Christmas Meditation

O holy night.

Was that it so very long ago?

Is tonight the night?

Will the holy night ever come?

We know so little about that silent night,

was it even silent? Surely baby Jesus cried.

Why wouldn’t he cry, born in such a miserable state?

And as he grew he must have worried and feared,

seethed and anguished,

longed and hoped.

But how can we know? How can we feel the impact of one holy night?

We need a week, no a month, maybe a year of holy nights

before we can begin to make sense of it all.

We need to struggle with the craziness of the traveling mother-soon-to-be,

the insanity of angels singing and shepherds listening,

the paranoia of a king threatened by an infant!

Give us more holy nights. Give us time to make some meaning.

O holy night.

Was that it so very long ago?

Is tonight the night?

Will the holy night ever come?

On this night, what do we know of holiness?

What angels are visiting?

Where are our shepherds?

Could it be that the pregnant woman living with AIDS who knows that her baby does not have the virus is the one to sing the Magnificat to us if we would listen?

Could we hear our sister’s soul giving glory to God that the mighty have been brought low and the thoughts of the proud scattered?

But… what if we are the mighty and the proud? What angels will come to us?

Could it be that the lives taken by plague and warfare not stilled by our mighty and proud hands may be speaking to us tonight lest we miss the miracle of the birth?

Could it be that the glory of God shining on us tonight is not the klieg light of celebrity but the searing light of truth that reveals our nakedness and shame?

O holy night, we came seeking the cooing of a baby, silence the screams of the one dying for our sins.

“We humans prefer satisfying un-truth

To the Truth that is usually unsatisfying.

Truth is always too big for us,

And we are so small and afraid.”

O holy night.

Was that it so very long ago?

Is tonight the night?

Will the holy night ever come?

And how can that holy night of peace with justice ever come when we, your people are not righteous?

Loving our little truths, we kill the prophets you send us.

Yes, even gentle Mary’s newborn; we would be Herod’s conscripts, sword in hand.

We want it all in one night: clear answers, absolute truth.

But the holy night calls us to faith,

to mystery,

to hope.

We are not a patient people; we don’t have the skill to gaze steadily.

How can we stare down oppression?

warfare?

poverty?

injustice?

We want peace in our hearts, but will we pay the price of justice in our guts?

O come, o come Emmanuel and ransom your captive people;

for we are captive to our little truths in our false certainty.

Embrace us with mystery on this silent night.

Break our hard hearts and stir the butterflies of hope in our guts.

Make us your people, united in our need to find you.

Don’t ruin our appetites by feeding us sweets.

Give us a hunger that drives us to deeper faith,

larger truths,

and common union.

O holy night, remind us this night that you hold no miracle cure, no once-a-year medication that fixes the soul.

O holy night, remind us that every other night grows from the seed of light born this night.

O holy night, remind us to look for that light tomorrow, and the next day, and next week, and next month.

O holy night, remind us that we don’t sit alone in the dark—or in the light—that there are always brothers and sisters to share the vigil with us.

O holy night, remind us to fall on our knees;

remind us to hear the angel voices.

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

the night when Christ is born;

the night when Christ will be born;

O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Christmas Candle

The candles remain unlighted at the beginning of the service.

Introduction
On this Christmas Eve [Day, Night]
we are gathered as God’s people
to celebrate again what Christ’s coming
means to the world.
We join with Christians all over the world
who are celebrating on this holy night [day].

Readings from the Bible
Choose any or all of these readings. Each may be read by a different person.

Isaiah 9:6
For a child has been born for us,
an heir given to us.
Authority rests upon the shoulders
of the One who is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:10,14
The angel said to [the shepherds],
“Do not be afraid; for see—
I am bringing you good news
of great joy for all the people.”

Romans 5:5
Hope does not disappoint us,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Lighting of the Candles
Tonight [Today] we relight the four Advent candles and recall what the Good News means.

Light each candle to the words “Hope,” “Peace,” “Joy,” “Love.”

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift
who makes all these other gifts real.
So, we light the Christ candle now,
as we think about what Christ’s coming
means to each one of us.
The color of the candle is white—
symbolizing the light of day
and the light that Christ shines into the world.

The Christ candle is lit.

Prayer
We thank you, God,
for your gift of Jesus Christ to the entire world.
We thank you that Christ’s coming makes
hope, peace, joy and love
possible for every person in every nation.
Encourage us to do our part
to bring good will and peace
to our families, our churches,
our neighborhood, our world.
Now let your Spirit put us in touch with you,
the living God,
through the celebration of Christmas.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
through whom you give us all good things.
Amen!

The Fourth Candle of Advent

The three candles lit on previous Sundays are relighted before the service begins.

Introduction
As we gather around the Advent wreath tonight,
we rejoice that Christmas is a time of prayer and of open hearts
when we sing songs of joy.
Christmas is a time of worship—
the moment when the busiest of us pause in wonder.
Christmas happens when God comes to us in love
through Jesus Christ
and fills us with love for all humankind.

Reading from the Bible
First Letter of John 4:9-11
God’s love was revealed among us in this way:
God sent God’s only Child into the world
so that we might live through him.
In this is love, not that we loved God
but that God loved us and sent the Child
to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another.

Lighting of the Candle
We light this candle to proclaim
the coming of the light of God into the world.
With the coming of this light is love.
Such great love helps us to love God and one another.
The color of this candle is purple—
symbolizing the majesty of Christ,
who rules in the power of love.

Light the last purple candle in the wreath.

Prayer
O God, we thank you
that Jesus showed your love for every person—
babies and children, old people and young,
sick people and those who were strong,
rich people and those who were poor.
Come to us as Christmas approaches
and let love be born in our hearts
as you were born into the world on Christmas Day.
Amen

The Third Candle of Advent

The two candles lit on previous Sundays are relighted before the service begins.

Introduction
Soon we shall celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We worship God with joy in our hearts
as we are reminded of the words the angel said
on that first Christmas Day:
“Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy
which will come to all the people!”

Reading from the Bible
John 15:9-11
Jesus said: “As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you; abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments,
you will abide in my love,
just as I have kept God’s commandments
and abide in God’s love.
I have said these things to you
so that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be complete.”
Lighting of the Candle
We light this candle to proclaim
the coming of the light of God into the world.
With the coming of this light there is joy,
joy that is ours not only at Christmas but always.
The color of the candle is rose—
the color of the sky
when dawn breaks into the night.

