Have you ever had a really crazy dream?
I have had a couple, thousand, in which my entire recollection is about the desperate need I had to wake up, because something bad or scary was happening.
Some of them have been about going into a really small tight space. I’m a little bit claustrophobic, so when it comes to tight squeezes, I’m out, and I pop up awake!
I remember years ago going to Howe’s Caverns and being unable to go through a labyrinth of rocks, and backing away because I couldn’t see far enough ahead to see the way out. No, not happening! And dreaming about it is just as bad!
And I’ve also had a series of dreams where I would wake up, go back to sleep and end up at the same exact spot in the same dream and have to wake up again!
One night, after going through that three times I finally got up, went to the living room and sat in the recliner for a half hour to break the cycle.
The latest dream was a doozy.
I went to someone’s house to take them to a party, but they weren’t ready yet, so I decided to run to the store for some reason, which was in what appeared to be central Manhattan.
There I promptly got lost and was terrified I wouldn’t find my way back to my friend’s house in time to go to the party. Did I mention the friend was wearing what looked like a wedding dress?
Not that all dreams are bad.
Sometimes there are moments of remembering people and places you haven’t seen in a while. Sometimes dreams are all about what happened to you that particular day.
And other times they are a seeming mishmash of thoughts and experiences all randomly bundled together, as though in your sleep your brain found a box of memories on a shelf, and emptied the contents in a pile on the bed to sort through all before putting it all back in order.
Crazy dreams, I have had!
But I can’t ever remember a time when an angel of the Lord came to me in a dream and said like he did to Joseph, “marry the girl!” Not even with Sue!
Now the scripture doesn’t say that Joseph was sleeping, just that he was “thinking about these things” when in a dream an angel of the Lord came to him.
The language is consistent with the way Matthew presents these things throughout his gospel!
This dream, this vision is a fulfillment of the words of the prophet Joel 2:28, where he says, “Later, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions”
While Luke speaks much more directly, saying “an angel appeared” to Mary, Matthew speaks more to Joseph’s being one who is “filled with the Spirit” and already prepared to serve the Lord when the call comes in a vision!
The bottom line is that this child is so important and the circumstances so unusual, that both Mary and Joseph needed to know who the child was and that indeed it was the Lord’s doing that he was being born in this way!
So, Joseph, hearing the call to faithful action goes and does what he is instructed to do: he marries Mary and names their son Jesus.
And it is not the only time that Joseph listens and then jumps into action.
Joseph is in fact a model of a disciple, a man or woman of faith who listens and then immediately starts looking for ways to put their faith into action.
Joseph, warned by an angel, takes his family safely to Egypt, even though that must have been wildly confusing, and then when the word comes from yet another angel to go home, bundles up the family and moves back to Nazareth.
Faith is never something that we pull out for a moment and then put back on the shelf. Rather, faith, is the medium that allows God’s call to us to become action.
In fact, it appears that Matthew would love for us to get something real clear in telling us about Joseph’s faith. Real disciples do not just listen and nod their heads in agreement with what they hear.
Real disciples get up and get going and start making a difference, just like Joseph.
So, what is it that God has been inviting you to do? What message has the Lord been sending? Isn’t it time to get up and get going!
And Joseph named Him Jesus! Amen.
Monday, December 21, 2020
Dreams Matter from Matthew 1:18-25 on December 20
Monday, December 14, 2020
What's in a Name from Luke 1:57-66 on December 13, 2020
“His name is Yohannes.”
So, what’s in a name?
Trying to decide what to name a new child is an amazingly challenging task!
There are all kind of traditions, many which are visible in our own congregation. Like the tradition of naming at least one child of each gender after the parent of that gender.
So, Candy Burnett is actually named after her mother Elizabeth, hence the nickname Candy. And Horace Ketcham was named after his father, who was named after his father, and so Horace, Junior and Lucky Ketcham.
So too in the Miedema family, where Bud was named after his father Thomas (who was also nicknamed Bud, now I’m confused) and Penny who was named after her mother Janet. Yes, she is actually Janet Miedema Antona.
I for one am happy that not all parents follow that tradition. While my father’s name was Jack, and I could have lived with that name, I fear what nickname would have followed me.
And I am thrilled to have not been named after either of my grandfathers, Rufus Oscar or Percival Carrol.
I remember a few years ago that in the book Freakanomics they took up the traditions surrounding the naming of children. Written by an economist and an author, they explored the statistics of naming - and the explanations to come up with some fascinating insights.
One was that for many years in the United States, the current generation of children were given either the names of family members, or the names that were most popular among the wealthy in the generation before.
The authors conclusion was that some parents were giving their children names that they perceived as that of successful people in the hopes that the children would follow the pathway of upward mobility.
