Just a Thought 2 23 25

What Do These Stones Mean?

Joshua 4:4-7 NRSV

“Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites, so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.”

There are many times in scripture where stones are raised to commemorate an event of God’s intervention. These stones provoke conversation in order to tell the story of what God has done. 

What do these stones mean? Think about the times that God kept you from peril, when you went through trials unscathed, over the rivers of disappointment, of tragedy, and you made it unharmed and safe.  The times when you knew to bury the kings - the idols in your life as you trusted more what is doing. The times you are able to celebrate with your witness of God. 

When you look back, you find that you have many places to commemorate God’s faithfulness to you. And then you can share. It helps to keep the memory alive. It provokes more and more thanks to him. You must remember, in order to tell them what the stones mean.

As Joshua challenged the Israelites I encourage you to stay faithful.

Joshua 25:14&15 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefather worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Tell them what the stones mean. enough for now.

Just a Thought 2 16 25

Can you Drink the Cup?

Matt. 20:20-23 NRSV

“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 

While we all want what’s best for children Salome took it a little farther. But a part of this was keeping herself elevated. In that patriarchal society if her sons were elevated, she would be elevated. Jesus asked, “Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink?”  Now that was clue to back off, to rethink what they were asking. But no, they answered yes. And Jesus said, “oh you will.” And they did. 

To drink the cup was not only about servanthood, but to  participate in the suffering. “Cup” is an Old Testament metaphor for “suffering.” Although the Sons of Thunder, James and John greatly helped to spread the gospel, James was martyred by the hands of Herod Agrippa, and John, the one who cared for Mary, was exiled to isle of Patmos.

The question, “Can you drink the cup?” Is loaded. We must be careful how we respond. Too often people want the power and glory they see, but don’t realize the pain and suffering it took to get there. Each of you - someone has looked at where you are and envied that. But they don’t know what it took to get there. They don’t know the time, the sacrifices, the lonely moments.  But you do.  None of us have a clue of what Jesus went through in his time on earth, but he did - for us. 

Yes, we too have a cup. We can’t be so brash to think that we can drink from his cup, but from  the one he has given us, in order to achieve our mission on this journey. enough for now

Just a Thought 2 9 25

Why are You Afraid

Mark 4:35-40 NRSV

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Storms arise quickly on the Sea of Galilee because of the cooler air from Mt Hermon meeting the warmer air from the Sea. So the boats were subjected to the storms, which were usually about midday.  Jesus was asleep in the stern, the lowest part of the boat. He didn’t not respond to them but rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea. That rebuking suggest that there was a demonic source of the wind. Gods knows the source of our storms.

Then Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid? “ He not question them for disturbing him with their fear but for disturbing themselves with their fear.  I like a clue that Jesus gave, when he got into the boat, he said,”Let’s go to the other side.” That was a clue that they would make it across the troubled waters. 

Come on. God knows the source of those storms that arise quickly in our lives. And he speaks to them in so many different ways. If we can remember our ‘before’, then we can live easier in our ‘now’. When we got us through before, he’s doing it now.  

Tye Tribbett says, “If he did it before, he’ll do it again. Same God right now, same God back then.” Oh won’t he do it? 

I’m a witness. Yes he will.  And we don’t have to be afraid. More later.

Just a Thought 1 26 25

Just a thought 1 19 25 #thejustshalllivebyfaith

Just a Thought 1 12 25

Who Do You Say

Matthew 16:13-18 NRSV

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”

This was one of two times that Jesus traveled north of Galilee. Caesarea Philippi or Banias was named for Pan, the Greek god. A few other pagan gods were worshiped there.  Against the backdrop of Paganism Jesus asked the disciples who did others say he was, then he asked who did they say.  The disciples said who others said, then with the second question Peter answered. 

Others may not know what we know about Jesus. But we must know. They may say one thing but act another way. Although we are around others who don’t know, we must know. And we know because of our relationship with him. Not something we heard, or read about him- but that we know. Peter spoke out of his relationship with Jesus. Peter spoke and was used mightily. It’s who we know, and whose we are. more later.