Happy Holy Days!

One of my favorite holiday treats is cranberry relish, Mom-style. Now I'm not talking about the jellied kind that comes out of a can looking like a log, but the kind that is made with fresh cranberries, an orange and sugar to taste.

However, simple as it may sound, I had quite a frustrating time making my own. I thought it would be a snap with my brand new food processor, but I couldn't get the chopping blade to click into place. Plan B was the blender; it left whole cranberries and big chunks of orange. The mess was getting messier, so I tried the last resort, a mini-chopper, but it didn't work very well, either. The results of my efforts being quite unsatisfactory, I dumped it all into a bowl, added sugar and left it alone for the sugar to soak in.

It's time now to prepare ourselves for our favorite holy day treat, God-style, as we await the coming of the Christ Child. It doesn't matter how we get to the manger; with Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, or with the Wise Men, because the results of our efforts will be quite satisfactory, no matter how messy our lives may seem. And so let us take the time during this Advent season to let God's grace soak in as we live into this holy time in a spirit of joy and anticipation at the birth of the Prince of Peace.

White Knuckles and All! (Luke 9:51-62) In Honor of Daisy's Baptism

Unusual gifts are not uncommon in our family. I never know quite what to expect, like the 1945 flambeaux red VAC Case tractor that my husband gave me as a gift on our first wedding anniversary. You might say that the farmer did indeed take a wife! It was beautiful to look at, polished to a shine and gleaming in the sun. But there was a slight problem: Larry actually expected me to get on and drive it! And so I did. Or at least I tried. I climbed onto that seat with great fear and trepidation; it sure looked like it was a long way to the ground! "Let out the clutch," he hollered, which, by the way, I could barely reach. But pop it, I did. The tractor gave a jolt that almost bounced me off the seat. But after several false starts, I was on my way. White knuckles and all!

Jesus has left Galilee and is on the road to Jerusalem with James and John, among others. They have chosen to take a shortcut through Samaria despite the deterrents along the way, like the ill feelings between Jews and Samaritans. There was a long-standing feud about where the real holy place of worship was. The Jews claimed it was the Temple in Jerusalem; the Samaritans, Mt Gerizim. There were also issues with regard to mixed marriages in the Samaritan culture. They didn't want the Jews around, plain and simple, so it wasn't particularly safe for them to make the three-day journey through Samaria. They risked being attacked as they traveled through the countryside and the villages where no one would take them in for a night.

So they kept on going. Now when Jesus sent the disciples out on their first mission, he told them, "Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." But James and John were mad. They wanted to command fire to come down from heaven and consume the Samaritans. After all, the prophet Elijah had done it, killing kings, that is. But the disciples had only been given authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. I don't think that that included commanding fire to come down from heaven to annihilate them. Sounds like they've stalled along the way for lack of power, because Jesus said no. An emphatic no, that is.

I sure didn't know what I was getting myself in for when I finally did take off on that tractor, grabbing onto the steering wheel for dear life. It sure looked easier than it was. My first lesson in solo driving happened in the back yard where I spent my time doing figure-eights on the lawn. And believe me, that was dangerous business as I tried no to collide with the LP tank. As I tried to avoid flattening the corn in the adjacent filed, not to mention the possibility of emptying the swimming pool. But somehow, I managed to stay on track,. White knuckles and all.

Now something tells me that prospective disciple number one might have been a little too willing to go, that he didn't see the obstacles before him. He might have been a little too eager to follow Jesus where he went. Jesus warned him of the perils of discipleship. Would he follow Jesus in the face of rejection? Would he run out of fuel and stall along the way? It takes a lot of courage to be a disciple, to stay on track. But you know, a little fear isn't a bad thing from time to time. It builds character, white knuckles and all!

Now one of the things that I had to get used to was stopping to shift gears. And I think it would be a good time to review that as we move on to prospective disciple number two. Let's start in neutral. This one wanted to bury his father first, which was not an unreasonable demand, given the culture. Burials were usually done a couple of days after death, and to bury one's father was considered to be one of the most honorable acts that a man could perform, taking precedence over everything else. No wonder he wanted to stay. Time to shift up a notch, because funerals often turned into raucous affairs that were not exactly respectful of religious beliefs. Makes you wonder how they could connect with God--or could they? "Let the dead bury their own dead," Jesus told him. We're shifting again, into high gear this time. Because Jesus has told the man to go out and proclaim the kingdom of God. Now that might be some white knuckled driving!

