Wednesday, December 29, 2021 – New Years

“Get out of bed, Jerusalem!  Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.  God’s bright glory has risen for you.

The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, but God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.” (Isaiah 60: 1 -2, The Message Bible)

                 Seriously, I am just saying…

                If these were Old Testament times, there would probably be some prophetic voice crying in the Covid wilderness proclaiming that we need to change our godless ways (i.e. repent) and return to a life of faith and trust in God alone. This implies that God would use the pandemic as a conduit for a serious message to express God’s displeasure and dismay with humankind. 

               A terrifying example: “Danger ahead! God’s about to ravish the earth and leave it in ruins, rip everything out by the roots  and send everyone scurrying: priests and laypeople alike,  owners and workers alike, celebrities and nobodies alike,  buyers and sellers alike, bankers and beggars alike,  the haves and have-nots alike. The landscape will be a moonscape, totally wasted. And why? Because God says so. He’s issued the orders.” (Isaiah 24: 1 -3, The Message)

                Danger ahead!

                But most of us are far too sophisticated, intelligent, progressive, secular, skeptical, agnostic (even among the devout, if truth be told), doubting, irreligious and liberal to give much credence to such ancient nonsense. Only the extremely religious, dingbat, right wing might give weight to such a theory. Our God, if we have one at all, is more of an indulgent grandfather figure, incapable of doing much harm to his beloved sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.  Besides, good-old-boy Jesus wouldn’t let him anyway…

                Nevertheless, let’s give this some further serious thought and consideration.  I am not suggesting that God has necessarily created the situation we are in but I am wondering whether he is using this pandemic to try and get our attention.

To alert us to his concern about us and for us.

To engage us in a fresh conversation about his love and his desire for us to give him our serious devotion.

To call us back to a renewed relationship and re-habilitated conversion of heart, mind and spirit.

And, therefore, to assure us of a different future then the one we are currently experiencing.

The good thing about most prophetic messages is that they eventually turn into hope, promise, and good news once the bad news is out there for all to hear.

Messages of deliverance, salvation, rescue and victory over that which oppresses us, tries to doom us, threatens to defeat us, and exiles us. And this whole Covid aberration certainly feels like exile to me.

Seriously…

Grab onto God and he can get us through this mess.

Hold onto God and he has a better way into the future.

Demonstrate your full trust in God and he will lead us through the darkness.

As we enter a new year, let us make it our resolution to engage God in this conversation, painfully honest as some of it may be, but also full of new possibilities, fresh insights and an invitation that by doing it God’s Way, we experience the breaking of sunrise glory upon us.

I am just saying… seriously.

 Dale

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 – Christmas

“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2: 8, New Revised Standard Version)


There are times, like now,
That we seem forever stuck in our cold and forlorn fields,
        dreaming of warm hearths, groaning boards of ample food
        and safe rest.

There are times, like now,
That the empty dark seems overwhelming,
        our camp fires dwindling, our resources scant
        and our prospects for anything better, limited.

There are times, like now,
That we huddle against the unknown and tend our worries,
        abiding in some new wilderness, facing new risks and fresh assaults,
        seeking shelter against desert storms.

Would that we all could be magi,
Riding majestically into Jerusalem, seeking audience with a king,
        but we reek of sheep and the wild, expecting predators,
        and the New Jerusalem is a long way off.

But God has not forgotten the poor and the lowly,
Nor has God forsaken the fields in which we live and toil,
        but sends us beacons of light and sound, sundering the winter’s night,
        re-awakening old promises and new hope.

There are times, like now,
When God challenges the wildernesses with angels,
        inviting us into his joy and peace, challenging us to awake
        and make haste to Bethlehem.

There are times, like now,

That turn the night into expectation and anticipation,
        daring us to believe in the incredible and the astonishing,
        and re-ignite our lives with faith and love.

There are times, like now,
That compel us to see our lives and our world through a different lens,
        lying there in a manger, as human as we are,
        word made flesh, dwelling among us.

The fields are less lonely,
        the wilderness less wild,
                the world less voracious.

And it is good to be in Bethlehem, once more.

Dale

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – ADVENT FOUR

“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”  (Luke 2:7, New Living Translation)

                 Yikes! The manger is missing!

                After decorating our Christmas tree, I noticed the creche figures in the box and decided that they would look great on the floor below the tree. I pulled out the two lambs, a donkey, a shepherd and Mary and Joseph, of course. But I couldn’t find the manger. The manger that I thought belonged to the set was not in the same box as the rest of the figures. There was a tiny version belonging to another creche set; I tried to use it a substitute but it was so out of scale that it looked silly. Well, it wasn’t Christmas yet, I told myself, so I guess it will be OK if Baby Jesus hasn’t appeared just yet.  Maybe the manger will turn up.

                But it continued to strike me as odd that the manger wasn’t in the same box. A little later in the day, I took a closer look at the creche scene and, lo and behold, there is no manger because Mary is holding Baby Jesus in her arms. This scene depicts a loving mother cuddling and embracing her new born baby while Joseph looks proudly upon both mother and child. No need for a straw-filled  manger. No need to look any further. Jesus was in the best place possible – his mother’s arms.

