The Third Week of Lent – 2014
March 24th reflection by Chris Grimmett
March 25th reflection by Rev. Keith Tutterow
March 26th reflection by Caitlin Tremper
March 27th reflection by Kelly Broman-Fulks
March 28th reflection by Amy Justice
March 29th reflection by Jordan Scruggs
A Guatemala Story
March 24th reflection by Chris Grimmett
Luke 4:24-30
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown.” Every time I hear this I cannot help but smile. That might sound a little strange–it doesn’t seem to be very hopeful–but I find myself drawn to it.
In my first year at Duke Divinity School, I’ve been blessed to learn so much about what it was like to be a prophet. For class we read from a man named Abraham Heschel, who wrote about what this life might have looked like. He describes a prophet as a person who saw so much potential in the people of Israel. The prophet saw that they were willing to accept mediocrity, but wanted something better for them. The prophet wanted the life God desired for them, the life promised for them if they would live out the covenant. The prophet looks at the world differently. Things that only slightly bothered the people would enrage the prophet. Israel would see the pain of others, countries at war, people being oppressed, and wish it were different. But at the end of the day, Israel continue living on as if there was nothing they could do (sound familiar?). This left the prophet frustrated, yelling, “Don’t you see? It doesn’t have to be this way!”
Those who have had kids may have felt something similar. A prophetic life is a hard one. Always calling people out and holding them accountable doesn’t make one very popular. Heschel describes how lonely being a prophet would have been. As Jesus said, the prophet isn’t even welcomed in his or her hometown.
So why do I read about the type of life Heschel describes and want it for myself? It sounds exhausting. Because it’s the kind of life God calls us to live. We have enough people in our communities who focus on themselves. God is calling us to look around at the world and ache the way God’s heart aches. To look around the world and be frustrated that people are just continuing to live as nothing needs changing. A prophet wants us to open our eyes. To see children in school who cannot keep their eyes open during the day because of the hell they have to go through at home. To not ignore that people around the world are hiding in fear from a government who oppresses them. To be outraged that Americans per year will spend $16 billion on chocolate, $11 billion on engagement and wedding rings, $800 million on Girl Scout Cookies, $65 billion on soft drinks, $11 billion on BOTTLED water, $117 billion on fast food, but then allow 50 million Americans go hungry every single day. And let’s not even get started about adding the rest of the world to that number.
I want to be more like a prophet because a prophet’s heart desires what God desires. In Lent, I ask that you join me in asking God to shape our hearts to be more like a prophet’s. Jesus said “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown.” Why then haven’t we gotten kicked out of ours yet?
March 25th reflection by Rev. Keith Tutterow
Consider Your Ways In Your Heart
“Consider your own ways in your heart” (Haggai 1:5,7, Geneva Bible, 1560). “Take your ways to heart” (same text, CEB).Unless you were intentional, you would miss the brief book of Haggai. Once you find it, you might wonder why you did. But when you glimpse what Haggai was about, you find there the message of Lent (Spring). Indeed, most translations omit the reference to the heart. Of course, the heart is a metaphor which has wide applications, but the prophet was using the word to engage the people to look within themselves from the perspective of God’s grace. The editor of the Geneva Bible introduced Haggai this way: “When the time of the seventy years of captivity prophesied by Jeremiah was expired, God raised up Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi to comfort the Jews and exhort them to the building of the temple.”
The people of God seemed uninterested in building a temple. As we say: their hearts were not in it. The message of the prophet directed their attention to themselves, to what they really wanted to be and do in this new freedom which the LORD of Hosts had given them. They were busy about everything but God. Haggai knew that motivation would come from willing what was good, what God wanted them to do. Their ways were misdirected to themselves. That’s where Haggai the prophet began: “pay attention to, or consider, your own ways in your heart.”
That’s where we begin building the spiritual house, that is, a dwelling place of God. Pay attention to the ways–your ways–not someone else’s. This is not morbid or moody introspection, simply wrapping ourselves around ourselves. It is not data processing, adding and subtracting to see if we are all right. The heart is where we meet God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Do you really want to see God, or is the way of our hearts to avoid God?
Under some leaders who were summoned and challenged, the people began to build. Obedience always brings results. As the work to which God called them got underway, something happened: God joined the enterprise. “I am with you.” God was not a spectator presence, but the active energy and direction for the leaders and people.
Wednesday Third Week of Lent
March 26th reflection by Caitlin Tremper
“Is the Lord among us or not?” – Exodus 17:7
Modern translation: So is God present or not? Will God provide for us? Where is God?
Confession: I ask myself this question all the time. Only it sounds a little more like “GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?!” or “ARE YOU EVEN THERE?!” I ask this question when I hear or see horrifying events unfold throughout our world on the news. I ask this question when it feels like the world is crashing down all around me. I ask this question when I’m coming off a “spiritual high” from a retreat, church service, or mission trip. And I ask this question when it’s been a long, long time since I have felt that particular, overwhelming feeling that I get when I just know God is present.
In the book of Exodus, the people have been liberated by God and set free from the hands of Pharaoh. But wait – Now they’re wandering through the desert. They’re thirsty. The people are looking at their children and animals, realizing they have nothing to drink. No water means their animals will die. No water means their children will die. And no water means they will die.
Wasn’t God supposed to take care of them?
Where is God?
In this story in Exodus, even Moses is questioning the presence and provision of God. Even their leader is afraid God won’t follow through. Even their leader is questioning God’s faithfulness (although we should probably give Moses a little slack since he’s afraid the people are threatening to stone him to death…). But how are we supposed to show people a reality that is not visible?
Here, God instructs Moses and the elders to go to this rock where God is standing. Here, Moses strikes the rock with his staff and water wondrously pours forth in the middle of the desert. This staff was the same one that miraculously turned into a snake and it was the same staff that was used to turn the Nile into blood. This water, a source and sustainer of life, is a miraculous sign that God is present, God will provide, and that God is not always visible in ways that we recognize.
In this season of Lent, as we prepare for the death and resurrection of Christ may we become more deeply aware of God’s never-ceasing presence among us. May we seek out the presence of God through our doubt. And may we recognize more deeply the presence of God with the knowledge that God will provide for us through the gift of a meal, in our daily work, community event, and time spent with loved ones, like God provided for the Israelites with water in the desert.
March 27th reflection by Kelly Broman-Fulks
If you watch American Idol, you’ve likely taken notice of 16-year-old, tuba-playing, spunky Malaya. She is overflowing with enthusiasm. In her Top 13 performance, she was exuberant over her song choice. She was so exuberant, in fact, she struggled with her delivery of it. The judges’ critique was for Malaya to gain better control in the future. A little like Malaya, I’m bubbling over with anticipation. My excitement is NOT because of my singing. I won’t put anyone through that misery. My excitement is for this upcoming Easter and an opportunity to share a few words. You see, God is at work in me, and I can only hope that He weaves a little restraint into these words as they tumble out across this reflection about…ironically…restraint. (And, so, this is my apology for any babbling in my writing.)
