Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

Story of El Sal Prison There's something life giving when we choose to be a loving presence. Especially to those who have been out-casted. I’m addicted to it… but I’m not perfect at it. I have a sneaky suspicion that after I share about this, I’ll be reminded of how great it is to be a loving presence and then I’ll get into my truck outside and start driving… Watch as that just sails away off...

I get the feeling that when we read the book of Revelation, We tend to watch each scene unfold from a safe distance - I don’t think it was meant to read this way, • we’re supposed to feel a threatening closeness • we’re drawn into the dream – it’s our collective nightmare - John was certainly more than a spectator • characters approach him, converse with, and engage him ◦ in this chapter he’ll be...

When my children were small, I’d read to them every night First from a book of fairytales, then from a Bible storybook - we would pray, say goodnight, and turn off the lights • we were careful about the last thing that entered their minds before bed • I doubt we can prevent our kids from having nightmares ◦ but we can do things to help them sleep well ◦ and we can comfort them after a nightmare -...

They came on the first day of week, first thing in morning They knew what spices and ointments to bring, - and knew what they were doing – they had done this before • what they did not know, was that overnight their world had changed • so what they found at the tomb was not what they expected - I love the lines: Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen • they had co...

How did Palm Sunday become recognized as a holy day? I don’t mean, how did it get put on the Church calendar, - but why do we celebrate it? • Palm Sunday is not like Christmas, Good Friday, or Easter ◦ these were the major events in Jesus’ life and ministry • but Palm Sunday is not noteworthy in the same way ◦ in fact, if you’ll excuse the expression, it sort of fizzled out ◦ by the end of the wee...

Revelation is not a normal book – in fact, it’s a conundrum We enter a mystical world of symbols without a map or compass - as I understand it, the Revelation is meant to open our eyes to a reality beyond our knowing or experiencing • there is no way for us to go straight into it with our rational minds - I’ll share something with you that helps me understand this • consider a person blinded by ca...

You may not have noticed, but something is missing The action that began prior to this chapter involved a magic scroll secured with seven seals - six of those seals have been opened (chapter 6) • but now in chapter 7, there’s no mention of the seventh seal • instead, we have come to an interlude before returning to the seventh seal - this will happen again (after six trumpets sound, then there&apo...

A long time ago, I became interested in Douglas Coupland’s works of fiction One novel he wrote as if it were the journal of a young man traumatized as a child - his character had lived on a military base that came under a nuclear threat, and everyone was rushed into a shelter • this had left a lasting and foreboding impression on him • an entire chapter consists of brief scenarios he imagined of h...

Among Jeremiah’s prophecies, we find one that is different from the rest. The difference is that this one brings a positive message regarding Israel’s future - after receiving the prophecy, Jeremiah says, At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me (Jer. 31:26) • when I wake up from a pleasant dream, I want to go back to sleep and continue it • that's because some issue was re...

One day, a few years ago, I was visiting my oldest daughter Her oldest daughter, came to me and said, “I dreamed you last night” - she had told my daughter, “I dreamed grandpa” • Jennifer asked her, “Which grandpa?” she said, “The bald one.” • fortunately I have another dream story - in 1992, my life had been shattered by divorce • that summer a nine year old boy in the church sent me a letter ◦ h...

Chapters 2 and 3 may be the most well known section of Revelation At least two of our favorite quotations are found here - what’s the theme of these chapters? Answer: “Church Repairs” • in chapter 1 Jesus appears in a form not found in the Gospels • in his right hand he held seven stars–which represented the angels of the seven churches ◦ in scripture, the hand represents power, control, and owner...

Revelation gives us a unique picture of the inner life of our Christian experience It is much different from Paul’s carefully structured teaching - with his separation of the new self from the old self • and his contrast of having the mind of the Spirit versus the mind of the “flesh” • Revelation reaches into our inner lives through symbols and bizarre events Therefore, I feel comforted when readi...

