Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Lost and Found

There are three ways to be lost: the first is when you don't know where you are going; the second is when you don't know where you are; and the third is when you don't even know how lost you are.

To be lost spiritually is to be disconnected from God. In the story of the woman who anoints Jesus with oil the woman is lost. She is, as Luke indicates, a woman of ill-repute; scorned by the other dinner guests. But she knows it. When she mixes her tears with the expensive oil to wash Jesus' feet, then lets down her hair to dry them she as much as admits it. Broken and ashamed, she seeks in that moment to reconnect with God the only way she knows how: at the feet of Jesus.

In that same story, Simon, the Pharisee,who secretly rebukes Jesus for allowing such intimacy with a known sinner, is also lost. But, unlike the woman, he cannot see it. He is so blinded by contempt for the woman he cannot see the awful truth: that at the moment he feels closest to God, he couldn't possibly be more lost.

To truly live sacrificially takes quieting the "Simon spirit" in each and everyone of us. It means, giving up the need to be better than someone.or at least no longer kidding ourselves into believing that we are Who are you "Simoning?" For whom do you have so much contempt that you cannot see how lost you are? Where might you begin to admit to your own lostness so that you can be found in Him?

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. I once was lost but now I am found.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Who is carrying you?


Wherever Jesus went great crowds followed him.  Some came to hear him preach, some to be healed and some just because they wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  One day, in Capernaum, four men brought a man who could not walk to see Jesus.  But, the crowd was so large around Jesus, both inside the house and out, that the men could not get through.  So they went on the roof of the house and lowered the man down right in front of Jesus.  In so doing, the four friends could be sure of two things: 1) their friend would get to see and be healed by Jesus and 2) they would not.  But their efforts weren’t in vain for, as Mark tells us, “Jesus saw their faith” and because of it the man was healed.

The four friends “carried” the paralyzed man—both literally and spiritually--sacrificing their needs and wants so that his might be met.  This is true friendship.  But there is a truer friend in the story of the paralyzed man and it is Jesus himself.  "Your sins are forgiven." he says, a claim that could only be made in light of his own sacrficial death and resurrection.  True friends carry one another but it is because Jesus carries us all.

Who is carrying you? Is there someone who has been especially helpful and or encouraging during this time of “giving up?” How might sharing your struggles ease the difficulty of going without? And who are you carrying? How have you helped someone give up? How might you help someone this week?

 “No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends.”  John 15:12

Monday, March 12, 2012

Take 'the follow'


When Jesus called his disciples, he did not do so in the usual way.  In those days, disciples were young men who were educated and committed to following their master, someone who they believed in and chose to follow.  When Jesus called his disciples, however, they were young fishermen who, though they had a thorough knowledge of the Torah, had been rejected by the other religious masters of the day.  In choosing them and calling them to follow him, Jesus was saying that he believed in them and wanted them to become "fishers of people."

So it is with us.  When Jesus calls us to follow him, it is because he believes in us and wants us to follow him.  To be a disciple takes three things:  1) we must believe that Jesus believes in us; 2) we must be committed to following him, going where he goes, sitting where he sits, doing what he does; and, 3) we must be willing to leave our “nets”--the habits and ways of thinking that we drag behind us through life--and take up the gospel.

As you continue to live sacrificially this week, consider what it means to be called to follow Jesus.   How difficult has it been for you to sacrifice? How might believing that Jesus believes in you affect that?  How has saying “no” to something in your life enabled you to say “yes” to something else? To Jesus? How has living sacrificially helped you to “take the follow?”

"Come. Follow me," Jesus said. "I will make you fishers of people." – Matthew 4:19

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

If You Are...

Who or what is shaping your identity?

Often times, when we are tempted to behave poorly--to give into sugar or worry--it is because we allow the wrong thing to shape our identity. We let false rumors and malicious gossip define who we are and how we behave.

But, when we remember that we are children of God, saved by grace, it has the power to change everything.  Even us.

As you continue with your Lenten observations this week, consider who or what is shaping your identity.  How does that impact your behavior?  What causes you to be tempted to give in or give up?  What enables you to stay focused and disciplined? How might resting in the knowledge that you are a child of God, saved by grace, change your experience this week?

I want to do what is good, but I can't.  I don't do the good things I want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don't want to do. I do what I don't want to do....What a terrible failure I am! Who will save me from this sin that brings death to my body?  I give thanks to God. He will do it through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:18-24)


Saturday, March 3, 2012

What is The Lent Experience?

We are in the season of Lent -- the forty (ish) days between Ash Wendesday and Easter when the Church pauses to reflect on Jesus' life and resurrection.  As part of NEC's Lenten observation, we have begun a sermon series entitled "Living Sacrificially" which will look at stories from Jesus' life and how each step of his journey, each event, each moment was shaped by sacrificial living.


But, we don't want our Lenten observation to stop there, with Sunday morning services.  We want to make this series come alive in in your everyday life.  Together, as a community of faith, we want to see what it's like to daily, weekly, experience sacrificial living and in so doing reflect on what Jesus'  life, death and resurrection means to our everyday lives.  To that end we have created The Lent Experience.


As part of The Lent Experience we are asking you to choose something that prevents you from experiencing and embracing the love of God and offer it up to God as a sacrifice.  It might mean giving up something -- like coffee, TV or sugar -- or it may mean filling up with something -- like quiet, prayer or kind words.


Then, we would like you to "check in" and share your experience by posting a comment to this blog.  What did you decide to give up or add? Why? How is it going?  We want to hear it all: your successes, your failures, your triumphs and your trials.  Because the goal of The Lent Experience isn't to make us look good or feel good or to earn favor with God.  It is about refocusing our thoughts on why the death and resurrection of Jesus is so important, and how His way of life can really, truly transform us.


Join us!