Does God have a specific vocabulary? A lexicon of words and phrases that God uses to communicate with all of humanity. Sometimes we forget that God does not communicate in words. God speaks into the human heart. That is precisely the problem. We want clear answers. Answers that can be quantified, analyzed, and endlessly interpreted. God’s wisdom leads us in the direction that God desires. God’s wisdom can neither be contained nor limited by human vocabulary. And that is a good thing. Human words have limits and inherent expectations. Unfortunately, we listen to God expecting a lengthy treatise, or an eloquent oration. In truth, God speaks in feelings, questions, and even doubt. That is God speaking. God does speak to humanity. Now, that is genuinely God News. Blessings, Pastor Tom Matthew 17:1-8 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. Americans are very bad at waiting. In fact the digital age has made waiting a lost art. But, what about waiting for God? From time immemorial it seems that people have lamented about waiting for God to intervene in human history. Perhaps we misunderstand waiting for God. We mistakenly confuse waiting with inaction. Life then becomes little more than a huge waiting room for that promised blissful future. Make no mistake we do believe that life is eternal. However, when we wait for God’s wisdom and guidance as we navigate the exigencies of daily life, waiting must be understood as preparation. A time to open one’s heart in-order to allow God’s grace to heal, to nurture, and to guide. It must be a time of true prayer. Most importantly, a time of true dependence on God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Now that is genuinely Good News. Blessings, Pastor Tom Jeremiah 29:11-13 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me. For Bradley, Illinois Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and her partner Patrol Officer Tyler Bailey, this no doubt seemed to be a fairly routine call about a barking dog. It’s this kind of simple nuisance call that has become part and parcel of police work. But minutes after arriving on the scene, Officer Bailey was critically injured, and Sergeant Rittmanic was killed. It was no doubt another routine call when veteran Fire Captain Vidal “Max” Fortuna, of Stockton California Fire and Rescue, was dispatched to dumpster fire. But this dumpster fire would prove fatal for Captain Fortuna, as he fell victim to a gunshot wound. NYPD Officers Jason Rivera and Wilber Mora were gunned down while attempting to deescalate a domestic disturbance at a Harlem apartment. On Monday of this week, Gary Police Sergeant William Fazekas was shot after responding to a call of shots fired. Tragically, this list could continue. First responders, whether police or firefighter/medics, know the inherent dangers of their chosen profession. Death and serious injuries are an expected part of their vocation. What is not expected are random, unprovoked, and often deadly acts of violence. Amid the violence being directed at first responders, there are increasing calls to support our police and firefighters. It seems unthinkable to not support the women and men who risk their lives to protect and serve us each and every day. As police officers and firefighters are laid to rest, the words of comfort offered by clergy seem tragically all-too-familiar. It’s as if we’ve developed a vocabulary of mourning for our first responders; a poignant vocabulary that lessens the immediate pain, but does little to resolve the underlying issues that perpetuate the violence against them. As people of faith, we are called to pray for each and every first responder. We must pray for the families of police and firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty. Consistent with our Wesleyan heritage, our prayer must be lived, not merely spoken. We affirm our dependence upon God in prayer, and in return God sends us forth into the world to continue the work of His good creation. This implies supporting our first responders by standing strong against the forces that perpetuate violence. As communities of faith, we must join with our first responders to better understand how we can support their work and mission. What concrete steps can we collectively undertake to build bridges of understanding between police, firefighters and the people that they tirelessly serve? I am asking both of our congregations to join with me each day, for the next seven days, in a time of prayer for our first responders. Your prayer need not be long or extensive. Simply praying in gratitude for those who serve and protect us; and asking for God’s wisdom and guidance to stand against a culture where those who serve can be senselessly killed. Blessings, Pastor Tom A friend’s physician recently told her to lose weight. It was sound medical advice. Yet, my friend immediately went in search of a second more palatable opinion. Seeking a second opinion when faced with a serious medical condition or a murky legal problem is prudent. Yet, we often seek a second opinion when God’s wisdom seems to be guiding our life. Many times, we feel God’s wisdom when we have doubts about where we are in life, how we are living or where we are headed. The doubts that populate the human psyche. Tragically, we often silence those doubts. Yet, those doubts can be the very site of God’s transforming grace. Despite sensing God’s grace inspired wisdom in our lives, we seek second opinions. We talk ourselves out of believing that God is in an intimate relationship with us. We look for evidence that suggests we can control our world. If only we had faith in our doubts. Then we would not need a second opinion. Then God’s grace could wonderfully transform our lives. Now, that is genuinely Good News. Blessings, Pastor Tom Luke 5:1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. |
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