                Is there something missing in your Christmas this year? Does something seem not quite right? Is something out of place or just doesn’t fit? What are you looking for this Christmas? Who or what are you hoping will turn up? In another Christmas that is affected and infected by covid, these are valid questions for many. Christmas can’t be real without a manger. Christmas isn’t Christmas until… (you fill in the blank).

                Perhaps, we should take a closer look at the Christmas scene. Truth be told, sentimentalism aside, Christmas isn’t Christmas until we lift Jesus out of the manger and embrace the Christ child. Maybe we are looking in the wrong places for the grace and beauty of Christmas. A manger is a crude place for a Messiah. He was born there in the shed because there was no room anywhere else. Although we have romanticized it, this was a cruel beginning to such a tiny life.

                We should not leave the baby just lying in the manger, but wrap our arms around the significance of this birth for you and me. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”  (Luke 2: 10 -11, NLT)

                There is a Christmas song called “While You Were sleeping”. The chorus goes like this:

                Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
                For God became a man
                And stepped into your world today
                Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
                As a city with no room for its King
                While you were sleeping
                While you were sleeping

The songs ends by asking the same question of America, about what it will miss while it is sleeping.  But I  think the words provoke a challenge for us all, to embrace the One who was born into our world. Open our hearts wide, make room, hold tight, and discover that Holy One has been right under our noses and in our midst all the time.

Dale

Wednesday, December 8 – ADVENT THREE

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit…” (Luke 12:38, New Revised Standard Version)

                 Get ready! Get set!  Go!

     You don’t get ready to bake a Christmas cake and not prepare by making sure that you have all the ingredients you need beforehand.

                You don’t get ready to go on a long trip and not prepare what you will need to pack and take with you.

                You don’t get ready to do your Christmas shopping and not prepare to do it before December 25^th. (Although my Dad was an expert on getting Mom’s gift on December 24^th and he always nailed it.)

                If one wants to be ready for something, it usually pays off to prepare in advance for it to be a successful venture. I have never been much of a list maker, but these days I will make lists so as not to forget something. 

                Jesus tells many a story about the need to be prepared and ready as a follower of Jesus. We may not know exactly when he will need us but we need to be ready, prepared and set to go once he calls upon us. Yes, there is a cue here regarding his Second Coming but there are also the expectations of what we need to be doing here and now. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit.”

                Jesus had a wry sense of humour which showed up in his parables. I imagine that people were smiling as he told his parable of the ten bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13). Five were foolish and five were wise. The wedding was late in getting started and the five foolish bridesmaids had not brought enough oil with them to get them through the night. The smart ones had. Smiling to ourselves, we all know people like them both; maybe we are one of them.  Some are of are always late, always leaving things to the last minute, always procrastinating, always putting things off until it’s too late. Others of us don’t move unless we are sure we have everything we need, keep meticulous lists and spreadsheets, planning ahead for just about any contingency. Amusing, isn’t  it?

Then comes the punch line - a wry but pointed twist. When the groom was arriving, the foolish ones had to go buy some more oil and when they got back to the wedding, the doors were shut and they couldn’t get in. The “joke” is on us or some of us. We get left out of the party. Our intentions may have been good, but while we are out, last-minute shopping, the party has already started.

Perhaps this parable inspired Jesus’ words in Luke, too. “Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He’ll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn’t matter what time of the night he arrives; they’re awake—and so blessed!” (Luke 12: 35-38, The Message Bible)

Our Christian service is expressed in our readiness to serve Christ as soon as we may be needed. We stay alert for the opportunities and occasions when we will need to be prepared to show his love and compassion when the moment arrives. There are no excuses not to be ready. We need to be dressed and prepared for action – right now. Today. Maybe right this moment, there is some need, some help, some work which is right under our noses and only you or I can stand up and serve Christ by paying attention to that need as soon as possible. Love and compassion shouldn’t be put off or delayed for another day.

“But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 4 – 8, The Message Bible)

Get ready! Get set! Go!

Dale

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – ADVENT TWO

Gabriel appeared to her {Mary} and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28, New Living Translation)

                 God always seems to make interesting choices in the people whom he calls into his service and for his plans.

                Seniors like Abraham and Sarah. Slaves like the Israelites. A foreigner and immigrant like Ruth. A shepherd boy like David. A fisherman like Peter. A violent antagonist like Paul.

                And Mary, a young, single, innocent woman in the backwater town of Nazareth and nothing good comes out of Nazareth. The only “king” on the throne was a Roman lackey and reprobate, King Herod. Hardly an auspicious choice.

                I am going to presume she was still living in her family’s home, doing whatever young women did in those days to spend their time – probably helping with the daily household chores, collecting water from the town well, cooking, cleaning and the like. Necessary chores, but not especially noteworthy or life changing.

All very ordinary.

Then Gabriel shows up and nothing is ever ordinary again.

