Mark 14:21-26

TEXT When they had sung a hymn... Even if Mark could have known how much some of us would want a soundbite of that singing, there was no way for him to give it to us. Lyrics would have been nice, but unsatisfying. I don't think he had any access to a system of musical notation. But, even if he had, there is still so much left out. Who sang the loudest? Who was always a little flat? What emotion? Did Jesus's voice quiver? Did they all close their eyes? Was it a song of the synagogue with stirring lyrics and artful poetry? Or, was it a children's hymn like our Blue Skies and Rainbows and commonly sung at the family passover meal... loaded with memories. For now, it will have to be enough to know that they sang a hymn. Somehow, it makes me feel a connection to this ancient story. When we sing hymns like O Sacred Head or spiritual songs like Sing Hallelujah to the Lord, we connect ourselves to God's faithful.

May that connection be one of the things we can't leave behind.

John 13:21-38

TEXT You will disown me... How harsh was that word to Peter? Yesterday Barack Obama used that word. As he explained his relationship with his former pastor he said, "I can no more disown him than I can my own white grandmother... they are a part of me." Senator Obama was explaining why, though he disagreed strongly with Pastor Wright's inflammatory comments and his grandmother's racially jaded perceptions he maintained relationship with people who had participated significantly in important parts of his life. However one evaluates the Senator's speech, the power of the word disown must be recognized. We fear being disowned and must be pushed to our wits end, before we can disown a loved one. How do we own Jesus? Not like we own a pet or a thing. More like parents are "ours"? Something like "owning up to a deed we thought was secret"? However it looks, may our ownership of Jesus and his ownership of us be something we can't leave behind.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

TEXT

Breath. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy directly to the "breath". Breath and body are two different things. You can have the body, but without the "breath" the body is just bones, tendons, and muscles. What is the "breath"? In the beginning Adam is given the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Jesus was given the breath of life at birth and took his last breath at death (Matthew 27) and had breath again at the resurrection. There is something to this "breath" thing…

Could this also be a vision of the "Resurrection of the Saints"?

John 12:1-11

TEXT fragrant memories On occasions where I am going to be away from home for a few days I have a practice some might call odd. After packing for the trip and just before loading the car I switch pillow cases with Brenda. The first few times I did this she didn't even know. Here's my thing. When I lay my head on my pillow at night, I want to smell her. If we are apart and I can't kiss her forehead or hear her breathing, I just want to smell her. I started this odd practice after reading a poem by a grieving husband about his fading memories of her. I don't mean to be depressing, but this is the only way I can understand what is happening here in John 12. As far as I can understand all of the gospel writers attest to the inability of the disciples to "get it" when Jesus predicts his imminent death. Mary seems to "get" that something dark and painful is coming. Our English versions wrestle with how to interpret verse seven. The NASB translates Jesus's explanation of her action this way: so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. Keep what? She has poured out all the perfumed oil. I doubt she thought anointing him now would make up for not being able to anoint him before burial on Friday. John 19:38-42 This act makes sense to me if I understand that Mary, sensing terrible events looming on the immediate horizon, binds herself to Jesus with a fragrant act of devotion. In humble tenderness, she massages his weary feet with scented oil. Then with a bold intimacy that disquiets us, she wipes up the excess with her hair. I see her massaging that oil into her hair and scalp and then cupping handfuls of hair onto her face to breath in deeply the fragrant memory she wants to save of that moment. May such a memory be one of the things we can't leave behind.

Isaiah 53:7-9

MSG, TNIV, NRSV, NASB A rich man's tomb? Do translation and interpretation matter? Depending on which version you read (I've given you links to four) verse nine discusses either the Suffering Servant's two possible tombs (with the wicked or the rich) or it points to the end he has in common with all people: burial. I like the Message. Peterson leaves this Jewish poetic device in place. The parallelism (two lines discussing the same topic) makes me think about my own end. The NASB, KJV and NKJV all give the impression that the Suffering Servant was rewarded with a rich man's tomb because of his innocence. The other versions imply that he died and was buried, in spite of his innocence. Would a messiah willing to suffer humiliation, torture and death be motivated by the hope that he would be buried in a rich man's tomb? The purpose of a tomb carved out of rock, covered with a large stone and guarded by soldiers seems to be about evidence of the resurrection power. What if that's the point? That Jesus really died and was really buried and was really raised? That thought made Paul write Philippians 3:10-11. Now when I go to the grave, one of the things I can't leave behind is faith in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 53:1--6

TEXT Who has believed? Today we read the 2nd part of a poem that spans Isaiah 52:13-53:12. We marvel at the parallels in Isaiah 53 and the Passion story. Moved by the time and distance between the book of Isaiah and the Gospels, we contemplate our Savior's suffering. But today, 53:1 arrests my attention. Peterson's puts it like this: Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this? Ask a non-believer what they think about the core story of Easter. Ask someone who isn't a big church goer, what they think about when they hear Christians talking about Jesus's back ripped apart by leather straps and shards of pottery, his nail pierced hands and his spear pierced side. If just the thought of having that conversation disquiets you, then you start to understand Paul's thoughts in 1 Cor. 1:18-25. The cross is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. How will we take up the cross as a thing we can't leave behind?