Light the pink candle in the wreath.

Prayer
O Holy One, as Christmas draws near,
there is a sense of excitement in the air.
We can feel a joy in our lives
and see it in those around us.
Still, for some of us this is a sad time
because of unhappy things that have happened in our lives.
Help us to have that joy
that does not depend on earthly happiness, but on you.
Help us to be filled with your joy
so that we may share it with a joyless world.
Amen.

Hand Bells with Voices

O Holy Christ, in Love Come Down by Joel Raney

If you have a slower Internet connection you can watch a lower resolution version of this video at YouTube

More Hand Bell Video

Sing We Now of Christmas arranged by Martha Lynn Thompson

Mary and Joe on the Front Page

Shawn Kelley photo

Gina's sculpture made the front page of the Southbridge Evening News today. You can't read the article on line without being a subscriber, so you may want to get out and pick up a paper.

Hand Bell Video

A short video of the Hand Bell choir performing He Is Born (arr. Martha Lynn Thompson) at last week's concert. More will follow. Enjoy!

Putting CHRIST back in CHRISTmas

Sculpture "When Did We See You Lord?" by Gina Lynch
Click on picture for larger view

We have been hearing this expression quite a bit lately with Walmart and other stores taking a stand and saying “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays”. How ironic that they are using it as a way to get consumers to spend money at their stores on gifts that we don’t really need. How exactly is this putting “CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS”?

In the Bible, in the Old Testament, Isaiah 58, God says to the people “is not this the kind of fasting I wish from you: to loose the chains of injustice ….to set the oppressed free…is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor homeless with shelter….when you see the naked, to clothe them and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood…Then you light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear (vs. 5-8)

In the New Testament, Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of separating the sheep from the goats (those who do good and those who don’t) “and the King will say to those on his right come you who are blessed, the kingdom is prepared for you, for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.” And the people answered him saying, “But when did we see you Lord?” “ when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or in need?” …The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these children of mine, you did for me.”

IF JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TODAY, WOULD THERE BE ANY ROOM? WOULD WE RECOGNIZE HIM?

Together, let us put CHRIST back into CHRISTMAS this year by helping others in need. Your donation will help make a difference to many who are hungry, homeless, sick and in need. Gift cards are available for you to give a donation in someone’s name. All donations will be given to the following agencies in our area:

Heifer International

Southbridge Interfaith Hospitality Network (a family shelter)

Jeremiah’s Inn

Salem Mission

Western Massachusetts Food Bank

Springfield Rescue Mission

Legal Aid Society

Abby House

Checks can be made to First Congregational Church, Brimfield UCC and put Mission Fund in memo please.

Thank you for your generous donations. May you have a Blessed Christmas!

For more information contact Gina Lynch, Fellowship & Outreach Committee

The Second Candle of Advent

The first candle should be lit before the service begins.

Introduction
We gather around the Advent wreath today
knowing that we are not perfect—
that we all make mistakes and do bad things.
Only Jesus obeyed God fully.
Jesus helps us to live as God wants us to live.
Jesus gives us peace.

Reading from the Bible
Isaiah 9:6-7
For a child has been born for us,
an heir given to us.
Authority rests upon the shoulders
of the One who is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,
whose authority shall grow continually;
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David
and for David’s kingdom,
established and upheld with justice
and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Lighting of the Candle
We light this candle to proclaim
the coming of the light of God into the world.
With the coming of this light there is peace,
for Christ is called the “Prince of Peace.”
Christ’s name is also Emmanuel, “God with us.”
The presence of Christ with us
gives us peace day by day.
The color of this candle is purple—
symbolizing the majesty of Christ,
whose throne will endure forever.

Light the second purple candle.

Prayer
Eternal God, we thank you that through all the years
you have given peace to your people.
Help us to have your peace in our lives.
We pray that, in this Advent season,
we may, by what we do, show your presence
to the sick, to the hungry, and to the lonely,
so that they too may have peace.
Amen.

Community and Choice

Give yourself a five minute gift by clicking on the icon on the left and listening to the inspirational words of Catherine Royce of Dorchester. She has ALS, but maintains that she always has a choice. She has chosen to know herself, in particular the gift of giving and receiving care. She alludes to no particular religious belief, but she clearly has learned the lesson of covenant. She has beliefs that are nestled in the giving and receiving that happens between people in a community. I would call that covenant.

There are so many ways to organize one's beliefs, but to truly understand the need for a community of caring within which to exist is a spiritual principle necessary for any legitimate religious practice. I hope that during this holy season you will re-commit yourself to being a part of your communities; familial, civic, and religious.

If you prefer, you can read her essay here.

First Candle of Advent

Introduction
Today [or Tonight] is the beginning of Advent—
the time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
We are here because God’s promises to our ancestors
came true when Jesus was born.
God’s promise is kept each Sunday when we worship
because Christ is in our midst.
God will keep the promise to come again in glory.

Reading from the Bible
Isaiah 60:2
For night shall cover the earth,
and thick shadows the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and God’s glory will appear over you.

Lighting of the First Candle
We light this candle to proclaim
the coming of the light of God into the world.
With the coming of this light there is hope.
Because of Christ we not only have hope,
but we believe that good is stronger than evil.
God wants us to work for good in this world.
The color of this candle is purple—
symbolizing the majesty of Christ,
whose glory shines in the night.

Light one purple candle.

Prayer
O God, we thank you
that Jesus brought hope into our world.
By the good news of the Bible
you are still bringing hope to people.
Help us to be ready to welcome Jesus Christ
so that we may think good thoughts
and do good deeds
and so we may be a people of hope in our world.
Amen.

Heifer goes to Hollywood

The Living Nativity at Overlook Farm in Rutland is coming up on December 9th and 10th. It is not to be missed. In addition to the beauty of experiencing the live animals in the telling of the Christmas story, it is also a great way to shop for meaningful presents. There are crafts from artisans around the world for sale, helping people in need and there is always the possibility of a gift donation to Heifer.

