In Spirit and Truth

It is one of the oldest and longest running issues in the church. How shall we worship? For those earliest Jewish followers of Jesus, it must have come as some surprise that Gentile believers didn’t worship the way they did. The Apostles decided at the council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) what things were and were not essential. Much later, we see the battle shift focus from cultural laws to spoken language. In what language shall we worship? Again history repeats itself and it was decided that each people group could worship in their own language. Even the churches that historically resisted have now come to the same conclusion. Today the battle has shifted from language vernacular back to cultural vernacular and we are faced with the question, "How shall we worship?" We could easily fall into the mindset that pervades history, and declare that worship should look for everyone like it looks for us. But that mindset is not a biblical one. Scripture dictates the content of our worsh...

Yes, it's that time of the year again! It's time for a brand new calendar; a clean slate of endless possibilities, with all those empty boxes begging to be filled. We are a resolved people! We are resolved to do better this year than last, to love stronger, to forgive easier, to exercise more, and eat less. Every year it’s the same. We resolve to produce more positive fruit! And every year, it only takes a few weeks to get disillusioned and downhearted. So how will we make this year different? How can we enter the New Year in such a way that we meet our resolution expectations? Believe it or not, scripture offers us an answer. In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." We abide in Christ as He abides in us. It is honestly a little freeing to hear Jesus say, "Apart from me you can do nothing." I cannot tell you how encouraging it is ...

"Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these [truths of the Gospel], even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right…to stir you up by way of reminder," – 2 Peter 1:12-13 I find this time of year, that it is easy to quickly rehearse the Christmas story and, because I have heard it so many times, gloss over it, and not give it the attention it deserves. I know the story well. I could quote it to you without thinking: 2+2=4! Virgin Mary + Baby Jesus = Christmas Story! Shepherds x Wiseman = rocking party + (cool gifts)3. It’s formulaic. Here just days away from Christmas, I need my heart stirred up by way of reminder. I need to be reminded that the God of the ages, who is too awesome to be contained by the heavens, put on flesh and lived the human life for thirty-three years. I need to be reminded that God submitted not only to a human life, but submitted to nine months in the womb; submi...

Recently Kristin and I found out we were expecting our second child. That revelation brought with it a flurry of activity! Expectation changes behavior. Overnight her diet changed – more fruit, more protein, and pre-natal vitamins. We began to think about names. We began to make mental lists to make sure we were ready for the arrival of this new baby. Expectation changes perception. Suddenly she understood why she was over-tired. She understood why she was more emotional than normal. When she viewed those emotions and feelings through the lens of pregnancy it all made sense. Expectation changes priorities. Because we are expecting, we are intentional with what she eats, we are intentional with how late we stay out, and we are intentional with preparing for that which we expect. In the midst of this I think of Mary. Betrothed to be married, she was expecting. She was already making her plans; she was already in the middle of rearranged priorities. She was expecting a wedding. Then the A...

#211 in our United Methodist Hymnal has, for some time, been my favorite song of the Christmas season. The haunting melody bears the familiar pain of the exile, and yet this song about deep desire and current pain is filled with hope. Not just any hope, but hope of deliverance. It is the hope for the return of God. Emmanuel had been here before. Adam and Eve walked with Him in the cool of the day. But those days are long forgotten. The years of rebellion had pushed them so far away that all they had left was an ache to be remembered. O come, O come Emmanuel! Can you identify with this song? Christ came and brought about our redemption. He walked with us in the cool of the day. But years of rebellion have pushed our world to the edge of evil. Listen to the echoes of wars and conflict. Those wars happen between countries, but they also happen between family members, they happen between friends. A thousand shattered relationships make us cry out, "O come! O come, Emmanuel!" We a...

I love holidays! There is something about the recurring nature of them that helps me. At least once a year, I am reminded to give thanks for the blessings I've received! If I watch my calendar, I can't miss it! It is right there, staring me in the face! THANKSGIVING! And even if I don't pay attention to calendars, the turkey and dressing grabs my attention and jump-starts my thankfulness. Remembering can be a powerful act of Worship. It has the power to lift us out of the doldrums of our current circumstances into the very presence of God. The psalmist knew this in Psalm 66, when he recounted all of the mighty acts God had shown the Children of Israel. Peter knew it when he wrote, "I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder...the power and coming of our lord Jesus Christ [for] we were eye-witnesses to his majesty!" 2 Peter 1:13, 16 And Jesus knew it when he instructed us to remember him through the Eucharist. Homework this we...

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! I don't think I'm alone when I say that the thanksgiving meal is my favorite of the year, closely followed by post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. This is the time of the year where we are able to reflect on the blessings God has given us. A few years ago, Kristin and I went walking through antique stores and I saw a cheesy little sign that said, "Don't count your blessings, share them." Now at first glance that little truism seems trite and a bit cliché. But the more I have thought about it, especially in the light of the coming holiday, the more it has struck me, not just as profound, but as essential. In Genesis 12:2 God tells Abram, "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." (RSV) We see here that a primary purpose of God's blessing to Abram was that he would in turn be a blessing from God to the nations. We, as the children of Abrah...