She is favoured by God. One might wonder whether being a single, unwed mother was anybody’s idea of being favoured, but Gabriel brought that message to Mary just the same. She has been sought out, chosen, favoured, and brought into God’s plans to bring a new Messiah into being. “’Don’t be afraid, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for you have found favor with God!’” (1:30)

                At first, she is perplexed (1:29). Who wouldn’t be? There she is minding her own business, getting ready for her wedding, the future being set as a married woman running her own household and raising a family, and God has the audacity to interrupt her plans with ones of his own. That word “perplexed” may summarize her confusion, surprise, consternation and fears. Why her? Why now?

                Then, she is doubtful. “Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can this happen? I am a virgin.’” (1:34) Like a lot of people who get picked by God for a task, she looked for a way out of her assignment. Sarah had a good laugh. Moses stammered and stuttered, so let God find someone else. Jonah took the first ship out the harbor. I’ve bought a cow, married a wife; I cannot come.  Don’t bother me, God. I am not the one you want.

                But Mary was the right one, the favoured one, the chosen woman to bring into the world and nurture the one who would change the world. God saw something profoundly worthy in Mary that made her the ideal choice as the mother of Jesus. He would deal with Joseph later. “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.” (Galatians 4:4. NLT)

                Then, Mary accepted her role. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Did she entirely grasp everything she was getting herself into? Probably not. Nevertheless, she rose to the occasion and found the courage and the strength to step into God’s future.

                Mary’s story seems out of the ordinary but it reminds us that God acts in the ordinary spaces of our lives  and calls us into his service. We may feel that we are unlikely or even unworthy candidates. It may seem too complicated or perplexing as to what we should do. We may have good reasons as to why it should not be someone like you or me. But God always needs a human touch to shape his future. God favour, i.e. God’s grace, love, and pleasure, shapes who we are and who we can be.  

                So get in touch with your inner angel and hear God out. You will be glad you did.

 Dale

Wednesday, November 24 – ADVENT ONE

As he [John the Baptist] preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.” (Mark 1: 7 -8, The Message Bible)

                 Most of my life, I have been very poor in the ability to wait for someone. You’d think I had more important things to do than wait for someone to get ready to go when I want, or someone to arrive on time when they said they would, or to be there when they said they would or do what they were supposed to do. I dislike waiting for a taxi, for example, or waiting for someone to pick me on the rare occasion I am not driving. I am a pacer, a clock watcher, growing anxious about the time.

                I come by it honestly. My mother always had to arrive a half-hour in advance of the starting time of anything. When ordering in a restaurant, if the food was not in front of her within 15 minutes after ordering, she would begin to sputter how slow the service was. I have been really trying to slow down my expectations and impatience since I have retired – with some success.

What’s the hurry!

Perhaps, John the Baptist was beginning to wonder when the Messiah was finally going to show up. After all, he had been preparing his whole life for that moment when the one whose sandals he was unworthy to untie would make his appearance. Then, look out world! You think John was a hell-fire preacher, you haven’t seen anything yet, once the Messiah begins his work. “He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” (Luke 3:17, The Message) John can hardly wait.

Jesus shows up and the show is finally on the road.

Or is it? A little while later John finds himself in prison, his ministry faltering to an ignominious close.  Who could have blamed him if he was beginning to wonder whether it had been worth it?  And Jesus? There appears to be some sense of doubt, disillusionment perhaps, confusion as to what Jesus was really about. John sent two of his disciples to Jesus and asked, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?” (Matthew 11:3, The Message)

Jesus has not been  brandishing a willowing fork, but using a whole new approach to his style of Messiahship. “Go back and tell John what’s going on: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.” (Matthew 11: 4 – 6, The  Message)

Then Jesus asks “Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed.”

Trust Jesus to ask the tough question. Is this what you were expecting? People enter into Advent/Christmas with high expectations about family, gifts, quality time with friends, travel plans and having an ideal Christmas. But it doesn’t always happen that easily and we are left somewhat disappointed.

Same with our faith expectations. We expect all the glory to come our way ASAP. But our church lets us down, our pastor lets us down, our fellow believers let us down, our prayers let us down; we fail ourselves in keeping the verve of faith.  We may even feel that God has let us down. This Jesus-thing doesn’t seem to be working the way we thought it would. Skepticism settles in. Disillusionment takes it toll. Doubts creep in.

Are you the one, Jesus or, or is there something else I should place my faith in?

            Perhaps we need to rethink some of our expectations, our models, our  boxes in which we have put Jesus?  I am not suggesting that we lower our expectations or tamper our aspirations. But let us consider how we might open up our hopes to encounter the true, life-giving presence of Jesus Christ. Just let him be the Christ the way he wants – full of love, compassion, healing, grace, forgiveness, mercy and Presence. Don’t suck the air out of Advent with your version of Christmas but let the fresh Spirit of the Coming One renew your hope, give you peace, grant you joy and surround you with love.

                If this is what you are expecting, then count yourself blessed!

Dale

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 9 -11, New Living Translation)           

                This Sunday is the last Sunday of the church year – The Reign of Christ Sunday. But I have an advent hymn running through  my head and If I don’t get it down on “paper”, it’ll drive me crazy! For whatever reason beyond my ken, it can be sung to the tune of Blessed Assurance, with a  little finagling, (using eighth notes in a few places to gather the words). If it is any good, anyone can use it with my full permission. If anyone does use it, I would like to know, out of curiosity. If not, at least it is out of my head…

In the voices of angels, hear of God's hope,

Allaying our worries, doubts and our fears.
In the voices of angels, God gives us hope,
Promising his love throughout the whole year.

