Category: Uncategorized

WORD OF TRUTH mini-study

While preaching in James, I came across a phrase I studied then and came across again preparing for a sermon from 2 Timothy chapter 2:  “The Word Of Truth”.  What does Paul mean when he uses the phrase?  What did James think?  May first short studies seem to indication they were referring to the Gospel and perhaps at times, the object of the Gospel, Jesus.   Here are the texts I started with:

James 1
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the [in or by the] word of truth (λόγῳ ἀληθείας), that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created.
2 Tim 2
Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
2 Cor 6:7
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech [in the word of truth] and in the power of God (ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ); with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Eph 1:13
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message [word] of truth, the gospel of your salvation (τὸν  λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν). When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Col 1:5
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message [word of truth, namely, the gospel] of the gospel (ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῆς ἀληθείας τοῦ εὐαγγελίου*)6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
*Genitive of Apposition: Provides clarification for ambiguous or metaphoric main noun.

The Infantorium and The Infant Jesus

In my December 15th, 2019 sermon (currently posted on line here) I did my best to retell a bit of the story I heard on the 99% Invisible podcast.  The episode called “The Infantorium” was facinating and the podcast, article summary, and transcripts are available by clicking here.

I hope you are able to enjoy celebrating Jesus this Christmas week.  I’m looking forward to the next year and all it will hold for our church.

The Grinch Summary of a Sermon Intro from 2018

There is a movie that plays nearly every Christmas time on this channel or that since it was 1966. Like most movies it came from a book, but unlike most books Dr. Suess’s books always have meter and rhyme.  Like most movies made years back a retelling or digitized, animated, adaptation has been brought before the holidays. And in 2018, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is back in theaters near you.  This is not a recommendation, endorsement, approval or review. But I want to think briefly about its message for just a moment or two.
If you’ve never seen it, the short story starts rather quick.  Introducing the Grinch, the green pear shaped curmudgeon who live above who-ville in the mountains and slopes.  He hates all things Christmas, especially the noise. He especially despises the little who children banging on new toys.
So, he devises a scheme and recruits his poor dog Max. And they sneak down to whoville dressed as Santa Claus with empty sacks. Of course the tragic scenes of Jolly Saint Nick steeling ribbons and cookies, and gifts and trees only makes sense in a whimsical rhyming animation, but it does hold your attention, at least for 30 minutes.  The story can’t end with the stealing of Christmas and the song deriding the foul Grinch caper. Of course the last minutes reveal that the important truth about Christmas wasn’t wrapped up in presents. Nor was it present in the feasting. Nor was it festive decorations.
It is deeply ironic that Dr. Suess doesn’t share the truth behind Christmas, but only hints with a cross shaped light. But it illustrates what we see today, or better said, what is unseen in our midst. That Advent season draws us near to the truth: a truth that is far more important than the images and decor surrounding Christmas, a truth that we strain to keep in focus during a busy holiday, a truth that isn’t seen directly like wrapping paper and lights. The true gift of Christmas: a union of divine and human, invisibly conceived gives birth to a new life in you and in me.  Just as the Grinch learned the invisible won over all facade. We also learn again, that the deep truth of Jesus’ invitation isn’t merely initiation into divine fellowship but a promised abundance of life filled with God and his fruit. It is a truth unseen, a truth easily missed.
So let’s pray.
– Excerpt from a sermon preached toward the end of 2018 with minor grammatical editing presented here for your enjoyment.

Face the Darkness – Advent Anglican Style

I enjoyed the opinion piece I came across from the New York Times by Tish Harrison Warren.  Some quotes that I enjoyed:

“We dwell in a world still racked with conflict, violence, suffering, darkness.  Advent holds space for our grief…”

After speaking some on the holiday hoopla full of optimism, happiness, and fun, etc…
“But life isn’t a Disney Cruise. The tyranny of relentless mandatory celebration leaves us exhausted and often, ironically, feeling emptier.”

This was an interesting thought for me to mull over.  In our relentless pursuits (of time saving technology, entertainment crammed into every free second, etc) often seem to cost more than they redeem.

Opinion | Want to Get Into the Christmas Spirit? Face the Darkness – The New York Times
or How I fell in love with the season of Advent.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/opinion/sunday/christmas-season-advent-celebration.html

Start

In the beginning there was trauma.
My mother’s cry, my lungs burn.
My head breached and my blood courses,
On its own, alone for the very first time.
The first day begins cold and harsh.
Separated from comfort, evicted and exposed.
Quickly our first blur comes close
Touches our face and kisses our brow
Tender exhaustion and hard-earned, joy-filled, exhales reassure our ears
Time slows and cries yield to rest
United freshly in familiar arms now held
We give way to sleep in our mothers hopeful arms.
Written: Jan 11, 2019
Revised Last: Nov 30, 2019

A White Rock in Revelation 2:17

In a sermon, late in September, I used a sermon illustration regarding a white rock referenced in John’s Apocalypse (aka Revelation).  I was asked about the reference and so I thought I’d post the response here for others to recall also.

The passage I referred in to Revelation is Rev 2:17.  It reads:
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
In the sermon we had been reviewing the amazing claim we make as Christians that God would care for each of us individually and that Jesus claimed to be our “shepherd” or our Pastor.  That he said he would call to us by our name.  In the Revelation passage, John (the author) tells us that Jesus will give us a white stone with a new name on it.  I found this remarkable.
If I understand the context correctly, the white stone could be a reference to the white stone that were awarded to athletes in ancient Roman times as a entrance ticket to a special awards banquet. There are other possible explanations for it’s symbolism, but this is a strong contender. For a short discussion of various options there is a short discussion at the end of this blog entry: http://www.worksofmacdonald.com/consuming-fire-daily-devotional/2016/2/8/the-new-name but my vote is the athlete’s reward as it fits the context of the verse.
Here is the link to the entire sermon on our website:
Here is the clip of the few minutes where I discuss the white rock:

Veterans Day 2019

As we move into Veterans Day on Monday Nov 11, Here is a document of particular historic interest and a historic prophecy of universal interest.

First the “Witness Echoes” publication of the Norwegian Evangelical Free Church (now First EFC) of 649 66th Street, Brooklyn, NY around March 1945.  These notes and letters from World War II service men, chaplains, and church folks provides an interesting look into the faith and experience at the time.  Enjoy:

1945 05 Witness Echos Publication 66th Street Church

Second, our hope lays in a savior that will one day render war obsolete.  This passage reminds us of his Kingdom Coming: Isaiah 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

An Old Soul

An old soul isn’t born or bred, but rather recovered.

Its path is rarely soft and its journey oft seems perilous. That said, an old soul is held loosely with an effortless grasp. Almost a common possession more than a part of one’s self. A favored shirt or a worn bill fold.

An old soul is not displayed but only discovered. Almost a treasure unearthed in early friendship. It is no wonder that an old soul is oft found guarded by loved-ones as if a sacred flower or secret spring.

An old soul may be quick but is not fast. An old soul is at times youthful but never trite.

An old soul is faithful and trusting, holds joy with a grieving hand, giving praise with gentle caution.

Finally. An old soul is always someone else’s never our own. Unearthed in the search for the kindred never in the search for self.

I wonder at times what part of God’s triune life together, the finding of an old soul reflects. Perhaps the gift of an enduring friendship that spans longer than time has actually afforded. Perhaps a glimpse at an abiding fellowship that will certainly endure.

 

Originally written July 2015 and published in a Service Bulletin I believe.  Moderately revised October 2019.