The earth yields her wonder to my presence. She welcomes me to her bounty. This generous and gracious welcome humbles me and I walk easy as I enter the wonder of the wilderness. A calm comes over me, but only for a moment. A moment to breathe deeply in the fresh and open air, and then comes the rush. Greeted by a snake scurrying away from my, what must be to the snake, pounding footsteps, seeing a gargantuan spider crawl across my leg as I sit in the open meadow causes the heart to beat a bit quicker, but not as much as the snake!

The rare times of spotting a bear close enough to have an adrenalin surge certainly stimulates the body. The joy that comes from the iridescent blue bird flying across my path thrills the body and the soul. For a moment, I too take flight in the brilliance and beauty of this charming bird. The thunderstorm that seemingly makes up out of nowhere as I walk a ridge totally exposed to her playful light, sound, and water show drenches me more with fear and awe than water – a really good soaking.

The hoary marmots, chipmunks, chattering squirrels, the rare appearance of mountain goats and the almost always presence of the big horn mountain sheep all are a feast for the body and its senses. Butterflies, ravens, raptors, the crazy whiskey jack and so many other creatures of flight are awe inspiring.

Purple, blue, red, white, pink, green, orange, yellow, and so many more hues of the wildflowers are a delight to the eyes and their scent is the best of aromatic experiences (the smell of Alberta beef on the barbeque is a close second!).

Skies, clouds, stars, creeks, bubbling springs, glistening blue lakes, and waterfalls all contribute their laughter and playfulness to the body and the imagination.

Okay! All these experiences are “bodily prayer.” The body is fully engaged and at the end of the day it’s good too for the soul. I ‘m left with a deeper appreciation of the earth and its wonders each time I venture into the wilderness and return. Gratitude from the practise of walking this wild and wonderful earth reduces stress, makes me strong, and connects me to the “miracle” of being and living at one with the earth. I am baffled by the mystery and the comparative silliness of my crazy life when apart from earth’s grandeur. Consider these questions God once asked of Job (chapters 38 and 39):

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”
“Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare it if you know…”
“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?”
“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south?”

Oh how my fleshy heart beats with joy, delight, praise, and thanksgiving! I am thrilled to be a curious and prayerful wanderer upon this planet, our home. I hope you get out and about. Keep safe. Enjoy the summer!

I discovered it upon my arrival back in Calgary around 6:00pm as I was dropping off my hiking companions. So, I think, “I’m on my way and will find out about her adventures when I get to the house.”

To make a long story short, my wife had suffered a cardiovascular incident. After googling her symptoms, she called health link. The nurse at health link said in a firm but gentle voice, “I need you to hang up and call 911.” The call was made and the EMS arrived. She was taken to the Rockyview General Hospital and immediately admitted to the Coronary Care Unit.

This was on Saturday. On Monday, she had an angiogram and a stent put in a main artery to the heart that was 90% blocked. She came home on Tuesday. The cardiologists were all  saying that she was very lucky and escaped with minimal heart damage. Isn’t  medical technology wonderful? The EMS, ER, and CCU staff were all amazing! And a special shout out to that health link nurse!

The folks are Deer Park, St. Andrews, and other United Church congregations have been so supportive. Thank you all! My colleagues have reached out to me; thank you for wonderful support and caring.
Saturday to Monday – what a difference in three days! In my gratitude, I wrote the following poem:

And on the third day,
He rose from the dead.

Chest pain and curiosity
As to what may be abreast

Led to googling symptoms
And wondering what the fuck.

Pain continues to persist,
And sounds the alarm.

Health link is called
And a calm nurse says,

“I need you to hang up,
And call 911.”

EMS arrive and care begun,
And life is guarded once more.

Day one, day two,
Day three a stent.

And on the third day,
Life holds sway.

One day death calls
And three days later ignored.

Everyday death beckons,
And yet we live.

Day one, day two and three,
The third a resurrection.

After all, it’s still Easter Season – it’s always Easter Season!

