Scripture Nugget 4.2.2016

“Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, ‘If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’ So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the LORD only.” 1 Samuel 7:3-4

Is there more than one “lord” in my/your life? Do I/you serve/worship/follow after someone or something other than Creator God? A week after Easter, really, how quickly I/you forget! When will the cycle of sin – oppression – confession – salvation stop? Love the LORD God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and neighbor as yourself as God loves. Put away the distractions. O God that I live life to the fullest with you, worshiping you, serving you and all those you call me to serve. That I share your mercy and justice with others by your grace.

Scripture Nugget 4.1.2016

“Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: ‘I promised that you family and the family of your ancestor should go in and out before me forever’; but now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be treated with contempt.’” 1 Samuel 2:30

God’s grace is freely given, God’s grace is not earned however God’s grace must be accepted, must be responded to, returned and shared. God’s grace is promised to those who will receive it. I/we have a choice, receive and live in grace or not, though God freely and extravagantly gives grace, God does not force Grace upon us. As one of my favorite professors/mentors says, “if we did have the option to say no our yes would be meaningless”. O God that I would forever come in and out before You, responding acceptingly of the Grace You offer. That I not sin before You, but when I do that I recognize my actions, I confess and ask Your forgiveness and return to coming in and out before You. May my example be a positive one to others, those You appoint me to serve, family, friends, strangers and enemies. I do not want to be treated with Your contempt………

Scripture Nugget 3.31.2016

“’A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.” Ruth 4:17b-21

Perez, twin Brother of Zerah, is the son of Tamar and Judah. Judah is in fact Tamar’s father in law, who she tricked, after the death of her husband, his son. Find the story in Genesis 38:11-30. A sordid story that would make headlines even today, but that isn’t the point. This story now fast forwarded to the book of Ruth has a surprise ending. Perez is a direct ancestor of King David through Boaz the man who redeems Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. When we continue the genealogy from David we get to Joseph – husband of Mary, mother of Jesus. Through God’s grace great and wonderful things can happen out of sordid, worldly selfish acts (as we read in the Genesis 38 story). Further, from the Ruth/Boaz story we learn that if David, Israel’s most revered king, has a Moabite ancestor, then surely we the community of Christ are called to likewise welcome all our neighbors – even though we might consider them enemies. Welcome all with the love of Christ to receive the love of Christ and become more than neighbor, but family.

Scripture Nugget 3.29-3.30.2016

“In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did was right in their own eyes.” Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25

With no God fearing leader the people turn to their own desires; the “community” falls into disarray. With no leader, God fearing or not, the people’s sin grows, there are no boundaries. John Wesley states, “What wonder was it then, if all wickedness overflowed the land?” Much wickedness is seen in these chapters! Idolatry, false worship, theft, murder, rape, inhospitality, disregard for life, disregard of women, acting without prayer, and rash vow making/following – these are just the start of the list. It is not the absence of an earthly leader/king but a lack of recognition of God, “the language of doing what is right in one’s own eyes appears elsewhere as an indication of pride and rebellion against God (Duet 12:8). Israel is descending a slippery slope, the community is in freefall, and they are morally and socially disintegrating. It seems in many ways our world today, our country, our state, our community, our church and ourselves are in many ways seeing this decline and disintegration. Anything goes, all is right, the individual is more important than the community, the individual has no boundaries, the individual is god, and everyone is free to write their own rules, dismissing the boundaries set by Creator God. It didn’t work well for the Israelites, ever – why do we think it will be different now? Just as David’s sin of lust sent him spiraling into greater and greater sins (adultery, conspiracy to murder, murder…), the Israelites are digging themselves a deeper and deeper hole. I suggest we pull our heads out of the sand, honestly assess our world today, get on our knees, confess our sins, ask forgiveness and for guidance from God in all we do. Lord, I recommit myself to you today…….

Scripture Nugget 3.28.2016

“Then Samson called to the LORD and said, ‘Lord God remember me and strengthen me only once, O God, so that with this one act of revenge I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.’” Wesleyan Life Application Topic – Temptation

Temptations often begin with small acts of defiance that seem insignificant. As we give into such temptation, however, we find ourselves straying further and further away from God and becoming more susceptible to the next temptation. Before long, we are deeply entrenched in a life of sin with serious consequences. We, like Samson, become unaware of our separation from God and seek to rely on our own strength, only to be defeated by our enemies. Just as God restored Samson’s strength when he called out to the Lord, God is extending grace to us, giving us hope and restoration. (Wesley Study Bible, pg 318) This Monday after Easter, my prayer is that I not give in to temptations that would separate me from the gains in relationship with God realized during the Lenten season. That I not refuse the grace God extends.

Scripture Nugget 3.26.2016

After 45 years of rest. “The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, worshiping the Baals and the Astartes, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. Thus they abandoned the LORD, and did not worship him. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel,… so that Israel was greatly distressed. So the Israelites cried to the LORD, saying, ‘We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and worshipped the Baals.’ And the LORD said to the Israelites, ‘Did I not deliver you? … I delivered you out of their hand. Yet you have abandoned me and worshipped other gods; therefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress. And the Israelites said to the LORD, ‘We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you; but deliver us this day!’ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and worshipped the LORD; and he could no longer bear to see Israel suffer.” Judges 10:6-7a, 9b-16

Here we are on Holy Saturday, the last day of this Lenten season, the day before Easter, the day of ultimate resurrection of The Savior, the day of deliverance from sin once and for all. Will I continue to focus on God, will I continue to leave behind the sins God has revealed during this season, or will I return to them, pick them up again, worship a false god? Or will live in the light of deliverance that only God provides? Why would I return to powerlessness when God has broken this cycle by sending his son to die on the cross, to be buried in a tomb but ultimately be resurrected (the ultimate deliverance) to the right hand of the Father where he continues to declare, not guilty! LOVE stirs God’s deep compassion and leads to unmerited divine action – we call that GRACE! O that I always walk in God’s grace, live God’s grace and share God’s grace with all others from this day forward and forevermore, that I not waste another Lenten season!

