A Thought For The Week Of July 2

"But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:7) Back in the 70's the musical group Queen wrote a song that included these lyrics: "I want it all, and I want it now!" In a lot of ways that's the attitude of so many people today. We can't wait for anything and we want everything. The end result is that so many people are never satisfied with their lives. They can never rest and enjoy what they have, because it's never enough. They need to be moving on to the next thing; striving after the next possession. To be satisfied is a sign of weakness. To be content is to start falling behind. There's a lot of unhappy and unsatisfied people because of that - because we can't have it all. That was true from the very beginning. God gave Adam (humanity) everything - except for one tree. The implicit message: "you can't have it all." But Adam wasn't satisfied. Adam wanted it all. Adam (& Eve) were tempted and went after that tree - and the result was disaster. As individuals and as a society we too often want it all and we'll do whatever we need to do to get it. That might be on a personal level as we run over whoever gets in our way on the climb up the ladder, or it might be on a societal level - "who cares about the earth, we want the oil!" God wants us to understand that we can't have it all. We need to learn contentment for ourselves, and direct our attention to helping others in need. If our thoughts are always and only on us, we can't do that. Be content. Look around. Find someone who isn't as well off as you - and they're always around. Then give them a helping hand. You might as well. After all, you can't have it all! Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of June 25

"In the beginning God created heaven and earth." (Genesis 1:1) Wow. When you think about it, that handful of words that begins the Bible is awesome! They tell us that in the beginning God was already creating. So God comes before the beginning. God is around before anything else starts. I heard a physicist recently say that science talks a lot about what the Big Bang did but not a whole lot about where the Big Bang came from or how and why it happened. That's because it's mysterious. It's a lot like God - and maybe that tells us something. Whatever the process was that called existence itself into being was caused by God. God transcends time and space. And yet we believe that this awesome God who is so beyond us still loves and cares for every one us! Sometimes life deals us tough blows. There's no doubt about that. But in the midst of our troubles, we are still intimately connected with and loved by this God who created everything, who was around before the beginning and who will be around after the ending. If God loves us - and I believe that's true - then we'll be there after the ending, too, just as - in some way, even if only as a sparkle in the "mind" of God - we were there before the beginning. Nothing will even separate us from God's love. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of June 18

"My child, find your source of strength in the kindness of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1) There are times when you think you just can't go on. That can happen for any number of reasons. Life just seems to naturally have a lot of obstacles to overcome, and sometimes - when the obstacles become too much - we wonder how we're going to push forward. Our strength fails us. But in a strange sort of way, that's when we can suddenly discover that we're at our strongest. As long as we think we can handle "it" (whatever "it" might happen to be) we're probably going to try to handle it. The sudden recognition of our weakness is the moment when Jesus can enter; it's the moment when our weakness is replaced by his strength. That's the point when we suddenly discover that we can do those things that once seemed impossible. No barrier is too great for one who trusts Christ Jesus and looks to him rather than to themself for strength. We don't know what's going to happen today or this week or beyond. What we do know is that Christ Jesus will be there for us, giving us strength to move forward at the moment when, in our own strength, we can't go on. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of June 11

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. " (Matthew 5:11) The ninth and final beatitude - and, in many ways, probably the most important. This one, after all, is personalized. Throughout the series, Jesus refers to "those" who are the reciepients of the sometimes strange sounding blessings. Now, it's "you." Now, it's us! Most of the beatitudes are directed toward people who are facing difficult times or circumstances or who would not be counted among the blessed by worldy standards. Perhaps the stark reality of this beatitude is that it reminds us of the reality of our faith. As has been said, the gospel leads not to prosperity, but to death on a cross. As followers of Jesus, we need to get over the idea we sometimes have that we "deserve" some sort of reward for our faith; that we should be exempt from the struggles and trials that others have to go through. The way of the cross, and living by the gospel isn't easy - nor should it be. But for all it's challenges, it's also the way of blessing and of blessedness. Whatever you're facing this week, remember - God is with you! Be blessed!

