The Jesse Tree - December 25

Merry Christmas everyone!

We've journeyed from creation and fall to the birth of our Savior.

Today's text - Luke 2:6-21

Jesus is not in the palace nursery

nor is he found in the places of power and wealth.

Jesus is not in his home surrounded by his relatives in Nazareth, everyone admiring him.

nor is he found under the tree a midst the pretty packages, nor the Jim Shore designed creche sitting on our wine chest.

Where is Jesus?

Jesus is in a feed trough, most likely, in a cave reserved for livestock

or in a slum shack made of cardboard and tin in Honduras.

Jesus is rocked by refugee parents escaping to Egypt

or refugees in Sudan, displaced by war and famine.

Jesus is hanging out with the night-shift minimum wage shepherds

or the night-shift worker at 7-11.

Jesus is the person who needs a cup of cold water, or a coat, or a visit in prison

or the nursing home.

Jesus was born in the margins and still resides in the margins.

If you want to find him, look there.

Places of poverty and displacement.

Places of rejection and suffering.

Joy to the World - the Lord is come!

The Jesse Tree - December 24

Today's text - Luke 2:1-5

I'm writing on Christmas Eve (oops forgot to write last night), but probably not a bad time (for me) to write since this IS the Christmas story.

90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Mary is nine months pregnant - with Jesus.

Joseph is required by the government to take a business trip.

No reason is given but for some reason, Mary comes with him.

Only conjecture - have things deteriorated in Nazareth to the point that Mary has to come with Joseph - no one at home to protect her? support her? help her deliver?

Because the alternative is not pretty.

No bus.  No air transportation.

One if by land.  Two if by land.

(By the way, the donkey?  May or may not have been in the picture.  The Scriptures don't say. (And your nativity is NOT authoritative (nor is the movie, The Nativity.)))

(a thousand points for anyone who can find a picture of Mary and Joseph traveling WITHOUT a donkey - besides the one above)

So picture the couple hiking - maybe. Or a camel - maybe.  Or a donkey - maybe.

90 miles.

The story of Jesus' birth

includes a homeless, haggard, transient couple.

This is how God chooses to introduce himself to the world.

No hospital.

No ER.

Not even a comfortable room with a midwife.

"Foxes haves dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has not place to lay his head."

Jesus, the transient.

This world was never really his home.

This world, for those born of the Spirit, is not really our home.

We're just passing through.

As Mary and Joseph did on that holy night.

Just as Jesus did, a feed trough for a bed.

Away in a manger.

Away.

Followed by a fast escape to Egypt.

Born to run.

This is our God.

This is love.

The Jesse Tree - December 23

Today's text - Matthew 1:18-25

Mary is pregnant and not married, but she is engaged.

to Joseph.

But the kid is not his child.

Joseph can't be too happy.

He plans a quiet divorce.

While out-of-wedlock pregnancies barely cause a ripple in our culture today - a drastic change from even twenty years ago - to be pregnant and not married in Mary's day, would bring great shame on her and her family.

And ultimately that shame would be placed on the child to be born - a promised life of ostracization by the whole community.

I just discovered this on a Jewish website . . .

Marrying a person born of an adulterous or incestuous union and having sexual intercourse with him or her was a criminal offense punishable by flogging. The offspring of a forbidden sexual relationship is called amamzer, usually translated as bastard. In Jewish law, though, the mere fact that a child is born or conceived out of lawful wedlock does not make him a mamzer and he is not an illegitimate child, i.e., one whose status or rights are impaired. The Bible says that a mamzer shall not "enter into the assembly of God; even unto the tenth generation shall none of his progeny enter into the assembly of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:3). "Enter into the assembly" is the biblical idiom for marrying into the Jewish community; the "tenth generation" is a large number indicating an infinite time.

This illegitimate child of Mary - a child without a father - had no right to marry in the Jewish community - the child had no name, no occupation, no inheritance - no identity as a Jew.

Another angel - this time in a dream - shares the truth with Joseph.

Mary's child needs a father - in the line of David.  He is God's own son, but he needs your earthly identity.  Make this child yours.  Give this child a name - Jesus - and an identity.

And Joseph did.

I don't want to take this reflection down the trail of illegitimate, fatherless children in our culture, but it wouldn't be hard to go there.  Children need fathers.

And the story of Joseph is an important reminder of that.

What I do want to do is to have you pray about becoming a father to the fatherless.  Foster care, adoption, mentoring, tutoring. . . .  if you have more testosterone than estrogen, God is calling you to invest - in your own children and more than likely in others.  This is a lifetime call.  Empty nest does not equal paternal missional retirement.

Our community needs you.  Churches need you.  Mothers need you.  And most of all, fatherless children need you.  They need an identity.