Chorus:
Here comes the Christ Child; lift up your voice.
Here comes the Christ Child; let us rejoice.
This is our Story.
This is our Song.
Here comes the Christ Child, alleluia!

In the voices of angels, hear of God's peace,
Calming our spirits, troubles and storms.
In the voices of angels, God gives us peace,
Gath’ring us in his all-loving arms. (CHORUS)

In the voices of angels, hear of God's joy,
Bringing us laughter, pleasure and smiles.
In the voices of angels, God gives us joy,
Chasing away sadness with the gift of a Child. (CHORUS)

In the voices of angels, hear of God's love,
Sharing compassion, both caring and kind.
In the voices of angels, God gives us love,
Calling us to share it with all humankind. (CHORUS)

 

Dale

 

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! (Genesis 1:31, New Living Translation)

                It was wonderful to sit out back basking in the sun on an atypical warm November day this week. November is my least favourite month as it is usually cold, gloomy and often sometimes even  snowy or, at least with nasty storms. At least, that is how I remember how it used to be.

                Perhaps it’s all because of climate change that November is losing its bad-guy reputation and I should be championing the Climate Conference in Scotland that is currently trying to get many nations to agree to ways to battle climate change. But that sun sure felt good. Nevertheless, I wish them well, although I remain skeptical that anything of real significance will get done; just ironically, more hot air.

                Yesterday, I was reminded of the great beauty of our planet. Susan and I took a private tour of the stained-glass windows in Northminster United Church. These windows were designed by our beloved friend Ron Wilson who passed away not all that long ago. We have several  of Ron’s paintings – one sits on the wall above this work station. He especially captures the grace, beauty and wonder of nature scenes.

                Each of the nearly twenty windows is a wondrous depiction of nature’s beauty, each portraying a  scene out of nature. It is almost like a tour of Creation. Butterflies in one, a wind blown cedar in another, lambs in yet another, a rain storm, loons. Words cannot do them justice; full of colour, movement, vibrancy, life. Like Creation itself, they were all very good.

                Interestingly, the one design which Ron needed to be persuaded to do was the window depicting a human family. I am not sure why because he has masterfully designed a window of a young family,  holding hands, a child being carried on a  dad’s back, all obviously enjoying the world they are surrounded by. Perhaps in the back of Ron’s mind was the thought that although humankind is a part of God’s Creation, we are messing up this whole having-dominion-over-it-all thing. Let nature speak for itself and leave us out of it. But I am guessing.

                It is often discouraging  to hear what is happening to our world because of climate change, a human-made catastrophe in the making. I try to do my little part but I end up thinking what good have I really done. There are still forest fires, oil spills, plastic islands in our oceans gathering more plastic by the day,  ozone holes, et al. I am not sure that my little blue box once a week on the curbside is going to fix much of that.  But each of us needs to do what we can.

                There are those who deny or diminish the effect of climate change. Our government wants to build more highways for more cars, although they are extolling the virtue of electric vehicles. Oil producing provinces loathe any pressure on reducing carbon totals. Big countries like China won’t even participate in the talks in Scotland even though they are one of the world’s biggest polluters. So what are you and I supposed to do?

                God made Creation for us to enjoys its beauty, possibilities, wonders and fruits.  God gave humanity the task of being caretakers, responsible custodians, and guardians of the earth’s riches. We are more than a sixth-day afterthought. We are essentially tasked with protection and security of the earth and all its resources. If I was at the Scotland conference, I would simply read the Creation narratives out of Genesis. At the end, I would close my Bible, look at those world leaders in the eyes and say to them: “We have a good thing going here. Now, don’t mess this up. God is watching.”

                As for you and me, keep on doing our best, even it seems small in comparison to what needs to be done. It was interesting to see how the world cleaned itself up during the pandemic. So we know if we try together that our voices, our actions, our understanding, our commitments can collectively make a significant difference.

                “For the beauty of the earth… Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.”

Dale

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

The misfits among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, “Why can’t we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt—and got it free!—to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. But nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna.” (Numbers 11: 5 -6, The Message Bible)

                 Happy garlic week!

                I bet a lot of you didn’t know that this is Ontario Garlic Week. I know I didn’t until I read about it today. There may even be a garlic festival near you. A whole week just to celebrate a small, smelly, taint-your-breath, ordinary vegetable which we use to spice up our meals.

                Garlic is a favourite ingredient of mine. I use it a lot. I make mouth watering, delicious garlic spare ribs. I always use it my stews. I prefer my steaks au naturel but I don’t mind using garlic on them either. Lamb chops always have to have garlic.

                There are medicinal qualities to garlic. It is believed that garlic can reduce cholesterol, increase your immune function, lower blood pressure to name a few things.  It’s a small price for smelly breath although its pill form has no odour.

                Let’s all lift up our voices for garlic!