And then there's reverse, which cares me to death. There are no mirrors and there is no way to see where you are going except by turning your head, and unfortunately, I haven't quite mastered the art of letting out the clutch and looking behind me at the same time with the danger, I must say, of crashing into the machine shed! Prospective disciple number three has a little problem with that. He wanted to go back and say good-bye to his family. But following Jesus isn't about looking back. There are no rear-view mirrors to see what is behind you, because when you do look back, you can't walk the straight path of discipleship, and you will crash into that spiritual machine shed.

We've told the story of three prospective disciples this morning, and we have one more. Daisy, you will be baptized in a few moments as you begin your journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Now God doesn't expect you to just stand there and admire that holy tractor. He expects you to climb on and start it up as you get ready for the ride of your life--the life of discipleship. Don't be afraid to pop that holy clutch and feel the Jesus jolt as you start down the path. You may have a false start of two, but don't worry. Your church family won't let you stall as they nurture you on this sacred ride. It's okay to have that slow-moving vehicle sign attached to your faith; you'll be stopping to shift gears from time to time as your faith grows stronger. And remember, you have received the special gift of God's grace that will keep you going no matter how hard the journey may be,no matter how rocky the path may be. So climb on the holy seat and grab onto the wheel--white knuckles and all, for you will see God, polished to a shine, gleaming in the sun, welcoming you into his family. For you, Daisy, are a disciple of Jesus Christ!

How Firm a Foundation

If by chance you have driven by our house in the past week or so, you would have seen a veritable cavalcade of equipment: backhoes, front-loaders, cement mixers and skid loaders amidst the mountains of rock, dirt and sand. Cement forms have been placed to build the walls. Plumb lines and tape measures have been put to good use to ensure that the door openings are precisely the right size and that all is level. Everything's ready: It's time to pour the cement of what will be the foundation of our garage.

I will say that I've been intrigued at the amount of time and energy that this has taken, not to mention the precision that has gone in to determining the exact measurements for this monumental project. I just guessed that it would be a matter of mowing the lawn, turning over the sod and pouring cement onto the designated spot! Little did I know that we would have to move the LP tank, fill the cistern with rock and dig a deep pit before the work crew could even get started. It's a good thing I wasn't in charge! I did, however, live in fear that my dog Sadie would get picked up by the front-loader and buried along with the black dirt, inquisitive as she was!

But now I ask you: have you found yourself being a little too inquisitive lately? Is it tempting to look into that deep dark hole? Be careful. You might lose your footing, or worse yet, get picked up by that evil front-loader and dumped into the dark pit of sin. But don't succumb to temptation; God has invited each one of us to walk on the firm foundation that is the church, with Christ as the cornerstone. I'm sure God wouldn't even mind if we left our hand-prints or initials in the wet cement, a constant reminder that we are all God's children. And so we can be assured that the foundation that is Christ has been poured out with grace and leveled with love as we work together to build the walls of faith.

Assurance of Insurance

You never know what might hit you. Literally, that is. My story goes like this. Larry and I were minding our own business as we drove down the highway a couple of days ago when a sizable rock from the other side of the road flew over and hit the windshield of my Toyota. The sound of the stone colliding with the glass made a ka-thunk sound that was loud enough to jolt me into sitting bolt upright. Much to my dismay, it didn't just leave a little nick, but rather a spot about the size of a golf ball that spread into the shape of a spider web on the glass. Fortunately it was high enough not to obscure my vision, but needless to say, I was mildly perturbed at the inconvenience and the cost of replacing the windshield however thankful I should be that it was shatter-proof glass. But much to my surprise, the insurance deductible was much less than I had anticipated. I guess they consider that an act of God.

You never know what might hit you as you travel down the road of discipleship, either. There are plenty of rocks called sin out there that may just hit your spiritual windshield. You might get by with a nick, which is easy enough to fix with repentance if you attend to it right away before it spreads across the holy glass. Then again, you might hear the ka-thunk sound of the impact of that rock on your life, which is enough to make you sit bolt upright when it hits the divine windshield of judgment. But you can be sure that the shatter-proof glass of God's forgiveness and mercy will protect you when you do collide with sin. And don't worry about your insurance deductible; that has already been paid because of the ultimate act of God.