Different they noted than the tradition at the time of giving children unique names, so they would not be lost in the crowd, or what seems to be a new tradition, throwback names: Warren, Oliver, Greyson, Lilliana, Lucien, and Noah.
Naming a child in hopes that they will be a great person and do great things is like other traditions, where the child’s name comes from an idea about who the child will be.
“His name is Yohannes.”
Elizabeth knew what his name was to be and when the naming ceremony and circumcision time came on the eight day and the Rabbi came to do what was tradition, the men in the family wanted to name the child after his father.
After all, Zechariah was going to be able to say his name out loud as was tradition.
So, the men in the family took on the responsibility on his behalf and wanted to name his “Zechariah”! I mean, what a great name, the name of a man who had encountered an angel of the Lord in the Holy place!
What could be better! How could any child not have a blessed life with such a blessed name?
But Elizabeth said, “No, his name is Yohannes.”
And so, thinking her perhaps a bit befuddled and wondering perhaps if her husband would overrule her, something that actually happened back then, they asked Zechariah.
He wrote “His name is Yohannes.”
And in that moment of faith, believing with his whole heart now what the angel had said, his tongue was released and the praises of Almighty God flowed from his lips!
You know, sometimes we forget that we are reading a story originally written in Greek translated to English. We forget that Jesus name in Hebrew would have been Yeshua, Joshua, or transliterated into Greek as Jesus.
Yeshua is the Hebrew name meaning “he who saves his people”, just like Yohannes is the name meaning “God has been gracious”.
Names are important.
Not only do they identify us, but they connect us to a larger story than just our own. The connect us to generations that have gone before and they connect us to the possibilities that lie ahead.
Today, once again, as we will next Sunday, we baptize a child who is connected to a story of faith that comes through his parents and a story of faith that he will continue.
It is always a privilege and an honor to baptize such a child and to glimpse for a moment what it is that God might be doing in this story.
A moment of insight much like that at the naming and circumcision of John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and one of the blessed sons of God.
Today, we pray for Matthew Joseph Terwilliger, his parents, his sponsors, his family and the whole church, that this sacramental moment will color and guide his life as he is connected to the amazing story of God’s grace given in Jesus.
And we pray, that as we think of John the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, we would see in him all that God was doing, as he prepared the way for the Lord who was to follow, Jesus.
“His name is John.” Amen.
So, what’s in a name?
Trying to decide what to name a new child is an amazingly challenging task!
There are all kind of traditions, many which are visible in our own congregation. Like the tradition of naming at least one child of each gender after the parent of that gender.
So, Candy Burnett is actually named after her mother Elizabeth, hence the nickname Candy. And Horace Ketcham was named after his father, who was named after his father, and so Horace, Junior and Lucky Ketcham.
So too in the Miedema family, where Bud was named after his father Thomas (who was also nicknamed Bud, now I’m confused) and Penny who was named after her mother Janet. Yes, she is actually Janet Miedema Antona.
I for one am happy that not all parents follow that tradition. While my father’s name was Jack, and I could have lived with that name, I fear what nickname would have followed me.
And I am thrilled to have not been named after either of my grandfathers, Rufus Oscar or Percival Carrol.
I remember a few years ago that in the book Freakanomics they took up the traditions surrounding the naming of children. Written by an economist and an author, they explored the statistics of naming - and the explanations to come up with some fascinating insights.
One was that for many years in the United States, the current generation of children were given either the names of family members, or the names that were most popular among the wealthy in the generation before.
The authors conclusion was that some parents were giving their children names that they perceived as that of successful people in the hopes that the children would follow the pathway of upward mobility.
Different they noted than the tradition at the time of giving children unique names, so they would not be lost in the crowd, or what seems to be a new tradition, throwback names: Warren, Oliver, Greyson, Lilliana, Lucien, and Noah.
Naming a child in hopes that they will be a great person and do great things is like other traditions, where the child’s name comes from an idea about who the child will be.
“His name is Yohannes.”
Elizabeth knew what his name was to be and when the naming ceremony and circumcision time came on the eight day and the Rabbi came to do what was tradition, the men in the family wanted to name the child after his father.
After all, Zechariah was going to be able to say his name out loud as was tradition.
So, the men in the family took on the responsibility on his behalf and wanted to name his “Zechariah”! I mean, what a great name, the name of a man who had encountered an angel of the Lord in the Holy place!
What could be better! How could any child not have a blessed life with such a blessed name?
But Elizabeth said, “No, his name is Yohannes.”
And so, thinking her perhaps a bit befuddled and wondering perhaps if her husband would overrule her, something that actually happened back then, they asked Zechariah.
He wrote “His name is Yohannes.”
