God is Still Speaking

 "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days God has spoken to us by a Son, whom God appointed heir to all things...."  Hebrews 1:1-2 

Each Sunday, we hear God speaking through the words of the prophets and others from the Old Testament, and the words of Jesus, the deciples and early Christians in readings from the New Testament.

We receive additonal insights into God's messages in Continuing Testaments, selected readings from recent writings as other sources of revelation. Some of these are included here.

Continuing Testaments are usually taken from articles, books, and other written sources by well known and by lesser known persons who have an important message to tell.  We are sure these will be of interest to you.

The Continuing Testament 
Sunday July 25, 2010
from Christianity: A New Look at Ancient Wisdom
by David Hart

In the newer vision of God emerging today, God doesn’t exist as a being somewhere up in the sky or in outer space. Rather, God is the ultimate Spirit reality, in whom all life emerges and lives. God is like the ocean in which plants, fish, and all sorts of life come into being and live. When we pray to God for someone, although our words suggest that we are asking God to fix things for the other person, what we are really doing is directing loving intention, energy, and care to the other person.

To a great degree, we live under the illusion that as separate, distinct individuals, we cannot effect change in other people. Only God can do so, we think. The truth is that we live in an invisible ocean of Spirit, one that connects us all together, and so our energy expressed as intention, as loving thought and emotion, as care and empathy, actually travels across or through the invisible spirit reality of God, to surround the other person. All of that loving energy does indeed effect positive change, even if only at a very subtle level. Praying for other people, then, is a very powerful way to effect change.

The Continuing Testament
Sunday July 18, 2010
 from The Bible for Today 
by Edward Markquart

Martha has become a symbol of the modern world. No, more than that, Martha has become a symbol of you and me who have become so busy with living life, we no longer have time to quietly listen to God or even our spouse, kids or friends. In fact, it is a subtle trap - that we become so active in doing things, that our activities become a cover-up for our lack of listening and caring. Martha has become a symbol of a person who is far too busy and has lost the art of listening.

Let me give you some examples. Have you ever come home from a day of work and your kids are talking with you at the kitchen table, and they are saying, “blah, blah, blah, blah,” and you nodding affirmatively at their words, but you haven’t heard a word they said? Or have you ever been introduced to someone and your mind is racing so fast about everything else, that you actually don’t hear their name at all? Many of us, in our intense business of life, have lost the art of listening.

Human love begins with listening. Christian discipleship begins with listening. Listening is the pipeline through which human love and divine love flows. Listening is focusing on the other; it is centering on the other person; it is concentrating on the person before me, giving them my undivided attention. Listening is a gift of self to the other person. Listening is the conduit, the pipeline, through which love flows and grows.

The Continuing Testament
Sunday July 11, 2010
 Beyond Borders and Boundaries
by Karen Georgia Thompson

Whenever I travel by plane, I always opt for a window seat. I am intrigued by the vastness of the sky and how far you can see when you are in a plane. Occasionally, I find myself wanting a map, desiring to know exactly where I am as that plane moves through the sky and parts the clouds. Where are we? What state are we in? Where are the lines? The lines would be helpful.

There are many ways in which we draw lines, create boxes and group people into categories which are as artificial as looking for the lines on the map and the names on states from the window seat of an aircraft at 20,000 feet. We create borders, boundaries and boxes for people as a means of determining who is in and who is out, who has access to quality of life and who does not. The boxes are compelling and can be drawn on many fronts. Race, gender, ethnicity, geographic location, language, wealth – each comes with its own set of boxes and that is just the beginning. We have more boxes and ways of categorizing people than we care to know. With each category – with each box – comes a set of stereotypes that begin to dehumanize those who are not in the “right” boxes.

The lines on the map tell who is allowed in and who stays out. Yet if we are called to love our neighbor as ourself, how do we move beyond these boxes, borders and boundaries? Jesus’ opinion is clear. He looks at the most despised in his world and names that community as neighbor. The boxes said the Samaritans were different and should be treated differently. The boxes said the Samaritans were not and should not be neighbor and equal. Jesus overturned the boxes.