System Restore

I knew that I was headed for a catastrophe, technologically speaking, that is. It had to do with my favorite electronic device, which enables me to synchronize my favorite tunes and other data between my computer and the gadget in question. However, one day when I had it plugged into my computer to make a transfer, the thing locked up leaving me, to my great dismay, with a black screen.

My only recourse was to take it back to the store and have the experts look at it. They performed the "system restore" operation which erases all the data and restores the device to the factory settings. I turned it on, delighted to see that they had fixed the problem, and went on my way.

But when I got home, eagerly waiting to transfer my music and other applications back from my computer to my cherished piece of equipment, I found that not only had all of my data been obliterated, someone else's data had taken it's place. I was puzzled, to say the least, because try as I did, I couldn't erase it. There was nothing I could do. So much for system restore.

I went back to the store once again, telling the customer service agent the saga of my misfortune. He listened compassionately, and then sent me off with a brand new gadget, no questions asked. I was happy once again.

And so as you walk the path of discipleship, you may feel as though you're headed for a catastrophe, spiritually speaking, that is. You may find that your screen of faith is locked up, leaving you no choice but to turn to those worldly experts who seem to have all the answers. System restore is not always the beast way to go; you may get stuck with data that you can't erase, the earthly data called sin. But you can be sure that our holy customer service agent will make the exchange, no questions asked, and we will be synchronized in God's love yet once more.

I'll Pay for Yours!

I get a chuckle out of my folks; as they have gotten older, their eating habits have changed, particularly when they go out to dinner. They frequently share an entrée, but even when my father has chosen to order his own meal, his response is often" I'll have what she's having!"

I found myself at Subway a few weeks ago on my way to a meeting in Cedar Rapids. I was a little disturbed when I saw that the line was long and that there was only one person behind the counter, knowing that I'd be waiting longer than I had expected. Striking up a conversation with the young woman behind me, we discussed the menu choices. When I revealed the ingredients of my favorite sandwich, she looked at the woman behind the counter and said, "I'll have what she's having!" As we got to the cash register, my newly found friend looked at me and said, "I'll pay for yours." Life is full of acts of grace, and that was one of them.

It won't be long now; we're on the last leg of our journey to the cross. Soon, we'll be invited to join the disciples at the table as we eat the bread of life that will nourish and sustain us for the days ahead. I think it will be worth changing our spiritual eating habits so that we can say, "I'll have what he's having," sharing in the ultimate act of grace as Jesus reveals the divine ingredients of forgiveness and eternal life. And remember: in Jesus' death and resurrection, he has said to each one of us, "I'll pay for yours."

A Lenten Reflection

Putting one's car in the ditch is not a good way to start the day. With the combination of the early morning sun, the snow-packed road and my dirty windshield, I flat out couldn't see the yellow line in the middle. I was terrified when I caught the shoulder, losing control of my car as I skated across the pavement. It spun one way and then the other before doing a 180 degree turn, leaving me facing west when I'd started out facing east. I knew I was stuck when I felt the thump of my car coming to a dead stop in a snow bank. It didn't take long for my husband to respond; he had me pulled out of the ditch within the hour. I was only going about 40 mph, but it shook me up all the same, not to mention the impact it had on my dignity!

The path of discipleship is not always an easy one to travel. The thought of skating across the treacherous road of faith and losing is control is terrifying, especially when we're stuck in the snow bank of sin. But doing a 180 before we wind up in the ditch might not be such a bad thing after all, for Lent is a season of repentance, a time to turn from sin and turn to God. We can be assured that Jesus won't waste a minute in connecting that divine chain to the holy tow hook to pull us out. But even if we have lost our dignity, we can be certain that God's grace and mercy will keep us on the road, enabling us to continue our journey with Jesus to the cross.

