There is 'Goodness and Light'

I learned this year that one of my favorite Christmas songs was written during a very uncertain time in our country and world’s history. Noel Regney wrote the lyrics and Gloria Shayne composed the music. The pair was married at the time, and wrote “Do You Hear What I Hear?” in October 1962 as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney was inspired to write the lyrics, “Said the night wind to the little lamb, ‘Do you see what I see?’” and “Pray for peace, people everywhere,” after watching babies being pushed in strollers on the sidewalks of New York City. Shayne stated in an interview years later that neither could personally perform the entire song at the time they wrote it because of the emotions surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis. “Our little song broke us up. You must realize there was a threat of nuclear war at the time.”

The song describes how the word of the birth of the baby Jesus is relayed to higher upon ever higher authority. The message originates with the night wind, which whispers to the little lamb. The lamb reports the message to the shepherd, who in turn conveys the news to the king. The king eventually spreads the message to “people everywhere.”

Bing Crosby made the song into a hit when he recorded his own version of it on October 21, 1963 - approximately one month before John F. Kennedy was assassinated,

Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassination of a president; the unspeakable massacre of 20 children and 7 adults in Newtown, Connecticut - sounds all too familiar, doesn’t it? And yet none of these tragic events could discontinue God’s love and erase the hope that is eternally present because of God’s presence in the world - Emmanuel, God with us!

The free will of human beings is a gift given but when abused becomes an unspeakable evil. My mentor and teacher, Dr. Fred Craddock, said it best when he defined sin as “good out of place.” “Free will” out of place becomes the death of a president in 1963 and a massacre of precious children and their teachers/leaders in 2012. “Free will” in its proper place became a nuclear war averted and peace in 1962.

“Pray for Peace, people everywhere. Listen to what I say. The child, the child, sleeping in the night; He will bring us goodness and light. He will bring us goodness and light.”

Merry Christmas! I love you all - Dr. Terry Walton, senior pastor, GFUMC

Finding Yourself in the Scriptures

The Gospels are among the most familiar texts of the Bible and the easiest to over-read. We have a tendency when the readings are comfortable to breeze through them and not to read as intentionally as we do when we encounter less familiar Scripture. Did you notice the similarities and the differences among the stories and sermons of Jesus? Just how many people did he feed with loaves and fish; was it 4,000 or 5,000? Or was it more like 10,000 if you consider the women and children present? And did Jesus deliver his sermon on the plain or the mount, or both?

I find that if I stop and read intentionally, a familiar text can challenge me in new and deeper ways. How is it that the same story I heard as a child, then as a young adult, is just as relevant in my life today as it was in years prior. What is it about a simple story of two brothers that has the ability to inspire, convict, challenge, and encourage me all at the same time? How is that one time in my life I identified with the younger brother coming home to the undeserved love of a father; and now, far too often, find myself in the role of the older brother who is keeping score and ungrateful for blessings and a love that knows no limits?

How and where are you finding yourself in the Scriptures? Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus listening or are you rushing around trying to get everything done? Are you hanging on for dear life in the midst of the storm? Or has God challenged you to step out into the storm and trust that as long as you keep your eyes on Him all will be well? Or, are you meeting with Jesus at night like Nicodemus striving to understand just how God can bring new life from within you?

Just as the men walking the road to Emmaus encountered the risen Lord, may each of us find ourselves in the company of the One who loves us best so we never have to journey through this life alone. - Rev. Kathy Lamon, Pastor of Congregational Care, Older Adults and Outreach

We Made It!

It has been a long haul, hasn’t it? When we embarked on this journey through the Bible last January how many of us really thought about the length of time it would take us to read through the Old Testament? I know I didn’t. And I never dreamed how challenging some of the reading would be. Honestly, I think it will take some time to digest several of these stories of our faith and find an appropriate place for them in my faith story. I think that’s a good thing. God created us as thinking, questioning and creative creatures. I hope to honor that legacy by working hard at understanding who God is and what God is trying to teach me when I encounter a redeeming Creator who seems neither redemptive nor creative.

But that is for the days and months to come. Now we have arrived. We are into the New Testament. We are counting on the familiar, the predictable, the comfortable – for names we can pronounce and stories we remember and want to retell. Who among us can’t wait to read the wonderful stories of Jesus’ birth and ministry, or the wildly unlikely and successful ministry of the disciples as they began the early church? Paul has words of advice and caution to offer new disciples and growing churches. James keeps us grounded in a life of active faith, while John helps us to see the possibilities, challenges, and promises of God’s redemptive work coming to final fulfillment in the New Jerusalem.

We are going to enjoy reading this! No more confusing visions or un-Godlike demands. Don’t be too sure or get too comfortable. I caution us to keep thinking and questioning. God has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. I wonder what new insights we will gain on our way through the New Testament? I suspect that we will uncover an important truth along the way - That God is the same in Canaan as in Corinth, in Edom as in Ephesus, in Goshen as in Galilee. I hope I am ready to encounter anew God’s living Word.

Keep reading! - Rev. Debby Fox, Pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship

Somewhere 'Out There'

Those of you who know me well know that I’m a (small-time) collector of folk pottery and folk art. Folk art is, I suppose, an acquired taste. It’s pretty “out there” in terms of color, mediums, and subject matter. Those of you who know folk art know that folk artists are generally untrained, and can sometimes be pretty “out there” themselves. Those who are really “out there” are known as Outsider Artists. Their art is described as art created outside the boundaries of official culture. Often, outsider art illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasies or visions.


I’ve met two of those outsider artists. I met the late Howard Finster when I served churches in Chattooga County. Finster was born at Valley Head, Alabama, and lived on the family farm as one of 13 children. He attended school from age six into the sixth grade, and became a Baptist preacher at the age of 16. He had his first vision at age three, when he saw his recently deceased sister Abbie Rose walking down out of the sky wearing a white gown. She told him, "Howard, you're gonna be a man of visions." He was. And he expressed those visions in art. His art laid bare the exquisite pain he felt for a world turning its back on God.

Missionary Mary Proctor is a hoot! I met her in Atlanta, and talked (listened) to her at an art show. Mary was a self-described "Junk Dealer" for years, until a tragedy struck her family. Her grandmother, aunt and uncle were all killed in a house fire. Shortly after this, a grief-stricken Mary was given a vision. A voice told her to paint one of the many old doors in her junkyard. Mary listened to the voice and soon found herself painting everything she could find. Her art is filled with visions of angels, peace, and hope. She is a self-proclaimed missionary for God through art.

Both artists were deeply affected by tragedy, and both found faith-filled ways to respond to that pain.