Garrison Keillor says that the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were happily the victims of one the greatest practical jokes ever. They had been in Jerusalem and had witnessed all that went down there over the past few days. Jesus was betrayed after having had a meal with his disciples. He was arrested. Some of those close to him fled and denied him. Jesus went on trial and received the death sentence. He was killed by crucifixion.

And then in the pain and fear, there were reports that Jesus had risen from the dead or at the very least that the tomb was empty. An empty tomb proves nothing.
The two from Emmaus (one was Cleopas) decided to go home. They journey together in fear, anxiety, and with many questions about all that had happened. Their hopes had been crushed. Would they, as followers of Jesus, be next? Best to beat it out of Jerusalem. To their surprise a stranger accompanied them along the way. (Shh…it was Jesus, but they didn’t recognize him.) The stranger asked, “What are you discussing with each other as you walk along?” The two couldn’t believe that this stranger was unaware of all that had happened over the past few days. The things that had happened to Jesus of Nazareth were told to the stranger with this telling comment, “But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.” They concluded with the unlikely story that Jesus was alive.

The stranger chided them for their foolishness and how slow of heart they were to believe. The stranger told them about Moses and the prophets and all that the scriptures had to say, and then as they arrived home, the stranger walked ahead as if he were going on. They invited him to stay. Then it happened! Jesus was known to them in the breaking of the bread. “Ta-da! Here I am!” Then he vanished out of their sight.

Immediately, the two had to return to Jerusalem. They had a story to tell! Good news to share! The two who were so downcast and afraid were on fire. “Didn’t our hearts burn within us?” Their life had turned around and now full of courage and joy they make that seven mile trip back to Jerusalem. There is a new gospel according to Cleopas and his companion.
I enjoy hiking. The group I hike with is never the same twice. As the hike begins people often pair up. I tend to attract the chatty hikers. Conversations begin with hikes we had been on before, the current hike, and all that we are seeing and experiencing along the way. Yet, for some, the conversation becomes personal. Once a woman was telling me more about her personal life that I cared to know. This was way too much information. What did I do? I acted like I was out of breath, and said, “Go on; I need to stop and catch my breath.” She replied, “Oh, that’s ok. I’ll wait with you.” Me? “Well, excuse me but I need a bathroom break too!”

Another time, I was walking along with a macho kind of a guy, and he was describing all his “exploits” especially when it comes to women. I didn’t appreciate what he was saying and definitely didn’t appreciate the dominate-male-misogynistic tone. I told him as much. He was taken aback by what I said.
Then he asked, to change the subject, the inevitable question, “So, what do you do?” “I’m a minister in the United Church of Canada.” He was really taken aback! He began to apologize for his language and even the things he had said. I looked him in the eye and said, “You are forgiven my brother.”

Journeying with others creates stories. Perhaps the first hiker went away saying, “I met his wonderful guy who really listened to me.” Perhaps the second hiker said, “That minister challenged me. I should think about changing my ways.” Haha! But who knows?

The two on the road to Emmaus had a life transforming moment. A new story to tell.

Two men walk into a bar. Let’s change that. Two black men walk into Starbucks. They take a seat as they are waiting for a third person. A worker at the Starbucks becomes frightened and calls the police. The two are arrested and detained for nine hours. (Why were they even arrested?) The worker never asked them if they would like to place an order or if they needed any help. (Starbucks has apologized.) Apparently, the police never said, “You should either buy something or be moving on.” These two black men have one more sad story about racism. But perhaps, their story becomes a story of renewed desire to fight racism and injustice. I bet their hearts burned within them!

As the story has gone viral, perhaps many might be encouraged to tell their stories and to share their new found resolve to grow and overcome racism and prejudice.

Everyone has a story. Today it is said that to deepen conversations and build relationships we should be asking people, “What’s your story?” We are people of a story – the Christ Story – the Gospel – the Good news.