Reduced Visibility

I dread seeing the word "precipitation" on my computer weather service when it comes to the winter months. I study the radar screen with diligence, watching for the blue bands of snow and the purple bands of freezing rain to sweep across the area. Unfortunately, though, there is no color to indicated fog, especially not freezing fog. Reduced visibility is one thing; however, I didn't know that those invisible drops of condensation could freeze, leaving the road like a skating rink. Even my husband commented that it was "slightly slick" that Sunday morning rather than his usual "you'll be fine" as I contemplated departing for the church. That is not good news for a less than tenacious winter driver like me who is scared to death of sliding into the ditch. Staying home was not an option, and worship by conference call was not on my agenda!

It may be time for us to be more tenacious in our faith as we approach the season of Lent, even if we're afraid of losing control and sliding into the ditch of sin. We can be assured that God will transform the "slightly slick" conditions to "you'll be fine" as we walk the path of discipleship with Jesus. As for the problem of reduced visibility , make it a point to worship weekly, saving that holy conference call for times of prayer with our triune God. Don't worry that the fog keeps us from seeing God's face; rather, keep an eye on the divine radar screen to see those bands of grace and mercy sweeping across the world. But most of all, when you feel the invisible drops of divine condensation, remember the waters in which you were baptized, immersed in God's love.

Six Jugs-full (John 2:1-11)

The question is this: did they really need more wine? You'd think that they'd just call it quits when they'd run out. That the party would be over and it would be time to leave the proverbial keys at the door. Call a camel. Bring in the designated rider. Why did they need more wine? This wasn't a matter of a cake and punch reception in the Fellowship Hall following the nuptials. Or the uncorking of a bottle or two and sending the guests on their way when it was gone. This was a wedding feast. A seven-day banquet. A real blow-out affair. It would be more than a shame to run out of wine, because the host would literally bear the shame of throwing a party that wasn't up to snuff. Running out of wine was more than just a blunder. It was a serious gaffe that could reduce the host's status on the totem pole.

Jesus, his mother and the new disciples had made the cut. They were on the guest list for this gala affair. At least it was the party of parties until they ran out of wine; the mother of Jesus took it upon herself to alert him to this grave situation. But what did she think that he could do about it? What did she think that he would do about it? He basically told her to mind her own business. His hour had not yet come, he told her. Maybe he wasn't ready to perform a miracle. So almost reluctantly, he told the stewards to fill the six stone jars with water.

Now we're not talking about jars the size of jelly jars here. Or even water pitchers. These jugs held more than twenty gallons each. The Jews did a lot of handwashing; their daily activities left them "ritually unclean." But the jugs were empty. Why hadn't they been refilled? Something tells me that they weren't using Purell. They were far from the holy city of Jerusalem. They were far from the Temple, their most revered place of worship. And their water jugs were empty. All six of them. Out of sight, out of mind?

And so Jesus told the stewards to fill the jugs to the brim with water, turning the water into wine. Not just a bottle or two, but an abundance. Six jugs-full of new wine for guests who had probably had enough, and were feeling no pain. But the fact of the matter is this: it took nothing less than a miracle to keep the party going. Indeed. Six jugs-full of new wine.

It seems ludicrous to be talking about a party where running out of wine was considered to be a social offense in light of what is happening in Haiti. It seems ludicrous to be talking about abundance when there is so much devastation. I don't know about you, but it breaks my heart, because what I don't get is this: How can Jesus be turning water into wine for the guests at a party when there is no clean water for the people in Haiti to drink? Not even six jugs-full? It makes you wonder, doesn't it, where that new wine is?

Yes, the question is this: do we really need more wine? The divine party isn't over, and I don't know about you, but I like the feeling of being filled with new wine. Jesus has performed a miracle. He has changed the waters of baptism into the wine of hope making way for the kingdom of God, for from the extravagance of God's gift will pour forth the ultimate gift, the gift of eternal life. Indeed, God will provide what we need in abundance, filling those jugs to the brim with faith, compassion, hope, grace, mercy and love. Six-jugs-full. Do we really need more wine? I don't think so, for our jugs are overflowing,and there's plenty to go around--six jugs-full.

Wake-up Call

I love my morning java jolt. It gives me great delight to rise to the delicious aroma of the brewing beverage and to fill my favorite mug with that morning wake-up call as I linger over my first cup. Strong and black is the way I like my coffee. As a matter of fact, I like my java so thick and dark that I have been banished from making coffee at the church!

