anticipation of being with Christ!  At that moment, I realized I had much to learn about living with that kind of hope for our destination, namely Christ, rather than with the shallow hope of simply escaping life's hardships.  

The second individual that struck me was a little tow-headed pre-school aged boy who with wide blue eyes filled with anticipation and innocence came to be marked, while holding on to the hand of his mother. This was the only child that I marked and it moved me emotionally  when I said to him, "Remember, J., you are dust and to dust you will return."  And then I blurted, "And God loves you!" I could not remind this little child of his mortality, without also reminding him of the gracious God who loves him. I just could not do it. I realized it is one thing to mark an adult and to remind them of their mortality, but a whole different thing to mark a young child whose understanding is still quite limited.  

This Sunday we will be looking at Mark 8 and will be reminded of how slowly Jesus's disciples came to understand who he was (is!).  In response to Jesus's question to his disciples of who they say he is, Peter answered correctly when he blurted out, "You are the Christ!"   However, when Jesus described to the disciples the things facing the Christ (that he must suffer and die), Peter showed his limited understanding and chastised Jesus. Jesus firmly rebuked him and told him that he didn't understand.  The text ends with the haunting words of Christ that calls his disciples, even us, to bear our own crosses and follow him, and to lose our lives for him and the Good News in order to find our lives.  Do we stand in anticipation and innocence (like a child) before Christ, hopeful (like a widow) for his sweet presence, willing to bear our cross (like Him!) no matter the cost? If so, He says life, true life, awaits. Do we understand? 

Christ be our Guide!

Dave

"Ava, when you cross the street, do so right at our driveway. The cars coming around the curve and down the hill will have more time to see you. Do you understand?"  "Yes, Daddy."  

I watched from a bedroom window to make sure she crossed at our driveway.  And then my jaw dropped as I saw her walk up the sidewalk to cross the street near the top of the hill, by the curve, where it's most dangerous.

She did NOT understand.  

In the text that we will be looking at on Sunday (Mark 6), we will examine a number of scenarios where there are instances of those who "recognize" Jesus, as well as those who do not understand.  Included in that group of those who don't understand were those most close to him:  folks from his hometown (probably including his family) and his disciples. They knew him, but they didn't really KNOW him. Or at least, they didn't fully understand who he was (is!) or what he was (is!) up to. And if we're honest, that all too often describes our own relationship with him.  We know him (or facts about him), but we don't really KNOW him (in an intimate, relational way).  And we certainly have moments (seasons?!) when we don't understand him...perhaps because things aren't going the way we had hoped or planned.  And it's out of our control.  

This Sunday, as we get ready for the Lenten season, let's explore these things together and see if we might better understand the One who often defies our understanding.  

Grace and peace,

Dave