The Sun Rises! (Romans 3:9 - 26)

The Sun Rises!
Romans 3:9 - 26

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic this is a dark time of the year.  These are cold dark days of Winter.  The days are very short with the sun setting so early.  It may not be the coldest part of the year but it is cold enough to keep us all inside.  The dark cold short days make it hard for many.  It is no wonder so many of this season’s holidays use light as part of the celebration.   We find Menorahs are lit for Hanukkah, 7 candles are lit in a Kinara for Kwanzaa and Christmas lights decorate trees and houses.

Like the night, this time of year will pass and a new day or Spring will come.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans we find a section that mirrors this darkness giving way to light.  Starting in Romans 3:9, Paul recaps our broken sinful nature.  He specifically points out that Jews and Gentiles are both lost in sin.  There is nothing we can do about this.  We are all sinners; neither the Old Testament law or Gentile morality will save us.  The situation is hopeless and dark like the deepest part of Winter feels.

The sun has set on a long night but beginning in Romans 3:21 we read about the dawn!  Righteousness has come.  We have no power to attain righteousness through philosophical or religious morality.  It is through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus that we find redemption from our sin.  Like a bright light shining in our dark lives, righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
The dawn of righteousness in our dark lives gives us the hope to make it through the dark times of our lives.

Does God Matter? - Love

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Sunday, July 5th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

A few weeks ago I wrote an article discussing the question of “Why god matters?”  This question is one we all struggle with in the dark times of our lives.  In my attempt to answer this question it struck me that a god doesn’t matter but the LORD does matter.  The LORD matters because HE is an actual being with a personality, motivations and desires.  We meet the LORD in the Bible and we see HE is righteous, creative and loving.

Earlier this series I wrote about the LORD being righteous.  I looked at the judgement of the LORD upon us because of our unrighteousness and the LORD’s desire for us to live righteous lives.  What I didn’t focus on at that time was the LORD’s love and mercy.

Sometimes I feel that love is a fundamental characteristic of the LORD.  The LORD is creative because of love.  The LORD is righteous because of love.  This is why the LORD is continually making covenants with humanity and showing mercy to sinful people.

From the first stories we find in the Bible we see the LORD showing us love and mercy.  In the Garden of Eden we sin.  That sin caused our relationship with the LORD and creation to be broken.  In that sin we did face the righteous judgement of the LORD but we were also shown love and mercy.   Instead of being destroyed immediately we are spared.  Instead of being cast out naked and helpless into the world we are provided with protection.

Ultimately the love of the LORD is different from what we think of as love.  In Jesus the SON we see the LORD’s love in its purest form.  While we were still sinners the Father sent the SON as an atoning sacrifice.  Instead of waiting for us to be righteous the LORD acts on our behalf.  This love is not simply a feeling but a choice and actions.

As you contemplate “Why the LORD matters?”  I hope these short articles help.

Does God Matter? - Creative

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Sunday, June 21st 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

The question of “Why god matters?” is one we all struggle with in the dark times of our lives.  In my attempt to answer this question it struck me that a god doesn’t matter but the LORD does matter.  The LORD matters because HE is an actual being with a personality, motivations and desires.  We meet the LORD in the Bible and we see HE is creative, loving and righteous.  The first item I want to reflect on is that the LORD is creative.

The LORD is the creator of our world.  As you look around all the things we observe exist because of the LORD’s creativity from every interesting insect crawling in the ground to every huge nebula out in space.  The world around us is so full of amazing details for us to explore, discover and enjoy.  You also exist because of the LORD’s creativity.

We also see in the Bible that we are created in the LORD’s image meaning we too are supposed to be creative, loving and righteous.  In HIS image we were also to create by having children, naming the creatures and caring for creation.  Humanities first task was to be gardeners and take care of the Garden of Eden and the rest of creation.

Initially when the LORD looked at HIS creation it was good.  We look at the world around us and it doesn’t seem good anymore.   What happened?  In our rebellion against the true GOD we made ourselves gods.  That is the real temptation we faced in the garden.  By eating from the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge we decided we were going to be like gods even though we were already created in the image of the LORD.  This sin has separated us from the creator but in HIS creativity a way back was made.   It is through faith in Jesus and Jesus’ sacrifice that open the door back to our creator.

The LORD’s creativity matters because the universe around us was deliberately created.  As part of creation we are also deliberately created.  The way back to the LORD was deliberately created to save us.  This is so important to remember and to tell those around us.

Does God Matter? - Righteous

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Sunday, June 21st 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

A few weeks ago I wrote an article discussing the question of “Why god matters?”  This question is

one we all struggle with in the dark times of our lives.  In my attempt to answer this question it struck me that a god doesn’t matter but the LORD does matter.  The LORD matters because HE is an actual being with a personality, motivations and desires.  We meet the LORD in the Bible and we see HE is righteous, creative and loving.

