sweet and bitter

Good evening folks,

Today's reading is a great example of how Revelation echoes Ezekiel. When God called Ezekiel, God gave Ezekiel a scroll to eat as well to prepare him to prophesy. The same is true for John. It's an interesting image for God's word in general, which is sweet in our mouth and challenging in our soul.

God bless,
Sam

Revelation 10:1-11

And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. ²He held a little scroll open in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, ³he gave a great shout, like a lion roaring. And when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded. ⁴And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” 

⁵Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand to heaven ⁶and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay, ⁷but in the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

⁸Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” ⁹So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” ¹⁰So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. ¹¹Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

feasting, hope and repentance

Good afternoon brothers and sisters,


First, as many of you know, our living nativity is this Saturday and Sunday from 6:30-8:30 both nights. We need actors for all roles and no training or rehearsal is needed. We'd also love folks to bring some snacks since we'll host a simple open house in the narthex both evenings. The Outreach team is working really hard this season and they could definitely use a hand with anything from sound, set up, clean up and such. No matter what, it would be great to see you out to check out the scene for the evening. It's a great chance to remember what Christmas is really about.



Today's reading is about God's ability and desire to save us from evil and give us new life. Too many people are hungry for food and for hope. God invites us to be part of making a better world for everyone.


God bless,


Sam



Isaiah 55:1-13


Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.


6Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;7let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.


10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.


12For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

trust in trouble

Good evening friends,
Please keep Barb Miller in your prayers as she begins rehab at Hill Haven following a fall on Sunday. Our reading today reminds us that faith requires discipline to be the people God calls us to be. When we really trust and follow God, we will sometimes find ourselves in places we wouldn't ordinarily like to be. Even then, God's word is free, powerful and effective. Faith means trusting God, and God is trustworthy in life and in death.

God bless,
Sam

2 Timothy 2:1-13

You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; ²and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. ³Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. ⁵And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. ⁶It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, ⁹for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ¹¹The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

God's sword

Good morning brothers and sisters,
In today's reading the author of the Letter to the Hebrews compares God's word with a sharp sword. He or she talks about how scripture exposes our inner self to God, who sees everything about us. When we read scripture, especially when we read it prayerfully, we don't just learn stories about our faith or pieces of doctrine. We see God revealed through the word. We also see ourselves clearly. When the psalmist talks honestly about his sin and the joy of forgiveness, we see how we get tangled up in sin as well. When ordinary people do amazing things for God we are inspired to claim our own ministry. When biblical characters do mean or stupid things, we reflect on the areas we still need to work on.

Scripture convicts us of our shortcomings and it lifts up our potential. It also reminds us that no matter what we have done, God is merciful and wants to forgive us. So open the word, confess your brokenness, and come to the throne of grace.

God bless,
Sam

Hebrews 4:12-16

¹²Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

¹⁴Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

the word of truth

Good afternoon friends,
The two letters to Timothy are gems of advice for church leaders, but are applicable to all Christians. Here Paul talks about how he is chained, and in fact was often in prison, but that even so God's word isn't chained. Paul found ways even to use his captivity to spread the gospel about Jesus further, which is great encouragement for us. We can use any of the situations in our life to bear witness to God's love in Christ. 


Paul also tells Timothy that one of the signs of being a faithful leader is "rightly explaining the word of truth." I think of explaining and helping you to understand God's word in scripture as a critical part of my calling too. At the same time, I can only help if you are willing to do your part. If we want to understand scripture, which is wonderful, we need to read on our own and study together. God does amazing things when we make the word a priority. Tonight, and every Wednesday until some time in May, at 5:30 we'll gather for supper and Bible study. The menu changes weekly as does the group around the table. No matter what, the discussion is open and welcoming. It would be great to have you there.

God bless,
Sam

2 Timothy 2:8-15

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, ⁹for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ¹¹The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 

¹⁴Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. ¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

meditating on God's law

Good morning friends,
Today's reading is from Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in scripture. The whole Psalm is a mediation on God's law or Torah. We often think about law or commandments as negative, things we have to do. The Psalm reminds us that God's law (also commandments, decrees, ordinances) give life by teaching us the right way to live. This long Psalm is organized in 22 stanzas of 8 lines each. Each stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence. There are different feelings in the Psalm, but the focus throughout is God's guidance through the Torah. May you find sweetness and blessing in this poem and in God's guidance today.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:24-31

²⁴Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

²⁵My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.

²⁶When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.

²⁷Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

²⁹Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law.

³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.

