Wednesday, September 16, 2026

“God spoke: “Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven’s sky! Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years, Lights in Heaven’s sky to give light to Earth.” And there it was. (Genesis 1:14, The Message Bible)

               Where has the summer gone? I am not done with it yet! I like the long hours of daylight. I don’t want cold and snow. I want short sleeves and tee shirts, not boots and gloves and winter parkas.  I know that as a good Canadian, I’m supposed to say that I love the four seasons of a Canadian year.  But I want summer to last longer and winter days be fewer. Like many seniors have found, the days just seem to fly by and there is just no stopping precious time. I look at our grandchildren and wonder when did they get to be so tall and so much older?

                But apparently all these seasonal shifts are a part of God’s creative plan and according to the Creation narratives, “God saw that it was good.” Each “day” was full of change and an abundance of life and creative energy. Each day was a blessing. Each day was a vibrant celebration of possibility and accomplishment.  Each day produced life, new forms of flora and fauna, and all living things including, finally, man and woman. For six glorious “days,” God fashioned our beautiful and Edenic world and all that is in it. Only at the end, did God rest and look at what he had made.  God looked over everything he had made; “it was so good, so very good!”

                So, who am I to quibble over the changing of seasons or the passage of time? They are a wondrous gift from God. Every season in our lives brings new possibility, fresh understanding, evokes powerful memories, and becomes a celebration of the goodness of God. We are reminded of those words from Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) In that well-known passage, the Teacher covers the gamut of human life’s experiences, both the good and the not-so-good. The teacher is somewhat cynical about these changes in life, but this text can be used for our understanding that life is  not static and is always in motion.  Our human lives fluctuate in many ways.  We need always to be aware as to how God is also moving with us in these changes.  “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, New Living Translation)

                In the beginning of the Creation narratives, there is much emphasis on the creation of light. “God saw that light was good and separated light from dark.” (vss. 3 -5)  As the day-light get shorter and shorter and  we move deeper into the Autumn season,  there is still much brightness in our world. Farmers’ markets are bursting in abundance. The air will  become fresh and crisp.  Fall colours will make us gasp with awe. Every season has its possibilities and opportunities to find God in them, even winter.  Light plays an important part in the darkness. It sets apart the influence of God’s Creative Love and Grace from the elements of darkness. Even in the dark night of the souls, God’s Light be found.  Winter never has the last word.  “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

                In an  echo of the Genesis story, John the Gospel writer  wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” (John 1:5) He lifts up Jesus Christ as the true Light who has come into the world (1:9) so that we may see the best way forward. We live our lives each and  every day, no matter what the season, in the accompaniment of the Light of Jesus. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

                Shine Jesus, shine!

 Prayer;

Our Creator God, fill us with the light of your Love and Grace. May we reflect the shining countenance of Jesus in all that we say or do. Enlighten us with compassion, forgiveness, mercy and love so that we, too. may be light for others.  May your face shine upon us and grant us your Peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:17, New Living Translation)

               It is a tradition in our family that, on the first day of school in September, pictures are taken of our grandchildren as they head off to school  and then the pictures are posted on our family chat page. Smiling and shiny faces, for the most part; eager, for the most part, for the new year ahead. All of our grand children are now in full elementary school from grade 1 to grade 8. Each year, we remark how they have grown and changed. Many of us might recall how those first few days of school felt with brand new text books to be studied and fresh, unmarked note books for our homework, maybe some new pencil crayons still sharp and never used, making new friends.  Anticipation, expectations, possibilities, resolve and determination, with maybe just a touch of anxiety and concern. Most students, at least, begin with high hopes for the year.  

                I was always hyped about the beginning of the church year in September. New and fresh starts were in the air.  The business and the work of the church was getting off to a renewed beginning. I had a new sermon schedule. There would be a new bible study to begin. Choir revved up.  Sunday school was going to get started. I had some new ideas to try and had set some new goals and ambitions for the church year ahead. I was raring to go! The “problem” was that my folk didn’t quite share my enthusiasm for the coming year. It often seemed that it would take until Thanksgiving in October for them to really get up to speed. I never really ever adjusted to the lag.

                But now that I am a senior, I understand better. I don’t appreciate newness in the same way as I once did. I like things to stay the same. I don’t like surprises. I try to avoid most new challenges. I don’t want change; I want the familiar, the tried and true, the no-surprises agenda. Besides, at my age, I tend to agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun anyway. “Sometimes people say, ‘Here is something new!’ But actually, it is old; nothing is ever truly new.” (Ecclesiastes 1:10) Please don’t innovate, change, renovate, alter or modernize anything going on in my world  on my account. The same old same old is just fine.