We see the LORD’s righteousness in action at the time of Noah.  The unrighteousness and sin of humanity had become so bad the LORD couldn’t allow it to continue.  As the LORD observed the

world, one righteous man was found.  Instead of destroying everything, the LORD creates a way for Noah and his family to survive the coming flood.  The LORD acted out of righteousness, justice and mercy not anger and spite.

The LORD knows what is truly right or wrong and expects humanity, especially the LORD’s people, to behave in the right way.  The LORD also expects humanity to be merciful and just.   By following the commands and laws in the covenant, the people of Israel were living in this righteous way.  The laws and commands were also designed to create communities that were righteous and just for all.  The weak, poor, widows and foreigners are taken care of specifically in the covenant.  In fact, Israel is condemned on a number of occasions for mistreating the weak, poor, widows and foreigners!

If we are living a life that reflects the righteous life of the LORD we need to look at the commands Jesus gives us.  His commands are simple: we are to love the LORD and love our neighbor and as ourselves.  We love our neighbor when we speak out against injustice.  When we see a neighbor hurting out of love we acknowledge that hurt.  If we see a neighbor mourning out of love we comfort them.  By acting in love we are showing love to the LORD and living in a righteous way.

We may be acting in a righteous way but that does not make us righteous.  Nothing can make us righteous but the blood of Jesus.

Does god Matter?

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Sunday, May 31st 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 


A few weeks ago I read an article about how important it is for us to communicate why God matters during this global pandemic.  It was in the context of churches that didn’t have the resources to do food drives or clothing distributions.  There are other organizations that are able to meet those physical needs but we need to be meeting spiritual needs.

In response I began to make my “Why God Matters?” list.  It is pretty generic and I felt like something was missing.  So I changed my question to “Why God matters to me?”  That’s when I was struck by the fact that a generic god doesn’t matter to me but the LORD does.

Before you think I have given up my faith let me explain.   Our society throws the word “god” around a great deal and most of the time it really has no meaning.  It is just a word people use to identify some kind of supreme being.  This undefined supreme being is easy to believe in because this god is created by the person.  We see this nebulous supreme being used on our money, by politicians and other people who want to sound or seem pious or spiritual.

That god doesn’t matter.  It is YAHWEH (the LORD) who matters; this is the true GOD we meet in the Bible.  The LORD is not a nebulous supreme being or god; we create.  No the LORD is a specific being who has a defined personality and motivations.

We see in the Bible that the LORD is the creator.  The LORD makes the universe in an amazingly creative and purposeful way.  We see the LORD loves.  We see this in the way the LORD is continually making covenants with humanity and showing mercy to sinful people.  We see the LORD is righteous.  This means the LORD behaves and acts in ways that are good and holy.

It is not a god that matters but it is the LORD who matters!  Our job is to show that in our lives to those around us.  Over the next few weeks I will be exploring these ideas.

Empty Table, Full Tables and the Table of the LORD

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Sunday, May 24th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

Last Sunday (May 17th 2020) morning started on the rocky side.  First the video connection to the morning Bible class was just not working.   This was due to the number of churches trying to use ZOOM at the same time.  After the class and double checking the video stream for the worship service was good. I finally sat down on my couch with a cup of coffee.

Listening to the singing I noticed our communion table was empty at the building.  At first I found this kind of sad.  Normal our table would have our plates with the bread and trays with our cups containing the fruit of the vine.

About the time Habtu began the communion service a thought struck me.  That table is empty but the tables at our homes were full.  We had all those elements with us.  We were taking communion at our homes with thousands if not millions of other sisters and brothers in Christ.

Later another thought came to me.  The table at my church’s building was empty on my tv screen but the TABLE of the LORD was full!  The LORD’s Table is never empty.  All have been invited.  It is the place we as believers gather to remember.  We remember the birth, life, teachings, miracles, example, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  We don’t remember on our own, we remember together.  It is a communal remembrance.  That is why Paul was so angry with some of the Corinthians because they had forgotten to remember together!

Throughout Sunday the Body of Christ was meeting and crashing ZOOM.  The Body of Christ was also meeting and taking the Lord’s Supper!  As the earth spins and church services begin in different parts of our world individual members of the Body of Christ take the Lord’s Supper together.  Separately together we remembered as one.

This coming Sunday if you are by yourself during Communion you are not alone! We are all remembering with you.  We are all praying with you.  We are all singing with you.  We are all together in spirit if we aren’t together in body.  Our tables are together and are a representation of the LORD’s Table.

Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Sunday, May 3rd 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic.

Tuesday night (April 28th 2020) , during the virtual small group hosted by the McKays, we all shared scripture that was meaningful to us.  It was so good to see many familiar faces and a new one as well.  It was so good to hear everyone share how the written word of God is impacting their life.  I chose to share Jeremiah 29:4 - 9.