³¹I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame.

planting the word

Good morning friends,
Today's reading may take a couple times through to get it; don't feel bad about that, but do give it a second try. The idea is that we've been renewed and claimed by God's love in Christ. The seed of our new life is the word of God. That phrase, "word of God" can mean different things. For instance, John's Gospel tells us that Jesus is the Word who existed before the world began. Most often we think of the word of God as scripture, which is also true, because, through the Holy Spirit, God does speak to us in scripture.

In this reading Peter says God's word is the good news (that God loves and redeems us in Jesus Christ). That good news plants the seed of a new relationship with God and a new live of love and service. That seed is planted and watered with scripture and never dies.

God bless,
Sam

1 Peter 1:18-24

¹⁸You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. ²⁰He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. ²¹Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. ²²Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. ²³You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

²⁴For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵but the word of the Lord endures forever.” That word is the good news that was announced to you.

Christmas messengers

Merry Christmas sisters and brothers!
Today Isaiah helps us rejoice about good news: the good news of God's redemption. John sets Jesus' birth in its cosmic place. Jesus is not just the anointed king, not just the son of God, but truly God who created the world. Even though the dark forces of the world can't accept Jesus, even though they try to extinguish his light; Christ's light and love keep shining. Thanks be to God; Alleluia!

God bless,
Sam

Isaiah 52:7-10

⁷  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
   who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
⁸  Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy;
   for in plain sight they see the return of the LORD to Zion.
⁹  Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem;
   for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations;
   and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

*Sunday

John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

God's word doesn't return empty

Good morning friends,
Thanks to all who participated in the prayer vigil. It was a great experience for me; I hope it  was a blessing for you too as part of your Advent journey. Today's reading is God's invitation to us to come home. God is just longing to forgive us and restore our lives and world. I love the image of God's word never returning empty, but watering the earth and bringing redemption wherever it goes. I pray we would be part of sharing and showing the word to the world around us, this Advent and always.

God bless,
Sam

Isaiah 55:6-13

⁶Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; ⁷let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

¹⁰For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. ¹²For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

words and actions

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Paul continues to remind the Thessalonians that his actions matched the gospel he proclaimed. He also praises them for hearing God's word well. Paul's message is a reminder for us in our evangelism. If our actions don't match our words, no one will listen. May we always grow in faith as we are nurtured by God's word.
blessings,
Sam

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

⁹You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. ¹¹As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, ¹²urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.

sowing the word

Good morning friends,
Our reading from Romans presents the good news that in Christ we are forgiven. Jesus took our sins on himself and dealt with them to set us free. Now that we are free we have the choice to either focus our attention on spiritual things or on material things. We live most truly when we put ourselves aside and live in Christ. Our reading from Matthew gives the image of a sower tossing seed onto the ground. How do we let the word grow in us? How do we plant the word for others?

God bless,
Sam

Romans 8:1-11

1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law — indeed it cannot, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.



9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.



*Sunday

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!”



18“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

sanctified

Good morning friends,
I really enjoyed working with Habitat and with other urban Christians yesterday. If you're free and have the inclination, I know there are opportunities to work with Habitat today and tomorrow. There are also opportunities this morning and Saturday morning to serve with Third Presbyterian's dining room ministry and on Saturday there's a chance to do some sprucing up at New Life Presbyterian. Of course, Saturday morning Laurelton is hosting a car wash from 9-11 am and your help would be much appreciated there.

Jesus prays knowing that his disciples will be hated. He doesn't pray that God would remove them from the world that hates them; instead he prays that God would protect them from Satan. And he prayer that God would sanctify them (make them holy) in the truth, which is God's word. God's word sets us apart for holiness, service and sometimes trouble. And God's word gives us eternal life. Where is that word calling you today?

God bless,
Sam

John 17:11-19

11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.



14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

going deeper

Good morning friends,
Our short reading for today is comforting but also pushes the church forward. Laurelton is a welcoming church, which is one of the things that first attracted me here. We do a great job with friendliness, but too often we leave our relationships with each other at a fairly surface level. The challenge Peter has for us is to take it further, not only to be friendly but to, "Love one another deeply from the heart." What would it mean for us to dig deeply with our relationships? What would it mean to open ourselves to each other in a way that would allow us to share our deepest joys and sorrows? It sounds scary, but it also sounds wonderful. Digging up the soil of our lives through deep, loving relationship can allow the seeds of God's word to grow strong.

God bless,
Sam

1 Peter 1:22-25

22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.



