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"A New Commandment"

3/28/2018

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34

We have come to the end -- our blessed beginning. We prepare to enter the story of Jesus' passion - a story that changed the course of history. A story about how evil, hatred and the worst of human nature was emptied upon the body of Jesus. A story how Love bore it all. Loved nailed to the cross. Love took it all to the grave.

Now is not the time to intellectualize, rationalize or try to comprehend what happened. Our task is to listen, feel, and take in the magnitude of the experience. Let our hearts be touched and transformed by Christ's suffering...knowing the simple truth that the pain he bore was for our healing and salvation. How can such eternal, unconditional love be received by mortal senses? So let us pray to hear the story fresh this time. May the story of Christ's love pierce us -- so we can be healed to love -- unfettered by sin -- as God longs for us to do.

There are many wonderful songs and versions to make part of your Holy Week observance. Here are just a few. Some songs have graphic images, I have deliberately kept them to a minimum. But be careful with children.

Wednesday: Trinity Church, 'Now Behold the Lamb," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOj8eCxZEaA

Maundy Thursday: Selah, "When Love Was Slain" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hq5CGePpCc&feature=related

Good Friday Sandi Patty, Via Dolorosa, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6dwOX6N_Tk

SATURDAY: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, "Worthy Is the Lamb" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAplJ0_jDFc

"God make my heart tender to be with you throughout the passion of Christ. My this passion story transform us and make us new people -- a loving people, a servant people. Worthy is the Lamb!"

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March 20th, 2018

3/20/2018

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LISTEN TO: King and Country, "The Proof of Your Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MgVf8fzEiY

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

As we prepare for Palm Sunday and our journey into Holy Week, we turn once more to Paul's inspired passage on love. Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts in the world. Today we meditate on love's power to bear, believe, hope and endure all things.

  Francis of Assisi, perhaps one of the most beloved figures in Christiandom, was born into a wealthy family. He renounced it all for Christ and service in His Name. Like us, Francis had his struggles. It is said that Francis of Assisi was terrified of leprosy. And one day, on the narrow path that he was traveling, he saw a leper. Instinctively he recoiled from the contamination of that loathsome disease. People feared leprosy, it's affects on the body, and believed it manifested as a result of sin. Francis was ashamed of reactions. He then ran and cast his arms about the sufferer’s neck and kissed him and passed on. A moment later he looked back, and there was no one there, only the empty road in the hot sunlight. All his days thereafter he was sure it was no leper, but Christ Himself whom he had met.” He later reflected:

, “God allowed me to begin my repentance in this way: when I lived in sin, seeing lepers was a very bitter experience for me. God himself guided me into their midst and among them I performed acts of charity. What appeared bitter to me became sweetness of the soul and body.”

What Francis learned is the powerful confession of love by Apostle Paul: Love bears all things. It believes all things. It hopes all things It endures all things. This is Love 505, advanced practice,a doctoral level seminar, that we have been advanced to -- ready or not. At first glance we may protest: Isn't it naive of us to believe all things? Hope all things? Isn't it unwise to bear all things and endure all things -- particularly if it puts us in danger? There are no cookie cutter answers. Without a doubt Love, agape love, divine love, pushes the envelope.

Paul is telling us -- without apologizes -- Love bears. This word is related to the word for roof. Love covers, offers protection against hostile elements. Love stands up for other people, especially people being oppressed, bullied and denied their rights. In it's role as protector, love doesn't spread gossip, complaints, bad news. Love cares about another's reputation, even if someone who has hurt or lied. Love seeks to see all people returned to the fold of Christ, and with the grace of Jesus bears up all this weight.

Love believes in us -- especially when we lost faith and no longer believe in ourselves and our faith. Love starts with the premise that everyone is made in image of God and is a child of God. So even when we aren't producing results, when all we see are sins after sins, mistakes after mistakes, Love refuses to give up -- although we may give up. Ever hear the expression, "if you can't believe, believe then that I believe." That's Jesus, saying to us, he believes, and never will stop believing in us.