A Thought For The Week Of May 28

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) The seventh Beatitude. Peacemaking is hard work.  To try to reconcile those who on the surface would appear to be irreconcilable is risky business at the best of times, because it's easy for the peacemaker to get caught in the crossfire between the combatants. I do wonder what Jesus meant by "peacemakers" though? What kind of peace? And between whom? I suppose there could be a double meaning here. Most obviously we think of those who try to bring peace between warring factions.  God undoubtedly blessed those who brought peace between Egypt and Israel, for example, or those who built friendly relationships between former enemies at any time. But there's probably also (and perhaps primarily) a spiritual meaning to this too. As Christians we are called to be reconcilers - those who try to bring peace between individuals and between people and God. In doing that, we may not face guns, grenades and mortar, but it's still a tough job. But there is great blessing involved in finally seeing someone at peace who had known no peace - regardless of what type of peace we're talking about. Remember that God "gave us the ministry of reconciliation." It's a hard calling, but the rewards - and the blessings - are priceless! Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of May 21

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8) The sixth Beatitude. The Old Testament tells us that if we actually see God, we'll die. That's in Exodus 33:20. I suppose it has to do with the impossibility of mortal humans actually seeing an eternal and holy God. But Jesus says that the pure of heart will see God. Did he just mean after we die? I think he means that living a pure life (one that follows the great commandments to love God and neighbour) does in a way bring us face to face with God. After all, to love God means that we'll be moved to love those in need, and to love those in need brings us face to face with Jesus - "whatever you do for one of the least of these you do for me." To be pure in heart isn't as hard as it seems. It means to let go of the things that can close us to love and serve others, to replace selfishness with selflessness and to do it all not for our own credit, but for God's glory. That's all it takes. Then, we too will be able to see God! Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of May 14

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7) The fifth Beatitude, and on the surface perhaps the easiest to understand. Mercy is a fine quality. We'd all agree with that. Mercy is a good thing. It's amazing, though, how difficult it actually is to show mercy. Most straightforwardly, we probably have trouble being merciful because we find ourselves caught up with our own problems. Whatever bad thing is happening to us right now is the worst thing that could possibly be happening! That's an understandable reaction, because if it's happening to "me" then it's very direct and in my face. It blinds me to the needs of others. I start to think I'm in need of mercy, not that I should be offering it. But there's another problem too. The growing (at least that's my perception) "blame the victim" mentality. We probably see that directed most obviously toward the poor or those on welfare. To many people, they don't need mercy - they need a good kick in the behind! "Get up and get a job," I hear people say. "We shouldn't make it so easy on these people." "They're not grateful." "My taxes shouldn't support them being lazy." I hear such things a lot. The funny thing is - even though being poor and on welfare is apparently so great, I never hear anyone who says those things also say that they want to be poor or on welfare. Curious. Where's the mercy? Let's find it in our hearts and show some today. Then Jesus can bless us, too! Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of May 7

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) The fourth Beatitude. Many people would run as fast as they can from a word like "righteousness," mainly because so many people are unaware of what it really means. They confuse righteousness with self-righteousness - and who wants to be self-righteous. Let's be honest. Self-righteous people are an irritating pain in the neck. They think they're good - and they let everyone know it! In fact, more than just thinking they're good - they think they're GOOD ENOUGH! And that's the problem. But Jesus didn't offer blessings to the self-righteous. If they think they're good enough, they probably don't much care about getting a blessing anyway. They think they are a blessing! Jesus offered HIS blessings to those who passionately desired righteousness. Righteousness has nothing to do with us - and everything to do with God. Righteousness is a quality we gain when we're made right with God - which we can't bring about by our own efforts; that's God's doing. That's the reconciling ministry of Christ. That's the grace of God in action. A person who's self-righteous doesn't really perceive a need for God, although they might pay lip service to God. But if you truly hunger and thirst for righteousness you'll never be turned away from God. God will fill you. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of April 30

