November 29 2005 Amos 3:1-11

November 29, 2005 Amos 3:1-11

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Amos 3:2 “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”

When did your parents punish you? How did they choose to enforce the rules they had set in your household? As you grew up, did you ever think the rules didn’t apply any longer?

Looking back through the history of Israel and the chosen people, this seems to happen again and again. God lays down the law, and over time, the people begin to push against the laws. Like our children, when punishment wasn’t immediate, they’d push a little harder. Over years and generations, they’d move farther and farther away from God. Their faith and their religion became things of convenience. They’d become complacent in his love for them. Nothing they would do would destroy God’s promise, so they lived their lives as they chose. The Temple became just a place to go and to be seen, a place to conduct business, not a place to truly worship God. Eventually, they would stray too far, and God would say “that’s enough” and some form of punishment would be meted out.

This is what happened in Matthew 21:12-13 when Jesus cleared the temple of the money changers and those who set up businesses in the temple to profit from the worshipers. It’s easy to sense His anger in this passage; do you also feel his disappointment and frustration?

As a child, I thought that sometimes the worst punishment was not a spanking or being grounded. It was worse to recognize that I disappointed my parents; that I hurt them in some way. It was hard to face the facts, that I chose a path that would be harmful to our relationship. Do you remember how it felt when you had to face your parents and tell them you were sorry – really sorry, not just because you didn’t want to be punished, but because you recognized the wrong in what you did? But facing that truth would put me back on a path to try to repair the relationship and to do what was right. You can’t fix it if you don’t realize that it’s broke!

God, the Father, chose each of us; he promised to love and to forgive us through his Son. Are we also complacent in that love and forgiveness? Do we go to church on Sunday because it’s what we are supposed to do, or because we are truly working to deepen our personal relationship with our Lord? Do we even stop to think about our actions Monday through Saturday and realize when we overstep our bounds? Is there anything that you know you have done that has disappointed your Father? It’s hard, but we each need to face the truth when our actions and choices disappoint God; when we do not live up to his expectations. We need to accept our punishment, give a heartfelt apology to God, and then move back closer to him. He hasn’t moved; we have, and it’s up to us to move back home.

O Lord, help us today to reflect on our actions and truly see how far we have moved away from you. Help each of us to understand how we have disappointed you. Lord, please forgive these bad choices we make. Help us to make right choices and to reclaim homes in your kingdom. Amen.

Contributed by Cristy Wheeler

November 30 2005 Psalm 7

November 30, 2005 Psalm 7

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Psalm 7:9 “O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous, you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God.”

When I first read Psalm 7 in preparation for this meditation, I thought to myself, “This sounds like the prayer of someone who is sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Most of us have been in that mood at sometime, some with more justification than others, perhaps.

David, the author of many of the Psalms, spent years as a wanted man, probably with a price on his head. The king just didn’t like him and saw him as an insurgent. In this Psalm, and others like it, he vented his frustration to a God he trusted and he knew loved him. Someone recently asked me how to pray correctly. It seems to me that the key to any effective communication is speaking honestly and without pretense. Certainly that is what God seeks of us too. What safer place can there be to vent. The gift of Christ shows us that God loves us; we honor that love when we trust him to love us when we are stressed as well as when we are at peace.

Just about the time that I was mulling over these ideas, I received an e-mail with a “Pastoral Prayer” which seemed to bring this Psalm into the 21st Century. With the permission of Rev. T. Barnhart, NECC Chaplain and Pastor of Laddonia Baptist Church I’d like to share that prayer with you.

L ORD, we are tired of the headlines.
We are tired of the newscasts.
We are tired of angry voices.
We are tired of the war.
We are tired of high prices at the gas pump,
And soon to be much higher prices on our gas bills.
We are tired of putting our money into wallets with holes in them.
We are tired of conflicting economic opinions.

We are tired of broken dreams.
We are tired of addressing you quietly
While mobs of angry Moslems shout their prayers.
We are tired of being hated,
Just as our enemies are tired of hating.

We are tired of fear, tired of guilt, tired of conflicts.
LORD, what should we do with our weariness?
Turn off the TV?
Stop reading the paper?
Sign-off the world-wide-web?
Blame the Muslims?
Elect a new president?