There is the Gospel According to the Samaritan Woman who Jesus met at the well. She went back to her village transformed by one who welcomed her, heard her story without judgment, and gave her kindness and understanding. Her story had changed. No longer was she the sinner woman who had had five husbands, and who was currently living outside of marriage. No longer was she self-loathing and ashamed. She held her head up high. She walked with a skip in her step. She had been accepted for who she was. She has a gospel!

There is the Gospel According to the Woman caught in adultery and about to be stoned to death. She was encircled by her executioners – the men of the village. Into that circle, steps another man, Jesus. At great risk, he becomes a human shield for the woman. Jesus challenges the men gathered around, “The one without sin, let him cast the first stone.” Slowly and one by one, they all walked away. I imagine the last one standing before turning away too. I imagine that he made eye contact with Jesus and the woman. I imagine that he and the other men have a story also, and I hope a gospel or good news story from that strange encounter.

There is the Gospel of the Roman Centurion whose servant is “home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus heals the servant. So, there must be a Gospel According to the Healed Servant too!

And you too have a Gospel According to You. You have your stories of healing, forgiveness, new life, and grace. You also carry your stories of hurt and pain.

As the two disciples walking the road to Emmaus, you have, in this community, and an opportunity to share your stories – those stories of pain and sorrow – those stories of guilt and shame – those stories of fear. We are people of stories and in telling and sharing our stories, we are often transformed.

And like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, another presence is experienced. In sharing and traveling together, the spirit of Christ is with us. The spirit of love, grace, acceptance, and hope surround us. We share tears. We embrace each other. Love is shared. Welcome is felt. We’ve come home.

The two on that road to Emmaus realized the presence of Jesus in the “breaking of the bread.” That’s why we share the bread and cup in our worship. It’s why we often have potlucks and shared meals. Gathered at table in our common need for food and friendship there is a both an immanent and transcendent presence of love – of the Risen Christ. Companion means with bread.

The best practice we can do is to break bread together, share our stories and witness to the power of love, grace, and a holy presence.

There is a Gospel According to You coaxed out by friends and companions’ along the way.

I don’t know if the Road to Emmaus has a name other than the Road to Emmaus. However, I’ll give it another name – Companions Way. I invite you on that journey. To find your story. To live your Gospel – your Good News!

Often, the church makes light of Palm Sunday. A nice parade with palm fronds, children, and glorious hallelujahs. Forgotten is that Palm Sunday is a prequel Good Friday. The day is bursting with tension, stress, and high anxiety. Religious and political authorities fear Jesus and the crowd he has attracted.

The masses were excited to see Jesus. Tales of his feats had spread far and wide. People were curious, hopeful, and expectant that this would be the time when the Messiah would act perhaps as a vigilante to free the people. Or at the very least, Jesus might do a few other miracles along the path after all he had raised Lazarus from the dead! Some perhaps were thinking, “May be Jesus can heal me!” The frenzied crowd threatened the authorities. Tensions were high.

According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke Jesus enters Jerusalem and then enters the Temple. Once in the Temple, Jesus, in an angry rage, overturns the tables of money changers and runs them out of the Temple. Tensions were higher.

The narrative from Amos 8:16-24 provides a clue to our understanding. Amos had spoken to Israel about all the sins of her neighbours and how horrible they all are. What a great way to get your audience on side, and then Amos lowers the boom on Israel.

Amos challenges the people for their extravagant luxury and vain piety at a peak time of Israel’s economic and political power. The people had come to trust in militaristic power, participate in grave injustices as described by Amos – “You turn justice into wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground.” There was abhorrent immorality such as “trampling the poor” and “abhorring the one who speaks truth.” Amos had harsh words for a smooth season.

In our season of abundance and luxury, do these words not fit our day and time? Can we hear the call from Amos to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream?”

Like the people of Amos’ day we trust in military might, participate in grave injustice, and join in shallow meaningless worship.

And here we are worshipping! Worship is more than the best sermon ever! Worship is more than the best anthem ever! Worship is more than meeting up with one’s best friends! Worship is more than the noise of our solemn assemblies! Ouch!! This stings!

