God Speaks To All

I have written a short story, While Keeping Watch, that I am using for the season before Christmas we call Advent.  (Free download at www.thewellumc.com)  The premise of the story is that the shepherds watching the flocks is a family—a man, woman, and child. The scriptures do not tell us anything about the shepherds other than they were watching their flocks, heard angels, and then found the child. When they left the child, they praised God. That is it.

Scholars make the assumption that the inclusion of the shepherds fits the Gospel of Luke's emphasis on the poor. The shepherds of the time were mostly poor. Most of them did not own the sheep they watched. They were hirelings. No proud parent of the day would say, "When my daughter grows up, I want her to marry a shepherd!" Amazing how Jesus' teachings contrast with even the beginning of his life. He talks of the shepherd that is not a hireling but will lay down his life. The outcasts are the ones that God speaks to first!  How Jesus loved to show how different the God perspective of life is!

God begins with the ordinary folks that have no religious baggage and speaks.  God sends the heavenly messenger with the heavenly choir to speak to the shepherds in their ordinary place. How that contradicts how many would assume how and where God would speak. Surely God would choose the extraordinary person with many gifts and graces. God would pick an extraordinary place to give the eternal message of all time. No. God speaks to all—not just those who have the extraordinary.

I often wonder if others heard the messenger angel and heavenly chorus that night and shrugged it off. Maybe a traveler to Bethlehem heard them but was late for the reservation for the inn. Did another shepherd hear the voice and songs but went back to sleep? Perhaps the rabbi was awakened by the noise but discounted it because it did not fit the mold of prophecy.  Or did an ordinary person hear it and disqualify the possibility that God speaks to all?  How many times does God speak in our world but we are too busy to hear much less to follow?

The shepherd's life was a difficult one. It was a life that was filled with much discontent and discord. But God spoke. 

God speaks to all—what is God saying to you? 

Pray for me as I pray for you.

Join the Conspiracy of Love and Mercy.

I have just finished reading the books, Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy. They are recent publications regarding the assassination of two Presidents of the United States. I would recommend for your reading. I never knew there were so many conspirators or possible conspirators.

There is a conspiracy at work now. Did you know that?

There are weekly sometimes even daily meetings being held. The conspiracy is to overthrow this world. The conspiracy is radical. It calls people to do radical things, even to follow a radical leader. To join this conspiracy will cost you your life. You are going to have to give your time, money, and everything to join it. There are some who believe in this conspiracy while others deny its existence and its power. The denial does not change the minds of those who are in the conspiracy though.

It is the conspiracy of grace and love as known through Jesus Christ.

I have often wondered what would happen if this conspiracy were more active. What would it be like if a group of people who really cared about a person would conspire to show them the love and grace of Jesus Christ? What would happen if a person became overwhelmed by the expression of love and grace by the world around them? What would happen to this world if Christian conspired to change this world, not with harsh antics or words but with love and grace? Now there are some within the conspiracy who want to take the zealot approach as Peter did. But in that moment when Peter began his zealous reaction, Jesus called Peter Satan! Now there are not many places where Jesus calls people Satan in the Bible so maybe that ought to be a warning.

Join the conspiracy of Jesus Christ. It is a conspiracy to love and extend mercy to the world that is sometimes so lost. It is a conspiracy to find the one who is lost, the coin that is lost, and welcome home the prodigal who comes homes having lost everything he was given. It is a conspiracy that requires us to be only what God could make us instead of what we make ourselves.

And when I die within this conspiracy, I shall live—forever!

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

Human beings are fragile. We do not like to admit it but we are. Our insecurity seeks to find security in knowing that we are like others. We want others to think like we think. We want others to believe the same things we believe. When we discover our differences, we can become frightened or even angry. But there is another alternative.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

The disciples are in the boat and a storm arises. They are afraid. Probably some of them began looking for someone to blame. "Who's idea was it to take this stupid boat? " You know the routine.

Then they look out and see Jesus. Jesus is walking on the water! The waves do not frighten him at all. In fact, he speaks to the waves and they cease. So Rocky (Peter) decides he wants to be like Jesus. He wants to walk on water. Jesus invites him out. Can you imagine Peter stepping out of that boat? I would guess that he was holding on to something or someone just to make sure he was not going down. Sure enough, Rocky walks on water until…..

He begins to sink. Why? Because he takes his eyes off of Jesus! To walk on water, one has to keep focus on Jesus! Nothing can distract you. Nothing can get your attention. To do the great things in faith, keep your eyes on Jesus!

The unity of the church is not made because everyone thinks the same way. In fact, the church is at its best when diverse people and voices are present! The best music is not when everyone sings melody. It is found when the harmonies are present. The unity of the church is known through Jesus. Jesus brings us together. Jesus unites us into the kingdom of God!

For some this is a frightening thought because you have to put up all "those" brothers and sisters who are different. You mean God loves "them" too? Yes! "Those" people are a part of the family.

So during the days of change and angst, keep your eyes on Jesus. When you are walking on water (doing what you never thought possible!) keep your eyes on Jesus. And for goodness sake, when Jesus says get out of the boat---GET OUT!

Pray for me as I pray for you!