October 4, 2016 – Words of Wisdom
Extra-Ordinary

“The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is so often just simply that little word – extra.” (Anonymous)

“On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

“Taken together, these details orient us to the possibility that Jesus instructs his followers — then and now — that faith is not a matter of believing only, but also of seeing. All the lepers were healed; one, however, saw, noticed, let what happened sink in…and it made all the difference.
*Because he sees what has happened, the leper recognizes Jesus, his reign and his power.
*Because he sees what has happened, the leper has something for which to be thankful, praising God with a loud voice.
*Because he sees what has happened, the leper changes direction, veering from his course toward a priest to first return to Jesus.
In this light, this story serves as an invitation to believers — then and now — to recognize that what we see makes all the difference. In the face of adversity, do we see danger or opportunity? In the face of human need, do we see demand or gift? In the face of the stranger, do we see potential enemy or friend?” (David Lose, The Working Preacher website, October 10, 2010)

Apparently nine lepers didn’t see enough to move them beyond the miracle – they couldn’t see the authority of G-d’s healing presence, the grace of G-d found in the person of Jesus Christ. But one leper shakes himself free from the joy of being “made clean” to realize that his view of reality had changed. The one who was formerly a leper recognizes through his own healing that he was a walking witness to the reality of G-d’s grace. And through the healing he sees, recognizes and appreciates what G-d did – and does what we all should do – fall at the feet of Jesus and give thanks and praise. We all have people who touch us, teach us, who are present with us each day. When was the last time that we stopped, reversed our steps and saw what a blessing they are, and then thanked G-d for them, thanked them for what they do?

G-d’s presence should not only be seen in the miracles of life – but also needs to be seen in the everyday relationships including those we take for granted, and those that we don’t even think of.
This story reminds us that whether we realize it in the midst of our trials and tribulations, or recognize it many years after the fact, our lives are in G-d’s hands. So we should offer up prayer, praise and thanksgiving as the proper response to G-d’s grace – grace that sometimes smacks us over the head, and often goes without notice.

Pastor Dave

October 3, 2016 – Words of Wisdom
Alvin Toffler

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler.

“Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven…”” Matthew 19:21-23

Alvin Toffler was an American writer (Future Shock) and futurist, known for his works discussing modern technologies, including the digital revolution and the communication revolution.

The power of the story from Matthew 19:21-23 comes in the young man’s inability to realize he must unlearn his view of life – and that begins with his comment “What must I do to earn eternal life?” Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor, and then he can follow Jesus. And the man goes away in sorrow because he is rich, and has many possessions. In first century Judaism, much like it is today, to have wealth and possessions was considered by many to be a sign of G-d’s blessings. To have money and possessions puts one into a different class. No one would consider it a good idea to sell your possessions and give all that you have to the poor. The poor were the poor – they were a class all to themselves and were never considered able to change their status. What Jesus was asking the young man to do was unthinkable – it went against everything he had learned about his society, his class, his status, his position in life, and his place in the “blessed” scale. Jesus is teaching a new way

The disciples will go on to ask Jesus “If what you are teaching is basically impossible for any of us to “achieve”, then who can be saved?” Jesus then drops the most important lesson on them: “For people it is impossible – for G-d all things are possible”. They must forget about their former teachings about blessedness and righteousness, and learn a new lesson – it is impossible to “earn” salvation – it is a gift rendered to us as faith. Paul will eventually seize upon the insight within a generation of the resurrection, and Martin Luther will finally discover he has to “unlearn” his understanding of earning G-d’s righteousness and “relearn” the understanding of faith that will lead us all to the reformation – that it is by Grace through faith that we are saved.

It takes daily focus on the Grace of Jesus Christ to remind ourselves to “unlearn” works righteousness, to unlearn the idea that it is “what we do” that makes us righteous – and to relearn and remind ourselves that it is what Christ has already done that makes us righteous.

Pastor Dave