Faith Nourishment

Read: John 20:19-31

I like to go to a park in Columbia, Tn called Chickasaw Trace. I ride my mountain bike there regularly. I meet my friend, Alex,  on some mornings and we will ride a quick lap before our daily routines begin. Out of all of the places I ride, I ride Chickasaw more than anywhere else. It is my home trail (since it is the closest one from my house). It is a very challenging trail, so it is always a great workout. And, I learned how to mountain bike there so it is close to my heart. 

One thing that I love about my regular visits to Chickasaw Trace is how I get to witness the changes it makes through the year. I was riding there a lot earlier in the year while it was cold and there were no leaves on the trees. I could stop in the middle of the ride and the wilderness was soundless. There was not a lot moving around. If a person were unfamiliar with the cycle of the seasons, it would be hard to convince them that everything would come back to life in only months. 

During March and April I was unable to ride at Chickasaw much because of all of the rain that we got. Technically, you are not supposed to use the trails when they are wet and muddy. Too much use while wet will cause long-term damage. Since we had no rain last week I was good to go for a little ride Friday morning. I met with Alex and when we started to ride we both noticed that the trail had completely changed since the last ride. Everything was green and the woods were alive! The squirrels were jumping from tree to tree; rabbits were running around everywhere; and, the grass was grown over some sections of the trail. It only took those few weeks of rain and a little bit of sunshine to nourish everything back into strength. I always get excited about this time of the year because I love to witness God providing just enough nourishment to the natural world for sustainability. 

I will spare you from my hippy, tree-hugging speech about the environment and how we all play a key role in being God’s hands and protecting the gift of nature. But, have you ever thought about how every living thing needs nourishment? If it is living, it has to have sustainability. As far as I know, I cannot think of a single living thing that does not need nourishment of some sort. When it dies, it no longer needs nourishment. In the fall and winter when the trees lose their leaves they do not die, they simply rest for a while. But, in the springtime with the Lord’s nourishment, they come to life and produce life for other organisms. For some reason, I find that very exciting. It gives me an example of God’s life-giving process. It makes for a great illustration of God’s process of life, of death, and of renewal.   

God is well aware of each individual living organism that needs nourishment to live, breathe, and flourish. I think that we can agree that in the life of a living organism, as it takes in nourishment, it grows and becomes stronger. God provides that nourishment so that these organisms can be alive and grow. Much like a living organism, our faith requires the same. Our faith constantly requires nourishment to be alive, active, and to grow. Just like God provides nourishment for all living organisms, the Lord provides nourishment for our faith. The way that I see it, our faith is a living organism in itself. It needs nourishment, it needs to be healthy, it needs to be active, it needs to face challenges, it needs exercise, and it constantly needs to grow. Let’s face it; our faith is by far the most important part of our bodies. Our faith doesn’t just give us life; it gives us eternal life. 

On the other hand, if one’s faith were not alive and active, why would it need nourishment? Why would God provide for something that is dead? If something is not active, it doesn’t need nourishment. 

Before we go any further, let’s take a detailed look at John's story as he witnesses the living Christ. In this text we can witness a story of God’s life-giving nourishment not simply for living organisms but the faith of those that carried on the legacy of Christ and the bestowment of the ever-present Holy Spirit. 

In the first section of this story we find the disciples hiding and locked behind closed doors. These Christ followers were in fear for their life because they knew that the road that Jesus took them on was full of risks. They were in fear of the consequences of following Christ. Therefore, they locked themselves behind closed doors. Let’s talk about this for a moment. Since the first Christ followers, for centuries Christians have been locking themselves behind closed doors. For these early Christians, hiding was the easiest option. Hiding was the safest option. That idea has carried on to our current disposition. Locking ourselves behind walls is the easiest option; it is the safest thing to do. But, just as these early Christ followers failed to understand, we fail to understand that the need is on the other side. The need is on the other side of the wall. The need is on the outside of the church. Jesus did not hide or lock himself inside the wall to avoid those on the other side. Jesus was on the other side. These Christ followers were in fear of what might happen if they unlocked the door and ventured into the unknown. Their faith was weakened by what the world showed them. But that is not what Christ commissioned them to do. After they locked themselves inside due to fear, Jesus came to them, offered them peace, and sent them outside of their enclosed place. Before he sent them he gave them the tools they needed to be courageous. The text tells us that he breathed the Holy Spirit on them and sent them to show the world the Spirit so that they might receive it too. There were needs on the outside and Jesus sent them out to meet those needs. 

My friends, Jesus is on the outside of our enclosed safe places, sending us to go out with him. He is sending us to face our fears and to have courage. And, Jesus equips us with the tools we need to be courageous when we do this. This is the heart of the mission of Christ. Christ gives us the courage, nourishment, and the Holy Sprit to share with the world. To deny this opportunity is to deny the mission of Christ in the world. 

