I watched a local school board meeting on cable access television a few years and found myself most amused at the indecision of one school board member. The topic of the discussion was whether or not to lengthen the school year because of excessive snow days. This particular school board member changed her opinion on three different votes on the subject, nervously laughing after the third vote that she just couldn't make up her mind. I'm not sure her fellow board members found her indecision as amusing as she did.
Some decisions are obviously easier to make than others. Whipped cream and a cherry on that hot fudge sundae,,,of course! Get up early to take a walk or stay in bed another twenty minutes...well....??? The writer of the book of Hebrews finds himself in a moment of decision...a moment of truth, if you will, in which he must decide whether or not God can be trusted. He prefaces his final declaration with a belief that Christ presents his followers with a new and living way. This belief is based on the perfect sacrifice offered through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is not a casual relationship built on strictly ideological or theological discourse...this is about the relentless pursuit of sinful human beings by the Creator God whose ultimate act of love was to offer his only Son as atonement for your sins and mine. In response to what God has done, he writes, "Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised."
This is, for the writer, a moment of decision. He will hold firmly to what he has already declared...no turning back, no reconsideration because of changing circumstance...his is the assurance that God can be trusted, so he will stand firm. In the shifting sands of contemporary living, where values are often situational
and decisions questioned from all sides, there is a foundation of faith that empowers one to live in the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God. Let these words ring in your ears and be called forth to your lips again and again on this Lenten journey, "...we can trust God to do what he promised."
Amen and Amen!
Jim Abernathy
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Lenten Journey Day 22...Hosea 14:9
I have enjoyed a fairly eclectic taste in music and musical styles...classical, folk, blues, country, rock, gospel, big band, etc... I cannot say that my family has always appreciated the varying musical styles imminating from the radio, cd player, or that I have hummed or sung by myself . My growing appreciation for Frank Sinatra has not been well received, though there was one song Clayton recognized from a television commercial that he at least tolerated as we made a recent trip in the car. I suppose he looks at me in those moments no differently than I look at him when he has control over the car radio.
"Ol Blue Eyes" had a hit several years ago that perhaps sums up our human perspective, entitled, "My Way." Now having read the lyrics to this song, I understand that it speaks reflectively of a life lived on his own terms where choices made have been his, regardless. That fits well with our American sense of self-confidence and self-direction. Some would say that is how this great nation was built..pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, making our own way, charting our own course. There is, however, a down side to such individualism...we know it as sin.
In relationship to the Creator God, human independence often leads one in paths that selfishly claim that "my way" is better than God's. As the book of Hosea comes to a close in our text today, God reminds a rebellious, sinful people that His ways are right. Those with wisdom and discernment, or as Jesus said, "with ears to hear," will embrace a higher way, a different path that does not lean on human understanding, but trusts the living God. Thus God says,
"Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."
"Regrets, I've had a few..." but unlike the Sinatra song, these regrets, perhaps better known as sin, are not too few to mention. However, the grace of God empowers those who will walk in God's way. And so, let the record show that you and I walked in God's way.
Jim Abernathy
"Ol Blue Eyes" had a hit several years ago that perhaps sums up our human perspective, entitled, "My Way." Now having read the lyrics to this song, I understand that it speaks reflectively of a life lived on his own terms where choices made have been his, regardless. That fits well with our American sense of self-confidence and self-direction. Some would say that is how this great nation was built..pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, making our own way, charting our own course. There is, however, a down side to such individualism...we know it as sin.
In relationship to the Creator God, human independence often leads one in paths that selfishly claim that "my way" is better than God's. As the book of Hosea comes to a close in our text today, God reminds a rebellious, sinful people that His ways are right. Those with wisdom and discernment, or as Jesus said, "with ears to hear," will embrace a higher way, a different path that does not lean on human understanding, but trusts the living God. Thus God says,
"Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them."
"Regrets, I've had a few..." but unlike the Sinatra song, these regrets, perhaps better known as sin, are not too few to mention. However, the grace of God empowers those who will walk in God's way. And so, let the record show that you and I walked in God's way.
Jim Abernathy
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Lenten Journey Day 21...II Peter 1:5-9
"With the toe bone connected to the foot bone,
and the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, and the ankle bone
connected to the leg bone. Oh hear the word of the Lord!"
Do you remember the old spiritual, "Dem Bones"? Civil rights pioneer, author, diplomat, and song writer James Weldon Johnson is credited with setting these old words to music nearly a century ago. There are many verses for there are many "connections" of bones within the human body. The poem was inspired by the valley of dry bones story in Ezekiel as God brings life to lifeless bones through the prophet's words.
When I read our text for today, it reminded me of this old song. There is a pattern in today's text, one characteristic of maturity in Christ building upon another, somewhat like the bones building on or connecting to one another in the spiritual. Peter writes, "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." (II Peter 1:5-7) This is a pattern of Christ-like living that recognizes the progression of faith which moves us ever closer to a genuine reflection of the One who established himself as "...the way, the truth, and the life."
