Read this story and find out.

If it hadn’t been for my companion’s arm jutting out to stop of my forward-lurching shoulders, I might not be here today.  Whew!  I felt an overwhelming relief like I have never experienced, before or since.

I tell this story because the word repentance has gotten some undeserved connotations heaped on it that aren’t really there–as an onerous, even excruciating process, which *must* include feelings of deep regret and shame.  Further, some believe there must be proof of one’s repentance with certain acts or attitudes before the grace of forgiveness is offered.

But that is simply not the case for the repentance that takes place in Jonah’s story for this Sunday, January 22nd.  Jonah gives a quick, simple message of impending doom to the people of a large city, and they turn around. That’s it.  Period.  And God’s mercy is as immediate as their turning around.  We don’t know what the people of Nineveh felt after this moment.  But I can imagine there was some overwhelming relief like they have never experienced, before or since.

What matters are over and done with between you and God?  Is there any real reason to keep holding on to those things?  What is keeping you from experiencing the deep relief of a life turned in the proper direction?

In other words: what is your bus incident?

Holy God, your prophets, and your Son, invite us to turn in your direction.  What a relief!  Amen.

It has been said that to be an effective leader one needs followers who are willing to take risks.   Samuel, Philip, and Nathaniel were willing to take risks by listening and following God’s call and their risks helped the world know the love, grace and mercy of God through his Son.

God’s Son is often called the “Good Shepherd” and a good shepherd is a leader who leads by walking with or perhaps following the flock – a unique kind of leader.

During this week ask yourself, “In what ways am I a good leader?”  “In what ways am I a good follower?”  “How am I willing to take risks for my Lord, the good shepherd?”

An original watercolor in minature!  Here it is.  Of course, my photo does not do it justice.  It is much more beautiful in-person.

One thing I so admire about watercolor artists is their capacity to use nuanced changes in color and intensity, and blend them into one, cohesive image.  In this watercolor, my aunt appears to have used the absence of color in some places, just painting with water itself.

Painting with water itself.

Showing something new against what is colored in a different way.

This is exactly what God is doing in our Gospel story for Baptism of our Lord Sunday.

Holy God, you are always more beautiful in person.  Perhaps that’s what Jesus is all about.  Amen.

All the best to you in the new year–pastorhh & pastorcl

Some folks feel a kind of lowness after Christmas guests, our family and friends, have gone home.  We miss their presence.  It has been said that our “knowing” each other is greatest when we are with them in person and that even with our great methods of being in contact with loved ones by cell phone, texting or twitter, nothing can replace the feeling of being together in person.

Christmas is like that too, through our close encounters with the angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child we come to know God very well.  The Nativity story, the Christmas carols, Holy Communion with family around us, all inspire our faith and closeness to God.   It is no wonder that as the days past Christmas come and go our sense of knowing God with us might feel a bit distant.   But dear friends, from the gospel of Matthew Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (28:20)

The Annunciation, Rossetti (1850)

Greetings, favored one!  -Luke 1:28

The words of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary at the announcement (the annunciation) to Mary that she would bear a child and his name would be Jesus, son of the most high. Mary was favored by God to create in her womb a place for the creator of the world’s only Son; favored by God to create a nurturing home for an infant, favored by God to create a home life suitable for God himself. Stories in the New Testament show Jesus pointing to you and me over and over again and in essence saying, you too are favored ones! In John 15 Jesus says, “You did not choose me, I first chose you.” That sounds like being favored to me! What does being favored mean to you? Can it create a stir within us to prepare a place in our hearts for the Christ child? Are we moved by our favored status to prepare our lives suitable for Jesus to live within them? Can Jesus live and grow with us in our households as he did in the home of Mary and Joseph? Then the angel Gabriel said, “The Lord is with you.” And I say, “Also with you.”

I found this to be the most touching devotional article, especially in light of the fact that our Childrens’ Christmas Program is tomorrow (December 11, 10:30 am).

Even halfway around the world, we aren’t so different…are we?

Holy God, congreations have many ways of telling your story at Christmas. May every people in your world join voices and hearts together in this holy time of year.  Amen.

This is typical for any new beginning, to start by listing the resources we have to work with.

St. Mark’s claim to the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ begins differently, however.  St. Mark’s view of this new beginning calls for a coming to repentance.  To turn from our old ways, as if to say don’t rely on your known resources, this is something very new.  So new, that when you come you must turn away from all you have and know with a willingness to follow “the one who is more powerful than I who is coming after me… and he will baptize (begin anew for you) with the Holy Spirit.”

This new beginning is a call to turn away from our known resources and trust in different resources that come from God by the Holy Spirit.

In many ways we are a paralyzed people; paralyzed by fear, hopelessness, poverty, and injustice.  But this is nothing new, the people from all of Judea and Jerusalem were similarly paralyzed and yet when they heard this crazy word of a new beginning coming from the wilderness, they ALL went with a willingness to turn away from their known resources toward a faith in something unseen.

How are we blinded by our dependence on the resources we have?

How might we turn away from things we depend upon to rely (instead) on a renewed faith?