Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song And Praise

I suspect some of you have experienced “come to Jesus moments” in your life.  Such moments are epiphanies in which one realizes the truth of a specific matter or situation. A come to Jesus moment can be a time of realization, a moment of decision, a moment of truth, a critical moment, a moment of revelation, or a moment in which one reassesses priorities.  Quite often such moments in our lives mark a turning point and they are life-changing. Today, when we meet up with Jesus and his band of twelve bumbling misfits, we hear about Peter experiencing a come to Jesus moment.  Jesus has been traveling with his disciples, teaching, listening, and reaching out to people.  There was a divine energy being released into the world through him and it included a passion for justice as well as healing and compassion for all people.  Jesus’ ministry was growing and expanding and, wherever he went, people thronged to see him. I have to say, if one might compare these happenings to experiences in today’s culture, one could sa

This is a special musical performance by Bob Nelson of Turn Your Eyes on Jesus at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Last Monday morning, my friend, Bill Uetricht, and I were discussing today’s readings. He suggested that Richard Rohr’s daily meditations over the past few days connect to these readings.  Lately, Rohr has been discussing the fact that we grow in thinking, maturity, understanding, and in our faith by “passing beyond some perceived perfect Order, through an often painful and seemingly unnecessary Disorder, to an enlightened Reorder or resurrection. This is the universal pattern that connects and solidifies our relationships with everything around us…. To grow toward love, union, salvation, or enlightenment, we must be moved from Order to Disorder and then ultimately to Reorder.” As I continued to study these lessons, I believe Bill hit the nail on the head. So often, religious communities attempt to create and place themselves in these containers or boxes, placing perimeters around themselves. Such efforts help to create a highly defined sense of order but, they also establish communities intently focused on t

I am sure many of you remember the Elvis Presley song, I Feel the Temperature Rising. That was a song about a guy’s reaction to a girl with whom he had a relationship. Well, the phrase I feel the temperature rising has been going through my head this past week and the reason has nothing to do with a love relationship! It has everything to do with the anxiety level I am sensing and feeling in our culture. As I have been talking with people, I have observed a growing sense of anxiety and fear as we near the beginning of an uncertain school year during this COVID-19 pandemic. I have also been noticing and feeling a real sense of anxiety as we move through the chaos of this election season. I do not think anyone can deny we are living during a time of augmented chaos and uncertainty.  And, it is only natural that we are experiencing amplified anxiety and fear!  Anxiety and fear are vital responses to physical and emotional danger.  And, if we could not experience a sense of fear, we could not protect ourselves fr

This is a Special Music performance of Softly & Tenderly by Tammy Heilman at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

As we live these present days, the challenges we face are affecting us in multiple ways.  I have been thinking about this and have realized one way our lives have changed during this pandemic time is that we are experiencing a certain kind of disorientation and a sense of dislocation. This is not a geographical dislocation, but dislocation as it relates to our daily patterns, structures, and activities.  All we need do is look at the way we are presently worshipping – either online, or in-person but outdoors.  As I think about our present context, the following descriptive words or phrases come to mind – dislocation, exile from what we once had, sorrow, loss, a hunger for community resulting in a sense of emptiness, and a sense of nothingness compared to what we once had.  And, as so frequently happens, today’s life-giving readings provide the nourishment we deeply need. In our first reading today, the prophet Isaiah speaks to the people of Israel as they experience chasmic dislocation, sorrow, desolation, em

This is a special music presentation from the Faith Bells of Fairest Lord Jesus at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

As Lutheran Christians, our theology is rooted in an understanding of the cross.  As such, our understanding of God’s presence to us in Jesus Christ focuses on what it means to walk the way of the cross and carry the cross.  This also means that we name a thing or situation for what it is, and we do not preach a theology of glory and false optimism.  Therefore, I am going to name and be honest about the cross we are presently carrying.  We are experiencing some very challenging, painful, fearful days.  And, this cross we presently bear is heavy as we grieve the lives of over 147,000 Americans who have died from the Coronavirus, a number that is greater than two and a half Viet Nam wars.  It is a very heavy cross we bear when we understand it did not have to be this way!  So, for me, this grief is substantial and, as I said last week, there is a deep, deep longing within me for the Kingdom of God to be fully realized, NOW!  Quite honestly, if we have any sense of empathy as we look at what is happening in our