24For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25but the word of the Lord endures forever.” That word is the good news that was announced to you.

the word in poetry

Good morning friends,
There's an interesting structure going on here too. Psalms are poems or songs, so the structure of the verses is often very carefully arranged. This section is sort of like a ring or a pyramid with verses 76 and 77 at the top because the first and second half mirror each other. The middle two verses both ask for God's mercy or steadfast love, in verse 76 on the basis of God's promise and in verse 77 because the psalmist delights in God's word. Working down the pyramid verses 75 and 78 talk about humility and arrogance: Lord I know you humbled me out of faithfulness/let the arrogant be put to shame because of their deceit. Still further from the center verses 74 and 79 talk about how others who fear God will rejoice about God's love for the psalmist/come to the psalmist for instruction. Finally at the base of the pyramid the asks for a clean heart and understanding.

Structure is important to Psalm 119 in general. The whole psalm is an acrostic with each line in a section beginning with the same Hebrew letter and each section following a letter in the Hebrew alphabet. I don't know that the structure changes the way we understand the word; maybe it's just for fun. At the same time the structure can lead us to spend more time meditating on God's word in poetry, and that's really the point.
May the word be sweet in your mouth and nourishing to your soul,
Sam


Psalm 119:73-80

73Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

75I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

76Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.

77Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.

78Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees.

80May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.

hearing in humility

Good morning friends,
First, thanks to everyone who made it out to the Boulevard last night for the opening session of our Back to Basics series. The idea is to have a discussion about faith and scripture that makes no assumptions about what people think or know. The goal is a safe place to engage questions honestly. It's certainly a learning experience for me, but I had a lot of fun. We'll be at the Boulevard (412 Empire Blvd 14609) every Wednesday from 8-10 from now until November 17th. Hope to see you there.

Today's reading brings us back to Psalm 119, a Psalm that explores different sides of thinking about God's word. This passage picks up on humility, partly because it's hard to hear God's word to us if we believe we have all the answers. Humility is the opposite of arrogance and in this passage it comes or is reinforced by a particular experience. The Psalmist talks about being humbled: we don't know what happened, maybe a failure or an economic hardship or a grief? Reflecting back on that experience the Psalmist notices that that experience brought him/her closer to God. Sometimes it is trouble or hardship that reminds us we can't do it all and we need God. That doesn't mean God sends those things on us to do that, but it does mean God can speak to us through trouble if we're willing to listen. I pray we would be open to God's word today.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:65-72

65You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
66Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.
70Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law.
71It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes.
72The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

seek the welfare of the city

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Our reading from Jeremiah is the scriptural motto for many people involved in urban ministry. At this point in Judah's history the defeat Jeremiah prophesied has come; most of the political, cultural and spiritual leaders of the nation are in exile in Babylon. God has Jeremiah write a letter to these leaders. The letter doesn't say to mourn (though the people are doing that too); it doesn't say to seek rebellion; instead, it tells the leaders to live life fully in exile. Even though they are in a hostile and strange land they are to engage in ministry and life there fully because that's how their lives will get better in the short to medium term. In the long term God will bring them home, but they shouldn't put their lives on whole to wait.

Our reading from Timothy remind Timothy of the gospel to proclaim, which is Christ himself. Paul also advises Timothy to avoid wrangling over words, which is always timely advice for the church. We can and should talk openly about our differences, but we must not let those differences divide us. We have work to do for God's kingdom, and we can work together instead of fighting over our differences. Even when we are chained or tired or confused, the word of God is not chained. If we take that hopeful, loving word into the world God can do amazing things through us.

God bless,
Sam

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

1These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

4Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.



*Sunday

2 Timothy 2:8-15

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-that is my gospel, 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13if we are faithless, he remains faithful-for he cannot deny himself.

14Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

rooted in the word

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Our Psalm reveals hints of trouble today. The psalmist feels like a stranger in his home and considers princes plotting against him. Sometimes the life of faith can feel like that; sometimes we have a sense that powerful interests are opposed to our faith individually or as a church. It has always been this way from Israel's slavery in Egypt to Christ's persecution and the persecution of the early church. Sometimes our hardest opposition comes from times when the world around us is accepting of our faith, at least in words. Acceptance tends to make us complacent and lets us imagine that the social order and the gospel have more in common than they really do.

