Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

This morning, we’re going to explore a crucial question: What are we doing here, for heaven’s sake? - answers are scattered through the New Testament, • and it's the focus of Paul’s entire first letter to Timothy • he intended to go over this in person ◦ but here he provides only a summary statement Paul explains how we “ought to behave” “Ought” is not one of my favorite words - Christian preachers, youth leaders, and Sunday School teachers have used it to control and manipulate adults and ch...

I’m not convinced we’ve ever truly understood Jesus At least not as deeply or fully as he intended - not “as deeply,” because we tend to stay on the surface • we read the words and verses without penetrating their depth • we grab at interpretations that make immediate sense ◦ and we settle for simplistic "commentary" explanations - I don’t think Jesus taught in riddles – sometimes, perhaps • he did not teach in a secret code that required deciphering • but it's possible that his intent ...

I’ll finish reading the verse in a moment, but first we will pause here - every morning when I open my Bible, I don’t jump into it • but at the entrance to the Scriptures, I take a moment to slow my breath, and focus my attention ◦ I bring awareness to God’s presence and let myself hear him say, “at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you to speak to you there" (Ex. 29:42) • so before I even begin reading, I’m already listening to God ◦ and there ...

Friday morning, near the end of a long walk,I passed by a mother and her toddler son - he was on a small four-wheel bike, perfectly fitted to him • he was poised to move from asphalt to a dirt slope ◦ I said, “Looks like you’re about to go off-roading,” ◦ more for his mom’s sake than his • he looked at me with the most engaging smile ◦ it was the loveliest moment of my morning - I kept walking, but he didn’t take his eyes off of me • he turned his head as I passed, ◦ so I had to walk backward...

As we make our way back into Hosea this morning, Let’s remember the passion running through the entire book - it isn’t what we’re likely to feel when reading the bare words • what it sounds like, is the ranting of an enraged deity ◦ but that is not the correct tone of voice • if God were like one of the pagan deities of mid mid-east or Greece, ◦ he wouldn’t bother to rage at his rebellious people, ◦ he would just annihilate them - this prophetic book, in fact, is the message of a wounded love...