Pray and see where God is calling you.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. - Psalm 68:5

The Jesse Tree - December 22

Today's text - Luke 1:26-38

The angel messenger, Gabriel, has another message to deliver.

to Elizabeth's kin - Mary.

Again "Don't be afraid," spoken by a being far removed from cute little cherub.

You will conceive - give birth to a Son.

name him Jesus - Yeshua - God saves.

Son of the Most High.  Son of God.

Picture God inhabiting one cell, then two. . . .

God Incarnate.

Inheriting the throne of David.

King.

Mary's still fixated on that word "conceive."

"Uh, I'm still a virgin."

Gabriel - "upon you - overshadowing you - the Holy Spirit still creates" - the union of Divine and creation.  Creator and created.

A Holy - set apart - unique - baby.

Run that through your finite brain and then fall on your knees.

Oh and by the way, Elizabeth is six months ahead of you - God can do anything.

And Mary gave the greatest response.  So many great men questioned their call, their inadequacies.  Mary was chosen for her heart and her faith and because when the call came, she answered . . .

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Have you ever prayed like this?  Really, how can you pray anything other than a prayer of relinquishment in the face of God's call on your life?

in the face of God incarnate?

The Jesse Tree - December 21

Today's text - Matthew 3:1-6

I wonder if John the Baptist turned out like his parents expected?

I mean when you hear Gabriel's glowing promise of a son, I'm not sure Zachariah and Elizabeth pictured

a wilderness camper,

wearing clothes woven from camels hair (have you ever been around camels?)

cinched with a leather belt,

living on locusts and honey.

"We're so proud of you son!"

or

"Why can't you go to the University of Jerusalem like all your friends?"

One thing is sure - John was living out his mission.

Preparing the way for the Lord.

Like Elijah.

7 “What sort of man was he?” the king demanded. “What did he look like?”
8 They replied, “He was a hairy man, (or he wore clothing made of hair) and he wore a leather belt around his waist." Elijah from Tishbe!” the king exclaimed. - 2 Kings 1:7-8

hmm . . .

Sound familiar?

No Israelite with any knowledge of Scripture was going to miss the symbolism here.

John was Elijah returning.

Did you know Elijah never died (at least the first time)?

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more.

Elijah was to come back to prep Israel for the coming of the Lord . . .

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. - Malachi 4:5

Jesus confirmed it . . .

And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. - Matthew 11:14

Which means we should listen to John . . .

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! - Isaiah 40:3

And this was John's message. . . .

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

and this . . .

¹⁰ The crowds asked, “What should we do?”¹¹ John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”¹² Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”¹³ He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”¹⁴ “What should we do?” asked some soldiers.John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

If John is preparing the way for Jesus, are you prepared?

The Jesse Tree - December 20

Today's text - Luke 5:1-25

400 years.

For 400 years the God meter had barely registered.

No prophets.

No miracles.

No rescue from the powers that controlled Israel.

Then an angel came - Gabriel we find out later in the story.

Gabriel came . . . to a bent over,childless, over-the-hill priest.

Zechariah was lighting incense, praying in the inner sanctum of the temple - the Holy Place.  A rope was tied around his waist - a precaution - in case God's holy presence showed up and the priest-chosen by lot - ended up dead.  His body could be pulled out of the Holy Place.  But in these days it was cursory -a precaution that had become ritual.

Except on this day.  The day of the angel.

Let's not pretend that angels are cute and cuddly and soft and warm.  Almost without fail, every time they appear, their first words are "Do not be afraid."  What could bring about such fear? - Zechariah was "gripped with fear."  Let's use words like terrifying and glorious and warrior and intense when we hear the word angel.

The word angel comes from the Greek "angelios" which means simply messenger.

It's root is also where we derive the phrase "Good News" and evangelism (euangelios)

The angel had a message - some "good news" for Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth.

“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. ¹⁶ And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

 A barren couple is promised a son - but not just any son - a Nazarite from conception - destined to turn Israel back to God and prepare the way for the Messiah - the "coming of the Lord."

Gabriel announces he'll have the spirit and power of Elijah.  Remember what Elijah did at Mount Carmel (Day 14)

But the words that struck me are found in verse 14 - "You will have great joy and gladness" and not just the couple - "many will rejoice."

A righteous couple promised a righteous son in their past prime baby-making years equals JOY.

400 years of silence are interrupted and the nation will rejoice.  God's getting ready to restore Israel.

Has God been silent in your life?

Keep praying.

Are you feeling like your best years, your child raising years are behind you?

Keep waiting.

Does joy seem out of reach?

Keep the faith.

For 400 years the people of God surely thought that God would come quickly to restore Israel's glory.

When Zachariah vowed "I do" to Elizabeth, I'd wager their dreams included many children together.

Life rarely turns out like we planned it.  Most of our dreams never materialized.

But God does some of His best work when our faith runs dry, when hope is just a flicker.