Reading Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel, evokes in me those folk-art raw responses. Lamentations gives the Jewish people a form and a vocabulary for dealing with the loss and pain that came with the devastation of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon. Ezekiel saw in wild and unforgettable images what the Jewish people couldn’t or wouldn’t see - God at work in a catastrophic era. In a time when the circumstances gave no reason to obey or trust God, Daniel’s stories and visions supplied what society did not. Daniel shot adrenaline into the veins of God-obedience.

Sometimes conventional perception is not sufficient to convey the message. - Dr. Steve Winter, Executive Pastor

God Offers A New Beginning

“Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”  Isaiah 55:6 

Dear Friends,

 

I am sorry to report that I am once again behind in my reading! I could provide you with some very good excuses and reasons why this is the case – but I won’t bore you with those! Just wanted you to know, if you are behind, you are not alone!! 

 

Join me – in either carving out some time to catch up or just jump ahead to where we are today and start again! God rejoices when we ask for help in starting over – in fact, God is an expert at offering grace and second chances! 

 

Which is exactly what we find ourselves reading about in this month’s reading of the Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. The life of a prophet was not an easy one, they were chosen by God to proclaim God’s Word – to God’s people. As you read through the prophets (we are about to embark on several weeks of prophets) you will see a pattern that repeats itself over and over – it goes something like this:

 

- God loves the people and makes a covenant to be with them always.

- The people rebel, turn away from God and sin.

- God sends a prophet to call them to repentance; to turn from their sin and back to God.

- The people repent. 

- God forgives and renews his covenant.

Sound familiar? It is the same pattern I find myself in not only with my attempts at reading the Bible through the year but with my daily living. God reaches out to me with love and I am grateful and eager to follow Jesus. But then sin gets in the way and I turn away from God and try to do things my own way. Thankfully, God pursues me and seeks me out – even in my sin - and invites me back into right relationship. I ask for forgiveness and God forgives me and we start again. 

And I find myself often whispering a prayer of thanksgiving: “Thank you God for your gift of your mercy and forgiveness.”  I am so grateful for the hope we have in knowing that no matter how far we may stray, no matter how rebellious we may become – God continues to seek us out, to love us, and to offer us a fresh start and a new beginning.

Keep on keeping on – God has not given up on us!!! - Rev. Wendy Cordova, Pastor of Evangelism and Lay Ministry 

On a Faith Journey

It was in the summer of 2000 and the tunnel that I was walking through was so black I couldn’t tell if my eyes were open or closed…

Earlier that day we decided to join with a small group from our tour group. This was our free day to explore some of the ancient sites around Jerusalem on our own. Although we wore our sturdy walking shoes, we were not told that we also needed to bring a flashlight for the final stop of our day. The last stop was an ancient water passage, Hezekiah’s Tunnel. It was mentioned in our readings of Isaiah in chapters 7 and 8, and also mentioned in II Kings 20 and in II Chronicles 32.

In Isaiah, this tunnel is referred to as Shiloah. It is a little aqueduct that carries water from the Spring of Gihon to a pool inside the city wall of Jerusalem filling the Pool of Siloam. The tunnel was built as a means of providing a safe supply of drinking water inside the city walls. According to an inscription in ancient Hebrew script found in the tunnel, in 700 BC, two teams began at opposite ends, dug toward each other in the bedrock and met.

This very aqueduct we were about to walk (sometimes in water up to our thighs) was the one King Ahaz was probably examining as Isaiah challenged the lack of faith of Israel in 700 BC, almost 3,000 years before in the book of Isaiah!

That dark walk was about a third of a mile through the bedrock. I am told that IF you have a flashlight you can still see the tool marks on the walls. However we had none. Our friends had gone ahead and the gatekeepers that let us into the tunnel to walk had locked us in and disappeared. We had only one choice, forward. My sister had injured her knee, tearing her ACL just before we left for Israel. Determined to go with us, she had the doctor fit her with a knee brace to steady her knee and had been in quite a lot of pain throughout the trip. We had no choice but to begin the walk, so she placed one hand on my shoulder and one against the wall to steady herself and together we began our journey down the passage. All we could “see” as we crept forward was what we could feel through our fingers as we felt our way along the walls, the tilt of the ground underneath our feet as we carefully chose our steps and our hair as it brushed against the ceiling in places…..it was truly a faith walk.

As we began the descent we didn't know the length of the tunnel or what we would find. We also had to fight an increasing sense of panic in the darkness. To combat that feeling we began to sing, mostly hymns, as we carefully made our way through the tunnel. Often I would have to give directions to my sister to help her navigate each step, "OK, there's a small ledge and you'll step down." We sang and encouraged each other every step of the journey which seemed to us to last for hours until finally we began to see the faith glow of sunlight ahead. As we emerged from the darkness, I can still recall the picture of children playing in the water, laughing and splashing each other and the relief we felt as we walked into the sunlight.

Isn't that just like our journey of life? There are many times we may find ourselves moving into places that are unknown and often we feel ill-equipped for the journey. Yet when we trust in God he can lead and coach us through those dark and anxious times to a place of light and wonder.

The gentle stream of Shiloh was to Isaiah a symbol of quiet and confident faith in Yahweh, whose kingdom is more powerful and everlasting than the mightiest empires. (Isaiah 8:6) - Rev. Kathy Lamon, Pastor of Congregational Care and Older Adults

Feeling 'Called'

Author Ann H. Smith writes, "The Bible is full of people who protested when God called them. While some like Isaiah say, "Here am I; send me," many give God excuses for why he has made a poor selection. Jeremiah's excuse is his age. Although God tells him that before Jeremiah was born, he was set apart as a prophet, Jeremiah balks at his call.

Pastor of North Point Church, Andy Stanley says, "I never really felt called to ministry as much as my friends did. They would go down front after a worship service and tell my dad, 'I feel called to ministry.' ...And I used to think, 'I'm not feeling that.' I can remember trying to feel called to ministry - whatever that meant. Almost jealous of these guys who had such certainty about what God wanted them to do. I just didn't. And I think I was afraid.

"So one day - I was probably a sophomore or junior in college - riding with my dad somewhere in our Grand Safari station wagon, I said, 'Dad, do you have to feel called to ministry? Or can you volunteer?' He turned to me and said, 'I think you can volunteer.' I said, 'Well, I'd like to volunteer. I don't know if I'm called or not.' That was it. That was my big moment. No angels. No voices."

Whether we feel called to a "God idea" or we are simply willing to volunteer, this book of the Prophet Jeremiah helps us. It helps us because "God's ideas" are most always bigger ideas than "human ideas." And that means they are full of challenge and spiritual sweating. God's ideas pull us away from our "comfort zones" into God's "blessing zones." If I will (and maybe you, too) just be willing to go and do what the Lord leads us to do, then we will find blessing.

