“Can you swim?" said Victor. One of the cavern's rotting pillars crashed down behind them. From the pit itself came a terrible wailing.
"Not very well," said Ginger. "Me neither," he said. The commotion behind them was getting worse. "Still," he said, taking her hand. "We could look on this as a great opportunity to improve really quickly.” ― Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures My children have swim lessons today, and I was put in mind of this wonderful Terry Pratchett scene. Clearly, the characters are in danger. Clearly, they are swimming for their lives without knowing exactly how. But the attitude they choose to take is to see the challenge as an opportunity. And, although Pratchett is decidedly not a Christian writer, seeing challenge as opportunity is a Biblical concept. The Message Paraphrase of James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." What challenges are happening in your life that you might embrace instead of escape? How will you use it to 'improve really quickly'? Come and improve with us at Brightwood Christian Church! We gather for worship at 11 am on Sundays. We hope to see you soon. The Following is a modified version of my reflections on Maundy Thursday this year: I wasn’t ready for Maundy Thursday to come, in a million ways. I’m often particularly faithful during Lent, ready to be open to God, conscious of the coming of Good Friday, of the looming cross. Not this year, I must admit. Probably because Easter has come to us so early, maybe because of our late season snow, or because there was a bit more to do this year and we were dealing with family illness that broke the already chaotic rhythm of our days. I’m sure the disciples weren’t ready for it either. By the last supper, Jesus has told them what is coming. But what does that mean? A year, two years, ten? Jesus’ entire ministry fits into either one year or three depending on how you map the days in the gospels. Either way, it isn’t long. Not long when you’ve left your life and home, not long when you thought your future would be intertwined with Christ’s. And yet, already, their last night together has come. I’ve had other moments like that, long years of friendship with someone sick as long as I’ve known them, but suddenly, suddenly they’ve passed away. I always knew it would come. But how could it have possibly come already, a horrible surprise that I’ve known forever. Of course, because they weren’t expecting it yet….already, the disciples heard words that night about Christ’s body and blood that went over their heads, heard accusations of denial that were completely unbelievable. Jesus, again being illusive with meaning and purpose. Jesus, mentioning again a day that would someday, but never come. What I know about moments like that is that I don’t know they exist until they’ve passed and I look back on times that seemed ordinary and can glimpse the wonder and holiness that was there without my notice. As I reflect on the moments of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, I am conscious that much of what occurred feel as if they were placed there for us, marking spots of extraordinary grace, powerful wisdom, unimaginable love that we could never have seen if we’d been by Jesus’ side. They only exist as such precious moments in our memory and reflections. Consider the footwashing: giving us such vibrant images of our servant savior, what love looks like, what intimacy means. In the ancient Church, foot-washing became the ritual by which the Lenten journey of return of those who had betrayed the Lord, or lost their way as disciples, was completed in a closing act of reconciliation, after which those making this return journey could celebrate the Passover of the Lord together with all the faithful. The bread and cup are touchpoints of holiness, too. Author Jan Richardson writes, “In its own way, … sharing a table calls us to a radical intimacy. To some of us it may seem less risky than footwashing, may cause less overt squirming, but it demands no less of us.” After all, here is a meal that requires us to expand the table of our hearts to all who believe. As we draw ourselves to the table each week, may we be present to it, but in the way we might to a ritual that reminds us of the last time we did something special with someone, with a lingering bittersweet fondness for our beloved. Please join us this Sunday at 11 am for worship with communion. All who believe in Jesus are invited to his table. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
This is a picture of Julian butterflies from the western Amazon drinking a turtle’s tears. The water isn’t what they're after. It is the salt. It isn’t easy to find the minerals that butterflies need to reproduce. They find all of their calories in nectar which is fine if all you’re doing is flapping your wings, but to make more butterflies, you need salt. And so, you find yourself a nice wet turtle eye. This is how God’s provision works. God provides. Sometimes it comes from unexpected places and in surprising ways. Sometimes it isn’t even ideal and bountiful, simply enough. More often than not, God provides for his creation through the rest of his creation. Look around in your life for where God may have put turtle tears for you, and look out for times when God expects you to be the turtle. If you don't already have a church home, consider this my invitation to join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11. My dog, Sookie, has a sensitive stomach. It is so sensitive that she hasn’t had a food brand change in the several years we’ve had her. Even an off-brand snack can mean extra clean up on the sun room floor. In spite of all of that, she will eat anything that she can manage to get her grubby little paws on. She's learned to open the kitchen door and the cabinet door that houses the trash. She has eaten chocolate advent calendars off of the dining room table and has sipped my iced coffee like a Starbucks pro. She stays directly under my feet as I cook and snatches anything I drop so quickly that I’m fairly certain it defies the laws of physics. She clearly hasn’t read her owner’s manual to know that dogs don’t do well with things like onion and cinnamon. Why would she continue to do something that makes her sick? Why would she keep listening to her nose instead of her years of sickening experience? I don’t know, but I have learned not to judge her because I’m no better at all. Unless we are very intentional, we, too, repeat what we know. But there is hope! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”. 2 Corinthians 5:17 We don’t have to cling to those things that aren’t safe, physically or emotionally healthy, or holy. We don’t have to be run by anything but the Holy Spirit. This scripture may shrink the timeline a bit, though. It may take a long time to live the life God wants for us, but please begin. Piece by piece, God will recreate you into His Disciple; precious, whole, vibrant and Spirit-led. If you don't already have a church home, consider this my invitation to join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today is the Feast Day of St. Patrick in those traditions that keep such feasts. For the rest of us, it is a day to either honor our Irish heritage or pretend to have one as we watch a parade and eat corned beef.
