Wind

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.  (Acts 2:1-4)

Violent wind, divided tongues as of fire, spontaneous language, amazement and questions, joy, concern, amazement, surprise, fear, awe, confusion, curiosity, glee, and even indifference.

What else do you see?  

Scapegoating

I'm not the only one who has these thoughts.

The notion that one should be punished, or bear the punishment for a whole group, in order to appease the one or the many who demand some kind of retribution, is messed up.

An innocent being punished for the actions of the guilty is simply wrong

And the idea that anyone would demand such an action in order to set things right is beyond awful.

In this week's Bible reading from Acts 16:16-34, Paul said some words to a slave woman who had a spirit of divination.  Then she lost the ability.  Her owners (something else that is majorly messed up -- in any time, and in any place) got the crowds and the judges to punish Paul and his partner Silas. The blame placed on them was unmerited

Stupid scapegoating mentality.

Here's the big problem.  Scapegoating is in the Bible. And it isn't usually seen in the horrible light it deserves.

• A sacrifice to God for the forgiveness of sins.
• A final sacrifice of the innocent, Jesus, to keep God from punishing all humankind.

A group of people determining that a heavenly being demands a scapegoat in order for forgiveness is offensive.  I can't swallow that God either desires or demands . . . or desired or demanded the sacrifice of an innocent in order for there to be forgiveness of the many.

It's time to change our way of thinking.  God was not, and is not, a feudal Lord who demands a scapegoat in order to forgive. 

God is all about forgiveness and a new start.  No scapegoat necessary.

Together

This week's Bible reflection -- (Lydia) was just a song.  And that song was in today's Confirmation day sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, too. 

"Together" podcast

Lydia

It's been awhile since I've had a newish song in my head.  A while is now past.  Here's this week's Bible reflection -- in whiny 50's ballad style.

Lyrics?

Here you go.

Oh Lydia
Words and music by Kirk Moore

CHORUS
Oh Lydia
I love you so
Give hospitality
To folks that you don’t know

You work with rich folk
And poor folk too
Oh Lydia, how I love you

You love to worship
Listen eagerly I know
Your home in Philippi
Is where we’ll go
Oh oh oh
Oh Lydia I love you so

CHORUS

You don’t let society’s rules
Become a bother
You live those important two:
Love God and one another
Oh oh oh
Oh Lydia I love you so

CHORUS (slight variation at end of chorus)
You work with rich folk
And poor folk too
Oh Lydia you're one I look up to
Oh oh oh - Lydia, I love you so
Oh oh oh - Lydia, I love you so

© 2010, 2013 Kirk Moore

Water of Life

On Monday it was a Bible reflection with a comically sinister title. (Revelation - dun dun dun!)  And today it formed a little bit of the basis for a scathing commentary and hopeful sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Water of Life" podcast

Revelation! (dun dun dun!)

The books and videos (I just can’t bring myself to call them films – it would show a level of artistic and theological respect from me that really isn’t there) that attempt to interpret the book of Revelation as a horror story for anyone who isn’t in the Jesus club get it wrong. The books may offer compelling fiction and the movies are  . . . just poorly acted religious schlock, but they get it wrong.

Revelation isn’t a horror story. It is one filled with anger directed at oppressors and retribution coming to those who would oppress and exploit the weak. Yet in this week’s Bible reading from Revelation 21:1-6, it’s a story of hope.

• New heaven and new earth
• No scary sea
• God with us
• Tears wiped away
• No more death, mourning, crying, or pain
• All things new
• Trustworthy and true words
• God was and is and will be – the beginning and the end.
• Refreshing, free, life-giving water

Revelation is coded and creepy and angry and really strange. But ultimately its purpose is to provide hope for people who thought things were hopeless. 

Rules

This week's Bible reflection (Disciple)  provides some of the background, but today's sermon at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove just rolled from there.  It's not about the doctrine.
"Rules" podcast

Disciple

This week’s Bible reading from Acts 9:36-43 tells about the resurrection of a woman named Tabitha – also called Dorcas.

Dorcas was a disciple.  Dorcas was a woman.

It isn't a "maybe she was, but maybe she wasn't" scenario.  The Bible calls Dorcas a disciple. The Greek word "mathetria" is the feminine equivalent of the masculine word "mathetes." Both mean disciple. Feminine and Masculine forms of the word don’t downgrade or raise the value of one over the other. Dorcas was a disciple - period. She is one of many significant and strong women in the Bible – Elizabeth, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Lydia, Priscilla, and Dorcas

So Dorcas, the disciple, cared for others. When she died, other disciples called for Peter, who prayed and called for her to get up. She did. People saw that she was alive and they believed.

