Let's begin at the beginning, of this section that is, well after I let you know what to expects in the next words, sentences, paragraphs.
This will be the last part of Luke 4, so we'll be moving on to chapter 5 next time, whenever that actually is. In this post we will encounter a few small episodes in the beginning days of Jesus's ministry. These episodes will foreshadow a lot of what is to come in the book of Luke, so you will notice these themes as we continue on our road-trip.
OK, now back to the beginning, well actually a bit before that.
In the last post I talked about Jesus's time in the synagogue where he read from Isaiah, said that he was the fulfillment of the scripture, then told the people they were unworthy of miracles, then the people tried to throw him off a cliff, and Jesus slipped through their midst like he was Ethan Hunt, if you know you know, and if you don't...I don't even know what to say to you.
Episode 1: The Demon Menace
So, Jesus leaves Galilee and travels back to his base of operations, Capernaum. There the people are amazed at his teachings because he taught as someone who had authority, in other words everyone else they heard talked as if they were just talking, and Jesus talked as if he knew what he was talking about. While at the synagogue he encounters a man possessed who told Jesus to leave them alone and said that Jesus was the Holy One of God. Jesus told him to be quiet, which he often does and then told the demon to come out of the man. The demon comes out of the man without injuring him, which must not have always been the case or Luke wouldn't have mentioned it, and then the people are even more amazed at Jesus's teachings.
Do you believe in demons? Then this story should tell you that a) the demon had knowledge of who Jesus was, and yet it was still a demon b) Jesus has power over demons c) here are people who have faith and because they have faith they see miraculous things and tell about them.
Do you not believe in demons? Then this story should tell you that a) knowledge of who Jesus is isn't what matters b) Jesus has power over whatever was ailing this man c) here are people who believe in Jesus and see him as having authority over everything else in the world, whatever else is in the world.
Episode 2: Attack of the Colds
After this Jesus goes to Simon's house...Simon is going to be soon called by another name, Peter, you know he of walking on water, sinking in the water, fighting for Jesus, denying Jesus, the rock upon which Jesus will build his church. There Jesus encounters Simon's mother-in-law who is not feeling well and he takes her fever away.
Wait Peter is married? Does he have kids? What does it all mean? It means that some of the disciples had lives beyond being disciples. It means that they were normal guys, who found themselves in an extraordinary moment. It means that if you are willing to follow Jesus your circumstances will not hold you back, unless you let them. What this tells us in a greater scheme is that Luke wants us to know that Jesus has authority over what he is teaching, Jesus has authority over the spiritual things of this world, and Jesus has the authority over the physical things of this world. For Luke Jesus is a man who is the ultimate authority.
Episode 3: The Reveal of the Extent
Finally, at sundown, the people bring to Jesus all those who are ill or are demon possessed. All night Jesus healed the infirmed and cast out demons while he told them to be quiet about who he actually was. As the sun rose Jesus goes off to a solitary place, most likely to commune with God and to recharge his batteries. I tend to think that Jesus was probably a lot like John Coffey in The Green Mile, whenever he performed a miracle power left him and he needed to rest and relax.
[While it is not the point I set out to make, I think it is very important to remember that in order to give we have to have something to give in the first place. We must be healthy enough to give, we must be rested enough to give, we must say enough no's to things so that we can say yes to other things.]
The people go looking for Jesus, because they miss him and because they want him to stay, but Jesus says "I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
[Now to the point I did want to make]
The good news isn't just for Capernaum. It isn't just for your hometown either. It's not just for your church, local or larger. It's not just for your country. It's not just for those who look like you or think like you or vote like you. It has been said before that the good news has to be good for everyone or else it's not really good. I agree with that, it has to be good for you and for others, good for you and your enemies, good for everyone.
In case you haven't noticed, I sometimes think in ways that a lot of people don't, maybe that is a design flaw, maybe its because of my ego or because of my ignorance, but I am beginning to think that maybe its just because I am called to speak to a different group of people. A group of people who don't think the way that those inside the walls of most churches do. A group of people who have been burned or left behind or forsaken by that other group. You see, I talk a lot about Jesus but I often vacillate between faith and atheism, between orthodoxy and heresy, between morality and immorality, between loving the church and wanting to put it in my rearview, between being a pastor and not wanting to be one. And I am beginning to realize that there are a lot of people out there that are like me in some way, I am beginning to realize that we all have more in common than we might realize and less differences than we want to believe.
Last week when I shared my post I said that I guess I'm back...now I know I am.
peace and love,
Kenny
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Melodies Stuck in My Head 2
Here we go again...
Diving In - Fall 1999
I jumped into the deep end of the ocean
swam to reach the edge
edge of this world of sin
and edge of myself
Diving in to the water
it's overflowing my soul
diving in to the water
from the eternal spring
that's making me whole
I fell into the deep end of the ocean
falling further from the shore
can't see the sand or the swimmers
or even the lifeguard
sinking under the water
it's overflowing my soul
sinking under the water
from the eternal spring
that's making me whole
he came to dive into the water
to show us the way
so we can be free, free forever
free from all of this sin
walking over the water
he's guiding my path
walking over the water
from the eternal spring
he's making me whole
Coulda Been There - chorus Spring 1999, finished Jan 2001
Most of the "I's" in my songs are literally me, how I see/saw the world, how it makes/made me feel, but sometimes I set myself projects, wanting to write songs about certain topics or from some other viewpoint. This is one of the latter, I wrote the chorus thinking of a particular girl, one that got engaged before I ever met her, but when I got around to finishing the song almost 2 years later, I couldn't even remember her name, so I had to change the perspective from someone pining for a mystery woman to someone who has lost the relationship that they are still in.