Jeremiah's task is difficult. He has to speak some hard words to a people as they move into and through a period of captivity. It is hard to speak of "God's ideas" when all is falling around you. It is also hard to listen for God's word when life is caving.

God bless the "Jeremiahs" whether they feel called or whether they simply volunteer.

Read on my friends. Good news is coming! - Dr. Terry Walton, Senior Pastor

The Hymn Book

I collect old hymn books - really old hymn books - circuit riders’ hymn books. When I hold them in my hands, I imagine the hands that held them when they were new, back in the 1840s or 1860s or 1880s. I pretend that I am at the 1840’s camp meeting summer evening service:

“See my utter helplessness

And leave me not alone;

Oh, preserve in perfect peace,

And seal me for thine own.”

Or, I stand with family members in an 1860’s funeral service and sing:

“And must this body die,

This well-wrought frame decay?

And must these active limbs of mine

Lie mould’ring in the clay?”

(Those two pages were “dog-eared” in an 1840 Methodist Hymn Book.)

I can’t help but wonder what occasioned the writing these old hymns. Was it war or peace, fear or assurance, calm or chaos, new life or fresh death that brought them into being. I wonder who hummed them as they worked, or softly sang them as prayers at the end of the day. I wonder whose eyes filled with tears of special memories as they sang in worship. I wonder who remembered that this was grandmother’s favorite.

This summer, we’ve been reading a much older hymn book, The Psalms. Like many of the old Methodist hymns, we don’t have the tunes anymore, but we do have the faith that they sing. - Dr. Steve Winter, Executive Pastor

At Least Reading the Psalms I Can Keep Up!

It is the middle of summer. I don’t know about you but the heat, humidity, and now daily downpours are starting to take a toll on me. I don’t really want to get up with the alarm. I sure don’t want to get outside and exercise. And, I really would rather read a chapter in a beach novel that keep up with the daily Bible readings I have committed myself to this year. So it has been nice to find myself in the Psalms during my “dog-days” season. At least in the Psalms I can keep up with the reading – or rather, I was keeping up until Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible. In fact, it has more verses – 176 – than 13 books in the Old Testament and 16 books in the New Testament. Each of the psalm’s 22 stanzas begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and within each stanza, every line begins with that same letter. Tradition says that King Solomon taught his sons the Hebrew alphabet using this acrostic psalm as his teaching resource. A more modern look at Psalm 119 by Bible commentators has suggested that the psalm itself would make as much sense read backward as forward. Whether or not that is true, what is true is that Psalm 119 is long and a little daunting for those of us trying to keep us with our reading!

But, I am faithful – if not a little behind – so I read on. And, there it was! Nestled in the 105th verse, waiting for me to arrive, was the line that I needed to read and remember. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Regardless of the temperature outside and my internal summertime clock, God has graciously given me just what I need to continue my journey in faith. With God’s word offering guidance, lending support, and encouraging reflective thinking, I can find my way through my malaise and the real dangers in life on the path God has lighted for me – and you!

With renewed commitment and enthusiasm, I am catching up on my reading. I hope you will, too! _ Rev. Debby Fox, Pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship

It Don't Come Easy

Our reading during this time period includes the book of Job—the book of HARD questions about suffering and the nature of God. Rabbi Harold Kushner, in his book, When Bad Things Happen To Good People, looks at this story of Job’s sufferings, his friends’ counsel, and God’s involvement. He notes three statements which everyone in the book, and most of its readers would like to be able to believe:

A. God is all powerful and causes everything that happens. Nothing happens without God willing it.

B. God is just and fair, and stands for people getting what they deserve, so that the good prosper and the wicked are punished.

C. Job is a good person.

As long as Job is healthy and prosperous, we can believe all three. But when Job loses everything and suffers, we have a problem. We can no longer make sense of all three propositions together. We can only affirm any two, IF we reject the third.

Job’s friends are prepared to stop believing (C). They want to “comfort” him by telling him that God is just and fair and in control, and we all get what we’ve got coming. Blaming the victim is still popular today! Job maintains his innocence, and is prepared to reject (B). Perhaps God is so powerful that God is not bound by concepts like justice or fairness.

The author of Job takes a position that neither Job nor his friends take. He is prepared to give up his belief in (A): that God is all powerful. Bad things do happen to good people in this world, but it is not God who wills it. Sometimes cruelty and chaos and havoc claim innocent victims. To do so changes the question from, “God, why are you doing this to me?” to “God, see what is happening to me. Can you help me?” _ Dr. Steve Winter, Executive Pastor

Books Tell of Faithful Servants

I hope you have had an opportunity to catch up on your Bible reading – or at least to get to the book of Nehemiah and Esther. If you haven’t, you may want to just go ahead and read them today! I think you will discover that both of these books are engaging, encouraging and wonderful reflections of God’s willingness to use ordinary human beings to do extraordinary things.

As I read these the accounts of these two faithful servants of God, I made a few observations that I think can be applied to my life and yours! I hope that you will find them to be inspiring and helpful:

Nehemiah

Nehemiah began a task (rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem) – that appeared to be impossible and many sought to stop him. Yet, with God’s help, Nehemiah was able to complete the task before him.

Nehemiah didn’t try to do this big task alone – but along with God’s help, he strategically invited other people to participate in the mission with him.

Nehemiah never gave up – no matter what obstructions or complications came along.

Nehemiah believed in God, worshiped God, gave thanks to God and prayed to God.

Esther

Esther was a humble orphan who became a powerful queen – and she allowed herself and the position she found herself in to be used by God in order to save her people.

I love that before taking the risk of approaching the king, Esther, along with her community, fasted and prayed.

Esther risked her own life in order to save the lives of many and the risk paid off!! And her story is still told today.

Friends, oh that we would be people who make ourselves available to God – to be used by God, in whatever ways God calls us. Oh, that we would be people who invite others to join us in ministry. Oh, that we would be people who are persistent in serving and doing good. Oh, that we would be people who believe, worship and pray to God. Friends, oh that we would be people who make ourselves available to God. Oh, that we would be people who before making big decisions would fast and pray. Oh, that we would be people who lay down our lives – in order to bring life to others.

See – the Bible is still relevant to our lives today!

I am praying that God will speak into your life, as we continue together in this adventure of reading the Bible. _ Rev. Wendy Cordova, pastor of Evangelism and Lay Ministry.