You may wonder, Why the book of Revelation? I admit, it is the most confusing and frustrating book in the Bible - it’s not an easy read – some images are very strange • they seem fairytale or mythical, except but even weirder  ◦ for instance, we find, not just a beast with ten horns, ◦ but it has seven heads (?) and ten crowns on its horns • there’s not another book in Bible exactly like this - bu...

Today’s story is challenging and difficult to understand It turns everything we think we know about Jesus on its head - it involves a foreigner in a different region of the map • the setting for the life of Jesus is mostly in Israel ◦ he passes through Samaria, and briefly sets foot in Gadara ◦ but in this story he goes north – the one and only time • it is most likely that Jesus wanted to get awa...

The stories we hear today will serve as an illustration They illuminate a line from the prayer Jesus taught us - you know it and you’ve prayed it–maybe many times • it is one-third of a petition “hallowed [revered] be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:9-10) • it is that last line I hear in these two stories ◦ one teaches us what happens when we re...

I decided to continue in Jeremiah for another week There are two stories we will consider that I’ve always enjoyed - one reason they appeal to me is because they’re interesting • another reason is that they are meaningful • although the main character in each story is connected to Jeremiah, ◦ they have nothing else in common - both stories have two parts, found in two different places • so we will...

The two chapters of Haggai are about putting God first Israel had been driven from the land of Judah for seventy years - on returning to their homeland, one of their priorities was to rebuild the temple, • but there was a lot of work to be done, few workers, and limited resources ◦ they also had to construct homes for themselves • after awhile, a few setbacks, and discouragement, ◦ they began to s...

Even in infancy, people discerned that Jesus was extraordinary Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was led by God’s Spirit into temple - there he encountered Mary and Joseph and their baby • taking Jesus into his arms, he prophesied over him - then the elderly widow, Anna–who was herself a prophet, • she also encountered the holy family in the temple And coming up at that very hour she began to gi...

Morning Talk: Jim Calhoun Luke 2:8-19, King James Version This is how I first heard the Christmas story. King James original from Linus van Pelt (from the Peanuts comic strip). I can’t say it makes me sad. It was a fine way to be introduced to Christmas. Later, when I was 11 or 12, I found our family Bible, my grandmother’s Bible and read it for myself. King James again. I loved this story but I d...

The Christmas story is compressed into a few pages in New Testament For instance, no sooner do the birth announcements arrive than the babies are born - first John and then Jesus • in Luke chapter 2 Jesus is born, and by end of the chapter he’s already twelve years old ◦ though the magi are often pictured alongside the shepherds at the stable, ◦ when they actually arrived in Bethlehem, Jesus was a...

A few months ago, my grandson Calum began telling me what he wanted for Christmas Do you remember when it took forever for Christmas to get here? - now it’s like, “Is it that time again already?” • I used to be amused by people who left Christmas lights up all year • now I get it – they’re not lazy, they’re just old - we’re about to complete another lap around the sun • we pull out the old boxes,...

Chapter is not what we’ve come to expect from Jeremiah It is a short piece of autobiography, a personal episode in the life of the prophet Background King Zedekiah was the end of the line for the kings of Israel and Judah And he was in the last full year of his reign Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, was under siege the army of Babylon was at their gates Meanwhile, Jeremiah was behind bars &qu...

Two weeks ago, I pointed out a shift in Jeremiah’s prophecies Until now, his message was a reminder to Israel of all their failures - they had turned from their God and were rushing downhill • so Jeremiah delivered a message of condemnation, rejection, of doom and gloom • but now a light breaks through the dark passages ◦ there is hope for Israel after all - but if God made it possible for his peo...

Update on NOVI

 A god who never surprises us nor could ever surprise us, a god we could know perfectly well, whose every move we could predict, who has no secrets, so there’s no mystery, no confusion, no missing pieces, is not the God of the Scriptures For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither are your ways my ways,  declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth  so are my ways higher tha...