Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

 I haven’t prepared a sermon today or a Bible study What I have is more like a personal meditation – a thought, not so much for the analytical mind, • as for the thirsty, needy soul – depth psychology tells us that the thoughts that move us most, • that motivate and influence us, ◦ are not our most logical or even conscious thoughts ◦ but stories, symbols and images in our unconscious • for instan...

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, y...

First, God tells Israel to make for themselves a new heart and spirit      - then later, he says he will give them a new heart and spirit          • which is it? Do create the new self we are to become or does God?              ◦ asking the question this way suggests an apparent contradiction              ◦ it assumes that the situation must be either this or that          • either we are the acti...

Several times in the last few weeks I have quoted Johann Hari Hari is an author and journalist who struggled with depression – eventually he realized antidepressants weren’t helping him • so he began researching other options and interviewing experts • he found anxiety and depression have less to do with a chemical imbalance in the brain (as pharmaceutical companies have told us) ◦ and more to do...

God wanted Israel to find him; he was even willing to help them find him – but no one was looking for him • he reached out to them, but no one stretched out their hands to him • he was that close to them, and they were oblivious to him For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? (De. 4:7) – “Here I am” is a familiar phrase in...

We began with the word repent – a second thought, change of mind      - this means we change the organ of thought: the brain          • we change how brain cells connect with other brain cells              ◦ we rewire neurons to form new thoughts, feelings, actions          • we are re-writing the brain’s owner’s manual

Paul describes a frustrating struggle, a losing battle with himself – suppose he wanted his readers to feel that frustration for themselves • if so, Dr. Seuss could not have done a better job of creating confusion • however, my guess is that Paul wrote it in a state of frustration – early on, he had put every effort into living a sinless life • but every time he thought he had achieved it, ◦ a new...

 I have been mulling over something this past school year Two days a week I drove three of my grandchildren to school – two of them attend school in what I refer to as a new suburbia • the residents are almost exclusively young families ◦ everything is new – new expensive houses and condos ◦ and new apartments, a few of which are low-rent properties • none of the houses, condos or apartments have...

Imagine this . . . While you’re at work, out shopping, or on vacation – a family parks a moving in front of your home • they break into, and unload used, worthless furnishings inside • then they redecorate your home with their junk ◦ and to make matters worse, they glue or nail everything in place – ridiculous, right? • but all of us have allowed others to do that with our brains • by words, actio...

This short psalm tells a story It is about a person who was abused as a child – yet the child became an adult without being defined by abuse • at least, that’s how the first line reads ◦ but the second line corrects our understanding,

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet’s call was an important event Each of the three major prophets tell elaborate stories of their initiation – typical features of a prophetic call include: • a God-encounter • instructions regarding their ministry and message • a warning of what they are up against • an attempt on the prophet’s part to dodge the call ◦ they argue their disqualification • God rej...

Last week we learned what neuroscience has taught us about repentance – at a practical, biological level repentance means changing our brains • the brain is control center for all the activity of the mind and body  • how do we repent? How are we changed, transformed? Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will...

We began two weeks ago with the first word of Jesus’ message: “Repent” – a change of mind that leads to change of everything – the Bible uses other words for change: turn, convert, transform • I’ve tried to point out, that this means changing our brains • brain activity that has become automatic and unconscious – Paul has an interesting way of illustrating this change, he says, put off your old se...

50 days after the resurrection the apostles are waiting to be equipped, empowered - day of   Pentecost

This one last time, I will remind you what we’ve been tracking – John wrote a gospel that’s very different from the Synoptic gospels • the other three follow the same outline, tell the same stories • John is surprising in how much he leaves out and what he puts in – during Jesus’ life the disciples did not always understand him • some times he said things that: ◦ had to do with the future ◦ contra...

Quite prayer lead by Chuck Smith Jr

Way back at the beginning of John’s narrative of Jesus’ ministry, when John the Baptist first saw Jesus, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God. who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29) John’s source for the image of the lamb was the sacrificial worship of Israel – this symbol was embedded in Israel’s collective memory  • the offering of a lamb provided atonement for Israel’s sin  • “atone” mean...

Last week we jumped to the end of John’s gospel, because it was Easter Sunday – today we return to night of Jesus’ arrest prior to his crucifixion • think of what we are doing this way: ◦ some films include flashbacks to events that occurred prior to the current period  ◦ flashbacks supply explanations or fill in important details  • so this week and next, will be like flashbacks for us  ◦ scenes...

Here in the last chapter of John, we find an interesting correlation – in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, at beginning of Jesus’ ministry, • he encounters four fishermen whom he calls to follow him ◦ Andrew and Peter are casting their net into the water ◦ James and John are in their boat mending their nets • the Gospel of Luke tells us Jesus saw two empty boats by the shore ◦ he explains that the...