February 1, 2022 — “Barking up the wrong tree” (Matthew 21:18-22)

“Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.  When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:18-22

“Barking up the wrong tree”

The meaning of this odd phrase is someone who is pursuing a misguided course of action. The origin of this odd phrase is likely referring to hunting. When dogs are included in the hunt, their great sense of smell is key to their ability to track and find an animal. The dog would track an animal until it would be “treed” – or forced to climb a tree. But, animals are quick, and sometimes they move on after a dog first trees it. So, this saying explains when a dog would literally bark at the bottom of the wrong tree after the prey in question moved to the next branch.

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

A lot of people read this text and believe that G-d is not with them because they have not received what they wanted when they prayed to G-d. Often their prayer is so that a loved one is cured, or does not die, or some other desperate prayer.

My friends, G-d wants a relationship with us – a relationship built upon faith, trust, worship and prayer. And G-d wants us to pray often – because a relationship with anyone includes conversation and constant communication. But, if we approach prayer with the intention and expectation that G-d will give to us anything we ask in prayer, well, we are “barking up the wrong tree”.

Spiritually and relationally speaking, “whatever you ask for in prayer” is to be considered as “whatever you need and ask of G-d you will receive if it is in your best interest as determined by G-d.” Remember the “rich young ruler” who asks Jesus “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and Jesus answered him ” “you know what to do — don’t commit adultery, don’t kill, don’t steal, etc.” And the young ruler said “all this have I done from my youth”. Jesus, loving him said, “one thing you lack – go sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor. Then come, follow me.” Jesus knew even as G-d knows that what is best for us, may cause us to turn away sorrowfully. And yet G-d does not forsake us or forget us. G-d may not give us what we want — but will give us what we need.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, often we do not know what to pray for – so the words stumble out of our mouths thinking you can dispense to us whatever we seek. Help us to remember that you know us more intimately than we know ourselves – and will always give us what we need. Amen.

Pastor Dave

January 31, 2022 — “Under the weather” (Genesis 9:8-16)

“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:8-16

“Under the weather”

Here we have another nautical term. Originally, sailors used the phrase “under the weather bow,” referring to the side of the ship that would get the brunt of the wind during storms. To avoid getting seasick when the waves got rough, they’d hunker down in their cabins—literally under that bad weather—to let the storm pass.

Greek mythology attributes the rainbow to the goddess Iris who was the daughter of Thaumas and Elektra, the sister of Harpies and a messenger of the gods of Olympus. The rainbow is also said to be the belt of Iris or a footpath between heaven and earth.

When Noah and his family finally disembarked from the ark, the first thing they did was build an altar and make a sacrifice to G-d for saving them from this watery catastrophe. And of course, God did not forget them. And to make sure they would remember what G-d did for them, G-d made a covenant with Noah – and with all of creation. And the sign of that covenant is the rainbow. G-d is known as a covenant-making G-d who is faithful to keep His covenant. And here you have the first covenant that G-d makes. He makes it with Noah’s family which constitutes all of humanity, so, really, it is a covenant or a promise that He gives to all mankind – G-d cares for the environment and will not forsake nor destroy it by flood until Christ comes again to establish the New Jerusalem.

Next time you see a rainbow, remember that it is G-d’s bow. G-d placed the bow in the sky not as a sign of judgment but as a sign of peace. So G-d hung His bow as a sign of His mercy toward a world of sinners. Every sinner on the planet that sees the bow sees a sign of peace. You will not find a pot of gold, but you will feel G-d’s unconditional love, peace, mercy and Grace in believing and trusting in G-d’s promises.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, you give us many signs of your presence – most we see, but many we miss. Give me the foresight to not only feel your presence but to see it working in my life. Amen.

Pastor Dave