When Jesus came to these disciples, to prove to them that he was real, he showed them his scars. Scars tell stories. I think we all have a scar or two and a story to tell. We have stories to tell in regard to how we got them. Jesus’ scars also tell a story, but not just his story; they tell our story too. Jesus’ scars tell us that his pain was essential to his life on earth. They are marks of a lived experience that affect our lives today. They, too, tell a story of his life and they tell a story of our life. For those that were present to see Jesus’ scars they knew that the Lord was there to fulfill a promise and a mission. But of the eleven disciples remaining, there was one that was not present. Thomas was not present. Now, we refer to Thomas as the one that doubted the return of our Lord. But, let us not demonize this disciple for his skepticism. First, the text does not tell us why he was not present. The text does not tell us why he was not there with the others hiding behind closed doors. He was the only one not hiding, which tells me that he might have had a little more courage than the rest of them. We can speculate that he might have skipped town but we don’t know that. There is a good chance that he continued to serve the poor or the people in need despite what his comrades were doing. But, when the others tell him that they have seen the Lord, he says the same that anyone would say. He says, I need to see it for myself. I mean, come on! Thomas was just a straight shooter. He was a no nonsense kind of guy. He needed to know for sure; he needed the nourishment that the others had received. He needed proof. Thomas, along with all the others present, witnessed the brutal death of his friend, Jesus. He saw him beaten, humiliated, the wounds, the blood, and he saw Jesus take his last breath. I feel like we would all do the same.

Second, I believe Thomas had a lot of faith in Christ. But, his faith was slowly weakening. His faith needed nourishment. He needed to see those wounds, he needed to witness the risen Christ, and he needed the breath of Christ just as the other disciples needed it. Thomas’ faith was becoming weak and it needed some nourishment. 

Last year my mom gave me a large healthy tomato plant to put on my back porch. I put it out on my porch so that it would get some sunshine. I went out of town for a few days and I assumed it would be fine until I got back. When I returned I noticed that the wind had blown the plant over and some of the dirt had dumped out. When I tilted it back up I noticed that it had started to wither. Some of the leaves had started to turn yellow and it was drying out. I packed some dirt back in it, watered it, put some fertilizer on it, and put it in the sunlight. In a matter of a day the plant branched back out, the leaves perked up, and some blooms came out. All it needed was a little nourishment and the touch of a gardener. With this little bit of encouragement it came back to life. I have a feeling that if my tomato plant had the ability to think it would have thought that there was no hope for growth or prosperity. It might have thought that hope was lost. But, with the nourishment of the gardener it started growing and serving a purpose. 

When Thomas’ faith was starting to weaken Christ gave him the nourishment that he needed to grow. Jesus came to Thomas like a gardener and gave him strength and affirmation of hope. He strengthened his faith and gave him sustainability to move forward with the mission of Christ. 

Much like plants, trees, nature, life, weak disciples, and Christ followers, we all need nourishment; our faith needs to be strengthened. Active faith needs to be nourished. The disciples had locked themselves away from the world and the things that they feared the most. If they had kept themselves locked away their faith would have withered and eventually died. But, Christ came to them and led them to be active with their faith. Christ has come to us and commanded that we be active in our faith. Christ has commissioned us to step beyond our walls and be courageous. Just like when trees, plants, and the life around us becomes active, God strengthens it with the proper nourishment. When we step outside of these walls and become active we receive an abundance of nourishment. Christ has given us the same breath of life that he gave his disciples. Now, we must go and share it with the world around us. When we do this we will find nourishment and growth. 

In verses 22 and 23 the Lord tells his followers, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” Friends, we have received the Holy Spirit and with it we have been given a great responsibility, to forgive people of their sins. They say, with great power comes great responsibility. We have been given a great power. With it we have a great responsibility. When we serve this request of Christ, we gain nourishment. Our Lord openly gives it to us. Receive this responsibility and serve the mission of the risen Christ. 

"Jenga"

(Read Acts 4:5-12)

Have you ever played the game Jenga? Or, are you familiar with the game? If you are not you have probably seen it played before. I have to be honest, I have never played it but I have seen it played several times by my friends. The game consists of a tower of pieces of wooden block stacked up to a certain height. Each participant in the game will take turns removing a block and placing it on top of the stack. If the stack falls while you are removing a block and placing it on top you lose or suffer the consequences or have to drink… I guess it depends on the variation of the game and the crowd you are playing with. It is funny that the word “jenga” is a verb from the Swahili language (used in several countries in Africa) that means “to build”. But, in the game you are doing just the opposite of building.   

