Perspective

I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Psalm 119:15-16

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4 

In a Lenten study we did recently, this was noted in one of the lessons:

The Lambeth Bible study is a way of encountering scripture as prayer, instead of as an objective text to be struggled with. Slowly and purposefully, someone reads the scripture. After a moment of silence, each person shares a word or phrase that stood out to them. A second person reads the scripture again. This time, after a moment of silence, each person shares where the passage touches their life today. Then a third person reads it again. After a moment of silence, each person shares where they hear God calling to them in this scripture to do or be something today.  

Each time the scripture is read, you may see something different. You may feel something different. A new perspective can edge into your consciousness, allowing you to understand the reading in a way you hadn’t before.

I was reminded of this as I was editing some newborn photos recently. As a photographer, I do more weddings, seniors, and families than I do newborns. Photographing a newborn is deceptively difficult. Typically, the newborn should be sleeping during the photo shoot as newborns cannot focus their eyes well at two weeks of age, and this is, unfortunately, evident in photos. A sleeping baby, what could be easier? It turns out, a lot of things.

In any case, I wasn’t as pleased with the way the shoot had turned out until I was working on the photos and accidently cropped one a bit too much, and shifted it slightly. Something my eye caught was obviously pleasing to me, so I saved a copy. It turns out these close crops just might be a style of newborn photography I’d like to cultivate, and I wouldn’t have seen it had my perspective not changed (albeit accidentally). In addition to looking at the baby in a different way, this just happened to be a shot where her eyes were open, and had I not cropped it this way, the photo wouldn’t have worked…would’ve ended up on the “cutting room floor”, so to speak. (I’ve included the shot below).

It also occurs to me that this is an excellent way to read the scriptures on our own. We may think we’re familiar with a certain passage, but reading it through several times and taking the time to read commentary (which has been an excellent source of new perspective in our Wednesday morning Bible studies) can be helpful in gaining new insights and understanding of what God may be telling us.

Try it!

Prayer: Dear Lord, we want to know your Word. Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand, and sometimes we think we “know it all”. Help us to look at your Word with new, clear eyes each time we read a passage. Help us lean into your teachings, even when it’s a teaching that we don’t initially understand. Guide us in our perspectives, and help us draw closer to you. Amen.

Donna Gustafson

Christ goes ahead of me

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Graduation

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Corinthians 1:10

This Saturday I went to my niece’s graduation in Missouri.  We drove four hours and spent Friday night in a hotel one and a half hours away because most hotels in the area were filled with all the families traveling to attend this and other graduations in the area. On Saturday we drove to the college at around 11:00 as the gates to the stadium opened up and the crowds of families filled the stadium, the field with lawn chairs, blankets with family members selected their location to view their graduate as they walked in. This group of graduate supporters sat in the stadium until the ceremony started at 2:00 PM. The cool day in the morning had turned to a hot sunny day.  It was a happy, friendly, celebratory crowd sharing sunscreen, beverages and happy memories. 

Then the procession began, cheering and cameras snapping as you could hear, is that her? Is she wearing a white collar or red?  There he is, there he is! 

The ceremony proceeded to the guest speaker at which began a very positive encouraging speech to the graduates, then, as she stated, she snuck a Trojan horse in and began speaking on her own political agenda.  She stated she felt she needed to speak out on her agenda whenever she could.  The crowd was not pleased.  Unfortunately some couldn’t hold back on their opinions, booing and derogatory comments could be heard. I felt upset, sad, and disappointed that she chose to think only of her agenda instead of those graduates who had spent years working up to this moment.  Also, disappointed in those that began rebelling back at her. 

I felt upset, thinking that if it hadn’t been a special day for my niece I might have walked out of the stadium. I was feeling stressed and uncomfortable, then I told myself I was here for my niece, her friends and family members to share in this joyous event.  I turned to prayer.  I prayed for the graduates, the family members, the faculty, and all those who were a part of this occasion, yes, including the speaker. 

The speech was over and then we watched as all 1200+ students’ names were read and handed their degree.  At the end we left the stadium a little sunburned, a little tired for sitting in the sun for 5 hours; but the pride we felt was still there.