Jesus entered the Temple after arriving in Jerusalem. When he overturned the tables of the money changers, it was more than an act of protest. It was a revolution.

The story takes us back to Caesarea Philippi. It was there that Jesus asked his disciples, “who do you say that I am?” The answer was, “You are the Christ, the Anointed One of God.” The Anointed one’s had to go to Jerusalem and the Temple. There, they would make changes and to put it in our vernacular, keep their campaign promises. Wrongs would be righted! Truth restored! The people freed! Taxes reduced! The swamp will be drained!

As an aside, I love swamps! I grew up in the swamps. They are beautiful and teeming and swarming with life. The swamps I grew up appreciating had descriptive names like the Great Dismal Swamp, and my favorite – the Creep Crawly Swamp! Metaphors only go so far, but we get the draining of the swamp.

Jesus, however, knew that the problem couldn’t be fixed by simply doing the same ol’ thing – draining the swamp and filling it with even creepier people and practices. The Temple simply couldn’t be drained. Jesus’ revolution was far-reaching. It recognized that the Temple is gathered around him – his teaching, his healing, his loving, and his bringing to all the wondrous grace of God. “At heart he was remaking the people of God around himself, and telling everyone that they were freely welcome.” Jesus was offering people the sort of blessing you could only get (buy) in the temple. He was offering forgiveness, righteousness, and justice. He was building an egalitarian community of “saints and sinners.” The Temple was outdated!

Jesus, and not only in the Temple, but more in life, was overturning tables and barriers that kept others on the outside. Tables that keep people hungry and needy. Tables that kept people separated by sex and wealth and class and clan. This is revolutionary! One can by-pass the money changers, the solemn assembles, and costly sacrifices that only the wealthy could afford.

What tables need to be overturned today? In society? In our religions? In our spiritualties? What keeps us from forgiveness, love, community, and peace? St. Paul says that we, our hearts, are also the temple of God. Perhaps, here we look first. Rich Villodas said, “If the gospel we profess doesn’t call into question our political captivity, flippant sexuality, insatiable militarism, pervasive racism, unfettered materialism, and the like, it’s not the gospel we are professing.”

What tables in our hearts need to be overturned so that we experience grace, abundant life, and true community?

Overturning tables is revolutionary! But more so, is the act of setting up tables were all are welcome and can come and eat and embrace life and find community and peace.

One huge and sadly continuing barrier is white privilege and white supremacy. Valerie Kaur, a Sikh feminist and activist, said, “White supremacy is as old as America. But so are acts of Revolutionary Love – and every act of love inspires another.”

There are many barriers – tables to be overturned, but we are part of an ongoing revolution– Love. Loving beyond the confines of race, religion, fear, prejudice, and stereotypes.

We are flipping tables! We are setting up tables! We are the change! The vault of our Temple is the sky! The floor of our Temple in the earth! The people of our Temple are one!

Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They answered, “Some say that you are John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others one of the prophets.” Jesus asked a second question, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” The response from Jesus was strange in that he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

We’ve all heard the statement, “It’s not about you.” Well, to be honest, most of the time it is! Not so for Jesus. Jesus did not wish to be bound by differing expectations of what it means to be a messianic figure. To be a messiah simply means to be anointed and set apart for a specific role or function.

Many today have a messianic complex, which by the way isn’t always a bad thing. In the best sense, I truly believe that elected public officials such as Rachel Notley, Justin, Trudeau, or Donald Trump are elected because they promise to make something great again or at least better. But…look at all the swirl of expectations, challenges, battles, and obstacles such public officials must deal with over the course of their term. Jesus wanted none of that. His being a public person was more about being a part of the public.

Jesus wanted to be free or untied from the expectations of being a messianic figure. His ministry was among the people and with the people. He was a healer, a provocative preacher, a wisdom teacher, and a community builder. Such ministry doesn’t go unnoticed for long. But Jesus was free to be with others by laying aside messianic identities and taking upon himself the role of suffering servant.