Zechariah won the priestly lottery and so was called upon to enter the Temple for prayer.  A routine prayer watch became a moment of terror replaced with hope.  His prayer was answered.

Keep praying.  Christmas is coming.  Christ is coming.

He is the one sure thing in all of life's uncertainties.

The Jesse Tree - December 19

Today's text - Habakkuk 2:1, 3:16-19

Habakkuk, the prophet of God, paints a bleak picture.

His body trembles as he waits like a watchman for the day when justice will come to those who have attacked Israel.

But until that day, there are

no figs
no grapes
no olives
no food
no sheep
no cattle.

But in the middle of this extreme poverty, Habakkuk makes this declaration.

"But I will still be glad in the Lord; I will rejoice in God my Savior."

Habakkuk could have no idea of the height of God's salvation in Christ.  He was looking for a restoration of Israel - a temporal remedy - restoration

God offered salvation for the world.

Still even with this lesser hope, Habakkuk finds joy.

If you were left in destitution, would you still be glad? Could you still rejoice in Christ your Savior?

We live in a time of excess and abundance.  Even during recession we have more amenities than kings of old.

And there are so many signs that the meaning of Christmas has been swallowed up in this consumerism.

But what if it were all stripped away?
No presents under the tree.
No Christmas meal.
No comfortable home.

Picture the Whoville Christmas after the Grinch took every last piece of tinsel.

Would there still be gladsome tidings?
Would there still be joy to the world?

In your heart?

Take time to examine your heart.  Be on guard that the "stuff" doesn't distract from the Truth.

It's easy to get trapped by the trappings.
It's easy to get rapped by the wrapping.

 But we have been given a priceless gift that makes all presents under the tree pale in comparison.

May we find our gladness and joy in this alone.

The Jesse Tree - December 18

Today's text - Esther 4:10-17

If you don't know the story of Esther, you might want to read the book.  It's not long and filled with drama.

Esther is an orphan, raised by her uncle.  She's also beautiful and catches the eye of the King Xerxes.  He  makes her Queen not knowing that she is Jewish.  At the advise of a counselor, a Jew hater, Xerxes calls for the extermination of a group of people who fail to follow royal cultural protocol and edicts.  This means the extermination of  the Jews.  Esther is called on by her uncle to save her people by appealing to the king.  But appealing to the king without permission could mean her life.

The family tree, Jesse's line, is threatened again.

Contrast Xerxes with Christ.

One a human king who holds court like a god.

The other a divine King who humbles himself, makes himself nothing, takes the very form of a servant.

One can withhold his scepter - which means death to the one who seeks the counsel of the king without proper permission.

The other never refuses the company of those who come to him in humility.

This is our King of kings and Lord of lords!

The Jesse Tree - December 17

Today's text - Micah 5:2-5

Bethlehem

House of Bread.

Ephrata.

Fruitful.

Bethlehem was . . .

the place of Rachel's death and burial.

the place where Ruth gleaned for grain and met Boaz, her kinsman redeemer.

the place where David was born

and anointed.

And thus was remembered as "The City of David."

Hardly a city.

A backwoods, rural town.

But it was distinguished above every other hamlet as the birth-place of

"Him whose goings forth have been of old" 

We know it as the birthplace of Jesus.

The Bread of Life.

The Bread of Life - born in the House of Bread.

Bethlehem was the bread basket of Judah.

Now Jesus is the bread of the world.

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” - John 6:35-40

Are you hungry?

The Jesse Tree - December 16

Today's text - Jonah 3:1-4:4

Jonah's one of my favorite Bible stories.  Not because of the big fish or whatever that swallowed him.

But because Jonah was a reluctant-selfish prophet.

I see some of me in him.

And I take great comfort in the fact that despite Jonah's foibles, God did not abandon him.

I also love that these "pagan" people - the Ninevites so readily and freely repented when warned - even if Jonah's proclamation was less than rousing.

One line from a reluctant prophet - "Forty more days and Ninevah will be destroyed."

And the Ninevites "believed God."

This story says a lot about God.

He's patient with Jonah.

He's concerned with more people that just the Israelites.

He's quick to show mercy to those who repent.

Listen to this.

Jonah, in the middle of throwing a holy tantrum because there were no heavenly fireworks raining down on Ninevah declares,

“Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.  . ."

Merciful.
Compassionate.
Slow to anger.
Filled with unfailing love.

THIS is so much bigger than whether it is possible to someone to get swallowed by a fish and live to tell about it.

(Really people?)

THIS is the real story of Jonah.

ALL PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD.

(and that includes you.)

The Jesse Tree - December 15

Today's text - Isaiah 11:1-9

I put together a prezi two weeks ago to teach on this text.  Of course, it's missing something with no commentary.  Still, you can get the gist of it.

