| | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | We tumble so quickly to the end of another year and yet we continue to wait for life. Anna and Simeon waited - for years. They waited to see the day in which the Messiah of God would come. It was to be a time of 'consolation' - a time when there would be healing - a time when the world would somehow become whole - well - safe. They waited. In the middle of their waiting - waiting that had gone on for hundreds of year - the one who is to come - comes. Was this just a matter of good timing? I'm sure many had waited - faithfully waiting - years before them. We're they so special that the Messiah comes as they wait? I don't think so. Instead, I would say that they are special - as are all of us - who wait for the coming of the fullness of God to shape our lives into the glorious coming of the Messiah. Waiting means we get up and go. We engage the world because today is today and today is the day of promise. So even if today is filled with the same old brokenness, we get up and go and wait for the Reign of God to unfold among us - for it will - that is a promise. Our waiting is a part of the prayer that says 'also among us' - come, Lord, Jesus, Come - also among us. O God of love and new life, we again wait for your Reign to shine among us. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | Wrappings get thrown away - trees are pulled down - gifts are appreciated and some hidden away - songs of the season become old - but the promise of life that is to come into the very heart of all of us - endures forever. Not everything goes as we would like it to go. In a quick overview of my life, I can see too many things that could have gone another way. I'm not sure what would have come of those times if they did go another way - but I know that it can trouble me to think that I was less than what I could be. Then again, today is today. Today is the gift that Christmas celebrates. Today filled with whatever today will hand me. We are taught in the stories of our faith that life is always being pulled into the presence of our God and the life our God promises for us. Today is meant to be full of promise. Yes, we can look back and dream about how life could have gone another way - and yet, there is nothing we can do about what has passed by. We can dream about today and the life onto which we grab that will move us into the tomorrow we have yet to touch. Christmas - God with us in and through all that life puts in our way - is the power to rest within God's embrace so that we are fully aware of God's gift of today and how we each are a part of that gift to be handed over to the world - freely and without bias. A gift like this is never thrown out - it becomes part of the treasure we hold as we hold one another. Joy to the world. O God of love and new life, you give us life so that we will be full of the life you have promised from the beginning of all things. Inspire us again to let that life 'out of the bag.' Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | After a break it is always good to come back to the same old same old _ Joy to the world. On Christmas eve we held a pageant. It was impromptu. It was urgent (for there was no message planned except for the pageant and all the casting had to be done along with all the stage direction). Well anyway, there was one voice I knew would be there and be consistent and shape the day. On Christmas Eve we hear the Story and it all begins with the Emperor calling a census. But that is not correct. I think Luke was just putting us in a place. Before Augustus even though about counting the people of 'his' empire, There was a voice that was already shaping all what was and all that is and all that will ever be. That voice was being played by our ASL interpreter. His task was to sign: joy to the world! I asked him to show the room how it was signed. He would never speak those words "out loud" - they would simply always be there - always a word people could turn to in the middle of all the mayhem and confusion and celebration that was about to take place. "Joy to the world! That is the Gift of the God who never fails to love us. "Joy to the world" - is life - fullness of life - appreciation of life - love of life in all it shapes - comfort for life - meaning for life - the power to start over and over again for life. In that pageant, like in our world - there are too many voices to hear God's gift to the world. Therefore, we must all remember to take a moment in the middle of all the sounds of life to hear that which we too often do not hear or see: Joy. Yes, joy is meant to be a part of the substance for life that enables us to rest and to hope and to give thanks for all the life around us that God calls holy. O God of love and new life, it is with joy that we step into this day. It may not be the best of days or the most delightful of days, but you promise to keep bringing in joy - and we bless you for such a gift. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | I went on a bit of a rant yesterday - calm down, Al. Monday Sometime last week as I was writing about the God as love - a love that comes even with each breath of life - I wondered about those times when we are not able to breathe. I thought about the tomb - not the empty one. I thought about the tomb that was full with death - Jesus' dead body - dead and gone - no breath - no life. That is quite the hopeless situation. Things are done and gone by then. This is when things begin to stinketh. But we say that God as love does not let that be the way we will go. Rather, God as love will be present through that darkness -through the brutality of death - after all the blood, sweat, and tears have drained from us. God as love will sit there - waiting even as we do not know that God waits. It the dark days of our lives, when things get cold and