Anyway, I have watched my friends play this game and they get a little brave with the blocks they remove. Sometimes they might go for a block that might possibly work for them and also destabilize the structure so that the next person taking a turn will topple the blocks and lose. It’s almost nerve racking to watch. I mean you can go through and knock out a block here and a block there but there is going to be that one block that you cannot remove. It is going to boil down to a block and someone is going to inevitably make it fall. You have to know going into the game that there are just some blocks that cannot be removed without failure. If you think about it Jenga is such a great metaphor for life. You have to know that there are just some things that cannot be removed from your life without failure. There are some elements of every construction that contain so much significance that when removed, it will eventually fall. Therefore we must be cautious of what we reject from anything. 

Simplifying life is a good practice. But, when a person over simplifies, the structure becomes vulnerable. For example: There are some parts we all need to remove from our diets. There are just some things we can do without. However, when we take away vital nutrition, we will start to fall apart. There are some people that might be good to remove from our lives (or maybe keep at a distance). But, there are also some people that are strategically placed and vital to our emotional growth. When you purchase a new car there are some extra options that you can go without. But, there are some vital pieces that are needed for the car to function. In our religious institutions and churches we have gained some practices, habits, policies, and protocols that we can definitely operate without. However, there are some things that cannot be removed from them without suffering detrimental consequences. Unfortunately, some churches and religious institutions have forgotten about the cornerstones that hold them together. Like a reckless Jenga player, they have started pulling blocks with disregard of the outcome. 

Peter tried to explain to the religious leaders that they had rejected the most significant block of the Jewish faith. He did this with a very bold attempt while witnessing to the same audience that killed Jesus. It was literally the same people that constituted the execution of Jesus. It was the High Priest, his sons, and the experts of the Law. It was Peter’s chance for redemption. When his Rabbi was brought before this group for trial, not too long before this event, Peter cowered behind the crowd rather than representing or defending his Master. This time something was different. This time Peter had the same Spirit in him that Jesus had as he stood in front of this court. Peter was full of the Spirit of Christ. It was a new and fresh feeling that he did not have in him before. With this Spirit and being one with Christ Peter fearlessly spoke out to the court. 

So, you might be asking why Peter and John were in front of this court in the first place? What crime did they commit to be arrested and set in front of the High Priest? Some of you might recall the story from Acts 3 when Peter and John were walking into the temple and a beggar disabled from birth was trying to make a few bucks. While many were looking the other way Peter and John approached him with empty pockets. They had no money to give. Instead of giving money they healed him in the name of the same person that challenged the High Priests and the Law experts. They healed the beggar in the name of the person that was executed for claiming to be the Messiah. When the religious leaders found out, they were a little disturbed because they thought they had snuffed out the flame of this radical that was stirring everything up. But, they are finding out that some flames cannot be snuffed out. There are some flames that only grow larger when you try to put them out. As Peter was standing in front of these persecutors he was holding that flame. 

The Priests said, “Now say again by what power or by what name you healed this lame beggar. Tell us! I dare you to say his name!” Peter stands proud and respectfully says, “Are we here because something good was done for a disabled man? Are we here because someone was saved? Because, the man that was healed stands here before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. Do you remember him, the one that you crucified? You are the builders of our faith but you have rejected the most important building block of our faith. You have rejected salvation.” 

Peter made a bold but strong point for faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the most important building block of a believer’s faith, the most important building block of the religious institution, and the most important building block of the church. These Chief Priests and religious leaders arrested Peter and John for representing Jesus Christ through healing a man. They were persecuted for living out the mission of Christ. 

The mission of Christ was ministry. The mission of Christ was healing. The mission of Christ was showing inclusive love and extending it to all people. Those are the roots of the Christian mission. We serve our neighbors with inclusive love in the name of Jesus Christ. 

That is the cornerstone of our faith. Ministry is the most significant building block of faith. Ministry is what holds the church together. I am not simply speaking for one church but for the Church universal. When churches fail to place the ministry of Christ as the most significant building block, the church will fail. Some churches reject ministry. Or, they act only on the ministries that suit their personal biases. But, when there is a need in a community there is ministry to be done. When there is a place for healing, there is a need for the hands of Christ; there is a need for ministry. Acting on community needs, showing inclusive love, and serving our neighbors in various ways is the mission of Christ and it is ministry. That is the most important building block of the church. Without making ministry our priority, the church will become weak and it will slowly fall apart. As Christ followers it is essential to build on the foundation of ministry so that the church will gain strength. 

What if the Church universal, religious institutions, and all of its resources started treating ministry as the highest priority? What if we all started seeking tools to heal people? What if the ministry of Jesus was the most important building block of the church? Some people might argue that that is what churches do but I do not see it. It is hard for us to see the church making ministry the priority when there are people dying of addiction, homelessness, poverty, lack of healthcare, disease, predatory lending, and all of these issues are passed down to the next generation. However, we see churches building million dollar sanctuaries and extravagant decorations with all of these issues in their back yards. We see religious institutions investing money into areas to make more money but these issues still exist. It sounds to me that the cornerstone of the church has become money rather than the ministry of Jesus. The setting of the church does not have nearly as much significance as the plot. 