For the twelve year old in all of us -- I know that there may be a few reader snickering about the name of this resurrected disciple. Dorcas. I know it sounds like a completely different word in English. The meanings of the word and the name are radically different, however. Tabitha, a Hebrew name, and Dorcas – its Greek equivalent, mean ‘gazelle.’ They don't mean clumsy or strange or ‘’nerdish.” Dorcas was respected and loved by those in Joppa.  She was loved and respected by Jewish people and Gentile people.  That’s why her name is listed in this week's reading in both Hebrew and Greek.

That Dorcas was a disciple seems to break the rules of some Christian denominations today.  She was a leader of men and women.  It was the kind of thing that broke the rules of the culture where Dorcas was a disciple.

And that's just be beginning.  There’s a lot of rule breaking in this week’s Bible reading. 

Another Chance

This week's Bible reflection (Ananias) asks why that fellow isn't more known in the Bible or just in Christian history.  I keep asking that question and others in Sunday's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.  
"Another Chance" text
"Another Chance" podcast

Ananias

He made it possible for Christianity to continue, thrive, and grow.

Without Ananias, who knows what would have happened.

And it happened because he went and prayed with . . . a really bad guy.  It's recounted in this week's Bible reading from Acts 9:1-20

Ananias He has been one who followed Jesus when he was here on earth and he was continuing to be a disciple after Jesus’ resurrection. According to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, he had been one of the 70 apostles sent out in pairs in mission to the surrounding areas. When they returned from their trip, they were filled with joy and said, (From Luke 10:17) “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!"
    
Not all Bible scholars agree that it is possible to name any of the 70 who were sent out, but the idea that Ananias had been with Jesus since before the crucifixion and resurrection makes sense in the context of this week’s Bible reading. 

Ananias, who was living in Damascus, had a vision from God. In it God instructed him to go find Saul of Tarsus and pray with him so that he would regain his sight.

“Are you kidding, God? This is one bad man! This is one powerful and bad man!”

“I’m going to use him to tell others about me.”
(Likely a bit skeptical, but willing . . .) “OK.”

Ananias got another chance to listen.  Ananias gave Saul another chance

I wonder why we don't hear more about Ananias. He's a pivotal person in the history of Christianity.

Double Vision

I apologize to anyone who has that 1978 Foreigner song in their head now.

I'm not writing about that song.  Believe it or not, I'm writing about thomas

Traditionsays that Thomas went to India and is considered the one who introduced Christianity there. He became known as Thomas the Believer.

But the doubting Thomas name is the one that has ultimately survived.

What about the other nicknames for Thomas? In this week's Bible reading from John 20:19-31, there's another name - or two. Thomas is called "didymus," which means "the twin.

Twin?

Didymus means 'twin' in Greek. And the Aramaic word for twin?

Thomas.

So Thomas the twin -- or twin twin-- (Some think his given name is really Jude and Thomas Didymus are nicknames) who wasn't there when Jesus appeared to the other disciples, doubted the appearance had happened. And then Jesus came again and showed Thomas. And Thomas believed -- exclaiming, "My Lord and My God!"

Jesus response, often seen as a rebuke, I think simply displays a reality. Thomas believed because he saw -- and blessed are the ones who will believe without seeing.

I tend to ponder that 'didymus' part a whole lot more. Was Thomas a twin? Is that why he wasn't with the disciples the first time? Was he visiting his twin? Did Thomas simply look like someone else -- another disciple or even Jesus -- and is that why he got the nickname? Is Thomas the nickname for Jude -- the brother of Jesus? Were they twins? Did they just look alike? Is there more to this simple word than the passage lets on?

Questions about our faith, our experience with God, our understanding of the Bible, and even our belief didn't start with Thomas and they certainly don't end with us. I believe we will continue to study, doubt, struggle, reject and misunderstand God for as long as we breathe.

So is there anything good about this doubt, struggle, rejection, and misunderstanding?

Well. . . maybe not. But God has given us minds to think and the ability to learn. Some can believe simply because they believe. Others ask a whole lot more questions.

God's neighborhood is big enough for the doubters and the believers. What do you think about that kind of double vision?

Easter Sermons 2013

There are two services at St. Paul's United Church of Christ for Easter Sunday.  And there are two sermons, too.

"Perplexed" - Sunrise Service Sermon Text
"Perplexed" podcast

"Why are You Weeping?" Late Service Sermon Text
"Why are You Weeping?" podcast 

Cup of Salvation

Maundy Thursday sermon from St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Cup of Salvation" text
"Cup of Salvation" podcast

Tears

Sometimes I write poetry.  Here’s a poem I wrote about Mary weeping outside Jesus’ tomb.

Tears
Tears for death
Tears for death and fear
Tears death, fear, and confusion
Tears for death, fear, confusion, and anticipation
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, and surprise
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, and hope
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, hope, and happiness
Tears for death, fear, confusion, anticipation, surprise, hope, happiness, and resurrection.
Tears,

Preparations

This week's Bible reflection (Checklist) is just a small part of, but it gets the thought process going for the Palm Sunday Sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL
"Preparations" text
"Preparations" podcast