First, I should make it clear what I mean by restraint and why I think it is important. Restraint refers to attempts to moderate behavior and to avoid impulsive decision-making. When we practice restraint, we don’t necessarily deny our feelings, but we look to God for help as we temper our actions. Restraint protects our relationships with friends and family because, hey, we’re typically easier to be around when we practice a little self-control.
What are the behaviors we impulsively slide toward that get us into trouble? There are so many ways to go about this, but I’ll focus on the familiar seven deadly sins: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust. Do you recognize any of these thorns from situations you’ve been involved in?
I’ve recently watched a family grieve over a loved one who passed away after he rejected a relationship with them for decades. The troubles were made worse by his impulsive behaviors. I’m certain God didn’t want him to die without his family around him, but he did. Restraint was largely missing from his life. Unity with his loved ones was wasted.
Today is March 27, and we find ourselves at the halfway point in this season of Lent. We have an opportunity to reflect on the first half of the season while considering our steps through the second half. Are we content with how we live our lives? Do we refrain from evils that would snag us out of relationship with God and loved ones? And, finally, do we seek God’s will and the fullness in life He desires for us?
Scripture for today’s reflection is from Jeremiah 7:23, which tells us, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.” To help me with this verse, I picked up a Matthew Henry’s Commentary that belonged to my Grandfather and found this little truth, “Let God’s will be your rule and his favour shall be your felicity.”
In brief conclusion is the theme of this reflection – restraint. It’s the way of patience and prayer. It’s also the way of Jesus who lingered on the cross.
March 28th reflection by Amy Justice
Love your neighbor…no matter how much they resist or how strange their mask!
Look mom, they are selling leftover Halloween costumes at the grocery store! Molly was excited because we missed trick-or-treating in the states this year. It was not overstock merchandise or an off-season sale. Fasching is a holiday time that people in Germany celebrate in an attempt to scare away winter ghosts and partake in a “sin-free” period (meaning anything goes) before the Lenten season. The celebrations culminate on Monday before Ash Wednesday with “Faschnacht” (carnival night). In our region of Germany, we have seen a few costumes like the ones in the picture since we have been here (the season, called the 5th season, actually starts on 11/11), but now many of the stores are selling costumes and have decorated their windows with scary masks.
There is a darkness to this time that is more pronounced than your typical fat-Tuesday feasts and Mardi Gras parties. I believe it is rooted in an underlying fear that there really is no hope. I fear they believe that this time of indulgence is the only joy they have left, and the cry of people seeking to fill a deep void rings loud and clear. Fasching also emphasizes that Europe, although still strongly influenced by the Christian calendar and holidays, is no longer experiencing the spirit of God. There are pockets of Germans who have been re-introduced to Christ and are trying to wrap their heads around reaching out to their own people, many of whom have checked the “Christian” box, but have never walked with our Savior.
In Acts, Paul gets frustrated with those who have heard the truth and still won’t wake up; sometimes even walking away from them shaking the dust from his sandals. But he does not stop praying for them and often comes back to them to try again. As American Christians, it is easy to think “What’s wrong with you? How can you hear the truth and not believe?” But even in countries where the Christian heritage is deep, there are still “unreached people”. Yes, they know about Jesus Christ, but the Good News has not “reached” their hearts for some reason. We must never stop reaching for them!
During this season of preparation and prayer, please take a moment to pray for the German people. Pray that we, as Christian visitors, would have the opportunity to introduce the love of Christ in a fresh way and be in the right places at the right times to minister to hurting hearts; that German Christians would have the courage to battle the forces of darkness that have a nation convinced that God is dead; and that God will move in ways that display His love, hope for mankind and desire for relationship with all of us.
Saturday Third Week of Lent
March 29th reflection by Jordan Scruggs
The prophet Hosea, the author of today’s Old Testament text, is regarded by some rabbinic traditions to be the most important prophet in all of Israel’s history. Hosea was primarily concerned with the question of the Israelite’s faithfulness to God. His prophecies were addressed to Israelites who, convinced that their obedience to God was determined by how closely they followed religious regulations, had neglected God’s commands to exhibit love and mercy to their neighbors. In short, their theology had confused legalism with the law of love. In contrast, God’s message through Hosea calls to the people, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice!” Through Hosea, God tells us that the primary indicator of our faithfulness to God’s commandments isn’t whether we follow a set of rules, but rather the way that we treat one another.
Today’s New Testament scripture from Luke 18 indicates that more than eight centuries after Hosea’s ministry ended, Jesus was still addressing the same human tendency mistake legalism for the law of love amongst the people of his own time and space. In this passage, Jesus tells a parable to some religious leaders who are convinced that their observance of legal practices means that they can claim moral superiority over their less-pious neighbors. So dedicated had these leaders become to abiding by the rules that they were blind to their own sins of pride and arrogance!
More than 2,000 years after Jesus’ ministry (and closer to 3,000 after Hosea’s!) it seems that human beings still struggle with the same habit against which Jesus and Hosea warned us. Though many of us have good intentions in our desire to keep God’s commandments, the sinfulness of our hearts can easily distort this honorable practice into a self-righteous competition to see who can follow the rules more closely. Instead of exercising mercy and discernment with others, we become so caught up in legalistic perfection that we thrust many persons with an honest desire to draw near to God out from our fellowship!
The tragic commonality of practicing legalism over the law of love is this: it is often much easier to be legalistic than it is to imitate the kind of love that God has shown us. Most of us to do our best get to church on Sunday, to say a prayer before dinnertime, and to give what we can to support our church. What is more difficult is doing our best to follow Jesus to the cross – to take risks in loving and forgiving that mean we might lose something valuable, like our reputation or our social standing.
Don’t get me wrong – emphasizing the tenets of the law can be invaluable in many ways, particularly in how they can help us to structure our lives in response to the call of God. But God’s instruction for us in today’s passages means that the law, when exercised in its fullness, doesn’t look like legalism. It looks like love – more specifically, the love that crucified Jesus – which is the same love that causes us, ultimately, to triumph over death.
March 30th
A Guatemalan Story
Sebastian’s father was killed while rescuing his family from their blazing, make-shift shelter. This child was terribly burned over half of his face and most of his chest. With no plastic surgery, his massive scars are a life-long vivid reminder of the dangers inherent to poverty.
When we first met the family in 2010, and despite his mother’s tender care, Sebastian exhibited a deep sadness that he carried with him every heavy step of his day. Tomasa, his widowed mother of five young boys, bravely persevered by diligently working at her simple handmade loom, the sole source of nominal income for this dear family of six. The family diet consisted almost entirely of tortillas, with limes and salt.
Through our scholarship program, Tomasa began receiving regular monthly financial assistance for her 4 youngest sons, all in primary school. Almost immediately, their diet expanded to include simple vegetable soups, occasional chicken, and rice or beans.
In 2011, Sebastian began showing signs of new life. The sadness occasionally gave way to smiles and even some joy, sometimes losing himself in the moment of a good story, joke or other distraction. Yet, Sebastian badly failed 4th grade and the future looked bleak.