It seems to me that these connections...faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love, fit very well in the context of our Lenten journey; one building on another just as one footstep follows another on the road to the cross. "...Oh hear the word of the Lord."
Jim Abernathy
and the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, and the ankle bone
connected to the leg bone. Oh hear the word of the Lord!"
Do you remember the old spiritual, "Dem Bones"? Civil rights pioneer, author, diplomat, and song writer James Weldon Johnson is credited with setting these old words to music nearly a century ago. There are many verses for there are many "connections" of bones within the human body. The poem was inspired by the valley of dry bones story in Ezekiel as God brings life to lifeless bones through the prophet's words.
When I read our text for today, it reminded me of this old song. There is a pattern in today's text, one characteristic of maturity in Christ building upon another, somewhat like the bones building on or connecting to one another in the spiritual. Peter writes, "...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." (II Peter 1:5-7) This is a pattern of Christ-like living that recognizes the progression of faith which moves us ever closer to a genuine reflection of the One who established himself as "...the way, the truth, and the life."
It seems to me that these connections...faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love, fit very well in the context of our Lenten journey; one building on another just as one footstep follows another on the road to the cross. "...Oh hear the word of the Lord."
Jim Abernathy
Monday, March 28, 2011
Lenten Journey Day 20...Psalm 80
The goal of genuine repentance is restoration. The Psalmist states this truth quite effectively in today's text. "God All-Powerful, take us back. Show us your kindness so we can be saved." (vs7) To be taken back is to find one's self in right relationship once again. In the context of faith, repentance comes after confession of sin. The Psalmist's words remind me of an old hymn I remember singing as a child many years ago. William J. Kirkpatrick's text for verse one and chorus is as follows:
I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.
Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.
To confess my sin and ask God's forgiveness is to ask to be taken back. The cross is a symbol of restoration, a place where the painful work of salvation has been done...a place where forgiveness is born anew...a place where God's arms of love are opened wide. God all-powerful, take me back. Lord, I'm coming home.
Jim Abernathy
I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.
Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam,
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.
To confess my sin and ask God's forgiveness is to ask to be taken back. The cross is a symbol of restoration, a place where the painful work of salvation has been done...a place where forgiveness is born anew...a place where God's arms of love are opened wide. God all-powerful, take me back. Lord, I'm coming home.
Jim Abernathy
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Lenten Journey Day 19...II Corinthians 1:3-5
I had the privilege of officiating at the graveside service this past week for a woman I never met. Jeanne was a fifty-nine year-old woman who died from complications of Alzheimer's. For most people, that would seem an early age for the ravages of Alzheimer's to take one's life, but Jeanne's mother, Lucille, shared with me that many Down Syndrome adults who live into their fifties contract this awful disease. I sat with Lucille Wednesday afternoon and heard her tell wonderful stories about her daughter. Jeanne was a courageous and independent young woman. She navigated Northern Virginia's transportation system, routinely, making bus transfers on her own to get to her job in the hotel/service industry. She even flew apart from her family to Memphis, Tennessee several years back to visit the home of one of her idols, the King, Elvis Presley. She loved key lime pie, conversations with her family and friends, and was ready to travel whenever anyone invited her to go along.
After spending time with Lucille, I felt like I knew Jeanne, even though I never met her...all because her mother shared her grief with me and the wonderful story of her daughter's life. In reality, she was really sharing her comfort with me, for she believed that Jeanne was secure in the hands of Jesus now...no more pain, no more confusion, no more struggle. I was reminded of Paul's encouragement to the church at Corinth in our text today; "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Sharing our burdens is a mark of Christian community as the love of Christ flows in and through us, making the darkest of life's moments more tolerable because we share a hope and faith in Jesus Christ.
I look forward to meeting Jeanne someday in heaven, face to face, sharing the comfort of Christ with her, her mother, and so many others whose lives have been changed by the One who willingly endured the humiliation of the cross...the One who comforts us now, in all our troubles.
Jim Abernathy
After spending time with Lucille, I felt like I knew Jeanne, even though I never met her...all because her mother shared her grief with me and the wonderful story of her daughter's life. In reality, she was really sharing her comfort with me, for she believed that Jeanne was secure in the hands of Jesus now...no more pain, no more confusion, no more struggle. I was reminded of Paul's encouragement to the church at Corinth in our text today; "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Sharing our burdens is a mark of Christian community as the love of Christ flows in and through us, making the darkest of life's moments more tolerable because we share a hope and faith in Jesus Christ.
I look forward to meeting Jeanne someday in heaven, face to face, sharing the comfort of Christ with her, her mother, and so many others whose lives have been changed by the One who willingly endured the humiliation of the cross...the One who comforts us now, in all our troubles.