I saw you yesterday
on the other side of the street
you were just standing there
but you blew me away
an angel in dress
waiting for a cab
my heart in my chest
waiting for someone like you
then out of the corner of my eye
a twinkling ring in the sunlight lay
on your finger that holds you to another
Chorus:
I wish I coulda been there
when you first got here
I wish I coulda been there
to be the love of your life
I wish I coulda been there
to make you my wife
but someone got there first
someone won while I lost...but that's ok
I saw you today
on the same side of the street
you were standing there
as I passed on my way
an angel in pants
waiting for a cab
my heart in my chest
catching it's breath
thank God I do not know you
thank God we have never met
cause if we had I'd be forced to kill your husband
Chorus:
I'll see you tomorrow
on the side of the street
and I won't care
as we pass on our way
an angel in plaid skirts
waiting for your man
my heart in my chest
pounding for you
the wife I don't know
the wife I've never met
the rings on our fingers the only thing we recollect
Chorus:
cause that one is me
Happy Dome - Fall 1998
walk this way
and talk this way
please pay up front
for you'll never come out again
Chorus:
this is my happy dome
please make it your happy home
Jump up and down
scream very loud
do whatever you want
for you'll love this place forever
Chorus:
Be happy forever
have pain never
be whatever you want
for you'll never remember reality
Chorus: x2
never leave
never cry
never hate
never die
Cosmic Love - Fall 1999
This song was written for a redhead that was in my Chemistry Lab, her name was Nicole, but I only learned that after the fact. She was simply a pretty girl on the other side of the room that looked as if she was a million miles away.
Across the room you sit
you're not really here
are you?
I am consumed by this moment
you're merely drifting away
as you float past stars
and their planets
do you ever think of me
floating in the milky way
so far beyond me
Chorus:
I cry
I sit here and sob
do you realize
my pain
you land on Venus
where your beauty
it belongs
I sit here on Earth
waiting for your return
you're forgetting every moment
you don't remember
you used to care
and sitting here in this
very stony silence
Chorus:
I remember the times
when we sat here
hand in hand
laughing at each other's jokes
falling more and more into love
Chorus:
my pain (till fade)
Walking on Water - verse 1, pre-chorus, chorus Fall 1998, verses 2 & 3 Summer 2003
Here is another one where the "I" is not me, I roughly remember what I was doing 20 years ago, but I can't recall if anyone was the inspiration for the first section, and I know that no one was an inspiration for the second half.
you were the most beautiful girl
I had ever seen
master of my heart in only one day
I stumbled and fell
I didn't tell you the truth
now walking on water ain't the same
pre-chorus:
please girl won't you tell me
how to tell the truth again
how to fall in love again
how to be with you again
Chorus:
Cause walking on water
doesn't mean much to me
no walking on water
doesn't bring me to you
for I'm lost and lonely
and crying on the floor
crying for the love
the love that you gave to me
you were the best wife I could ever have
even though you're the only one
lord and master of my life
I stumbled and fell
I cheated on you
now walking on water it ain't the same
pre-chorus:
Chorus:
You ask me, what I am talking about
what does love
have to do with water?
what I mean to say
is miracles aren't that much
as long as love doesn't come
Chorus:
Diving In - Fall 1999
I jumped into the deep end of the ocean
swam to reach the edge
edge of this world of sin
and edge of myself
Diving in to the water
it's overflowing my soul
diving in to the water
from the eternal spring
that's making me whole
I fell into the deep end of the ocean
falling further from the shore
can't see the sand or the swimmers
or even the lifeguard
sinking under the water
it's overflowing my soul
sinking under the water
from the eternal spring
that's making me whole
he came to dive into the water
to show us the way
so we can be free, free forever
free from all of this sin
walking over the water
he's guiding my path
walking over the water
from the eternal spring
he's making me whole
Coulda Been There - chorus Spring 1999, finished Jan 2001
Most of the "I's" in my songs are literally me, how I see/saw the world, how it makes/made me feel, but sometimes I set myself projects, wanting to write songs about certain topics or from some other viewpoint. This is one of the latter, I wrote the chorus thinking of a particular girl, one that got engaged before I ever met her, but when I got around to finishing the song almost 2 years later, I couldn't even remember her name, so I had to change the perspective from someone pining for a mystery woman to someone who has lost the relationship that they are still in.