But in 2012, lives changed dramatically. All 4 boys began exhibiting more happiness. They played like healthy kids. Their school work improved, and Tomasa’s stomach disorder disappeared. And Sebastian? He won “comeback student of the year” and the prize of a coveted new bicycle.
Their “casa”? It was a tattered shell of a hut with dirt floor and little else. We were able to replace it with a simple two-room cement block structure with metal roof, concrete floor, small windows, large covered porch, and a new efficient wood burning cooking stove. This is a common design of new Mayan houses in rural Guatemala. No indoor running water or toilets in these homes. Yet, to them it is heaven on earth.
Today, this success story of healing and love continues. When we see the look of deep gratitude on the faces of Tomasa and her boys, we are thrilled to be a part of God’s evolving love miracles.
The Second Week of Lent – 2014
March 17th anonymous reflection
March 18th reflection by Stephen Fitch
March 19th reflection by Dale Williams
March 20th reflection by Rodney Duke
March 21st reflection by James Lorello
March 22nd reflection by Alex Fischer
Boone United Methodist Preschool
March 17th
Daniel 9:4-10 Luke 6:36-68
Advent and Lent have several things in common. They are both seasons of preparation: one for the Lord’s coming to our home; the other for his return to His home. We tend to approach these seasons in different ways. During Advent we are full of excitement and hope for God is sending His Son to save us. During Lent we meditate on our transgressions and on the price God’s Son paid to save us. However, the actuality of both of the seasons is much the same. Jesus came knowing that his arrival would lead to the cross and in both seasons we are acutely aware of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
The prayers we use for confession of sins in our formal worship services are much like Daniel’s prayer. His confession is not of personal sins but of the collective sins of his people. It is a long list. One impact of confessing together is that it is “our” confession. “We” confess to our failure to follow Jesus perfectly. While I am not listing my personal, individual sins, I am realizing that I am just like everyone else. Even as Daniel prayed alone he expressed this connection to all his people and their disobedience of God’s laws. He listed the numerous sins of his people. Then, in the middle of the prayer (v 9) he refers to God’s mercy and forgiveness.
In Luke’s account of one of Jesus’ teaching sessions with the multitudes, Jesus tells us to be merciful, as God is. He warns us that our attitude towards others is the gauge by which we will be measured. When we confess, communally, we need to remember that we are part of the community. We cannot hold ourselves above it. Corporate confession is a reminder that in not judging or condemning we are caring for others as God has cared for us. And in our individual penitence we are not to thank God that we are not as sinful as some others. When we accept others and give freely to them Jesus says we will receive “a good measure”. What more bountiful gift could we ever receive than Jesus’ blood poured out for us? (Lk 22:20) Thus the response at the end of our public confession “We are forgiven.”
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (II Cor 9:15)
March 18th reflection by Stephen Fitch
Readings: Isaiah 1:10,16-20; Matthew 23:1-12
Jesus, like many prophets before him, had sharp words to say to religious folk: “They do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders” (Matthew 23: 3b-4a). Likewise, Isaiah writes “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong” (Isaiah 1:16). Our faith must not be in word only, but in deed: the religion of, not about Jesus. We must remember his peacefulness, love, grace, and shrewdness. That he comforted the poor and broken and challenged the rich and prideful, but loved all.
In these forty days leading to the Cross and Resurrection, we must remember Christ’s lonely, broken heritage. First, as a refugee baby in a war-torn land, one who escaped infanticide, oppressed under Roman imperialism, born by a questionable birth, raised in poverty in the Palestinian badlands where “nothing good comes from” (John 1:46), Jesus is called. Jesus was not middle class, rich, American, or politically advantaged, but, given his low statue, followed His Father’s austere path of love and justice. This should give us comfort and challenge, knowing that anyone, anywhere, in any number of ‘impossible situations’ can be a humble and radical servant in God’s kingdom and find rest in it, even with persecutions leading to death!
Then, the Holy Spirit brought him into the desert for forty days. Wait, into the desert?
Yes, and during lent, we realize that we too, like Jesus and Israel, are all in a desert. We are all wandering this side of life, sometimes aimlessly, sometimes stutter-stepping, wondering what is the purpose of this life, who are we, and who is God. But, like Elijah, we learn that in the silence, not noise, is His still small voice (1 Kings 19:12). Like Paul, we realize that His grace is enough, because His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). And like Jesus, we know that the “greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12). Therefore, in silence, weakness, humility, and service, we are made strong, the greatest, and hear God. These values, which are diametrically opposed to those of our culture, are the simple values we can cultivate to follow the simple Way of dying and life, nonviolence and revolution, Cross and Resurrection.
Later, in Jesus last week of life, sweating blood and shaking with fear, Jesus went to carry His Cross. Let us carry our Cross everywhere we go. Let us remember our death we die daily, our baptism, and our thirst, hunger, and God’s providence in our deserts. Let us remember that Jesus had many disciples and friends; his mission was not individual but the restoration of all. God, let us not to be prideful, but humble, not Pharisaic, but faithful, not to judge but to serve, not to oppress but to love, and not to be violent in word, deed, or intention but peaceful, not to hate or condemn, but to even pray for our attackers and enemies, and loving them, even while suffering shame, abuse, or even torture affixed by three nails to two wooden beams. Easter is coming, Easter has come, Easter is.
Peace; Love,
Stephen Fitch
March 19th reflection by Dale Williams
Matthew 20:17-28
Do you ever want to cover your ears and not hear something?
In John 20, Christ clearly lays out the truth of his coming death by the hands of Gentiles. The twelve disciples wanted nothing of it. This was not in their game plan.
Next, Jesus tells his followers to be great in His kingdom they needed to serve others – to be slaves. Good grief!
The disciples must have been covering their ears. Jesus was not sharing Good News.
But as Jerusalem came near, the shroud, which has on many occasions covered the meaning of Christ’s teaching, is drawn back. The raw reality and cost of sacrificially following Christ is laid bare.
When I travel in a plane, I like to watch movies using my personal headphones. The over-the-ear cups, block out noise and amplify the movie’s sound track. With the headphones, I can be in my own little world, hearing only what I want to hear.
Towards the end and near his crucifixion, Christ’s lessons became more pointed, while the disciple’s faith and faithfulness were called into account. They needed to hear what the Lord had to say, even if it was hard to accept.
May this Lenten season be a time for us to take off our headphones to hear what the Lord Jesus has to say to us. His voice is infinitely more important than the movie we are currently watching.
March 20th reflection by Rodney Ruke
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. (James 4:13-14, NET)
The words of James address my pride: I am but a puff of smoke. Two points of engagement come to mind. The first confrontation is explicit in James. Smoke is temporary. In but a moment, it has dissipated and vanished from sight. Like smoke, my life does not last long. I do not know if I will be here tomorrow. That thought does not frighten me. It focuses me on what matters most. It does not mean I should not make plans for the future. It means that today needs to belong to Jesus. That’s when the best plans are made. I want today to be a day in which Jesus plants a seed of the Kingdom of God through me. That’s a good reminder for me during Lent.