Jesus, after talking with the disciples, called to the crowd – the people whom he loved and came to serve. He talked to them about some strange paradoxes such as losing one’s life to save it and if one gains the whole world what profit is in it if they forfeit their life?

Losing oneself both individually and corporately are words, I feel, that expressly address the church in these days. Denominations have many names. I was baptized in the Presbyterian Church, ordained, in the United Methodist Church, and now by the grace of God, I am a minister of the United Church of Canada. However, the denominational name I like best is Disciples of Christ! And I sure hope that in all denominations that we find Disciples of Christ!

But do we find them? Are we bound to denominational labels and titles? Those of us who are United do we need to become the “Untied?” Perhaps to be truly united, we first need to be untied, loose ourselves, take up the sign of sacrifice and unconditional love, the Cross, and follow the way of Jesus.

The United Church is going through sweeping organizational and bureaucratic change. I can’t believe all the buzz around these breaking developments. The changes might be good and helpful, but not our salvation. Hope, for the church, resides in Jesus and following his way. To do that, we must be untied from identities, structures, and the past. Image the freedom which is love! Imagine the grace often seen in forgiveness, new starts, and community! Image a journey of merry folks laughing and singing and dancing and struggling and “coming alive in connecting, reflecting, and serving!” And dare I say, that with a glance to the past to guide us, we make it up again as we go?

Losing our identities as congregations, as denominations, and even as individuals is to gain our lives in new ways with new energy and creativity. In the church, I have had many different roles from the local presbytery right up to the national level. At first, they were great. Meetings, travel, synergy, new people and new ideas, but then the expectations continued to mount. Honestly, there was no way to meet them all. The old adage, “Damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” kicked in to play. The “fun” had worn off. And being with the people I loved became a challenge. I had to untie myself from these engagements.

And later, I learned more of what it means to be untied and that it’s not about me. I’ll describe it this way. I was speaking sometime ago with a group of people who volunteer for the Interfaith Food Bank. The ones new to this activity talked about how good it made them feel to help someone else. After many had spoken in glowing terms about their experiences, one ol’ grumpy fellow spoke up. “I don’t like doing this. Wish I didn’t to do this. I’m tired of people being hungry and in need. Wish we don’t need food banks. Wish we had a better society of abundance.” I asked, “Why do you do it?” His answer, “It ain’t about me and my feelings; it’s about the other. Until things change, the work must be done, but I don’t have to like it.” He had lost himself.

I survive in ministry only when I loose myself. I have learned to let go of my feelings of happiness, joy, anger, or whatever else I might feel in any given moment. The work isn’t supposed to provide me with anything. If I work only for what I might receive the Apostle Paul says that I am as a clanging cymbal. The mission is enough. To care is enough. To believe is enough. To hope is enough. To love is the greatest.

A friend recently shared this poem with me. It speaks of the many gifts, talents and abilities of people and the awesome grace of community.

Collective Nouns for Humans in the Wild – Kathy Fish
A group of grandmothers is a tapestry. A group of toddlers, a jubilance (see also: a bewailing). A group of librarians is an enlightenment. A group of visual artists is a bioluminescence. A group of short story writers is a Flannery. A group of musicians is — a band.
A resplendence of poets.
A beacon of scientists.
A raft of social workers.
A group of first responders is a valiance. A group of peaceful protestors is a dream. A group of special education teachers is a transcendence. A group of neonatal ICU nurses is a divinity. A group of hospice workers, a grace.
Humans in the wild, gathered and feeling good, previously an exhilaration, now: a target.
A target of concert-goers.
A target of movie-goers.
A target of dancers.
A group of schoolchildren is a target.

Humans gathered in the wild set loose to do what they do now are targets. Targets of shooters. Targets seen through the crosshairs of hatred, fear, prejudice, and brokenness. The Florida high school students who experienced the shooting have changed the world and are changing the world. They are resilient! Humans in the wild set loose by the pain and fear to rise above it and change the world. People are amazing.