I saw you yesterday
on the other side of the street
you were just standing there
but you blew me away
an angel in dress
waiting for a cab
my heart in my chest
waiting for someone like you
then out of the corner of my eye
a twinkling ring in the sunlight lay
on your finger that holds you to another
Chorus:
I wish I coulda been there
when you first got here
I wish I coulda been there
to be the love of your life
I wish I coulda been there
to make you my wife
but someone got there first
someone won while I lost...but that's ok
I saw you today
on the same side of the street
you were standing there
as I passed on my way
an angel in pants
waiting for a cab
my heart in my chest
catching it's breath
thank God I do not know you
thank God we have never met
cause if we had I'd be forced to kill your husband
Chorus:
I'll see you tomorrow
on the side of the street
and I won't care
as we pass on our way
an angel in plaid skirts
waiting for your man
my heart in my chest
pounding for you
the wife I don't know
the wife I've never met
the rings on our fingers the only thing we recollect
Chorus:
cause that one is me
Happy Dome - Fall 1998
walk this way
and talk this way
please pay up front
for you'll never come out again
Chorus:
this is my happy dome
please make it your happy home
Jump up and down
scream very loud
do whatever you want
for you'll love this place forever
Chorus:
Be happy forever
have pain never
be whatever you want
for you'll never remember reality
Chorus: x2
never leave
never cry
never hate
never die
Cosmic Love - Fall 1999
This song was written for a redhead that was in my Chemistry Lab, her name was Nicole, but I only learned that after the fact. She was simply a pretty girl on the other side of the room that looked as if she was a million miles away.
Across the room you sit
you're not really here
are you?
I am consumed by this moment
you're merely drifting away
as you float past stars
and their planets
do you ever think of me
floating in the milky way
so far beyond me
Chorus:
I cry
I sit here and sob
do you realize
my pain
you land on Venus
where your beauty
it belongs
I sit here on Earth
waiting for your return
you're forgetting every moment
you don't remember
you used to care
and sitting here in this
very stony silence
Chorus:
I remember the times
when we sat here
hand in hand
laughing at each other's jokes
falling more and more into love
Chorus:
my pain (till fade)
Walking on Water - verse 1, pre-chorus, chorus Fall 1998, verses 2 & 3 Summer 2003
Here is another one where the "I" is not me, I roughly remember what I was doing 20 years ago, but I can't recall if anyone was the inspiration for the first section, and I know that no one was an inspiration for the second half.
you were the most beautiful girl
I had ever seen
master of my heart in only one day
I stumbled and fell
I didn't tell you the truth
now walking on water ain't the same
pre-chorus:
please girl won't you tell me
how to tell the truth again
how to fall in love again
how to be with you again
Chorus:
Cause walking on water
doesn't mean much to me
no walking on water
doesn't bring me to you
for I'm lost and lonely
and crying on the floor
crying for the love
the love that you gave to me
you were the best wife I could ever have
even though you're the only one
lord and master of my life
I stumbled and fell
I cheated on you
now walking on water it ain't the same
pre-chorus:
Chorus:
You ask me, what I am talking about
what does love
have to do with water?
what I mean to say
is miracles aren't that much
as long as love doesn't come
Chorus:
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Melodies Stuck in My Head 1
Have I mentioned that I used to be a song writer? Not officially of course, except for a few months back in my early college years when I was in a band called Lazy Sunday, but unofficially for years, and then I mainly stopped. Lately though I have been feeling a bit of a tug to do two things, a) I want to release my creativity a little bit more & b) I feel the need to share the songs that I once dreamed I would share with the world. So this is going to be Step B, and maybe a little bit of Step A also from time to time.
Every so often I'm going to share 5 songs at a time, just the lyrics as most of the melodies are just stuck in my head, hence the title. These songs were mainly written between 1994 and 2008, a time that covers between my sophomore year of High School through the first few years of marriage.
That was, obviously a time of great change in my life, my views, my beliefs, my language and to that end, a disclaimer: some of these songs may have language in them you don't like, they may talk about things you don't like, they may say and talk about things I don't much like either, but I'm going to share them anyway...if they speak to you great, if they don't great.
Some of them I will tell you the stories behind, some I won't, just depends on how much I remember and how much I want to share on the subject.
One last thing, they will be shared in the order I wrote them out in my songbooks, which is not the order they were actually written in, at least not always.
Anyways, on to the songs if you want to read them.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Whatever My Name Is - Winter 2000
If I knew
the words to say
to make
you want to stay
I would say them
yes, I would say them
Sometimes I wish
I could turn back time
but all I do
is sit here and whine
I wish I could turn back those hands
but time is done and time is gone
Chorus:
The time from whence
our love came is gone
but I'll find a way to go on
or my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
I could probably
say I'm sorry
but the words
would come out sloppy
I'm sorry my feelings have changed
but change has come and change is here
sometimes I
remember the pain
sometimes it
hurts me so bad
but I can't take it away
but pain was here and pain has faded away
Chorus:
Bridge: x 2
the time has passed
the pain is gone
the change has come
the words move on
Chorus:
Or my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
Charlie - Winter 2000
So, I went to college at Anderson University and on the second floor of Hartung Hall there was a Bearded Dragon in a large fish tank named Charlie. I would walk past him 3 times a week on my way to and from class and occasionally on other days when I needed to talk to someone who wouldn't talk back.
Charlie
why do you sit there
doing nothing but staring back at me?
Charlie
why do you eat that bug
that is crawling on the ground?
Charlie
your life is so simple sometimes
sometimes I envy you
Charlie
why do you sit there
wagging your tail back and forth?