This morning, I am going to be very honest with you about something.  Over the past week, I have found myself feeling overwhelmed by the pain and grief over what is happening in the world.  I have been overwhelmed by the agony, grief, and pain in our country as I think about: the threat of this virus the painful fact that our country makes up only 4% of the world’s population, yet 25% of COVID deaths worldwide have been in the United States as we have seen over 140,000 lives extinguished the cruel fact that 5 million laid off workers just lost their health insurance during a pandemic the fact that we see so many stories of people who put individual rights before love of neighbor and care for the common good and the fact that this emphasis on personal rights and independence has become a form of malignant, grotesque selfishness which exacerbates this pandemic As I felt that sense of overwhelming pain, I also experienced a deep, profound yearning for the Kingdom of God to be fully realized, NOW!  The desire f

Have you ever had the experience of reading a book or seeing a movie in which the story was so powerful that it stuck with you for a while and kept you thinking about it for the next several days?  This frequently happens to me.  For example, when I saw the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the movie about Mr. Rogers, its themes of forgiveness and redemption were on my mind for several days afterwards. Jesus’ parables, those rich stories he shares, are designed to work that way in our minds and hearts.  In fact, theologian, John Dominic Crossan, suggests they are designed to be like time bombs that tick away in our heads as we continue to think about them, and then eventually they explode and their meaning takes us to new places in understanding God’s relationship with us.  It is also important to remember that, by nature, Jesus’ parables can be interpreted in multiple ways.  In fact, as you hear each of his stories, you can insert yourself into any one of the various characters and then, by doing so

I am a big fan of Dr. Anthony Fauci.  I have been for years.  If you look at the work he has done and accomplished in his lifetime, you will find it impressive and stellar.  And, he is deeply respected in the scientific community. However, it is deeply concerning that so many leaders and people in our country simply are not listening to him as he has been speaking and continues to speak to us about COVID-19.  In many ways, he is a prophet in our time as he tells us what we should be doing and warns us about what is to come if we do not do the things necessary to mitigate this virus. His message is rooted in science and it is very clear.  In fact, just this past week he said too many people, especially young adults, are unconcerned by coronavirus and, consequently, they are carelessly shedding this virus and ultimately killing other people. Far too many people just do not seem to listen. I find it deeply troubling because it is as though they simply do not understand. In today’s gospel reading Jesus is also ta

There has been a great deal of talk in our country lately about personal rights and individual freedom.  And, I do believe this intent focus on personal rights, personal independence, and personal freedom over and against what is important for the greater common good is causing considerable harm in our culture. We are seeing this played out in multiple ways.  Just one example is the mask wearing controversy as some people choose not to wear a mask, citing their personal understanding of freedom and liberty, thereby making individual freedom more important than the common good and care and love of neighbor. Rooted in hard-core, toxic, malignant individualism, this concept and perspective of personal independence and perceived personal freedom has become an idol.  In fact, one could say the great idol of our present age is personal independence.  However, the truth of the matter is that any time we worship an idol, any idol, we are enslaved to that idol and we are not free.  We are anything but free!  So, I fin

During the last few months at home we’ve exhausted our collection of recipes, of both favorite home-cooked meals and quick and easy dinners.  We have certainly missed the luxury of eating out, not only for the uniqueness of the food but also for the break from the work in the kitchen.  When we finally decided to get carry-out from one of our favorite local restaurants, we excitedly looked over the menu with so many of our favorite items and chose carefully from the long list.  Whereas before we would just pick whatever struck us in the mood of the minute, we now went over and over the choices, no longer taking the choice for granted.  With carryout boxes open on our kitchen table we enjoyed the indulgence of these much missed treats, savoring every bite.  We relished in the savory foods until, a couple of hours later, they sat sour on our stomachs.  Cooking at home for weeks and weeks, our bodies weren’t accustomed to digesting these rich foods and they labored to process them as we felt tired, a little sick

In one of his speeches, a year to the day before he was assassinated in Memphis, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”  These words are not only applicable to the systemic racism that must be faced and addressed in our present culture, they also deeply connect to what we read in Matthew’s gospel on this day.  Today, as we meet up with Jesus, we hear of his emerging ministry and we hear his announcement that the kingdom of heaven has come near. The phrase “kingdom of heaven,” which we find frequently in Matthew’s Gospel, does not refer to a place called “heaven,” where God’s people will go after death.  It refers to the rule of heaven, that is, of God, being brought to bear in this present world.  Jesus’ contemporaries knew and trusted that the creator God intended to bring justice, peace, healing, and liberation to this present world.  The question simply was, how, when and through w