Magic Words

I was reminded this week of the power of language. There was a phrase on the bulletin insert that hooked one congregant to the point that the rest of worship became difficult. Another worshipper was offended by a particular tone I took during my sermon. Our student minister offered liturgical words for the first time and was struck by the feelings that evoked. Words can hurt and words can heal. I don't believe in magic words like incantations, but I do believe in the power of words. That is why it is so important to measure our words, to think before we speak. How much of the current divisiveness in our nation could be avoid by simply toning down the rhetoric?

Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about many topics. In the past I have been quick with an opinion that too often was thrown out as an assault, arrogantly assuming no room for adjustment. Becoming a pastor has taught me that if I want to persuade the hearts and minds of people that I need to be in a relationship with that person that allows me to be heard. Thus, I have been learning how to look before leaping. I'm still not all that good at it, but I have been finding that finding common ground and withholding opinions that cause rifts has yielded tremendous fruit.

And I don't think this is a lesson just for me as a pastor. We are all called to share the good news of God's tremendous love for each and every person we meet. How can you answer that call when you see nothing but walls with no doors? Friends, the walls don't build themselves, so if we can build them, we can also tear them down.

Worldwide Communion

We are almost at the end of our "Sacrament Sandwich." I know that doesn't sound particularly respectful, but it is descriptive of where we have been the past few weeks. We had Holy Communion, a Baptism, Rally Sunday, a Baptism, and this week will be Holy Communion again. What a great way to frame our kick-off Sunday, surrounding it with sacraments.

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. It is always one of my favorite Sundays of the year. One of the important elements of Holy Communion is the way it reminds us of our common union with believers in all times and places. On at least this one Sunday each year, we know that all around the world nearly every fellow follower of Christ will be at the table with us. Now that is one powerful image (and certainly a better mental image than picturing the congregation as children sharing a bathtub, as I asked the congregation to imagine on Sunday)! As we gather to worship, we are choosing solidarity over solitude. In coming to one place of worship, we make a choice to unite with those who gather there. If we don't like it for some reason, we can always find another location for our worship. But as disciples of Christ, we don't choose our family, all of God's children are our siblings...and this Sunday they are all coming to dinner!

I hope that you won't need to miss the worship service this week. It would be great to see a variety of faces present in the sanctuary. It would also be great to celebrate the meal with a variety of breads. Do you have a recipe for bread from some other part of the world? Perhaps a wonderful old family recipe from "the old country?" If you don't want to bake a loaf, you could buy one. Please let me know if you can help create an international offering for the Communion Table this week. Thanks, and see you at the welcome table.

The Work of the People

The word liturgy comes from the Greek words for people and work. A leitourgos in ancient Greece was a public servant. Today, we use liturgy to describe the form and mechanics of our worship. The connection from the root meaning is that liturgy is the work of the people. Too often, it seems to me, we fall into the trap of approaching worship as if it were just like most anything else we might attend in a group, i.e. a form of entertainment. Granted, this is a performance that is intentionally more inspiring than typical entertainment, but it is too easy to approach it as a consumer instead of a participant. So, if we were to compare worship to a performance (remembering that liturgy is the work of the people) we need to be clear that all the congregants are performers, with the preacher, musicians, singers, etc. as perhaps lead performers, but still part of the cast. This means that the congregation is not the audience appreciating the performance, but rather is “performing” worship for God, who is the audience.

So, every worship service is your opportunity to participate in a royal command performance for the ultimate royalty! Do you ever feel that way during worship? As a worship leader, all I can do is provide the opportunity for each congregant to offer praise; I cannot worship God as a proxy for someone else. I struggle to do my best week in and week out to offer the best vehicle for worship that I can muster. Interestingly, it is often the sermon that I think is substandard that delivers just the right message to enhance someone’s worship experience. While I greatly appreciate the compliments I receive about my sermons, I always strive to keep the focus on God and not me. The vital truth about worship is that it doesn’t hinge on the performance of the leaders. Thus, a stinker of a sermon or an off-key anthem should not become an obstacle to praising and worshipping God.
Another limitation I face as a worship leader is that I cannot make anyone worship. You can sit in the pew for an hour and never once offer God your praise. I’ll never know it, your fellow congregants will never know, but you and God will know it! And I don’t mean to make anyone feel guilty. Indeed, I want just the opposite; I want to invite everyone to a deeper, richer experience of God in worship. Yes, it is risky; you will need to be vulnerable. A truly moving worship will likely mean that others might see you cry…or cry out in joy! Now, that won’t happen every time, but if you don’t allow yourself to be open and vulnerable it will never happen.

The Holy Spirit can and will move among us, invigorating and empowering us through our worship if we will allow it. I hope that you are willing to allow that. And you have your first chance to try it on Sunday…and every Sunday that follows.

Question #40

First, my response to question #39:
I hope for wisdom for our leaders that we may know not only peace, but real justice.
I hope for the renewal of spirit for my congregation that we may bloom, bursting forth in glory to God for all to see.

I hope for the strength to speak and act to do my part to make the world a better place.

Now for today's question:

Question #40
Finally, the day (and the last question) have arrived...almost. The tomb was found to be empty because the stone was rolled away. What has been rolled away for you this Lent?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #39

First, my response to question #38:
I know that my sinfulness is not unique. I'm not suggesting that because I'm sinful just like everyone else that I have an excuse. No, the similarity means that the people who actually participated in crucifying Jesus were no different than I. I would have been party to it as well. So in a real sense, every sin of mine today drives another nail into Jesus' flesh. This is particulary true when I participate in "corporate sin" (primarily through my silence) such as racism, sexism, materialism, etc.

Now for today's question:

Question #39
The time from Jesus' death to the resurrection is only about 40 hours, but just like a difficult week at work it can seem like a very long time. What are the hopes that you longingly wait for in this time in between?


Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #38

First, my response to question #37:
When I was a young man, I made an intentional decision to deny the existence of God. It was meant to be a test to determine if God were real. Well, the test only lasted about a week as I was haunted by a gnawing feeling in my gut that wouldn't go away. That experience settled for me the truth of God's existence. It was not something that is transferable, nor would I wish on anyone the pain I felt. I would not encourage denial for anyone, but this particular experience left me with an incredible present.

