Daily Devotion for Saturday, March 10, 2012

Today's Scripture Reading: Exodus 19:16-25


Key verse for today: Exodus 19:19, "The blasts of the horn grew louder and louder.  Moses would speak, and God would answer him with thunder."

Heavy Clouds: Sundown at Fehmarn August 2011
by Matthias Engel, Germany

I don't ever remember being scared of thunder.  There are times in Oklahoma when you can sit outside on the porch and listen to the thunder roll in.  The smell is exquisite in the summer.  I can remember seeing lightning flash and counting the seconds until you hear the thunder.  This was my first exposure to the idea that sound and light move at different speeds.


I think that most people associate God with quiet rather than volume.  Maybe this is from Elijah's experience of God as sheer silence (1 Kings 19:12).


But the volume of thunder has impressed people for untold years and the Hebrew people associated it with God speaking.  There is something unsettling and other-worldly about a loud sudden crack of thunder!


In their song, Sometimes Salvation, The Black Crowes state in the chorus that sometimes salvation is in the eye of the storm.  All of these storm images are reminders that God doesn't always ask of us what is comfortable or easy.  In fact, God is not our invention that is gentle - always at our beck and call.  We are more likely to learn patience the more we enter into prayer with God.


Try listening to this sound of thunder.  Enter into a time of prayer and ask what God is saying to you as you listen.  


Sometimes we may need God to break through with great volume because the rest of the noise in life is so loud.  

Breath prayer: Mighty God, speak to me today. 

Daily Devotion for Friday, March 9, 2012

Scripture Reading for Today: Acts 7:30-40


Key verse for today: Acts 7:33, "The Lord continued, 'Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'"


The context for today's scripture in Acts is in the midst of the apostle Stephen's martyrdom speech.  He is reminding his peers of their failures in the time of Moses.  At the end of his exhorting, they don't just throw tomatoes to express their disapproval.


As we are reminded of Moses, the verse that stood out to me was not his judgment as much as his reminder of holiness (see key verse above).  Growing up at church camp, we used to sing a song by Jim Manley (popularized by the Strathdees) entitled "Take Off Your Shoes".  


I remember the chorus going like this:


    So take, take, take off your shoes
    you're standin' on holy ground
    take, take, take off your shoes
    You're standin' on holy ground
    well the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof
    from the waters beneath to the heavens above
    so take, take, take off your shoes
    you're standin' on holy ground.  You're standin' on holy ground.

(I've printed it here because I couldn't find them anywhere online - if you see them, you might put a link in the comments!  I'm sure the copyright is (c) 2011 Jim Manley)

These lyrics are a wonderful expression of recognizing God's holiness within the created order.


As I think about a Christian reference of removing our shoes, I think about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.  This is also an expression of recognizing God's holiness within the created order.  But in this ordinary chore made sacred, Jesus recognizes that holiness in you.

Jesus washing the disciples' feet from
The Passion of the Christ

I think that maybe this is why so many resist the foot washing service.  In it we are so vulnerable and also connected to another person in an intimate way.  It is too much.  I can't allow someone else to do that.  We place Peter's words in our mouth when he said, "You will never wash my feet." (John 13:8)


But our denial is empty because we have already symbolically let others serve us in so many ways.  We may find that when we accept it, we honor the holy ground on which we find ourselves standing.


Recognizing and serving God's holiness in the created order is much of what the Christian community is all about.  You'll see that Stephen understands this at the end of his final homily when he declares, "Lord don't hold this sin against them!" before he dies at their hands.


All of a sudden, my shoes seem a little tight...


Breath prayer for today: Lord, don't hold this sin against them.

Daily Devotion for Thursday, March 8, 2012

Scripture Reading for Today: Psalm 19

Key verse for today: Psalm 19:1, "Heaven is declaring God's glory, the sky is proclaiming God's handiwork."