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." The third Beatitude - and a very interestng one. Meekness is not something valued in our society. We tend to equate meekness with weakness. It's the strong who get ahead; those with brute strength who are willing to use brute force who succeed. And now Jesus turns our thinking upside down, as He often does. What's so great about "meekness?" That's what I find myself asking. But maybe that's it - maybe it has to do with the idea of turning our thinking upside down. Those who are meek know they have to rely on God. They can't do it alone. Those who depend on their strength and their abiliity to force others to give them their way aren't depending on God at all. They think they can do it all for themselves. They may gain "power" of some sort, but in the process they may also lose their souls. The truth is - I can't do it all for myself. Neither can you. Sometimes all of us simply have to embrace "meekness" and realize that, in fact, there's great strength to be found in being meek - not the strength of brute force, but the strength of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to do the impossible. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of April 23

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4) The second Beatitude. That may be the one verse of Scripture I use more often than any other in my ministry. It's a regular at funerals - usually part of the interment or committal service. And why not? It's a reminder to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one that God is with them and that they will make it through. But I think it's talking about more than just the death of a loved one. I think it's talking about grief, despair, hopelessness - the greatest pain you can imagine; the greatest loss you can suffer. Whatever that might be. In the midst of it all (in the midst of any trouble or sickness or trial - or anything else) you have the assurance that you never face it alone. God is there. God will lift you up. God will comfort you. Those who face no trials or troubles can easily forget about God. But when they come up, God is there. Maybe it's our times of mourning that remind us of God's presence and love. If you're facing some terrible hardship this week - God's there. Whatever the next few days hold in store for any of us, God will walk with us all the way. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of April 16

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3) The first Beatitude, and it starts on a puzzling note. The poor in spirit? What's so great about them? Isn't the goal to be filled with the Spirit? To be filled with overflowing? To be spiritually rich? But Jesus tells us that to be spiritually poverty stricken was a good - indeed, a blessed - thing? Something seems not right. And yet. To be poor is not to have enough of something, or to have less than others - and I've known a lot of people who are (or who've been) poor in a material sense, and yet their lives are filled to abundance with the things that really count. Maybe the only way to actually be filled with the Spirit of God is to be poor in spirit. That's no upper case "s" after all. Maybe Jesus means that the only way to truly gain the "Spirit" - and all the blessings God wants us to have - is to acknowledge the spiritual poverty we have without God. Only when we acknowledge our spiritual poverty - that without God we can never have enough of anything - can we truly have "the kingdom of heaven" within us, because acknowledging our spiritual poverty opens the door for the Holy Spirit - the Giver of Life - to begin working on us. Let's all acknowledge our need for what only God can give. Then we'll begin to see the kingdom of heaven today. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of April 9

Thought for the week: "As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, 'Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.'" (Matthew 17:9) Easter can seem to be a mountain top experience. Packed churches, happy children. The excitement, the joy, the sheer fun of it all. But the point is that Easter isn't just for our enjoyment. It's both our great hope (that death has been defeated) and it's our great calling (to share that news with a world that will find it hard to believe.) But hard to believe or not - Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Easter Sunday is over. It all begins anew. Let's not wait. Let's start spreading this wonderful gospel of love, peace and hope right now. Have a great week!

A Thought For The Week Of April 2

"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility ..." (Ephesians 2:14) Paul is speaking here specifically about the separation between Jews and Gentiles, but it seems to me that the principle applies wherever we see barriers erected between any people. Jesus came to tear down walls, but we rather like walls. They come in handy. They help ensure that we don't have to deal with people who are different or who make us uncomfortable. In The Message, Eugene Peterson gets it: "He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance." We use the walls of division; Jesus breaks them down and forms a community of all people who truly love God and love their neighbours, regardless of their differences. May we be part of such a community. May we break down some walls between people. May we break down some walls in our own lives. Have a great week!

Thought For The Week of March 26

"But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant." (Matthew 20:26) Our society measures greatness in very specific terms. Wealth, power, fame - even brute force. Those who possess these things are the "great" among us. The rest of us are along for the ride at best, exploited by the "great" at worst. But Jesus turned the whole thing upside down. The great are those who give of themselves for the sake of others, not those who use others for their own ends. The great are those who - even if they don't possess much worldly greatness - make a positive difference in the lives of others. The great are those who willingly cast off the trappings of worldly greatness and are content offering humble service while receiving little in return for themselves except the satisfaction that they have served both their neighbours and their God faithfully. We are all invited to share in that kind of "greatness!" Have a wonderful week!