May 9 Readings: Rev. 21:10, 22:1-5, Acts 16:9-15, Ps. 67 first cutRev.22:1-5 the river reminds us of the rivers of Eden in Gen. 2 and the river in Ezek. 47. It is the opposite of the poisoned rivers earlier and the bloody Nile of Exodus. then we encounter a tree of life as in Eden and we again hear echoes of the fruit in Ezek. 47. Again it is expanded from nation to nations, to fit the expansive view of salvation here. Even though it has open gates, nothing immoral or accursed will enter to threaten us. distinctions of sacred and secular are abolished as God's locale is our locale, and we will encounter God fully. It will be the hope of the kingdom of priests fulfilled. No bridge is necessary, as the bridge himself, Jesus, is on the throne. I think that the name is the baptismal name, christian, to be in the book of life.

 

The Acts passage shows some openness to new methods. Paul moves by the Spirit's prompting and direction, off to Greek lands. This is not a synagogue, Lydia is probably a Gentile. She is well-off and sells her purple goods to the servants of the rich. Paul says nothing about her leadership in the small marginal outskirt community.

 

Ps. 67- 1) Note the Aaronic blessing part.

2) To the nations, plural, a global thrust is evident.

3) God guides all nations.

4) In the face of a terrible oil spill, the earth yields increase as blessing. We must be careful not to destroy the source of the blessing.

5) Note God wants justice, not charity. god wants proper structures not only alms.

May 2, 2010 Acts 11, Rev. 21:1-6  See NIB notes)

As you know, I am stunned, with religious awe, that not only have we found DNA, the blueprint of all life, but also we have decoded it into what is called the human genome, the actual sequence of the codes. If you read the genetic code of an individual out loud, it would take a century. Most of that sequence is identical as human beings, the differences would take only the last seventeen minutes. It is the differences that seem to capture our attention. In our readings this morning we see the difference between a religious vision of a new future and what human beings do when faced with God's new activity.

 

This small section (see Peterson Rev. Thunder) relates to Isaiah with a new heaven and a new earth, in other words a new world. It is not Eden reborn but Eden transformed. Threats have evaporated. The sea is no more, as it is a symbol of death, uncertainty, and anxiety. Recall a beast emerges from it. Death is put to death. Water of life has a ring of Eden to it. Now baptism refreshes from within. The community is in the symbol of the city, where temple and ordinary life are brought together with no need for separation of the sacred and the secular.God's dwelling/tabernacle/tent/presence suffuses this holy city, this new Jerusalem. The new city is the anti-Babylon of 18. Recall that the city's roots are with Cain in Genesis.

The fearsome blasts from heaven are now blessings. It is an open city, not closed as Ezekiel's (40-8),and much, much larger to encompass the masses it imagines within it.   

 

Acts 11 is  story of how an open mind can be changed. Peter knew well the separation between Gentile and Jewish behaviors. This is a problem for the tight community of Acts 4, although it has shown strains in 5 and 6. Shouldn't the new members become Jews? Shouldn;t we be more discriminating aobut the kind of folks we are bringing in? When growth occurs, what problems does it bring? What current analogies can be drawn from this story? Take your pick: music style, clothing style, how to use the church kitchen.  The blessing of the spirit receives criticism. That can never happen in one of our churches, right? How many times I have heard churches looking for our kind of people.

  

Even if Peter is a leader, he is not exempt from being questioned and criticized. No infallibele future Pope is in evidence here in this new community.

This is Exhibit A for the Spirit moving where it will, outside  our structures and strictures. God is not bound by our current understandings of Scripture or doctrine. God is free to respond to new situations in new ways. The Creator of all things is not chained to the past.  Moltmann emphasizes "I make all things new" into a transforming not annihilating ethic in the Coming of God. God's creativity did not come to a screeching halt in the first chapters of Genesis. God's creativity, God's capacity for the new continues undiminished.

 

Revelation shows us the goal of God on the move toward a large view of human community. Its representation on earth includes the church. It is at its best when it reflects that large-hearted goal. It is at its worst when it takes small points and tries to freeze them into principles, unable to move. Instead, we stay alert to the promptings and movements of the Spirit.