What's the Good Word?

The text of Pastor Dave's recent sermons are available here for your reading and comtemplation. We hope this will help you along your spiritual growth. We invite you to hear Pastor Dave preach in person on a Sunday morning at the Brecksville United Church of Christ. We are confident you will find it to be an uplifting, provocative experience.

The complete Orders of Worship for these Sundays are available on the "Sunday Worship" page.

"Suppose You Have a Friend...."
[Text - Luke 11:1-13]

Pastor Dave Shackle
July 25, 2010

Day after day, Jesus’ disciples observe the remarkable relationship he has with God. They also see how that relationship flows into his ability to interact with them and with others in ways that are extremely positive and uplifting, healing and inspiring. So at some point, they naturally want to know how to make that same kind of connection with the Holy Source of Life. Perhaps this is what they’re looking for when they ask him to ‘teach them to pray.’ And Jesus is certainly willing to help them, and to help us, achieve that goal. The actual prayer that he provides, is surprisingly short - especially as recorded in Luke. Yet this seemingly simple prayer provides us powerful direction for getting our lives on track, and for living our lives more fully and freely.

Jesus says, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name." Now, that sounds pretty basic, and for us, quite familiar. Yet for those first disciples who were encouraged to pray in this manner, it must have sounded shockingly strange. The Omnipotent Sovereign of the Universe, who could only be approached once a year by the high priest in the curtained area of the temple, known as the Holy of Holies - certainly wasn’t known for accessibility! So when Jesus invites his followers to address God as "Father," he’s telling them, and us, something profoundly significant. Not only can we approach God as a child might come to a loving parent for help or guidance, we are also encouraged to do so! Jesus himself found tremendous strength and was able to do amazing things, because of his close and intimate relationship with the Divine Source of Life. And he firmly believed that this same kind of deeply personal relationship is what God desires for us all

Through his teachings and throughout his life, Jesus stresses the importance of wholeness and reconciliation - healing broken lives, restoring broken relationships, seeking the lost and welcoming the stranger. For Jesus, this is the unmistakable sign of the Divine Realm; therefore he continually seeks to break-down the barriers that people build between themselves, and between themselves and God. So he instructs his followers to pray that God’s reign of reconciliation and unity will come; and then he challenges them to help make it so! To work for God’s Realm of peace and justice, compassion and healing. To envision and passionately strive for the day when God’s Loving Will for this creation is fully realized on earth, as it is in heaven.

Until that Day comes, Jesus says that we can ask our Heavenly Parent for the things we need to live each day: food and shelter, forgiveness and grace; strength and hope in times of trial. He assures us that all these things and more, are abundantly provided for God’s children - provided that we as God’s children learn to share them with one another. This is why Jesus is delighted to teach his followers to pray, because, think about it: our capacity for caring and sharing and striving for the Realm of God increases dramatically when we are consciously aware of our Divine connection. And one essential element in any healthy connection or relationship, is open and honest communication.

Jesus’ encouraging his followers to think of God as a loving Heavenly Parent who is completely accessible and approachable, is certainly a radical change from what most people in his day would have expected. And for those who still don’t quite get it, Jesus drives his point home by telling this fun and funny story

"Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Don’t bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give you anything because he is your friend, at least because of your persistence he’ll get up and give you whatever you need."

Now there are some Biblical commentators who insist on taking this story very seriously, saying that it is only when we are irritatingly persistent that God will finally, grudgingly give us what we need. But is that how friendship really works? Isn’t it more about helping each other out of a tight spot or an embarrassing situation, and then later having a good laugh about it? Jesus seems to think so, telling this outlandish story about a man pounding on his friend’s door at midnight.