Finding Joy in God's Presence

Are you as tired as I am of the flip-flop nature of the kings of Israel and Judah. One king does what is evil in the sight of the Lord. The next king does what is good and right in the sight of the Lord. One king kills all his family. The other king prospers with God’s blessings and is buried near David and his ancestors. One king has no one show up for his funeral. The next king has thousands giving thanks for his leadership as his life is celebrated and his body buried. My head is spinning at this ebb and flow of faithfulness to disobedience to faithfulness again.

Here’s my question: Why is so difficult for us to get it? Why can’t we see that faithfulness is the way of blessing, and disobedience is the way of curse? Why are we so thick-skulled and hard-hearted? How can a son of a great king like Hezekiah not follow in the steps of his father’s faithfulness? Was Hezekiah a great king while at the same time being a horrible father to his own son? I guess that it is always possible because we see it in our time. Our greatest leaders can be so consumed in their leadership they forget their primary place of leadership in the family.

But I have a hunch (call it a "spiritual nudge") that there is a lesson here that is important for me and maybe for you to digest. And that lesson is the capacity of the human spirit to miss the joy of God’s presence is large. God never gives up on me or you, but God will not force God’s way into our life. God will do all that can be done to love us into relationship but it is ultimately up to us to desire God’s presence and thus follow God’s ways.

I pray that we will all "do what is good and right in the sight of God." If we do, then blessings and life will follow. - Dr. Terry Walton, senior pastor

A Matter of Perspective

As we’ve been reading, have you noticed that the really crucial, vital, key events are recounted multiple times in the scriptures? (Two accounts of the Creation—one for linear thinkers, and one for storytellers; two versions of receiving the 10 Commandments; three reports of the reign of King David; you get the picture.) There is always more than one way to tell a story. And, different “hearers” need to “hear” from different perspectives to hear God’s truth. So, OK, the story of Israel’s kings has already been told in the books of Samuel and Kings. Here is another telling of the same story, a hundred or so years later, by another voice and from another perspective. This telling comes from “the Chronicler” (maybe Ezra?) at a time when God’s people are in danger of losing touch with what made them God’s people in the first place.

Our reading this week centers on the life and reign of King Solomon, David’s son and successor. Talk about a successful king, and you’re talking about Solomon—built the beautiful Temple, revered by his peers, respected for his wisdom, honored by all the people of Israel (and a collector of horses and chariots to boot)! The Chronicler’s point to his readers is this: Solomon’s success came from his right relationship with God.

Two things that God says to Solomon jump off the page at me. At God’s invitation, Solomon asks for wisdom. God says: “This is what has come out of your heart: You didn’t grasp for money, wealth, fame, and the doom of your enemies; you didn’t even ask for a long life. You asked for wisdom and knowledge so you could govern well my people over whom I’ve made you king. Because of this, you get what you asked for—wisdom and knowledge. And I’m presenting you with the rest as a bonus—money, wealth, and fame beyond anything the kings before of after you had or will have.” (The Message) Right relationship! Later, when Solomon prayed a beautiful prayer to dedicate the great Temple as an offering of love to God from his people, God replies: “I accept your prayer. I have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship.” Then God makes a promise for the times when his people fail: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (NRSV) Right relationship restored!

Maybe this third telling will help us get the right perspective. - Dr. Steve Winter, Executive Pastor

So What?

When I first began reading 1 Chronicles my first reaction was the same as a friend of mine commented, “So what? Why is it important to know who 'begat' whom?" Another told me, “The first few chapters are good if you have insomnia, you’ll be asleep in no time!” And I admit, when I began the reading, I was...well…bored.

It reminded me of the time I went with my family to the Highland Games at Stone Mountain. My maiden name is Forester, so we set off to find the Clan Forester. We found several different booths that “claimed” our family name, but we continued searching until we found our family…and so I began reading through my family genealogy of our own book of “begats,” and there I found my grandfather’s name and my father’s name. It gave me a sense of belonging to see the connectedness of the generations among my family.

Why is it important to know the family lineage? Maybe it’s because it provides us a center or roots in this world - an identity beyond ourselves. In Israel, it was important to validate the lineage of each family as each one had a significant role in the life of the community and worship.

And yet, as we find out more about the history in each family we also find those stories about family heroes or characters. In the movie “Hitch,” Will Smith is on a first date with a girl he wants to impress. He does a little research before the date and finds that her family came to the United States through Ellis Island and finds the signature of her great-great-grandfather on the logs as they signed in. Little did he know that this person was a criminal from Puerto Rico and caused the family great shame so they never speak of him. Needless to say, he didn’t get the reaction he expected from his date.

The same is true in Chronicles, as we moved beyond the “begats” we found stories about Saul and David and Solomon; stories of great faith and great personal disaster. We all have these family stories if we look into our history – some of great triumph, some of quiet lives, and those we’d rather not mention outside the family. Although they may be part of the story of our family, they do not define who we are…that is determined within our own lifetime. How are you living into the story of your life? _ Rev. Kathy Lamon, pastor of Congregational Care and Older Adults

Greetings, Bible readers!

They (whoever they are) say that confession is good for the soul. So, let me confess – I have been behind (a lot) in my Bible reading! So behind, that I had all but given up! But with a little encouragement from a fellow behind Bible reader – I decided to make a fresh start May 1. I gave up “catching up” and just started with the readings for May. We are 11 days into May – and I am happy to say, I have read every day thus far! I share that so you will know – even pastors are human! I share as a word of encouragement. You, too, can begin again. Just start with today’s date – and start reading! After all, God is full of grace and forgiveness and is really, really good at helping us “start over!”

In 11 days, we have finished the book of Second Kings. These chapters are filled with account after account of kings who “did what was evil in the Lord’s eyes.” In fact, I don’t know about you, but I found myself wanting to hurry and read so that I could get to the next king, hoping that the next one would do things differently – that the next king would be not only a good leader but also a faithful leader. As you know, those kinds of kings were few and far between. We could count on one hand the kings who “did what was right in the Lord’s eyes.” I found hope and encouragement whenever I came across those words!

So, what is the take-away from Second Kings? For me, it was a reminder – about the privilege and responsibility of leadership. I have heard leadership defined as influence. If that is the case, then we are all leaders - leaders in our homes; leaders in the workplace; leaders at school; leaders in our communities; leaders among our friends.

I found it very telling that the spiritual condition of the kings had a direct implication on the Israelites. The condition of their hearts in relationship to God directly influenced the ways they led and it brought great harm to their people. I believe that leadership (especially in the church) begins with a heart that is fully devoted to God. If we lead from a right relationship with God, then I believe that God will enable us and empower us to use our influence in meaningful and life-giving ways. And when our days are done – people will say of us – they sought to do what was “right in the Lord’s eyes.” - Rev. Wendy Cordova, pastor of Evangelism and Lay Leadership 

Are you sure there's only one God?