And in that moment of faith, believing with his whole heart now what the angel had said, his tongue was released and the praises of Almighty God flowed from his lips!
You know, sometimes we forget that we are reading a story originally written in Greek translated to English. We forget that Jesus name in Hebrew would have been Yeshua, Joshua, or transliterated into Greek as Jesus.
Yeshua is the Hebrew name meaning “he who saves his people”, just like Yohannes is the name meaning “God has been gracious”.
Names are important.
Not only do they identify us, but they connect us to a larger story than just our own. The connect us to generations that have gone before and they connect us to the possibilities that lie ahead.
Today, once again, as we will next Sunday, we baptize a child who is connected to a story of faith that comes through his parents and a story of faith that he will continue.
It is always a privilege and an honor to baptize such a child and to glimpse for a moment what it is that God might be doing in this story.
A moment of insight much like that at the naming and circumcision of John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and one of the blessed sons of God.
Today, we pray for Matthew Joseph Terwilliger, his parents, his sponsors, his family and the whole church, that this sacramental moment will color and guide his life as he is connected to the amazing story of God’s grace given in Jesus.
And we pray, that as we think of John the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, we would see in him all that God was doing, as he prepared the way for the Lord who was to follow, Jesus.
“His name is John.” Amen.
Monday, December 07, 2020
Simple Faith from Luke 1:26-38 on December 6, 2020
So, are you a Zechariah or a Mary?
One of the things I have always wanted to be is fearless. I am not, not at all. But it seems to me that being fearless is kind of amazing.
Think of all the opportunities in life you might have taken if you were fearless! If only the “do not be afraid” thing worked for us, think of where you might be right now.
Not that where we are is bad. God has a way of using not only our strengths but also our weaknesses to build his kingdom. And God is using us now in ways that are amazing. But just imagine how life would change if we gave up being afraid for Advent, and chose instead, fearlessness.
Now, I am not talking about recklessness. That is a whole different deal. Choosing to drive crazy fast, well over the speed limit, on a two-lane highway not knowing what is ahead seems to me is more foolhardy that fearless.
Fearlessness to me is the courage to do hard things, even though they are hard. To try cooking a crazy new main dish without knowing what it will taste like. Deciding to enter a marathon so that you will have to train and get ready.
Traveling to a country you’ve never been to, to see what it is like. Signing up for college classes after you have been out of school for a long time.
My wife Sue is fearless.
She decided to go to graduate school almost 15 years after finishing college. She decided that she wanted to try doing mini triathlons, while knowing that running would be a huge problem.
She has taught herself with friends help how to make quilts that are simply amazing, knowing full well that she would make mistakes and have to start over.
The great symbol of her fearlessness is her starting a crocheted prayer blanket, getting halfway done, realizing that it is coming out the wrong size, and tearing it all out and starting over. That in my book is just crazy! But for her the destination justifies the journey!
To do it, you have to be strong willed. You have to be confident in yourself, that even if you don’t know the way, you will get there!
You have to believe deep in your soul that you will figure it out. You have to be willing to trust the mission, the guide, and yourself.
Sound like anyone you know? Are you a Zechariah or a Mary?
You have to be willing to take a path that leads to an unknown outcome, even if that is frightening and might lead to some hurts or problems. Having a willingness to go where others might not see what the results will, but for some reason, you do.
While Zechariah last week wasn’t fearless and couldn’t see the outcome, Mary is made of stronger stuff. One of the most amazing things about Mary is her fearlessness.
Visited by an angel, this remarkably strong, wise, faithful, young woman says “yes” to God, because while the pathway is unclear, the problems, the setbacks, the dangers, the toil - she sees the outcome the angel envisions for her, and fearlessly says, yes!
How did Mary put it according to Luke, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.”
Now I don’t know about you, but I am much more a Zechariah than a Mary! I would probably be like, Bill Cosby in that old Noah sketch when God tells him to build an ark, and he says, “right”!
One of the things I have always wanted to be is fearless. I am not, not at all. But it seems to me that being fearless is kind of amazing.
Think of all the opportunities in life you might have taken if you were fearless! If only the “do not be afraid” thing worked for us, think of where you might be right now.
Not that where we are is bad. God has a way of using not only our strengths but also our weaknesses to build his kingdom. And God is using us now in ways that are amazing. But just imagine how life would change if we gave up being afraid for Advent, and chose instead, fearlessness.
Now, I am not talking about recklessness. That is a whole different deal. Choosing to drive crazy fast, well over the speed limit, on a two-lane highway not knowing what is ahead seems to me is more foolhardy that fearless.
Fearlessness to me is the courage to do hard things, even though they are hard. To try cooking a crazy new main dish without knowing what it will taste like. Deciding to enter a marathon so that you will have to train and get ready.