Now for today's question:

Question #38
For Good Friday it is always important to consider what it means that Jesus died for your sins. What does that mean to you on this sacred day?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #37

First, my response to question #36:
It is easy to desert someone in pain. Even when the pain is not ours, we tend to avoid it. When someone is suffering greatly, somehow I have the courage to be with them. Ironically, it is when someone is lonely that I tend to want to avoid contact. Actually, I have found that while I sometimes don't feel like making that visit, once I'm there I find it very rewarding. I doubt that any of us want to take the final part of Jesus' journey with him, but I think that if we find the courage to do so we will be amazed at what we find.

Now for today's question:

Question #37
Peter not only deserted Jesus, he also denied even knowing him three times. How has denial impacted your life?


Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #36

First, my response to question #35:
I haven't researched the Gospel of Judas, but from what I have heard it seems to hinge on an almost denial of the flesh, i.e. Jesus desiring to be free from his body to return in spirit to God. From that perspective, we might let Judas off the hook, but I am uncomfortable with the prospect of Jesus disdaining his humanity. In a way, this feels like a betrayal since the heart of the Christian message is that God came and experienced what we experience, even to the point of suffering a horrific death. The humanity of Jesus is so central to my beliefs that I think the primary way I could betray him is to argue that I cannot be expected to be like him since he was more than human. And, in fact, I do betray him every time I fail to do what he would do were he living my life.

Now for today's question:

Question #36
Nearly all the followers of Jesus desert him after his arrest. We don't hear any voices calling for his release from Pilate and only John, Mary and Mary Magdalene are mentioned as being at the cross. How has desertion been a part of your life?


Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #35

First, my response to question #34:
I've never really had a time in my life when I didn't know God. That's not to say that I've always had the same understanding of who God is, or that I've always listened. It is a daily struggle to make sure that the direction in which I am heading is the one God wants for me. As I've grown spiritually, the sense of God's closeness has deepened. While that means that I find more ready access to God, it also means that I have had to be more careful to discern when my own thoughts are masquerading as the voice of God. Even though God dwells with (in) us, ultimately, the reference point is outside and beyond any of us.

Now for today's question:

Question #35
The Passion story begins with betrayal. Regardless of the perspective provided by the newly translated Gospel of Judas, what place has betrayal had in your life?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Holy Week

We've reached the end of our journey through Judges. Even though I was eager to go on this journey, even I must say that I'm glad that it's over. The horror of the stories at the end of the book leave us with a tremedous tension that needs resolution.

Unfortunately, we not only must wait for that resolution, the week that lies ahead is a painful journey through betrayal, denial, desertion and death. It is a bleak but necessary journey that I hope you will take with intention, contemplation and prayer.

Question #34

First, my response to question #33:
What is so wrong with saying, "I wasn't thinking when I said that, I'm sorry"? Admitting that we were wrong can be so very hard, but look at what dire consequences can result from that kind of stubbornness. I wish I could say that I was good at admitting my mistakes, but I'm not. Politicians have made an art form out of well-crafted explanations of past mistakes that never seem to actually admit the mistake. Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear genuine apologies in public life?

Now for today's question:

Question #34
The last word in the book of Judges is that everyone did what was right in his or her own eyes because there was no king. The direct interpretation is that lawlessness abounded due to the lack of a monarch, but it seems that the bigger spiritual problem is doing what is right in your own eyes, i.e. having no reference beyond yourself. Reflect on the times that this has been true for you.

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #33

First, my response to question #32:
The element of sibling conflicts and civil strife that is too often (and too easily) overlooked is the fact that the opponent is very similar to ourselves. We can see the small differences as so great as to lead to violence while totally overlooking the overwhelming amount of similarities. Perhaps there is a basis in low self-esteem in this sort of conflict. It certainly makes me wonder out loud if that is the cause of so much strife in the church (and in our churches) today. Could it be that our lack of confidence in our own positions cause us to lash out at others who differ? Perhaps the explanation is that we believe that the best defense is a good offense. So the road to peace may require us to live with the unsettling truth that our own positions may not be superior, they simply work for us for the time being. Perhaps humility and self-confidence go hand-in-hand.

Now for today's question:

Question #33
Yet another story of a bad vow...the other tribes swear not to give their daughters in marriage to the Benjaminites, so they get around their own words by allowing them to take their daughters! Isn't there another way to deal with keeping your word than something like this? What would you have done? Can you name something similar from your own life?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #32

First, my response to question #31:
I think hospitality is one of the most ignored practice among Christians. I'm not saying that Christians are inhospitable; rather, I'm suggesting that hospitality is rarely seen as being among spiritual practices such as prayer, worship, and Bible study. Yes, I think it is on that level of importance. Hospitality is not just being congenial to guests, it is truly caring for those whom you don't know. It means taking in the stranger, not simply wishing him or her well. This was what Jesus was referring to in Matthew 25 when he told the story of people asking him, "when did we see you, lord?"

Now for today's question:

Question #32
There is no fighting quite like that between siblings. The civil war among the tribes in Judges is seen again and again in civil wars today. Why is it so hard for us to get along with those most like ourselves? And what can we do to bring peace?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #31

First, my response to question #30:
I agree with the commenter that violence is a human creation. Thank you for reminding us that this story is not meant to be seen as exemplary, but instead shows the human capacity for inhumanity. It is a frightening tale about very wrong priorities and selfishness. The first step to ending this sort of violence is to acknowledge that the world does not revolve around any of us. Our faith teaches us to regard the other in high esteem. If we were willing to show the greatest love, we would lay down our lives for each other: the complete antithesis of the taking of life demonstrated in this story.

Now for today's question:

Question #31
The men of Gibeah, like those of Sodom, seek to rape the visitors in their town. We can miss the point of the story by focusing on the homosexual element. The true point is that this is a most heinous violation of the demands of hospitality. We may think this sounds like a small thing, but taking care of the stranger is emphasized on nearly every page of the Hebrew Bible. So just how important is hospitality today?


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Question #30

First, my response to question #29:
We don't know what it is to be persecuted for our faith, so it is hard to say how much it would take for any of us to deny our faith (and we are certainly grateful not to be tested). As we approach Holy Week, we can't help but think about how all the disciples deserted Jesus. Peter denied him and Judas betrayed him. These were his closest followers, how much better do you think any of us would do? I think we are enticed all the time to compromise on the high demands of our faith to unselfishly serve God by serving others. I'm afraid that if the price were right I could sell out, I pray not to be tested.

