I'm going to be away for a few days...

So I've attached the devotional readings up through February 29th. I've predated them so that you'll know which ones go where. Just go back to the last time you read it and then read up (but still left to right!).

“Nuff said!!”

February 29, 2008
Friday


We had been in Turkey for almost two weeks, traveling around the country side, when we spotted a Starbucks Coffee shop. It was the first one we had seen. Lisa was getting tired of Turkish coffee and I hadn’t had hot chocolate since leaving the states. “Stop” shouted Lisa. The driver pulled in to the rest area and while others went to get cold drinks in the 80 plus degree weather, Lisa and I headed over for our coffee and hot chocolate! It was crazy but it was something familiar, something comforting, something of home.
How many of us react that way when we’ve not been to church for few weeks or haven’t had a chance to read the Bible for a while? Lent is a time for us to get familiar with the scriptures, to find the comfort that they bring, to recognize that we do have a home within them.
How are our commitments during Lent going? Are we experiencing the joy that God intends for us when we spend time with the Lord? There is something truly sweet when we are able to sip, or gulp, of the goodness that flows so freely from God to each of us. How about if we “stop” what we are doing today, on the road of life, and get a good taste of what God is serving! It’s hot stuff for certain!!! Nuff said!!!

“Is this the same place?”

February 28, 2008
Thursday

Acts 14

As our journey through Turkey progressed, and we stopped at some of the places that are mentioned in today’s reading about Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas, we were amazed at the different landscapes we seeing. We traveled through deserts, mountains, lakes, along coastlines, past cities, villages, and empty spaces. Each place was unique, was different though all had common things that they shared. There was family, community, land, the air that they breathed, and the sun that shone down on them. I would imagine that they even had similar conversations around the supper table or at the local market, though the names would have reflected local folks for that region. As I think back, maybe that was part of the learning for us, that we needed to see other parts of the world so that we could see their uniqueness but also understand our commonalities.
How often do we think that everyone is like us? When we worship together and I mention “the body of Christ” does the image include people from Cappadocia, Lystra, Perge? Does it include folks from China, Africa, Mexico, or even Canada?
Traveling, reading, listening, and sharing are all ways in which we can come to understand not only the many different landscapes of the Kingdom of God but also the many ways in which we are united, though far apart.
Today’s challenge is to expand our understanding of God’s Kingdom and to see how we are all loved by God. For if we do, there is hope for peace on earth.

“Dinner and Dancing”

February 27, 2008
Wednesday

Luke 22:7-19

The second night that we were in Turkey, as we stayed in Cappadocia, we had the chance to participate in a Turkish meal. We were told that we would eat authentic Turkish food and after the meal we would watch as individuals performed dances specific to the many regions of Turkey. As we moved through the night the dances told stories of weddings and woe, of joy and sadness. Some of the dancers truly enjoyed living out their heritage.
When Jesus gathered with the disciples in the upper room, they did so to remember the Passover Feast, the time when the plague of the first born —the final plague on Egypt, did not take the first born in the homes of God’s people who had placed blood of sacrificed lambs on their door frames. On that night with the disciples, Jesus took bread and fruit of the vine and created a meal of remembrance—the one we know as Communion, and told them to do it in remembrance of him.
We have many opportunities to do things in remembrance of our Christian heritage. At the Belfast UMC, we can take Communion every Sunday. We also teach our young and young-at-heart the stories of the Bible that they might remember and give thanks. What other ways do we remember and celebrate our heritage, our history? Do we dance and rejoice like Deborah when God grants victory? Do we use water to remember our baptism or ashes to remember from where we have come? More importantly, do we enjoy doing such things? It’s who we are.
Anyone care to dance?

“Desert!”