The man has a problem: another friend has come to town unexpectedly late at night, tired and hungry. Jewish hospitality [and common friendship] require that he offer his guest something to eat, but unfortunately the cupboard is bare, so what’s he going to do? He runs next door to his other friend, even though it’s late and all the lights are out. This friend has already bedded down for the night in his typical first-century one-room home. Dad, mom, all five kids, the dog and their goat are all asleep in the same room. But here comes his friend pounding on the door asking for bread. So what can he do? He’s going to get up and give him what he needs, because if he keep pounding on the door he’ll wake up the dog, who will wake up the goat, who will wake up the kids, and everyone will be up for rest of the night. Of course he’ll give him what he ask for, but then he’ll tell him, "Listen, buddy, you own me one - big time!"

This is a funny story! It’s intended to be funny, because Jesus wants his disciples to loosen up and to lighten up about how they view prayer, and how they understand God. He reminds them that with a friend you can just be yourself, even in those awkward or potentially embarrassing situations. A friend is someone you can always talk to, or someone with whom you can simply be silent. It’s someone with whom you can share your greatest hopes and dreams, or even your deepest and darkest fears. When you’re talking with a friend about your hopes and dreams, they seem to become bolder and brighter and much more possible. And when you’re talking with a friend about your fears, they don’t seem quite as dark and dreadful as they previously did.

A friend is someone you can go to, day or night, and say "I don’t know anyone else I can talk to about this, but I thought of you." Maybe that’s what genuine prayer is like. A friend is someone you can laugh with, even about life’s absurdities or those quirky little things that happen to you throughout the day. Could prayer also be like that? "Suppose you have friend," Jesus says, "Isn’t that the one to whom you would turn if you were really in a bind, or if you just wanted to talk?"

I think it’s interesting to note, that the disciple’s request to Jesus is, "Lord, teach us to pray..." not, "teach us how to pray." We all know how to talk and how to listen. The important thing is, that we remember how crucial communication is, in sustaining a healthy relationship - with one another and, most certainly, with God. The wonderful thing is, that Life goes so much better when we are in tune with the Ultimate Source of Life: the One who made us, loves us, and continually invites us to stay in touch - just like a good friend does!

That Magic Moment
[Text - Luke 10:38-42]

Pastor Dave Shackle
July 18, 2010

One thing you can say about Jesus, is that he certainly keeps us on our toes. Last Sunday in our Lectionary, we read from the Tenth Chapter of Luke Jesus’ superlative parable about helping and serving our neighbors in need. The message was loud and clear: "Go forth, and get busy being Good Samaritans!" Then, immediately following that Good Samaritan story - both in our Lectionary and in Luke’s Gospel - comes this other story, about Mary and Martha. Martha appears to be doing exactly what Jesus desires - busily serving and caring for the physical needs of those around her. Mary, on the other hand, is simply sitting and listening to this remarkable Rabbi - something that women really weren’t supposed do in those days. Yet, when Martha asks Jesus to "tell her to help me," he chides Martha for being so caught-up and distracted by her many tasks.

This might lead us to ask, "O.K. Jesus, what do you really want: our attention to your words, or our actively pursuing your work?" Of course, that may be setting up a false dichotomy. Listening to the words of Jesus certainly involves more than an intellectual pursuit. At the same time, serving Jesus is more than just getting the job done without considering or contemplating God’s deeper purpose for our lives. So perhaps Jesus is simply reminding us of the importance of balance - of doing those good and helpful things for others, while at the same time, taking the time to listen for God’s Still-Speaking Voice. After all, if we don’t take the time to listen, how can we be sure that our serving is actually fulfilling its intended purpose?

Sometimes, we may be tempted to see our serving as a way to justify our relationships - with God and with others. Our serving can make us feel important, or it may be a means for us to get something in return - be it attention, approval, honor, or just the right to complain about those lazy people who don’t work as hard as we do! In other words, our service can - at times - be self-serving, and not reflective of Jesus’ self-giving love.