Do churches and religious institutions need to make changes? Yes, I think some of them do. We can always change for the better. Change is good for everyone and it constitutes growth in Christ. We can remove pieces and add pieces that will be healthy for the Church universal. The world needs to see the hands of Christ working in our communities and by making changes to the church and seeking the mission of Christ there is a chance they will witness it. 

The point of the game called Jenga is to remove pieces of the structure without it falling down. The game gets more difficult the longer it’s played because you start noticing pieces that cannot be removed. You start to notice pieces that must stay in tact for the building to remain. Ministry is like that building piece that has to stay in place. It is the block that is holding the whole structure together. When you remove the ministry of Jesus from a religious institution it will topple to the ground. 

I think the first question one must ask is are we using our resources the best that we can? Are we allocating our funds and endowments for the interest of Christ or our own interests? Do changes need to take place in your church? Perhaps God wants to use your voice for change. Perhaps God wants to use you to strengthen or uphold the building blocks of Christ in the church. Or, perhaps God is calling you to be the hands of Christ in the world and to reinforce the Cornerstone of our faith. Whatever it may be, may the fire of the Holy Spirit burn within you and be passed on to all those you encounter. 

Far and Wide (A Nontraditional Easter Sermon)

Read: Acts 10:34-43

I often think about my past and how I would have done things different if I only knew then what I know now. Do you ever think that? When that phrase comes to mind I particularly think about high school (and maybe 4-5 years after high school). But, I particularly think about high school and how difficult it was to fit in with certain crowds. My high school, and I think this is pretty consistent with most high schools, was full of different cliques or various social groups. I remember groups such as the jocks, nerds, freaks, preps, band geeks, skaters, and that’s just to name a few. I feel certain there are many new groups that have emerged over the past 20 years. 

Your group was your people. It kind of defined you and it made an existential statement while you were in school. Ironically, when you graduate none of it means anything anymore. A lot of people have to figure out who they really are after high school.

If I knew then what I know now I would not have been part of any group. I wish I had befriended all of them. Yes, If I could go back and do anything different I would intentionally befriend people in every group or clique. Or, at least I would try. I am sure some would have rejected me. I am sure there would be some to think I was just a poser. Some people would likely call me names for being part of the less popular groups. Some people would probably try to convince me that those freaks are nothing but trouble. Or, those jocks are nothing but bullies. Or, don’t hang out with the nerds; they never do anything fun. 

When I think about these groups today it reminds me that inclusivity is a struggle. I am sure that trying to befriend every group would have been really hard because of all of the conflict it might cause. But, sometimes creating new friendships, unity, and inclusivity is worth any bit of conflict it might cause.

The disciple, Peter suffered for trying to include and unite groups of people. He made an attempt to show communities how far and wide God’s grace was. He wanted to include certain groups into the saving grace of the cross and that created some conflict. 

There was never a sound relationship between the Jews and the Romans. The people of Israel were under Roman occupation during the first century. The relationship between to the two factions was sour to say the least. Then, this new group manifested that created even more conflict. This new faction was a product of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and their relationship with the Romans was even lesser than that of the non-Christian Jews. They witnessed these other groups partake in Jesus’ death. So, it is safe to say there are separations in Israel’s central communities during this time.

Peter, being one of the twelve followers of Jesus felt that his purpose was to evangelize. He wanted to share the mission of Christ and he wanted people to come to know Jesus the Messiah. He had a purpose and it was to present the saving grace of the cross to all who wanted it. But even Peter didn’t know how big this saving grace was. Though he wanted to share this good news, his target audience was primarily the Jewish community. That is, until he met Cornelius. 

Cornelius was a Roman soldier, a centurion, which means he had command of a group of one hundred Roman soldiers. So, it's safe to assume that he was of importance. By Jewish standards Cornelius was a gentile--disliked, unclean... He was likely a person to avoid. But, he was a believer in God, the same God the Jews worshiped. However, to the Christian Jews and the non-Christian Jews he was just another gentile. To associate with gentiles was considered a violation of the Law. It was considered unclean for the Jews to share with gentiles in any way. 

Then there is the fact that the first factions of Christian Jews were kind of exclusive. They had to be to avoid persecution. Many of the original Christ followers were wanted for arrest or interrogation.   

Peter knew the implications of associating with a gentile. He knew the potential outcome of mingling with the wrong crowd. But he did it anyway. He did it because God led him to it. One day while Peter was on top of a roof praying and meditating he became hungry and had a vision. (I can level with him on this; when I get real hungry I start seeing stuff too.) In the vision he was offered a variety of food consider unclean by the Jewish faith. (It probably involved bacon because bacon was considered unclean by Jewish dietary laws and what do you think about when you get really hungry? Yep). A voice told him to eat the food. Peter denied it because it was not of his nature to partake in anything impure or unclean. The voice replied, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” After the vision Peter was a little confused of its meaning. Suddenly, two men summoned him. The Roman soldier, Cornelius, sent these two men to find Peter and bring him to his house. Peter went with them and upon arriving at the house he met Cornelius and a large group of people that gathered to meet Peter as well. As it would seem, God spoke to Cornelius, this “gentile”, and told him where Peter was so that Peter could meet he and the group to testify about Jesus the Christ.

