“So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and donʼt begin to say to yourselves, ʻWe have Abraham as our father.ʼ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He told them, “Collect no more than you are required to.” Then some soldiers also asked him, “And as for us – what should we do?” He told them, “Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.” While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ, John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming – I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:7-16

“As Sure as Bob’s Your Uncle”

The origins are uncertain, but a common theory is that the expression arose after Conservative Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (“Bob”) appointed his nephew Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887, an act of nepotism which was apparently both surprising and unpopular. Whatever other qualifications Balfour might have had, “Bob’s your uncle” was seen as the conclusive one.

If you follow the story of Jesus and John, then you know that Jesus and John were cousins. They were related to one another — and even their ministry was related to one another. John came first to “prepare the way” for Jesus — in the manner of the Old Testament prophet who was sent to tell the people that someone great was about to appear on the scene. And, “as sure as Bob’s your uncle”, he did just that. It was not nepotism — it was foretold by the prophets of old — and it just so happened that they were relatives.

Look, as sure as “Bob’s your Uncle”, John was the right person to prepare the way for Jesus. And then, while Jesus’ ministry increased, John’s decreased – eventually being killed by Herod for publicly preaching against his immoral ways. You see, sometimes families can work together to do great things.

Pastor Dave

“As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saulʼs daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him. They brought the ark of the Lord and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord. When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saulʼs daughter, came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servantsʼ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!” 2 Samuel 6:16-20

“A Tempest in a Teapot”

The expression probably derives from the writing of Cicero, in De Legibus, circa 52BC. The translation of the phrase “Excitabat fluctus in simpulo” is often written as “He was stirring up billows in a ladle”. Interesting enough, other cultures have versions of the phrase in their own languages. The translation of the Netherlands version is ‘a storm in a glass of water’, and the Hungarian ‘a tempest in a potty’. The Duke of Ormond’s letters to the Earl of Arlington, 1678, include this:

“Our skirmish … is but a storm in a cream bowl.”

In the Connecticut Gazette dated Wednesday, August 30, 1820, an article includes—“A person once came running almost out of breath to the Lord Chancellor, saying, “My Lord, I bring you tidings of calamity to the nation…a rebellion has broken out”–“Where, where?” “In the Isle of man.” “In the Isle of Man!” repeated the vociferous Chancellor. “A tempest in a tea-pot.”

When the Ark of the Lord is finally brought to Jerusalem, David begins to dance like a whirling dervish. And it is embarrassing, at least to some — he looks like a “tempest in a tea-pot”. But if the Lord leads you to dancing, then why not dance with all your strength. Lutherans are not known for their expressive forms of worship, yet there are moments where we just cannot help ourselves. And it is ok for us to really feel the spirit in worship — and to let out the occasional “Amen” or even raise our hands to G-d during a song. No, we do not want to cause a “tempest in a tea-pot” — but if you feel the spirit during worship, let others know the Lord is speaking to you.

Pastor Dave