What Do You Notice When You Read John 8:1-12?

 

What do you wonder?  I invite you to pause and think about these questions…perhaps in the wondering you will hear what Jesus is trying to say to you today.

John 8:1-12 (ESV) 

 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.  The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”  This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.   And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”   She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

I Am the Light of the World 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

When I read our passage for Sunday Worship, what I noticed was: Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And then again later:  “And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.”

I wondered what he was writing.  And why was he writing on the ground?  

We’ll never know for sure what he wrote, and a few great theologians have speculated about why he was writing.

What I see is Jesus’ gentleness and compassion with everyone he was teaching on that day, even the scribes and the Pharisees who were challenging him.  He did not confront them with scolding or unkind words.  He did not embarrass them in front of the gathered crowd.  After he spoke, he turned away from them; he wasn’t even looking at them.

The first time he bent down and wrote with his finger may have been a symbolic reference back to God writing the Law on stone.  But by doing it a second time, after he spoke, he gave the scribes and the Pharisees time to think about what he had said and when they did that, “they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.”

I invite you again to pause and think about what you notice and wonder…perhaps in the wondering you will hear what Jesus is trying to say to you today.

We welcome back Rev. Paul Beckingham to worship on Sunday.  He will be reflecting on this story and gathering us at the Lord’s Table.  I hope to see you on Sunday!

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Can You Remember an Occasion when God Answered your Prayer?

What did you do in response?

This Sunday we will listen to three stories of trouble, answered prayers and giving thanks.  What do the characters in these stories do in response to their answered prayers?

Luke 15: 1-24 (ESV)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Each story ends with community celebrations. The people don’t just whisper "Thank you, God."  They stop, gather their friends and neighbours and really treasure the answered prayers. 

I wonder, do we take time for that?  I wonder what would happen if we shared our answered prayers with our friends and neighbours?  Could this be one of the ways of focussing on the good to make us stronger and more optimistic in times of turmoil?

We are so happy to have Rev. Paul Beckingham with us this week to reflect on these three parables.  I hope you will come and join us for Worship in the chapel.

What Might Trees Teach Us About Giving Thanks in Times of Turmoil?

Living in a rainforest, we have ample opportunity to admire trees.  Whenever I pause long enough to gaze at them, they seem to reach to the heavens, and to shout their exuberance in colour, blossom and fruit.  In return for life they seem to give thanks.

What else is going on?  

In order for the branches to reach the sky there needs to be solid, well watered roots.  As well as bringing water and nutrients to the tree, the roots help the tree to sustain stormy weather by anchoring it into the ground. The tree branches are supple; they bend in the wind.  If drought happens and the soil dries out, the tree may come down in a windstorm.

A well rooted and watered tree has a long and fruitful life. How do we enjoy a long and fruitful life? A life filled with things that will make us want to reach up to God in thanks?  What do we need to be rooted in?

Perhaps we can find the answer in Psalm 1:

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

When a seed is planted and watered, a root emerges, followed by a shoot that contains the leaves and stem. The root comes first, just as Psalm 1 tells us that we must be well rooted in God's Word to grow, flourish and to sustain the storms of life.

We welcome back Flo Kim to CVC Worship this Sunday, and we are moving from the wisdom of the Proverbs to the wisdom of the Psalms.  I do hope that you can join us in the chapel - I’m looking forward to seeing you, to worshipping with you and to learning with you.

Do You Wish That You Could Hear God’s Voice When You Need Wisdom?

Maybe you are trying to make a career decision, for example.  Or maybe you are in the midst of job or family strife and need to figure out what to do next.

Where do we get the wisdom needed in these difficult moments?  As Christians we turn to God in prayer.  But how do we hear God’s voice?  His wisdom?

Prayer can be defined as a conversation with God.  And spending time with God, best begins with thanks - remember Psalm 100 MSG?  Enter with the password: “Thank you!”  

When beauty takes our breath away, when we are shown love, or when we are given grace, we can thank God.  Giving thanks routinely (like in our daily prayers), teaches us to pay attention to God moving in our lives.  Noticing God's movement in our lives can help you hear God’s voice when you need to.  This is the basis of what the Ignations call Spiritual Discernment.  You can read more about this here.

This week, we welcome back Flo Kim to CVC to speak about wisdom, specifically as it appears in Proverbs 1:20-33:  

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.
    At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.
    At the busiest corner she calls out:

“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
    Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
    About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;
    I’m ready to tell you all I know.
As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear;
    I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

“Since you laugh at my counsel
    and make a joke of my advice,
How can I take you seriously?
    I’ll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in,
    and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there’s nothing
    to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
You’ll need me then. You’ll call for me, but don’t expect an answer.
    No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me.

