My Father, the Forgiving

Judges 10

Judges is a violent book where Your people can't do anything that You ask them to. Which is ironic because it seems that You overlook lots of things for them and only ask one. You ask that they will serve You over any other god. And Judges is so straight-forward about how that turns out. It is actually the type of thing that I sometimes make fun of as the prosperity gospel, but as a whole, the community is way better off when they are serving You. And they are pretty much in slavery when they are not serving You.

And You still really only ask that one thing.

And I still haven't learned how to consistently do it.

Busyness is the blame of the Christmas season. I serve the god of busyness. Sometimes the god I serve is the god of family. Sometimes the god of work. Sometimes the god of health. Sometimes the god of finance. Sometimes the god of food. Sometimes the god of leisure. Sometimes the god of laziness. Sometimes You.

Isn't that just what these people did so long ago. The nations around Israel used to do as well. They had gods (focuses, practices, rituals) for all the things that they wanted to go well in their lives. Gods for crops, rain, sons and daughters, sun, moon, sea, and stars. And time after time You said, "I am that god!"

The LORD my God, the LORD is one.

Forgive me for pursuing other gods, other rituals, other practices. Unite my life under Your oneness. Forgive me as You did the Israelites, take to heart my confession, look on me with Your favor.

And above all, draw me to Your side.

Ruler of Peace

Judges 1
Micah 5:2-5

A lot of times, I struggle with these Advent passages. As we wait for the celebration of Your coming, we read all that led up to Your birth. The miracles of the angel's messages, the coming of John the Baptist, Psalms of praise and rejoicing, and the prophecies of Your coming. Sometimes I struggle with putting all the different readings into one theme. Sometimes, however, I struggle with believing that the passage of prophecy really truly came true.

Look at all of Micah 5:2-5. A ruler will come, and be over Israel, and he will rule them and they will find security. That really didn't seem to happen. The words often used with Jesus (ruler, king, leader) really lend to political understandings. I know that Jesus came and tried to make the people understand differently the words. But, I can see why many people didn't get it. Especially those who were committed to the text. And especially those who viewed the text literally. Because apparently Jesus fulfilled these prophecies about being a ruler without ever really taking the political throne in Israel.

So, I guess what really scares me about all this Lord is: what am I missing? What am I interpreting too literally? Where are You that I have not seen You?

Through all this, the final promise in Micah is that the "ruler" will be the peace of the people. I can see that in You. You do often become the peace in people's lives. And even when You walked the earth You brought peace.

Advent readings, prophecies, doubts, and wonders. But the peace makes You true to me. How can I not praise You and feel at peace when my beautiful son has just turned 2 years old today? How can I not be peaceful while sitting in the bleak mid-winter with my wife who is pregnant with our second child. You are the peace of my life as I sit with my church and talk about how to do things that I'm terrible at (details) and yet the rest of the community comes through for me with great suggestions.

You are my rest in the mornings. Thanks.

Something Proved, Something New

Joshua 20

One of my temptations when I look at a text is to use the text to prove something that I already believe. Then I figure that I can take that text and base a lesson or sermon on it to teach someone I know what they should really be doing. Today's text is a great example of this.

In Joshua 20, You are telling the people to set aside cities of refuge so that those who kill someone accidentally will not be killed in return by the avenger of blood. It's a really fascinating idea, because what it means is that there are different levels of punishment for the same action depending on the motivation of the one who commits the action. It means that, apparently, there are not hard and fast lines saying this sin equals this punishment every time, no exceptions. It shows that it is fair to look at a situation and judge on a case to case basis what it proper as far a punishment.

This is a message that I believe anyways. I believe that hard and fast rules are generally unfair, and that case by case processing allows for better relational connection. I believe that it is not fair to treat everyone equally. I also believe in forgiveness, which these cities of refuge sort of offer.

So, I already believe what I see in the text here. And it is hard for me to see anything else in it. I can't find my way past my first thought, and my first thought is something I don't need much backing up and proof to continue to believe. Instead, I would rather find something new, something fresh, something creative.

But we don't always get something new from faith. Except for Your mercies, which are new every morning. In my stillness this morning, thank You for a text of fairness. Help me to be involved in representing this idea of fairness to my classes. But more important, help me to be aware of that whihc is consistently new: Your love, Your mercy, Your grace.

Refocusing Attentiveness

Ever since Thanksgiving, I've had trouble staying slow and attentive. The little things of the day pass me by really easily, and I'm feeling tired beyond belief today. So, the guiding question of this whole exercise was "Where do I see You working?"

Where do I see You working?
- In my relationship with Gideon, I love him, and he loves me. It was so great to play with him last night in the basement, running around, shooting baskets, letting him sleep on my shoulder.
- In my classes. My attitude is slowly changing and I hope that the attitude of my classes is slowing changing as well.
- In my students. I'm trying to provide a space for relationships, and I'm probably getting in over my head. But things are changing and people are opening up. I will need You here. Work in the lives of the students and their relationships.
- In my family. I love my wife and my wife loves me. Not everyone has that luxury. And we are working hard at keeping it that way. But You are a wonderful example of faithfulness and love for us to follow.

I'm sure there is more, and there are certainly places I need to turn over to You and watch You work. Keep my attention Lord. I love You.

Please Be True

Joshua 10

"And the land had rest from war."

Please, I've had enough of slowly reading about kings hung in trees for all to see. Let's move on.