According to Scripture, Jesus "did not come into this world to be served, but to serve; and to give his life as a ransom for many." And the primary reason for his serving others, was to fulfil his calling as a faithful Child and servant of God. Throughout his ministry, Jesus focused on one essential thing: finding and fulfilling the Will of God. Everything that he did could be summed up in the expression: "Thy will be done." That was Jesus’ number one priority, which is probably why he makes it the number one priority in that One Prayer he teaches his followers: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." And like any other high priority, comprehending and doing the Divine Will, often requires our complete and focused attention.

Mary somehow seemed to sense this. She knew that in and through Jesus’ words one could hear the expressed purpose of Divine love and grace. In the person of Jesus Christ, Mary perceived a Holy Presence right there in front of her. So for that moment, she dropped everything else, and gave her undivided attention to Jesus’ every word. She had no idea how long he might stay there, or if she might ever see him again, since he was on his way to Jerusalem - a city filled with with danger for a true prophet of God. So what should she do? Help her sister to feed Jesus and his followers, or be fed by Jesus’ teachings? Mary chooses the latter, which isn’t a bad choice.

Jesus commends Mary because she knows that what he is saying is important right then and there. There will always be time to cook and clean, scurry-about and serve, eat and sleep, but sometimes there are those special moments when we need to forget about those things, and take in the fulness of what lies in front of us, before it passes us by. So Mary decides not to scamper-about serving their guests, but to actively pay attention to that One Special Guest. And though Martha certainly wasn’t wrong in wanting to attend to the needs of their visitors, she seemed so caught up in fretting over the details and multiple dishes, that she was missing the magic of that present moment.

Have you ever seen a sight so beautiful that no matter how urgent your trip, or how important it was that you get to your destination on time, you just had to pull over and soak-in the view? Or have you ever missed a meal because you were so focused and excited about a particular project you were doing? I imagine most of us have. The Latin expression for that is Carpe Diem - "seize the day." In Mary’s case it was more like Carpe Deitas - as she sought to seize the Divine, in and through the words and presence of Jesus Christ. So rather than busying herself with household tasks, she decides to stop and sit and give her undivided attention to the One who is sitting before her.

Some of us are of a generation that recalls the saying "Idle hands are the devil’s playground." In other words, if we don’t find something to keep us busy, we may be headed for temptation and trouble. It seems to me that in this generation busy hands are as likely to lead to trouble. We have all kinds of texting, tweeting, twittering, and double-thumbed typing going on - sometimes while driving and shaving and eating our egg McMuffin [talk about a recipe for trouble!] We have cell phones, i-phones, smart-phones, foolish-phones - all manner of devices clamoring for our time and attention. And though these mediums of communication may be helpful, they can also be harmful, when they divert us from truly paying attention to the people right in front of us. As Edward Markquart writes in our Continuing Testament, "Human love begins with listening. Christian discipleship begins with listening. Listening is the pipeline through which human love and divine love flows. Listening is focusing on the other; it is centering on the other person; it is concentrating on the person before me, giving them my undivided attention."

Jesus displays an extraordinary ability to fully focus on the person in front of him as a unique and precious child of God. He realizes that by actively listening to them and connecting with them, he is able to most fully discern God’s loving purpose for them, and for himself. He also recognizes that he can most fully show his love for God, by freely sharing his love and his undivided attention with God’s daughters and sons who are right there with him.

It’s certainly important that you and I take care of the business of our everyday lives; but it’s even more important to remember that in Life, people are our business: family and friends, brothers and sisters, neighbors and strangers - all those people whose lives are Divinely interconnected with our own. And perhaps most important of all, we should pay attention to the Divine Word and Will for our lives - that Still-speaking Voice that calls us from our busy distractions, and invites us to focus on what truly matters: the people right in front of us. The wonderful thing is, that when you and I open our eyes and ears, our minds and hearts to all those people around us, we will also discover the Divine Presence in that very present moment.