Traveling to a country you’ve never been to, to see what it is like. Signing up for college classes after you have been out of school for a long time.
My wife Sue is fearless.
She decided to go to graduate school almost 15 years after finishing college. She decided that she wanted to try doing mini triathlons, while knowing that running would be a huge problem.
She has taught herself with friends help how to make quilts that are simply amazing, knowing full well that she would make mistakes and have to start over.
The great symbol of her fearlessness is her starting a crocheted prayer blanket, getting halfway done, realizing that it is coming out the wrong size, and tearing it all out and starting over. That in my book is just crazy! But for her the destination justifies the journey!
To do it, you have to be strong willed. You have to be confident in yourself, that even if you don’t know the way, you will get there!
You have to believe deep in your soul that you will figure it out. You have to be willing to trust the mission, the guide, and yourself.
Sound like anyone you know? Are you a Zechariah or a Mary?
You have to be willing to take a path that leads to an unknown outcome, even if that is frightening and might lead to some hurts or problems. Having a willingness to go where others might not see what the results will, but for some reason, you do.
While Zechariah last week wasn’t fearless and couldn’t see the outcome, Mary is made of stronger stuff. One of the most amazing things about Mary is her fearlessness.
Visited by an angel, this remarkably strong, wise, faithful, young woman says “yes” to God, because while the pathway is unclear, the problems, the setbacks, the dangers, the toil - she sees the outcome the angel envisions for her, and fearlessly says, yes!
How did Mary put it according to Luke, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.”
Now I don’t know about you, but I am much more a Zechariah than a Mary! I would probably be like, Bill Cosby in that old Noah sketch when God tells him to build an ark, and he says, “right”!
Zechariah, even though as faithful and righteous as Mary, sees only the problems, the challenges, the impossibility of it all. Zechariah is the “grinch” of the real Christmas story.
He is not fearless.
He is devoted, his heart is right with God, but he can’t see far enough down the road to see the possibilities and long for them.
I may have told you that our daughter Katie got a Peleton bike, and in order to encourage her I challenged her to a 30 day ride off. What was I thinking?!
I have a plain old stationary bike I use and it is not the same as the fancy schmancy Peleton bike, but we both are using the Peleton resources to ride, her on the bike with the huge fancy screen and me on the app on an old ipad
Let me be clear, riding almost every day is hard!
Everything hurts, arms, legs, back, posterior. I lost the first challenge. The bet was the winner had to buy the other a coffee and a bagel. I fully intend to lose all the challenges if I can.
But here is the thing. Both of us are putting in massive miles. I had almost 425 accumulated yesterday. And yes, Katie is still ahead of me, all because Katie is fearless.
While the family argues sometimes that she is more like me and Brian is more like Sue, in this Katie is just like her mother, fearless enough to see the possibility of amazing end results and then choosing to go way out on a limb to make those results possible.
Just like Mary did!
Choosing to say yes, because what was important was not the journey, but the destination.
Are you fearless like Mary? Or afraid like Zechariah?
Is there a task, an opportunity you get to get to, to take, but haven’t yet because your fear is holding you back?
Now is the time to listen to the angel and get going.
Mary was amazing. An example for all of time of a faithful follower listen to God and being fearless!
Be like Mary. Amen.
He is not fearless.
He is devoted, his heart is right with God, but he can’t see far enough down the road to see the possibilities and long for them.
I may have told you that our daughter Katie got a Peleton bike, and in order to encourage her I challenged her to a 30 day ride off. What was I thinking?!
I have a plain old stationary bike I use and it is not the same as the fancy schmancy Peleton bike, but we both are using the Peleton resources to ride, her on the bike with the huge fancy screen and me on the app on an old ipad
Let me be clear, riding almost every day is hard!
Everything hurts, arms, legs, back, posterior. I lost the first challenge. The bet was the winner had to buy the other a coffee and a bagel. I fully intend to lose all the challenges if I can.
But here is the thing. Both of us are putting in massive miles. I had almost 425 accumulated yesterday. And yes, Katie is still ahead of me, all because Katie is fearless.
While the family argues sometimes that she is more like me and Brian is more like Sue, in this Katie is just like her mother, fearless enough to see the possibility of amazing end results and then choosing to go way out on a limb to make those results possible.
Just like Mary did!
Choosing to say yes, because what was important was not the journey, but the destination.
Are you fearless like Mary? Or afraid like Zechariah?
Is there a task, an opportunity you get to get to, to take, but haven’t yet because your fear is holding you back?
Now is the time to listen to the angel and get going.
Mary was amazing. An example for all of time of a faithful follower listen to God and being fearless!
Be like Mary. Amen.
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