there is no room for feelings and there is no 'little light of mine' able to be lit, our God as love is like a blanket stretched over us so that we will begin to come back to life. Life is the promise we carry with us through all the days of our lives and into the days that appear to be nothing more than a tomb in which we are alone and with no hope. And yet, there is God as love - waiting with us. Tuesday The celebration of the Birth of Jesus is never meant to be a seasonal blow-out. It is a daily realization that God comes and will always come - right into the middle of what is simple, ordinary, and oh so common. The most common adventure we all enter is one that has already taken place - birth. We are already on the way - the adventure of life. We have yet to experience the fullness of death - but it comes upon us daily in many shapes and forms. But for now, think of Mary and Joseph. Who knows all the details? But the story tells us of a birth within an ancient time under the oppressive rule of a great power. A time when people were only seen as numbers on a ledger in order to make sure that the wealth of the day made it up to those who were considered the worthy - the elite - the blessed - the deserving. Maybe times have not changed much. Then again, when we are only seen as objects - numbers, it is very easy to accept that definition of who we are - an object to be used for the benefit of those who have control of the numbers. God as love is not at all concerned with numbers. Even the announcement that will come to from the angels will be a message for all - no limit - no boundary - no preference. Even as death tries to rule us and direct us, think of Mary and Joseph walking. That long walk under the control of others is like the walk many of us take in order to fit into the system of control that only offers us death. And yet, from their journey comes joy - birth - life - possibility - new life - right within the games of the powers of death and control. Quite a statement of life. Wednesday Remember that we are a people who look down to the manger from the cross. We know the end even as we get caught up in the great expectation of the beginning. In fact, we would not be so involved in stories of Bethlehem and a manger if it were not for the life that it set in motion. A life in which God as love enters into the fullness of humanity. This is no 'outsider' story. This is no story of gods from another place and time. It is a story about how God shapes humanity as part of that love that will let no one go. That is a love that we love - a life that is full of love that does not turn it's back on anyone for any reason. That is Christmas. That is God for us. That is the redemption of humanity to the fullness of God's intention from the beginning. God as love is a reality and we are invited to - inspired to - be the living parts of that reality. Thursday I'm tired of the talk of Christmas that is consumed with 'cries' to put Christ back into Christmas. We have heard it for years. It appears to come from people who call themselves Christians. And yet, it is the voice of the dominant culture that likes to have the world as they want it. In other words, it is not the voice of real concern about the coming of the Christ of God. It is not the voice of those longing for the Messiah promised for ages. Instead, it is a faux Christ - a false Christ. Those voices demanding that Christ be put back into Christmas is the voice of those who want nothing to do with the Christ of God who promises to bring about the liberation of all God's people - all of them. I would suggest in this season of the Coming of the Lord, that those voices and bumper-stickers that want Christ back in Christmas do no know the Christ at all. They want their world view affirmed - they want a feeling - they want only the facade of the story that can be put on the lawn or displayed as ornaments. I do not think they want God as love at the center of this holiday season. My reason for saying this is that the God of love has never left - never been pushed out - never been excused from this season or any season. Even after the massacre of innocents last week, Christmas is still the story of God's love becoming full among us. This takes place even when there is no evidence of such an event taking place among us. Those who long to have Christ back in Christmas may do well to learn the way of the Christ of God and look again - all around us. They may see many signs of Christ alive as neighbors, friends, enemies, and the ones most folk don't want around them at 'Christmas.' Maybe my rant of yesterday had to do with the many ways 'good Christian' folks have tried to interpret the devastation in Connecticut. You may have heard some say it all happened because of 1) prayer being taking out of the schools, 2) acceptance of gays, 3) taking Christ out of Christmas, etc. These are not isolated voices - unfortunately. But, remember these are not voices of the followers of Jesus - even as they are culturally known as 'Christian preachers.' Their image of the Love of God is one without the fullness of the love of God and therefore, it is not the God of the scriptures - only the god of their own beneficial reading. Too often these voices want a world set in stone - fixed in time (their time - their world). They make like to make lists, check them twice, and be able to judge who is naughty or nice. That makes for a good cultural story - but it is not the story of our God as love. Does condemnation ever bring about a new world? I would lean forward and listen to the promise of love breaking in whenever condemnation attempts to rule the day. Have a blessed Christmas - where God as love is visible so much that you are able to find rest and peace. O God of love and new life, come and hold us again. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | Even in the deep mid winter - there is hope. Monday Sometime last week as I was writing about the God as love - a love that comes even with each breath of life - I wondered about those times when we are not able to breathe. I thought about the tomb - not the empty one. I thought about the tomb that was full with death - Jesus' dead body - dead and gone - no breath - no life. That is quite the hopeless situation. Things are done and gone by then. This is when things begin to stinketh. But we say that God as love does not let that be the way we will go. Rather, God as love will be present through that darkness -through the brutality of death - after all the blood, sweat, and tears have drained from us. God as love will sit there - waiting even as we do not know that God waits. It the dark days of our lives, when things get cold and there is no room for feelings and there is no 'little light of mine' able to be lit, our God as love is like a blanket stretched over us so that we will begin to come back to life. Life is the promise we carry with us through all the days of our lives and into the days that appear to be nothing more than a tomb in which we are alone and with no hope. And yet, there is God as love - waiting with us. Tuesday The celebration of the Birth of Jesus is never meant to be a seasonal blow-out. It is a daily realization that God comes and will always come - right into the middle of what is simple, ordinary, and oh so common. The most common adventure we all enter is one that has already taken place - birth. We are already on the way - the adventure of life. We have yet to experience the fullness of death - but it comes upon us daily in many shapes and forms. But for now, think of Mary and Joseph. Who knows all the details? But the story tells us of a birth within an ancient time under the oppressive rule of a great power. A time when people were only seen as numbers on a ledger in order to make sure that the wealth of the day made it up to those who were considered the worthy - the elite - the blessed - the deserving. Maybe times have not changed much. Then again, when we are only seen as objects - numbers, it is very easy to accept that definition of who we are - an object to be used for the benefit of those who have control of the numbers. God as love is not at all concerned with numbers. Even the announcement that will come to from the angels will be a message for all - no limit - no boundary - no preference. Even as death tries to rule us and direct us, think of Mary and Joseph walking. That long walk under the control of others is like the walk many of us take in order to fit into the system of control that only offers us death. And yet, from their journey comes joy - birth - life - possibility - new life - right within the games of the powers of death and control. Quite a statement of life. Wednesday Remember that we are a people who look down to the manger from the cross. We know the end even as we get caught up in the great expectation of the beginning. In fact, we would not be so involved in stories of Bethlehem and a manger if it were not for the life that it set in motion. A life in which God as love enters into the fullness of humanity. This is no 'outsider' story. This is no story of gods from another place and time. It is a story about how God shapes humanity as part of that love that will let no one go. That is a love that we love - a life that is full of love that does not turn it's back on anyone for any reason. That is Christmas. That is God for us. That is the redemption of humanity to the fullness of God's intention from the beginning. God as love is a reality and we are invited to - inspired to - be the living parts of that reality. I'm tired of the talk of Christmas that is consumed with 'cries' to put Christ back into Christmas. We have heard it for years. It appears to come from people who call themselves Christians. And yet, it is the voice of the dominant culture that likes to have the world as they want it. In other words, it is not the voice of real concern about the coming of the Christ of God. It is not the voice of those longing for the Messiah promised for ages. Instead, it is a faux Christ - a false Christ. Those voices demanding that Christ be put back into Christmas is the voice of those who want nothing to do with the Christ of God who promises to bring about the liberation of all God's people - all of them. I would suggest in this season of the Coming of the Lord, that those voices and bumper-stickers that want Christ back in Christmas do no know the Christ at all. They want their world view affirmed - they want a feeling - they want only the facade of the story that can be put on the lawn or displayed as ornaments. I do not think they want God as love at the center of this holiday season. My reason for saying this is that the God of love has never left - never been pushed out - never been excused from this season or any season. Even after the massacre of innocents last week, Christmas is still the story of God's love becoming full among us. This takes place even when there is no evidence of such an event taking place among us. Those who long to have Christ back in Christmas may do well to learn the way of the Christ of God and look again - all around us. They may see many signs of Christ alive as neighbors, friends, enemies, and the ones most folk don't want around them at 'Christmas.' O God of love and new life, come, be our guest and enlighten our lives with the real presence of your love among us. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | Even in the deep mid winter - there is hope. Monday Sometime last week as I was writing about the God as love - a love that comes even with each breath of life - I wondered about those times when we are not able to breathe. I thought about the tomb - not the empty one. I thought about the tomb that was full with death - Jesus' dead body - dead and gone - no breath - no life. That is quite the hopeless situation. Things are done and gone by then. This is when things begin to stinketh. But we say that God as love does not let that be the way we will go. Rather, God as love will be present through that darkness -through the brutality of death - after all the blood, sweat, and tears have drained from us. God as love will sit there - waiting even as we do not know that God waits. It the dark days of our lives, when things get cold and there is no room for feelings and there is no 'little light of mine' able to be lit, our God as love is like a blanket stretched over us so that we will begin to come back to life. Life is the promise we carry with us through all the days of our lives and into the days that appear to be nothing more than a tomb in which we are alone and with no hope. And yet, there is God as love - waiting with us. Tuesday The celebration of the Birth of Jesus is never meant to be a seasonal blow-out. It is a daily realization that God comes and will always come - right into the middle of what is simple, ordinary, and oh so common. The most common adventure we all enter is one that has already taken place - birth. We are already on the way - the adventure of life. We have yet to experience the fullness of death - but it comes upon us daily in many shapes and forms. But for now, think of Mary and Joseph. Who knows all the details? But the story tells us of a birth within an ancient time under the oppressive rule of a great power. A time when people were only seen as numbers on a ledger in order to make sure that the wealth of the day made it up to those who were considered the worthy - the elite - the blessed - the deserving. Maybe times have not changed much. Then again, when we are only seen as objects - numbers, it is very easy to accept that definition of who we are - an object to be used for the benefit of those who have control of the numbers. God as love is not at all concerned with numbers. Even the announcement that will come to from the angels will be a message for all - no limit - no boundary - no preference. Even as death tries to rule us and direct us, think of Mary and Joseph walking. That long walk under the control of others is like the walk many of us take in order to fit into the system of control that only offers us death. And yet, from their journey comes joy - birth - life - possibility - new life - right within the games of the powers of death and control. Quite a statement of life. Remember that we are a people who look down to the manger from the cross. We know the end even as we get caught up in the great expectation of the beginning. In fact, we would not be so involved in stories of Bethlehem and a manger if it were not for the life that it set in motion. A life in which God as love enters into the fullness of humanity. This is no 'outsider' story. This is no story of gods from another place and time. It is a story about how God shapes humanity as part of that love that will let no one go. That is a love that we love - a life that is full of love that does not turn it's back on anyone for any reason. That is Christmas. That is God for us. That is the redemption of humanity to the fullness of God's intention from the beginning. God as love is a reality and we are invited to - inspired to - be the living parts of that reality. O God of love and new life, set us loose to be your love - embolden us and empower us. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | Even in the deep mid winter - there is hope. Monday Sometime last week as I was writing about the God as love - a love that comes even with each breath of life - I wondered about those times when we are not able to breathe. I thought about the tomb - not the empty one. I thought about the tomb that was full with death - Jesus' dead body - dead and gone - no breath - no life. That is quite the hopeless situation. Things are done and gone by then. This is when things begin to stinketh. But we say that God as love does not let that be the way we will go. Rather, God as love will be present through that darkness -through the brutality of death - after all the blood, sweat, and tears have drained from us. God as love will sit there - waiting even as we do not know that God waits. It the dark days of our lives, when things get cold and there is no room for feelings and there is no 'little light of mine' able to be lit, our God as love is like a blanket stretched over us so that we will begin to come back to life. Life is the promise we carry with us through all the days of our lives and into the days that appear to be nothing more than a tomb in which we are alone and with no hope. And yet, there is God as love - waiting with us. The celebration of the Birth of Jesus is never meant to be a seasonal blow-out. It is a daily realization that God comes and will always come - right into the middle of what is simple, ordinary, and oh so common. The most common adventure we all enter is one that has already taken place - birth. We are already on the way - the adventure of life. We have yet to experience the fullness of death - but it comes upon us daily in many shapes and forms. But for now, think of Mary and Joseph. Who knows all the details? But the story tells us of a birth within an ancient time under the oppressive rule of a great power. A time when people were only seen as numbers on a ledger in order to make sure that the wealth of the day made it up to those who were considered the worthy - the elite - the blessed - the deserving. Maybe times have not changed much. Then again, when we are only seen as objects - numbers, it is very easy to accept that definition of who we are - an object to be used for the benefit of those who have control of the numbers. God as love is not at all concerned with numbers. Even the announcement that will come to from the angels will be a message for all - no limit - no boundary - no preference. Even as death tries to rule us and direct us, think of Mary and Joseph walking. That long walk under the control of others is like the walk many of us take in order to fit into the system of control that only offers us death. And yet, from their journey comes joy - birth - life - possibility - new life - right within the games of the powers of death and control. Quite a statement of life. O God of love and new life, you enrich what is ordinary simply by making it all a part of your unfolding Reign of peace. Take us into that living embrace. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | God as love brings me to that Saturday - the day after the end - the darkness. Sometime last week as I was writing about the God as love - a love that comes even with each breath of life - I wondered about those times when we are not able to breathe. I thought about the tomb - not the empty one. I thought about the tomb that was full with death - Jesus' dead body - dead and gone - no breath - no life. That is quite the hopeless situation. Things are done and gone by then. This is when things begin to stinketh. But we say that God as love does not let that be the way we will go. Rather, God as love will be present through that darkness -through the brutality of death - after all the blood, sweat, and tears have drained from us. God as love will sit there - waiting even as we do not know that God waits. It the dark days of our lives, when things get cold and there is no room for feelings and there is no 'little light of mine' able to be lit, our God as love is like a blanket stretched over us so that we will begin to come back to life. Life is the promise we carry with us through all the days of our lives and into the days that appear to be nothing more than a tomb in which we are alone and with no hope. And yet, there is God as love - waiting with us. O God of love and new life, blessed are you for staying so close to us through the days that have not hope so that life may emerge. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | God as love never ends - never lets go - never sits back - always takes on the world and its broken ways Monday I know people who can remember the lyrics to songs - long quotes from books - scenes from movies - all the actors and actresses in movies and television shows. I think that is wild. I'm lucky to remember what I have to do today or how I did the same thing last month or last week. And yet, we are a people who are called to remember. That is what holds us together as a people who say we are faithful to our faithful God. We remember what God as done for us and what God promises to be for us as the day moves along. I'm thankful that in this adventure of remembering - for someone who forgets so easily - we say we count on the Holy Spirit to lead the way and be the power that keeps us on the way. I count on a very small amount of stuff to pull me through the promises of God. Thank God the load is light and never can be diminished. Tuesday I think that God makes the stories of God's faithfulness stick. We may brush them off here and there, but the stories - the love - never stops sticking to us. It is quite like those nasty burrs that have barbs like Velcro. They never let you go and it is a crazy mess to try and undo them from clothing. There have been times when I was sure that the burr didn't stick to me - only to realize that is caught on a piece of clothing I did not see and by the time I notice it, the burr has continued to transfer itself onto all my other clothing. I count on the stories of God's faithfulness to stick to me even when my life is focused elsewhere. In that way, my memory is not the vital part of the new life that is meant to become my own. Rather, as I long to go one way, I find myself exposed to that love that - like a burr - continues to hang onto me. I need that kind of love to hang on to me for I surely find many reasons to let go of it. Wednesday Knowing that God's love is forever and always present and always able to turn me around, helps me to know that such an image of love is possible within my life. Why? Because I have this creative, loving, merciful, forgiving God at my side - even when I don't expect God or 'feel' God's presence. That eternal presence is the power that opens the door to new life - reflective of God's love. I imagine Jesus always leaning back on the promise in order to make the moment at hand one in which he was able to be a loving presence himself. I go back to that simple refrain "We love - because God first loved us." God as love shapes my loving so that it does not become a self-centered love - which may not be love at all. In fact, self-centered, self-indulgent, turned-in-on self love loses its creative energy because it has no place to go. It is self-consuming. God's love will always pull me out of myself so that as I am drawn in to love the world around me, I will also see the possibility of the love of God available and present in those I encounter. It is always a surprise and always a great blessing. Thursday But now, this God as love is the power that puts Jesus up on the cross. Love? Yes! God as love is expressed as love for one another - even when that love means that I or we must face something like complete rejection for exhibiting love without condition. Yes, the cross is a brutal expression of fear and hate and control, but it is the power of a world that is ruled by fear and hate and control. When God as love comes alive - as it did in Jesus - what is a world like ours to do? When we look at the confusion of Holy Week it sure looks like even the powers of the day did not know what to do. They did not know -for sure - how to point fingers in such a way that they would look good and