We, members of Deer Park and St. Andrew’s United Churches, are a beautiful tapestry, we ae a beacon, we are a raft, and we are strong. We know the transcendence of love. Our strength is greater as one.

Do we dare to become the Untied United Church? To live the grace? To transcend our differences and to be humans gathered in the wild”?

There is a lot going on in the passage of Mark 1:29-39. Jesus and others enter a home where Simon’s mother-in-law is in bed and sick with a fever. Jesus healed her. Word must have spread quickly that Jesus was there and what he had done, because people showed up bringing all the sick for healing and blessing.

And, for me, this is an important part of the story – Jesus awoke early in the morning while it was still very dark and went out to a deserted place to pray. Days before all these things had happened, Jesus was baptized and tempted. He called disciples, and engaged in a ministry of healing. He must have been totally exhausted. Jesus lived for others. Jesus realized the source of his strength and energy – in communion with God. Jesus shows us our source for an abundant life of love and compassion.

Another key for me is that people were searching for Jesus. The Searcher has become the sought. What have you searched for lately? Keys? Cell phone? Meaning? Healing? Hope? In our searching, we are met by the one searching for us – coming to us in our brokenness and pain. Coming with love and healing. Coming with hope. The great search is on!

The scripture says that Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are tempted. He was human – fully human after all. Yet, he kept true to his desire to help others and not to harm another. He lived to love, to heal, to forgive, to show compassion, and to be for all the expression of God’s love and grace.

In today’s culture of #metoo, allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct, lies and untruths, hate and loathing, Jesus is, yet again a great, example! Jesus shows us compassion, a healing touch, and appropriate touch. He shows us to keep close, to keep close to compassion and holy love.

Jesus was told about Simon’s mother-in-law. What did he do?

He went to her,
took her hand,
and raised her up.

Think of these actions for a moment. Repeat them to yourself:

He went to her,
took her hand,
and raised her up.

Begin to say, “Jesus comes to me. He takes me by the hand. He raises me up.”

As soon as the fever left Simon’s mother-in-law, she was up looking after them. A couple of things here. One, this woman is only known in Mark’s story as Simon’s mother-in-law. For too long, women have been known and defined by the men in their lives. Women have names. Secondly, she gets up and serves them. Is this another gender role stereotype? These two things, I think, deserved to be mentioned. More food for thought as we think of relations among men and women in our culture.
Yet, on another thought, we are all raised up to serve one another. Love one another. To honor and respect one another.

Rachael Denhollander was one of the 150 females to have been abused by US gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Rachel has a profound faith in Jesus. She also was part of an evangelical church that covered up abuse within its ranks. She was tragically aware of inappropriate touch and harassment. In an interview, she was asked about her faith and scripture. Part of her answer:

One (scripture) was from John 6, where Jesus asks Peter, “Do you want to leave too?” Peter says, “Where else would I go, Lord? You have the words of life.” There was a point in my faith where I had to simply cling to the fact that although I didn’t understand or have the answers, I knew that God was good and that he was love. Whatever else I didn’t understand couldn’t be a contradiction to that. Goodness and darkness exist as opposites. If we pretend that the darkness isn’t dark, it dampens the beauty of the light.

In the pain and brokenness of our lives and world, where else are we to go but to the one full of grace and truth who has come and who comes to us as one who heals, serves, blesses, and loves?

Perhaps we can rise early in the morning while it is still very dark, to connect with Jesus, with God, with holy mystery and love. There our day begins. There Jesus comes to us, takes us by the hand, and raises us up. Each day begins with grace. Each day we start again to serve and to love. Each day, with Jesus, is a new day. Our world needs a new day!

In that interview, Rachael Denhollander talked about the church as it tries to defend Jesus doctrinally while refusing to help the broken and wounded – the ones Jesus cared so much about. She said:

Jesus Christ does not need your protection; he needs your obedience. Obedience means that you pursue justice and you stand up for the oppressed and you stand up for the victimized, and you tell the truth…

Oh yes! Jesus comes to us! Takes us by the hand! Raises us up! Now, it is ours to serve! To love! To search!