Now for today's question:

Question #30
The Levite's concubine is a helpless victim from the start. She can't find refuge in her father's house and then after a brutal gang rape she is killed by her lover. This is a story that reads like a tabloid headline. What is the answer to this level of violence?

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Question #29

First, my response to question #28:
After 9/11 when people were questioning how any religion could teach that a person should kill himself to destroy the enemy I couldn't help but think about Samson and the Temple of Dagon. Clearly, even though Samson is the putative "hero," the story is still a cautionary tale. What he did may have been effective, but there is so very much about Samson's life that leads us to understand that he is not a role model. He was a wild man, human enough to know what love is, but too wild to ever truly experience it. We read the stories, and at the end of his pathetic life we are left with a nagging feeling that we need to choose another way: the way of love.

Now for today's question:

Question #29
The Levite "sold out." How easy is it to compromise one's beliefs? How much does it take?

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The Mercenary Levite

The end of the book of Judges is simply horrific. After Samson's death there are no more judges. The story picks up with Micah getting the same amount of money from his mother as Delilah got for betraying Samson, leading to the logical conclusion that Micah is her son. He hires a Levite to be his personal priest, creating his own god. This Mercenary Levite has a concubine who leaves him and goes home to her father. The Levite goes there and talks to the father to try to entice her to come back. Aside from the blatant patriarchy of the scene, it seems obvious to me that reading between the lines that the reason for her leaving was to get out of an abusive relationship.

The Levite certainly gives reason for us to loathe him. He chooses to travel too late in the day and finds himself and his traveling party stranded in the town square. When they are taken in, the men of the town come to the door seeking to rape them. They are given the homeowner's daughter and the Levite's concubine. In a most pathetic scene, the Levite opens the door in the morning to find his concubine on the doorstep, seeking, but not quite finding refuge. He tells her to get up, which she is unable to do. It is unclear if she is even alive, but that becomes a moot point as the Levite takes her home only to butcher her and sends a body part to each of the tribes of Israel in an effort to get them to gather in war against one of their own tribes.

The warring is very effective and the annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin is almost complete. In the end, the surviving men seek wives from the other tribes, but they are refused because of a vow the other tribes had made. But then in legal maneuver worthy of the worst of politicians, the other tribes point out that they promised not to give their daughters to the Benjaminites, but they never said that they couldn't take them! So the final scene of the book is the abduction of virgins by the Benjaminites.

The closing words on the whole saga of the period of the judges is that everyone did what was right in his or her own eyes because there was no king.

Question #28

First, my response to question #27:
Another question that is uncomfortable to answer. I'll take the path of the general answer and simply say that nagging is effective with me. The observation I would add is that it something that is most effective by those closest to me, i.e. my family. I'm guessing that that is true for most of us. So it is interesting to note how powerful love is. It can be used as a tool, or even a weapon.

Now for today's question:

Question #28
Samson pulled down the Temple of Dagon in revenge for being blinded by the Phillistines, killing 3000 of them along with himself. So how do you come to terms with a prime example of suicide terrorism in our holy scripture?


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Question #27

First, my response to question #26:
My answer might seem too broad, but I would have to say that selfishness is my greatest weakness. Sometimes I can take taking care of myself too far and simply use that as an excuse for things I should have done. Outwardly, it appears as laziness, which is an appropriate way of describing it. And I know the solution; I simply need to engage rightly in the things that I need to do and know the blessing of action instead of seeking the false comfort of inaction.

Now for today's question:

Question #27
Three times Samson gets involved with a woman who gets him to break by nagging him. The Hebrew word for that actually is related to bind or close, something that the wild man, Samson, simply can't stand whether in words or action. What gets under your skin? What is it that can most easily get you to give up on things that ought to matter most to you?

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Question #26

First, my response to question #25:
It is possible (though a bit of a stretch) to see Samson as the subject of the verb and thus the one looking for a pretext to do violence to the Philistines. But, as seems to be the case, if God is the subject then there is strange theology at work here. I would contend that even with "the chosen people" God doesn't take sides in warfare, since that is a human invention. I do think that since the victors write the histories that this is an example of someone justifying a bad action by invoking God. We see this all too often today, and I'm sad to say, it is a behavior that is all too easy to fall victim to. I would love to have God as an excuse for everything I do about which I rightfully should be ashamed, but theology that allows that simply shows its human origin.

Now for today's question:

Question #26
Samson is constantly a victim of his own base nature. He has a clear weakness for women. He simply can't control his lust and he ends up making awful mistakes after the fact. Lust may not be as big a problem for you, but what is your "Achilles' heel"?


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Question #25

First, my response to question #24:

I usually come to my senses pretty quickly when I'm coveting material things, since I know that they don't hold the power to bring me true happiness. The times that I impatiently demand action is when I'm looking for results from some long-term effort. It can be very hard to trust God to provide the growth after I've done whatever "planting" or "watering" that is required. Leaving things in God's care can often be difficult.

Now for today's question:

Question #25
There is a very disturbing part to the story of Samson's Philistine wife. The text says that Samson's parents objected, but that they didn't realize that this was from God, as it would give a pretext for the later violence against the Philistines. So how do you respond to that? Is that how God behaved? Does God still behave that way? Is it just the opinion of the author? What does that say about your view of scripture?

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Question #24

First, my response to question #23:
I asked the question in a form that suggested that there were only two ways to respond, but obviously, it is possible that you are like neither Samson's father nor mother. I do think that the problem of patriarchy shown in this ancient story is not much different today. Women are still not listened to or believed as they ought to be. Of course, there are even more marginalized groups that continue to struggle to have a voice. Perhaps the fact that the angel remains nameless is a way of God showing solidarity with the voiceless. At least I would like to think of it that way.

Now for today's question:

Question #24

Samson's first scene in the story is seeing a Philistine woman and demanding that his parents get her for him as his wife. It doesn't matter to Samson that his parents oppose it. Later, he shows just how immature and petulant he is by abandoning his wife right after the wedding. Today's question is one of those that none of us wants to answer...when have you acted like that?


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Question #23

First, my response to question #22:
I think it is impossible to celebrate the inclusion of a group of any sort without acknowledging that it is not possible without exclusion. While there may be great value is closed groups of likeminded individuals as a means of nurture and support, we should never ignore the risk of their become weapons of oppression of outsiders, whether intentionally or unintentionally. I fear that the step from keeping the outsider out to actively despising the outsider is a very short one. We can celebrate the advances of the Civil Rights Movement in America, but there is no denying that racism and other bigotries are alive and well in our nation today.