Peter said to the group of people, “Look, you know I shouldn’t be here. But, I think God has led me here for a purpose. God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. That is why I am here. Now tell me; how did you find me?” Cornelius told Peter that God told him where he was staying and to bring him to Cornelius and these people. He said, “I sent for you and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.”

Do you know what is weird about this story? Everything. There is no cultural explanation for this event. The Christian Jews did not associate with the Romans or the non-Christian Jews. The Romans, or gentiles didn’t associate with the Jews or especially the Christian Jews. But, God miraculously brought these people together. But wait, there is something else that we need not forget to notice. Cornelius was a relatively wealthy person and it is likely that all of the people he had gathered were his family and friends. So, they were probably well-to-be citizens too. Let’s be mindful that wealthy folks and poor folks didn’t associate either. Most of the wealthy folks thought that the poor folks were cursed for some reason. They were certain that there lives were chaotic because God or, in the polytheistic belief, gods had shamed them. And Peter, he was a just poor Galilean fisherman that had his world turned upside down and was currently avoiding as much of the law as he could. And, here he stands in front of a Roman officer. Then, here comes the part that blows me away. This wealthy Roman soldier bows to Peter’s feet and says, “We’re here to listen to everything you have to say.”

I wonder how long Peter stood in awe of the moment. I wonder how long it took him to wipe the tears from his eyes because the Spirit of Christ just had a moment in his presence. Nevertheless, his response is earth shaking, humbling, and compassionate. Peter’s response is probably my favorite sentence in the Holy Bible. He said, “I am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another.”

I have to wonder; is this a conversion story of a gentile, or is this a conversion story of an apostle? Was this story about Cornelius coming to Christ or Peter making the discovery of how far and wide the love of Christ extends? I think this is a conversion story of Christ follower coming to know his master more than ever before. This is story about a Christ follower that literally walked in the same footsteps as the Lord, a man that served the Lord first hand, a man that attempted to walk on water for the Lord, a man that failed at the Lord’s presence, a man that touched the Lord’s human body with his hands, and here he comes to know something about his master that he never knew. He discovers that the Lord’s grace is far greater than he thought it was. This is a message for us to be reminded that God’s grace is far greater than we can ever imagine.  

On Easter we celebrate the life, mission, and purpose of God in each one of us. We celebrate the death and sacrifice our God made because God so loved the world. And, we celebrate the empty tomb that represents Christ alive in us today. It is because of this event we have grace greater than any sin. 

We celebrate this every year. We celebrate our personal journeys and the idea that we are saved by grace alone. But, I have to ask this question. Do you ever celebrate the size of this event? Do you ever celebrate how far, wide, and deep this grace extends? Do you ever celebrate how this grace changes as the world changes? You probably do not because it is hard for us to imagine how big and vibrant it is.

God’s grace is dynamic. It is ever changing as the world changes. God’s grace evolves as the world evolves. God’s grace grows as the world grows. God’s grace loves even as the world continues to hate more and more. Our minds want to convince us that God’s grace is exclusive to certain people because other people outside of our circles are different than we are. We like to think, “Surely we are living the right way, the only way, and why would God’s grace extend to the people that we don’t want it to? I mean come on, they are different, they don’t live like I do.” But, you see, Jesus removed all of the barriers between God and humanity. Jesus made God’s love available and extendable to the whole world. When I say God’s love I am not just talking about the kind of love that humans share. At greatest our love is weak. God’s love is unconditional, unshakable, and it does not show partiality to one group of people over another.

As our world changes, God’s grace changes so that God can love us more and extend grace to more of God’s creation. Isn’t that exciting? On Easter we celebrate the day that it began. The next day, and everyday thereafter we can celebrate the day that it continues.    

               

Easily Distracted

Read: 

Psalm 119:9-16 and John 12:24-26 

When I travel to Memphis, which I do at least once a month, I stay with my friend, Dennis. He and I mountain bike together, we work together at a local bike shops, his dog Kodak is a best friend to my dog, Polar Bear, his house is dog friendly, and he is a hospitable guy. So, I always enjoy the visit. Typically, when I stay with Dennis, in the mornings I will wake up, make some coffee and breakfast, then watch the morning news. When I do this Dennis will typically go into his garage and clean up or work in the yard. I used to wonder why he didn’t watch the news and chat with me. A few months ago I found out why. Dennis cannot watch the news without getting mad. One morning he sat and started to watch the news and his reactions were humorous. He started yelling at the reporters! Even the meteorologist was purged into a personal fire pit with Dennis’ condemnation. He sat with me for about five minutes and waked out of the room. “I just can’t take this. I can’t watch the news without getting angry. I have things to do that make me happy.” Being that Dennis is a really good friend of mine, I laughed at him and told him that he was weird and old. However, I started doing some thinking about Dennis’ response to the news. I find myself getting angry at the news too but I don’t verbalize it. I do, however, internalize it. It is often depressing. When I watch the news and I watch television I am often distracted in regard to my plans for the day and I am often less productive.