Sam with Kyla and David overlooking one of the valleys at Canyon Camp.
Photo taken by Sheryl winter 2012

I really understand the Psalmist in today's scripture.  When I get to hike in the Canyon, I am at peace with my Creator.  The Canyon is such a great place to be that I'm afraid I will fail to do it justice by my feeble descriptions.

Some of you may have hiked with me to this particular overlook.  It is at the end of the top of the second butte - one away from where the cross is located.  The swamp would be on our left as we look out from this view.

You can't see them in the picture but we are watching a huge flock of pheasants jumping the creek below one and two at a time - all in a row.  It is a magical time that I'm blessed to share with my children.  It is God's time - kairos time for you theologians.

Canyon for me has always been a thin place for those of you bent toward mysticism.

Last summer after taking a group of youth to this very spot during a hike, I shared that God carved out this canyon over millions of years through the water that flowed through here.  We are fortunate recipients of that  handiwork.

Once on a confirmation retreat about 14 years ago, I took our small group on a night hike over by the natural slide.  We climbed up to the top and onto an outcropping.  We didn't have any light pollution from the camp at this particular spot and the stars were incredible. Just as I was talking about how God created this marvelous universe, we all saw a shooting star blaze across the sky.  Psalm 19:1 came alive!

Another time when I was getting ready to lead worship around a bonfire out past the tabernacle, we were serenaded by several owls who shared a call to worship with us.

As you consider the natural places that you may have encountered God, you might pause at this time to give thanks to God for these.  What are your plans to get away and make a new memory?

I'm going back to the Canyon again.  I would love to show you the view in person.

Breath prayer for today:  Creating God, touch me through your handiwork.

Daily Devotion for Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Today's Daily Scripture: John 12:36-43


Key Scripture: John 12:43, "They believed, but they loved human praise more than God's glory."

nachos by Jean-Philippe Dufour

I remember when we got our first microwave.  We made a lot of nachos. 


I also remember our first remote control for the television (which was always color - don't remember the black and white sets).


Things have generally gotten faster but then so have our expectations.


Dial up internet was not that long ago (I know some of you may still be slugging along but those days are probably numbered).


Now smart phones are making information so portable that it is changing the way we advertise and the way we process data.

This AT&T commercial has been over-viewed but also accurately gauges where we are as a society in what we are looking for.



I'm not sure that we've ever stopped to consider how fast is fast enough?  Is it worth the price tag?


Is 27 seconds such an eternity?


Okay, I'll admit I'm entering old-man-yelling-at-the-kids-to-get-out-of-his-yard zone but I include myself in the critique.


My need for speed (with apologies to Top Gun) really puts my focus on me.  If I don't get it NOW, then my day (or at least my minute) is ruined.  External stimuli begin to control our mood more and more.


The scripture for today ends sadly for some - they believed but they were so focused on the self that they couldn't buck the status quo.


It makes me ask the question, "Where am I giving in to what is popular rather than standing up for what is right?"  After all, we all love human praise quite a bit.


It is a tough question - especially on a Wednesday but there it is. And what's taking those nachos so long?


Breath prayer: Endless God, give me perspective.

Daily Devotion for Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-19

Key verse for today: Genesis 22:14a, "Abraham named that place, 'The Lord sees.'"

How can I be so wrong when I'm so sure I am right?

Sometimes our world turns upside down.  What we think is true is really false.  This happened to me at the end of my freshman year in college.  My long-time girlfriend dumped me and I never saw it coming.  I became Lane Meyer.

There's something unsettling about the blindside.  I think we feel more foolish because reality comes crashing around us and we were out of touch.  But sometimes, we can assume the worst and it turns out to be better than we expected.

Abraham feels that God is calling him to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  Abraham is big on faithfulness and follow-through.  This is not his first conversation with God either.

Sacrifice of Isaac
Pedro Orrente, 1616

As we read this story today, it seems kind of horrifying.  People of no faith ask questions like, "What kind of God would ask you to do this even if God planned to stop you?"  One of the pat answers seems to be, "Well, we can't understand how God thinks."