Charlie
why do you stare at me
with those eyes buggin out at me?
Charlie
in the scheme of things sometimes
I wish I could be you
Charlie
do you ever think about me
and the way that my world works?
Charlie
do you ever wonder
why we all walk back and forth?
Charlie
do you understand
the awe you inspire in us
Cause I can see clearly now
with you sitting there
I can see clearly now
with the light bearing down on you
I can see clearly now
can you see clearly too?
Sad Face - January 2000
Why are you there with that sad look upon your face?
why are you crying, what's wrong, can I ask?
It seems so long ago
and so far away
but you were mine (were you mine)
just the other day (just the other day)
I don't know what's happened to us
and I don't see how we came to this place
you seem so far away
emotionally & physically
and I can't cry (no I can't)
as the pain ebbs away (as the pain ebbs away)
don't leave me now (this I pray)
don't leave me now (this I scream)
please, please don't leave me now
It's Been a Long Time - Winter 2000
Chorus:
It's been a long time
since I felt so out of place
(and) it's been a long time
since I couldn't place your face
(and) it's been a long time
since I lost my way
You look so great to me
you feel so good to me
your kisses invade my soul
your beauty has captured my whole
but you went away
left me here alone
and it's been a long time
since I felt this way
Chorus:
I see you as you walk away
I lose you with every step you take
those kisses are blowing in the wind
that beauty is drifting away
Now I am here alone
since you went away
and it's been a long time
since I felt this pain
Chorus:
I was Crying - Winter 2000
I don't know what you do to me
but it sends a shot up my spine
I just can't comprehend
but it feels so good...in my dreams
Chorus:
I was crying
just the other day
I was trying
to find my way
B:
Every time I see you it happens
there's just some kind of attraction
I don't even know your name
but I swear I see your face...in my dreams
Chorus:
Every time I see you it happens
babe, I just want to be near you
can I introduce myself?
can we connect somehow?...in reality
B:
Chorus: x2
...to you
p.s. Have you made it this far? If so, congrats. Also, you have noticed that I used to be somewhere on the scale of lovesick college guy, liking a fair few girls and being a complete coward in regards to voicing my interests...this is a theme that will repeat over and over and over again...just so you know.
Every so often I'm going to share 5 songs at a time, just the lyrics as most of the melodies are just stuck in my head, hence the title. These songs were mainly written between 1994 and 2008, a time that covers between my sophomore year of High School through the first few years of marriage.
That was, obviously a time of great change in my life, my views, my beliefs, my language and to that end, a disclaimer: some of these songs may have language in them you don't like, they may talk about things you don't like, they may say and talk about things I don't much like either, but I'm going to share them anyway...if they speak to you great, if they don't great.
Some of them I will tell you the stories behind, some I won't, just depends on how much I remember and how much I want to share on the subject.
One last thing, they will be shared in the order I wrote them out in my songbooks, which is not the order they were actually written in, at least not always.
Anyways, on to the songs if you want to read them.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Whatever My Name Is - Winter 2000
If I knew
the words to say
to make
you want to stay
I would say them
yes, I would say them
Sometimes I wish
I could turn back time
but all I do
is sit here and whine
I wish I could turn back those hands
but time is done and time is gone
Chorus:
The time from whence
our love came is gone
but I'll find a way to go on
or my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
I could probably
say I'm sorry
but the words
would come out sloppy
I'm sorry my feelings have changed
but change has come and change is here
sometimes I
remember the pain
sometimes it
hurts me so bad
but I can't take it away
but pain was here and pain has faded away
Chorus:
Bridge: x 2
the time has passed
the pain is gone
the change has come
the words move on
Chorus:
Or my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
my name isn't
whatever the hell my name is
Charlie - Winter 2000
So, I went to college at Anderson University and on the second floor of Hartung Hall there was a Bearded Dragon in a large fish tank named Charlie. I would walk past him 3 times a week on my way to and from class and occasionally on other days when I needed to talk to someone who wouldn't talk back.
Charlie
why do you sit there
doing nothing but staring back at me?
Charlie
why do you eat that bug
that is crawling on the ground?
Charlie
your life is so simple sometimes
sometimes I envy you
Charlie
why do you sit there
wagging your tail back and forth?
Charlie
why do you stare at me
with those eyes buggin out at me?
Charlie
in the scheme of things sometimes
I wish I could be you
Charlie
do you ever think about me
and the way that my world works?
Charlie
do you ever wonder
why we all walk back and forth?
Charlie
do you understand
the awe you inspire in us
Cause I can see clearly now
with you sitting there
I can see clearly now
with the light bearing down on you
I can see clearly now
can you see clearly too?
Sad Face - January 2000
Why are you there with that sad look upon your face?
why are you crying, what's wrong, can I ask?