We went out to dinner with family and new friends.  It was a wonderful ending to a celebration of achievement.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for those that are graduating, families of graduates, faculty and staff of those educating our youth.  I pray that even in those moments of stress, unexpected detours, disagreement of opinions in the world that we still remember to listen to your words.  Remind us to ask for your guidance in our own actions.  Remind us to ask your guidance in making our agenda not one of ours but one for all. Amen.

Lori Hood

Memorial Day

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A Doer of the Word

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

As I study God’s Word, it speaks to my heart.  I know I should more often be a “Doer of the Word”, but unfortunately, I don’t always take that next necessary step.  It’s frustrating when I’m unable to apply what I’ve studied to a particular situation. Sometimes it’s fear that holds me back, but often it’s my memory.  I may have a vague sense of an appropriate scripture, but can’t get it quite right.  Or worse, I may not be able to think of any scripture at all to apply!

Since the Spirit can help me use His Word in many powerful and positive ways,  I must do my part and try to memorize it. Oh boy. How will I ever be able to memorize, when I  have trouble remembering even the simplest things—like the name of a person I’ve just met!?  To make this challenge seem less daunting, I decided to take it on in baby steps. I've tried to memorize a verse or two a day—using a scripture that has special meaning for me. It’s amazing how many I've been able to memorize with the Spirit’s help!

Memorizing keeps His Word handy in my brain—ready and waiting to be used at any moment.  This gives me such a feeling of confidence and strength.  And guess what? Since I started this challenge, I’ve been able to apply some of those scriptures in a few situations. Being a “Doer of the Word” feels so awesome!  I found His Word takes on a new, deeper meaning—and I can feel its power transforming me and making me a more effective servant.  I don’t think I appreciated just how powerful the Word of God was until I was able to feel it in action!

I may not always be able to keep up the pace of a verse a day—especially during busy times of the year.  Also, I know I still have a long ways to go before I can always be an effective “Doer of the Word”.  But I think as long as I keep trying my best—slowly but surely, God will be able to work in me and through me in powerful ways!

Prayer:  All-Knowing God, forgive us for being both afraid and forgetful when it comes to being “Doers of Your Word”.   Help us as we study Your Word, to not only understand, but also memorize what it says--so we may put it into action more effectively.  And thank you for all the amazing and powerful ways Your Word helps us each day. Amen.

Sharon Irvin (reprinted from 2006, revised for re-release in 2018)

God's Time

“In His Time” by Diane Ball-

In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time.

Lord please show me every day as you’re teaching me Your way,

That You do just what You say in Your time.

In Your time, in Your time, You make all things beautiful in Your time.

Lord, my life to You I bring; May each song I have to sing

Be to You a lovely thing in Your time.

And when I pay attention, I see that so many times, He has answered my prayers, big and small, In His time. And in His wisdom, he provides blessings and answers so much greater than what I even thought to ask for. How great is our God!

Prayer: Dear Lord, today, as I write this, I am aware that this is one of those days when you answer my prayers. And little by little, I am learning to trust that when I turn problems and situations over to you, “That You do just what You say in Your time.” I give you this day and pray that I will use it in the way you see fit. And I give you my impatience and pray that you will use it to show me your greatness. Amen.

Lori Snyder Sloan (reprinted)

Priority Mail - May 6, 2018 Sermon

Dear Paul,

I hope this note finds you well.

Thank you so much for your letter!

Now you are probably asking: Which letter. After all you wrote quite a few.

In case you are desperately trying to remember what you wrote to a 21st century congregation in the American midwest: I can relieve you. It’s not your memory playing tricks on you. There isn’t actually a letter like that.

No, i’m talking about the letter you sent to the congregation in Philippi.

Now: I don’t normally open mail addressed to other people. (And those mailing that include “or current resident” are usually not that interesting.) But this letter that you wrote some 1,950 years ago, has made it into our hands — together with a whole collections of other letters you wrote to different congregations. And, believe it or not, we are still reading them today — at the other end of the globe!

You probably never imagined that. And probably nobody would be quite as shocked as you to learn that they have become a part of Scripture. (Plus, theologians love to argue about them!)