“Because you hated Knowledge
    and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,
Because you wouldn’t take my advice
    and brushed aside all my offers to train you,
Well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it;
    you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it?
Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots?
    Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.
First pay attention to me, and then relax.
    Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”

I hope you can join us.  

Can You Remember a Time When Your Efforts Were Rejected?

Perhaps things didn’t work out at your job, or your school essay got a lower grade than you expected.  Maybe your friend or spouse didn’t eat much of the meal you made for them.  We’ve all been there, right?  How did you feel?  How did you react?

This was the position that Jesus found himself in in Matthew 11.  He was preaching, teaching, and performing healing miracles in Galilee, but despite this, people were not repenting.

Our scripture reading this week is Matthew 11:25-30:

Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

What do you notice in this passage?

I noticed the word “Abruptly”.  When finding himself  in this situation, Jesus abruptly turned to God in prayer.  And how did Jesus pray?  What did he say to God?

  

He didn’t complain or ask for a different result than he was getting, but he thanked and praised his Father.

Jesus would have learned about prayer by praying the Psalms.  His thanking God reminds me of Psalm 100:4:  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, or in the MSG translation, Enter with the password: “Thank you!”  

Saying “Thank you” is not a command of what attitude we should pray with, it is actually a phrase that gives us entrance to the kingdom!  And I have found that if I enter this way, usually my spirits lift and I'm ready to give life another try.

There are many more things to think and pray about in Matthew 11:25-30.  I invite you to read it again, in whatever translation(s) you prefer, before Sunday.

This week we welcome Conor Wilkerson to Cambie Village Church.  Conor is a graduate of Regent College, and will share his reflection on this passage with us.  

Image of dejected man by jcomp on Freepik

Overlooking the Sea of Galilee, my photo 2014

What Does Life in the Spirit Look Like? How Might I Live Like That?

 

Let's ask Jesus.  In John 6:63 (ESV), he says

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

So it ISN’T the flesh, and it IS Jesus’ words.  Sometimes it helps to focus on what something ISN’T in order to understand what something IS.  What other guidance does the Bible offer?

Rev. Paul Beckingham will be reflecting on Romans 8:1-9 this week.  This letter from Paul to the church in Rome contrasts flesh and spirit.

Romans 8:1-9. ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Without the benefit of Rev. Beckingham’s explanation, I found this passage a bit difficult to decipher.  I don’t find that the word “flesh” makes the meaning clear to me, so I turned to other translations for other words.  The Common English Bible (CEB) uses the word selfishness.  Here is the full passage:

So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.  God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness.  People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace.  So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God. But you aren’t self-centered. Instead you are in the Spirit, if in fact God’s Spirit lives in you. If anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, they don’t belong to him. 

The MSG translation says something similar; it contrasts focusing on ourselves rather than focusing on God:

Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing.

I know that I can only focus on one thing at a time.  If I focus on myself for too long and then switch my focus to God, I find that my spirit lifts.  Might that be Life in the Spirit?

I hope you can join us in the Dogwood Room (behind the stage in the Lower Hall) for Worship this Sunday.  Rev. Beckingham will be reflecting on life in the spirit and gathering us at the Lord’s Table.

Image by Freepik

What Do Our Prayer Postures Tell Us?

 What did you hear during our Joys and Concerns praying last week?  What did you notice?

I noticed our postures…we didn't bow our heads like we usually do in church when we pray.  And didn’t Jesus often look up when he prayed?  I wonder what our postures can tell us?

Our postures last week were similar to our postures during circle conversation - postures of listening.

“Just as love to God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I’ve been thinking a lot about love this week.  I joined the CVC Advisory to serve the church, but now it has evolved into a committee that is surrounded and immersed in so much love that I can’t imagine my life without it.  It reminds me of Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus.  In his letter to them we read:

And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

The Advisory Committee prays for each other often.  We hold each other up and we bear each other’s burdens.  We pray for each other because we love each other. 

And that love involves as much listening as it does praying. In order to pray for each other we need to invite confession of problems and weaknesses and then listen. 

That invitation and listening was what I noticed during our Joys and Concerns prayers last week.  It was a joy to see and to hear.  

This week, we will stay with Romans 8:20-28:

All around us we observe a pregnant creation.  The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I know that Rev. Donna will be listening as well as speaking.  

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