James’ smoke metaphor also recalls the Old Testament imagery of mist and vapor being compared to idols and idolatry. Mist, like smoke, offers no solidity. There is nothing about it on which one can depend. Such are the idols of life. God, however, is a rock, the Rock. A person should set one’s soul upon the Rock, not upon anything else. Anything else is mist, vapor. Setting one’s soul on anything else is idolatry.
That Old Testament association leads me to another humbling point of engagement. Like smoke, who I am and what I offer is not just fleeting but also immaterial. In my pride, I certainly tend to believe that I am something substantial. I want to be noticed. I want respect. But, like the mist of idolatry or a puff of smoke, I have no “substance” on my own. However, I do have eternal substance when I am “in Christ” — the One who loves me enough to humiliate himself on the Cross. I want to find my true substance in Jesus. That’s a good reminder for me during Lent.
March 21st reflection by James Lorello
Stonework of Our Lives
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. Mathew 21: 42-43
This season of lent is truly the first I have ever participated in with my whole self. What I mean by this is I am not randomly deciding to give up Facebook, or forgo meat on Friday’s. Growing up Catholic and then transitioning through a time of agnosticism/atheism left me not really understanding what lent was all about upon my return a few years ago to Christianity. I found myself either not participating in lent because I felt it became a 40 day fad, or doing something just for the purpose of saying “I did it!”
The passage of this reflection is Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46, also known as the parable of the Wicked Tenants. Jesus speaks in the passage telling a parable of what is to happen to Him. God planted a vineyard, leaves tenants to take of the vineyard, sends his Son and heir to return to the vineyard and we the tenants then kill his Son. What to me is key in this passage is “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes” (Matthew 21: 42), a reminder that Jesus, the one whom was rejected, is the cornerstone.
During this season of lent I am challenging myself to pray deeply about my life, and reflect on the fruits of my faith and works. Is Jesus the cornerstone of my life? How am I “rejecting” Him? Is God the very foundation of the stonework of who I am and what I do? How are my works producing “fruits of the kingdom”? How would our church community answer these same questions? It can be so easy to go through the motions of lent and allow our day to day to get in the way of God. Thankfully lent is the perfect time to dig a little deeper and ensure that God is our foundation.
As is usually the case asking these questions we may end up with more questions than answers, but I hope these reflections allow the Spirit to speak and work. Perhaps in our reflection we will find a few cracks, or need to replace a few stones, or maybe even rebuild from the ground up. I hope that during this season of lent we can truly reflect and let God into our homes for inspection, “whatever” the outcome may be.
March 22nd reflection by Alex Fischer
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 & Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
It was spring of my freshman year at App State when I took a New Testament class; about halfway through the course we did a 3-class study on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. At the time, my faith was in a lull and frankly “weird” state. I had just come to college and everything I was so sure of in high school (I’ve been very open and “active” in my faith since I was 13) just seemed like it was barely there, if at all. I didn’t turn away from God, but I had definitely spaced out from any kind of conversation we were having. I felt lost. And then, I heard my professor (Ross Blackburn) explain this parable to us and all of sudden, I had come back to my senses.
We talked about how the younger son, by asking his father for his inheritance, was essentially saying, “I wish you were dead”. We talked about how when the son finally decides to come home, his father sees him from way off and runs to him. Back in that day, men wore long garments, so if the father was running, he had to lift up his clothes a bit to keep from tripping, which essentially was embarrassing for him. Before the son can even get a word out from his mouth, the father hugs him and kisses him, and when the son finally does speak, the father doesn’t even say anything to it and throws some new clothes on him and a ring. He’s so thrilled that he’s back; he has completely forgotten what his son said and did.
And so the same is for our relationships with God. All the time, every day, in what we say, what we do, how we act, the way we live our lives…we look at God and say, “I wish you were dead.” We harm and try to break the relationship. We do wrong. But no matter what, when we realize what we’ve done and when we decide to come back home, God is always there to take us in. We don’t even have to get all the way there; He sees us from a distance and runs to us (at the cost of shaming himself) and greets us with a hug and kiss before we can even get one word out of our mouths. God loves us, and always will. It doesn’t matter what our self-righteous older brothers might say (v. 28-30)…God welcomes us with open arms, and we have the True Older Brother (who told this story) to vouch for us and welcome us home as well. So if you’re feeling lost this Lent season and if you’re feeling spent and broken and all you want to do is just come home…then come on. God is waiting with open arms. Everything He has is ours (v. 31) and we can rejoice that His love will never fail us.
March 23rd
Boone United Methodist Preschool
This year a parent told me something that made everything I have done in this job worthwhile: “I believe God is using the preschool to bless my family.”
In this family, one parent is employed, and one parent has chronic health issues. The parents had called to talk about paying tuition. I assured them that because they were in special circumstances, we would not charge a late fee if they fell behind. We normally expect tuition payment each month but we would give them additional time.
Because the child, when not in preschool, is home with the parent who has health problems, the child does not receive much outdoor or active play time. Our teachers have suggested that the child would benefit from attending preschool five days a week instead of three, so I mentioned this to the parents. I told them that we offer scholarships to families with special needs. This year one family was helped with a scholarship for the amount of the difference between three-day tuition and five-day tuition. While I could not promise that our scholarship committee would approve that for this particular family, I did feel that I could say that we would help them as we were able.
We also talked about other problems that the preschool staff could help the family with related to the child’s preschool attendance and involvement. I assured them that the child’s teachers and our entire staff would work to accommodate their changing needs.
What a blessing to me to be able to offer help to this precious family! I felt so generous as I told them the multiple ways we could help them in their current circumstance! Not only is the preschool blessing this family, and all the families who participate in this program, but God is blessing us through our service. We are humbled and grateful as we represent His work in this church and this community.
The First Five Days of Lent – 2014
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The 5th Week of Lent
April 7th anonymous reflection
April 8th reflection byVern Collins
April 9th reflection by Blake Justice
April 10th reflection by Adam Goodrich
April 11th reflection by Wendy Jessen
April 12th reflection from Zoe Ministries
Palm Sunday, April 13th reflection by Andy Ellis
April 7th anonymous reflection
Psalm 23 John 8:1-11
The twenty-third Psalm and the story of the woman caught in adultery are both very familiar. What is their connection? All of God’s word in the Bible creates our rule for faith and practice but sometimes it seems like we need to apply the Six Degrees of Separation to get from one part to another.
Let’s look at the story of the adulteress. This was obviously a trap set for Jesus by the Pharisees. They cut some corners but still put Jesus in the position of having to uphold Jewish law (to stone the woman) while disobeying the Roman law (Jews can’t carry out death sentences) or vice versa which would be just as bad as if not worse. However, Jesus managed to stay within both laws by putting a condition on the stoning.
How sad that the very reason Jesus won this “contest” was because of our sinful nature. We, as the Pharisees, are not without sin. We can only be saved through God’s mercy and grace in the sacrifice of His own Son. This is the reality we spend our time facing in a most intense way during Lent. We meditate on our sinfulness, our sins, our need to be better followers of the Master.
