John 6: 24-35
(I am referring to a book called The Spirituality of Bread by Donna Sinclair for this sermon, as well.)
Bread is considered to be a life source for most of the world. People since ancient times have cobbled together grains finely ground and water and created enough food to give them sustenance. Manna was considered to be a sort of bread given by God to the Israelites during their journey in the desert. A devilish temptation offered to a starving Jesus during his forty days in the wilderness was a delicious taste of bread. We depend on bread to live.
In a world that is increasingly gluten-free, this can be an interesting concept to discuss. How can something like 'regular ordinary bread' hurt so many people's digestive systems? I suspect it has more to do with current additives and modified growing practices than with the ancient natural stalk of wheat, but I am not here to give you an agricultural changes talk. I am here to talk to you about Jesus being given to us as the bread of life. And the ways we can look at the concept of 'bread of life.' Why is Jesus giving himself to the world compared to bread?
Bread connects us to one another. We associate breads with where we are from... where I come from, for example, cornbread is made in a skillet and has NO sugar added. Every nation on earth seems to have a bread or two that is representative of their culture. I remember days I spent in Paris in college, spreading some soft cheese each morning on a half of a baguette, that combined with my chocolat chaud made for such a wonderful start to the day. And I would wrap the other half in a napkin and put it in my backpack for a delicious lunch later in the day.
Bread connects us to justice. We read of the biblical stories of sharing bread. From the manna in the wilderness, to the woman who makes bread from a little flour and oil, to the feeding of the 5000, to the breaking of the loaf as a symbol of Jesus' approaching death, we are faced time and again in the biblical story with the miraculous nature of sharing bread to create a stronger humanity. Whether we are sharing literal bread with others (in a meal like our Soup, Soup and more event...), or we are sharing the abundance of our resources, bread reminds us that we are called to break our loaves and our lives open for those who need it.
What memories do you have of bread? Have a favorite recipe or holiday where special bread is served? How does bread symbolize holy in your life?
Email me or comment below.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The Food Network
John 6:1-21
This story is probably one of the top five most famous Bible stories. The account of Jesus taking a little boy's lunch and miraculously blessing it so that it feeds over 5000 people has been told throughout the centuries with great gusto. It is counted as one of Jesus' miracles with good reason.
I have no doubt it was a miracle indeed. But what I wonder about is the way it all occurred. I think Jesus' actual miracle in offering the blessing might have centered more around having people who were tired and sorely wanting... they came looking to Jesus for help after all.... being able to pull together and get past their individual crisis to share themselves with one another.
I have to think that surely more than one little boy's mom remembered to pack him a loaf and fish lunch? Surely others had food on them as well; after all they had long walks everywhere they went. Is it possible then, that Jesus is able to use the beautiful miracle of this little boy's willingness to share a lunch as a catalyst for everyone doing so?
Frank told a story during children's time last week of a congregation that invited an immigrant congregation to a potluck, but didn't explain to them what a potluck was... everyone bringing a dish to pass... and yet, somehow everyone was fed. The miracle is that in some kind of wonderful Pentecost moment, everyone gets on the same page and understands what it means to pool together resources and share, and the ways that can lead to abundance beyond imagination.
Let's consider what we can do to share a little more of what we have each week to give to the collective body. If we all give a little, as the story says, we will be surprised by the abundance we have left over.
What cool miracles have you witnessed? Have you ever seen a little turn into an abundance? Email me or comment below.
This story is probably one of the top five most famous Bible stories. The account of Jesus taking a little boy's lunch and miraculously blessing it so that it feeds over 5000 people has been told throughout the centuries with great gusto. It is counted as one of Jesus' miracles with good reason.
I have no doubt it was a miracle indeed. But what I wonder about is the way it all occurred. I think Jesus' actual miracle in offering the blessing might have centered more around having people who were tired and sorely wanting... they came looking to Jesus for help after all.... being able to pull together and get past their individual crisis to share themselves with one another.
I have to think that surely more than one little boy's mom remembered to pack him a loaf and fish lunch? Surely others had food on them as well; after all they had long walks everywhere they went. Is it possible then, that Jesus is able to use the beautiful miracle of this little boy's willingness to share a lunch as a catalyst for everyone doing so?