Jim Abernathy
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Lenten Journey Day 18...Psalm 27
The twenty-seventh Psalm concludes with these words..."Wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord's help." To live in Northern Virginia is to wait. We wait in traffic, at the slug line, at the "kiss and ride" at school or at the metro, at the DMV...we wait for the Redskins to win! We often find ourselves waiting, accepting this delay as a part of life in a very busy metropolitan area.
David declares his trust in the living God in our text today and in doing so, finds courage to face what he might not otherwise be able to face. He speaks of rising above his enemies, not in his own power, but in the strength and power of the Lord. Though all others might forsake him, even his family, he will trust in God for the Lord will take him in.
His final words position him in perhaps the most difficult position of faith...waiting. It is much easier to act on our own, to charge ahead as if the outcome is totally ours to achieve. Sometimes we do this out of arrogance, sometimes ignorance...sometimes, fear. But the courage David speaks of is not born of human significance. It is a strength and courage that come from the Lord. "The Lord is my light and the One who saves me. So why should I fear anyone?"
Perhaps you are facing a great challenge today, wanting resolution, considering some bold action to force some issue that you hope will turn in your favor. In the frustration of the moment you hear those familiar words, "Don't just stand there, do something!" Could it be that a better response might be, "Don't just do something, stand there...stand, and wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave and wait for the Lord's help."
Jim Abernathy
David declares his trust in the living God in our text today and in doing so, finds courage to face what he might not otherwise be able to face. He speaks of rising above his enemies, not in his own power, but in the strength and power of the Lord. Though all others might forsake him, even his family, he will trust in God for the Lord will take him in.
His final words position him in perhaps the most difficult position of faith...waiting. It is much easier to act on our own, to charge ahead as if the outcome is totally ours to achieve. Sometimes we do this out of arrogance, sometimes ignorance...sometimes, fear. But the courage David speaks of is not born of human significance. It is a strength and courage that come from the Lord. "The Lord is my light and the One who saves me. So why should I fear anyone?"
Perhaps you are facing a great challenge today, wanting resolution, considering some bold action to force some issue that you hope will turn in your favor. In the frustration of the moment you hear those familiar words, "Don't just stand there, do something!" Could it be that a better response might be, "Don't just do something, stand there...stand, and wait for the Lord's help. Be strong and brave and wait for the Lord's help."
Jim Abernathy
Friday, March 25, 2011
Lenten Journey Day 17...Isaiah 53:1-3
The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah uses powerful imagery to tell the story of the suffering servant. We view the writer's words in a prophetic context, allowing them to frame for us the setting of those last humiliating hours that Jesus endured along the way to, and then upon, the cross. The New Century Version translates the third verse in a most interesting manner. "He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering. People would not even look at him. He was hated, and we didn't even notice him." We didn't even notice him...I would think that people noticed Jesus as he stumbled through the streets of Jerusalem on his way to crucifixion. How could you not notice a man beaten and bloodied with a crowd following along, taunting him every step of the way? And yet, though he was seen, he was not understood. As the life was literally draining out from him, the taunts from the crowd proved this point. "He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God's Chosen One, the Christ."
We see, but do we really understand? Jesus tells a story of judgment in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew that speaks not only to seeing, but also to understanding. In the story, the King calls the people on his right to receive blessing for they have fed the hungry, sated the thirsty, cared for the lonely, and welcomed the stranger. They also clothed the naked, took care of the sick, and visited the captive in prison. Then he condemns those on his left who have seen the same needs, yet done nothing to meet those needs. They ask him, "When did we see these things and not help you?", to which the King replies, "...anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me." It would seem once more to be a case of seeing, but not understanding.
Along this Lenten road, we pass many who are hurting, struggling, seeking someone to care for "even the least of my people here." We know the message of Christ and walk the familiar road toward the cross, but do we understand its claim upon us to be the presence of Christ in a hurting world? Christ passes among us in the pain and suffering of the world we encounter...do we even notice Him?
Jim Abernathy
We see, but do we really understand? Jesus tells a story of judgment in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew that speaks not only to seeing, but also to understanding. In the story, the King calls the people on his right to receive blessing for they have fed the hungry, sated the thirsty, cared for the lonely, and welcomed the stranger. They also clothed the naked, took care of the sick, and visited the captive in prison. Then he condemns those on his left who have seen the same needs, yet done nothing to meet those needs. They ask him, "When did we see these things and not help you?", to which the King replies, "...anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me." It would seem once more to be a case of seeing, but not understanding.
Along this Lenten road, we pass many who are hurting, struggling, seeking someone to care for "even the least of my people here." We know the message of Christ and walk the familiar road toward the cross, but do we understand its claim upon us to be the presence of Christ in a hurting world? Christ passes among us in the pain and suffering of the world we encounter...do we even notice Him?
Jim Abernathy
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