I have had a chance to be a part of several conversations about our reading through the Old Testament. While it is exciting to know there are people like me still reading through mostly unfamiliar chapters and books of the Bible, there is one recurring questions that keeps being asked. Folks want to know where the God of love, mercy and grace is hiding! Amid the conquest and settlement of Canaan, the stories of the early kings of Israel, and now the continuing saga of the rival kings of Israel and Judah, it is hard to see the characteristics of God that frame our understanding as Christians. It is no wonder that there are those who mistakenly think there are two Gods in the Bible - an Old Testament God, blood thirsty and vengeful, and a New Testament God, gracious and forgiving.

This week’s reading should help a bit. In 2 Kings, Chapter 5, we meet Naaman, the king of Aram’s general. He is seeking a cure for leprosy, and believes the prophet Elisha can offer him healing. Given the conflict between the Arameans and the Hebrews, the reader would certainly not expect to have this account be a positive one. However, the Biblical writer uses this encounter between Elisha and Naaman to tell us something significant about God and God’s relationship with humankind. Naaman is cured, not because he is worthy, offers appropriate riches in return, nor for any other ability or quality. Naaman is cured because God desires to bring new life to Naaman. God freely and graciously offers compassion and healing to an outsider, an enemy. Sound familiar?

Jump ahead to Luke 4:17-30, and read the account of Jesus preaching this story in his hometown. God’s grace is not always popular, nor reserved for those whom we deem worthy. The God of love, mercy and grace is not hiding, waiting for the turn of the page into the New Testament. God’s reconciling and redeeming work is part of the fabric of the Old Testament, too. There is one God who is concerned and compassionate toward ALL people. Thanks be to God for that unfailing gift! - Rev. Debby Fox, pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship

The Wisdom of Solomon

We have moved from 2 Samuel to 1 Kings this week. We are moving through the story of Solomon as the "wise" king. While David is considered the greatest king Israel has ever known. Solomon is considered the "wisest." I notice that there is a difference between greatness and wisdom. And I think we see it lived out in the differences between David and his son Solomon.

For example, Solomon built the temple of God before he built himself a palace. David built himself a palace and then thought about building God a temple (he never got around to it). Perhaps Solomon learns from his father’s mistakes and builds on his father’s successes—wisdom. It does seem to be true that Solomon was deeply intent on growing forth the faith life of the Hebrew people. Once that was in place, then he considered any personal needs or any personal grand goal—wisdom.

One of my mentors in ministry always asked as he was helping lead people in all matters “Where’s the wisdom in this or that?” I’ve never forgotten it. It is an important question as I live my life as a son, father, husband, friend, citizen, pastor, American, Caucasian with English and Irish roots. Where is the wisdom?

How do I get at wisdom in my life? How do you get at wisdom in your life? A good place to start is asking “what are our priorities? Do we put God first when planning our day or making decisions about how to spend our time and money? I have discovered that when I put God first in my life, my priorities are different than what they might be otherwise. Wisdom is found in this one fact: There is nothing more important than knowing the one who created me and saved me.

Remember the words of Jesus? “Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33) - Dr. Terry Walton, senior pastor

Looks A Lot Like Life to Me

I know that 2 Samuel’s story revolves around David’s triumphs and tragedies. But really—these final chapters need some kind of a directory to help us keep all of the players straight. Some of the story’s characters are larger than life. Some are seemingly insignificant. Some dominate the plot, and some are just acquaintances along the way. And the relationships inside and outside David’s family—what a mess! Who is on whose side? Who is deceiving whom? Whose counsel is to be believed? Who is a war with whom (and why)? Who loves and hates whom? Who is in power, and who is out of power? I found myself reading and re-reading and trying to make sense of it all.

And where is God while all of this is going on? Sometimes God is not even mentioned for pages.

Perhaps that is the point. David’s victories and catastrophes plunge us into the actual business of living itself. David’s life displays the human condition. He is God’s person (even God’s king), but David is a real person who lives a real life. His story doesn’t show us how we should live but in fact how we do live. In the process, 2 Samuel teaches that real daily life is the stuff God uses to work out his purposes of salvation in us and in the world.

Part of David’s closing prayer in 2 Samuel 22 (The Message) gives some perspective: But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me while I was down, but God stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved! - Dr. Steve Winter, executive pastor

Seek God's 'Do-over'

Espionage, spies, intrigue, battles, kings, witches, prophets, rape, and promises made and broken ….it’s all there in this week’s readings. The stories told that sound more like the headlines of today’s papers than something you would expect to read in the Bible. 1 & 2 Samuel have shown us the best and the worst of King Saul and King David. We’ve witnessed acts of extravagant kindness, faith and bravery and acts of extreme cruelty, faithlessness and cowardliness.

Often when we hear the stories of the great characters of the Bible, we see them in the light of hero with a character that seems to have no blemish or fault; yet when we are willing to look a little deeper into their lives we see that they too make poor decisions, behave badly and seem to exhibit anything but Godly behavior. Perhaps that is why it is difficult to accept that our Sunday School heroes often stumbled and failed – we want to only see them in that light of goodness and greatness.

So what is there for us to see and learn from these stories, this quagmire of daily living that can easily disillusion us from these ones that, perhaps until these readings, we admired? Maybe it is this: that even in the midst of our "stuff" God is ever present….ever waiting to be called upon for guidance and help. In every venture, when God was called upon, God was present and ready to love and forgive. That forgiveness did not take away the consequences of some very poor and destructive choices, yet it allowed them to move forward with hope and renewed identify of children of God…with a fresh start from that moment forward.

Maybe our inability to conceive the depth of that kind of forgiveness from God is why we struggle to believe that God can truly forgive us. When we fail to live up to our expectations of what it means to be a Christian, how can God possibly forgive us? We live with idealized, often romantic, ideas of what it means to be a Christian in this world; ideas that are often not based on the reality of the messiness of life. We are hurt and we lash out causing more hurt, we compromise our values in small ways and later find ourselves in places or situations we never expected to be, we are disappointed in others and choose to never trust again. If there is one thing we can learn from this week’s readings, or from the Bible in its entirety, is that God never gives up on us and there is no limit to his forgiveness.

When I was a kid, we’d often have "do-overs" if things were going really badly or someone just needed a chance to try again. We’d stop the game and call "do-over" and it was if the previous pitch or hit never happened…..it was a fresh start. Maybe that’s what we need in all our lives – especially when it seems all our efforts are just taking us farther and farther from who and what God has called us to be. "Lord, I am so sorry, and I need your forgiveness." And God replies with a smile on his face, "Do-over!" - Kathy Lamon, pastor of Congregational Care and Older Adults

Hit the Pause Button

We are in the midst of a very important week – even more important than Spring Break!

