Good afternoon friends,
Jesus talks about being the vine and we disciples as the branches. While it sounds harsh to think about not being able to do anything cut off from him, if we look at it a different way we see something else. What if we remember that God is love? Isn't a big part of our society's problem that we try to do so much cut off from love? We can produce lots of things that way, but in terms of lives that really matter; many of us are withering because we're cut off from love. What if instead of focusing on accumulating wealth we focus on nurturing our connections to God, to love and to one another?
God bless,
Sam
John 15:1-8
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Showing posts with label connection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label connection. Show all posts
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Sunday, December 29, 2013
connected to Christ
Good evening friends,
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
Today's reading stresses the connection of Christians to Jesus. All that we are comes from him, and cut off from him we can do nothing. This very much goes against the grain of our culture's focus on self-reliance, so spend a few minutes with the challenge that presents to you.
God bless,
Sam
Sam
John 15:1-9
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
Friday, May 4, 2012
abiding in Christ
Good morning friends,
I'm back in Rochester after a great week with colleagues reflecting on life and ministry. Thanks for the prayers and good wishes; it's good to be back. Today's reading continues Jesus' discussion with the disciples at the last supper. He talks about how important it is for us to stay with him (abide in him). We are like branches of a vine and Christ is the root of the vine. Without him, we wither and dry up, but with Christ we can do anything. That promise for the first disciples is still ours today.
God bless,
Sam
I'm back in Rochester after a great week with colleagues reflecting on life and ministry. Thanks for the prayers and good wishes; it's good to be back. Today's reading continues Jesus' discussion with the disciples at the last supper. He talks about how important it is for us to stay with him (abide in him). We are like branches of a vine and Christ is the root of the vine. Without him, we wither and dry up, but with Christ we can do anything. That promise for the first disciples is still ours today.
God bless,
Sam
John 14:25 -15:17
25”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Monday, May 30, 2011
abide in Christ's love
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Jesus continues his final words to his disciples with this image of a vine and its branches. As Christ's disciples we are only effective or faithful when we stay connected to Christ, our root. Notice that even when we're doing what we should be "bearing fruit," Jesus doesn't lead us to expect comfort or ease. Instead, he says God "prunes" us so we bear more fruit. Elsewhere he warns the disciples they will be hated for his sake. We don't follow Jesus because it's easy, but because with Jesus we find true and abundant life. Spend a little time reflecting on this word Jesus uses repeatedly: "abide." How can you abide in Jesus more fully?
God bless,
Sam
John 15:1-8
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Jesus continues his final words to his disciples with this image of a vine and its branches. As Christ's disciples we are only effective or faithful when we stay connected to Christ, our root. Notice that even when we're doing what we should be "bearing fruit," Jesus doesn't lead us to expect comfort or ease. Instead, he says God "prunes" us so we bear more fruit. Elsewhere he warns the disciples they will be hated for his sake. We don't follow Jesus because it's easy, but because with Jesus we find true and abundant life. Spend a little time reflecting on this word Jesus uses repeatedly: "abide." How can you abide in Jesus more fully?
God bless,
Sam
John 15:1-8
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
judgment and comfort
Good morning friends,
In our passage today Amos attacks the discrepancy between "those who are at ease" and the "ruin of Joseph." Here in particular it seems like his concern is that those who have wealth and power use it to insulate themselves from other people's problems. So even while part of society might be doing well, Amos calls Israel a ruin. I think sometimes of our military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan not having what they need to rebuild nations in ruins. In contrast I think about how little we at home, who don't have relatives serving, have been asked to sacrifice.
Amos also laments over those who "put away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence..." By this he means those who rule by force for their own benefit and forget that one day they will be judged. Sometimes thinking about judgement just scares us or turns us away from our faith because it is "too negative." That's not the way I want us to hear this word. Instead I hope we hear it as a challenge to think of life not only in the short term: bills, financial security, comfort, but also in terms of the bigger picture: how we want our life to look in the frame of eternity. When you look back on your life with God one day what do you want the picture to look like? Where is your calling and responsibility?
God bless,
Sam
Amos 6:1-14
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria, the notables of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts! 2Cross over to Calneh, and see; from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is your territory greater than their territory, 3O you that put far away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence? 4Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; 5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; 6who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
8The Lord God has sworn by himself (says the Lord, the God of hosts): I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds; and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it. 9If ten people remain in one house, they shall die. 10And if a relative, one who burns the dead, shall take up the body to bring it out of the house, and shall say to someone in the innermost parts of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” the answer will come, “No.” Then the relative shall say, “Hush! We must not mention the name of the Lord.” 11See, the Lord commands, and the great house shall be shattered to bits, and the little house to pieces.
12Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood— 13you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, “Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?” 14Indeed, I am raising up against you a nation, O house of Israel, says the Lord, the God of hosts, and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi Arabah.
In our passage today Amos attacks the discrepancy between "those who are at ease" and the "ruin of Joseph." Here in particular it seems like his concern is that those who have wealth and power use it to insulate themselves from other people's problems. So even while part of society might be doing well, Amos calls Israel a ruin. I think sometimes of our military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan not having what they need to rebuild nations in ruins. In contrast I think about how little we at home, who don't have relatives serving, have been asked to sacrifice.
Amos also laments over those who "put away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence..." By this he means those who rule by force for their own benefit and forget that one day they will be judged. Sometimes thinking about judgement just scares us or turns us away from our faith because it is "too negative." That's not the way I want us to hear this word. Instead I hope we hear it as a challenge to think of life not only in the short term: bills, financial security, comfort, but also in terms of the bigger picture: how we want our life to look in the frame of eternity. When you look back on your life with God one day what do you want the picture to look like? Where is your calling and responsibility?
God bless,
Sam
Amos 6:1-14
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria, the notables of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts! 2Cross over to Calneh, and see; from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is your territory greater than their territory, 3O you that put far away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence? 4Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; 5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; 6who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
8The Lord God has sworn by himself (says the Lord, the God of hosts): I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds; and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it. 9If ten people remain in one house, they shall die. 10And if a relative, one who burns the dead, shall take up the body to bring it out of the house, and shall say to someone in the innermost parts of the house, “Is anyone else with you?” the answer will come, “No.” Then the relative shall say, “Hush! We must not mention the name of the Lord.” 11See, the Lord commands, and the great house shall be shattered to bits, and the little house to pieces.
12Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood— 13you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, “Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?” 14Indeed, I am raising up against you a nation, O house of Israel, says the Lord, the God of hosts, and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi Arabah.
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