                But our text challenges us that fresh beginnings are a life-enriching experience if we let them into our lives. God offered his people these words as words of possibility and hope in the middle of life-draining exile : “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19) Just when we think that nothing is changeable, that all is predictable, that life is one damn thing after another, God pours out his wondrous Love in invigorating, refreshing, enlivening, copious portions. “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:23)

                And when God strikes something new, one can’t just put it in back in the bottle and recap it. It calls for a response. It demands an action. It calls out our commitment. We are supposed to pay attention, do our homework, have good attendance, get involved, participate in “class”, be a good classmate, and strive to do our best. Don’t let the ordinary be your high bar.  God is always teaching us something new, always giving us instructions in new possibilities, always stretching each of us to reach our potential as children of God. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

                Even at my age? Yes, even at my age!

Prayer:

Our Loving Creator, we celebrate the newness which you give to us through so many ways and means. Help us to be receptive to your vision fore us and the Church. We pray for students and teachers who have begun a new year; keep them safe and ready to both learn and teach. But teach us all what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ that we may always be ready and willing to strive for Christian excellence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

[I am taking a two-week mental health break to renew the creative juices. I will be back on Wednesday, September 9^th.]

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke q0:27, New Living Translation)

              After the ecstasy and the agony of last year’s season, it has been painful for me to cheer for the Toronto Blue Jays, this season. They have been mostly a very mediocre and sometimes downright awful baseball team in 2026, far from their World Series appearance from last year. But all of a sudden, this past couple or weeks or so, they are playing better, winning baseball and are, incredibly, fighting for a playoff spot. But to be honest, as much as I am cheering for them to succeed, there is a part of me that remains agonizingly skeptical, doubtful and even pessimistic about their chances.  I am waiting for this bubble to burst and they will revert to their normal selves and miss out on the playoffs. In my heart, I am a believer, but in my mind, I am waiting for the let-down and the disappointment. A fair-weather fan, I guess. “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

                It is sometimes difficult to be all-in on our passions or at least to maintain the fervor and idealism that we started out with. Our hearts might be in the right places, but the mind begins to wander. Other things interrupt and intrude. Drought-ful experiences drain our energy. Doubts and questions seep in. We get older and sometimes a little jaded. There are distractions and a cacophony of opinions, news and a bevy of alternatives which vie for our attention and loyalty. Perhaps, we have seen it all, heard it all and know it all - and have stopped caring. Buyer, beware. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.

                Our text comes from the story of a rigorous teacher of the law posing a question to Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus asked him what the Law actually said. The man knows the correct answer. Perhaps he has recited it so often that it is now automatic, pure rote and he has little or no  passion for the words he speaks. Does he practice what he preaches? Does he live everyday by the import of these two commandments?  Does he say the words because he knows that it is the right answer and is showing off his piety?  Perhaps, he all is Law and no action. The dry bones of faith but no sinew or muscle to  back it up.        

But the lead commandment is about giving one’s faith one’s all, no half measures, no qualifications, without reserve “that you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”. (The Message Bible) Heart, mind, body and soul. That’s an incredible commitment on our behalf. There are no days off. There are no exceptions. There are no limitations. This is not to say that we all must live in a spiritual fever pitch for 24 hours a day; that would exhaust and burn us out. But it is to say that we practice our faith intentionally and whole-heartedly every day. There will be ebbs and flows, but the core values will always determine our intentions, actions and words. We persevere. We don’t give up. “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14)

We don’t just say the right words; we live the right way.

In Luke’s version, Jesus’ encounter with the religious scholar leads to the wonderful parable about the Good Samaritan. The high-and-mighty religious leaders walked by the wounded man on the other side of the road. But the much-despised Samaritan stopped and helped the man and went far beyond just meagre assistance. He gave it his all, words plus action. A doctor friend of mine always said, “Preach the Gospel; if necessary, use words.”

            Living for Jesus a life that is true,
            striving to please Him in all that I do,
            yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
            this is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:
            Jesus, Lord and Savior,
            I give myself to Thee;
            for Thou, in Thine atonement,
            didst give Thyself for me.
            I own no other master;
            my heart shall be Thy throne.
            My life I give, henceforth to live,
            O Christ, for Thee alone.

Prayer:

Our Loving God, grant us the desire and the energy to live our faith each and everyday. Help fan into flames the sort of faith that inspires even when we feel weak and weary. We give you our undivided love and whole-hearted commitment. Help us to follow Jesus this day and every day. Amen. 