                The Israelites have grown weary of wandering in the wilderness. Some long for a return to Egypt where they remember having food like leeks, onions and garlic. Of course, what they are too easily forgetting is that they were also slaves in Egypt. Having garlic came with a heavy price – making bricks without straw. (Exodus 5: 6 -9) Nevertheless, the people were wanting to return to their former state so that they may enjoy the savouriness of their past lives of slavery.

                God had given them manna – a bread-like plant. But they were sick and tired of this bounty.  Let’s go back. What’s  a few extra bricks if we can  have fish and vegetables and leeks, onions and garlic. Oh my!

                Hindsight can sometimes be 20/20. But also, sometimes, remembering what we think were the good ol’ days can be a trap. We prefer to see the past through rose-tinted glasses and extol all the virtues we think we once had. But we overlook the heavy cost of those things; forgetting the labour, the pain, the suffering. If we feel we are stuck in the present, the past can look pretty good. No matter how much God has provided for us we want something more, something better, something we think we are missing. Even if it means returning to that which once held us in  its power and grip, it seem a better if not bitter pill to swallow.

                Paul proclaims that because of the extravagant work of Jesus we have been freed from the slavery of sin. “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”(Galatians 5:1, New Living Translation) Once we gain our freedom through Christ there should be no going back to  former ways of living which may have caused us misfortune, domination, or labouring under powers that wish to do us no good.

But the temptation is always there, isn’t it – to allow the past to dictate our feelings in the present and for the future. To complain that God is letting us down. To whine about what we don’t have. To wish for the past even if that past was not really to our benefit.

Do we want God or do we want garlic?

Do we want freedom or do we want leeks?

Do we want salvation or do we want onions?

Nobody ever said or promised that gaining the Promised Land was a simple, easy venture. It has its frustrations and challenges. But if I need to make a choice between onions, leeks and garlic from my past and the banquet feast God has in store for us in the future if I but continue to trust God for all my needs today,  just pass the salt and I will be on my way!

Dale

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour? [Followed by the Parable of the Good Samaritan] “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 10: 30 – 36, New Living Translation)

                 Our three-year-old grandson, Declan, is the personification of neighbourliness. He thinks nothing about chatting up anyone and everyone whom he encounters. His parents are not far off so it is safe for him to do so.

                He is getting to know his neighbours around their new home. Recently, he decided that he needed to get know the folk across the street. So, he dragged his dad along with him and introduced himself to his neighbour.  He is like that wherever he goes - on walks, shopping, in parks and playgrounds - making friends out of strangers and reaching out to others. It’s not particularly a Soble thing to do as we Sobles tend to be shy introverts and like our privacy. It may come more from my mother’s side as my dad was warm and friendly to all. Perhaps his traits have found a  home in Declan, not to leave out his gregarious Great-grandma Barb and his other grandad, Ellis.

                We have lived in this house for 16 years. We wave at our neighbours but I only know one by name. In fact, I know their dogs' names better than I know their names.

                In a very similar story to Luke’s version in Mark’s Gospel, it is Jesus who cites the two greatest commandments, the second being of equal importance to loving God: love your neighbour as yourself. In Luke's story, the lawyer gets the words right but misses the meaning. The man has religion but not the works of love to go along with his creeds and dogma. He wanted to test Jesus, to see if Jesus was living up to the lawyer’s legal standards and social codes.

                Who is my neighbour? Ha! Got him!

                Everyone knows the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Two highly esteemed, religious elites go out of their way to ignore and pass by a man who has been mugged and lying at the side of the road. But a Samaritan - and let us nor forget Jews looked down on Samaritans and would not associate with them – goes out of his way, not to avoid the man, but to tend to his wounds, put him up in a hospice and pay for his stay. That, too, is the personification of true neighbourliness.

 I doubt that such an idea would even cross the lawyer’s mind. It’s none of my business. Don’t get involved. Let somebody else do it. It’s beneath me. I haven’t got the time. I’m too busy.

 The Epistle of James sums up this type of all-religion-no action sort. “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”  (James 2:14, The Message Bible)

Love your neighbour as yourself. It means, on the one hand, to get rid of our prejudices, criticisms, judgments, assumptions and biases and, on the other hand, to be pro-active when we are needed and see that our neighbours, near or far, may need some help in some way. It is to be friendly at least, compassionate and caring at most.

It has been so easy to withdraw and seclude ourselves during this endless pandemic. But as life begins to open up, let us open up our neighbourliness to others. Stop. Look. Listen. Then find a way to reach out and become a neighbour to someone else.

“For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.” (Galatians 5:14, The Message Bible)

And a little child shall lead us. Thanks Declan. Yes, now go and do the same!

Dale

 Wednesday, October 20, 2021

“Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12” 1 -2, The Message Bible)

 

                “Keep On Churnin’ Till the Butter Comes Up”

                That’s the delightful title of a Blues song. Somebody could compile a modern book of Proverbs by just using titles from Blues songs.

    “Keep on churnin' and don't go slow
    Keep on churnin' everybody knows
    You got to keep on churnin'
    Or it just don't mean a thing.”

                Let us reflect on the art or skill of good perseverance. It is the ability to keep on keeping on. It is the refusal to quit. It is the capacity to work through the challenges and problems one encounters. It is the resolve to finish what one has started. It is the desire to do one’s best and give it one’s all. Perseverance is  the determination to strive for the best possible results for the present and the future.