How grateful I am that Jesus reminds me that I am not different from nor worse than any other, just as he made the Pharisees realize they were not in a position to judge the woman. During Lent, especially, I am also reminded that I am not better or in a position to judge anyone else. There is a story of one of the Desert Fathers of the early church who was asked to come to a judging of another monk. He reluctantly came but he wore an old basket which he had filled with sand on his back. When asked why he said “My sins run out behind me and I do not see them and I have come here today to judge another.” Lent is the season that reminds us to look behind us.
We reflect and meditate but we do not beat on ourselves; the ashes we wear are not those of futility. Jesus paid with great sacrifice for our salvation and that payment was needed. Not one of us could pay the cost for our own sin, much less the sins of the world. What our ashes remind us of is that we are dust and to dust we shall return. But we do not need to fear the “valley of the shadow of death” for the Lord restores our souls. Any small forfeit of our own during this season only gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ sacrifice. But thanks to His sacrifice we “shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Thanks be to God.
April 8th reflection by Vern Collins
John 8:21-30
There is a trick we use in Youth Ministry…don’t judge. Everyone does it, we have just learned to leverage it to our advantage. It is the art of conveying that you know someone, without really having any idea who that person is.
Let me give you an example.
I am at an athletic event and I see a group of our Youth approaching. A quick scan of the crowd reveals that I know 4 of the 6 students. It is thrilling when there is opportunity to connect with students. It is terrifying when there are students in the group that I know I have met, and I know that they know me, and I assume that they assume that I also know them…when in reality I can not remember their name if my life depends on it. The result is that one of two things happens. Either my hand goes up for a high-five and is accompanied by a “hey man” (gender specific, obviously), which denotes to them that I know them really well; that we are friends; that we have some connection, or I extend my hand, look them in the eye, and say, “tell me your last name again.” The hope for me is that this triggers something buried deep within the recesses of my brain and I am able to produce a first name that goes along with that last name, or at the very least communicates to them that I do in fact know them, and want to know more about them?
While for you it may not be in the context of meeting youth, how many times have you pretended to know someone out of embarrassment or fear of being “found out;” out of being uncovered as a “fraud?” This may seem harsh, but we will go to great lengths to prove that we are intentional and relational people (think about how many times have you Facebook stalked someone).
Today’s reading begs the question, do you KNOW Jesus, or do you PRETEND to know Jesus? There is a question asked in this passage, that we would do well to emulate.
“Who are you?”
Let that sink in. “Who are you?” When was the last time you asked someone that question? “Who are you?” Maybe never. It is a dangerous question in our culture. It reveals the lack of knowledge of a person that you are most likely supposed to know.
“Who are you?”
It reveals perhaps that you are too busy, that you have too much on your mind to be able to remember someone that you’ve met. It might even reveal that you are too self-concerned to be concerned with anyone else.
“Who are you?”
In this passage the validity of Jesus’ testimony is being questioned. What are these claims that He is making? Does He have the authority to make such claims? What do these claims mean for the way of life and understanding of life that these people have? The catch is that they are questioning Jesus’ testimony without entering into the life that Jesus is speaking about. They are questioning Jesus from an outside perspective.
“Who are you?”
To ask this question of Jesus invites us IN to the life that Jesus teaches about. To ask this question of Jesus leaves us vulnerable to a new understanding of Jesus. And a new understanding of Jesus draws us into deeper intimacy with Jesus and increased faith in Him as our Lord and Savior. And isn’t that the point?
In this season of Lent, may you have the courage to ask a question of Jesus, that you may never ask of anyone else. Jesus will not be offended. He is waiting for you to ask.
“Who are you?”
April 9th reflection by Blake Justice
Who are you; and whose are you?
John 8:35 “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.”
Most of the time when I meet someone new, within the first few minutes I’ve asked the generic “what do you do?” If I’m with a young person that might mean talking about school – a college major, or what college they might be interested in attending – or if they have some vocation that they’d like to pursue. With adults it is generally the “what type of work do you do?” question. People spend a lot of time at work and school, so it’s an easy way to help to describe yourself. As an adult, I have generally described myself with whatever job I was doing or whatever school I was attending or working for – are these the things I have been a slave to? Beyond job description, I’ve been quite proud to be able to describe myself as husband and father – clearly I haven’t minded to be a slave to these titles. I have begun to believe, however, that all this time I’ve been doing a disservice to my Lord. I have generally had to know someone quite a long time before I’d begin to talk with them about Christ. I honestly don’t know why that is. Christ didn’t just save me – He’s walked beside me and intervened in my life every day. I can’t name a single time that I haven’t been able to depend on Him to at the very least, listen to me. How about you?
If I had a person who was visible to the outside world who was always with me – talking to me and listening to me and advising me and offering counsel – don’t you think people would ask who He was pretty soon after meeting me/us? Don’t you think I would introduce Him pretty soon after meeting almost anyone? Why is it that we have such a difficult time introducing Jesus Christ, when He has defined us since we accepted His gift of Grace and asked Him into our hearts? I am a part of His family, and belong to it forever. I am also reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 when I think about this. I think I tend to lean on my own understanding too much. I tend to think about what people will think of me, instead of thinking about what they might think if they could meet the Savior of all humanity and become a part of His family.
I pray that as I move toward the celebration of the single most important event in all of human history – Christ’s death and resurrection – I will continue to grow in the strength of faith that will allow me to tell others of His wonderful love right away.
April 10th reflection by Adam Goodrich
Genesis 17:3-9, Psalm 105:4-9, John 8:51-59
In Genesis and again in Psalms, the Bible mentions the covenant that God made with Abraham. God promises to give Abraham and his descendants the promised land of Canaan forever. Because Abraham served God, He made Abraham and his family his chosen people. In the book of John, we find that Jesus changed everything we used to know about the old covenant with Abraham.
At the time, some of the Jews actually thought Jesus was demon-possessed because of what he was saying. Jesus said “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews focused so much on the old covenant with Abraham that they could not comprehend what God was doing for us through Jesus. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God created a new covenant of grace. The key part of what Jesus said in John was “anyone.” Because of Jesus, you don’t have to be a descendent of Abraham to be one of God’s chosen people. If you accept Christ as your savior, your sins will be forgiven and you will live forever in paradise.
As Christians we sometimes get caught up in how “religious” we are. Like the Jews in the Old Testament it can be easy for us to slip into an old covenant mindset. Like the Pharisees, we sometimes focus too heavily on rules and traditions of the church. Now this doesn’t mean that church or denominational traditions aren’t important. It is healthy to be a member of a congregation where you can grow in your faith with others and worship the Lord together. What I’m saying is that it becomes a problem when rules and traditions distract you from the real reason why we even have church: to grow in our relationship with Christ.