While this is technically true, I do think we can safely say that God doesn't require child sacrifice.

With respect to Highway 61 Revisited, was Abraham mistaken?  Could he have been wrong?  Did he truly believe that God was asking this of him because that's what all the neighboring religions were doing?

Abraham's smug neighbor: "Yeah, if you had real faith, you would sacrifice your most beloved possession."


What if God is asking Abraham for his son but in a different way?  What if God is asking him to devote his son to God?  To give his life to God?

What if Abraham finally heard God clearly - only after he raised the knife?

Maybe the true faithfulness came when Abraham put down the knife and realized that God will still bless him while letting him keep his son.

Of course, I could be wrong...

Breath Prayer for today: Sovereign God, take my life and let it be...

Daily Devotion for Monday, March 5, 2012

Scripture Reading for today: Hebrews 1:8-12

Key verse for today:  Hebrews 1:10b-11, "You, Lord, laid the earth's foundations in the beginning, and the heavens are made by your hands.  They will pass away, but you remain.  They will all wear out like old clothes." 


I really expected to be on the moon by now.


Well, maybe not me personally, but growing up in the 70's I really thought that we would have an active moon base by 2012.  Easily.

Campy British television show from 1975.
You can get a metal lunch box on eBay but be prepared to spend some $.

And if we had a base on the moon, would there be a church present?  Or at least a chaplain?


Will the United Methodist Church ever have an appointment to the moon?


How I envisioned the future of the church may have been different at age 10 than how it really turned out.  Today's scripture reminds us that things will continue to change whether we like it or not.


There is a lot of anxiety in the church concerning our future relevance.  It is not without merit if we are concerned with business as usual as a denomination.


As I read Hebrews today, I am reminded that nothing ever stays the same.  This doesn't mean we don't have to adjust or change in order to be effective.  Au contraire! We should always strive to present the Good News in ways that challenge the present population. We should continue to be disciples of Jesus that make other disciples not to save a church structure or hierarchy but because following Christ changes lives.

I do believe that the church has a long future ahead of it.  We will continue to touch lives in new and countless ways (countless no matter how many reports we try to file).  And God will continue through all of it.  How is God calling you not only to be a disciple but to make a disciple?  And yes, parenting counts.

Who knows, maybe I'll be the first pastor to celebrate Holy Communion on the moon!

Breath prayer: Eternal God, work through me today.

Daily Devotion for Sunday, March 4, 2012

Scripture for Today: Mark 8:31-38


Key verse for today's daily devotion: Mark 8:32b, "But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him."


Sheryl's teaching a lot of hours this semester at both OSU-OKC and at Redlands Community College in El Reno.  Some are online and some are in class and she teaches adjunct at both. Hiring adjunct is a new cost-saving method that many universities and colleges are employing in order to avoid paying benefits.  


Sometimes you have to endure quite a bit to get your foot in the door and she is hopeful for a permanent position.

Photo by Tom Spitznas, stock.exchg

When she first began to talk about adding Redlands to her schedule, my first instinct was to look at the number of hours she would be teaching (to say nothing of the number of preps she would undertake) and to save her from this attempt.  


Why would you want to take on more?  


We aren't living in any kind of debt so you don't have to kill yourself for this!


But it is more about the call to work.  Sheryl is a good college instructor and enjoys her subject matter.  She has a need to share her education with others.  It is about more than just the bottom line.


Sometimes we want to save those we love from undue suffering. Certainly Peter wanted this for Jesus.  But when we have the call on our lives for something higher, we do count the costs and find them acceptable.  


It is different when looking at it for ourselves than for others.  We may not think that our loved ones have not adequately evaluated the risks when it comes to answering their call.  Probably because it is not our call!  


We may be often more like Peter than we would like to admit. We would scold Jesus not for taking up the cross but for calling those we love!


Breath prayer for today: Burning Truth, call whom you will.