Before the Lent Season started I did some reflecting on sacrifices that I could make. I concluded with this, rather than going into the wilderness for forty days, I am going to abstain from the wilderness. Huh? Let’s face it; “the wilderness” is a great metaphor for the world we live in today. Cat Stevens said it well when he sang, “Ooh baby, baby, It’s a wild world”. I decided to spend forty days without watching the news in the morning. I know it doesn’t seem like much to sacrifice. But when it is a large part of your daily routine it makes quite a difference when it’s not present. Since Lent is nearly over I feel that I can accurately give a summary of my experience. To easily summarize, I don’t think I am going to start watching the news again. It has been very good for me and it has given me the opportunity to focus, prioritize, learn, pray more, listen, and not be distracted by the noise from the “wilderness”.

Have you ever put much thought into the things that distract you from your relationship with God? Have you ever recognized that you were being distracted? What does it mean when we are distracted from God? I think that is the question you have to ask yourself when considering loyalty to your faith, or rather your piety. What does it mean to be distracted from God? After putting a lot of thought and reflection on this I have come to a marginal conclusion that it is when a believer starts to focus more inward than outward. I call this a marginal conclusion because there are times that a believer needs to focus on him or herself. As a matter of fact, I am a strong proponent on taking care of your self before you serve someone else because I have discovered (the hard way) that you cannot serve another person until you take care of yourself. A vessel won’t get too far if it has a hole it. A bird can’t fly if it has a broken wing. With that said, we must look inward to make sure these vessels can float the Holy Spirit into the world before we go out serving. But, think about it; when your inner self was broken down, you were not distracted from God. As a matter of fact, you were looking for someone to fix it and you knew there was refuge with the Lord.

Thus, back to the point, we become distracted from God when we look too far inward and we forget about what is going on outside of the shell. Though, the Holy Spirit lives within, the Holy Spirit’s concern is what's outside. God wants us together. God wants us to live for and love each other. In order to seek God’s desire and accomplish God’s plan we must always focus on God’s plan. I will be the first to tell you, it ain’t easy.

So, what is the problem? How do we become so distracted from our faith? What makes God’s plan so hard? Have you ever just sat and pondered that simple question? Why do we have such a hard time obeying God’s commandments? Is the fruit from the tree of life that appealing? Maybe it is not fruit that is so appealing. It might be a fat paycheck. It might be a new car, home, or some other possession. It might be a cream filled donut or a slice of pizza. I don’t know. Whatever it is, the world tells you that you need it to survive. (Why are they so convincing?) But, God tells you that you do not need it because God has already given you what you need.

So we know what distracts us from God. The next question is why can’t we just look the other way? Why can’t we just turn off the television, hide from the world, avoid people? (That is a hell of an idea!) Here is the answer: we cannot do that because that is where the mission field is. But, among this mission field we have all of these things that take our focus away from God. It’s like asking an opioid addict working in a pharmacy. Or, it’s like sending Bruce Banner into a boxing match and telling him to not let the Hulk come out. Sending a believer into the world and asking them to not be distracted from God is asking a lot. Media, the desire for wealth, anger, hate, selfishness, family issues, work problems, illness, natural disaster, war, and our culture’s persuasive rhetoric to be better than everyone else and live up to a certain standard makes living for God a hard thing to do. Is it possible to always focus on God and seek the mission of Christ during our lives here on earth? I don’t think it is. Our world has too many imperfections. However, it is possible to always try. We make never make it to the stars, but we can always reach for them. 

In Johns Gospel the writer records an interaction with Jesus speaking with a group of people. It is not certain who all was part of this group but the writer includes that there were some Greeks in this group. The Greeks were not Jesus’ people; they were not Jewish. They were mostly gentile and polytheistic. The Greeks were very attached to a certain culture that glorified by Rome. This culture was defined as Hellenistic. Wealth was paramount in this culture. You had to be a certain way and live up to a certain standard to be accepted. Sound familiar? Even the wealthier Jews were second-class to most of the Romans. So it’s odd that these people approached Jesus with the desire to meet him. They wanted to know him. Jesus says to them, “Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. Whoever serves me must follow me.” Let’s break down what Jesus is implying in this message. He is not suggesting that you stop loving what God has given you and starting hating your life. That’s why it is important to look into this Greek language. Jesus is telling these folks to stop looking inward and look outward. Do not live selfishly, but rather selflessly, because that is pleasing to God. To further that request he is specific to say, “in this world”. The Greek word in the text for “world” is defined as an arrangement, constitution, order, or government. As it would seem, Jesus did not just offer a lesson; he gave them a challenge. He told them that if they wanted to please God, they had to turn away from what their culture encouraged them to do.