It seems so long ago
and so far away
but you were mine (were you mine)
just the other day (just the other day)
I don't know what's happened to us
and I don't see how we came to this place
you seem so far away
emotionally & physically
and I can't cry (no I can't)
as the pain ebbs away (as the pain ebbs away)
don't leave me now (this I pray)
don't leave me now (this I scream)
please, please don't leave me now
It's Been a Long Time - Winter 2000
Chorus:
It's been a long time
since I felt so out of place
(and) it's been a long time
since I couldn't place your face
(and) it's been a long time
since I lost my way
You look so great to me
you feel so good to me
your kisses invade my soul
your beauty has captured my whole
but you went away
left me here alone
and it's been a long time
since I felt this way
Chorus:
I see you as you walk away
I lose you with every step you take
those kisses are blowing in the wind
that beauty is drifting away
Now I am here alone
since you went away
and it's been a long time
since I felt this pain
Chorus:
I was Crying - Winter 2000
I don't know what you do to me
but it sends a shot up my spine
I just can't comprehend
but it feels so good...in my dreams
Chorus:
I was crying
just the other day
I was trying
to find my way
B:
Every time I see you it happens
there's just some kind of attraction
I don't even know your name
but I swear I see your face...in my dreams
Chorus:
Every time I see you it happens
babe, I just want to be near you
can I introduce myself?
can we connect somehow?...in reality
B:
Chorus: x2
...to you
p.s. Have you made it this far? If so, congrats. Also, you have noticed that I used to be somewhere on the scale of lovesick college guy, liking a fair few girls and being a complete coward in regards to voicing my interests...this is a theme that will repeat over and over and over again...just so you know.
Road Trippin' with the Doctor - Part 2: The Statement's Mission (Luke 4:14-30)
It's been a minute, hasn't it? Since I've been using a road trip as my metaphor for this conglomeration of blogs I will say that the past few months have been a whirlwind of car issues: a blown tire, a dead battery, a clogged intake valve. But after way too long in the shop or on the way home from the shop or on the way back tot he shop the car is finally out and road worthy, so let's back to this journey.
The second thing [following Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil] that I come across in Luke 4 is Jesus's first recorded time in the synagogue in Nazareth. We find Jesus entering the synagogue, as was his custom, and standing up to read. To Jesus was handed a scroll from the prophet Isaiah. We do not know how much of Isaiah was contained in the scroll, perhaps the whole book, perhaps just a part of it, but however much it contained Jesus turned to what we know as Isaiah 61:1, 2, or at least most of it, which we will get to in a little bit.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Then Jesus sits down, everyone looks at him and he states that in this moment this scripture has come true. At first the crowd is amazed and speaks well of him, until the troll speaks up and says, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Then Jesus suggests that the crowd will want miracles, like he did in Capernaum, and tells them that they won't see them, and shares two stories, from their own history.
A) he speaks of Elijah and how there were many widows in his time, but he was sent to a widow from Sidon.
B) he speaks of Elisha and how there were many people who had leprosy in his time, but that he was sent to a man from Syria.
This enrages the people and they decide to drive Jesus out to a nearby cliff and toss him off it. Luckily, as you will see from time to time within the gospels, Jesus is a very stealthy kind of guy and he just walks through the angry mob and "went on his way"
There is your Luke 4:14-30 walkthrough, now let's unpack a few things, if you don't mind...
1) As I said Jesus picked these particular verses on purpose, this is no mere chance Bible page flip. Not only that but Jesus edited the Isaiah passage a little bit, and that also is no accident.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God
Do you notice the big thing missing from Jesus's reading? Isaiah talks of the one that is to come to both proclaim the year of the Lord's favor as well as the day of God's vengeance, whereas Jesus speaks of proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor and leaves out any mention of God's vengeance. I believe that this is because Jesus's mission had nothing to do with bringing God's vengeance to us, nor stopping God's vengeance upon us, but rather about making us all aware of the existence of God's favor upon us. God favor's us, in our brokenness, in our blindness, in our captivity, in our banality, in our sinfulness...in all those states and more, God favors us.
2) Why those stories, and why the rage that they caused within the people? First off a little difference between Nazareth and Capernaum: Nazareth was a very Israelite area and Capernaum was not. A question arises as to Jesus's origin, in other words, how can this man says things like this, he's just the local carpenter's kid, how can this man claim what he claims, it's the one who threw mud on the teacher, or kissed your daughter, or son, or cussed, or drank, or did whatever rates in your eyes as to make him/her lesser. Many of us has been Jesus in this instance, attempting to move beyond where and who we have come from while others are trying to remind us of our limitations.
So, as my Church History Professor, Dr. Froese would say, Jesus pricked them. He told them two short stories about how two prophets, men chosen by God to speak for God, had been sent not tot the hurting and needy in Israel but were rather sent to gentiles and God's power and grace shown upon them. In the same way Jesus is telling the people that God's power and grace has been shown among the gentiles in Capernaum but would be hard pressed to shine among those in Israel. I think that the main reason that Jesus could and did do miracles in certain places and couldn't and didn't do miracles in other places has to do with the expectations of those in his midst.
The people who couldn't let go of the past, couldn't let go of the origins, couldn't let go of the limitations missed out on the wonders that were available. The people who did not grow up in the traditions and stories and legends, who didn't expect anything from God, nor expect God to do anything particularly for them were shown things far and above what they thought even possible.