Frank told a story during children's time last week of a congregation that invited an immigrant congregation to a potluck, but didn't explain to them what a potluck was... everyone bringing a dish to pass... and yet, somehow everyone was fed. The miracle is that in some kind of wonderful Pentecost moment, everyone gets on the same page and understands what it means to pool together resources and share, and the ways that can lead to abundance beyond imagination.
Let's consider what we can do to share a little more of what we have each week to give to the collective body. If we all give a little, as the story says, we will be surprised by the abundance we have left over.
What cool miracles have you witnessed? Have you ever seen a little turn into an abundance? Email me or comment below.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Jesus Christ Superstar
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Ever had a time in your life when you always felt like someone wanted "a piece of you?" Being so tugged and pulled in so many different directions that you weren't sure where or what to go to first? That feeling is why we decide to retire, right? All of us have some times in our lives when we feel that everyone around us is pulling us to do something for them, to help them, to be with them... and we feel like we have no time to be ourselves.
That's why I love this passage today. I read this passage whenever I feel pulled in a thousand different directions because that is what is happening to Jesus here. He has people following him around and wanting something from him wherever he goes. He can run, but he can't hide.
Reading this passage reminds me that Jesus feels my pain, understands what it is like to be overburdened by other people's demands.
So many times, when we see photos of famous people on TV or in magazines, etc., the photo we see is taken with dozens of other people standing nearby taking their own photos. Celebrities are never alone when they are out in public. They are always bombarded and find it very hard to escape from the constant crawl of the paparazzi. What must that feel like? Jesus understood that, too.
My thought in this is always, also, "When does Jesus take care of himself?" He hardly every gets a chance to get away. Some of my colleagues are always talking about self care... caring about yourself so that you can care for others. Important, of course. And definitely the reason that I am diligent about my Friday "Sabbath Family Time." But Jesus shows us time and again that living selflessly is a call from God.
What do we make of this story? What lessons does it have for us? Perhaps your tugs in life are from people, perhaps they are from decisions you need to make, perhaps they are from the voices in your own head, but all of us feel tugs at our time and our being... wanting us to move in different directions and do something here and something else there. And all of us resist them from time to time.
How do you deal with the tugs of life? What pulls you around? How do you find a balance between being pulled around and pulling yourself back to center?
Email me or comment below.
Ever had a time in your life when you always felt like someone wanted "a piece of you?" Being so tugged and pulled in so many different directions that you weren't sure where or what to go to first? That feeling is why we decide to retire, right? All of us have some times in our lives when we feel that everyone around us is pulling us to do something for them, to help them, to be with them... and we feel like we have no time to be ourselves.
That's why I love this passage today. I read this passage whenever I feel pulled in a thousand different directions because that is what is happening to Jesus here. He has people following him around and wanting something from him wherever he goes. He can run, but he can't hide.
Reading this passage reminds me that Jesus feels my pain, understands what it is like to be overburdened by other people's demands.
So many times, when we see photos of famous people on TV or in magazines, etc., the photo we see is taken with dozens of other people standing nearby taking their own photos. Celebrities are never alone when they are out in public. They are always bombarded and find it very hard to escape from the constant crawl of the paparazzi. What must that feel like? Jesus understood that, too.
My thought in this is always, also, "When does Jesus take care of himself?" He hardly every gets a chance to get away. Some of my colleagues are always talking about self care... caring about yourself so that you can care for others. Important, of course. And definitely the reason that I am diligent about my Friday "Sabbath Family Time." But Jesus shows us time and again that living selflessly is a call from God.
What do we make of this story? What lessons does it have for us? Perhaps your tugs in life are from people, perhaps they are from decisions you need to make, perhaps they are from the voices in your own head, but all of us feel tugs at our time and our being... wanting us to move in different directions and do something here and something else there. And all of us resist them from time to time.
How do you deal with the tugs of life? What pulls you around? How do you find a balance between being pulled around and pulling yourself back to center?
Email me or comment below.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Freedom
Galatians 5:13-14
The Message (MSG)
13-15It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
This week's service is going to be terrific! There is no sermon, but our fine team of readers will speak 'freedom words' from a great series of scripture readings and quotes from famous promoters of freedom, like Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. We are also singing all the hits from the hymnal that we rarely sing, like "America" and "America the Beautiful." Beautiful music, powerful readings, lots worth mulling over...
In preparation for the service, how do you define 'freedom' for yourself? What do you see as 'true freedom'? How do we, as Christian people, create 'freedom in Christ' for one another? What does the example of Christ's sacrifice tell us about freedom and oppression?