It is Holy Week -the week in which we remember the last days of Jesus’ life. This is the week in which we remember God’s love and faithfulness in providing for us a Savior. This is a week in which we retell the story of God’s amazing and great love for all people revealed to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But this love story began when God, the Creator, first crafted humanity in His image. It is indeed a story of love that the Bible tells from beginning and into the future – a story of God’s pursuit of being in relationship with humanity.

And so it seems appropriate – that just for a moment you hit the pause button on your reading in the first book of Samuel and consider these Scripture verses that will help us remember once again the purpose and the meaning and the love through the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Romans 5:6-9

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:4-7

When they hurled their insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:23-25

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
　

Thanks be to God – for the gift of his Son Jesus Christ – through whom we receive the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. Amen. And Amen. - Wendy Cordova, pastor of Evangelism and Lay Ministry

It's Check-in Time!

I love getting the email reminders from Delta 24 hours ahead of my flight departure. "It’s time to check in," the email announces and I know just what to do. I take a second look at my seat assignment, check my luggage, and print my boarding pass. We have now been reading the Bible every day for 89 days (if you are reading this on March 29.) This week’s blog says, "It’s time to check in!"

How’s your seat assignment? Have you found a time and a place where you can read comfortably and uninterrupted? Many of you have carved out a special time in the morning. Others are reading at night ending their day with God. Some are reading at work, in the car as they wait at baseball practices. Several are reading it aloud with a spouse, creating a spiritual intimacy not shared before. If you have found it difficult to keep the time set apart, maybe now is the time to change your seat assignment for the next leg of our flight.

How many of you have baggage to check? There is nothing more challenging than finding something in Scripture that you don’t want to see, have never seen, or have tried to ignore for years. Christians struggle with the books of Joshua and Judges and their stories of mass destruction and disobedience. What has happened to the loving, grace-filled God who so faithfully traveled with the Hebrews? Be cautious about ignoring the historical and contextual place of these stories in the larger story of God’s redemption of creation. Find a good commentary – several are available in the church library - and study! You don’t need to carry on your bags.

Here is a bit of what you’ve shared in responding to the inquiry in the bulletin regarding how reading the Bible this way is impacting your spiritual journey: "I am learning and reading chapters I didn’t know about;" "It is helping my faith and hope to grow stronger and dependent on God;" "I am learning so much! Our God is so good! I love reading God’s word daily and connecting with God."

It’s time to check in, and print your boarding pass for the next leg of the journey! - Debby Fox, pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship

It's All About Boundaries

We have finally finished Joshua and what a journey that was for us! Did you notice all the detail about boundaries? That got me to thinking about the crucial importance of boundary lines, even today? I have a friend who is having a terrible time because of an incorrect boundary line on her property. She has spent thousands of dollars in legal fees, etc. and the issue is still not resolved. I have known of persons who have had to remove fences and shrubberies and even portions of a home because a boundary line had been encroached. Boundaries are important.

That is not only true of land boundaries but that is also true of emotional and relational boundaries. I have seen lives, marriages and thus families destroyed because of an emotional or relational boundary being encroached upon. I have had to learn the lesson of personal boundaries the hard way. Early in my ministry when I was trying to save the world, a friend told me in her country sort of way; "Terry, you can’t be sheriff for the whole world." In other words, "Terry, you must set healthy personal boundaries." It is true that one can only do what one can do, but they can do that. To this day, I still want so desperately to keep people from making eternal mistakes—the kind of mistakes that cannot be reversed and are damaging to so many they love. But I can’t substitute my self or my wishes into their free will. I must know my limitations and leave the rest to God—boundaries, healthy boundaries.

The children of Israel needed some help with their tribal boundaries as well as their spiritual boundaries. As long as they stayed within the boundaries set by God through Moses, Caleb and/or Joshua, their lives were orderly and blessed. But when they forgot—and they seemed to have a "forgetting problem"—their lives were full of chaos and division.

Therein, lies our lesson for all of time. Watch your boundaries—keep them healthy. Don’t let your free will become a fence that is costly to move. - Terry Walton, senior pastor

Joshua Fit the Battle...and the battle...and the battle

The Promised Land is here at last! Land flowing with milk and honey—Holy Land—Canaan Land. The people of Israel have been given the law, and now they enter the land the God promised. Entering the Promise Land brings so many changes to God’s people! The People of Israel had been landless wanderers for nearly 500 years. Their forefathers—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and families—were nomads in the land of Canaan. That was followed by 400-plus years of slavery in Egypt. Moses led the people through 40 years of wandering that tested, trained and prepared them. Now under Joshua the time comes to be landed and free with God.

During those 500 years, the people had been Apiru’ (ah-pee-ROO)—which literally means "the people WITHOUT the say." (say Apiru five times fast, and you’ll notice what a short transition it is to our word "Hebrew"). No power—no clout—no land—no "say" in life. Now that they are the covenant people of God entering the land God promised, big changes happen. They become the people WITH the "say." The transition from being landless slaves to land-holding free people was huge!

Joshua leads the transition. It is a bloody, messy, military affair—not for the fainthearted. "No survivors" is a term that recurs often. Eugene Peterson states, "People who want God as an escape from reality, from the often hard conditions of this life, don’t find this much to their liking."

The Book of Joshua gives us the geographical boundaries of the Promised Land and how they came into being—and a LOT more. - Dr. Steve Winter, Executive Pastor

We've Been Down This Road Before...

In reading Deuteronomy, immediately I began to feel, "we’ve been down this road before, why all the repetition?" When I find myself at this place I find that I need to hear the story in a different voice. I chose to read this book from Eugene Peterson’s The Message. Peterson reminded me that this book is a series of sermons from Moses just as the people are preparing to move into the Promised Land – they have arrived, but before going forward, once again Moses was commanded to remind the people of their journey, God’s instruction and God’s blessing. This new generation needed know and own their story, "you were a people brought out of Egypt; this not just a story about what happened in "olden days" – this is you, your story. Hear it, feel it, own it, live by it so you will be blessed."

Deuteronomy is book is full of "don’t forgets." Don’t forget: how to live, how to dress, how to worship, conduct yourself in battle, how to take care of the stranger, the widow, the orphan….especially don’t forget I intend for you to live a different sort of life, one unlike all those around you – you are a people called and set apart; you are called to a different standard. It is much more comfortable when moving to a different community or culture to adopt and adapt to the culture. No one likes to hear, "You aren’t from here, are you?"