This week I have been listening to Jeremiah and it is a difficult story.  Jeremiah is called to be a prophet at a terrible time in the history of Judah.  The kingdom will have fallen by the end.  The last of the people will be ethnically cleansed from the Promised Land.

Jeremiah’s job is to proclaim this bad news.  He declares that these events were caused by the sin of the people and the LORD is responsible.  It is the LORD who is carrying the people away to new land and cities.  Their normal lives are turned upside down.  By the end of this, the people will need to make and find a new normal.

In this new normal the LORD tells the people in exile to settle in.  They are to make new homes.  They are to have families.  They are to encourage their children to have families.  They are to want the best for the new foriegn place they find themselves in.  They are to embrace the new normal.

They don’t want to be in exile.  The LORD knows this but in their exile they are to be light in the places they now live.

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jeremiah 29:7)

This should sound familiar.  Our world is turned upside down.  Our normal routines have been disrupted.  We haven’t been carried into exile but we are surviving a global pandemic.   The ways we used to live will not return and on the other side of this we will find a new normal.

In this new normal we are to seek the peace and prosperity of the place we find ourselves.  We are to pray for prosperity in this new normal because it will cause us to prosper too.

Like the exiles we won’t know what our new normal will be.  We are facing uncertainty.  Like the exiles we know the LORD is with us.  We have not been left on our own but the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are with us as we move into a new normal.

40 Days and 40 Nights

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Easter Sunday, April 26th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic.

Friday, March 13th 2020 Fairfax County Public School decided to suspend classes until after Spring Break.  On that day I began counting my COVID-19 Day Count in my journal.  Almost everyday since then I have been writing in my journal.  I am keeping track of some of the news.  I am keeping track what day of the week it is.  I am keeping track of my thoughts and feeling.  I am keeping track of the numbers of days in my count.

On Tuesday, April 21st 2020 my count reached 40.  At first I didn’t think much of that until I realized that was 40 days!  This is an important biblical number.

In the story of Noah and the Ark the LORD sends rain for 40 days and nights. (Genesis 7)

Moses is on the mount Sinai with the LORD for 40 days and nights. (Exodus 24:18 & 34:28)

Moses then spends 40 days and nights in prayer and fasting on behalf of the people because of their sin. (Deuteronomy 9:18)

The Israelite scouts explore the land for 40 days. (Numbers 13:25)

Goliath taunts the Israelites for 40 days before David arrives. (1 Samuel 17:16)

Elijah takes 40 days and 40 nights to travel to Mount Horeb. (1 Kings 19:8)

Jonah proclaims Nineveh will be destroyed in 40 days and nights if they don’t repent. (Jonah 3:4)

Jesus fasts and is tempted by the Devil for 40 days and 40 nights. (Mark 1:3, Matthew 4:2 & Luke 4:2)

Jesus then appears to many over a period of 40 days following His resurrection. (Acts 1.3)

Depending on your count, we have spent at least 40 days and 40 nights with our stay at home order.

We won’t know how Noah and his family felt to be in an Ark for 40 days.  We won’t know what it was like for Elijah to walk for 40 days.  We won’t know how it felt for Moses or Jesus to fast for 40 days.  What we do have is a good point of reference for understanding what 40 days and 40 nights feels like.  It feels like a really long time and at the same time doesn’t feel that long at all.

Right now we know the stay at home order will expire on June 10th but we don’t know how long after that it will take for life to feel normal.  Just like at the end of these 40 days there will be a new normal.  One thing that didn’t change at the end of the 40 days and won’t change when we start to feel normal is the fact that the LORD is with us!

Anticipating GLORY!

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Easter Sunday, April 19th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

Anticipating GLORY!

At the end of the New Testament we find a letter about THE END.  Revelation lays out all the woes, horrors and deceptions that are all around us.  Revelation also reveals from the very beginning the victory that awaits the LORD’s faithful people.  The letter spoils its own ending but in doing so builds anticipation.

We start with Jesus revealed in all HIS GLORY and we end with Jesus in all HIS GLORY.  It is here in the middle that it is hard to see that GLORY.  We are currently surrounded by terrible news about COVID-19.  We are currently staying home away from our family, friends and fellow believers.  We are currently wearing masks and gloves to keep ourselves and others safe.  We are anxious about our jobs and paying our bills.  We also hear that in the United States alone over 24,000 have died and over half a million have contracted this virus.  (As of April 15th 202 according to https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/us-map).  Here in the middle it is hard to see Jesus’ GLORY.

In fact, those who initially received the letter of Revelation were also facing grim news.  John’s vision starts to end with Jesus encouraging the readers, this includes us as well.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:12 - 16)

The last words of Revelation are calls for Jesus to come in all HIS GLORY.  The Spirit calls.  The Bride calls. John calls.  Believers throughout the centuries until today call!  “COME!”