And what do we pray for?
That the Moslems’ prayers won’t be answered?
That ours will?
What do we pray for?
Our justice?
Or theirs?

LORD Jesus, we pray for peace,
For liberation from our fears,
For release from prejudice,
For mercy,
For compassion that we do not have,
For grace that we do not deserve.
We pray that your kingdom will come,
And your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Contributed by Judy King

November 28 2005 Psalm 32

November 28, 2005 Psalm 32

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Psalm 32:1-6 “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.”

I can’t remember where I read or first heard the phrase, “Confession is good for the soul.” It might have been some TV program or perhaps the nuns that taught me in elementary school. In any case, the phrase has stuck with me ever since. As I read the Psalter reading for today I was reminded of that phrase and all the guilt that would usually accompany my childhood transgressions.

I’m sure most of us can remember a time when as children we did something we were not supposed to do. Can you recall the knot you felt in the pit of your stomach? The nausea, or sick-to-your-stomach fear that gripped you, certain your parents would find out what you did. Normally, that fear and panic was enough for me. I’d find myself confessing to my parents before someone else could tell on me (I do have many younger siblings).

As adults, do we experience the same feelings when we sin against God or someone else? Do we come forward and readily confess? Or do we just presume that God is merciful and will forgive us, removing any sense of guilt or ill feelings we may experience and then go back to whatever we were doing?

The message of Christ remains good news to all humanity. Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection assure us that we can and will be forgiven by God. But we are expected to acknowledge our sin and change (repent). Perhaps it is my need for repentance that gives me butterflies even today when I sin.

Merciful Lord, you convict us of sin and you offer forgiveness. Change our hearts Lord, that knowing the grace you show us in Christ, we can change from who we are to who you would have us be. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Contributed by Rev. Andy O’Dowd

Advent Devotional for 2005

Foreword
Each year the Christian calendar calls us to a period of preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas known as Advent. In this season we prepare our lives to celebrate the appearance of our Savior, Christ the Lord. It is a season of penance, prayer, and introspection. During these days, many Christians begin a renewed focus on spiritual practices as they contemplate exactly what Christ’s coming means for each one of us.

This year, members of our congregation have shared some of their reflections on the daily lectionary passages for the Advent season. The devotionals reflect the way God is speaking to them as individuals in this place and time. You will notice some differences in the way each of us approaches and responds to Scripture, but that is only natural. God has blessed me and the writers have done so as well. I’ve been moved by the faith that shines through in these works.

During the Advent season, the devotionals will be distributed in church. They will also be available daily online at the church’s website. You can access them at the following URL: http://1stbgmo.presbychurch.org/devotionals.html.

We hope and pray, as you read their encounters with God through Scripture, that some thing resonates with you in your walk of faith. The Session and I pray that this is a Spirit filled season for each of you. May God’s Word find fertile ground in your life.


Rev. Andrew T. O’Dowd

Pastor

November 27, 2005 Luke 21:5-19

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Luke 21:5-19 .When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ’I am he!’ and, ’The time is near!’ ..."When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Things never really changed to they? The disciples of Jesus wondered when the world would end. Jesus told them of wars, revolutions, earthquakes, (hurricanes (??)) and persecution.

These ‘signs’ are still happening today. Are these ‘the end times?’ Then it hit me. Every one of the disciples of Jesus throughout all the ages ( including you and me!) get just one life to ‘get it right.’ The end of the world will come when God decides it is time. It is my duty, my chance, to live my life as the Lord Jesus directs me to live.

Jesus said that if I do that, I will be a witness for him. He said that if I stand firm, I will gain eternal life. Thank you,
Jesus!

Dear Lord, in this Advent season, prepare my mind and my heart for your witness and your guidance in my life. I so want to ‘get it right.’ Thank you for my life. Thank you for your guidance. Thank you for your sacrifice. Amen.

Contributed by Dave Cerven

***Correction*** Advent Devotionals Coming Soon

The link posted for the complete Advent Devotional booklet was incorrect. The correct link is http://1stbgmo.presbychurch.org/pdf/advent051.pdf. Sorry for any incovenience this may have caused.

Advent Devotionals Coming Soon

Beginning November 27th, devotionals will be available for each day of the Advent Season. They will be posted here daily. An online version of all the devotionals for Advent is available here. Adobe Acrobat is required to read the online version.