But since one cup of the delectable beverage won't suffice, I like to take my morning shot out into the world. There is something comforting about having the aromatic drink at my side as I start my day. I have one slight problem, however, and it is finding the perfect receptacle for my coffee "to go." I have searched in vain to find the cup of my dreams; it goes without saying that I have acquired quite a collection, because just when I think I've found the right one, my quest begins again. No matter how many I try, I still have yet to find that which is ideal. Between the cup with a snap-on lid that dribbles coffee down my chin when I take a swallow, to the light-weight cup that produces iced coffee in a very short time on a cold day, to the cup with a screw-on lid that doesn't seal properly, I am frustrated. So much for my morning java jolt--to go, that is!

I'd like to take some time now to linger over my morning Jesus jolt as I fill my sacred mug with my wake-up call of prayer. I think I've found the perfect "to go" cup, too, because I know that God will wipe away the dribble of sin with the holy cloth of mercy. God will warm the iced coffee of my soul with his love; as for the cup with the screw-on lid that doesn't seal properly, I know that God will contain me in his grace. By the way, if you ever do venture into one of those fancy coffee shops for a $4 cup of coffee, don't worry about how expensive it is, for Jesus has already paid the price.

The Heat's On! (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)

I have always told people that living in southeast Iowa is like living in the tropics, especially for someone who grew up in North Dakota. I did manage to survive the frigid temperatures that caused my scarf to freeze to my nose and my mouth. When I lived in Canada, winter seemed endless as I trudged through massive amounts of snow each winter, my stocking cap pulled way down over my ears. However, I will admit to bundling up in layer after layer just to stand on the street on the coldest day of the year for the opportunity to experience the Winter Carnival Parade. But now the Arctic temperature have descended upon us and it is downright cold!

However, I really did experience life in the tropics when I lived in Australia; the sub-tropics, to be exact. Summer temperatures topped out in the 90's, lasting about nine months. Winter temperatures hovered around 50--that would seem quite balmy to us right now! But after the heat of the summer, 50 degrees was cold, especially since there was a lack of insulation in the houses and central heat did not exist. It was was a damp cold, and I was chilled to the bone. But my saving grace was this: a portable kerosene heater that I carried from room to room. However, there was a slight problem: when it came time to refuel it, I was afraid that when I lit a match,one spark would ignite the whole thing and cause an explosion!

So the heat's on. John the Baptist has been sent to prepare the way for Jesus. But the word of the day from John is the wrath of God; trees not bearing fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire. Jesus, the one to come, will baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit. He will take a winnowing fork in his hand to clear the threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn, the chaff being burned with unquenchable fire, the consuming fire of judgment. But that doesn't mean that we're off the hook, because as we repeat Sunday after Sunday in the Apostles' Creed: "He will come again to judge the living and the dead."

Now fire isn't all bad. The farmers burn off their fields to make way for new growth. The refiner's fire burns off the impurities from the metal leaving it so shiny that you can see your reflection in it; your reflection as a child of God, that is. Indeed, the heat's on, and we are being consumed by the fire, the fire of holiness as we are purified, transformed and consecrated to the one who baptizes with fire and the Holy Spirit.

And so Jesus was baptized without fanfare; he was just another face in the crowd. We don't know who baptized Jesus; John the Baptist had already been imprisoned by Herod. But Jesus was baptized all the same, the one without sin who was born of a sinner into a world of sinners, all for the forgiveness of our sins. John the Baptist's ministry is over; but the heat's on as Jesus begins his ministry, teaching, and healing as he makes his way to the cross.

That said, I think I'm ready to let the holy heater be refueled. I've been waiting for the match to be lit, because the heat's on. The divine spark has been ignited and caught fire. Heaven and earth have come together in a tremendous explosion. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before. "The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form and a voice came from heaven,"You are my Son, my beloved, with you I am well pleased." Interestingly enough, those words were meant for Jesus alone; however, that doesn't mean that God has stopped speaking to us, too.

I'm glad that our holy heater has been refueled; it reminds me that this is a good time to refuel my own spiritual life where the divine spark is ignited daily and heaven and earth come together in the person of Jesus Christ. And so it is that I will take my portable holy heater with me out into the world, carrying the warmth of God's love with me and keeping the light of Christ burning in my heart.