In the Church, as in any organization, we often get lost in our “special” language and jargon, our doctrine, polity, processes, and procedure that we miss the question and if we do get the question, we squirm to come up with an answer. Who is Jesus, this one we are to follow? I can’t entirely escape theology and its peculiar language nor would I want to do that. Jesus, for me and in the history and teaching of the church, is love incarnate. Scripture proclaims that “God is love.” Jesus shows us that love. Jesus shows that God is for the people.

The disciples who first followed Jesus were fishers by vocation. Having grown up in eastern North Carolina, I was no stranger to fishing – both fishing with nets and with rod and reel. Fishing with nets is hard work. Nets were set in the fall and spring of the year just offshore beyond the breakers when the spot were running. The spot is a whitish, silvery fish with a distinct black spot located behind the gill on each side of the fish. When the nets were full, we would pull them to shore and gather the fish. The fish were slimy and thorny. Back then, we didn’t have the wherewithal to protect our hands as we do today – those special gloves for handling fish for an example. I often wonder, “How did we do the things we used to do without all the things we need today to do the same thing?”

Those fishers, in becoming disciples, were told that they would become fishers of people. They would be fishing for the people. The article “the” is important. This definite article denotes something specific – people. God and Jesus are for the people! For everyone. Jesus healed the people. He forgave the people. He taught the people. Jesus cared for the people. Jesus ate and dined with the people.

I think of the slogan from the US – a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Sounds good, right? I often find that most run to the “for the people” and actually take it to be what’s in it for ME! What do I get for my taxes? Where’s my benefit?

This saying is attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Some say it was in his inaugural address, but it was actually from his Gettysburg Address – can someone fact check this please?
“Lincoln evidently borrowed the now-famous three-part phrase. In 1384, John Wycliffe wrote in the prologue to his translation of the Bible, “The Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People” (Familiar Quotations by John Bartlett, 1951 edition). Bartlett cites Theodore Parker using this phraseology in a sermon in Boston’s Music Hall on July 4, 1858, noting that Lincoln’s law partner William H. Herndon visited Boston and returned to Springfield, Ill., with some of Parker’s sermons and addresses. Herndon wrote that Lincoln marked with pencil the portion of the Music Hall address “Democracy is direct self-government, over all the people, by all the people, for all the people.” (James A. Langley, Washington Post, March 31, 2017).

I find there phrase, “The Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People,” interesting for several reasons, but today I think of governance. As disciples, what is our rule? Our rule, our government is the reign of God. And God is “for the people!”

You and I are for the people! People matter! Someone said, “We were all humans until race disconnected us, religion separated us, politics divided us and wealth classified us.” More than ever as people of faith – followers of Jesus, we are for the people – the hungry, the homeless, the immigrant, the child, the lonely, the sick. Divisions have kept us at a safe distance from each other. Today’s turmoil calls us to be together in new ways as communities of disciples who are for the people! For each other and our rule is the rule of Love. Our government is the reign of God which transcends all divisions! In God and in Christ, we are one! “It is precisely when we recognize our common humanity—when we recognize our own humanity in the face of the other—it is then that we also recognize the face of God.” (~Diane Butler-Bass)  Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” And then he offers this prayer:

Use me, God.
Show me how to take who I am,
who I want to be, and what I can do,
and use it for a purpose greater than myself.

May you – may we find our greater purpose in love – love for God and love for the people! Amen.

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look! Here is the Lamb of God!” His two disciples heard him. They left and followed Jesus. John lost, lost two disciples. Puff! Gone! In the twinkling of an eye.
Poor John. Sometimes it’s better to keep one’s mouth shout! Or is it? What is our purpose? Is it to have lots of friends, flatterers, our own small identities, and wee little circles or cliques?

People like John see a bigger picture. They have a greater sense of the whole. They realize a higher power, purpose, and a coming cosmic shift.
”King consistently affirmed the somebodyness of all people regardless of race, class or other categories. Ultimately, these faith convictions undergirded his prophetic witness.” (C. Anthony Hunt) King’s bigger purpose and greater vision was this somebodyness of all people.

