September 9, 2022 – Hebrews 8:12, The Funny Shape of Faith

“I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12

“Some people picture God keeping a long list of all our blunders – and checking it twice like some crabby Santa. But instead of toys, people think God is dishing out punishment. Throw that idea out the window. In the case of forgiven sins, God is forgetful.

We’re the ones with the long memory. We can use our memory against those who have wronged us, which isn’t actually forgiveness. Or we can forgive those who have wronged us and use our memory to protect ourselves. Forgiving does not mean forgetting or allowing someone to harm us. It means telling the truth about what someone did and loving them anyway. And it takes God’s power to do that. That’s what forgiven people do….they forgive.”  (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Only Santa Keeps a List

I keep all kinds of lists. I keep lists to find my lists. It is a problem with me – the lists are not as cohesive as they should be, and do not always keep me on track. And yet, I continue to make more and more lists.

As people we like to keep track of things, especially of the wrongs others have committed against us. We have long memories for the hurts and usually memories that are way to short for the blessings. And as I see it, this has the perspective of G-d turned inside out. Santa likes to keep lists, but G-d refuses to keep anything but our names in his love, mercy and grace.

Everyone is a blessing to us: those who are helpful, those who are hurtful, and those who are benign. The helpful ones remind us that everyone has a gift to share and we should accept such blessings when others seek to offer us assistance. The hurtful ones remind us that their pain often is manifested in acting out painfully toward others. When people hurt us, we should separate from them physically so they do not continue to hurt us, but keep them close in prayer so we can love them through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

And as for the benign people in our lives, those who seem to be always lukewarm, perhaps what they need most is our prayers and our love – both may help them find the spark of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, I know you forget my sins. Help me to forget them as well and to forget the sins of others too – not so they can hurt me – but so I can pray for them. Amen.

Pastor Dave

September 8, 2022 – Ecclesiastes 3:1, The Funny Shape of Faith

“For everything there is a season.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

“Which bothers God more: the little boy playing with his bulletin or the lady frowning and crabbing at him? Some folks think that “Don’t run in God’s house” and “Sit still” should be carved in stone at the tail end of the Commandments. We wouldn’t do well to simply ignore those who desire silence in, and the absence of footprints on the ceiling of, the sanctuary. But then, we wouldn’t do well to ignore Jesus, who scolded the scolders and then lifted some runny-nosed kids to his knee, saying that they were the standard for true faith. Sometimes worship means being silent. But don’t forget, we are worshiping the God who created the duck-billed platypus. Sometimes worship means having silly fun.” (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (pp. 91-92). Kindle Edition.)

Which is Worse: A Platitude or a Platypus?

We have all heard the trite sayings, the platitudes that bombard us every day. We lose a close friend to cancer, and someone will say “Time is a great healer”, or “G-d needed another angel.” It is human nature to want to say something when a friend has experienced a loss, or is having a bad week, but the platitudes are not always as comforting as we believe. In fact sometimes it is better to say nothing at all than to blurt out another trite saying.

When I look at the Platypus, I realize that things do not always seem to fit together – and will not always make sense. As such I am reminded that every action someone does to me does not require an immediate reaction, just like every situation does not mean I have to respond with words or actions. Sometimes the best thing we can do with our friends is just be present with them while they are struggling. After all, the Platypus doesn’t really do much, and too often we are trying too hard in all the wrong ways. And which would you rather have after all, a platitude that means nothing, or a Platypus that defies explanation? If G-d has a purpose for the Platypus, certainly G-d will find a purpose for us – as long as we stay quiet enough to heard G-d’s instruction.

Let us pray,

Lord of the duck-billed Platypus, thank you for always thinking out of the box and creating in so many surprising ways. Keep surprising us every day.  Amen.

Pastor Dave