Journey Lesson for Aug 30th. The lesson of Love

Journey Lessons for August 30th 2009
The Lesson of Love

Hebrew Scriptures: Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Hebrew Scriptures: Psalm 45

In Song of Solomon we have a song of passion and desire for each other, a poem of love. Many times this has been interpreted in spiritual terms, but it is also seen by certain interpretations (feminism) as simply the desire of erotic love. What is wrong with seeing as both ways? Would this be a normal Jewish interpretation of these passages?
In the 45th Psalm, we have what has been considered a Wedding song or ritual for a wedding ceremony. It is a public event in which each is committed to the other. It is supposedly the only Psalm directed to another human being. It is grand and eloquent.

Christian Scriptures: James 1:17-27
Christian Scriptures: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15,21-23
James admonishes that real faith requires action. After James lays the foundation for faith in God himself and the endurance needed to stay faithful, he then responds that real faith is equated with real action. In other words, one is not possible without the other?
In Mark we have the telling of the disciples being criticized for not properly following the ritual hand cleaning required by religious law. Jesus responds that if the heart is not in the practice of the faith the external signs mean nothing.

Comment:
I believe all four verse selections have a theme here today, It is the theme of passion that is necessary in all of our living practices. In the Hebrew scriptures there is a synthesis between the Psalm and Song of Solomon. There must be passion in a marriage or it may only be an empty ritual in the end, no matter how great and impressive the ceremony. This follows the synthesis of the physical and the spiritual which were more accepted as the proper model of the human in the Hebrew scriptures than it has been interpreted in the Christian.
For Jesus and James, in the Christian scriptures we have the interpretation of the necessity to have a faith that has real action from the heart. It is important to show with the hands our respect for God in ritual but the gestures are empty unless those hands are reaching out to the needs of our fellow human beings.
I once heard someone say that “every story is a love story.” Simply put, where is the passion, the personality, your personal action in expressing the Love of God to others? Is it merely trapped in the illustration of ritual or does it freely express itself in true passion for others? Whether meeting human physical needs or the spiritual concerns of another, the story should always be one of love.

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20
What in Christian life is the belt of truth? How does it protect us?
What is the breastplate of righteousness? What does it do?
What does feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace mean?
What is the shield of faith and how do we use it against evil?
What is the helmet of Salvation? What does it protect us from
Why is the word of God the Sword of the Spirit?
What are we fighting against. If the rulers and powers are not of flesh and blood, what are they?
What other analogies could we use to describe the above concepts for those who are not “into” war scenarios'?

Where Does God Live

Lectionary for Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
1 Kings 8: 1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84, Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:59-69
Where does God live?
1Kings 8 10-13 (The Living Bible)
“Look! As the priests are returning from the inner sanctuary, a bright cloud fills the Temple! The priests have to go outside because the glory of the Lord is filling the entire building! Now King Solomon prayed this invocation: 'The Lord has said that he would live in the thick darkness;But O Lord, I have built you a lovely home on earth, a place for you to live forever.” Verses 27-29 “But is it possible that God would really live on earth? Why, even the skies and the highest heavens cannot contain you, much less this Temple I have built! Please watch over this Temple night and day-this place you have promised to live in...'”
Exodus 40:34”Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle and the glory of the Lord filled it. Moses was not able to enter because the cloud was standing there, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”
Psalm 84
“ How lovely is you Temple, O Lord of the armies of heaven. I long, yes faint with longing to be able to enter your courtyard and come near to the Living God. Even the sparrows and swallows are welcome to come and nest among your alters and have their young, O Lord of heaven's armies, my King and my God. How happy are those who can live in you Temple singing your praises.” (1-4)
God lives in Us: Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you?
What does it mean to dwell in God?
What does it mean that God dwells in us?

You Are What You Eat or Is this What I think it Is?

A August 14, 2009

I must admit I thought that introducing lesson might be fun and perhaps rather easy. But as is most often the case I found myself wanting to dig deeper into the passages. I thought by doing so I would be able to provide each of you with a more meaningful preparation for our time together Sunday. Yet, as I begin to draft this summary I realize that it is not my doing but God's doing and I’m once again “feared” by the presence of the Lord and therefore remain humbled. I’m not sure I have acquired wisdom in this process but I’m thankful that today I can spend hours focusing on His Holy Word. Let’s begin.

The Bible verses this week focus on wisdom. In 1 Kings 2:10-12 is Solomon's request that God provide him the “wisdom to govern (God’s) people and discern between good and evil.” God is pleased with his unselfish requests and grants him a wise and discerning mind as well as riches and long life so long as he continues to keeps Gods “commandments and statutes.” Most of us know that Solomon remained wise but did not reap the benefit of long life because he failed in keeping Gods commandments and statutes.

So how do we acquire a heart of wisdom that will guide our response as parents, professionals, citizens, and persons of faith?

Psalms 111 and Ephesians 5:15-20

These verses supply the reader with two thoughts to ponder. First, the “beginning of wisdom” comes from knowing Gods omnipotent character. This is witnessed by the wise daily as Yahweh moves about in all aspects of life. Second, make the most of time by focusing on Yahweh’s guiding light in all one does. Praising his name all the while.

Can you think of a time or period when you have focused on Yahweh with all your heart? Have you ever spent a day trying to see his workings in the world around you? How is he at work now, with us, today this moment?