Now for today's question:

Question #23
The story of Samson's birth in Judges 13 is curious for a couple of reasons. For one, his mother is never named (it is interesting to note that the angel won't give his name either). It is also curious for the way the way that Manoah seeks proof and doesn't seem to understand when he's seen it. The question for today is to consider where you fit in this story. Are you more like Samson's father: distrusting and seeking evidence? Or are you more like Samson's mother: unappreciated, even anonymous?


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Samson

Samson is a wild character. You can read all the stories from his birth until his death in Judges 13-16.

I think of him as the Tasmanian Devil from the Bugs Bunny cartoons. He sees something and he wants it. He has a weakness for women and all of the ones he desires are members of the nation that is oppressing his people. He has a tendency to act first and, well, not even ask questions later. He proves himself to be not too bright by telling a riddle that is not really a riddle; and he can't seem to keep a secret.

In the end, he becomes a suicide terrorist. Read the passage for yourself here

Question #22

First, my response to question #21:
Sorry to sound like a cop out, but I wrote my newsletter article this month on this very topic, so you will be able to read it here. I'm sorry that it is not there at the moment. I will try to get it posted there soon, Tuesday at the latest.

Now for today's question:

Question #22
I say, "to-may-to," you say, "to-mah-to." That is the gist of the "shibboleth" story. Shibboleth has come in to our lexicon meaning something that distinguishes one group from another or betrays one as an outsider. For the Gileadites it was the clue that the speaker was an Ephraimite and thus deserved to die. For you, how thin is the line between pride in being part of a particular group and disdain for an outsider?

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Question #21

First, my response to question #20:
The Bible tells us both that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and that God on occasion has repented of doing some action. There is a way in which absolutism is welcome in the comfort that we gain from be absolutely certain about what God will do. On the other hand, when we violate God's ways, then we are desperate for God to change the consequences. I think that the kind of absolute obedience that Jephthah assumed was required by God in this situation is a human conception that denies the grace of God. That is not to say that everything is relative, but given our previous conversation about the spirit of God (thanks for your comments) I think that we acknowledge the danger and goodness of God realizing that in the end love trumps everything else.

Now for today's question:

Question #21
The second question about the sacrifice of Jephthah's daughter has to do with the obvious connection to the sacrifice of God's only child. How do you understand the death of Jesus? We will look at this more closely during Holy Week, but for now focus on whether you think it was necessary out of an understanding of justice (i.e. compare it to Jephthah's "unbreakable vow").

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Question #20

First, my response to question #19:

The responder to this question yesterday makes a good point about the dangerous things that we handle regularly. Fire is a particularly apt example. Humans have by and large "domesticated" fire, but it sometimes gets out of control and causes incredible damage, even taking life. We remember that on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is described as descending on the disciples like tongues of fire. While God is like fire in that both can provide great help to us and can be safe, the major difference is that we cannot control God. My favorite passage in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is when the children first learn from the Beavers that the savior for whom they are longing, Aslan, is a lion. Alarmed, the children ask, "Is he safe?" The Beavers chuckle and respond, "Of course he's not safe, but he's good."

Now for today's question:

Question #20
Jephthah proclaims (and his daughter seems to agree) that a vow to YHWH is unbreakable and so apparently kills his only child in order to honor the vow. There are a number of questions here, the first is whether you believe that the nature of God includes this sort of absolutism?

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Question #19

First, my response to question #18:
In the classic form of the "problem of evil," the dilemma posed is "if God is all-powerful and all-loving, why then hasn't God removed evil from the world?" More simply, "why does God allow suffering?" I don't have a complete answer why, but it is clear that pain, suffering and evil do exist. I'm not convinced that their complete removal would ultimately make us humans that much happier (since it would mean the loss of free will). Still, if forced to choose between believing that God is all-powerful or all-loving (assuming that the existence of suffering proves that God is not both) I will quickly choose all-loving. Since I know that I will experience pain in my life, I know I will need the loving presence of my God. I've never known the love of God to fail.

Now for today's question:

Question #19
Judges 11:29 says that the spirit of YHWH came upon Jephthah and he proceeds to make the rash decision to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon returning home. We will see as we continue to read Judges that "the spirit of YHWH coming upon a person" doesn't necessarily lead to wisdom, sometimes just uncontrollable power. If the power of God can be so dangerous, what does it mean for us to seek God's presence and spirit in our lives?

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Question #18

First, my response to question #17:
Isn't it interesting that Abimelech's pride wouldn't allow him to die in what he considered shame and then in this next story the elders of Gilead have to swallow their pride to seek out Jephthah? Actually, the swallowing of national pride allowing for the admission of mistakes is something in short supply these days. Unfortunately, I am as guilty as the rest of my fellow citizens of seeking the favor of the gods of comfort and greed and materialism, and only after realizing that they won't save me, turning to God for rescue. Sadly, it is a nearly daily struggle.

Now for today's question:

Question #18
There is a beautiful sentiment in Judges 10:16, "God could no longer bear to see Israel suffer." There is a recurring theme in scripture that God is so compassionate that any suffering (even the cries of "the enemy") cannot be ignored. Do you believe that God's heart breaks at your suffering?

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Question #17

First, my response to question #16:
Shame's power in my life has mostly been the ability to silence me when I feared the opinions of others. Issues of honor and shame rightfully seem foolish when looked at objectively. Really, what difference would it have made if Abimelech's death had been by the hand of a woman? Invariably, shame causes us to make foolish choices.

Now for today's question:

Question #17
There is a fascinating parallel between God's response to the people's plea for rescue and Jephthah's response to the elders of Gilead when they ask him to help rescue them. Is there a time in your life when you have had to go "hat in hand" to someone you had previously wronged to ask for their help?

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Jephthah

This week we look at the story of Jephthah in Judges 10-12. If you want to read just the part of the story that will be the focus of next week's sermon, you can read it here

Like Abimelech before him, Jephthah was an empty man. Not only is he a son of a prostitute, but his half-brothers make sure that he will not receive any inheritance by running him out of town. But that is short-lived when they need someone to lead them in battle. Again like Abimelech, Jephthah gathers a band of ruffians, fellow empty men, to do the dirty work.