Love hopes. Many of us have given up on hope. We can't see change possible. The facts are stacked against us. Hope doesn't mean we ignore the facts, or turn a blind eye to what is happening around us, Hope means we keep taking that next step. Hope gets up with it falls. Hope is not a feeling. It is a commitment to action, a commitment to follow Jesus, and trust his words, "all things work together for good, for those who love God and work together for his purpose. Romans 8:28"

Love Endures. Enduring takes the "bearing" one step further. This is a military term that commands us to hold the fort at all cost, whatever it takes. Trained soldiers keep fighting until the end, even when all is lost. So Love holds fast to those it loves. Love doesn't stop, no matter how many defeats have been thrown it's way. Love doesn't flee challenging situations. Like Francis learned, by remaining steadfast in a difficult situation, by embracing lepers, bitterness for him was turned into sweetness. He didn't run away. The question that we are asked to consider is, "who or what represents leprosy to us, today?" Whom or what have we been avoiding loving? Are we running away from something or someone?

All these powerful traits of love come together seamlessly in Jesus. As we enter Holy Week, let us closely observe and mediate on his actions on the way to the cross. Jesus perfectly bears, believes, hopes and endures. He is true Love, our model for life in the Kingdom of God.

Let us learn from the Master as we enter the Holy Week story, and perfect our learning in Love 505.

PRAY:  "Lord, make your actions our own, turn our bitterness to sweetness, as we learn to confront our obstacles to love, and begin to love more as you do."

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March 13th, 2018

3/13/2018

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“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)
Kari Jobe, "We Are"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=QopaSS4ExZg

This past week day light savings time ended and we "lost" an hour of sleep. We gained an hour of light, and next week, when spring starts daylight will tip the balance to more and more day.

We cannot imagine these days what it must be like to live without continuous access to light. It's available to us 24/7. We can stay up all hours reading, working (not always a good thing!) Just several centuries ago it was a different story. People lived by the natural light of the sun. Oils and candles were precious resources. Imagine what it must have been like in Jesus' day -- how dependent people were on the few resources of light available. Their lives were limited.

Jesus says we are one of those precious resources. We are light. The light of Christ that shines through us brings continuous guidance, warmth, hope and reassurance to those around us. Our light enables others to live better lives. Our light illumines the path to God by the deeds we do.

In a few weeks we will arrive at Holy Week. We will recall how darkness descended. We will remember how Jesus was engulfed by betrayal, desertion, torture, condemnation and ultimately sentenced to die on the Cross. Christ's words during his agony are a source of light to us. Jesus' actions of faithfulness and forgiveness raises the beacon high. His words challenge us to strive to bring God's light in dark and despairing situations.

So let us be light in all we say and do.

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Rejoicing in Lent

3/6/2018

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"And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me.....” (Genesis 22:6)"
tFrancesca Battistelli - "This Is The Stuff" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-5x4nhzIw4

Lent is a solemn time, marked by sacrifice and preparation for Holy Week. However, at the fourth Sunday (this upcoming Sunday) a change occurs, much like the theme of the third Sunday of Advent (Joy - "Gaudete" ). On Laetare ("Rejoice") Sunday, We look ahead briefly to the joy of Easter. We lighten up, we relax, and recall the joy of the Lord in the midst of the Lenten pilgrimage. We celebrate God's presence and goodness in the midst of life. We tell jokes. We share inspirational stories with humorous twists.

So enjoy these humorous sayings and jokes. Our journey is nearing its end and we need strength for the journey -- strength gathered from laughter!

ATTITUDE TO LIVE BY!
I don't repeat gossip, so listen carefully.
My idea of cleaning the house is sweeping the floor with a glance.
If it's true we are what we eat, I am either fast, cheap, or easy.
Your secrets are safe with me and all my friends.
Take my advice, I'm not using it!
You know you're getting old when you stop to think and forget to start again.
Mom, I'll always love you, but I'll never forgive you for cleaning my face with spit on a hanky.
I love to give homemade gifts ... umm, which one of the kids would you like?

PRAY: "Thank you for the gift of laughter and for moments of respite. Help us gather our strength and prepare for the final stages of the journey to Jerusalem."

LisPRAY: "Thank you for the gift of laughter and for moments of respite. Help us gather our strength and prepare for the final stages of the journey to Jerusalem."

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"A New Commandment"

March 20th, 2018

March 13th, 2018

Rejoicing in Lent

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