My parents always tell me that they will always love me no matter what. The same can be said of God. No one is perfect, and no matter how badly we might mess up, God will always love us. It doesn’t really matter to God what kind of music we play in church, as God loves a cappella just as much as he loves electric guitar and drums. It doesn’t really matter how we say liturgies or how we baptize people, or even what we wear. God knows us inside and out, and what truly matters to him is that we have a meaningful relationship with Him and try to know Him more than we do.
In Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren challenges readers to create subtle reminders in every day life that constantly remind us of God’s presence in our lives. As we continue to celebrate the season of lent, may we be constantly reminded of the new covenant God made to all of us through His Son, Jesus Christ. May we share the good news of this new covenant with all who we meet.
April 11th reflection by Wendy Jessen
But if I am doing them, put aside for a moment what you hear me say about myself and just take the evidence of the actions that are right before your eyes. Then perhaps things will come together for you and you’ll see not only are we doing the same thing, we are the same-Father and Son. He is in me and I am in him. John 10:37-38. The Message
Jesus was being tormented by non-believers, but was standing firm against them stating the scriptures and showing evidence of his existence. In today’s world there are examples of Christians having the opportunity to show evidence of their faith. Being a teacher in public schools put me in the middle of various social settings that, particularly in middle school, dictate a professional adult intervene. My classroom at Blowing Rock Elementary was near the middle school lockers. I could hear the clump of the large bookbags hitting the floor and the occasional disgruntled student who couldn’t get his lock to work. One Friday afternoon I heard a more than usual cry of giggles and loud voices as the students were packing up for the Friday afternoon dismissal. The bell had rung and I kept hearing the tremor of voices. Thinking they were going to miss the bus or their car pick-up I finally walked down to the hall to see what all of the noise was about and hurry them on their way. As I approached the group, in the middle of the teens, was a Young Life leader from high school who had come to gather the students for a “Wyld Life” excursion. “Wyld Life” is the middle school extension of the Christian group “Young Life.” It hit me that here in the middle of the hall in a very open arena these students were willing to show their commitment to their spiritual cause amidst their peers when being committed to Christ is not always the cool thing to do in today’s society. These students were excited for their journey with Christ.
C.S. Lewis stated that “either Jesus is a totally mad person…out of his mind…or he is telling the truth…He is the center of everything. He is the center of life, the giver of truth. Jesus of Nazareth is the center of everything. To ignore him is to grope in darkness, to live in rebellion, to miss out on joy, peace and love…”
It is reassuring in these days of the political correctness separating prayer from public schools, that these “Wyld” students believe in the authenticity of Jesus being the son of God and putting his love into practice with their works in today’s world.
My prayer for today’s students, as well as my children and grandchildren, is that they will stand firm in their faith that Jesus is the son of God and let that light of their spirit shine. “Who in the world am I? Ah, that is the great puzzle.” Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland. My hope is that they will solve this great puzzle ,believing that Jesus is the son of God and stand for their beliefs, even in the face of adversity.
April 12th reflection from Zoe Ministries
Ezekiel 37:1–14
Our Scripture passages move to the theme which the season of Lent is slowly building towards: resurrection. In all of the readings, we find themes of life and death, forgiveness and sin. In Christ’s body on the cross, which we partake of each time we break the bread of communion, life and death come together. We remember Christ’s physical death; yet we rejoice in his glorious resurrection. We reflect upon the death our humanity and sins bring; yet we experience new life and forgiveness in Christ.
In the passage from Ezekiel, we find a strange story, full of haunting images of dried bones being raised up out of a valley and put together with new flesh. It is difficult to discern what all of this means at first, but that is part of the nature of the prophecies of the Old Testament. Though these prophets had strange visions, often as perplexing to the people around them as they are to us today, such prophecies were a vehicle God used to bring God’s voice of justice and truth amidst a broken world.
The image of resurrection that is prophesied by Ezekiel is a vision of God’s people being restored from their place of brokenness and exile. Throughout much of the Old Testament, the Israelites cannot seem to get their act together. It seems that once things start to go well, they mess up again in a new way. But, alongside this theme of brokenness, there are also voices of redemption and restoration. Through the cries of prophets like Ezekiel, they remember who they are and the reason they had to hope. This story is our story.
Unlike the Israelites, we have not only seen the fulfillment of their covenant with God in Christ but also experienced the profound hope of Christ’s resurrection. This is an incredible gift. But, like the people of Israel, we are prone to forget who we are as children of God and how we must follow Christ’s example of living in this world. The need for prophetic voices is still very much alive, as they call out the injustices of this world and inspire us to do the same. They help us to see our blind spots and work to bring in the kingdom of God on earth, as it is in heaven.
Condensed and reproduced with permission from Zoe Ministries. http://www.zoehelps.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Year_A_Lenten_Resource_Adult.pdf
April 13th, reflection by Andy Ellis
Matthew 21:1-11 Colossians 2:13-16
On Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem marking the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ journey to the cross. All throughout the gospels Jesus has an interesting relationship with crowds. Sometimes he looks upon them with compassion. Other times it seems that he intentionally drives them away. On Palm Sunday we see another interaction between Jesus and a crowd. Here we see Jesus entering the political power center to palm branches and shouts of “HOSANNA; SAVE NOW!!” Underlying these celebratory shouts are desperate cries of a politically oppressed people for deliverance from Roman rule. One might expect a king to ride proudly into a waiting celebratory town on the back of a mighty steed but here we see King Jesus enter riding meekly on the back of a donkey, a borrowed donkey no less. It is clear that the crowd wished to welcome Jesus to town in order to anoint him as king to overthrow Rome and liberate them politically. They had an agenda all of their own that did not end with their desired liberator martyred on an old rugged cross on the outskirts of the city. The only crown that this king would wear would be one made of thorns given to him mockingly by the very people he came to free and redeem.
Palm branches have been used throughout the course of history to celebrate political and military victory over enemies. During the season of Lent leading up to Easter we celebrate that on the cross Christ triumphed over the enemy defeating sin and destroying death. Today we find ourselves among the crowd crying out for freedom, liberation, and redemption but so often in our flesh, weakness, and failings we cry out for deliverance from all the wrong things for all the wrong reasons. Colossians says that at the cross, in what looked like utter defeat King Jesus triumphed over the powers of this world, over our sin and its penalty, and over our warring flesh. He knows you better than you know you. He knows what you need better than you know what you need. The season of Lent with its self-reflection and dying to self may not be the way that we would choose for ourselves to make ourselves more holy, more sanctified, and more the people God dreamed us up to be but take heart because Jesus Christ is not the savior that we may want but he will always be the savior that we need.
The Fourth Week of Lent – 2014
March 31st reflection by Jeff Lamont
April 1st reflection bySandra Ammons
April 2nd reflection by Bobby Sharp
April 3rd reflection by Charles Stanley
April 4th reflection by Rev. George Thompson, former BUMC Senior Pastor
April 5th reflection by Dale Williams
Black Forest Academy
March 31st, reflection by Jeff Lamont
Our New Normal
Isaiah 65:17-21 (New Heavens and a New Earth) / John 4:43-54 (Jesus Heals an Official’s Son)
Last summer we received news that a dear friend of ours was in a diving accident. Chris is an amazing 17 year old, at the time of the accident, when he dove into a friend’s pool and hit his head. He was paralyzed from his head down with limited movement in his thumbs. After an incredible stabilization period the family came to grips that they were entering a “New Normal.” They sold their home and moved into a home more conducive to the new life in front of them. During all of the chaos something amazing happened.