That is where we are at. Our culture tells us how to live. I feel that many people are distracted so far from their faith that they lose touch of it. That is the influence of the world. As I said, I don’t think it is possible to always live up to God's desire for our faith; we are too weak. But, when we make an effort we focus on the effort we are making. When we are reaching for the stars we know what we are reaching for. We find methods to this in constant prayer, actively serving our neighbors, being confident in God’s presence, and spiritual practice. Since our culture makes it so difficult, we must be intentional.

In 119^th Psalm the writer creates a prayer in poetic form. This is very congruent to a prayer that we might lift up in regard to living for God without distractions. I have interpreted it a little to help us understand the prayer:

How do we do right? By sheltering ourselves from the world?

I stray so much; is it possible to do right for you?

I try to do right so I will please you.

Teach me to do better.

I will repeat what you ask of me.

I know I can live by your laws.

I will think about you as I plan for the future.

I will be content as I live for you.

I try, I fail, I grow, I learn, and then I try again. I think this might be the vision of the psalmist. The writer knew God and what God was asking. The writer was very knowledgeable in regard to God and the Law. But the poet knew that living this life was problematic. However, he or she actively sought God’s plan.

How can you actively seek God’s plan in a world full of distractions? What distractions can you eliminate from your life? Do you need to add to or complement your faith practices? Are there activities in your life that distract you from God? Can you live without those activities? Are there certain people that you need to separate yourself from to better focus on the plan God has for you? Asking yourself these questions and genuinely wrestling with these questions is part of actively focusing on God and the mission of Christ. That is part of reaching for the goal. We may never achieve the goal but is essential to reach for it. Our Lord knows that we are weak. When do not live up to God’s commandments our gracious God picks us back up and sends us on our way. That is the Gift we have because God loves the world. Since God so loved the world, let us show God our love by making our best efforts to be focused on God’s plan.

Gentrification

Read Amos 5:18-25

Technology is not a bad thing. I love how things have been made easier due to advances in technology. But, do you ever really considered how much technology has changed in the past 50 years? 100 years? It is almost frightening. Truthfully, it is really amazing what we are able to do now due to technology. Folks, cars are driving themselves now and we will see more of it in the near future. They self-navigate when we request them to go certain places with a thing we still call a “phone”. What would Alexander Graham Bell think if he saw the iPhone? There are people born without legs that are walking as if they had legs, people born without the ability to hear or see that are gaining their senses, and cars that parallel park themselves. That's totally not fair. It took me a long time to learn how to parallel park. The day is coming when I say, “I remember back when we used to have to parallel park our own cars.” (Insert surly old man voice) 

Yes, if we think about it, it is a little frightening. But, it should be, especially when we don’t consider the potential result of it. Of course there is money to be made and saved with technology but there are also people to be detrimentally affected along with it. Technology has allowed us to shop, travel, import and export, communicate, and build unlike we ever have before. But what about the businesses that fail because of it? What about the people that lose their jobs because someone else wanted to save money? What about the people that have a gift, trade, or a talent that is no longer needed due to technology? What about the people that cannot afford to live in their homes because the price of living has increased? 

That is what Amos was so mad about. This narrative in Amos echoes through time and paints a stark reflection in our current situation. He was a concerned believer. He simply saw a problem and he had compassion for people. He was a hands-on servant of the Lord. Though, it is quite likely that he did not want to be. Amos was just a small town farmer. He was a shepherd and a fig farmer that lived about 6 miles outside of Jerusalem in the Judean wilderness. He never proclaimed himself as a prophet. As a matter of fact, he denied himself the title of professional prophet. He only did what he had to do because there were some extraordinary circumstances. He noticed some corruption and he stood up for what he knew was right by identifying the wrongs of the institutions. In his case, they were not just the political institutions but also the religious institutions. 

He was just a small town farm boy, living on the outskirts of the big city and he noticed an injustice that affected people. He showed compassion for these people even though he probably didn’t know them. Not only did he show compassion for the marginalized and poor people but he became angry enough to take action. 

