February 2, 2010, Exodus 15:19-17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalm 27:1-6, Proverbs 6:20-26

May the words we share and our thoughts of reflection be acceptable to one another to the Glory and appreciation of our Creator;

Response to Exodus 15:19-17:7

Following today's reading, my inspirational thought for today as a Christian in America is this: "The travesty was not when we lost the power to force our virtuous ideals on our fellowman, but when we chose to stop speaking to those that still do force their virtuous ideals on their fellowman and wish to implement their law worldwide.  Perhaps we must tap the rock of idealism through prayer, gentleness, and love and allow the living water to flow through this Desert of Sin." This reminds me of Peter's claim that the cornerstone shall be a stumbling block (I Peter 2:4-8)

I'm wondering if you are amazed, as I am, that immediately after the plagues in Egypt and the Parting of the Red Sea, that the Israelites would rather convert back to their old lives of slavery where other's controled their lives.  Yet, I think we all understand how quickly faith is tested amidst the obvious trials of life! If we were to stand in judgement over their reactions to life in the Desert of Sin, we had better check our own lives. When we react to our own hardships and struggles with God and our fellow man, are we more apt to grumble and complain and ask God why? Or do we naturally come before Him singing praises with thanksgiving in the midst of travesty?

I found it interesting that in Exodus 15:25 Moses made the bitter water sweet and wrote that "There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them" The rest of Exodus will speak much more of that law. The law absolutely seems bitter until one understands it was written for us as a vehicle of peace when it works from the inside out, not from the outside in. We can't rule others by it, we can only serve others through it. This again was a gift of grace - and must be used as such - to change our world.

The story in this passage represents several loving attributes of God: Patience, Healing, and Providing. It is tough to come away from this passage thinking He is a God of wrath and judgement as opposed to His being a God of Love, don't you think? I'd love to hear your comments.

Response to Matthew 22:1-33

I know some of us are hearing of these stories for the first time, and some know them well, so forgive me if I do not speak directly to you, but allow for one another. In this passage, Jesus shares a parable of a wedding feast to teach lessons regarding the Kingdom of God. Let me sing some praises for my Catholic brethren today! I have noticed that each week in your services, you celebrate communion. I think that is awesome! I also notice that many of you sanctify yourselves with holy water before entering the presence of God.  Many of us Protestants enter worship with little thought of honoring God in our worship, but only what blessings we might be able to get out of going to worship.  Unfortunately, many of us do not even attend worship!  However, you are here - hopefully you are worshipping and finding it in your heart to honor God! Hopefully, you are willing to invite others to partake of the blessings found in God's presence. I think that is what this parable is all about. 1. Come 2. Invite 3. Show Honor to God.  Oh, and I might add, don't kill the prophet!

The religious leaders of the day are often referred to as the "Teacher's of the Law!" Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were referred to as those who shared the Love, Forgiveness, and Grace of God? Here, the Pharisee's try to stump Jesus by mixing religion and politics, but Jesus sidesteps the issue by stating "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Simple enough, or is it? What are your thoughts?

Jesus also responds to the Sadducees question by stating in Matthew 22:32 "He (God our Father) is not the God of the dead but of the living." Now perhaps this is a test of our faith in regards to whether we believe Jesus is who He said he was, but He claims to have a pretty good in with the Father and an understanding beyond our comprehension of the afterlife. Therefore, if you consider Him a liar, this doesn't mean much to you, but if you believe He is who He said He was, this would mean that even those who are dead to sin - dead to flesh and blood - are alive to Christ to some compasity.  We do not fully understand the endgame - regardless of how well we think we do. Therefore, understand that you can believe that God is good! You can have hope! You can have Love! You can have Joy!

I recently watched the movie "The Invention of Lying" In the movie, To a naive world, one individual claimed that there was an afterlife to give the people hope. We are studying a book that includes ancient History. This claim of something beyond comes from our oldest written records and is repeated by many authors within this book who claimed to have had similiar visions and dreams of the God of creation. Their stories match stories coming from other faith groups. Don't be stooped into believing the current lie within our society that all these visions and dreams were made up and the awesome creation within you and around you that remains beyond your comprehension is somehow a super organized chance! - That indeed takes a greater faith than I am capable of. You certainly can have hope! You can believe and have faith in God's Love.

Response to Psalm 27:1-6

I must quote the first verse here as it is awesome! I claim this promise as my own and I hope you will too! "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"  Again, I would never use this word "my" to exclude anyone from claiming this promise as their own. Claim it, use it, believe it, share it! This cup is for you, but don't be selfish - pass it to the brother next to you! A song I sang as a child went like this: "We are one in the Spirit, We are One in the Lord..." Applying this mantra to our lives will absolutely redeem creation. Do you have enough courage to conquer the world through the Prince of Peace?

Read this Psalm again and imagine it is being proclaimed by the son of David, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the firstborn among many brethren, the ruler of His Kingdom throughout earth and beyond.

Response to Proverbs 6:20-26

Are you old enough to find that the pleasures of this life are fleeting? I find more joy in filling my life with an addiction to Spirituality - and through it's application loving my fellowman to the ultimate Glory of God our Father than I have found through any other addiction I have pursued in my life. I find the pleasures and gifts I have been granted; my wife, my children, my occupation, are more rewarding when when I follow His simple rules. They don't affect my salvation which I shall come to understand, but they enrich my life - and that I know.

Until Tomorrow, God's Blessings - Please respond, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Rick