                For believers it is also placing one’s total trust in God. It is the constant and persistent faithfulness to follow Jesus. It is the continual practice of living by the principles and values of Love which include mercy, forgiveness, patience, and self-control. Christian perseverance is the ability to reach for the goal of the upward calling of Christ upon our lives and never, ever, giving up on that goal.

                Perseverance is different than endurance, although, sometimes, enduring is required to be perseverant. But endurance can be a grit-your-teeth survival mode of living. It can be a hunkering down till the storms are over. It can be hiding under the covers for safety. Endurance can be a passive, reluctant resignation. Yes, the one who endures to the end will be saved but I think this adage speaks more to perseverance than mere endurance.

                Christian perseverance  leads us to strive for the holiness that is ours in Christ, we who are called to be his saints. It is a tall order. It can be and usually is challenging and often difficult. If it was all easy it wouldn’t be called perseverance. We need to persevere with confidence and assurance that God is with us.  We need to persevere with hope and joy that God is on our side. We need to persevere using our spiritual gifts and natural talents to make each and every day a better than the last one.

                “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 1:25, The Message Bible)

    "Fryin' pan's goin' crazy on the stove

    A blue sky's growin' hazy in the cold

    If I'd quit now it'd surely be a sin
    I got to keep on churnin' till the end begins.

    Keep on churnin' it ain't no lie
    Keep on churnin' till the day we die
    We got to keep on churnin'
    Or it just don't mean a thing."

Dale

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good…” (Luke 18:19, New Living Translation)

                 Lord Dale Rodney Soble – has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

                Don’t laugh; I have the certificate to prove it. I am officially a registered landowner of a plot of land in Scotland. It was a cool, unique birthday gift from Susan. It is a clever way for the Scots to raise money to preserve their conservation areas. I even have pictures of the site from an aerial view. My certificate confers on me all the rights and privileges of a “true” Scottish Lord.

                Mind you, the plot of land is about 5 feet by 5 feet. It isn’t quite big enough for my Scottish castle but I am not allowed to build on it anyway. Nevertheless, I am now Lord of the Manor, but I shall remain ever humble.   

                But it’s hard to be modest. Family legend is that we are descendants of King Alfred on my mother’s side. (In fact, Susan has traced possible genealogy back to Alfred’s mother-in-law.) On my father’s side we have stubborn Prussian pride.  Now I am a Scottish Lord. What more can I say? Why is our 14 year old dog, Charlie, rolling his eyes? I demand a little respect. “Little” is about as much as I will get from him - as long as I feed him.

                Jesus is exemplar in his humility and modesty. He could have grasped for power as the Christ, the Messiah. He could have demanded that people worship him as the new Jewish King. He could have insisted that people lavish their praise, their respect and their adulation over him. He could have commanded obedience and allegiance. But here in our text from Luke, he shies away from even the simple recognition of being “good”. If not Jesus; then who has been or ever will be good?

                Jesus defined leadership and for that matter, goodness, in radically different ways than we might.  “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” (Matthew 19:30, NLT)

                When the rich young ruler came to Jesus for advice, he wasn’t prepared for the instructions which  Jesus gave him, thinking perhaps that he was rich and powerful and very religious, to boot. Instead, Jesus said to him: “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21, NLT) In the parable of the man who proudly built bigger and better barns to store all his wealth, it was meaningless in the mortal end. “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12:21, NLT)

                Jesus has taught us that there is no room for superiority for his followers, based on his own model of service and compassion. “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant…” (Matthew 20:26 NLT) So many of Jesus’ parables emphasize servanthood, not elitism, not superiority over others, not pride of position or possessions.

Real  leadership is the warm, moist towel wiping tired, dirty feet. It is not the arrogant voice of the pharisaic, religious know-it-all but it is expressed in the tender voices of those who serve Jesus in soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and the like. Goodness and leadership are not a contradiction of each other but complementary. “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning…” (Luke 12:35, NLT)

                All this makes my little plot of land In Scotland even smaller; puts my lordship into proper perspective. “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”  (John 12:26, The Message Bible)

                But dang it – Lord Dale Rodney Soble has a nice ring to it! Sigh!

 Dale

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

“God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.” (1 John 4: 16 -18, The Message Bible)

                 A Baptist colleague who writes a semi-regular column for the local weekly newspaper opined in his last week’s, post-election article that we need a God-centred governance. “A God-centred view of everything from economics, the environment and social needs of the day would result in radically different realities than the ones proposed by any of the major political parties.”

                It is a noble sentiment. I don’t disagree with it.

                But it begs the question in my mind whose God should be at the centre of our political systems?

                Never mind, for the moment, the atheists, agnostics and secularists who don’t want any god of any sorts anywhere near their institutions. I am asking whose God among all the types of believers, religions and faith groups  should be at the heart and soul of our governments?

                I am pretty sure the Taliban are imposing their version of a God-centred government. No thank you. That’s a god full of cruelty, violence, murder and hatred of one’s enemies.