Early in Deuteronomy we find the Shema, "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One; you must love the Lord your god with all your heart, all our soul, and all your strength." This is the center of Jewish identity. This verse is posted near the doorframes of all practicing Jewish families to this very day in a special "box" called a mezuzah. Each time they pass through the door, they touch it as a reminder that God is to be the center of their lives. It is a tangible reminder of God’s provision, God’s commandments, and God’s sovereignty in their lives – it is a literal "touchstone" for them. It reminds them that, No, they aren’t "from here," theirs is a deeper identity.

What touchstones do you have in your life that remind and connect you to your faith, your tradition, to your identity? Perhaps it is a cross in your pocket or a coin you carry with you, or perhaps a necklace you wear. It is good to have these reminders, but the best reminder is the words of grace that exist within us – the words, "you are forgiven." - Kathy Lamon, pastor of Congregational Care and Older Adults

Be Encouraged - Press On

I have a confession to make. It’s not an easy confession to make especially because I am someone who feels the responsibility of setting an example for others.

Friends, I confess that I am behind in my daily Bible Reading. Like a WHOLE BOOK behind! You all have started Deuteronomy, and I am still back somewhere in the beginning of Numbers. I have several very good reasons for being behind (but I won’t bore you with those stories) and unfortunately, the more behind I get the less motivated I am to catch up.

You would think that the responsibility for writing this week’s blog would motivate me to have a marathon reading session to catch up. Then I would be super prepared to impress you with my wisdom, insight and discipline!

Even with that external pressure and expectation on myself … I am still behind.

Maybe you are caught up – and staying up with the daily reading. If you are let me say, "Way to go! Keep up the good work! We are PROUD of you!"

But maybe there are some of you who, like me, for all kinds of good reasons (or maybe not so good reasons) are a little or even a lot behind – let me say, to you what I wish someone would say to me: "Don’t get discouraged. Don’t give up. You can do it. You can begin again."

Thankfully, tomorrow is a new day – God is a God of forgiveness and grace. God is a God who makes space for us to begin again.

Let’s join with Paul in: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

Press on, my friends – forgetting what is behind and strain ahead. Pick up your Bible and start with today’s reading and move ahead! We can do this! – Wendy Cordova, pastor of Evangelism and Lay Ministry

By the Numbers

I am having a wonderful time "rediscovering" some of my favorite stories in the Bible as I continue our yearlong read through the Bible. I am one of those people who reads really fast and a lot of things at the same time. Often I can’t quite remember where I read something or to whom I should give credit. All the information and the stories can get jumbled together. While it is fun being able to remember lots of details, some of my students over the years will also remember me having to confess that "I am making some of this up!" as I pass on Biblical and theological information.

This week I rediscovered three of my favorite stories – I just couldn’t have told you they were all in Numbers! One of the favorite "stump the teacher" Bible questions is why God refuses to allow Moses to enter the Promised Land after all that work leading the Hebrew people through the desert. I discovered the answer again in Numbers 20:1-13. Trusting and obeying God continue as important Biblical themes – for Moses – and for me!

Did you catch the story of the poisonous snakes in Chapter 21:4–8? I read that story twice this week. Once in Numbers, and then I was reminded of it in the Gospel of John. In John 3:14, Jesus talks about being "lifted up" as he references this story of Moses lifting a bronze snake so that those who could see it might be healed. Jesus is "lifted up" onto the cross and if we will look to the cross, we will be healed from sin, just as the Israelites were healed from snakebites.

And who doesn’t love a talking donkey, especially one who can see and recognize the angel of God?

Numbers is an important chapter in the bible for those of us "wandering" in the 21st Century. It reminds us of God’s rich blessings, healing powers, continuing sustenance, and the birth and hope of each new generation of God’s people. Keep reading! God has more in store for us as God is revealed through the biblical story. - Debby Fox, pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship

The Book of Numbers

Author: Moses
Date: 1420 or 1220 B.C.
Content: This book deals with the journey of Israel from Mt. Sinai to the edge of Canaan and the Israelites’ preparation to enter the Promised Land. Because of sin and unbelief, however, they were not allowed by God to claim their inheritance but were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. After the 40 years, they slowly made their way back to Canaan – this time ready to obey God’s commands. After winning some important battles to the east of the Jordan River, the Israelites prepared for the entrance into the land itself.
Theme: The book shows the continual faithfulness of God and the unbelievable sin of humankind. Israel rejected God but God remained true to his word, in leading the people through the wilderness and providing for their needs. In the New Testament, the Christian life is likened to a wandering in the wilderness with the promise of a heavenly Canaan before us.

I trust the above information is helpful as you celebrate "finally" being out of Leviticus and into Numbers. We've begun with some details on the who, what and where of behind the scenes of worship (This may be a good time to appreciate those who do all the behind the scene stuff that cause our worship experiences to be so meaningful). But hang with your reading - one of my favorite Biblical stories is just around the page - the story of the spies into the promised land.

I'll leave you with the Nazarite Blessing found in Numbers 6 -"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His face to you and grant you peace." (6:24-26) CEB - Terry Walton, senior pastor at Gainesville First UMC

Eat This - Not That!

I love this project of reading through the Bible! I’ve studied the Bible through, but I confess that this is my first time to begin with Genesis and read through to Revelation. Leviticus may be the very reason I’ve never made it through!

All these laws and rules make my head swim! Aren’t 10 Commandments enough? Don’t drink blood—what to do about skin fungus (or house fungus)—what to do if a wall lizard falls into the cooking pot—who checks out a sore spot on a bald head—Fire Gift vs. Grain Offering—what happens if a man has sex with his aunt—Day of Atonement and Year of Jubilee—cloven hoof as opposed to split hoof on the dinner table. (How exactly did I get so lucky as to draw blog duty this week?)

Here are my personal observations on why all this must be necessary:

First, the children of Israel are no longer wandering in the wilderness. They have survived and they are home. This fledgling nation of Israel, this little band of travelers must now learn how to settle down and live together as God’s chosen people. All of these laws are God’s answers to the question, "What do we do now?"

These people are not just any people, they are people in covenant with Yahweh, the one true God, and as such, they are to be different. They are not to act like others, so they will have different rules. It’s as if God is saying, "You are my children, and in my house we will act THIS way."

Many of these Levitical laws—dietary, medical, sexual, natural, and covenantal—are common sense ways for a neophyte nation to stay healthy and "grow big and strong." Don’t eat pig. (It’s full of worms and too hard to cook. It’ll make you sick and you’ll die.) Have those sores looked at. Don’t act in ways that denigrate our purpose! Remember who we are! We are becoming God’s holy nation.

Hang in there—the story will return! - Steve Winter, executive pastor

Being 'made right'

We are now several weeks into the reading; hopefully, you are not like me and at times finding yourself playing "catch up," but I must confess that is where I was this week. Remember it's not a race but rather a chance to journey together though this book that informs, instructs and shapes our understanding of God.