The Spirit seems to love overturning our assumptions about the proper. The Spirit moves to open hearts and minds to the ever-new ways of God.

April 25, Acts 9:36-41, Rev. 7:9-17

Most of us have a dear person whom we miss whenever their memory crosses our mind. Rarely are they celebrities but more often they are good hearted people who touch our lives. Tabitha in our section this morning was such a woman. Maybe she was being idealized in death, but I prefer to see her as a good woman being remembered. Take a moment, and I bet that you can conjure up such a person in a few seconds. It makes us smile just recalling them, as models of what people can be.

 

Human beings need ritual for threshold events, for upcoming graduations for instance. No page gets turned in the book of life as decisively as death. . Here we know that stories are shared and that people are mourning her loss, after the body has been prepared according to their custom. With our turn against outward signs of grief, I suppose that we will soon have designated celebrators instead of designated mourners. When we have visitation or lunch after the service, we get to share stories. They serve to encase memories, to keep them from being so fleeting. Even when they bring tears, it is good to share stories about the fallen.  At the same time, we may be given a keepsake. We like something tangible as a reminder of someone who has gone on before us. They are sacramental in a way, containers of grace. If they are expensive heirlooms or something simple, they are treasures for memory. They are special as they are symbols of a life, something tangible to hold on to.

 

The book of Acts shows the church continuing the work of Jesus. Here, Peter's healing replays the raising of Jairus's daughter. He responds to an urgent call and sends out the mourners, just as Jesus did. There, Jesus says, talitha, cum, little girl arise. Here, after prayer,  Peter says Tabitha, gazelle, arise. Then, as Scripture says, mourning turns to dancing. Now the stories about Tabitha will include her raising. As we live, we can give all sorts of Tabitah moments to each other. Sure, the stories will continue to have quirks or silly things, like a guy who called me and said that he got mad and pushed his self-propelled lawn mower through some weeds and saw it tumble down a hill into a retention pond. Wouldn't we like to also be remembered for the good we have done?

 

In our time, we resuscitate people with a surge of electricity instead of prayer. Death continues to stalk us all. In the Easter season, we recall the resurrection. With Ezekiel, Easter tells us that dry bones can live in groups too. Jesus paves the way to a new sort of life, where tears are dried and nothing can harm us anymore, where we drink of the waters of life and continue in the life of God in a new way. Our passage from Revelation has heaven filled with Tabithas and lots of people who do not reach her heights, people like us. Revelation gives a remarkably expansive, large view of heaven, perfect for our large-hearted God. If I am reading it correctly, the 144,000 continue God's commitment to Israel, but then it opens up to a whole wide world in Jesus Christ. Here they all are in the presence of God, with the angels. There we will be safe from the scorching heat or the bitter cold of realtionships gone sour. There we will live in the expansive love of God. At long last, at long, long last, we will truly see God and ourselves at our very best, forever.

Rev. 7:9-17, Acts 9:36-41 First Cut

 

1)this is most decidedly not rapture theology. the 144,000 (JWs, I suppose) are a martyr cadre. they are not protected against death. Notice the play on the 12 tribes of Israel.

2) The myriad of folks are the folks who perish but will  be in heaven.

 

3)Notice the universal thrust of the church catholic (global, universal)

4)The are before the lamb, not the Lion of Judah.

5) Could the white robes be baptismal robes?

6)Palm branches for victory and celebration , even though they may have lost in power terms.

7) I am not sure what the great tribulation would be or means with any sense of definitiveness, but see Dan. 12 and Gen. 49:1. In blood there is life. Here blood becomes a cleansing agent. Indeed, in being Christlike, one may well be a witness (martyr) to the faith and that can end up in martyrdom.

8) Note the echoes of Ps. 121, I. 49:10 and in 17 the shepherd image of Ezek.34, Ps. 23  of course, Jn 10, Is. 25:8 with the image of wiping away a tear. look at the new children's book by bishop Tutu on the last phrase.