Most of us think of Lent as a time to give something up. Some give up foods, some give up lifestyles, some give up habits and others even take a vow of silence. “The real grace is when we recognize that Lent is a season in which God wants to give us something. God wants to help us transform our lives and make us more free as people — not just freer with God, but in the way we live our lives and love our families. ” (from the Creighton University site)
Chris had no choice in what he gave up last summer. When tragedies strike we often ask for God’s healing. We ask for him to make things normal. In John 4:43-54, the official asks for his son to be healed. Jesus’s response was: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” Jesus did heal his son, but the point here is “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Chris and his family came to this crossroad, they prayed, they asked for healing and God did heal them. God did not heal them physically in the way they anticipated, he gave them the ultimate gift – he transformed their lives. This February, Chris, his Mother and Father were all baptized and dedicated their lives to Christ. Isaiah 65: 17-18 “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create…”.
Chris made the choice to accept God’s gift. He did not blame God, he rejoiced in what God is giving him. During Lent instead of looking at what we are giving up maybe we should focus on asking God to give us “Our New Normal”. . . accept his gift and look at all we are getting.
April 1st reflection by Sandra Ammons
Consumed by Fear
John 17:25-33 and 18:15-18
We all read the gospels and enjoy hearing of the marvelous miracles and sermons that Jesus delivered to his disciples and those who followed him as he traveled about. Jesus spoke in parables often in order for the people to understand his messages better. However, in these passages there is no parable, just plain facts.
Two important points can be gleaned from these passages of scripture. The first one is that we just need to believe, and then we need to trust. Peter believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but he was a little short on trust. Peter had been with Jesus throughout Jesus’s ministry, witnessing the miracles, listening to His words of wisdom, and eating with Him. He believed the he would always be there for Jesus. However, after Jesus was arrested, he found it difficult to stand up for Jesus and be there for him. He just didn’t trust that all would be well if he acknowledged that he knew Jesus.
How often we are like Peter in our lack of trust! We find ourselves doubting that all will be well.
This reminds me of our children as Gene made his commitment to the ministry. As we were preparing to make our way to Kentucky where he would be attending seminary, we found our two oldest children afraid of moving away to a new state, leaving grandparents and friends behind. They cried, “But we won’t have any friends there.” We assured them that God would provide for us; and there would be children around, and they would soon find themselves surrounded with lots of friends. The trip to Kentucky from Myrtle Beach, SC, was long and tiring. The children couldn’t get excited about the move for the fears that consumed them of the unknown place and lack of friends. However, as God promises us, he provided. When we arrived in the new neighborhood, our truck was surrounded by many children. And during our stay in Kentucky, our yard was always full of children.
Just like our children, we all need to believe that God will never leave us and will provide our every needs.
Thought: Hold fast to God’s promises!
April 2nd reflection by Bobby Sharp
John 5:17-30
In today’s New Testament verses, John 5:17-30, Jesus turned conventional wisdom and accepted practice upside down. Here’s what happened earlier in Chapter 5: Jesus healed an invalid, someone who could not walk, on a Sabbath. The man, following Jesus’ directive, picked up his mat and walked away with it. People who knew Jewish laws saw the man carrying his mat and took issue because carrying the mat violated Sabbath rules. Eventually, the Jewish leaders found out that it was Jesus who had healed the man and had told him to pick up his mat and walk, and these legal experts confronted Jesus about it.
Jesus’ response? 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” (NRSV) Then, two verses later, Jesus goes on: 19Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.”
Profound truth is contained in Jesus’ response, truth that turns one of our prevailing tendencies upon its head. You’ve seen it; I’ve seen it; I’ve done it. That tendency is to look around, see a need, decide it’s a worthy cause, head toward it, and then ask God to support our efforts and make them succeed. We tend to call in God for reinforcement as though God is the cavalry.
In today’s scripture, Jesus teaches us how backward that “reinforcement thinking” is. Instead, look at what Jesus did: he saw where God already was working, and he joined God there. That bears repeating: Jesus saw where God already was working, and he joined God there. Jesus said he simply looked and saw God working on this Sabbath occasion, and pitched in. The NIV puts it this way: “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” The order of the action seems pretty clear.
So, we can assume that God already is at work in the vicinity of our going and coming. During Lent, what if we seek to let go of our human tendency to adopt worthy causes out of a mixture of human motivations, and what if we ask God for the capacity to see where God already is working? What if we look for where we can join in God’s work that already is underway? What if?
Where might that be, that place along our paths where God already is at work? Perhaps a Lenten prayer can be to have the eyes to see where God is at work around us and to have the will to join in, just like Jesus did that day long ago. Amen.
April 3rd reflection by Charles Stanley
God’s will is perfect for his children –us. Unfortunately, we are imperfect and fall far short of being faithful to God. In Exodus Chapter 32, God instructs Moses to go back to his people “so that my anger may burn against them.” Moses knows that his brother Aaron is one of those who helped forge the golden calf that has so upset our Lord. He humbly asks God to spare these people and reminds Him of his covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Israel. God’s mercy knows no limits and he relents.
Showing mercy is so important and yet we live in a society that seems to believe “I’ve got mine, you get yours”. There’s no mercy or grace in doing what’s only best for you when others are left to go without. Those folks without food need our help. Those without love need our concern. Those without hope need a helping hand to be reunited with Christ. Those who are sick and hurting need a gracious hand from the disciples Christ left behind to do his work–us.
Jesus spent his entire life reaching out to those who were scorned by “proper society”. When he asks Zacchaeus to come down from the tree so that he could have dinner with him, Jesus did not weigh the attitude of those around him to see if this was a popular idea. Would he be held accountable by the Pharisees? Jesus chose the path of doing the RIGHT action regardless of the consequences. We should not worry what others think when we stop to help a homeless person–rather; we should praise God for the opportunity to serve.
Please pray with me:
Father, you have shown mercy when we have failed. You have loved us when we worship our earthly idols. You have forgiven us of our sins and taken the sins of the world on your shoulders. Lead us to do our part in making this earthly place one in which love overcomes all obstacles which keep us from a lasting peace. Amen.
April 4th reflection by Rev. George Thompson, former BUMC Senior Pastor
A Lakeshore Lesson for Lent
Luke 5: 1-16
The gospel is all about abundance. Great crowds had begun to follow Jesus as he taught the multitudes along the lake of Gennesaret. His teachings were so popular that he presumed to climb aboard a boat owned by a wealthy fisherman named Simon in order to claim some space for effective communication. Upon finishing his lesson and dismissing the crowd, Jesus ordered the unsuspecting Simon to sail his boat into deeper waters in order to continue fishing. This seasoned fisherman skeptically obeyed even though he had labored intensely the entire previous night and arrived at lakeshore empty handed. To his consternation, when Jesus directed the operation, Simon’s nets became so full of fish that the threads began to break under the stress. Simon, who considered his failure to be punishment for the condition of sin within him, confessed at the feet of Jesus. Feeling the sincerity of Simon’s plea and the trust implied by his posture, Jesus called this experienced seaman to a new vocation with the admonition, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching people.”
