February 3, 2022 – “To Get One’s Goat” (Luke 11:37-44)

“When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.” Luke 11:37-44

“To Get One’s Goat”

This odd phrase has an unusual meaning — to irritate or annoy someone. The origin comes from horseracing. Jockeys used to place goats in the stables with their horses. Why? Apparently this was said to relax the horses. However, competitors would remove the goats of their rivals to spook their competitors’ horses, hoping they would consequently lose the race. So if you were devious enough to do anything to win a horse race, you would stoop to “getting your opponent’s goat.”

Jesus always seemed interested in getting under the skin of the Pharisees – or at least he tried to “get their goat”. He would use them as an example of how not to live in relationship with G-d – or point out how smug, pretentious and sanctimonious they were when it came to understanding their stance in relation to, and their need for G-d’s love and forgiveness. As such, Jesus used them as examples — but not positive examples.

We all have known many kinds of people. There are two types of people I want to mention in particular — those who try to get your goat — and those who are sanctimonious. I must say I prefer the former, and not the latter. With my odd sense of humor, I find it fun to try to get someone’s goat. But, I do not like being “the goat” — like the Pharisees in Jesus’ teachings.

The good news is that Jesus will never make us the goat. Jesus has your back and will always be looking to provide just what you need so that you can live as best a life as you possibly can hope to live. Will we always get want we want? No! But, why should we be so sanctimonious to think we will always get what we want?

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, G-d wants from us a humble and contrite heart – ready to be loved and forgiven – and to share that love and forgiveness. Help me to live into this relationship every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave

February 2, 2022 — “Jump the shark” (Jonah 1:11-17)

“Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea was growing more and more tempestuous. He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.” Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them. Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, O Lord, we pray, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life. Do not make us guilty of innocent blood; for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:11-17

“Jump the shark”

The idiom “Jump the Shark” is a rather new addition to the vernacular in our society today. It means the moment when a form of entertainment reaches a decline in quality by including gimmicks to maintain interest. The origin comes to us from the show Happy Days, where the character Fonzie literally jumps over a shark while water skiing. It was from this show that the radio personality Jon Hein popularized the phrase “jump the shark” to describe the decline of the show.

Did you even feel like you wished you were just swallowed up by a fish so you could disappear from a situation? For example, you find yourself in a really uncomfortable situation, like a funeral where the family is arguing with one another, or a wedding where the bride and groom are fighting, and you just wish you could sink into a hole and disappear? In life we might be able to slink away from an uncomfortable situation, but with G-d, well, that is a different story.

Jonah was charged by G-d to preach to a people he did not like, about a message he did not want them to have, and so he thought he could just disappear – run away from G-d and all his problems would go away. What Jonah learned is what the Psalmist declared: “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” (Psalm 139:7-8)

If we think we can hide something from G-d, or just hide from G-d, well, it would be easier to jump a shark than to run from the All Mighty. But instead of running from G-d, we should always run to G-d: run to G-d with our fears, our doubts, our questions, and our laments — as well with prayer, praise and thanksgiving. This is what G-d wants, after all.

Let us pray,

Lord, when we feel as if we want to “jump the shark” to get out of a situation, help us to have the faith and the trust that you will always be there – for running from you is impossible. But you are always there when we run back. Amen.

Pastor Dave