Have a great Fourth of July! See you soon!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Balancing Act
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
This scripture reminds me of the scripture in Acts 4:32-35 I called the Commonwealth scripture a few weeks ago. The one where everyone puts all their resources together and each person takes only what he or she needs. This time, Paul is telling the people of Corinth that he wants them to excel, but not at anyone else's expense. He wants people to be eager to serve the Lord, but balanced in how they live life day to day. Don't create an unbalanced system where one person has much while another suffers with little.
It is hard not to look at this in economic terms. I mean, when I read this, I immediately think, "Wow, I wish the politicians and the bankers felt this way." I would love to hear the rhetoric from Washington and Wall Street include the phrase "it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundancy may be for your need."
But just because our economic structure does not lend itself to that, it doesn't mean that we can't be a family of God who lends itself to such a philosophy.
If we are to create a community that promotes a fair balance, then we are making sure that our abundance is available in circumstances where someone else has a need. In building terms, it's why it might be great if our building could be more of a community center, since we lack one in the Gunbarrel area.
Here's a thought. List all the categories of your life in which you have abundance. Now, list out beside of that a situation where someone else doesn't have such abundance. The link between those two is the work you must do to create that fair balance Paul speaks of. After you do that exercise for yourself, try doing it for NUMC. It might be a good first step into what we need to do to move into our vision of embracing the community and sharing ourselves with others.
Comments? Email me or comment below.
This scripture reminds me of the scripture in Acts 4:32-35 I called the Commonwealth scripture a few weeks ago. The one where everyone puts all their resources together and each person takes only what he or she needs. This time, Paul is telling the people of Corinth that he wants them to excel, but not at anyone else's expense. He wants people to be eager to serve the Lord, but balanced in how they live life day to day. Don't create an unbalanced system where one person has much while another suffers with little.
It is hard not to look at this in economic terms. I mean, when I read this, I immediately think, "Wow, I wish the politicians and the bankers felt this way." I would love to hear the rhetoric from Washington and Wall Street include the phrase "it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundancy may be for your need."
But just because our economic structure does not lend itself to that, it doesn't mean that we can't be a family of God who lends itself to such a philosophy.
If we are to create a community that promotes a fair balance, then we are making sure that our abundance is available in circumstances where someone else has a need. In building terms, it's why it might be great if our building could be more of a community center, since we lack one in the Gunbarrel area.
Here's a thought. List all the categories of your life in which you have abundance. Now, list out beside of that a situation where someone else doesn't have such abundance. The link between those two is the work you must do to create that fair balance Paul speaks of. After you do that exercise for yourself, try doing it for NUMC. It might be a good first step into what we need to do to move into our vision of embracing the community and sharing ourselves with others.
Comments? Email me or comment below.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Battleship
Mark 4:35-41
This summer one of the blockbuster movies is named after a famous pen and paper game, which later became a board game. Remember "Battleship?" I loved it as a kid... "you sank my battleship!" I loved it when I sank my brother's aircraft carrier, because that was the BIG one. This movie is based loosely on the game, and it has the US Navy fighting a phantom fleet of alien ships.
That is a bit different than the smallish boat that Jesus is on when a storm blows up and scares everyone in the boat except Jesus. This is one of the most famous stories of Jesus. The disciples fear for their lives in the storm and Jesus says, "Peace. Be still" while scolding the disciples for their lack of faith.
Life can be like a fight against alien battleships sometimes, can't it? We don't know what is ahead of us and we can't see the obstacles and the dangers that lie ahead. Life can be like a boat tossed on a stormy sea, too, can't it? The storm is all around us. The intensity doesn't seem to waver. The waves crash around us and it is easy to lose faith.
"When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me." Lyrics to a great old song that fits this scripture reading.
How do we continue to have faith when we are facing unknown battles ahead? How do we believe that Jesus will create peace in our lives if we just have a little faith? It is hard sometimes to have faith. But that is what Jesus calls us to do. And we have to believe that Jesus will, indeed, stand by us.
What are the battles you fight that challenge your faith? What do you do when storms rage around you? Email me or comment below.
This summer one of the blockbuster movies is named after a famous pen and paper game, which later became a board game. Remember "Battleship?" I loved it as a kid... "you sank my battleship!" I loved it when I sank my brother's aircraft carrier, because that was the BIG one. This movie is based loosely on the game, and it has the US Navy fighting a phantom fleet of alien ships.