We United Methodists have been better at the shepherd’s vocation to which we have been called (tending, caring, protecting) than the fisherman’s task (evangelism). Thus, we have shrunk in numbers and impact as a denomination. But, in Luke’s story, Jesus’ presence and power within that boat (the Church) was the impetus for an abundant catch. When we assume that there is only scarcity of resources (diminishing financial strength, the United Methodist economic tsunami, static population, or an aging congregation), reading this story is a reminder of our central calling–namely, to make disciples and to catch, nurture, and sustain other human beings for the Kingdom.
It is no accident that this incident is quickly followed by Luke’s account of Jesus’ healing an outcasted leper. Perhaps we have done all our fishing in shallow waters that are clean and pure, near the fellowship of familiar faces, and in the circle of “me and my kind.” Perhaps our most compelling evangelical calling is really among the outcaste of this town and community. According to recently acquired statistics, over 21% (one in five citizens) of Watauga County live below the poverty level. We can meet these children of God through the Hunger and Health Coalition or our participation in Circles of the High Country that meets at the Hospitality House. Faithfulness to Christ requires more than an item in the budget or check in the mail. These people need to know that they are welcome in this fellowship of compassion–Boone UMC. Perhaps our most urgent evangelical calling is to be more readily among those who are not like us in appearance or sophistication.
Prayer: Jesus of the lakeside, empower your church here in Boone with a new eagerness to share the abundant grace of your love and forgiveness among multitudes of the lonely, the lost, and the lowly. Amen.
April 5th reflection by Dale Williams
John 7:40-53
As we come to the final days of Jesus’ life, a whirlwind of controversy surrounds the Son of God as it has even before his birth.
He was the buzz of Jerusalem. Would Jesus come to the Passover feast? Everyone was asking.
When Jesus did make his way towards Jerusalem, crowds, who had heard about the raising of Lazarus, greeted him with shouts of praise and worship. They adorned the road with palm branches, a tradition reserved for the mighty and revered. The mob was united in praise for the Rabbi from Galilee.
The religious and political leaders saw it differently. “The multitude is accursed,” they fumed. Pharisees considered Jesus a social vexation, a spiritual heretic, and a threat to their authority.
As they met to discuss the issue, divisions over the Holy One of Israel created a hullabaloo in their closed door meetings. Determining the true identity of this person Jesus split the chamber.
Finally, they took a vote – kill him. The vote was not unanimous, but, nevertheless, the motion passed. It was a precarious time for the Son of Man.
Jesus is still controversial, still the buzz. His claims are still questioned, his very person still divisive.
Two thousand years later, we too must decide. Will we shout “Hosanna” and lay branches at his feet, or will we reject the King of Kings as he rides by on a donkey?
It is sobering to recall, the mob that lavished praise on Jesus was the same mob that shouted crucify him just a few days later. Is there a little bit of Judas in all of us? Paul warns, “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.”
There is, however, Good News. Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. The first two are accomplished. The Church anticipates and longs for the third.
Until then, in Christ, God establishes his Church, forgives us, anoints us, seals us, and gives us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Good News indeed.
April 6th
Black Forest Academy
In the Melting Pot – By Elise De Ruiter
I remember the first time someone asked me what state I was from in America. I gave her a blank stare and said, “I have never been to America. I’m Dutch…but I lived in China for most of my life.” She looked at me with utter confusion, and now that I think about it, I was confused too.
I lived in China for fourteen years—not because I wanted to, but because my parents were missionaries there. So growing up, China was all I knew: the pollution, the trash bags flying around, the stares I got as I walked down the street, people pointing at me and crying out “Foreigner! Foreigner”, the dry heat, the ice cold winters, the language, the people…It all seemed normal to me, yet I could never call it my home. I remember going to Chinese preschool and being the only white kid in the school. You can imagine it is hard to fit in when you have blue eyes, blond hair, and white skin and everyone else is Asian.
When I was six, I was excited to hear that we would be moving to the Netherlands for our home assignment. Of course it was a big adjustment…I still remember trying to find the filter for drinking water in our new house, until I finally realized I could just drink water from the faucet. The Netherlands seemed like a luxury. I mean, the heating worked the whole winter, and the electricity never shut down at unexpected times. I loved Holland. It was great to be near relatives, to go to a nice school, and to be in a culture that I felt at home in.
I had just made myself comfortable when my parents decided to go back to China again. Before I knew it, I was hugging relatives and friends at the airport with tears running down my cheeks. Back in China, I attended a tiny school that consisted of about twelve students of all ages. I was the only Dutch girl among all the Americans. So at age seven I was speaking English at school, Dutch at home, and Chinese out on the streets.
Time soon brought me to freshman year, when I was the only high schooler at my school. By then, I really wanted to leave China more than anything else. I didn’t want to be the only foreigner anymore.
So my sophomore year my family moved to Germany, so that I could attend BFA. This was another period of adjustment, but it didn’t take long for me to feel at home in this new country, school, and environment. It was amazing to be surrounded by other MK’s and to learn the value of friendship. It was a blessing to have so many teachers that were deeply interested in me, and that respected the different cultures represented in the school. They openly shared their experiences with me and taught me so much in all areas of life. I got to participate in so many fun activities that I had never done before. All in all, my sophomore year ended on a happy note, but I also found out that my parents would be moving to the Netherlands. Junior year I moved into the dorm so that I could stay at BFA. I can’t say it was easy to live without my family, but I definitely developed my character and found the value of honesty. I learned to show respect to dorm staff and other adults, discovered the importance of clear communication, and learned how to live with twenty other girls in a patient, loving way. BFA has taught me many things, but above everything else it has taught me to make the most of every moment and to pour out love daily.
Not only has BFA meant a lot to me, it has also made it possible for my parents to do what they are doing now. Because they know that I am surrounded by a loving community, they could leave me at BFA while they work to further the Kindgdom in China. My mother is a midwife, and she had done a lot to improve the education of Chinese nurses. While she was giving lessons in various hospitals, she found out that many Chinese women face problems with breast feeding. Consequently, she studied for a year in the Netherlands to become a lactation consultant. Presently, she has been helping many Chinese women with problems in breast feeding. Besides that, she also translated a Bible study into Chinese, and has been meeting with a group of Chinese Christians to go through this study with them. My dad is the regional director of our organization, and has been overseeing many different projects. He has been helping set up a children’s camp that will run during the summer. He also works a lot within the Chinese church that was started a few years ago. Because he is an
agriculturalist, he has built many relationships with the farmers in our area and helps them improve their farming techniques. In these ways, my parents hope that the Chinese people will experience God’s love and understand what the Gospel is truly about.