David and therefore Jesus' family has some pretty funky DNA in the family tree.  DNA highlighted by Matthew . . . Tamar - impregnated by her father-in-law, Rahab - a gentile prostitute who hid Israelite spies, Ruth - a one time destitute Gentile widow.

The line of David.

King of Israel.

Sovereign of God's Chosen people.

And a stump which represents a dead end in that family tree.

But the stump was not dead.  Isaiah prophesied a shoot.

That shoot was Jesus - the Messiah - the Christ - the Anointed One.

The anointing was the mark of sovereignty.

David, in his adolescent years, anointed to be king by Samuel.

Jesus, anointed by God himself.

Here's the prezi - well both weeks, actually.

A Shoot Emerging

The Color of Love

Have you anointed Jesus King of your life?

The Jesse Tree - December 14

Today's text - 1 Kings 18:17-39

The MMA event of the Bible.

In this corner weighing 125 pounds dripping wet - Elijah - the "Troubler of Israel."

And in this corner - the tag team Prophets of Baal - 450 of King Ahab's finest.

But wait - in the same corner are the 400 Prophets of  Asherah!

Seems like pretty stacked odds.

But this isn't a test of physical prowess.

This is a test to see whose god stacks up - Yahweh or Baal?

Now the odds are flipped!

The test?

Two bulls to be sacrificed to respective gods.

Placed on wood pile BUT no matches - no one gets to set fire to the wood.

The true God will do that.

Prophets of Baal up first.  Remember no ignition devices allowed.

Prayer and petition from morning to noon.

Nothing.

Dancing and shouting and mutilation with swords and spears from noon until evening.

Crickets chirping.

The spectators got bored with the show.

Elijah's turn.

He rebuilds the alter of Yahweh - 12 stones - wood - a bull and  . . . a trench?

To even the odds, Elijah asked for 12 LARGE jars of water in total to drench the sacrifice.  The trench formed a moat around the altar.

Elijah offered a simple prayer.  No dancing. No shouting. No mutilation.

“Lord, the God of Abraham,Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

And fire (of the Lord) rained down from Heaven consumed the bull, the wood, the stones, the soil, the water.

And all the spectators of Israel fell to the ground and ate dirt in the face of God's power.

Baal is down for the count.  The Prophets of Baal are bloodied and bruised (or worse).

Do you know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  When's the last time you ate carpet lint in his presence?

Have you been chasing after your own baals? Do you need a good "heart turning"?

The Advent Conspiracy talks about worshiping fully. To not superficially, but fully engage with God in this Advent season.  Every purchase.  Every home-made present.  Every act done in devotion to God.  Every decision made in wisdom of God's will.

In this season of Christmas, even Christ followers can get nudged off the path to worship the god of consumerism.

Stay true.  Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.

.

The Jesse Tree - December 13

Today's text - Isaiah 9:2,6,7

Do you take light for granted? I'm talking about light at night.

I've been on airplanes at night and marvel at the light that our civilization produces. Whole areas glow. Street lights illumine matchbox sized roads upon which matchbox sized cars shine their head lights.

I've also been to some places where there is no human light at night. If you've ever been in a place like that - to look up at the night sky is awe inspiring - billions of stars seem to white out the night sky - you get a deeper appreciation of the nomenclature "milky way."

Ever been in a cave on tour when they turn out the lights? You literally cannot see your hand in front of your face. Utter darkness. A single match in such a space illumines everything.

"A people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
They lived in a dark land that's been illumined."

Ever walk in the dark - no light? no fun.

Who will you trust to guide you safely?

These people, the hearers of Isaiah's words knew what darkness was about, both physically and spiritually - no Thomas Edison invention yet.

The theme of the dawn overcoming the darkness is picked up in Zachariah's prophecy in Luke's Gospel - an old man speaks eloquently and prophetically when introduced to the infant Christ. . . .

“And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.” - Luke 1:76-79

This text from Isaiah was also the theme picked up by John in his Gospel

The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it. - John 1:5-6

John connected this light-walking to love by saying that those who walk in darkness are haters.
But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. - 1 John 2:11

In a few days (December 16), we will gather at Emmorton Elementary School to hear the Christmas story, to sing carols and to light candles. It's a beautiful sight, but will we fully grasp what that light represents? Do we realize how bright our world is because Jesus had entered it and is entering it through us? (Jesus said, "YOU are the light of the world. . . "

And another important question is this - who do you know who is still walking in darkness? Who do you know whose life has not been illumined by the love of Christ?

From my vantage point on this cold December night, while there are tons of lights on trees and outlining houses, lights in homes and on streets and in stores, there are still many, many who are sitting in darkness, those in the shadow of death. 

Eyes can see light while souls can be blind.

If you were in a pitch black cave, wouldn't you want someone to share a match? a candle? a flashlight?

If you were living in the shadow of death, wouldn't you want someone to show you the path of life?

What are you waiting for?

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine . . ."