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These - and other such commandments - are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Romans 13:9, New Living Translation)

               “Me-maxxing” is a new term which I have discovered. It is the evolution of the me-decade from a  few decades ago in which the lure off self-fulfillment was front and centre in many people’s lives. But now our modern technology has refined and polished our ability to have our personal sacrosanct worlds revolve around each of us, individually, if we so choose. Our use of the internet and our cell phones is limiting the interaction we have with others. We text instead of call.  We get our money from ATM without seeing a human teller. We order take-in  food from our phones and barely thank the driver who delivers it or he or she just leaves it outside our doors. We can use the self-checkouts at the grocery store or pharmacy. We limit our choices with people on-line. Some are having a “relationship” with an AI avatar.  In the article I read, it says, “As a result, the optimization of my time also means I’m skipping those moments of human exchange, all to save a few saved minutes.” It seems that we are on our own and many like it that way.

                That same article quotes a study out of the University of Arizona that claims that we are using fewer and fewer actual words as the years go by – over a 30% drop since 2005. We are simply talking to one another less and less. There is a decrease in human interaction. We have fewer real conversations with others.  Covid probably refined and enabled this trend of isolation. Think about how reluctant workers have been to return to their offices and work-places. Yet apparently, there is also an increase in loneliness. People are distant from one another. There are fewer face-to-face interactions, even simple casual ones like talking to a clerk, cashier, salesperson, gas attendant, etc. It seems we are on our own and it is costing us.

                “Love your neighbour as yourself” speaks to this world of me-maxxing. The Apostle Paul is, of course, quoting Jesus, one of the rare instances that he does that. Perhaps, that emphasises the more their importance. The words are in all three Gospels save John’s Gospel. In Matthew, an expert in the Law asked Jesus what was the most important commandment. Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37) The words “equally important” have always caught my attention.  Loving our neighbour is as important as loving God. This is echoed in John’s epistle. “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4: 7 -8)

                Paul is also using the same words. Note how he puts these words in the context of the Ten Commandments, but only using the commandments that deal with social relationships between people, the nuts of bolts of what love for one another must look like.  Interactions with others are vital for a healthy character development but these interactions, these relationships, also must be treated with respect, trust, tolerance, acceptance, and appreciation, even the most minor ones.

                “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” (Philippians 2: 3 -4, The Message Bible)

                Me-maxxing is a temptation. I am introverted, private and somewhat reclusive. I like living quietly in my little hole-in-the-wall, you in your small corner and I in mine. But I am well aware that I need other people, and sometimes, people need me. Our building is a very friendly building.  We tend to look out for each other. I have made an effort to get to know many by name. In some cases, I have learned about some of their personal concerns, interests and lives. I take the time to listen.  I carry on conversations, sometimes just about the weather but sometimes, I listen to their stories, about their families, their illnesses, their circumstances.  That’s not being especially virtuous, but it is being human, being relational, being friendly, being involved.

                Please, find a “neighbour” and  show then some love!

 Prayer:

Our loving God, open our eyes that we might see who is our neighbour. May we treat them as we would have them treat us. Free us from the blinders of  self-interest, judgment, intolerance, prejudice, mistrust. Grant us the skills of conversation, relationship and community-building. Challenge is with your Love that we may love one another just as you have loved us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

               

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

“You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.” (Exodus 34:21, New Living Translation)

                I was reading an article this morning that lamented the loss of the tradition of the Sunday drive. It brought back a flood of memories from my childhood. I recall finding Sunday afternoons being often rather boring. Dad might stretch out on the couch and snooze as a ball game was playing on TY. But I always hoped that, instead, he would say “Let’s go for a drive.”  Perhaps he had a destination or route in mind but I didn’t care.  Away we would go, down unfamiliar roads (to me anyway), out in the country. I always trusted my father that he knew the way and would never get lost. There was no particular destination, no hurriedness, no agenda, just a pleasant drive in the countryside to see what we could see. Favourites were a ferry trip across the Bay of Quinte at Glenora. We  would have ice cream cones while we waited for the ferry.  Or perhaps it would be a stop at the Crofton dairy for some fresh cheese curds and cheese.  If my Dad wasn’t up to it, I would bug my sister and her boyfriend to take me on one of their Sunday drives.  Not usually successfully, but sometimes…

                But these days, the meandering Sunday drive is out of fashion. Gas prices are too high. Many have long car commutes to jobs. We are too tired to spend any more time in the car. Sundays are just as busy a day as any other day of the week. There are errands and shopping to attend to and doing some of the things we didn’t get done during the week. Kids need to get to baseball ball games. The automobile is just a tool to get us to the places we need to get to, faster, sooner and as quickly as possible.