The real St. Patrick (387-461) was taken by Irish pirates from his home in Roman Britain to Ireland as a slave to tend sheep. At the time, the Irish were largely druids. Patrick escaped captivity after 20 years and returned to Britain. He received a vision from God, studied to be a priest, and went back to Ireland in 433 to bring the Gospel to the island. There, he set about sharing the love of God with the people of Ireland, even using three leaf clovers to explain the trinity. Imagine returning to where you’d been enslaved because you wanted to tell those folks how much God loved them. So, while you’re enjoying the luck O’the Irish today, remember those who have gone before us to hard places to share that love in any way they could. If you don't already have a church home, consider this my invitation to join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11.
What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? Matthew 18:12
Today, be listen to this great live performance of the song, Reckless Love. Sit in the quiet after and be amazed by how far God will go to love you. That’s what Lent is, a time to connect to how undeserving we are of God’s love, and then to watch God love us all the way to the cross. If you don't already have a church home, consider this my invitation to join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11. To digitally download this wonderful song, click on the link below:
“I realized it for the first time in my life: there is nothing but mystery in the world, how it hides behind the fabric of our poor, browbeat days, shining brightly, and we don't even know it.”
― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Psalm 19: 1-4 One of the things I love most in the world is the novel The Secret Life of bees by Sue Monk Kidd. She has a way of writing about God by writing about we, His delightful, painful, wild-hearted people. And the reason she's able to do this is because she knows and believes that God is in the midst of the ordinary. The mystery is everywhere. We see it the opposite way, as if we have it all figured out. Then, when something doesn't fit, we get frustrated, confused, angry, or afraid. But dear friends, the world is all mystery, the hiding, seeking miracles of this world. Psalm 19 reminds us that creation is practically crying out loud the goodness of God. When we can our open our eyes to the mystery of the world, we will glimpse the overwhelming wonder of God. Consider reading the Sue Monk Kidd's delightful work: Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 I love this quote from the musical "Hairspray". Those are big plans for the day! Eat some breakfast, check. Change the world, check. Sometimes, my to do list is pretty full, but if I held it up against "Change the world", it would look a little small. And even then, it doesn't always get done. I get frustrated when my plans have to change, or things take longer than I'd thought. But I get much LESS frustrated about those things if I have put my plans in the hands of God. When I've dedicated my day to the Lord, I trust a little easier that what HE wants done will get done. I trust that something that I do that wasn't on my list may have been part of God's purpose. So plan your day. Breakfast first. Then pray that the rest of your tasks, no matter how big or how small, may change the world into a better reflection of the Kingdom. "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
Ok, a cupcake is still a cupcake. But too often, we sell God short. Lent begins this week, and it concludes a journey that began before the world did. The miraculous love of God was grace made manifest on the cross, and life conquered death. Think about the way that God worked this miracle. Think about how many things had to go just so to bring this about, and how many more things had to be right for you to know about it. So, muffin, dream big. Ask big asks. Pray big prayers. God is a big God. Who are you to say what's possible? And please, if you don't already have a church home, consider this my invitation to join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11.
Today, I feel like I don't have enough: enough energy, enough organization, enough gifts, enough of me. When I feel this way, I like to listen to this song as my prayer, and my affirmation. I shall not want. Listen to the music by clicking above (sorry for the ads) and read the lyrics below. And join Brightwood Christian Church on the journey to becoming the beloved community of God. We worship on Sundays at 11.
I Shall Not Want by Audrey Assad From the love of my own comfort From the fear of having nothing From a life of worldly passions Deliver me O God From the need to be understood And from a need to be accepted From the fear of being lonely Deliver me O God Deliver me O God And I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want From the fear of serving others Oh, and from the fear of death or trial And from the fear of humility Deliver me O God Yes, deliver me O God And I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness I shall not want No, I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness I shall not want When I taste Your goodness I shall not want I shall not want I shall not want Songwriters: Audrey Assad / Bryan Brown I Shall Not Want lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group You can digitally download this song by clicking below: |
AuthorRev. Jana Quisenberry is the minister at Brightwood Christian Church. She's an ordained pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, KY and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN, She now resides in Mt. Lebanon with her husband, two children, and dog, Sookie. Pastor Jana loves the church, science fiction, and coffee. Affiliate Links
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