February 26, 2008
Tuesday

Psalm 42

It was absolutely amazing to me As we drove from Adana to Konya, two beautiful places, we traveled through an extremely barren and desolate area. The ground was dusty, the grass was thin, and the trees were sparse. Yet people lived there. It was certainly not a place that I would want to live. And then I began to think about my spiritual journey. How many times had I taken up residency in a place that was desolate and barren with very little life or hope? How many times had I decided that I could live in that place though I knew that God was waiting beyond to quench my thirst with water that springs eternal within us?
As a pastor, I wish I could say that I always live in the lush paradise of my faith where fruit, water, and beautiful flowers grow, but that wouldn’t be the truth. Do you know what I am talking about?
There were times in my life when I distanced myself from God for a variety of reasons. It may have been wanting my way, that dealing with God might be too much work, that life just seemed hopeless...so why not live in my misery? But each time God would find me and bring me to the water where I would drink and be restored.
Where are you on your spiritual journey? Stopped in the desert? Need a ride? Our driver never stopped until we were on the other side of the desert. Might I suggest turning the keys of your life over to God who wants to be your pilot (not co-pilot!) and ask God to take you on to the a land of abundance and plenty. I will never forget that barren area and I pray the next time I am in the desert of my spiritual journey I’ll let God drive!

“Salty Salt”

February 25, 2008
Monday

Matthew 5:13-16

Our guide said we’d be going past a salt lake. I’d never seen one up close but assumed it was filled with saltwater. Wrong! As we began to go around the lake I wondered if I was seeing a mirage. It looked like water but at the same time it didn’t. I asked and was told that the salt lake was just that, salt! We asked if we could stop and though we could tell the guide was nervous about keeping the schedule, he gave us ten minutes. We parked at a little tourist-type area and then walked out onto the lake. It was amazing. We were walking on salt, as all of the water had evaporated. We took pictures standing “in” the lake and then headed back to the shore. As we did so I reached down and picked up a granule of salt. What would it taste like, if anything? One moment in my mouth and I knew, this was salty salt! It wasn’t finally granulated like we use at the table, but it was salty salt.
What amazed me was that despite the intensity of weather and the length of time it had been there, it still had the salty flavor. It still had value and use. Do we still have our flavor for life, family, living, God? When we are added into the mix does everything take on a God flavor or are things tasteless? God does not abandon us in such times but rather restores, redeems, and revives us so that we can again add God’s divine flavor to every part of our day and our life. Amen!

“Praise God”

February 24, 2008
Sunday

As on every Sunday, I invite you to attend worship and to share in the celebration of God’s grace and love given to you through God’s Son, Jesus the Christ. If your church is following the Revised Common Lectionary, the readings for this day are:
Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42

Interesting facts about Easter

Do you realize how early Easter is this year? As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

A couple of things you might be interested in. Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the facts:

1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.

So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

“To the Angel of the church in Smyrna”

February 23, 2008
Saturday

Revelation 2:8-11

Smyrna is now known as Izmir. It is the third largest city in Turkey, located on the shore of the Aegean Sea, and it’s port is second only to Istanbul. We saw a hustling place. The water views were beautiful. Our only real stop was at the Church of Polycarp of which I’ll speak to later.
In the words of God for this community we hear a call to faith. Though they believe in God there will be struggle, there will be testing, there will be persecution. Yet God, through John, calls them to be faithful. Why? Because there is a greater glory, a greater reason for living, than that which we see around us. The crown of life is like a wreath awarded to the winner of a race and we remember the words from Hebrews 12 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Whatever suffering or testing we are facing today is but for a short time. God says, “hold on”, “keep the faith” and we will receive eternal life as the final victory. AMEN!!!

"Genuine Fake Watches"

February 22, 2008
Friday

First John 2

In the midst of one of the shop areas at an attraction we saw this sign, “Genuine Fake Watches”!! They weren’t trying to fool anyone or be dishonest, they were telling it like it is...if you buy from us you’ll look great but it’ll be a fake!
It got me to thinking about how honest we are in our lives with others, and most importantly, with God. Sure, God knows and sees everything, but that doesn’t seem to stop us from trying to “fake” God out or hoping that God isn’t paying attention at certain times in our lives. As I further thought about the sign I realized how freeing it is. People know what they are getting at that shop!!
What would happen if we were as honest in our lives? What would happen if we were able to label the different areas of our life. “I’m not good at math”, “I don’t like boring sermons”, “I sneak pizza when no one is looking”, “I don’t really pray everyday”, “I don’t know the names of the books of the Bible”. Sure, society has taught us that to admit things can cause us to look weak, but I would offer that in reality, it will give us freedom because we can be who we are and that will be a great foundation from which to work, to strengthen our lives. What signs can we make to let people know who we really are and thereby enjoy the freedom God gives us in that truth?