Early in the morning, there was the rush of a mighty wind.   Straight line, hurricane force winds were so strong the large white pine tree in our front yard was knocked down and one very large branch abruptly crashed through our roof, landing on our living room floor.  Trees were toppled throughout the city, hundreds of buildings and vehicles were damaged and power was down throughout most of Muskegon county.  It was Sunday morning, May 31, 1998.  I will always remember worship on that day.  Without electricity, we sang hymns by candlelight.  And, most memorably, accompanied by piano and not organ, the choir sang one of the great choral pieces from The Creation, by Franz Joseph Haydn. That Sunday, May 31, 1998, will be forever etched in my memory because it was also Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of the outpouring of God’s Spirit in the world.  And, the Spirit of God was very present as we gathered for worship on that extraordinary morning. Today, on this Sunday, May 31, 2020, we again celebrate Pentecost, a

I know that one of the things we deeply grieve during this pandemic time is our inability to gather as people of faith.  We are made to live in relationship with others and we grieve not being able to physically be together in community.  One major theme throughout the gospel of John is relationships.  John’s gospel is all about the relationship of God with the person of Jesus Christ, and God’s relationship with humanity.  In fact, we can say John’s gospel is about God’s relationship with all of creation, with the cosmos.  The gospel of John is all about God revealing God’s glory, the very nature of God’s self, and God’s love for the cosmos as seen through the relationship of love shown to us in the person of Jesus.  If you recall the first words of John’s gospel, you will remember it begins by revealing something about relationship.  We read: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without

The known God in whom we live and move and have our being opens us to understanding the love of God. God’s salvation is intended to embrace all creation. The gift that enables us to truly define reality, is the loving relationship that is God’s very nature.  That God of love who abides in us even crosses our limits and breaks through the boxes in which we try to place God.  This known God has infinite love for the world and for all people.  And, like Paul, we are commanded to live this message by living God’s love and sharing the good news of God’s love with others.

Some of you know my youngest son and his family live on Grand Cayman Island. I visited them early in March of this year and, as I said goodbye on March 13, I suspected it would be a very long time before I would see them again. The following Monday the island indefinitely suspended all flights and travel to and from the island. In Michigan, everything began to close, and I began to realize the magnitude of this growing pandemic and the fact that it would truly be a very long time before I could again spend time with any of our kids and grandkids. Every time I say goodbye to our kids, especially those who are so far away, I feel this breaking or tearing in my heart and, when I left on March 13, that tearing apart was much more intense. My heart was very troubled as I was becoming deeply aware that we don’t know what the future holds. And, I felt a real sense of grief as I realized we were experiencing the death of life as we have known it. As we enter today’s gospel reading, we find ourselves in community with

I know that, as we continue to live our lives within the context of this pandemic, there is a soundtrack of fear playing in the background of our minds. Many of us are experiencing an element of fear. I know I do. I fear for the health and well-being of all my kids and their spouses, my grandkids, my extended family, my friends and all of you. I pray everyone makes it through this pandemic, coming out healthy and whole on the other side once a vaccine is discovered. So, as I am honest and acknowledge that sense of fear, it is comforting to me that our readings today focus on God as our shepherd, the Good Shepherd. It is reassuring because I know I can place my trust in the Good Shepherd, regardless of what happens and what the future brings. We just heard the words of Psalm 23.  This is probably one of the best known, best loved poems in scripture.  It is known by people around the world.  In fact, I am sure many of you know Psalm 23 by heart.  As we live these present days, this psalm tells each one of you t

When I did my Clinical Pastoral Education at Maine Medical Center, I vividly remember one of my patients, a dear, elderly Episcopalian man who was dying. This man deeply touched my heart. I will never forget the day I read him today’s story from Luke’s gospel. After I finished reading, he said to me, “There’s always an Emmaus.” The next day, my friend died, but I shall always remember what he said in response to that story. There is always an Emmaus. Biblical archeologists tell us that the exact location of the village of Emmaus is unknown. There are at least nine possible locations that are candidates for the small biblical town, but historians tell us there is no record of any village called Emmaus in any other ancient source. We simply do not know where Emmaus might have been. Tradition tells us that it might have been a place just a few hours walk from Jerusalem. However, New Testament scholars, Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, suggest that Emmaus is nowhere. Emmaus is nowhere precisely because Emmau