John 6:51-58

I read a few commentaries on this passage and was struck by the debate that Christians have had in the past concerning transubstantiation or what is commonly referred to as the “Eucharist”. Transubstantiation is the changing of the substance of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. In that even though the senses experience bread and wine this is considered an accident and is not the essence of the matter. In a nut shell the Roman Catholic denomination believes that a change in substance actually occurs during the Eucharist. That is to say that the bread, although it has the appearance of bread, actually contains the elements of Christ’s body and the same is true for the wine. Now, I’m sure this would make people feel uneasy. Christians are cannibals? What on earth? Martin Luther and others did not dig this interpretation and so today most protestant faiths believe the sacraments to be a symbolic memorial of sorts. Even today the debate about whether or not the passage is to be a literal interpretation or not continues among protestant denominations. This all made me think about what food truly is. Is this where "We are what we eat." comes from? What does John really want the reader to infer from the following passages?:

6:54 “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them

up on the last day;

6:55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.

6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.”

Abide means to be within. Nice, That sounds great Jesus living with in me. Hold on a second. If he resides in me, then he is present even when I sin. Hmm. In Luke 22 19-20 it states that Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, acknowledged it was his body and asked that they eat it in remembrance of him and he did likewise with the wine saying it is his blood shed for them. There is one difference in this passage. The use of the greek word for “eat”. I discovered that the greek word for eat used in John’s text is one used to describe the “gnawing upon”. The text does not just convey we ingest Jesus’ body and drink his blood but savor it by gnawing on it. Gross ,right? But give it some consideration.

What does gnawing on Jesus’ body have to do with wisdom?

What does it mean for Jesus to abide in you? What about when we commit sin? Is he still present?

What about transubstantiation? Is modern science able to prove it’s existence? If so how does this change our view on Jesus abiding within us?

My final thoughts are that we contemplate what we have learned from studying the word today. That we consider, like Solomon, what we would truly want from God to make our lives the best they can be. That we think about how being thankful, and mindful of God in all we do will help us to remain in awe of him. I pray that each of you have the time to read this weeks' verses. I also pray that you are each at a place this moment full of peace and joy that can only come from abiding in Him.

See You Sunday,

Dan

For fun visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ42IMu7HIQ

PS: For some interesting background on the history and controversies related to this passage, check out these Wikipedia articles:
- Transubstantiation
- Consubstantiation
- Real Presence

August 9th - lesson continued

Our Lectionary Scriptures for this week are: Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2; John 6:35, 41-51; II Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; and Psalm 130.

Some things to think about:

(from the passage in Ephesians)

Paul gives Christians some advice to follow that will help them allow God's love to shine through them to all those with whom they come in contact. He gets down to the nitty-gritty details of day to day living, and wants us to realize that what we do, not only affects those around us, but also affects our relationship with God. Things such as: lying, stealing, getting angry, the language we use, grieving the Holy Spirit, etc. He ends by admonishing us to imitate God - to follow His example.

(from the passage in John)

Jesus plainly states that He "is" the Bread of life. The people had seen and partaken of the "bread" Jesus provided for them, and then sought Him out again the next day - they wanted more! That's when Jesus revealed Himself to them as the true "Bread of Life." But, the people couldn't get past the "fact" that Jesus was the son of "Joseph," "whose father and mother they knew."

• Are there times in our lives when the "facts," as we perceive them, get in the way of our faith?
• Are we willing to take Jesus at His word?

Also from this passage, Jesus says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him."

• What do you think that means?
• How did the Father draw you to Jesus?

(From the passage in II Samuel)

After all is said and done, David is back on the throne, Absalom has been defeated and killed, and David mourns the loss of his son.

• What kind of thoughts do you think were going through David's mind? Guilt? Regret? Relief?
• Why did Joab disregard David's orders to "go gently with Absalom?"
• What kind of imprint are we leaving on those around us?
• Does a man reap what he sows?

(From the passage in Psalms)

During what seems to be a very distressful time in this psalmist's life, he has chosen to seek out God and remind himself that he can trust in God's Word and the forgiveness that comes from Him alone. He seemingly clings to that of which he is certain: God will hear his prayers; there is forgiveness with God; there is mercy with God; and there is "abundant" redemption.

• Where do we run when we feel like our life is out of our control?
• What certainties do we cling to when everything around us seems to be crumbling?
  

"Imitating God" OR "Just an Imitation"

Lesson for August 9, 2009 - Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (Living Bible)

(25)Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. (26)If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry – get over it quickly; (27)for when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil.

(28)If anyone is stealing he must stop it and begin using those hands of his for honest work so he can give to others in need. (29)Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing.

(30)Don’t cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who marks you to be present on that day when salvation from sin will be complete.

(31)Stop being mean, bad-tempered and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. (32)Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.

(5:1)Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. (2)Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him.

A few questions for all of us to think about:

How truthful are we – really truthful? (in our relationship with God and others, in our finances, in our work, in our prayers, and in the small day to day decisions we make?)

What usually triggers anger?

What is considered bad language? Is it “bad words” people say, or does it include much more than that?

What comes to your mind when you think of “grieving” (or causing “sorrow” to) the Holy Spirit?

What kind of things come to your mind when you are told you should “imitate God?” Can you think of people in your life who have left their mark upon you because they are/were a true imitator of God?

Prayer of Thomas Merton, Benediction of Carson Brisson

Those in class today asked me to post the following. This is how we closed the class:

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I re ally know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"

May joy and nothing less find you on The Way.

May you be blessed and a blessing.

And may light guide you, and countless others, all the way home.

-Carson Brisson, Dean for Academic Programs and Associate Professor of Biblical Languages at Union-PSCE.