                But our text reminds us that we also need time to catch our breath, cease rushing around, take in the view, enjoy  the big world in which we live and nibble on a few cheese curds along the way.  That doesn’t mean necessarily a revival of the Sunday drive, but it might mean a BBQ or a short drive to the waterfront and just sit and enjoy the scenery. Turn off our devices for an hour or so. Sit under a shade tree and read a book. Have some family time. Save our errands for Monday. Make Sunday special in some way. Do something that is different and creative. Or just maybe, do nothing at all but open a window and feel the breezes.“They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you.” (exodus 16:29)

                Mark Buchanan wrote a book entitled Spiritual Rhythms, exploring the seasons of the soul. He saw the rhythm of the summer as a time for enjoying the benefits of life. It is a time to slow down, refresh our inner souls and spirits, and enjoy the beauty and bounty around us. Although not from his book, I came across this definition of spiritual rhythms: “Spiritual rhythms refer to regular, habitual practices that nurture spiritual growth and intimacy with God. They are not rigid rules or tasks to check off but are patterns of life that integrate faith into daily living, helping believers experience God’s presence consistently and intentionally.”  Sabbath rest is a time to turn down the intensity of our lives, to cease being driven by our schedules, to open the flow of spiritual, emotional energy which stirs our hearts to gratitude, appreciation and satisfaction.  Trust God that he knows the way and won’t get us lost. “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)

It is good to take a metaphorical spiritual Sunday drive of sorts. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) Is your world going to fall apart if the wash doesn’t get done? Is your life going to go to pieces if your phone gets turned off for an hour or two? Is your time so precious that you don’t dare waste a minute in frivolous activity?  If so, it’s time to take a Sunday drive. Maybe literally, maybe figuratively.  But slow down, Sparky, as one of my favorite sport’s analysts likes to say. “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) “Sabbath rest”, maybe a Sunday or some other set-apart time in your week, is a time for us to gather our thoughts, our hearts, our minds and our souls for renewal and reconnection.

Go buy some cheese curds and chill out, for heaven’s sake!

Prayer:

Our loving God, help slow us down when we feel overcome with schedules and busyness. Remind us that our lives are more than profits and achievements and successes.  Lead us to still waters. Restore our souls. Refresh us with your Grace and the beauty of your Creation.  May we find our rest in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10)

               Let’s keep this short and sweet. Scientists have discovered a form of sugar in deep, outer space.  I never knew that sugar was an essential compound in the formation of life on our planet. Sugar and spice and everything nice indeed. Sorry, boys! Their very fancy instruments were able to detect this sugar, erythrulose, in the very heart of the Milky Way.  Now I really get why God saw his creation as something very good. It satisfied his sweet tooth.

                Sometimes, we will say that ‘life is sweet’ when everything is going well. We feel content, happy, blessed. It is a joy to get up in the morning. “Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.” (Ecclesiastes 11:7) It doesn’t mean that we have to be rich or prosperous or even successful. It doesn’t matter whether we are old or young. It may have nothing to do with our accomplishments or achievements, but rather we are aware of a sweet inner peace and satisfaction, needing nothing more than what we are enjoying in life in the moment. Then life is sweet.

                Nehemiah and Ezra have rediscovered a copy of the Torah, the Jewish covenant of God’s Law, long neglected and, perhaps, almost forgotten, by the people.  A great throng of people gathered as Ezra began to read out loud from the Law. He read all morning long. I recall how the Bible Society would set up a day-long reading of scripture in a local church, different readers taking turns. The people did not seem to tire of this reading “All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.” (8:3) All you who get antsy if the sermon goes too long, take note!

                The reading of the Law was a sweet sound to their ears. “The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.” (Psalm 19: 9 -10) It inspired their worship. It drove them to their knees. It caused them to weep with contrition. Both Nehemiah and Ezra explained to the people the meaning of the Torah. The people wept as a New Day of spiritual awakening began.

                But it was not to be a time for weeping but rejoicing. “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” (8:9) It was a day that the Lord had made and the people were to be glad and rejoice in it.  So, they threw a wang-dang-doodle of a party. They cut loose. They celebrated because of the sweet words they had just heard that day. They had the pot-luck supper of all pot-luck suppers.  They spared no expense. It was lavish and generous. Everybody was included. This is what happens when the Word gets out, when God’s Word feeds the people, when the Word awakens the human mind, spirit, heart and soul, when God’s Word stirs up hope, righteousness, justice and peace. Make some noise. “Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.” (Psalm 81:2) How sweet it is!