The Jesse Tree - December 12

Today's text - 2 Samuel 5:1-5

The deposit given in David's youth is fulfilled - fully.

David's own family - the tribe of Judah recognized his crown.  The King of Judah led as a shepherd.

And the other tribes noticed.

The rest of Israel - the leaders - came to David at Hebron and made this astonishing announcement.

"We are your own flesh and blood."

They made the confession that they wanted more than a king, they wanted a family shepherd.

The anointed him King of all Israel which wasn't about title or position but about family and character and purpose.

Reminds me of another King - a shoot out of the stump of Jesse.

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment. - Isaiah 11

Jesus put on flesh and dwelt among us.  He was and is "our own flesh and bones."

God knew that our King needed to be one of us.  God with us.  Emmanuel.

Reminds me of a song by Joan Osborn that I discovered on the soundtrack of Bruce Almighty. (There are some great questions in this song.)

God was and is one of us.

The Jesse Tree - December 11

Today's text - 1 Samuel 16:1-13

The parade of misfits marches on.

The one attempt at picking a king for Israel based on the criteria of "tall, dark, and handsome" has failed.

Saul may look the part, but lacked the heart.

A heart for God.

So Samuel is tasked with finding another and the anointing - sealing this future king.

There's that word anoint.

If you've been paying attention at our Gatherings, you get this word in Greek (Christ) or in Hebrew (Messiah).

Okay, back to the story.   After some foot dragging by Samuel over fear that still-in-power Saul will have his head, God gives Sam an alibi.  Go to Bethlehem with the intent to anoint a new king, but with the excuse you're just there to worship (sacrifice).

It might be worth pausing here.  Samuel argues or at least protests God's calling and lives to tell about it.  What does that tell you about God?

So Samuel hits Bethlehem searching for kingly material, alights on Jesse's sons, and immediately reverts back to "tall, dark and handsome."

The beauty pageant begins.

Eliab
Abinidab
Shammah
seven more . . .

Each one God rejects with one of the best lines in all of scripture. . . .

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. TheLord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Thus the afterthought enters the picture - David - the youngest - not even invited to dinner.

Now albeit, David was "tanned and handsome" but by now we should know what God is looking for - a certain kind of heart.

David, was known as "a man after God's own heart."

Samuel anoints him in front of his brothers.  The Spirit of God falls on him and begins to work on him.

The line of David begins.

Lots to be learned in this story.  What's God speaking into your heart?  How is the Spirit working on you?

The Jesse tree - December 10

Today's text - Joshua 2:1-21 (click there!)

Introducing Rahab. Not a huge piece in the unfolding story of God's story, but not insignificant.

She harbors and hides Israelite spies - perhaps a better term "scouts" - depending on your side of the story.

Two men are sent by Joshua to get a lay of the land that God has promised them.

Word gets out by the locals. They are almost caught.

Except for the grace of Rahab who hides them on her roof and then lies about it to the authorities.

In exchange, then Israelite men agreed to spare her and her family when their army takes down Jericho - her city of residence.

Or should I say her city of employment?

All she has to do is hang a red cord as a marker in her window - her house is a safe house.  It hints at the blood marked doors during the Passover holocaust in Egypt.

Did I mention that Rahab was a prostitute?

And, well the most significant part . . . . she also happened to be the Great-great Grandmother of David.

Yes that David - the King.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed.
Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of King David. - Matthew 1:5-6a

Jesus' royal line.

That's quite a family skeleton in the closet. 

Well not so much in a closet. Matthew shines a spot light on the fact. 

He didn't have to. 

Could have left the moms off the genealogy list.

But he didn't.

And we are left to reflect on why Matthew did it. And ultimately, what this means about the character of God. You might want to stop and ponder here. Rahab, the Gentile prostitute, the great-great grandmother of David, in the line of the Messiah, Jesus.

Any skeletons in your family? And skeletons in your life?

What does this story tell you about what God can do with your skeletons?

The Jesse Tree - December 9

Today's text - Ruth 1

Not sure why this story is before Rahab's story in Ann Voskamp's devotional.

Ruth's story takes place during the time of the Judges - a period after Israel enters the Promised Land but before they had established Kings.

During a famine, Naomi moved with husband and two sons to Moab.  While in that land her husband died and her two sons married Moabite women.  Then both her sons died as well.

Naomi is a widow immigrant - living in a foreign land - no social security checks coming in - no natural relatives and the safety net they provide.

Her two daughter-in-laws themselves widows take care of Naomi - her social security - a cultural expectation.

But soon after, Naomi decides to return home - she has no reason to stay in Moab - Judah is healthy again.  And in considering this - she releases both her daughters-in-law from their social obligation.  They were bound to her and bound to marry her sons - which was not happening in her old age

One of her daughters-in-laws does go back to her mother to ultimately remarry.  But her other daughter-in-law utters some of the most powerful words ever written.