II Corinthians 1:3-11

Several years ago Cindy shot a video testimony of a man who was battling cancer. He had accepted the fact that if God didn’t save him, he was going to die. He talked of the agony he felt about leaving his family and giving his six year old son an honest answer when he asked: “Daddy, are you going to die?” At the same time, he longed for the day he would be free of the physical pain and be held in Jesus’ arms. He was at peace with what God was going to do: Heal him or call him home. “Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…” Do I have enough faith to experience comfort and hope in the face of death? I don’t even have enough to experience it in the face of a stack of bills. The passage tells us that God comforts us so that we can comfort others. My self-reliance not only deprives me of the peace God wants to give me, it deprives me of the ability to pass it on to others.

1 Peter 2:21-25

TEXT

My first summer here at Oak Ridge we took some students to Youth Wave in Austin. This event, like any event, has good and bad points. One of the things that I liked most about the week was the time spend each night with just our students. It was myself and Stacey along with Teryn Mize, Kyle Davis, Andrew Harmon, and Brian (can't remember his name…ask me in person why!). We have some really good discussions that week about heaven, hell, Jesus and everything in between. One discussion that I will never forget was an argument between Andrew and I over whether or not it was possible for a human (you or me) to be perfect like Jesus was perfect. If we started to right now, was it possible to go the rest of our lives without sin. Andrew was on the "no way" side and I argued that "with God" all things are possible. That may sound cheesy now, but think about it…

Im not sure what I believe now. I have flipped and flopped numerous times since that discussion at Krispy Kreme in Austin. 1 Peter brings this whole idea rushing back into my head. Christ was an example for me so that I may follow in his steps. Really? Is that even possible and at what level? I think the right answer and the life that follows are too hard so I would just rather say that we can't be perfect so I can keep my life simple.

Acts 14:19-28

TEXT (You can right click and select "Open Link in New Window" or "Open Link in New Tab". That will let you travel back and forth to read here and there.) If for some reason you didn't read the text before starting to read this blog, go back now and do so. Our reading takes us through the last legs of Paul's first missionary journey. (See map and additional information HERE.) In Acts 13:2 Luke tells the story of the Holy Spirit calling Saul (Paul) and Barnabas to a particular work and then telling the prophets in Antioch to set them apart. They fast and pray and lay hands on Saul and Barnabas and send them out. Imagine the mix of anticipation and anxiety those two felt as they sailed off to alter the course of history. What faith! But in our reading we see their faith grown even bolder. Look again at verse 23. After making their loop planting churches in Asia minor they go back through, ordain elders, and head back to Antioch in Syria. Can you imagine? These elders weren't the mature Christians. They were likely mature believers. But think about it. They had no New Testament. They had no Sunday School curriculum or Bible Teacher Workshops. They had no creeds or brotherhood newspapers or filmstrips. Al Gore hadn't even invented the internet yet! But Paul and Barnabas blessed them, left them believing leadership, and trusted the Holy Spirit to build them into the body of Christ. That is something we can't leave behind.

Romans 8:31-39

TEXT The first internship I did was in Canton, TX. I was 20 and going into my junior year of college. I really had no idea what I was doing. The youth minister at the church stuck around for about the first two weeks of my internship and then moved his family to Dallas and I heard from him once in the next 8 weeks. There was nothing on the calendar and I had no previous experience with youth ministry, I just thought it would be a fun thing to do over the summer. I learned a lot about youth ministry and church that summer, things I will never forget as long as I live. I put together a canoe trip for the end of the summer for the students and we ended up taking about 15 kids to Oklahoma for three days of fun. The canoe trip was a disaster (ask me later), but the camping was a lot of fun. Each night was spent in Romans 8:28-39. We had some really good discussions and thoughts over this and all in all the weekend was a success. One of the things that I cannot leave behind as we go through 2008 is this passage. It is something that has stuck with me and will always bring back good memories of my first youth group. What passages are like that for you?