                Even if we limit ourselves to some sort of Christian version, the question remains.  The very conservative, religious right wing of the church would welcome a God- centred government.  But this version of God seems very narrow-minded, judgmental, punitive and restrictive.  I do not feel very warmly towards such a god as they portray.

                Neither am I totally comfortable with the so-called progressive Christian version of God. This God sometimes comes across as too demure, too passive, too grandfatherly, too ethereal.

                My version?  You probably wouldn’t be happy with that God either. Jesus and I sit around and drink whisky and smoke cigars, chewing the fat and arguing theology and life.

                Scriptures, always the Christian’s sole/soul source for understanding the mind of God are not as helpful as we might think or hope. The God of the Bible is complex, multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, and frankly, sometimes, down-right moody.

                The common denominator in all these varied ideas of God is that they are very human-influenced. It has been said that humankind has created god in our own image and there is truth in that.

                But that doesn’t mean we give up on the question what it means to have a God-centred governance.

                God is love. This is a very poignant, specific, political statement.  Chapters 3  and 4 of the First Letter of John clearly and unambiguously outline the kind of society, culture and political policies of God’s Love which should  and needs to abide in our world. If we respect the truth that God is Love, then “love has run of the house”.

Decisions, policies, actions,  choices, behaviour become centred in the Love of God working in our lives and in our world. None of us would go wrong if we practiced the Love that Jesus Christ embodied.  It would re-define justice, poverty, business ethics, political morality, and confront evil and hatred and prejudice and the like with a clear alternative to all that is contrary and in opposition to that Love.

                But even that depth of Love depends on us, sons of Adam, daughters of Eve, who quickly ruined the Garden of Eden, to embody and articulate and live out that Love each and every day. God can’t do it for us; we must love as we are loved.

                “The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.” (1 John 4:21, The Message)

Dale      

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13: 11, New Living Translation)

             Anybody know what a ‘dotage’ is?

As I turn 70 years old on Friday, if I am entering my dotage (all cash gifts gratefully accepted), I don’t like the sounds of it according to dictionary definitions, I found phrases like “the period of life in which a person is old and weak,” “senile decay,” “decline of mental poise and alertness,” “mental infirmity,” “foolish infatuations.” Let’s just call it a “second childhood” and leave it at that.

Dotage comes from the old English word to dote. Now that word I like – to love dearly, be devoted to, idolize, treasure, lavish affection on, think highly of…   Take note, O children of mine!

Senile decay – sheesh!

Now, where was I going with this? Oh, yeah…

Maturity is very much a part of growing up and getting older. It should mean gaining wisdom from constant practice, knowledge from experience, understanding from gained insights. With maturity comes a deeper appreciation for life, a deeper spirit of patience and grace and a sense of humour about the vagaries of life. Maturity is to celebrate the things we can do and not be overwhelmed by the things we can’t do.

Maturity isn’t being stubborn about the past nor being nostalgic for some mythical “good old days”. It is not complaining about the world and its ways. It is not about shooing people off our lawns, symbolically speaking. Maturity is not some cranky, grumpy, irritable view of the present nor the future.

Maturity should show in our spiritual affairs and living. A Sunday School faith was a very good beginning when we were children but as maturing adults we should be growing up in our Biblical knowledge, finding new depths in our spiritual awareness and broadening our spiritual horizons. “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.” (1 Corinthians 14: 20, NLT)

Paul’s hope is “that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13, NLT) We don’t stop growing, processing, maturing just because we hit some certain age. Living up to the standard of Christ is a life-long journey.

 Paul notes in Philippians “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 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: 12 – 14, NLT)

So, as I turn 70, I will press on to continue to grow up, to mature, to increase in wisdom and good character, to discover God in all aspects of life and show Christ in all that I say or do. It is a lofty and sometimes hard goal.

“Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11, NLT)

Senile decay – sheesh!

 Dale

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

“Jesus said, ‘For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.’” (John 12: 35 36, The Message Bible)

                Welcome, autumn!

                Today is the first day of the autumn season. The Fall has generally been my favourite season of the year. Crisp, cooler air after a hot summer. The dazzling colours of autumn leaves. The tart crunch of a fresh-picked apple. Thanksgiving weekend. Even my birthday. What’s not to like?

                But as I get older, as much as I still greatly enjoy this time of year, there is one thing about the Fall that bothers me. The days get shorter; the nights get longer. We are losing daylight faster and sooner each and every day. Of course, there is not anything you or I can do about this natural progression but the reduction of light can make me anxious. Not to mention, of course, that it is all a precursor to winter. But it is the persistent loss of light that makes me a little sad and regretful.

                I can remember times when we were at a cottage in the summer. I would wake up in the middle of the night and it was pitch dark, no light, no sound. It was as dark with my eyes open as it was when they were shut. It actually triggered a little of my claustrophobia. Am I too old for a night light?