^"16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. ¹⁷ Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” ¹⁸ When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more."

Leaving to return with Naomi was costly.  Naomi could not offer Ruth a son to marry.  She had no family and would be living as a foreigner in Israel and ultimately would be left with nothing when Naomi died.  But her love was so strong for Naomi that she disavowed her own life.  Not only does she join with Naomi, she converts her faith - "your God will be my God."

Ultimately, destitute with her mother-in-law in Judah (she's picking up leftover wheat to survive) with no hope of marriage, God provides a husband - she gets noticed by a wealthy landowner who is also related to Naomi meaning he (Boaz) is eligible to marry her according to the Jewish social contract. (I'm trying to keep this short!)  It is an amazing story of God's providence and justice.

Ruth ends up in the "line of King David" - She's his great grandmother.

A converted Gentile widow is in God's family and in the royal line.

It says much about the inclusive nature of God.

Worth pondering.

Who knows you so well, who loves you so much that they want you and the God you serve to be their God?

If, your list is short of one, maybe you have some work to do.

The Jesse Tree - December 8

Today's text - Deuteronomy 5:1-22 (click  to read)

This is one reflection with which I disagree with Mrs Voskamp.

Her take - God gave ten commandments we can't possibly keep because of our sin nature.

My take  - really?

These are the first grade of moral laws.

1. No other gods but God
2. No idols
3. Honor God's name
4. Rest on the Sabbath
5. Honor your parents
6. Don't murder
7. Don't sleep around
8. Don't steal
9. Don't slander
10. Don't go greedy eyes for (covet) someone else's stuff

Do you really think the Hebrew people heard this and went, "Wow, that's downright impossible. Throw in the towel."

These ten are the foundation stones of a civil society.  The BASICS.  Stack those ten up against the federal and state laws of the United States.

Do any of them look impossible to keep? (okay maybe the parents or the covet one. . .   or maybe the slander one - see that all the time on facebook - especially during election season.    well, faithfulness to a spouse. . . .  but wait - have I stolen time from my employer?   . . . okay I have to shop on Sundays - I don't have time during the week . . .  but hey, I've got no problem with idols - depending on how you define them.)

What is flabbergasting is that we humans have such a difficult time with such simple rules.  (Ann is right - we are fallen creatures.)

If we can't keep these, how will we ever get to heart of the Kingdom which is about loving our neighbor?

Love is not leaving alone.
Love is not ignoring.
Love is not minding your own business.

Love is proactive.  Love is serving.  Love is sharing.

And love is where we most often fail.

Jesus raised the bar on the law.  He came not to abolish it but to fulfill it.

And in the process raised the ten exponentially.

It's not enough to acknowledge or believe in God, rather Love Him with all of your being.
That adultery action?  Now it's about the mind and heart. Lust and you fail.
That murder command?  Get angry often?  Strike two.
Have more than enough and fail to share?  Called strike - you're OUT!

Jesus is ultimately saying stop trying to live a minimalist ten commandment life.

LOVE.

God and neighbor.

Love.  Serve.  Share.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent.  Turn.  Change.  Stop living as a minimalist!

The ten commandments are Kindergarten lessons in the Kingdom.

People of faith - no more baby food.

The least in the Kingdom is greater than John the Baptist (hit the pause and ponder that)

We are free of the Law.

Free to love fully.

We love because He first loved us.

The Jesse Tree - December 7

Today's texts - Genesis 37:33-31 and Genesis 50:15-20

(you are reading the verses, right?)

Jacob had twelve sons.

I have two.

Jacob's twelve sons were all his by four different mothers.

My two do not share the same biological mother or father.

Jacob played favorites - the favorite son of a favorite wife.

I try not to play favorites, but my sons might tell you differently.

As a father, you want nothing more than for your children to love each other.

I suspect Joseph felt this way, though he did a poor job of helping that cause.

Then again, he did have twelve.

I find it hard with two.

The straw that broke the final bond between brothers was a beautiful robe gifted to one of the twelve - to Joseph.

His brothers were so jealous, they sold him into slavery and faked his death.

Goat's blood marred a beautiful robe.

They brought it back to their common father and asked, "Does this robe belong to YOUR son?" (my emphasis so you don't miss the point.)

Joseph wasn't their brother - only their Father's son.

Fast-forward.

God favors Joseph. He rises out of slavery and prison to incredible authority and power in Egypt. The family reunites.

Joseph shows them incredible favor. Shows his love. Buries the hatchet. Saves them from starvation.

But the brothers still don't see Joseph as their brother.

Jacob, their father, dies. The brothers concoct a story - another lie - "Dad says don't hurt us."

And Joseph weeps.

I imagine tears of pain. Tears of isolation.

