How to Mix Christianity with Patriotism

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This isn’t really about how to mix Christianity with patriotism.  There are plenty of people already doing that.  But if you’re a follower, either online or in real life, you know that’s one of those things that makes me a little nervous.  I’ve been an American since birth and a Christian since age 12, but one is not synonymous with the other.  I get a little weird when Christians quote those Old Testament land promises God gave the Jews and act like those are about us.  A literal kingdom with borders and a king on the throne – that’s what God was doing then.  The kingdom he is building now is bigger than any one nation or one people.  We don’t live in a “Christian nation” either, and on that point I run the risk of starting a war of rhetoric.  We live in a free nation in which many people choose to practice Christianity without fear; but many choose not to as well.  The melting pot of many cultures, languages, races and religions is an essential part of our national identity.  We are not a Christian nation for instance the way Iran or Afghanistan are Muslim nations.  These are sermons I’ve preached before and I don’t want to get too distract before saying

However… Continue reading →

Pursuing Wisdom

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In the first Psalm, David contrasts the ways of the righteous and the wicked.  In the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon does the same thing between the wise and the foolish.  He goes on to encourage his sons (and by extension all readers) to pursue wisdom.

David was a poet and a musician.  He not only wrote songs and played instruments, but he made trumpets for the temple musicians.  In Biblical times the Psalms were sung.  Think of this book as their hymnal.  Solomon was David’s son, and world renown for his wisdom.  The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings, some perhaps written by Solomon himself and others collected.  In both cases, righteousness and wisdom must be pursued.  One must seek after them, like walking down a path.  There is more than one path, and we must think about which we are choosing. Continue reading →

Coming Soon…

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I know it’s been a while; almost a month.  The school year is over, graduation is past, and we’re back from our 2 week road trip.  I’m looking forward to get back into my routines: reading scripture in the morning, teaching during the day (summer school hours are shorter) and blogging in the afternoon.  I promise, once again, that I have not stopped blogging… just slowed down for a little while.

Mother’s Day 2011

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Happy Mother’s Day

I talked to my mother yesterday, but will not see her on this Mother’s Day.  She called to say my card arrived and that she enjoyed the Easter pics of her granddaughter.  Her birthday is in a couple of weeks, and we’ll get there in plenty of time for that.

Here’s the Mother’s Day sermon I posted 2 years ago.

Last year I did Instead of  a Mother’s Day sermon.

The latter is certainly not “light” on theology.  I will preach a variation of that post this morning.  Here’s a funny video for moms.  Enjoy your day 🙂

Jesus Broke Bread

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Jesus is often referred to as “braking bread.”  He blessed bread and broke it at the feeding of the five thousand, and again for the four thousand.  He broke bread at the Last Supper, and finally in one of the post-resurrection appearances.  That’s when they recognized him, as he broke bread, then he vanished from their sight!

So what’s up with breaking bread?  Hebrews in the Old Testament had swords and daggers, and we know there were skilled craftsmen in Israel.  Jesus himself was a carpenter; obviously they had the ability to slice bread.  It’s not that Jews couldn’t slice bread, they simply did not slice their bread.  Thanks was given to God before food was eaten, and bread was probably offered at every meal.  There may not be a command from God to not cut through bread, but there actually were rules about cutting stones for the alter of sacrifice.  The Temple was made of all sorts of carefully worked materials, but the alter was put together with stones that no tool had worked.  Beams, doors, cup, bowls, candle holders, et. al. were cut, carved, beaten into shape, etc.  But the alter was carefully fitted together using stones in their “original” God-given shape.  Breaking bread, especially right after thanking God for it, reminded the Jews were their meals really came from.  It would have been disrespectful to cut their bread with tools.

Our communion wafers are uniform in shape and size; they come out of the box that way.  They go together well with the little 3 oz plastic cups we use.  The bread and the cup remind us that Jesus’ body was broken and his blood spilled.  The symbol would work just as well with Oreo’s and Kool-Aid.  But if you really want a feel for the disciples at that first last supper, try baking a loaf and passing it around.  Each believer could tear off their own piece.  You could go the distance and dip your bread into wine grape juice rather than sipping it.  Just remember what is important – Jesus body was broken.  What we need is a savior.

Every Saga has a Beginning

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Today is Easter Sunday.  Lent bagan 40 days ago, Palm Sunday was last week, 2 days ago was Good Friday.  Holy Week is about the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth.  Not too long ago – it’s been about 4 months – we celebrated the beginning of his life on earth.  Do you remember that story?

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, to be counted in the Roman census and taxed.  Baby Jesus was laid in a manger, shepherds came and worshiped, and the wise men traveled from afar.  They followed the star and brought gifts fit for a king.  Jesus was presented with gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Gold makes sense; no one would mind getting that present.  Frankincense is an incense, a sweet perfume.  It’s actually a resin, made from the bark of a tree.  Myrrh is very similar, but bitter.  It’s most common use in the first century was anointing the dead.  Gold is an awesome gift, perfume maybe, but… you wouldn’t give a newborn embalming fluid.

Once you know how the story ends, the beginning makes more sense.  In literature, it’s called foreshadowing.  Jesus was born to die.  He came to be a sacrifice.  The unusual gift brought by one very wise man reminds us what is really important about Christmas.  The gifts that were given to Jesus pale in comparison to the gift of Jesus.  Throughout his ministry Jesus understood his mission, even when his followers could not.  The disciples were told plainly that the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by men, even that he must die.  Jesus told them, more than once, that he would rise again.  Eventually they were afraid to ask.

The real story of course begins before the incarnation and does not end with the crucifixion.  Today is Easter, the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.  That still isn’t the end of the story.  Jesus wasn’t just resurrected; he is the resurrection.  The story of God’s coming kingdom isn’t over yet.

It’s Friday; Sunday’s Coming

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Vocals are S.M. Lockridge, images from The Passion of the Christ

The Last Supper

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The banner at the top of this page is da Vinci’s portrait of the Last Supper.  Renaissance Christians knew that Jesus and his disciples were not white with brown hair and blue eyes.  They would not have been sitting in chairs at a table either.  Despite the cultural “anomalies” the most important things are still visible; Jesus broke bread and passed the cup.  That, after all, was the point.

This is Holy Week, the final days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.  On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection, but these days between Palm Sunday and Good Friday are about remembering the last precious days that Jesus had with his closest followers.  This would be the last time they celebrated Passover together, and Jesus still had a lessor or two he wanted to share.  During the course of the meal, he gets up from the table and removed his outer robe.  He then ties a towel around his waist, kneels on the floor, and begins washing the disciples feet.  We know what happens to our own feet during the summer months, going about in sandals or flops.  Imagine wearing sandals everyday and walking everywhere you went.  He then asks if they understand why.  Jews did not wash feet; feet are unclean, both literally and religiously to the Jews.  He was their Master and Lord (and maker of heaven and earth) but he was humble like a servant.  If he then, he explains, is willing to wash their feet they should each be doing the same.  It is not a literal command to wash feet, but a lesson about humility and service to others.

Jesus broke bread to remind his followers that his body was broken.  The fruit of the vine in the cup reminds us that his blood was poured out.  He said that without taking part in his body and blood we had no part in him.  But if we receive the one he sends – the Holy Spirit – then we receive him.   And if we receive him, we receive the one who sent him – God the Father.  The Hebrews had been celebrating Passover since they were brought out of Egypt.  When the death angel saw the blood of the sacrifice it “passed over” that home, sparing the first born.  Jesus takes the elements of that meal, and gives them new meaning for his followers.  He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.  When God sees the blood of Jesus on our hearts, his judgement will pass over.