9) Sometimes I think that the persecutions were not horrific for the 7 churches but they are allying themselves with trouble. think of how the right wing is linking themselves with the American Revolution with no clear reason why they feel so oppressed.

 

Acts

1) This leads us back to the raisings by Jesus and Elijah and Elisha. Tabitha sounds like Talitha, little girl, as in the raising of the daughter of Jairus.

2) I love how she is famous for her generosity.

3) Notice the bilingual culture extends even to names.

4) Do you see any significance in being in an upper room, a la the Lord's supper and even the "inn" of Lk. 2?

5) Notice he sends all outside, as did Jesus.

6) Simon is a tanner. I would need to do some research on how that was, or was not, an unclean activity.

April 18, 2010 Rev. 5:11-14, John 21

 

All of us are imperfect. All make mistakes. All of us fall short of expectations. Peter then fits our experience. I find it so heartening that Jesus picks him, even after his dismal denials, to be a leader in the church community. For the Christian , forgiveness is an answer to human frailty. When people go astray, we forgive then and begin again. Notice that Jesus has not forgotten that Peter denied him three times, with his three-part question. In spite of the failure, maybe even because of the failure, Jesus continues to stick with Peter. The word love pervades the questions. James Harnish wrote (CC 4/6) 'When we confront our naked failure, we discover that the love of God is deeper than our denials, and the calling of God is stronger than our failure to live up to it." Instead of holding Peter to his failure, Jesus offers him opportunity and responsibility. Jesus knows full well he will continue to fail, but he also sees the potential in Peter to grow far beyond his own expectations and even limitations.

 

In this passage, Jesus honors work, hard work. It must be an immensely frustrating experience to be out all night casting nets and catching nothing. If this is comic, Peter dresses to go swimming. Jesus assigns some hard work to Peter: to tend his sheep. Many of you know how hard it can be to tend animals. (David and chickens) Sometimes working with congregations has been likened to herding cats, like the Super Bowl commercial some time back. A lot of guesswork surrounds the number 153 as a sign of numerology. I prefer to take it as a sign of the number of the people in the congregation to whom this is directed. Presbyterians would categorize it as a middle -sized church. God does indeed know us by name and counts us in the family. In part, Jesus works to take care of the fishermen. He knows that they need refreshment and rest.

 

The churches in Revelation craved some rest and refreshment. Their nets seemed empty. They too were frustrated. For me the key to the book of Revelation is our little section this morning. Instead of the ravening lion of Judah; we see a little lamb., a little slain lamb. Yes Christ was exalted in heaven, but the symbol of that power is a weak little lamb. Pressed by empire, one would look for an image of power. They were being pushed to deny their faith in ways large and small in all likelihood. the slain lamb was more than enough to open the gates of reconciliation and salvation. the little lamb held the key to the scroll of divine destiny, even to the close of the age. Of all creatures, the slain little lamb is on the throne.

 

In Thursday morning Bible Study, the participants lifted up the phrase that net did not break. It is a sign of God's capacity for love. god's expansive love doesn't strain the net. It is a sign of our capacity to give and receive love. Too often we apply to logic of scarcity to our spiritual lives. Instead of worrying about a size of the piece of the pie, the spiritual life allows the piety grow. sometimes the oldest child is concerned that Mom and Dad won't be able to love them as much when a new baby comes along. In spite of our weakness, in spite of frustrations, in spite of being sheep that require tending, we are given abundance, even more than we need at times. In our work, we may be frustrated at times, but at other times we  are fishing rich waters, and do better than we can possibly expect.

4/11 2010 First Sunday after Easter

 

We are so often in a rush to get to the Thomas story that we fail to include the opening section on Spirit, mission, and forgiveness material as resurrection life. Forgiveness brings new life to a relationship threatened with death. Here the church is called to be an  Easter vehicle. If it is functioning as a church court, it can also pass on a death knell for a relationship. When we forgive, we receive the breath of new life. when we forgive or are forgiven, a relationship can breathe again. their souls are given Easter life in forgiveness. Disciple work is the work of the whole church community.