After all these years. After all his grace to them, they still don't get it. They come to him and offer to be his slaves (one of Joseph's dreams back when he was a boy.) and Joseph responds with such incredible grace and wisdom and maturity. I'm not sure how many of us could have said it. . . .

"But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."

Joseph's story is a foreshadow of Jesus' story - a dead son is alive. Something meant for evil - a cross becomes the place form where Jesus can pardon all - "Father, forgive them . . ."

With one variation in the story- a beautiful robe, is given not to one, but to all who receive Jesus' pardon.

"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. . . . And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white." - Revelation 7:9,14

God is offering you a robe.  Wear it well.  Love your brothers.  Forgive them.

The Jesse Tree - December 6

Today's text - Genesis 21:1-7

He laughs.

Abraham and Sarah took a wrong turn in growing a family.  They heard God's promise of a son, but impatience - biological clock ticking, they decided to take matters into their own hands.  Ishmael is born.  Sarah gets jealous. Hagar and baby get exiled.  A great episode for Focus on the Family (or Jerry Springer?).

God could have said, "you messed up - now live with your mess."  But God is always a God of second chances.  And God is a promise keeper.  And if you read the text, you'll see that promise highlighted.

All the past mistakes are swallowed up in a promised son.  This son brings joy.  So much joy that they name him "He Laughs."  A name that will always remind Sarah of how she laughed when God's messengers pronounced she would have a son in her old age.

A sense of humor is a good thing - the ability to laugh at oneself.  Abraham and Sarah are so overjoyed to have a son that they don't mind being laughed at.  It's a good joke - this son.

How about you?  When you mess up, are you able to laugh at yourself?  Do you beat yourself up too much when things go wrong and it's your fault.  Abraham and Sarah had to live with the consequences of taking family planning into their own hands, but God did not abandon them.  There's a lesson in there for us.

The Jesse Tree - December 5

Our text - Genesis 12:1-7

Who takes a vacation without knowing the destination? Who packs up a moving van and starts driving without having a domicile in mind?

1. someone with NO ability to plan or organize - the ultimate free spirit.
2. a lunatic (some would lump one and two together - you know who you are)
3. a person who's heard God and steps out in faith (some would lump two and three together - you know who you are)

Obviously, the story of Abram is about the third. For those who like to plan and prepare, this story gives you whillies.

But without this story, there is no Israel. There is no royal line. There is no Messiah.

"All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

The Hebrew says "through your seed."

Paul emphatically says this seed is singular - one seed.

16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn't say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ.

Soak on that Seed for a while.

The people of the Vine are doing something similar - although not on the scale of Abraham's blessing. God has called us to build a well. We know the country (Uganda) and the region (eastern) but we know little else. We don't know who will drill the well for us. We don't don't know the final cost.

But God has said build a well and we're listening. Reading the above paragraph makes this whole thing seem so foolish. Some of you may be thinking we are. Who hears from God? How do you know?

Well that is a whole other discussion (book???). The short answer is you know, when you know. Like Abram, you can't miss it. And the beauty is it's confirmed by others - it's called unity - consensus. It's the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us to agreement. Like Lot and Sarai confirmed Abram's call.  And usually (always?) God's call comes with a step of faith.

So there's a lot we don't know about this well, but God said "go." And so we've started a journey.

I invite you to join with us and celebrate the day when God says, "I will give you this land - for a well."

Lazarus' Well

The Jesse Tree - December 4

Apologies for the delay - our internet was down most of last evening.

I also want to encourage you to share something on this blog - we will be strengthened by many voices - not just mine or Ann Voskamp's.

Today takes us to the story of Jonah - Genesis 6:5-8. This part of story is difficult. We like the part about the ark and the animals, the rescue and the rainbow. We decorate baby nurseries in this theme and make wooden and stuffed toys to commemorate the event.

But the why behind the ark and the animals is not as pretty. Human beings, created in the image of God, created for relationship with God are VERY wicked. The text says that their minds fixated on evil.

The next verse is telling. God has "creator remorse." He's sorry that He made this sorry lot. And ultimately decides to toss it all in the cosmic trashcan. Crumple it up and throw it away. It's not rescue-able and not redeemable.

But there are two tiny slivers of hope in this introduction to The Flood. First, the writer says God's heart was filled with pain. He was heart broken. The character of God is such that He derives no satisfaction from humanity's evilness. His response to wickedness is not an "I can't wait to punish them." There is no anger - only sorrow. That should tell us a lot. And you may want to pause here. Because maybe you've been holding onto the lie that God is angry at you for sinning and that He can't wait to punish you. Maybe you fear God more than love Him. And if so, you should stop and consider God's heart breaking over the sins of his people. Perfect love casts out fear. God is more heart-broken than angry over your poor choices and actions. So stop and let that sink in.