Speaking of instructions, this week's readings were full of them as we moved from instructions about how to build the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant and all the tools used in worship in Exodus to the instructions to the priests on how to properly conduct worship and offer sacrifices in Leviticus. Offerings of animals and grain for guilt, sin and thanksgiving were addressed in vivid detail that almost had you seeing and smelling the events. As I read through the very specific instructions for the priests, it reminded me of some of my practicums in seminary in how to lead worship and the importance of each step in the liturgy (worship) and its significance and purpose. Professors were exact and precise in how, when and why each should be done. And especially as I read the part about ordination I was particularly thankful that although the bishops and others lay heavy hands on our heads as they speak the words of ordination over us, they did not have to place blood on the lobe of my ear!

Yet, one phrase I read over and over at the conclusion of the sacrifice instructions spoke to my heart, "through this process the priest will purify you from your sin, making you right with the Lord."

This is what Jesus Christ did for each of us, through him, we are purified and forgiven for our sins and "made right with the Lord." Praise God! - Kathy Lamon, pastor of Congregational Care and Older Adults

God is faithful within Christian community

What an adventure it is to be reading the Bible – isn’t it? And I love that I am not doing it alone, but with you! It is helpful knowing others are reading along with me and the conversations have been delightful.

If you are caught up with the readings this week they sure have been interesting, haven’t they? For instance, I find it interesting that after giving Moses the Ten Commandments God goes on (on on) with a great number of very specific rules and laws. How in the world did Moses remember them all? I found it interesting that God gave such specific instructions for building the temple. And by the way, what is acacia wood anyway?

Beyond what I found interesting, I discovered kindred spirits in the Israelites. I was amazed at how quickly they forgot what it felt like to be oppressed and how quickly they forgot God’s faithfulness in delivering them. That when faced with difficulty and hunger in the midst of the unknown – they wanted to go back to slavery. You’d think after walking through the Red Sea they would know that God could and would take care of them! And yet, I, too, often forget – that just as God has been faithful to me in the past – God will be faithful to me in the unknown of the future (no matter how scary it gets)!

But what touched my heart the most this week – was in Chapter 17 when Israel was fighting Amalek. Remember? As long as Moses held up his hand – the Israelites were winning the battle – but when he lowered his hand, Amalek would begin to win the battle. And when his hands grew tired Aaron and Hur held up his hands until sunset, until the Israelites had victory. What a beautiful image of the Christian community as we love and care for one another! I am grateful for the Aarons and Hurs in my life – that hold me up when I am tired. And I pray that I am a faithful Aaron and Hur to those around me. - Wendy Cordova, pastor of Evangelism and Lay Ministry

Let's Keep Reading

19 days and reading where I am supposed to be! I feel good about that. You know, I have never read through the Bible in a year, either. Just like many of you, I have set out to do it, but something has always gotten in the way. Usually well before day 19! Psychologists say it takes three weeks to create a new habit. I am hoping that I am almost to the habit-forming stage of reading each day. I am looking forward to continuing to see new things about God in the biblical story each week as I practice my new habit of reading through the Bible in a year.

This week, we are finishing Genesis and beginning Exodus. We began in a garden and now find ourselves enslaved in Egypt. Isn’t it interesting that with one sentence, "Now a new king came to power in Egypt who didn’t know Joseph." (Ex. 1:8) a place of refuge and restoration becomes one of oppression and misery? I wonder how many of us have found ourselves in a similar situation? We flee to a place that we believe will provide a safe haven, only to find that we have entrusted our lives to the wrong place and the wrong people. In the case of the Israelites, two generations had lived in Egypt growing and multiplying until their sheer numbers threatened the Pharaoh’s sense of security and power. From there, the story takes a dramatic turn toward continual hardship, cruelty and even mass murder. Not a very hope-filled future for the heirs to God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.

But God hears, remembers and looks down on the Hebrews. And God acts. As is God’s way, it is through the ordinary that something extraordinary happens. Shiphrah, Puah, Miriam, and her mother, the pharaoh’s daughter, even Moses – ordinary people who respond in extraordinary ways - ensure that God’s promises and hopes for the people are not thwarted. This is one of my favorite things about God. I love how God takes the least likely and invites them to play important roles in God’s story. Right from the beginning, God has wanted relationship and partnership with us in the grand plan of creation. I can’t tell you how it feels to know in my heart that God has invited me, even me, to play a part that only I can fill. And God has done the same for you.

So let’s keep reading! Where will the story take us next? Don’t be discouraged if you miss a day, or two. Jump back in. This is an adventure that just gets better and better. - Debby Fox, Pastor of Christian Education and Discipleship.

Read The Bible in a Year

Reading through the Bible is going well for me. So far I’m on schedule. Sharon and I are reading it aloud on most mornings. Occasionally, we are doing it separate due to our schedules. In reading Genesis I’m amazed at God’s grace. There is real ‘misbehavior’ that seems to happen in every day’s reading. There is lying and cheating and conniving. There are power struggles and sexual sin and the sin list seems never ending. And yet God doesn’t give up completely on humanity. Yes, he deals with Noah and the flood but doesn’t give up on the possibility that the human race can head off into a healthier direction. I am amazed at God’s grace from Adam and Eve’s rebellion all the way through to Jacob and Esau’s enormous sibling rivalry. I stand amazed at God’s patience and God’s decision to not give up on humanity.

I am reminded, too, that there will always be some questions that go unanswered for me. Three times husbands pass off their wives as sisters just to save their own skin (Abraham twice—poor Sarah, and Isaac once). I know this is cultural and dated, but I can’t imagine doing such a thing. Noah getting drunk and being naked—what’s up with that? I have an idea but not so sure about that one. Jacob sure was an opportunist against his brother Esau but not without his mother, Rebekah’s conniving. Come on, Rebekah, you know better than that! I was glad when Laban gave Jacob a dose of his own medicine but 20 years' worth seemed a bit much to me. I felt the anger in today’s reading by the brothers when they heard of the rape of Dinah. They devised a pretty good plan of retribution, but I have to agree with Jacob when in essence he conveys the attitude, "Is this any way for God’s people to behave? Be careful how you respond to situations—regardless how bad the behavior has been, because the payback can be long and painful!" Jacob knows this from personal experience.

This story of God and God’s people is certainly full of all kinds of relationships. But overwhelming me is the grace of God. He could have given up on the human project and gone on to other places but God sticks with us—God believes something in us that we’ve yet to see in ourselves. I’ll read on. - Terry Walton, Senior Pastor, GFUMC