Colossians 3:1-17

TEXT My NIV labels this section of scripture as “Rules for Holy Living”. I really don’t like the usage of the word rules because it makes me think of God as a principal or cop, but I will go with it today. One thing that has stood out to me over the last couple of weeks is how inconsistent I am with scripture. Some things I follow to the letter of the law and others I just don’t see them as that important. Colossians 3 is a great example of how I read scripture in a very inconsistent way. The focus seems to always be on verses 5-9 and that is the meat of what we talk about. How many lessons have I heard about not having sex, don’t be greedy, stop cussing, and don’t ever get angry? It was all about what I was not supposed to do. If I just DON’T do these things then I will be holy! What happened to verses 10-17? I think one of the biggest problems the church faces today is that people have no idea what it means to be a Christian. They know what it means to NOT be a Christian, but we are lost when it come to looking like a follower of Christ. Maybe we should finish chapters in the Bible instead of just picking and choosing what we want to read.

Isaiah 25:1-9

TEXT The Power of Imagery Oh the relief from a puffy white cloud, blocking a hot August sun, for me and my lawn mower! - Get a piece of scrap paper, or open your Bibles to Isaiah 25. Either write down or point to each one of the images Isaiah uses. Stop and consider what each image communicates about God. - Our journey through Lent to Easter nears its destination. It is helpful to stop and remember the goodness of our God. We strengthen our faith in the Shepherd's rod and staff. - In John's Gospel Jesus withdraws from Jerusalem. (John 11:54) In the company of his disciples he strengthens his faith. Before the passion he will return to Mary, Martha and Lazarus. - There is imagery in Isaiah 25 Jesus may have contemplated. Jesus rests in God's shelters, his shade and feeds as his banquet. Perhaps he most comforting image: God swallows up death. - These images of God are things we can't leave behind.

Romans 1:1-7; 16-17

TEXT

I want piggy back off of what Ron said here and say that most of the time we read Romans through the lens of the individual. What happens when we re-read the book of Romans as a community? Today we read the first seven verses and Paul is already speaking in "community" terms: "…among all the Gentiles", "you are also among them…", "To all those loved by God…" This continues into verses 16-17 as well and I would be willing to bet if we read the book through we would see a lot of places where Paul is interested in the community as a whole as well as the individual. What does this mean? I have no idea, but it is why I love to read the Bible. I have a degree from the great ACU and I have never thought about this before! I've so enjoyed these last couple of weeks because there is so much of the text that becomes new to me every time we do something like this!

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

TEXT

Im still working through this book and have really enjoyed the way it gives me tired head. Last night I was watching the snow and trying to grasp one of the ideas that the author is trying to make (I understand this may make no sense if you haven't read the book…sorry):

The language of Jesus was not privileged…Paul evidently was under no compulsion to use Jesus' "kingdom" language. The apostle John wasn't either; he turned the rhetoric of Jesus about "kingdom into rhetoric of "eternal life." The writer of Hebrews explored Jesus' redemptive work through the imagery of the temple and the priesthood, and he felt no compulsion to use Jesus' or Paul's language for the work of God. No one seemed tied to the language of Jesus. (p.89)

The book is about atonement and this comes from a discussion of whether or not Jesus understood his death to be atoning and also how Paul viewed the death of Jesus. I have been reading over and over again this passage today and all I can think is what would Jesus have to say about what Paul writes? Not that I think it is wrong or bad, but the language is different. The gospel to Paul was that Christ died for our sins and without the resurrection we are futile. Jesus has some different things to say about the kingdom and the "good news." I think it would include death and resurrection, but also life.

Matthew 11:2-19

TEXT

Three things that made me think out of today's passage:

1. John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if he is "the one to come, or should we wait for someone else?" I love the answer that Jesus gives: "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." Not a yes or no answer!!! Jesus lets his actions speak for themselves. I talked for about 25 minutes yesterday to a group of 185 people…maybe I should follow that up with some action!!!
2. Jesus claims that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven are still greater than John after saying that there is no greater man on the planet that John. Is Jesus right about everything? So that means that there are a lot of people we won't let come to church that are better than John the Baptist?
3. Is a tax collector a sinner? Why are the always separated, "tax collectors and sinners"?

Romans 12

TEXT every ONE of YOU I read all of chapter twelve but I kept coming back to the first three verses. Is Paul commanding each one of us to be transformed individually? Or, is he asking for a communal transformation? Actually I went back to chapter eleven. I don't think the "therefore" in 12:1 connects back to the doxology of 11:33-36. I think it connects back to the word "mercy" in the conclusion of Paul's musings about the salvation of Israel in 11:32. Paul seems to be saying, "God has shown and is showing mercy to Israel and to us the Gentiles. Therefore, let us be transformed." This is one of those times when pulling the old King James off the shelf is very helpful. If the KJV uses "you, your, yours" the Greek is plural and refers to the group. If the KJV uses variations of "he" or "thee" it is singular and refering to an individual. So here is my question for you, and I hope to be overloaded with responses. (Click on the word "comments" just below these paragraphs and follow the instructions.) I contend that we have misread this passage and taught ourselves to transform our individual selves. How do things change if Paul is actually calling us to transform and serve the body of Christ communally?