The second sliver is this - "Noah pleased the Lord." This is the transition line that makes for decorated nurseries and pairs of stuffed animals. The tree of Jesse is going to get trimmed back to one branch - all human genetic code finds its source in one who "pleased God." And that too speaks to the character of God AND the purpose for our existence. You may want to stop here and ask - Is it my desire to please God and how can I do so? And ultimately will my motivation be fear or love? I can tell you from experience that fear won't get you very far.

What is the motivation for God's plan - the flood? If God is love, the Ark part we can understand, but what about the water? What about the drownings? Could it be less a punishment for their sins as a recognition that - on their current trajectory - all of humanity would wipe themselves out anyway? Could the pain of the status quo have caused God to put these wicked humans out of their misery? It's worth contemplating.

It comes back to the character of God What is God like? Why should we praise Him? Right praise is called "ortho (right) doxy (praise). If we don't have a right understanding of God, how can we praise Him rightly? If the character of God is ultimately found in the One would send His only begotten Son to rescue us and this Son said, "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father," then we would do well to listen as much as we can to Jesus.

Everything is Scripture must be interpreted through the Person of Jesus Christ - even floods and discipline and.punishment. Noah pleased God. When Jesus was baptized a voice was heard in heaven - "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 

How will you please God today?

The Jesse Tree - December 3

As shared on Day 1, the word "genesis" means "beginnings" The book of Genesis is a story of how things began. And things began with such promise - a beautiful weedless, thorn-less garden. It was all "very good." But then disobedience was followed by a curse. Human beings, created in love, created in the image of God - in the image of Jesus - are destined for death.

Like a dead stump.  Like trees with bare branches at the beginning of winter.

But God has better plans than death and barren living. Father, Son and Holy Spirit call a holy conference and a plan is set in motion. If death could come through one disobedient man, then life could be restored through one pure Man.

Don't gloss over these rich words . . .

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.  18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. - Romans 5:12-18

Death does not have the final say. Death does not have the victory!

God's love created out of the darkness, so now God's love redeems out of death.

Did you find a bare branch to start your Jesse Tree? If so, give it a good long look. Does it represent parts of your life? barren? leafless? fruitless?

How does God want to bring you back to life this season? Where does He need to prune? to prop? to prepare? to provide?

This is the beginning of our story.

Abide. Bear much fruit.

The Jesse Tree - December 2

Check back later for a post message link.

The Jesse Tree - December 1

 " . . . you need a Jesse Tree. A tree with roots so deep into the past, that finger out through the stories of the Old Testament, back to the very beginning, and with branches that stretch so high and wide you can see the whole grand panorama of God's story . . ." - Ann Voskamp

Wow - I wish I could write like that!  This is a season to plant a seed that will grow into a beautiful tree of faith.  As the days grow darker, it may not seem like growing season, but darkness is when the Light is brightest.  You and I have an opportunity to prepare the soil of our hearts for the great coming of a Shoot - rising out of the stump of Jesse - a royal line that stretches back to the first couple, finding fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ, and that now branches through us.  We have royal sap coursing through our veins!

Branches that bear fruit . . .
IF we stay connected to the Vine.
IF we abide in Jesus.

This is easily a time when we could lose our bearings with all the rush of the secular Christmas.  But the overarching theme of God's story is that, through Christ, secular creation will become sacred again.  Funny - Christmas was meant as a sacred alternative to the prevailing secular and pagan festivals.  But like weeds that too quickly ruin a garden, so has the secular encroached on this most sacred day and season.  We  must intentionally weed out all that would stunt the growth of our faith and this is both the right and most difficult season to do it.

But do it we must . . .
IF we have any hope of bearing fruit.

So are you ready to begin?

The word "genesis" means "beginnings"  The book of Genesis is a story of how things began.  And things began with such promise - a beautiful weedless, thorn-less garden.  It was all "very good."

One thing hinted at in the opening story of Genesis is that God was not alone. The Scriptures are filled with clues that God was in relationship with himself - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God said, "Let US make humans in OUR own image . . ."

Jesus was just as involved in the creation story as God, the Father, and the "Spirit (of God) hovering over the waters."

God in relationship - perfect relationship before anything - before time - before order and light.

"The earth was formless and void and darkness covered the deep waters" - in the beginning.  The Hebrew speaks of chaos.

And Father, Son and Holy Spirit bring order and light, plants and animals, and a Garden for humans created in THEIR image!

God didn't create humans because He was relationally needy or lonely.  But He didn't create us simply to be His toys on a cosmic chess board either.  The incarnation proves that we are more than breathing chess pieces.

So why did God create?

Love.

God's love compelling Him to create and share a universe with finite beings - but more - to share in rich relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

And that invitation is still available -  Come in out of the chaos.  Come in out of the darkness.  Let's walk in the Garden together.  I created You for relationship with Me.

Great words for this season in which we often lose our heads let alone our souls.

Abide.  And bear fruit.