The takeaway:
From this friends I would ask you to do two things, first remember that God favors you no matter your situation, be it ideal or far from ideal; secondly allow God to be God, to do what God will or will not do, and let go of all those things that can hinder God, your past, your expectations, your requirements.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
The second thing [following Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil] that I come across in Luke 4 is Jesus's first recorded time in the synagogue in Nazareth. We find Jesus entering the synagogue, as was his custom, and standing up to read. To Jesus was handed a scroll from the prophet Isaiah. We do not know how much of Isaiah was contained in the scroll, perhaps the whole book, perhaps just a part of it, but however much it contained Jesus turned to what we know as Isaiah 61:1, 2, or at least most of it, which we will get to in a little bit.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Then Jesus sits down, everyone looks at him and he states that in this moment this scripture has come true. At first the crowd is amazed and speaks well of him, until the troll speaks up and says, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Then Jesus suggests that the crowd will want miracles, like he did in Capernaum, and tells them that they won't see them, and shares two stories, from their own history.
A) he speaks of Elijah and how there were many widows in his time, but he was sent to a widow from Sidon.
B) he speaks of Elisha and how there were many people who had leprosy in his time, but that he was sent to a man from Syria.
This enrages the people and they decide to drive Jesus out to a nearby cliff and toss him off it. Luckily, as you will see from time to time within the gospels, Jesus is a very stealthy kind of guy and he just walks through the angry mob and "went on his way"
There is your Luke 4:14-30 walkthrough, now let's unpack a few things, if you don't mind...
1) As I said Jesus picked these particular verses on purpose, this is no mere chance Bible page flip. Not only that but Jesus edited the Isaiah passage a little bit, and that also is no accident.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God
Do you notice the big thing missing from Jesus's reading? Isaiah talks of the one that is to come to both proclaim the year of the Lord's favor as well as the day of God's vengeance, whereas Jesus speaks of proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor and leaves out any mention of God's vengeance. I believe that this is because Jesus's mission had nothing to do with bringing God's vengeance to us, nor stopping God's vengeance upon us, but rather about making us all aware of the existence of God's favor upon us. God favor's us, in our brokenness, in our blindness, in our captivity, in our banality, in our sinfulness...in all those states and more, God favors us.
2) Why those stories, and why the rage that they caused within the people? First off a little difference between Nazareth and Capernaum: Nazareth was a very Israelite area and Capernaum was not. A question arises as to Jesus's origin, in other words, how can this man says things like this, he's just the local carpenter's kid, how can this man claim what he claims, it's the one who threw mud on the teacher, or kissed your daughter, or son, or cussed, or drank, or did whatever rates in your eyes as to make him/her lesser. Many of us has been Jesus in this instance, attempting to move beyond where and who we have come from while others are trying to remind us of our limitations.
So, as my Church History Professor, Dr. Froese would say, Jesus pricked them. He told them two short stories about how two prophets, men chosen by God to speak for God, had been sent not tot the hurting and needy in Israel but were rather sent to gentiles and God's power and grace shown upon them. In the same way Jesus is telling the people that God's power and grace has been shown among the gentiles in Capernaum but would be hard pressed to shine among those in Israel. I think that the main reason that Jesus could and did do miracles in certain places and couldn't and didn't do miracles in other places has to do with the expectations of those in his midst.
The people who couldn't let go of the past, couldn't let go of the origins, couldn't let go of the limitations missed out on the wonders that were available. The people who did not grow up in the traditions and stories and legends, who didn't expect anything from God, nor expect God to do anything particularly for them were shown things far and above what they thought even possible.
The takeaway:
From this friends I would ask you to do two things, first remember that God favors you no matter your situation, be it ideal or far from ideal; secondly allow God to be God, to do what God will or will not do, and let go of all those things that can hinder God, your past, your expectations, your requirements.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Storm Steps
Anyone need any refreshments? Cause we are about to take an exit ramp on our little road trip:
I have a friend who is going through a rough time right now. Well, actually they have been going through a rough time for quite some time and thought that they had finally started to see sun-rays breaking through the cloud cover, instead though what was breaking through moments ago disappeared as a new influx of storm clouds swooped in. My friend doesn't know where the sun went, or why it went, or if or when it will ever come back. I understand what this friend is going through better than I would like to admit, I've been there before, stuck in the place when you thought you were on your way out. Since I've been there before I want to offer a little advice to my friend and to other friends, lovers, acquaintances and strangers who might be going through the same or similar thing.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Let's get back on the road, shall we?
I have a friend who is going through a rough time right now. Well, actually they have been going through a rough time for quite some time and thought that they had finally started to see sun-rays breaking through the cloud cover, instead though what was breaking through moments ago disappeared as a new influx of storm clouds swooped in. My friend doesn't know where the sun went, or why it went, or if or when it will ever come back. I understand what this friend is going through better than I would like to admit, I've been there before, stuck in the place when you thought you were on your way out. Since I've been there before I want to offer a little advice to my friend and to other friends, lovers, acquaintances and strangers who might be going through the same or similar thing.
1) Don't give up hope, no matter how hopeless it may seem, the same wind that brought the storm in WILL send the storm out. I know, I know, believe me I know, it may not feel like it will, but it will. There will be a day, and its probably coming sooner than you think, where you will look back on the storm, and look back on the eye of the storm that you thought was the end, and look back on the actual end and think, damn, I'm all right.