So the question is, what mobilized him? What triggered him to become passionate enough to shout the echoing phrase, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”? What injustice did he notice that triggered his voice into action? Amos lived during the reign of King Jeroboam, who was the King of Jerusalem and King Uzziah, who was the King of Judah. These two kings were political giants. Insome ways they were good for Israel. They defeated many of their enemies and they maintained peace and prosperity for their kingdoms. They were proclaimed believers in Yahweh. They were not priests or any such title but they were Israelites nonetheless. So what was the problem? These kings developed rapid social change in their kingdoms. Since they were strong rulers and political giants they brought in loads of money and trade in Israel. They controlled trade routes and created territorial expansion into Egypt and Samaria by means of force. Basically, they developed a lot of new technology. They developed new infrastructures and extravagant homes. But, what they did not do is tend to the people that were affected negatively. These politicians that developed peace and prosperity in Israel were great for the wealthy communities and even made the wealthy communities stronger but they were hurtful to the poor people in urban settings. They created a whole new community of disenfranchised people. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer. All the while, the rich and wealthy religious people of God celebrated their expansions and celebrated their city’s growth and their new large homes and urban centers. But, they ignored the people that were left homeless from it. They ignored the people that were left to die on the streets due to malnourishment. They didn’t care about the people that were forced out of their homes due to this urban expansion. 

Amos became aware of these problems. Sometimes I wonder how he became aware since he did not live in an urban setting. He could have gone into town to sell and trade and noticed it. But, logic tells me that he came to know a lot of these people. He was on a farm 6 miles south of Jerusalem in a small town called Tekoa. Many of the people that were being disenfranchised due to economic expansion were probably showing up on his farm. I like to think he became close to them. He discovered that they were God’s people like anyone else. So begins the prophecy of Amos. 

Amos publicly speaks out to the politicians and the wealthy communities of Israel that they will be punished and they are criminals because they crush the head of the poor and push the afflicted out of the way. Speaking of God, he proclaims that a Lion has roared. He calls them cows of Bashan that get drunk and ignore the weak and the needy. They turn justice into poison and throw righteousness on the ground. So yes, “Doom to those who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light..” “Isn’t the day of the Lord darkness, not light; all dark with no brightness in it?” Amos proclaims that God has spoken these words to them, “21 I hate, I reject your festivals; I don’t enjoy your joyous assemblies. 22 If you bring me your entirely burned offerings and gifts of food—I won’t be pleased; I won’t even look at your offerings of well-fed animals. 23 Take away the noise of your songs; I won’t listen to the melody of your harps. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Essentially, "Because, you have ignored my people, you have done everything good for yourselves and ignored the people in need." 

Does any of this sound familiar? There is a word that is often used in regard to urban and city development called “gentrification”. It is defined as redevelopment, urban renewal, or the renovation of aging neighborhoods. We see this in a lot of major cities. A gentrified neighborhood looks great. You might see some nice restaurants, houses, art centers, urban hubs, and parks. It’s basically technology making its way through hurting neighborhoods. In some cases it is a good thing. Sounds good anyway. Some examples offer better and safer environments for kids and businesses. But, on the other side of it, it creates high property value for renters and businesses forcing them to close and/or relocate. We see this example in Nashville right now. The property value is skyrocketing and people are being forced out of their homes. Many are being forced to relocate. Some families are being split up because parents cannot afford to provide for their kids. A lot of these people receive a couple of warm burritos every Monday night before they sleep on their concrete bed. (for an explanation see UBFM.org) 

Imagine that. Someone knocks on your door and says the only way you can stay in your home is if you can pay an additional 20, 30, or 40 percent property tax. Or, if you stay here your rent will increase that much. This is exactly what Amos was angry, passionate, and vocal about. 

There is a problem and a major injustice when people are more focused on what they can get out of something with no regard to how it might affect other people. I am reminded of a movie that came out in the 80’s and maybe you have heard of it but you probably haven't. It's called Breakin. It was movie based on some break dancers. The sequel of the movie was about this group that had converted an old dilapidated building into a urban community center called Miracles. They made it a place for kids to play sports, dance, create art, and so on. But, this corporation came along and purchased the land to develop a shopping mall. The only way that the community could keep the community center was to raise twenty thousand dollars. I won’t spoil it for you. My sister and I used to love that movie. 

The bottom line is this, always be aware of how something good impacts your neighbor. Loving your neighbor as you would love yourself does include looking out for them and their well being. I get so frustrated at the attitude that says, “If it doesn’t affect me; why should I care?” 1) It most likely does affect you indirectly. 2) That is a complete contrast to a Christ-centric approach. The sin of the world did not affect God. Why should God care? What if God just gave up and moved on? But, God so loved the world that God gave the only begotten son. God also expects us to love our neighbor in the same way--whether we want to or not. 

I think a good plan of action for looking out for our neighbors is to know who and what we are supporting when we cast our votes. Do these politicians have concern for our neighbors or do they want to help themselves and an elite few. If they are going to gentrify a neighborhood do they have a plan to support the people that it affects negatively? 

The second greatest commandment that God clearly gave humanity is to love each other. Sometimes that get difficult and sometimes it requires detailed effort. But that is part of serving God. That is part of blessing God as God has blessed us.