From what I know from your writings, I imagine all this would make you feel a little embarrassed. After all your writing was never about you.  Your mission was driven by what you had experienced yourself: that God was indeed revealed in the same Jesus whom the authorities had crucified: he is the anointed ruler and king. Something you had to share with everyone to the end of the world — and that’s what you did, spreading glad tidings all across the then known world.

In that sense I imagine you wouldn’t mind after all that we we today, even as unintended audience, caught a glimpse of your letter to the saints in Philippi.

***

It’s a beautiful letter. I am so moved by your opening paragraph, by it’s beautiful tone, by the love for this particular congregation that shines through every line.

I love the lack of formalities: there is no pretentious flashing of credentials.

I love that you write this letter to an entire community. You could have addressed his letter just to the elders there. You could have written directly to the bishop, telling him what to say to his flock and what to do next. You could have exercised a top-down “chain of command” that everyone in the Roman world understood. And yet you don’t. You write “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi”.

One can tell you had a very special bond with all the saints in Philippi, not just the leaders. You even call them your partners in sharing the gospel. I sense that you deeply care about them, and they cared about you.

***

Having said that, what bothers me a little bit, (can I say this?) is this display of joy.

Now granted, we don’t know your exact predicament: whether you were in jail awaiting a court date,  or somewhere under house arrest. Granted also, you were no stranger to prison cells. And yet somehow I imagine Roman prisons not exactly to be vacation homes. Not wanting to be the grinch, Paul: you are in dire straits!

And so it really boggles my mind that you sound so… positive…

almost cheery. It’s a little bit on-the-nose. So I wonder: Is this for real,  or are you just putting on a brave face so your readers aren’t all too worried about you?

Or does your joy indeed have such deep roots that they even reach deeper than the dungeon you’re in?

What strikes me is what an important role memory plays for your joy. As one of my contemporary readers, the late Fred Craddock, puts it: “In circumstances which could understandably breed doubt, despair, even bitterness,” you remember — and are grateful.

Which is fascinating! Thinking how much I tend to remember only the things that went wrong. (We even pay therapists to talk about nothing but the bad memories). You don’t do that. But rather you recall the memories that bring you joy. I wonder what might happen if I did that, too. And if we honored these memories by living in a way so that they are become more than just a memory.

***

You point out how the Philippians have been your partners in ministry. You remember how they shared with their money, their suffering, their work, their faith, their prayers, their preaching the gospel… And yes: when you were in prison, they visited you.

There is something to be said about community that surrounds someone like this. One would never choose it: but getting sick in the midst of a christian community can be a wonderful thing. When one is surrounded by folks who provide food and visits and rides and support…: this fills you with gratitude and joy.

Maybe this is what is at the root of your joy: it’s not about silver lining, not about feeling better, but about becoming connected again.

And here you go: and write this letter. from the isolation of your prison cell. You speak in terms that are not fearful, not angry, not bitter... instead just filled with thankfulness, and the grace of God…

and doing so you witness to the power of the gospel!

***

As I am reading your letter this week, I am reminded of all the beautiful and powerful writings that have come out of prison.

I’m thinking of Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”,
(smuggled out on scraps of newspaper), or Dietrich Bonhoeffer who in the darkness of a Nazi prison penned Letters and Papers to friends and family.

What strikes me them is that both their words are not just reactions to what is done to them. Their hope and faith are not suffocated, but rather, their words speak in the most life-affirming  way of love and justice and of a vision of a different world. It is as if in their dungeons they caught a glimpse of the One who brings a new creation even in the midst of the grave, who transforms even the tomb of the prison into a womb of the new world.

***

Dear Paul, I need to wrap this up. As you may have heard, our congregation celebrates their 65th anniversary next week. We feel it’s a good age! At the same time, in comparison with the story that traveled to us over some 2000 years, it may not be quite that impressive. And yet: We are very excited. You should join us!

As we look back,  I hope we will take the opportunity to practice joy and gratitude. And as we remember God’s faithfulness across the ages, we’ll also celebrate the connectedness: with you and many others across this planet who have partnered with us to proclaim the Good news of Jesus Christ.

In all this we know that God is not done with us, but as you say so confidently: “the one who began a good work among you
will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ”.

May it be so.

Grace and Peace,

- On behalf of Eastridge Presbyterian church

Thomas Dummermuth, Associate Pastor