2) Focus on this moment, this breath, focusing on only this moment will be the most difficult thing you can learn to do, it may also be the single most useful thing you could do. If you act like you've always acted, the same things will happen, act differently, change your focus, narrow it, right now you are seeing things you can't understand, can't fix, and possible can't even handle, stop looking at it. If you can master only looking where you can and should look, amazing things will start to happen.
3) Once you focus on this moment, begin to focus on the next, the next moment, the next breath, the next step, you don't need to know the final destination, you can't anyway, the final destination ends up changing a million times every hour, all you need to know is the next step, as Martin Luther King Jr. would say, that is faith. And in every facet of life faith is important, and I mean that independent of your views on God, every person has faith, some in a higher power, some in the sun rising, some in themselves, some in mathematics or scientific proofs, but we all have faith and more importantly we all need to have faith, I would argue that we were made that way by God, but you can just say evolution created a need for faith in the hairless monkeys if you prefer.
4) Find someone to talk to, to let it out, be that a person, God, or even yourself, and keep looking if the person you find doesn't show you grace, grace is of utmost importance in the storm, because you're going to make some mistakes, and some of those mistakes will seem like the right thing to do in the moment, forgive yourself, but get rid of anyone who is not forgiving you.
5) Breathe. Just breathe. In every moment breathe. This is you breathing. This is you still breathing. Repeat that as much as you need to, let it become a mantra that is automatic. Breathing will calm you down when angry. Breathing will lift you up when down. Breathing brings you life and energy. Rob Bell, a guy who was officially paid as a pastor and is not any longer, says that the literal word for God is actually the sound of breathing. Rob says that when we are born, the first thing we do is say the name of God, and we die when we can no longer say God's name. There is something strong and comforting in that idea, so remind yourself that you are breathing, if you would like remind yourself that you are constantly saying the name of God. As long as breath is coming into and out of your lungs there is still a chance that things might change, and in truth that chance is 100%, change is constant and if you are waiting for something to change, just give it a little time my friend, it will.
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Let's get back on the road, shall we?
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Road Trippin' with the Doctor - Part 1: Temptations [Luke 4:1-13]
You might have noted that the title of this particular post is Part 1. This is because as I was looking at Luke 4 I realized that I had absolutely no desire to cover everything inside it in one post. I felt this way because I didn't want to have to cherry pick one thing and leave a whole lot out, nor did I want to write one really long post, so these next 3, or perhaps even 4, posts will all cover Luke 4. To that end, we begin in the desert.
And why wouldn't we? John has recently been in the desert. Further back the Israelites were also in a desert, in a time before God allowed them to enter into the land that was prepared for them. I tend to think that Jesus was also about to enter into a land that had been prepared for him. I do not know what made the 1st Century world the best place for Messiah to enter into the drama that is life on earth, but it obviously did its job since we sit here, 2000 years later and we are still talking about Jesus, perhaps more so now than we ever have. But let's get back to the desert.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John and then Luke says that he was filled with the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit is what led Jesus away from the cities and towns and crowds and religious elite and everyone that would soon want a piece of him and into the wilderness, into the desert. Luke says that the Spirit led him around the desert and that the devil, Satan, Lucifer, punk, whatever you want to call him would tempt Jesus. Toward the end of his 40 days without food in the desert the devil once again comes and tempts Jesus. The devil starts with the base need of the moment and tells Jesus to command the stones to become bread. Next the devil offers Jesus power over all the kingdoms of the earth. Finally the devil suggests that Jesus should jump from the pinnacle of the temple to have the angels catch him.
I want you to take a second and think about these specific temptations, base needs, power, and protection. First off I want you to think about what these temptations would look like in your life, what is THE base need you want in your life, where or when is it that you would like power in your life, what is it that you would like protection from?
Ok, now that you've thought about these temptations in your life, think about them in Jesus's life. Think about how over and over again throughout the gospels where Jesus's life would have been easier had he had his base need met, had he taken power, and had he been protected. Let's start at the end.
Imagine how things would have been different if Jesus called on the angels to take him down from the cross? Imagine the songs you wouldn't be singing on Sunday mornings, imagine the cross that isn't hanging from your neck or on a wall in your house, imagine what Jesus would mean to you if he hadn't sacrificed himself. The devil asks Jesus to jump and Jesus says that you shouldn't test God, in essence Jesus says don't test God, trust God. Jesus asks for the cup to be taken, but he accepts it when it isn't.
Now, imagine if Jesus had been the Messiah that all the people had been expecting. Imagine if Jesus had come riding on a horse and kicking Rome's ass. Imagine how strong you might think Jesus was, how powerful you might say he was, and how scared of Jesus you would probably be. By allowing people to make up their own minds, both for and against him, Jesus shows us a whole different kind of power. He shows us a power where obedience is not forced, where love is not coerced, where peace is actually peace and not just the cessation of hostility. The devil offers that which is not his to give and Jesus says if it means not treating God like God I don't need it.
Finally, THE base need, imagine if Jesus choose the easy way in each situation. Imagine if Jesus had just been a vending machine God, dispensing everything that both he needed and everyone else needed. Imagine how cheap blessings would be, imagine how cheap goodness would be. The devil offers Jesus a chance to get fed and Jesus tells him that food is only one aspect of what we need and without the spiritual aspect the physical will soon pass away.
