November 18, 2016 – 36 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“O Lord, you are a great and awesome G-d! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.” Daniel 9:4-6

Saint Chad was a 7th Century Northumbrian cleric, who had a somewhat distinguished career, Christianizing the ancient British kingdom of Mercia. The only blot on his record was a disputed election to become bishop of York. An ecclesiastical dispute arose because St. Wilfrid had already been chosen bishop of York and had gone to Gaul for his consecration, a mix-up recorded in Venerable Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People (considered to be the best source for Chad’s life).

The issue remains confusing. When in 669 the new archbishop, St. Theodore of Canterbury, arrived in England, he charged Chad with improper ordination. On Wilfrid’s return in the same year, Chad resigned York and retired to Laestingaeu, saying: “If you know I have not duly received episcopal ordination, I willingly resign the office, for I never thought myself worthy of it; but, though unworthy, in obedience submitted to undertake it.” Theodore, however, was so impressed with Chad’s humility that when the bishop of Mercia died he asked King Oswiu to appoint Chad as the bishop’s successor. The king approved, and Chad, having been reconsecrated by Theodore in 669, chose Lichfield, where he built a church and monastery, as the new seat of his diocese.

Chad died on March 2nd 672. He is today remembered for being of “excellent character” as well as “unusually humble. He is known as the Patron Saint of Disputed Elections.”  (wikipedia)

Whether the story of St. Chad is apocryphal or not, what is not disputed is Santa’s new look – I guess Santa went to the dentist and had some grill work completed on his teeth. Nothing like deciding to put your “Merry” where your mouth is. Not the kind of action someone of humble origins and a humble spirit might consider doing – but this is Santa after all. He is the one who tells us that he “knows if you’ve been bad or good….”. That alone is creepy, and arrogant, don’t you think? Don’t get me wrong, Santa is ok in my books, just so Santa knows when he is welcome – after all, too much of a good thing is not always a good thing – and this Santa looks like he has had too much of a good thing.

Elections are a funny thing. I have never liked elections, whether it was for high school class officers, or Seminary class representatives, elections are nothing more than a popularity contest. Rarely is the most qualified person elected to serve to the best of his or her ability. The Presidential election is a good example. This year we had two deeply flawed candidates. The reason we ended up with such poor options from which to choose is because few people want to endure the vetting process – which includes dragging the candidate and their family through such scrutiny by the media that every poor speech, every bad decision, every failed marriage, every unfortunate utterance, every failed business deal, and every questionable relationship is related, debated, rated and conflated. Maybe this is why the candidates participate in so much “mud-slinging” in the months leading up to the election. The media hands them so much mud, they feel compelled to hurl it at someone.

Of course, negative campaigning is not new. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were close friends until they ran for president against each other, hurled so many insults at each other it almost ruined their relationship. Maybe the story of St. Chad is apocryphal, but the lesson is clear – humility will ultimately be rewarded – either in this life or the next. So why not start now – as the prophet Micah said: do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with G-d.

Pastor Dave

November 17, 2016 – 37 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or
Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.” 1 John 2:1-6

“A picture is worth a thousand words” so the saying goes. Well, if that is true then why am I having so much trouble saying something about this Christmas ornament? There just aren’t any words for such an….abomination. The “Santaur” – it is……….see, I am at a loss because there just are no words.

A lot of newspapers and magazines are sold and television news programs get their ratings if they follow two angles – the “Now”, and the “Next”. So many people are sold a bill of goods that doesn’t hope to inform as much as entertain. And too often stories are announced as truth when they in fact have more sensation and fewer facts.

In John’s letter the intention is to share an “eye witness” account of how meeting and knowing Jesus has changed his life and what faith in Christ can mean to anyone. There is power in first hand proclamation. The word of life, Jesus the Christ, will change people. We forget that our story of how G-d, through Jesus, has touched us and how we experience him in our day to day journey can and will make a difference when shared. Remember Joseph – the bragger and dreamer? His story of faith, trust and endurance is one that turned from naïve bewilderment to mature confidence in a G-d that uses all things for good. Don’t be faithless, but believe that God will use your story to move others into a similar relationship with Christ. No matter the ups and downs, highlights and low-lights of your story, your faith in Christ is a story worth sharing.

Pastor Dave