Other times our hardest opposition is within us. We want to follow God's path; we want to meditate on the word, but we let other commitments get in the way. Often our temptations are so subtle we don't notice them as opposition, so we find ourselves gently drifting away from the path God calls us to follow. We pray that God would open our eyes so we can see the wonders of God's law; we pray God would open our hearts to feel a longing for the word; we pray God would open our minds to meditate on God's commandments. Then God's decrees will be our delight and our counselors as we grow strong, rooted in the word. As we talk about meditating on the commandments, I'd like to invite you to supper and scripture at Laurelton tonight and every Wednesday. We begin at 5:30 in Christler Hall with a wonderful supper, and share about an hour of fellowship and discussion of scripture. For the next several weeks we'll be taking a look at the Ten Commandments and how they can guide us today. Dinner is free, but you are welcome to make a donation towards the cost of food. I hope you'll join us and bring a friend.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:17-24

17Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.
18Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;
22take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.
23Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.

Happy are those...

Good morning friends,
For some of the next few weeks we'll be reading from Psalm 119. This is the longest of the Psalms and one of several Psalms about the joy of following God's way. There are lots of different words the psalmist uses to talk about God's way: ordinances, commandments, decrees, law. The term the Old Testament often uses to encompass all of these ideas is Torah, usually translated Law. We talk about the Torah as the first five books of the Old Testament since that's where most of the religious law is found. Law is only part of what Torah means, however. It also means instruction or teaching.

As we can see from the psalmist's enthusiasm as we continue in the days to come, following God's law means more than sticking strictly to a rulebook. It means rooting our whole life in God's word and God's way for our life. We were talking yesterday afternoon about how confirmation is a great opportunity for kids to dive into the Bible. We were also wishing there were more opportunity for adults to do the same, but time is always a challenge in making that happen. Anyone who spends a lot of time with the scriptures can testify that the word is sweet and nourishing for our life. I pray this Psalm will help us appreciate that sweetness and encourage us to find the happiness of God's instruction.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 119:1-8
1Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.
4You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances.
8I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

investing in the future

Good morning friends,
First, I'd like to invite us to pray hard for the peace negotiations in the Middle East; let's pray that all parties would be open to truly listen to each other and to work for the stability and peace. Today's passage is a reminder that God's great purposes play out in simple, everyday actions. We've heard Jeremiah prophesying doom for Judah because of idolatry and injustice. Finally fed up with this message, the King of Judah has Jeremiah locked up. Jeremiah's imprisonment comes in the midst of a Babylonian attack on Jerusalem, an attack that will end in Jerusalem's capture.

Jeremiah hears a message from God that his cousin is going to come and ask him to purchase a field from him. In Israel and Judah land is never just land. God told Joshua how to divide the land among the Twelve Tribes of Israel when they first conquered and occupied the land centuries earlier. Inherited land was not only important for a family, it was an inheritance decreed by God. For that reason there were biblical laws about how land could be transferred. If a family got into debt and had to sell their land their close family were supposed to buy the land to keep it in the family. That's what Hanamel means when he tells Jeremiah that the right by purchase and redemption is his. In the middle of a siege, that land would be basically worthless, but Jeremiah buys it. He buys it as a message from God that this defeat is not the end of the road for Judah. God has a future for them, even if it seems unlikely at the moment. God has a future for us too; we can trust and invest in that future with our everyday lives.

God bless,
Sam

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. 2At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, 3awhere King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. 6Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came to me: 7Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, "Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours." 8Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, "Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself." Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.


9And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. 11Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; 12and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, 14Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. 15For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.

marriage and food

Good morning friends,
In our passage for today Paul reminds Timothy that controversy in church will test the church and its leaders. He points to false teachings, citing those who "forbid marriage and demand abstinence from certain kinds of foods." The food issue probably refers to people who continued to follow the Law of Moses, keeping kosher as part of their Christian faith. Paul consistently rejects this standpoint, though often he counsels the church not to worry if some people in the church continue to keep those regulations.

Paul's teaching on marriage is interesting. In First Corinthians he lifts up some of the difficulties of making Christ the center of one's life if one is married: "The single woman worries about God, how to please God; but the married woman worries about how to please her husband." Even though he sees the virtue in remaining single he also knows it is not everyone's calling, and he sees that marriage can strengthen faith as well. He speaks out strongly here and elsewhere against leaders who forbid marriage. Paul also encourages Timothy and reminds him (and us) that leaders in the church need to make sure they are well nourished by God's word. We all need that nourishment to stay strong in our faith. So savor the word and give thanks for God's gifts.

God bless,
Sam


1 Timothy 4:1-6
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. 3They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; 5for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
6If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.