                The Psalms often express the worry and fear of  being in the dark. “When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.” (Psalm 77:2, New Living Translation) Darkness can be filled with spiritual shadows, anxiety, pain, distress and more. The world might look more scary and life more treacherous in the dark. Threats seem larger. Problems seem more insurmountable. Difficulties seem unsolvable. “Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.” (Psalm 22: 2, NLT)

                But it also needs to be pointed that the Psalms express great hope and confidence when the darkness seems so strong. “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, NLT) God has not abandoned us. “Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:17, NLT) We are never alone no matter how dark, bleak, gloomy or shadowy it may seem. Even Psalm  77 (quoted above) which starts out full of anxiety and loneliness in the night turns his voice to words of confidence and assurance, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?” (Psalm 77: 11 – 13, NLT)             

“Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.” (Psalm 91:5, NLT)

Jesus, who embodied Light, challenges us to walk in the Light, specifically his Light. The axiom that it is better to light a single candle than curse the darkness may not be in the Bible but it could be. And when that Light is the Love of Christ, the Mercy of his Forgiveness, the Compassion of his Comfort, the Hope of his Promises, the world is indeed a much brighter place. Moreover, we are no longer just stumbling about in the dark. We see where we are going. Best of all, we have a Companion to guide and lead us forward through the dark.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1: 5, NLT)

May you and I always shine because of his Light.

 

Dale

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

“Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” (Matthew 5: 22, The Message Bible)

                 C’mon Jesus. You’re killing me here.

                How else am I to describe and deal with those folk who are protesting against masks and vaccines, especially outside hospitals, if I can’t use words like idiots, fools, jackasses, stupid, thoughtless, careless, selfish, etc.? You know that I don’t suffer fools gladly – these folk and their ignorance are driving me crazy.

                “The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.” (Proverbs 10:8, New Living Translation) Words to live by! “The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.” (Proverbs 10:21, NLT) Gotta love that book of Proverbs!

                Jesus, you called some of your opponents “snakes and vipers” so please cut me some slack if I call these bunch of dumb-dumbs for what they are: complete idiots.

                No, eh?

                Sticks and stones, I suppose.

                Jesus could be tough on some of his opponents but he also understood the power of thoughtless and careless words. The wrong sorts of words can become barriers instead of bridges. Hurtful words break down rather than build up. Mean-spirited words tear apart rather than mend. Cruel words leave scars rather than soothe.  I know this to be true even though I have always been too quick-tempered, sarcastic and impatient when dealing with those who resisted my leadership. Anger has always been just around the corner.

                Words are too often used in retaliation when they should be used in Love, Grace, Forgiveness and Compassion, some of the key traits of being a “fool for Christ.” Be gracious even if the face of opposition, name-calling, slander and the like. Turn the other cheek. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Don’t become the persecutor!

                Jesus’ words are very clear. There is no ambiguity.

                Paul, of course echoes Jesus. “Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.” (Romans 14:13 – 14, The Message Bible)

                Our ill-conceived words can become a stumbling block, a toxic way to contaminate our relationships with family and friends or the Body of Crist, the church. Hold our tongues. You know the old saying, “Better to be thought a fool and then speak and remove all doubt.”

                “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” (Romans 15: 2, The Message)

                Not “You fool!” but “How can I help?”

                I’ll do my best, Lord - give me strength.

 

Dale

 Wednesday, September 8, 2021

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118: 24, New Living Translation).

                "This is the best day ever!”

                Thus spoke my five-year-old grandson, Spencer, as he excitedly anticipated going back to school for Senior Kindergarten, yesterday.

                Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall ever thinking that going back to school was up there in the “best day ever” category, especially high school for me. But it’s cool that Spencer really enjoys it.

Last year’s school year was a ragged thing at best, fueled by the uncertainly of Covid. I expect that a lot of parents are more nervous than their children about the safety of sending their children back to school. But then again, maybe it is for some parents the “best day ever”, after several months of them always being in the house. I always enjoyed that commercial that used the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” as the parent shopped for school supplies.

“It’s the best day ever.”

This  is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118 is an all-out expression of utter confidence and assurance in experiencing the Love of God.  “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever.” (v.1, NLT) There are enough clues to suggest that he may not even be having a “good day”, as he thinks about the stresses, distresses, troublesome people, all of which for many of us might make us declare that today was a lousy day. But not this psalmist: “I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me.” (v.13, The Message Bible)

The Lord’s intervention in his life is so strong that he lifts his voice in praise, expressing his gratitude and joy that despite what life is throwing at him, the Lord is with him and the psalmist will not be overcome but rise victorious. “Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation!” v.21, The Message)

Best day ever!

This is not simply pious naivete.  The writer is quite aware of the world he lives in and its faults and its impact upon him personally. His declaration that nevertheless he is going to rejoice in the day’s creation is an act of courage, faithfulness, trust, defiance, hope and joy. Whatever else the day holds God is still at work in it; God’s Love will prevail. “I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death.” (v.17, The Message)

I didn’t die. Best day ever!

We can look at the day’s events and experiences and feel discouraged, fearful, hopeless, stressed, angry or overwhelmed. But rather than wallowing in our despair, there is an alternative. We rise to our feet and claim God’s Love that it transcends and transforms  even the worst of days into New Creation, into delivery out of the chaos, into the rescue of God’s Salvation and Redemption.

“This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted - let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now!  Oh yes, God—a free and full life!” (Vss. 23 -24, The Message)

Best Day Ever!

 Dale