Scripture Nugget 3.25.2106

“So all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’” Judges 9:15

Jotham, the youngest of 70 seventy sons of Gideon, the only one to survive a murderous massacre carried out by Abimelech, a son of Gideon whose mother was Gideon’s concubine, is speaking to the town council of Shechem, who have made Abimelech king. Verse 15 is at the end of a Parable about trees searching for a king. In earlier verses the olive tree, fig tree and grape vine have been invited to serve as king, all have politely turned down the offer to continue doing what they are created to do, produce olives, figs and wine. The bramble accepts the offer. But notice what the bramble says, “If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade …” In the shade of the bramble there is no freedom to live, move about, one who enters in the bramble is stuck by the vines, branches, thorns and briars. Be careful who/what one ask to be your king, your ruler for idols, false gods and sin when entrap the one who enters in. O Lord on this Good Friday, reveal to me, those who read this and all others, anything that has enticed me, anything that is bramble for me that keeps me from life with You. Forgive me for ever considering the bramble(s) that beckon and entice to be my god and sent You to the cross. Forgive me Father for I have sinned. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your sacrifice!

Scripture Nugget 3.24.2016

Yesterday's scripture is from Judges, not Joshua - I apologize if I confused you.....

“The angel of the LORD appeared to him (Gideon) and said to him, ‘The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior.’ Gideon answered him, ‘But sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?’ … Then the LORD turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.’ He responded, ‘But sir, how can I deliver Israel?’ … The LORD Said to him, ‘But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.’ Then he said to him, ‘If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.’ …” Judges 6:12-13b, 14-15a, 16-17

It’s Maundy Thursday, the day we remember our Lord’s Last Supper with his disciples and receiving a new command – to love one another as Jesus loves us. On this day, deep in Lent, within eyesight of the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter morning do I/we need a sign? Do I “hide” within the busyness of serving 2 congregations? Do I recognize the power that is shared by God in God’s calling and sending me? Do I continually ask for a sign to confirm or do I move in faith? Mighty Warriors of God move in the Lord’s presence, assured the Lord is with them. God’s presence is all the sign they require. O Lord you command us to love one another as you love, to serve as you serve – may I do so faithfully, may Mighty Warrior of God be a serious name for me not a sarcastic label.

Scripture Nugget 3.23.2016

“So the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and they took their daughters as wives for themselves, and their own daughters they gave to their sons; and they worshiped their gods. The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, forgetting the LORD their God, and worshiping the Baals and the Asherahs. Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of King Cushanrishathaim of Aram-Nahraim; and the Israelites served Cushanrishathaim eight years. But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. … So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel died. The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. Joshua 3:5-9, 11b-12

God does not change regardless who I move in next door to or who moves in next door to me; neither does God’s love and grace change, nor God’s expectations, desires and rules. Loving God first, loving others the way God loves me and loving myself the way God loves me are still all in play. Being a disciple and making Disciples of God is also still my/our task and purpose. Becoming a disciple of other gods is still idolatry, still kindles God’s anger. The repeating cycle of unfaithfulness, oppression, repentance, and deliverance we read in Judges is not new with the Israelites nor unfortunately for present day Christians. What is different now is there is no need for God to send another judge to avenge present day enemies and again wipe out idolatry for Jesus has come and will come again. It is imperative I/we make the correct choice of who to follow, who to worship, who to teach others about, who is my guide. God gives us the ability to choose which way we will go; follow Him or change and follow our neighbor; become Christ-like or worldly? As one of my mentor’s says, “If we didn’t have the choice to say no our yes would be meaningless.” Why am I/are we satisfied with 40 years (or less) of rest, why does it take 18+/- to cry out to God? The Good News- Jesus Christ, The Son of God, is our Deliverer! His death and resurrection have overcome all sin. O that I follow Him, every moment of every day, that I recognize that within me that is not of Him, then confess, repent and receive forgiveness. That I live in God’s rest, not worldly turmoil and help others to do the same. Easter is real, the resurrection occurred, God delivers us from the world – if we will receive The Deliverer!

Scripture Nugget 3.22.2016

“I (God) said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you. For your part, do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed my command. See what you have done! So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ …. Moreover, that whole generation was gathered to their ancestors, and another generation grew up after them, who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and worshiped the Baals; and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. They abandoned the LORD, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes. So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the power of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.” Judges 2:1d-3, 10-15

Life is about choices and consequences. Choose God, and obedient life with God or be disobedient, worship other gods who cannot help you since they are not real. Choose to have things or other people as gods separating from life with God. A little disobedience here, a little there leads to a great disobedience and further separation. Soon God is angry; God still loves, still pursues but the salvation God offers, the opportunity to grow with God and grow in Christ likeness is impossible until there are no other gods before me. Why do I allow, why do we as a community of faith allow ourselves and our communities to be godless lawbreaker kindling the anger of God? It’s Tuesday of Holy Week, we are deep, deep, deep into the Lenten season – choose to worship God only, prevent being plundered, close the gap return to God who waits with open arms. Oh that it may be so for myself, for all who read this and for all who have turned away. I need a Savior, we need a Savior, the country I live in needs a Savior and there is only one – Jesus Christ!