That is a bit different than the smallish boat that Jesus is on when a storm blows up and scares everyone in the boat except Jesus. This is one of the most famous stories of Jesus. The disciples fear for their lives in the storm and Jesus says, "Peace. Be still" while scolding the disciples for their lack of faith.
Life can be like a fight against alien battleships sometimes, can't it? We don't know what is ahead of us and we can't see the obstacles and the dangers that lie ahead. Life can be like a boat tossed on a stormy sea, too, can't it? The storm is all around us. The intensity doesn't seem to waver. The waves crash around us and it is easy to lose faith.
"When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me." Lyrics to a great old song that fits this scripture reading.
How do we continue to have faith when we are facing unknown battles ahead? How do we believe that Jesus will create peace in our lives if we just have a little faith? It is hard sometimes to have faith. But that is what Jesus calls us to do. And we have to believe that Jesus will, indeed, stand by us.
What are the battles you fight that challenge your faith? What do you do when storms rage around you? Email me or comment below.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
E.T.
2 Corinthians 5:6-17
Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
How do you come 'home' to God right now? Many of us think of 'going home' to God as the moment when we die, but this passage suggests perhaps that it is something different. It is a sort of 'shedding' of our old skin and the taking on of a new one. Like the moment of baptism.
In the movie E.T., an extra-terrestrial being from another planet befriends a young boy. The journey they take is a remarkable one as they realize that feeling 'at home' with someone is simply making the effort to know and understand them. They also learn that always being together doesn't always mean you are in the same place (or on the same planet) at the same time.
What is home to you? Is it a place or is it people? I wrote a blog a couple of years ago now about the Finale song in the musical "In the Heights." I want to share it with you here. It gets at this feeling of finding your true home. Here it is:
E.T. Phone Home. What do you need to do to 'phone home' as a follower of Christ. What would look like for you to be 'at home' with the Lord? What would you need to do to be a new creation? Email me or comment below.
Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
How do you come 'home' to God right now? Many of us think of 'going home' to God as the moment when we die, but this passage suggests perhaps that it is something different. It is a sort of 'shedding' of our old skin and the taking on of a new one. Like the moment of baptism.
In the movie E.T., an extra-terrestrial being from another planet befriends a young boy. The journey they take is a remarkable one as they realize that feeling 'at home' with someone is simply making the effort to know and understand them. They also learn that always being together doesn't always mean you are in the same place (or on the same planet) at the same time.
What is home to you? Is it a place or is it people? I wrote a blog a couple of years ago now about the Finale song in the musical "In the Heights." I want to share it with you here. It gets at this feeling of finding your true home. Here it is:
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Home is our Destiny
Why does the Finale of "In The Heights," the Broadway musical, always make me cry? This morning I nearly had to
pull my car over because the tears were clouding my vision as I was driving to
work listening to the song.
That song is so
powerful. It suggests that we are a part of a greater legacy than we can ever
imagine. That our lives are intricately connected to the lives of those who
have come before us. It suggests that, even though we all get to choose our own
way in the world, sometimes our way is chosen for us by those who came before
us. We may walk it differently than those who came before, but we are a part of
a continuous thread that lasts beyond our time.
Usnavi, the lead character of the show,
is all set to take some lottery winnings he inherited and head to his roots in
the Dominican Republic. The lottery-winning matriarch of the street
corner they all lived on, a lady everyone called grandma, ‘Abuela,’ wants this
for him. When she dies unexpectedly, he (and all the other characters)
are forced to re-evaluate what has true meaning in their lives.
He finally realizes his true destiny is
to keep Abuela’s legacy alive on that street corner. If he leaves there, who
will keep her voice alive? “This corner is my destiny”... he says...not
the island of his birth, but the corner of Washington Heights where he was
formed. His journey, his way in the world, was set in place by others. He
wanted to escape it, but it was a part of a bigger-than-life legacy that he
needed to keep moving forward. He had to be the standard bearer for another
generation.
The way this song gets to me is in the
sheer power of recognizing ‘home’ and what that is for us. The ‘home’ in our
lives is that force that pulls us, sometimes without our desire or even our
recognition, to a place we belong... Home is not necessarily just a place, but
also a feeling, a forward movement in time that joins all of our past with all
of our future... Home is the conduit between yesterday and tomorrow.
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