Limited Knowledge

1Corinthians 8:2-3

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

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Well now I don't read that daily news
'Cause it ain't hard to figure
Where people gets the blues
They can't dig what they can't use
If they stick to simple
They'd be much less abused

Say I know a little
Lord I do know a little 'bout it
I know a little
I know a little 'bout it
I know a little 'bout love
Baby I can guess the rest

"I Know a Little" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ah to watch the news on TV, I can think of nothing more discouraging. There seems to be a pattern that works, get enough people yelling at one another and people will watch. If this formula didn't work then PBS News would have much higher ratings.

Paul writes that knowledge puffs up. Listen to anyone on talk radio and you will find that's true. TV and radio are filled with people who know and puff themselves up by their knowledge. The puffing up is even measured. They call it ratings. They call it "good" demographics. They call it advertising rates. They call it advertiser prestige.

These pundips (a combined word of "pundit" and "dip$#!^") share news that we have no control over. They will tell us we have power, power focused through the kingdom of a radio or TV show. Their power is in their voice which ultimately becomes a clanging symbol.

What people need is love. Not some undefined general love, but true love for neighbor and self. I'm not talking about being selfish or enlightened self interest either. I'm not saying a rising tide lifts all ships either because a lot of little dinghies get caught in the wake of the supertankers.

I'm talking about the love of God that allows us to accept the free gift of grace by faith in God. I'm talking about sharing the sacrificial love we see in the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm talking about the love that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. I'm talking about a love we can't share until we learn to accept it ourselves--and that may be the toughest part of all.

I can say I know a little about love, and that would be true. As for guessing the rest, we don't have to guess at all. The ultimate example of love is found in Christ and is available for us all.

Busy Day? More Like the Whole Week!

Genesis 1:31-2:3

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

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you had a busy day today

"Tiny Dancer" by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin

Creation, it's the one thing that God does that we cannot do. There is a saying about the testament written in Hebrew: "People do, only the Lord is." This is because the only time the verb "to be" is used in the Hebrew text is the "I AM." Yes, you will find more forms of "to be" in English translations, but you won't find the verb in those places in the original Hebrew text.

A busy day? God had a busy week! So busy that on the seventh day God created rest. God created a day to be separate from all others to be used to recuperate from the week. How important is this for us? God rested! If God rested, and surely we are not as resilient as God, then of course we need to rest!

Exodus 20:11, dead center in the Ten Commandments, reminds us how important this is saying, "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it." By the way, consecrated, or "made holy," is a fancy way of saying "set aside." The Sabbath day was set aside for rest.

We live in a society that is too busy for its own good. Many of our most common diseases are caused by stress. There is so much "keeping up with the Joneses" that we can't even keep up with our own obligations any more. The only cure is rest. You've had a busy day today, so remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

Which Way Are You Going

Joshua 24:16-18

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

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What I really want to know is
Are you gonna go my way
And I got to, got to know

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz

The question Lenny asks is obviously Messianic. This isn't to say that Lenny's the Messiah, but it is asking the listener to imagine the Messiah asking the ultimate question. Imagine the Messiah asking "Are you gonna go my way?" What is the answer?

In this passage, the tribes are renewing their covenant with the Lord. Joshua reminds them of where they came from. He reminds them of Abrham who became Abraham. He reminds them of the time in Egypt ending with the Exodus and the Law. Joshua ends his part of the liturgy with the famous affirmation "as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Imagine hearing the question "Who will you serve?" Imagine hearing the question "Are you gonna go my way?" Joshua asks the people this question. Their answer is recorded in these three verses. The Lord has done much for us. The Lord has lifted us from slavery. The Lord has done great signs in our presence. The Lord has protected us all along the way. So the only answer we have is "we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Joshua asks, Lenny asks, the Lord asks: Who will you serve? Are you gonna go my way?

The Blessing of "And"

Genesis 32:24-30

Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.”

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Jacob wrestled the angel
And the angel was overcome.

"Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2

Jacob got his name because he was born holding on to his twin brother's heel. Jacob also means "He supplants." That's not the kind of name you want in this life. You'd always wonder if he was coming to supplant you next. And that's what got Jacob into trouble with Esau. Jacob had supplanted Esau taking his older brother's birthright and his father's blessing, and it almost got him killed.

So years later, Jacob went to meet his brother, sending before him a generous gift. He was hoping this gift would help his brother forget. The night after he delivered his gift, and the night before he met his brother, Jacob wrestled with the angel. Did he grab the heel?

This was when Jacob became Israel. This is when the birth of the nation truly began. This is when the people of God started to become the people of God, this is when the reign of God took the face of a people. Not with a great battle, but with a limp.

The clip is from the movie "Rattle and Hum" and at the beginning of this clip Adam Clayton says something I strongly agree with, "There are people who would say that you shouldn't mix music and politics, or sport and politics, or whatever; but I think that's kind of bullshit."

On the side bar of this blog I am a bit more diplomatic saying, "It is said that there is a difference between the sacred and the secular, the holy and the profane. As for me, I say those are false separations. If we believe that all things come from the Lord, we must believe all things come from the Lord."

Everything comes from God. The power of a people, the power of a nation. There is separation between church and state in America, but there is no separation between God and God's people. This is what must be remembered. We must strive to be a nation of "and" not a nation of "but." In eternal life, a life we can embrace on earth, there is more than enough for all.