The central story for which we remember Jephthah is his rash vow to YHWH to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon returning home should YHWH give him victory in battle. He is met by his only daughter dancing and singing to celebrate his victory. While there is a little wiggle room in the Hebrew, it appears that Jephthah, considering his vow to YHWH unbreakable (even more remarkably a position his daughter also seemed to support), commits the unthinkable, human sacrifice of his only child.

The final chapter in the story of Jephthah is again civil unrest with another tribe. In this case, he and his army slay thousands of Ephraimites who can't sneak past them because of their inability to pronounce the word shibboleth.

Question #16

First, my response to question #15:
God got my attention when calling me to serve this church. A certain architectual item featured in both my profile and the church profile. If you don't already know the story, you can read it here.


Now for today's question:

Question #16
The story of Abimelech ends very pathetically with Abimelech worrying about the shame of being killed by a woman. What power does shame hold in your life?

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Question #15

First, my response to question #14:
Ironically, I can't think of a good example of God using irony with me at the moment. cmh's example in the comments was a good one; that happens to me a lot. I do know that very often in my prayers I hear God remind me of things I already know by helping me to remember what I've said. This always brings a smile to my face and sometimes I've laughed out loud during prayer because of it.

One of the common metaphors in scripture about God's irony is the tale of the people who dig a hole to trap another and falls in it themselves. The backfiring of plans with bad intentions is surely an ironic message from God.


Now for today's question:

Question #15
The death of Abimelech can be seen as divine intervention (a stone falling from the heavens) because of his disloyalty to God. Hopefully, it doesn't take a stone hitting you on the head for God to get your attention, but can you name an instance when God used a dramatic event to get your attention?

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Question #14

First, my response to question #13:
Disloyalty is a strong word. The real issue in loyalty questions is what gains your allegiance. Consider Johnny Damon going to the Yankees from the Red Sox. Was he disloyal to the Sox or simply loyal to what mattered more to him: money? We have plenty of opportunity everyday to honor our commitments or not. This is a test of loyalty. Ultimately, the things that we ought to do are part of a commitment (covenant is a better word for it) to God. As Christians, we have a commitment to God to care for others and make the world a better place. Every time we choose a lazy or self-serving way over the twinge of conscience to do otherwise we are being disloyal to God.


Now for today's question:

Question #14
In an ironic twist, Abimelech is killed by a stone after killing his brothers on a stone. Even if it is just a literary device to make the story memorable, it is a recurring theme in scripture that God gets our attention through irony. When has this happened for you?

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Question #13

First, my response to question #12:

Perhaps like many of you, I have found that leaving my family of origin and starting a family of my own has given me lots of opportunity to repeat the mistakes I saw my parents make. Many of the negative behaviors I swore I would never do, I find come very naturally. It's not just an issue of nature vs. nurture, as if some behaviors are "hard-wired" and thus unavoidable. I know that I have to take responsibilty for my behavior as an adult and avoid the pitfalls that I know I'm prone to because of my history.


Now for today's question:

Question #13
Abimelech is first disloyal to his family (killing your brothers is a pretty extreme example), then the leaders of Shechem are disloyal to their agreement with Abimelech. When has disloyalty been a problem in your life?

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Question #12

First, my response to question #11:

I don't know that I've ever really lusted for power. I do relish the limelight and probably enjoy attention more than I should. I know that I'm very disappointed in most of the individuals who seek elected offices since they seem to have insatiable appetites for power and influence. I worry about our nation's leadership and pray that God will deliver us from the bad choices we regularly seem to make.

Now for today's question:

Question #12
Since Abimelech's name means "my father is king" that would imply that that his father (Gideon) named his son in recognition of his position (which we were led to believe he rejected). Where does that line between the burden you inherited from your family and the trouble you brought on yourself exist for you?
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Question #11

First, my response to question #10:

There have been times when I have thought that fear might teach one of my children a lesson. Perhaps that has been appropriate in some instances (for example, I want my children to have a healthy respect for fire and fear what it can do), but at times I may have been angry in the moment and frightened them out of my own need to do so, not their need to learn.

Now for today's question:

Question #11

Abimelech lusted for power and commited murder (of his own brothers no less) to get what he wanted. Surely you've never gone that far to gain power, but when has power seduced you?

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Abimelech

This week we read chapters 9 & 10 of Judges. If you want to read the text for Sunday, read it here

Abimelech has very few redeeming qualities (in fact, if you can name any, let me know). The story is bounded by stones. In the Hebrew the parallel is clearer: he kills his brothers on a certain stone and then he is killed by a certain stone that falls on him. It is interesting to note that his name means "my father is king" although Gideon (aka Jerubbaal) rejected kingship. Abimelech obviously desires to be king badly enough to kill all (except the one who gets away) contenders to the throne. The explanation of using a stone to kill them on is likely an allusion to the story of Cain and Abel. In that story, it is the slain brother's blood reaching the ground that alerts God to the crime, so Abimelech would have wanted to collect the blood of his murdered brothers so that it couldn't reach the ground.

This is the story that introduces the empty men. They are hired by Abimelech to be his mercenary army. I can't help but think that these characters were likely sociopaths for the most part; cut off from all kinship bonds and guilty of a variety of heinous acts that caused their shunning. Abimelech would have been among them if he hadn't had access to money and power.

Question #10

First, my response to question #9:

I've never had a lot of material things in my life, so I've learned to get along without much. But that doesn't mean that I don't covet more stuff, or that I don't get cranky when I lose what I have. I'm pretty unhappy if I can't have Internet access when I want it. In the larger picture, I'm pretty wealthy and haven't really been tested, so I'm not sure how I would react if God were to reduce what I had by the 98.6 % that Gideon's army was reduced (22,000 to 300).

I do know that I have found myself complaining to God lately about the lack of numbers of people around me, e.g. at worship or at special events. It is hard to continue to be faithful to what God calls me to do when I don't see the results reflected in some tangible way. But perhaps the victories that we are meant to achieve are not the kind that we can measure numerically.

Now for today's question:

Question #10 Gideon attacked using surprise and panic. When have you used fear as a weapon?