                Imagine if a Sunday service in any of our churches broke out in such a way after the scripture was read or a really good sermon was preached! I have had people get really uptight if the congregation even claps after a solo or choir piece. What is so wrong with saying “thank you”?  I have only ever had one individual who” amen-ed” me as I preached.  It was very encouraging. My point is that the Word should create more than just a passive ingestion. The Word needs to create a reaction, maybe not spontaneous eruptions during the service, but the Word should inspire and result in deeds, words, behaviour, works, fruit and celebratory results in in real, measurable ways. The sweetness is even better when we are stimulated to strive for faithfulness in our Christian Walk. “Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14, The Message Bible)           

        How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
        In a believer’s ear!
        It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
        And drives away his fear.
        It makes the wounded spirit whole
        And calms the troubled breast;

 Prayer:

Our Generous God, through your word we have been given food for the soul, nourishment for the heart and mind, sustenance for our daily living. We rejoice in your Word and give you thanks for it. May we be inspired to always live by that Word in all that we say and do. Help us to savour and relish the sweetness of all that you give us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1, New Living Translation)

              We usually listen and watch each Sunday’s worship service from Yorkminster Park Baptist Church on my little Chromebook. The picture is great but the sound quality is poor. Not the fault of the broadcast but my little built-in speaker is simply not up to the majestic sounds of the worship service. Even with my hearing aids, I was missing a lot of what was being said and sung. It could have been tempting to just give up some Sundays and turn it off.

                Finally, I decided to address the problem. Many of you will wonder why I didn’t do this much earlier. Part of it was laziness; part of it was my tech-device phobia. But I took a set of speakers which were not being used anyway and began to figure out how, if possible, I could attach them to my Chromebook. I was not particularly hopeful. First, I tried to plug the speakers directly into the Chromebook. Didn’t fit. I did tell you I was technically inept, right? I, then, realized that I needed the large main sound box, a woofer, (don’t ask me; I don’t know what a woofer is either). Then I plugged the two speakers into that box and plugged the whole shebang into my Chromebook… and nothing.

                I had gotten this far and, uncharacteristically perhaps, I wasn’t about to give up. I noticed that there were two volume knobs. I turned up the one on the box and got an incomprehensible, bass garble. But when I turned up the other volume knob, I got clear, resonant, radio-quality sound. Now, the services have never sounded better and we can listen to every word clearly. With some effort and persistence and a few attempts, listening is a joy.  I wish that I had done this much earlier!

                There is an old “contemporary” 1960’s Christian song, called “Hey. Hey, Is Anybody Listening?” If I remember correctly (I couldn’t find the lyrics on-line) it was about listening to the Good News. Sometimes, it is very difficult to hear the Good News through the cacophony of voices and alternate proclamations from the world around us.  Are we paying attention or does the Good News go in one ear and out the other?

Just as it took some time and effort to fix my sound problem, we must also make an effort to be more intentional and perseverant in paying attention to what God has been telling us.  Scripture acts as an amplifier for the Voice of God in many ways. “Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world!” (Psalm 49:1) Jesus was always exhorting the people to open their ears and listen to what he had to say. “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand… Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given - and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4: 23 -25)

                Yes, some of it is hard to understand and make relevant. Some of it, some people don’t like. Some of it exposes our sin and makes us uncomfortable. Some of it can be hard to put into practice on a regular basis.  But there is also beauty, grace, comfort, encouragement, life-instruction, promise and hope if we listen carefully. I would argue the more we listen to and heed these words of faith, the more it makes sense. The more it makes sense, the more it is useful. The more it is useful, the more we become stronger in faith and become closer to God.  

Then we become not just hearers of the word, but doers of the word. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.” (James 1: 22 -24, The Message Bible)

So, turn up the volume. Pay attention. Listen carefully. God has a message for us. He loves us and God wants us to enjoy his Kingdom-style Life. “For he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!” (Psalm 95:7)

 Prayer;

Our Loving God, we enjoy the confidence that you always listen to our prayers. Thank you. But forgive us when we fail to listen to the loving words you have shared with us through scripture, through worship, and especially through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. We need your help so that we strive to follow your Word in all its forms. Grant us your wisdom, courage and strength so that we in the Way you have taught us. In Jesus’ name, amen.