Jesus would be considered a threat - even evil. For us, the cross is the full expression of the way this God as love becomes alive among us. God is with us - for us - for them - with them - judging all as beloved and willing to take the hit for any and all that God calls beloved. This is even as the powers of the day long to have people who can be put out and sent away. The cross say "no" to any such action/judgment and "yes" to a love that faces the worst of the power of brokenness for the well-being of even those who are thrown out of the systems of the world. We need to take a look around us and come to grips with what it means to face the powers with an unrelenting love in action. I often return to something as simple as breathing. It is there in those moments that we are in contact with the very beginning of God whipping up life at the beginning of all things with a Spirit of commotion and exploding life that we have a moment to consider what is the shape of God as love - among us - in us - as us. Too often, I have great thoughts but they fall apart much too quickly and I follow the ways of the violence of the world in all too many of its shapes. The breath -------- is a reminder. The breath -------- is a punctuation point that allows the next move or word to be one shaped by the breath of God. God as love unfolds for us within that breath. It is within the unfolding of that breath that we learn to speak words of peace - act in the ways of peace - stand up against the very persuasive powers of down right ugliness and destruction. So breathe on us breath of God that your people will take in something as foreign as your love and make it our own. O God of love and new life, huff and puff and blow our house down. We need to take up a new residence in you alone. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | What were you doing at 12:12am or pm on 12/12/12? God as love never ends - never lets go - never sits back Monday I know people who can remember the lyrics to songs - long quotes from books - scenes from movies - all the actors and actresses in movies and television shows. I think that is wild. I'm lucky to remember what I have to do today or how I did the same thing last month or last week. And yet, we are a people who are called to remember. That is what holds us together as a people who say we are faithful to our faithful God. We remember what God as done for us and what God promises to be for us as the day moves along. I'm thankful that in this adventure of remembering - for someone who forgets so easily - we say we count on the Holy Spirit to lead the way and be the power that keeps us on the way. I count on a very small amount of stuff to pull me through the promises of God. Thank God the load is light and never can be diminished. Tuesday I think that God makes the stories of God's faithfulness stick. We may brush them off here and there, but the stories - the love - never stops sticking to us. It is quite like those nasty burrs that have barbs like Velcro. They never let you go and it is a crazy mess to try and undo them from clothing. There have been times when I was sure that the burr didn't stick to me - only to realize that is caught on a piece of clothing I did not see and by the time I notice it, the burr has continued to transfer itself onto all my other clothing. I count on the stories of God's faithfulness to stick to me even when my life is focused elsewhere. In that way, my memory is not the vital part of the new life that is meant to become my own. Rather, as I long to go one way, I find myself exposed to that love that - like a burr - continues to hang onto me. I need that kind of love to hang on to me for I surely find many reasons to let go of it. Wednesday Knowing that God's love is forever and always present and always able to turn me around, helps me to know that such an image of love is possible within my life. Why? Because I have this creative, loving, merciful, forgiving God at my side - even when I don't expect God or 'feel' God's presence. That eternal presence is the power that opens the door to new life - reflective of God's love. I imagine Jesus always leaning back on the promise in order to make the moment at hand one in which he was able to be a loving presence himself. I go back to that simple refrain "We love - because God first loved us." God as love shapes my loving so that it does not become a self-centered love - which may not be love at all. In fact, self-centered, self-indulgent, turned-in-on self love loses its creative energy because it has no place to go. It is self-consuming. God's love will always pull me out of myself so that as I am drawn in to love the world around me, I will also see the possibility of the love of God available and present in those I encounter. It is always a surprise and always a great blessing. But now, this God as love is the power that puts Jesus up on the cross. Love? Yes! God as love is expressed as love for one another - even when that love means that I or we must face something like complete rejection for exhibiting love without condition. Yes, the cross is a brutal expression of fear and hate and control, but it is the power of a world that is ruled by fear and hate and control. When God as love comes alive - as it did in Jesus - what is a world like ours to do? When we look at the confusion of Holy Week it sure looks like even the powers of the day did not know what to do. They did not know -for sure - how to point fingers in such a way that they would look good and Jesus would be considered a threat - even evil. For us, the cross is the full expression of the way this God as love becomes alive among us. God is with us - for us - for them - with them - judging all as beloved and willing to take the hit for any and all that God calls beloved. This is even as the powers of the day long to have people who can be put out and sent away. The cross say "no" to any such action/judgment and "yes" to a love that faces the worst of the power of brokenness for the well-being of even those who are thrown out of the systems of the world. We need to take a look around us and come to grips with what it means to face the powers with an unrelenting love in action. O God of love and new life, when we hand those small crosses around our next and in our worship spaces, help us to see them as a call to action - life - hopefulness for all. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | 12/12/12 - quite a date. God as love never ends - never lets go - never sits back Monday I know people who can remember the lyrics to songs - long quotes from books - scenes from movies - all the actors and actresses in movies and television shows. I think that is wild. I'm lucky to remember what I have to do today or how I did the same thing last month or last week. And yet, we are a people who are called to remember. That is what holds us together as a people who say we are faithful to our faithful God. We remember what God as done for us and what God promises to be for us as the day moves along. I'm thankful that in this adventure of remembering - for someone who forgets so easily - we say we count on the Holy Spirit to lead the way and be the power that keeps us on the way. I count on a very small amount of stuff to pull me through the promises of God. Thank God the load is light and never can be diminished. Tuesday I think that God makes the stories of God's faithfulness stick. We may brush them off here and there, but the stories - the love - never stops sticking to us. It is quite like those nasty burrs that have barbs like Velcro. They never let you go and it is a crazy mess to try and undo them from clothing. There have been times when I was sure that the burr didn't stick to me - only to realize that is caught on a piece of clothing I did not see and by the time I notice it, the burr has continued to transfer itself onto all my other clothing. I count on the stories of God's faithfulness to stick to me even when my life is focused elsewhere. In that way, my memory is not the vital part of the new life that is meant to become my own. Rather, as I long to go one way, I find myself exposed to that love that - like a burr - continues to hang onto me. I need that kind of love to hang on to me for I surely find many reasons to let go of it. Knowing that God's love is forever and always present and always able to turn me around, helps me to know that such an image of love is possible within my life. Why? Because I have this creative, loving, merciful, forgiving God at my side - even when I don't expect God or 'feel' God's presence. That eternal presence is the power that opens the door to new life - reflective of God's love. I imagine Jesus always leaning back on the promise in order to make the moment at hand one in which he was able to be a loving presence himself. I go back to that simple refrain "We love - because God first loved us." God as love shapes my loving so that it does not become a self-centered love - which may not be love at all. In fact, self-centered, self-indulgent, turned-in-on self love loses its creative energy because it has no place to go. It is self-consuming. God's love will always pull me out of myself so that as I am drawn in to love the world around me, I will also see the possibility of the love of God available and present in those I encounter. It is always a surprise and always a great blessing. O God of love and new life, continue to surprise us by the complete availability of your creative love right in the midst of this day. Amen. |
 | | | | Adventures... in Hope - Redeemer Devotions | | | | | | We are encouraged to keep in mind this God who claims us. But how?! Monday I know people who can remember the lyrics to songs - long quotes from books - scenes from movies - all the actors and actresses in movies and television shows. I think that is wild. I'm lucky to remember what I have to do today or how I did the same thing last month or last week. And yet, we are a people who are called to remember. That is what holds us together as a people who say we are faithful to our faithful God. We remember what God as done for us and what God promises to be for us as the day moves along. I'm thankful that in this adventure of remembering - for someone who forgets so easily - we say we count on the Holy Spirit to lead the way and be the power that keeps us on the way. I count on a very small amount of stuff to pull me through the promises of God. Thank God the load is light and never can be diminished. I think that God makes the stories of God's faithfulness stick. We may brush them off here and there, but the stories - the love - never stops sticking to us. It is quite like those nasty burrs that have barbs like Velcro. They never let you go and it is a crazy mess to try and undo them from clothing. There have been times when I was sure that the burr didn't stick to me - only to realize that is caught on a piece of clothing I did not see and by the time I notice it, the burr has continued to transfer itself onto all my other clothing. I count on the stories of God's faithfulness to stick to me even when my life is focused elsewhere. In that way, my memory is not the vital part of the new life that is meant to become my own. Rather, as I long to go one way, I find myself exposed to that love that - like a burr - continues to hang onto me. I need that kind of love to hang on to me for I surely find many reasons to let go of it. O God of love and new life, your hold on us is beyond our comprehension and that is good. It pushes and pulls us and nudges us into life we would never consider could be ours. And yet, we follow. Continue to be present. Amen. |
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