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Question #9

First, my response to question #8:

Almost every time I don't feel like doing something that I am praying about I pretty much say to God, "make me." Or more likely, "do I really have to? Can't it wait? Can't someone else do it?" I don't generally seek signs, but I do tend to do a bit of weaseling with God. Usually, if I do notice a sign it is because I've already been ignoring it, so it is something like, "Oh, you mean that wet fleece meant that I was supposed to do what you said?"


Now for today's question:

Question #9 Gideon had his army reduced to a shadow of its former self. How much is enough for you? Can you trust God if you have less?

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Question #8

First, my response to question #7:

One thing that the book of Judges shows us is the development of sanctioned religious architecture. Eventually, the Hebrews distinguished themselves from the nature religions by building the temple to replace the natural sites such as holy mountains (although the temple was built on a mountain) and trees, etc. The Asherah pole that Gideon cut down was actually a stylized tree (remember that Deborah sat under a particular tree).

While there may be a fine line at times between worshiping the Creator and worshiping the creation, I find myself longing to be in the wild for my personal worship. There are many places where I have had important spiritual experiences and they take on special meaning. Of course, many of them are church sanctuaries...but some of them are nature sanctuaries. I guess the bottom line for me is that I require very little structure (physical or otherwise) for my religious practice.

Now for today's question:

Question #8 Gideon basically said to God, “best two out of three” by asking for a second sign with the fleece. Name your “fleece.”

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Question #7

First, my response to question #6:

The commenter on the questioned assumed correctly what I probably should have clarified: by "another god" I intended that which distracts us from God. I think there is a little bit of Gideon, the unsure, in all of us. The question, "what if I'm wrong?" can be both a humbling corrective as well as a tremendous roadblock. We don't see a lot of evidence that Gideon served Baal, but his service to YHWH is certainly tentative. Sometimes I find myself trapped between an urge to take a bold stance and the desire not to rock the boat. I'm pretty sure that the most effective way I have "served another god" is in my silence, protecting what I have and don't want to lose. And this is nothing as noble as "losing everything" or becoming a martyr for my faith. It is usually status and comfort that are at stake. Status, power and comfort can make pretty compelling "gods."

Now for today's question:

Question #7 Gideon lived in a time before the building of the temple and worship took place in a variety of settings, some perhaps not clearly for YHWH, since they may have also served Baal. What do you need in terms of structure for your own worship?

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Question #6

First, my response to question #5:

I can't say that following God has taken me away from my family and its traditions, since we are all Christians. On the other hand, I learned and believed Evangelical theology growing up. I did reject that school of thought years ago when I couldn't reconcile it with what my heart was saying. Actually, it was the practice of justifying killing in the name of God (as seen in the book of Judges) that caused me to finally reject the primary doctrine of Evangelicalism, the inerrancy of scripture.

That radical shift felt like I had no place to stand at the time. Sure, it was just an existential experience, but a pretty powerful one for me. Over time as I built up a strong enough alternative to support my belief system I found the urge to fight my former views to be strong. Finding ways to affirm the best of my former views has not always been easy, but it is a healthy journey I find myself on.

Now for today's question:

Question #6 Gideon, aka Jerubaal, either called on the foreign god, Baal, to contend against him or for him. When have you been likewise unclear or ambivalent (intentionally or otherwise) in your struggle against another “god?”

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Question #5

First, my response to question #4:

I did a paper in seminary on the expression "and the land had rest" in Judges. I had hoped that it was an expression related to Sabbath practice. I couldn't prove my hyphothesis, discovering instead that its likely meaning is simply that there was a period without warfare and conflict.

In my lifetime there have been very few years that have passed without my nation being at war at some point somewhere around the globe. A period of peace is a very precious thing. The absence of inter-personal conflict in my own life is a precious gift that I need to learn to treasure more, since it is in valuing it that I am inspired to create it all the more.

Now for today's question:

Question #5 Gideon had to reject his family traditions (6:25-27). What has serving God cost you?

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Gideon

This week we have the story of Deborah, Barak and Jael next in the text, but the empty man we will consider is Gideon. So if you are reading the entire book of Judges, read chapters 4-8. If you just want to read the shorter passage that will be the focus of the sermon next Sunday, read the passage here

Gideon shows a consistent yellow streak - he is hiding from the Midianites by threshing his grain in the winepress, he destroys the shrine of Baal at night, he tests the message he hears from God by requiring signs on multiple nights...you catch my drift. God's response to Gideon is make his task more difficult, primarily by reducing the size of his army, thus requiring more trust in God from a man who seems distrusting by nature.

Then there is the odd issue of his name. By all normal conventions of the ancient world, a name like Jerubaal would be translated as "may Baal contend for me" not "may Baal contend against me." Thus, the person named Jerubaal would be expected to be a devotee of Baal, not an enemy. Perhaps we are expected to doubt the loyalties of Gideon, it would seem to fit his character after all.

Question #4

First, my response to question #3:

The Israelites needed deliverance from the oppression of foreign powers, that is what the Judges provided. That is not a problem we face in America today regardless of the worst threat of terrorism. No, the deliverance that I long for is from our oppression of ourselves. I would hope that if God were to send a deliverer that he or she would overthrow the power of "the market" and replace our "corporate overlords" with people of compassion that put people before profits.

Now for today's question:

Queston #4 What would "the land having rest" look like in your life?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.

Question #3

OK, first my response to question #2.

In the Judges "formula," the people cry out because they are being oppressed. Now, it is important to note that they brought it on themselves. This is a hard and dangerous theology, believing that suffering is a result of sin. It is a theology rejected by Jesus, who said that the blindness of the man at the pool of Siloam was not the result of anyone's sin (neither his nor his parents') but was specifically to reveal the glory of God through his healing. The comments you posted yesterday (thank you again) remind us that bad things happen to good people. So we all cry out to God on occasion.

For me, one of the most dramatic times was the same one Paul alluded to. Molly's short life touched all of us in ways that some much longer lives seldom do, making saying "goodby" to her all the harder. The day I baptized her, I understood that the reason for it was a fear that she might not ever leave the hospital and be able to get baptized in the church. As I left her hospital room, I cried out to God, "don't ever make me do that again!"

Now for today's question:

Queston #3 If God were to raise up a deliverer for you, what would that look like? Who might that be?

Post your answer (anonymously if you prefer) using the comment field and come back tomorrow for my response and the next question.