trust

But Can You Trust Him?

May 8, 2011 By washadmin 12 Comments

What do I do when my experience contradicts what Jesus says?

by Russell Rathbun

Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10

For Sunday, May 15 , 2011: Year A – Easter 4

Jesus says the sheep will recognize the voice of the shepherd.

Jesus says we will recognize the voice of God speaking to us in the world.

That God will be with us.

Jesus says the sheep will run from the voice of a stranger.

Jesus says we will run from the voice of the bandits in the world.

Jesus says we will not listen to the thieves and the bandits.

Jesus says the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.

Jesus says he comes that we my have life.

Real life.

Big life.

That we will be fully alive.

Not True?

I say this is not true. I say there are people begging to hear the voice of God, calling them to come through the gate, to the pasture, but they don’t. Maybe can’t? I say I cannot hear Jesus’ voice calling me and that I have listened to the thieves and the bandits so many times, felt like I was being ripped off, that I was dying, being destroyed.

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Filed Under: Featured, John, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: afraid, experience, hear, life, russell rathbun, sheep, shepherd, trust, voice

Gospel Noir

March 13, 2011 By washadmin 4 Comments

Does Jesus have a good reason for not trusting Nicodemus?

by Russell Rathbun

Gospel Reading: John 3:1-17

For Sunday, March 20, 2011

Year A – Second Sunday in Lent

Danger, distrust.

Meeting in the shadows after dark, coded language and obtuse similes. What we have here is Gospel Noir.

This is one of those texts that are so well know, so well worn that is hard to read, like to stay focused and hear it, see it. What I see, here is Jesus walking down the street, after the bars have closed, collar pulled up against the cold, hat pulled down, shoes slapping against the wet cobblestone. In a hurry.

Nick, sort of half steps out of a dimly lit doorway. Letting himself be seen, he motions Jesus over. Jesus nods to him and heads over, not exactly hesitantly, but not enthusiastically. Then the two exchange a couple of sentences, almost speaking past each other, like it is two parts of a prearranged signal, or maybe it is more like verbal sparing. Nick is checking Jesus out to see if he really knows his stuff, is who he says he is. He doesn’t entirely trust Jesus yet.

Nick: Rabbi, we know you are from God — no one can do what you can do apart from God.

Jesus: No one can see the kingdom of God with our being born from above.

Nick: Born from above? How can I reenter the womb?

Jesus: What’s flesh is flesh, what is Spirit is Spirit; you were born of water, now you need to be born of Spirit. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, John, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: Jesus, nicodemus, russell rathbun, trust

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

February 20, 2011 By washadmin 6 Comments

Because There Will Be Plenty of Food and Nice Clothes in Heaven

by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:24-34

For Sunday, February 27, 2011 Year A - Epiphany 8

Ever been in a really foul mood and had someone look at you and say “smile!” Or perhaps you’ve been really despondent at some point when a well-meaning, albeit vapid, person says to you “cheer up!”

When this happens to me it: 1) doesn’t work and 2) makes me feel angry on top of feeling despondent.

Well it’s easy to read this Sunday’s gospel as a pithy little self-help boost from Jesus. “Don’t worry!” he tells us. Does this feel like the messianic equivalent to Nancy Reagan’s “Just say no?” It does to me (snarl).

Jesus is not a very good motivational speaker.

It’s not that I mind him reminding us that worrying is a waste of time and energy, it’s just that I don’t think that he makes a very good case for a worry-free life.

Are birds and flowers really a convincing way to tell us there’s nothing to worry about? Birds live brief lives which usually end by being hunted and eaten by larger beasts. Their lives end violently. And flowers? While beautiful, they either wither soon after they bloom or are trampled underfoot or are destroyed in a storm. Jesus even admits that the grass of the field is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven. Consider that as you ponder the meaning of Matthew 6:24–34.

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Filed Under: Featured, Matthew, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: birds, flowers, money, nadia bolz-weber, trust, worry

Like Clay in the Hand?

August 30, 2010 By washadmin 7 Comments

The hardest question – can I trust that God is now doing what “seems best to him?”

by Doug Pagitt

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-11

For Sunday, September 5, 2010: Year C - Ordinary 23

“Then the word of the LORD came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?’ declares the LORD, ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel’” (Jeremiah 18: 5 -6).

This narrative from Jeremiah is a famous and influential one. People understand it and can relate to it. It has a familiar sense to it. Many of us have formed a simple pot in a junior high art class and can relate to the story from the potter’s perspective, but this story is also discomforting to many people.

What Is the Point?

While we may understand the will of the potter to shape a pot, the notion that God’s engagement with nations is to this activity seems petty and capricious. Maybe it is that junior high art class again. I know that I didn’t really see myself deeply invested in the candy dish I made in 7th grade. I think many of us feel that if God is going to behave toward entire nations like a potter deciding the shape of a pot then what’s the point?

Think of Pakistan

Now, read this passage through the lens of our modern day philosophical perspectives — determinism, free will, “God as an independent actor” theories — and it again changes the way many hear this story. It’s hard for us to hear this story and not think of Pakistan, Hurricane Katrina, Indonesia, and Afghanistan. It’s not a story that brings the care and love of God for the world to mind.

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Filed Under: Featured, Jeremiah, Old Testament, YearC Tagged With: clay, doug pagitt, free, potter, trust, will

The Art of Deflection

July 5, 2010 By washadmin 1 Comment

When tempted with excuses, why do we choose the donkey’s way?

By Mark Labberton

OT Reading: Deuteronomy 30:9-14

For Sunday, July 11: Year C — Ordinary 15

Humans are creatures with excuses.

Made by God with choice, not just instinct, we have a compelling capacity to make meanings. And we are especially prone to offer some in the form of self-defense, explanation, rationale, justification. The tempter offers Adam and Eve a rationale, and with it they take and eat. A good excuse is all we need for sin to be set in motion. We have that story in our minds and hearts: it’s the art of deflection and we depend on deploying it daily. Even when God says it leads to death.

Called out from behind our excuses.

So it went with Israel, just as it did with Moses. Called out from behind his excuses, Moses led Israel out of Egypt, never completely shedding the habit. Through wilderness wanderings, marked with Moses’ excuses and Israel’s too, the moment comes when the River Jordan holds the promise of a new beginning. Kept from the Promise Land by the impact of his own faithless excuses, Moses offers in Deuteronomy a summary and sermon: a looking back for the sake of a looking forward.

The hinge on which Moses hangs the past and the future is the imminent faithfulness of God. Look to the past, replete with God’s demonstrated love that hears, rescues, provides, forgives, sustains. Let this be your remembrance for it is also your hope: “…the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors.”

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Filed Under: Deuteronomy, Featured, Old Testament, YearC Tagged With: donkey, excuses, Jesus, Mark Labberton, Moses, trust

But Can You Trust Him?

What do I do when my experience contradicts what Jesus says?

Gospel Noir

Does Jesus have a good reason for not trusting Nicodemus?

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Because There Will Be Plenty of Food and Nice Clothes in Heaven

Like Clay in the Hand?

The hardest question – can I trust that God is now doing what “seems best to him?”

The Art of Deflection

When tempted with excuses, why do we choose the donkey’s way?

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