Jacob has striven against God and won, for that he was blessed. Imagine what can happen when sport and politics and art and God come together for something greater? That will be a blessing.

On the Second Day

Genesis 1:6-8

And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

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I'm looking at myself, reflections of my mind,
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind,
So gently swaying thru the fairy-land of love,
If you'll just come with me and see the beauty of

Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon.

"Tuesday Afternoon" by The Moody Blues

Tuesday, the second day of the week. Early in the week, much work still ahead, but still time for reflection and preparation. It this comment about creation or the 21st Century work week?

On the first day, God said "Let there be light and there was." With separating the light from the darkness God created night and day. Until then, the earth was formless and void. Darkness was the order of life--yet even in the darkness the Breath, Wind, Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters.

On the second day, God created a dome, a firmament, that separated the water of life from the water of chaos. This division was called the sky.

God looked upon the earth, and all that existed was water and sky and water. It must have been a wonderful place for reflection and new life. It was seemingly like the womb of creation, from these waters comes life.

Life exists only because the Lord whose love overflows any ability to capture it choose to create it. Life exists because God's wanted to share that love and chose creation to receive that love. It's the sort thing that would make the perfect reflection for an afternoon on a hillside looking at the sunshine and thinking about God. It's the sort of image that can help us leave ourselves behind and consider the love of God.

Imagine a reflection in the waters of the earth, even before there is land, to consider the reflections of our minds in the beauty of God's good creation. Imagine a love that is not fairy-land but very real being shared with all who seek it.

So yes, the comment about it being early in the week of the Genesis creation story is so true; but so too it's timely to consider praise so early in our week. God's grace is free, but how can we enjoy it if we do not give praise to the one who gives it? So take some time and see the beauty of God through God's gracious actions. Tuesday afternoon is a very good time of the week.

Heere Odda Hilldidda Hildhiruhah

It's not Pentecost, but waste not-want not


Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

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A bow bow

Heere odda hilldidda hildhiruhah
Juuuyr adda hilldadida jigguwah
Hieere odda hittomamma jizzowazzah
Hoow bawlda hillowowa howahwah
Heere odda hilldeninne hilldennine
Hiiire odda hillimoney hilluwowahwah
Dwiire odda higgunama shuppobup
Deare odda hildumama hithuivha
Peurr onna hillimona hillduwiva

"Rubber Biscuit" by Johnson and Adam R. Levy, recorded by The Blues Brothers on "Briefcase Full of Blues"

Speaking other languages, this is what many consider the primary sign of the Pentecost. Sure enough on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit fell upon their place like a rush of violent wind and divided tongues appeared on them with one tongue resting upon each of them. What a day this must have been.

It must have been a very frightening day. Tornadoes have been vicious this spring all over the Eastern United States. Wild fires have burned enough land in West Texas to be visible from space. People romanticize the Pentecost when it must have been very, very frightening. Wind and fire would have been known to the Hebrews living in the Holy Land and they would have known them as a dangerous combination. Tornadoes, fires, we say how glorious this was, but for the men in the room it must have been a holy terror.

Many today say the benchmark of the Pentecost was the giving of the gift of tongues, the ability to speak in other languages. The purpose of this gift was to allow the disciples to take the Word of God to people from other cultures. It was a spontaneous gift. It was also created so that the person who heard the tongue heard it either as gibberish or in their native language. It was a way to take the word to cultures that had not heard it before.

We are lucky in our time. Because of folks like Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Gideons, the word is being spread to people all over the world in their native tongue. Folks at Google and Microsoft, among many, have software that allows translation the written word (not nuanced, but still translated). In this way, the written word continues to have its own version of the gift of tongues.

In his discourse on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul implores us to seek the greater gifts of God. In this respect, as for the gift of tongues perhaps it is best to seek this gift to share the Word of God with other. And given the differences between peoples here at home, perhaps the tongues we need to seek to speak are all in our native tongue. This is how we speak truth to the powerful and the oppressed, to old and young, and to rich and poor.

Getting Nowhere Until Going Somewhere

Ephesians 2:12b-13

Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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People on their own are getting nowhere,
I am on the road to see,
If anything is anywhere and waiting, just for me.

"It's a Long Way There" by The Little River Band

Paul sends this letter to the church at Ephesus. This is not a Jewish community, it's a gentile community. These people had no knowledge of the Lord until hearing about Jesus. Some might have actually heard him speak. Some might have seen him in Jerusalem. But it is far more likely that the people of Ephesus heard of him than personally heard him.

They were strangers to Christ, as we were strangers to Christ. We, well, most of us, are alien from the commonwealth of Israel. We are gentiles. We are not the children of the original covenant. We are not members of God's first selected race of people. Salvation to all peoples comes from the Jews, through the person and work of Jesus, and then to the nations. There was no hope for us in the world.

There was no hope until Jesus the Christ invited us to be spliced into his salvation by his blood.

Gentiles were once people on the road and getting nowhere. Gods that were worshiped were worthless pieces of wood and stone. They were myths with feet of clay. Ultimately they had no real power of their own. The same is true today with the idols we still hold dear, things we worship that put us on the long road to nowhere.

Thanks be to God that there is something, someone who is waiting for us. The Lord God welcomes us into his fold by the blood of Christ. We were once far off and are now in the breast of God. It's a long way there, but its a trip worth taking.