Well, there's part 1, next in Luke 4, Jesus's Mission Statement
Peace and Love,
Kenny
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Road Trippin' with the Doctor - But First Some Water [Luke 3]
Whew, sorry about the length of that pit-stop, I really didn't think it would last that long, but just when I thought it was time to get back on the road Luke needed some more snacks and to use the little's boy's room. But we are finally back in the car and we can now continue our road trip.
I don't know if you ever realized before but the first couple chapters of Luke feel a bit like a teeter-totter. We go from John to Jesus to John to Jesus to John to Jesus. So we follow up the Christmas story by returning to John, this time as an adult in an out of the way place acting out of sorts, at least according to those in charge. You see John is out in the desert preaching against the old religious ways, calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the waters. Interestingly enough John seems to mainly be talking about monetary repentance.
I say this because He starts by talking about religious people needing to bear fruit and then when people ask for more explanation he tells them to give away their extra shirts and food, when tax collectors ask they are told to stop overcharging people, when soldiers ask they are told to not extort money and to be content with their pay. According to John bearing fruit looks a lot like being fair, being generous and being content with the things we have and the way we treat people. The rulers, both religiously and governmentally, found this to be problematic. Unfortunately too many still do.
John, and then later Jesus, preached generosity, but the voices in our lives speak more about what is yours and how someone, somewhere is trying to take what is yours. John, and then later Jesus, preached about being fair with others, you know, doing unto them as you would want done unto you, but the voices tell us that we better get our chunk of the pie before someone, somewhere else does. John, and then later Jesus, preached about being content with what we have, and even living in joy with less, yet the voices tell us that we should want more, that we should Just Do It, that we should YOLO...of course later on Jesus will say something along the lines of if you seek your life you will lose it and if you lay it down you will gain it.
So, John goes out to the desert and preaches and baptizes and does such a good job that people begin to wonder if John is the promised Messiah. John sets the record straight on that one, saying that the one that is coming will baptize with fire, all John has to offer is water. John says that he isn't even worthy to untie the sandals of the one that is coming, which is funny because the one that is coming would have had no problem untying John's sandals if John needed them untied. Even to the one who was speaking in the wilderness, preparing the way, didn't quite understand who or what the Messiah was actually going to be. [This is a thought that we will hash out much more in the coming weeks, months, and if I keep this current writing pace up, years]
Luke then puts a comma in John's story, saying that he preached using other fiery language until he spoke out against Herod and was subsequently thrown in prison [spoiler alert: his prison sentence doesn't end well]. But then he backtracks and realizes that he forgot some rather important details, Jesus came to be baptized by John. John baptizes, Jesus prays, a Holy Spirit dove descends, and the voice of God speaks, saying, "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased."
From here on out Luke is decidedly a Jesus story.
Until next time,
Pastor K
I don't know if you ever realized before but the first couple chapters of Luke feel a bit like a teeter-totter. We go from John to Jesus to John to Jesus to John to Jesus. So we follow up the Christmas story by returning to John, this time as an adult in an out of the way place acting out of sorts, at least according to those in charge. You see John is out in the desert preaching against the old religious ways, calling people to repentance and baptizing them in the waters. Interestingly enough John seems to mainly be talking about monetary repentance.
I say this because He starts by talking about religious people needing to bear fruit and then when people ask for more explanation he tells them to give away their extra shirts and food, when tax collectors ask they are told to stop overcharging people, when soldiers ask they are told to not extort money and to be content with their pay. According to John bearing fruit looks a lot like being fair, being generous and being content with the things we have and the way we treat people. The rulers, both religiously and governmentally, found this to be problematic. Unfortunately too many still do.
John, and then later Jesus, preached generosity, but the voices in our lives speak more about what is yours and how someone, somewhere is trying to take what is yours. John, and then later Jesus, preached about being fair with others, you know, doing unto them as you would want done unto you, but the voices tell us that we better get our chunk of the pie before someone, somewhere else does. John, and then later Jesus, preached about being content with what we have, and even living in joy with less, yet the voices tell us that we should want more, that we should Just Do It, that we should YOLO...of course later on Jesus will say something along the lines of if you seek your life you will lose it and if you lay it down you will gain it.
So, John goes out to the desert and preaches and baptizes and does such a good job that people begin to wonder if John is the promised Messiah. John sets the record straight on that one, saying that the one that is coming will baptize with fire, all John has to offer is water. John says that he isn't even worthy to untie the sandals of the one that is coming, which is funny because the one that is coming would have had no problem untying John's sandals if John needed them untied. Even to the one who was speaking in the wilderness, preparing the way, didn't quite understand who or what the Messiah was actually going to be. [This is a thought that we will hash out much more in the coming weeks, months, and if I keep this current writing pace up, years]
Luke then puts a comma in John's story, saying that he preached using other fiery language until he spoke out against Herod and was subsequently thrown in prison [spoiler alert: his prison sentence doesn't end well]. But then he backtracks and realizes that he forgot some rather important details, Jesus came to be baptized by John. John baptizes, Jesus prays, a Holy Spirit dove descends, and the voice of God speaks, saying, "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased."
From here on out Luke is decidedly a Jesus story.
Until next time,
Pastor K
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