Sensing a higher power, purpose, and cosmic shift is a call away from the tedious mind numbing and distracting tasks of everyday smallness to a hard and long walk to freedom, to justice, to love!! How often do you get caught up in the minutia of the day? Things that even though you’ve spent hours doing really want matter tomorrow – now mind you many things need to be done, but where’s your focus? My home’s a mess more often than not, however I at least try to keep it clean and have a place where guests can at least sit down and feel comfortable.

Details – meetings – process – clutter – junk – expectations – and at the end of the day, I wonder, “What just happened?”

At the start of each day, I always take the time to remember – it’s about Jesus. Hey! Look! There he is!” It’s about power, purpose, and cosmic shift.
Hey look! It’s in the neighbour walking through the doors. In the cry of the child. In the music striking a chord in the heart. In the gentle snow falling that most we tend to lament. It’s walking that long road to freedom, to peace, to justice, to love!

My ministry is predicated on this – an open door, accessibility where interruptions are more important than schedules, timelines, and “to do” lists. And I have all of those, and I do accomplish some things. But more than that, I seek to live, to love, to laugh, to be!

Sarah Falconer went to Malawi with three tasks to accomplish. No problem. A few months and the task would be over. Really, no problem. Well, a year and a half passed, it took that long. It’s more about relationships, building community, and growing trust.

Jesus calls us to relationships – to a greater community – the very reign of God where children are welcomed and not hindered, where all find a place called home and where all are loved without judgment, and all are accepted. Period. God’s gift to a broken world. And oh how we are able to embrace, receive, and wrap that gift in human flesh and give it away!

There is something bigger! Look! Behold! See! These are words of the Bible that call us to new realities and to abundant and eternal life.
Then there was Philip who told Nathanael, “Come and See!” Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Instead of countering or arguing, Jesus said of Nathanael, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Now all of you astute Bible scholars would understand this reference – right!?

It’s a reference to Jacob (also known as Israel) who deceitfully stole his brother Esau’s birthright by tricking his old, sick, and blind father. Jacob was all about himself. He cared nothing for others. His purpose was to succeed and take whatever he could. He lied. Broke the commandments because he didn’t believe in something greater – something more. Here’s Nathanael. The gift to be, to live, to come alive is free. The birthright is given. No deceit needed. We are all Children of God – that “somebodyness” who is loved and who has deep, deep, purpose.  We often are trapped in the minutia of life – trends, fashions, deadlines, self-importance, and greed. But…
But…there is this “We have found Jesus.” “Come and See!”

We are now disciples dining at the table. Jesus is our host. Come and See! See your sisters and brothers! See who is not here. Feel in your heart a new hunger and longing. Come disciples and dine! Eating brings us together. Hungry for food. Hungry for companionship. Hungry for meaning.

Strangers gather often in this place coming for food. Strangers are becoming friends and neighbours. Strangers are building networks and finding hope as they meet and gather around tables laden with food.

Two very young women who were recently baptized here walked through the parking lot one day not too long ago, noticed my car, and came in for a delightful visit. They expressed their care and appreciation for me, Deer Park, Naked Faith, and so much more. I was moved and humbled. These two have become disciples with a desire to help others. Here and in the varied ministries these two have dined and feasted both literally and figuratively.

Here is a “Thank You” we received:
My family and I just wanted to say thank you to “Santa’s elves” as my kids came to call the generous people who gave us a Christmas! We are so blessed by the generosity of those in the community.
I am usually the one on the giving side and to be in the receiving side is never easy.
I hope you can let everyone know how much we were touched and blessed by their Christ like actions.
Thank you as well for everything you have done to help us in our time of need.
I hope you had a great Christmas season.

We are called. Always! Come! See! Behold! Come to the table! Come! See! Behold! We are one. We are strong. We are Coming Alive! We follow the way of Jesus! Come! For like Philip and Nathanael, you are found! Come, disciples and dine together!