It may feel like you are alone here in the middle but you are not!  Jesus is with you.  The Holy Spirit is with you.  The Father is with you. We are with you.  We all want Jesus to finally COME is all HIS GLORY!

His answer is our HOPE  “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20)

Is There Any Good News?

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on Easter Sunday, April 12th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

Is There Any Good News?

There is no way to sugarcoat this but the world is full of the worst news we have faced in a generation.  Which leads many to ask “Is there any good news?”

The first disciples struggled with this question too.  Imagine if you were one of them on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover.  Hundreds of people celebrated his coming.  The rest of the week was full of victory after victory.  Jesus was confronting the religious establishment.  Jesus was teaching important lessons.  When Jesus was at the top of his game it all came to a sudden end!

You had looked forward to the Passover Meal all week and shortly afterwards everything turned upside down.  Jesus lets himself be arrested and in fear you run for your life!  You hear word that a trial has happened in the middle of night and Jesus is to be crucified.

You stand from a distance and watch.  You see the man you had put your faith in as the Messiah die at the hands of the Roman Empire.  You feel all your hope go dark.  This is the worst news you can imagine.  The Messiah who promised so much is gone.

You gather with your fellow disciples and apostles.  Some of you sit stunned.  Some want to fight.  Some bring a strange and unbelievable rumor that Jesus is alive.

In all this darkness you don’t see any light but there it is!  The rumor is from Mary and some of the other women who found the tomb empty.  Then Peter and John bring the same news!  Later some of disciples turned around from a trip to tell you all they encountered JESUS alive.

Then out of nowhere the one person in the world you never thought you would see again walks into the room.  JESUS is alive!  He lets you touch his wounds.  He eats with you and gives you hope!

Out of this hope you begin to spread the word.  Jesus is alive.  Jesus has opened the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus sacrificed himself so we could be free from sin.  Jesus calls us to live as daughters and sons of GOD.  This is our good news!

With You in Spirit part 2

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (the news letter for the Church of Christ in Falls Church, VA.) on April 5th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

As I write this on Tuesday March 31st 2020, it has been at least 3 Sundays since we have met together face to face as a church. We have sat at home participating in our worship service from home. We have been physically separated from each other for good reason but we are together in spirit!

This separation has been made a little easier thanks to modern communication technology. Our Member Emergence Care Program has made it a goal to contact every member by phone. The Upper Room Teen Ministry is having VURMs (Virtual Upper Room Meetings) twice a week using Zoom. The Wednesday evening class is also using Zoom too! There are also members who are regularly calling, texting and messaging each other. It is important for us all to be reaching out and checking on each other at these times.

This virtual contact can only go so far. We want and desire to meet face to face. The apostle John felt the same way. He did not have the ability to use a camera and screen to meet but he did write letters. In what we call 2nd and 3rd John he expresses this desire.

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. - 2nd John :12 (The New International Version. 2011)

I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. - 3 John :13 - :14 (The New International Version. 2011)

We feel the same way John does. There is a certain happiness in seeing each other over Facetime, Skype or Zoom but we want that complete JOY he is writing about. Sometime in the near future we will gather together as a church in our building and experience that complete joy. This will be more than just a momentarily feeling of happiness but a long lasting joy.

For now we need to stay home to keep ourselves and others safe from Covid19. Like I wrote last time you aren’t alone because we are together in the Spirit. You are with us and we are with you in the Spirit! This is still true today!

x

With You in Spirit part 1

I originally wrote this as an article for the Family Life (my church's newsletter) on March 24th 2020 but I feel it has a message for everyone during the Covid-19 virus pandemic. 

Even though we have not been able to meet together as the church we are still with each other in the Spirit as the church.

In the early church letters were vitally important.  Apostles like Paul and John were on the move spreading the Good News of Jesus.  They would arrive in a town, teach as long as they could and then move on.  Sometimes they were misunderstood and weren’t able to correct that misunderstanding in person.  Sometimes an unexpected issue would arise and they weren’t present to help.

In those times of absence letters were sent.  Paul, Peter, James, John, Jude and the author of Hebrews all wrote letters to churches to encourage, teach and clarify.  These authors knew they weren’t physically but were with them in Spirit.

At least twice Paul writes about this:

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. - Colossians 2:5

For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. - 1 Corinthians 5:3

He was unable to be with them but through the Spirit was able to be present.  This was not some kind of Holy Spirit Facetime or Skype.  Instead through the Spirit he is encouraging the Colossians or he is backing up the Corinthians with a hard decision.

The same is true with us today.  You need to stay home to keep yourself and others safe from Covid-19.  Unlike the early church you can gather around a screen at home and worship with us.  You aren’t alone because we are together in the Spirit.  You are with us and we are with you in the Spirit!