 

Jesus bears his life scars. Jesus is more than a soul or pure spirit. His resurrection body is seen as Jesus, heard as Jesus. Should one explore the scars? In bible Study Thursday, Carol Reger wondered if the scars would be healed at the ascension. The forty days are an interim period. Temple: "The wounds of Christ are his credentials to the suffering race of humanity." Johnson writes that "Jesus bears forever the marks of his wounded humanity." Are they visible marks of the suffering of God for us as well?   (In Habakkuk 2:6) Calvin says that "wherever people cry out for justice, their cries become the very cries of God." Or (Jer. 22:16, "God is known where humanity is cared for."  Promise fulfilled of a spirit-filled life, a life of peace. this is a sign of God in the world. They and we are sent into the world to bear on ourselves, in demonstrating in our lives, the reality of the risen, living, Jesus, to reveal that continuing presence in our lives. Note that 3 times we hear peace be with you. How were the disciples shutting out the fearsome world outside? Were they then locked into their fear?

 

Revelation is presenting us with Easter time, or Communion time, where past, present, and future move together in the Eternal Now.So, time is fluid. We see a bold move where the extension of the divine name in Ex.3:14 covers all time. Jesus is given a series of titles, including the provocative firstborn of the dead. The book of Revelation is directed toward 7 real churches but are they perfect number representatives of all the church? They are in need of Easter life for different reasons, just like any church.

 
Thomas is both disbelieving and believing, his twin sides reflect two sides in us. I do want to emphasize that the word, doubt, does not appear in the Thomas story. Jesus says something on the order of don't be disbelieving or unbelieving but believing. Calvin was most unkind toward Thomas calling him, among other thing, stupid, dull. obstinate, monstrous, arrogant, and contemptous. At no point does Jesus seem angry with Thomas. At no point, is he not a disciple. He, too, is called with us to carry out the minstry of reconciliation. of continuing the work of Jesus in the wolrd.

 

In her comments,Gench reminds us "the same breath that brought Adam to his feet  now send the disciples out the door. Who among us does not have a bit of skepticism in them? Blind faith is gullible faith. We cannot tell people not to ask questions, as that turns faith into propaganda or dogmatic fist pounding. Folks who use the book of Revelation as a cookbook for the future or a codebook for the clever to break bring out the skeptical Thomas side in me. That's a sore point with me. a while a go, we worked with the book the Shack, the symbol of the wound of loss, but god could be found there. We experience Christ in ourselves and others when we are willing to touch the wounds of each others lives, to be agents of healing old wounds.

April 18th Acts 9:1-6, Rev. 5:11-14 First Cut

 

Rev. 5:11-14-

1) While the left behind series revels in the Lion of Judah as does Narnia, Revelation looks to a slain, little lamb. This is a vital image. They replace a martial image (I almost typed marital, thanks Freud) for a weak, slain one. Yet, it is precisely the weak image that is in the throne room, not the Lion of Judah.

2) Notice the myriads upon myriads in the throne room. This stands against ideas of limited numbers in the work of Christ.

3) 7 appears again in the gifts for the Lamb

4) Look at the universal response in v. 13;yet, the work of God is not finished. The scroll of god's upcoming plans  are opened by the lamb, but they are not finished.

5) Of all creatures, a slain little lamb is on the throne. Few passages get at the surprising, hidden nature of the power of God better than this.

 

Acts 9

1) Saul is breathing out violent, even murderous threats.That's who God picks here. I don't know if we should read a link to King Saul, with his murderous plans toward David and his band. Saul was attacking the son of David and his band.

2) Many crave a Damascus experience. Epiphanies do occur, but the nurture and growth of a Christian is no less important.

3) Can you imagine having the chance to get revenge on Saul and accepting him as does?

4) Do you think we should make anything of the shared name Ananias and the man in ch. 5?

5) Physical miracles usually have a spiritual analogue. Here the scales fall from Saul's eyes when he is healed after his vision. Are the laying on of hands an ordination?