2012-02-08T02:31:23Z Kermit Culver Copyright 2012, Kermit Culver SPHPBLOG So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres. But as the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. I Chronicles 15:26-29
Following the debacle of almost dropping the Ark of the Covenant, and Uzzah being struck dead for trying to save it; David once again embarks on the task of finally returning the Ark to its rightful place in Jerusalem. Many preparations are made this time, and all care is given to insure its safe delivery. It is a glorious day – long coming – when this physical reminder of the presence of God is brought back to the city of God, by the people of God, under the direction of God’s anointed King, David. I wonder what it might have been like to be there. Sounds vaguely familiar to another Palm parade that would usher God’s only Son into his final week, and place in human history – but it probably looked more like a royal wedding processional on the crowded streets of Jerusalem.
David is overcome with joy and as the Choir, song leaders, and worship musicians lead the processional into the city; David breaks out into dancing, skipping about and laughing. In another retelling of this story it even says that David laid aside his priestly and kingly garb to dance naked before the Lord! Observing this scene from yonder window sill is David’s wife Michal, Saul’s daughter – and she is not happy. Maybe it was her husband’s nakedness on display for all to see that caused her such concern; but I think there might be another factor in her displeasure.
For decades before David defeated her Dad, Saul; religion and religious expression had grown cold in Israel. Ritual and traditionalism, and decorum and order had become the normal way for people to express their religious faith and fervor – now comes this upstart new King, with his crazy ways of worship, and Michal is distressed…and it makes me wonder…
Am I put off by other people’s expression of worship and praise and gratitude toward God? Do I take offense when someone raises their hands, or shouts amen, or sits quietly while others sing lustily? Do I find liturgical and traditional expressions of faith to be second class citizens alongside “contemporary” music, and free form worship? Do I take exception with drums and guitars and “pop” ular expressions of religious passion, preferring organs and pianos, and quiet contemplation? You see – there is no right or wrong way to worship – if worship is done in the Spirit of God, and is honest and heartfelt. And that too makes me wonder…
Am I willing to cast off whatever senses of “decorum” I might think proper and appropriate to express my heartfelt love and gratitude to God, for all God has done and is doing in me and my life? Am I willing to obey the Spirit, in spite of others objections, to “dance and laugh and sing and skip” before the God who made me, saved me, called me, and uses me? Am I willing to “play the fool” to show my love for God? Am I willing to dance naked before God – who hung naked before the world - to show Him how much He means to me – who showed me how much He loved me…? If God was willing to send his Son to die for me – could I at least clap along when the Spirit moves me – or at least not look with disdain on others if they choose to do so? David teaches us a great lesson about worship, and Michal does too…I want to be more like David and less like Michal.
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry120206-103215 2012-02-06T00:00:00Z 2012-02-06T00:00:00Z And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. I Chronicles 14:2
This short chapter includes a couple decisive battles that David successfully waged against the Philistines. Each time David first consults God, and gives God the praise upon completion of the bloody task. But what really struck me today is this verse where David seems to stumble upon this realization, this reality that God has now confirmed him as the king over Israel. It seems that David was so preoccupied with building God’s kingdom and restoring it to its healthy spiritual prominence – he doesn’t realize until this moment that God is blessing him and has confirmed his stature in life as Israel’s King for this time. It seems he failed to realize who he was becoming, and what he had become!
I wonder if we do the same. Do we fail to realize how significant we are to God and God’s plan? Do we ever just coast along sometimes in a faithful stupor, unaware of just what God is up to, in and through our lives? Do we ever get so busy working for God, that we haltingly realize that that work is forming us into some more usable tool for the building of God’s kingdom? Do we ever just stop and consider for a moment what it means to be a Child of God – to be called by God – to be gifted and empowered by God to make a difference in our world, and to make our world different? It seems that was David’s revelation at this moment.
And note one more thing – what was the ultimate purpose of David becoming aware of God’s confirmation and blessing? Did you notice it? For the sake of his people Israel. Let us be clear – God didn’t elect and empower and bless David so he could live a cushy life – no God chose David to be his faithful and successful King – for the sake of His people.
I think I must learn that lesson again today. God has not put me in this place right now for any other primary reason – but for the sake of His people in this community, and this church. I am not here to build my resume, or enhance my personal stature or status. I have not received these gifts from God to make myself anything other than what I am, a servant of God. I have not been blessed to serve with these great people for some self-aggrandizement – but so God might use me to lead and teach, and bless these people; God’s people! Certainly I enjoy and appreciate all God’s confirmations and blessings – but I must be reminded today that those are not the ends for which I work – but the means to an end that God desires – the sake of His people.
God…I’m humbled that you would save, call, and use such a sinner as me. Help me realize how you have confirmed me and my position in life for this moment – but ultimately help me understand and even appreciate – that all your blessings in my life – (for which I am grateful) are not just for my enjoyment or enrichment – but that I might be a more worthy and helpful servant for the sake of all Your people!
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry120131-113424 2012-01-31T00:00:00Z 2012-01-31T00:00:00Z [ i]But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God. David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah…David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned. 1 Chronicles 13:9-11 & 12-14
I am struck today by the harshness of God – and David’s anger because of it. It seems perfectly sensible to me that Uzzah would do all within his power to protect the Ark from falling off the stumbling oxen-cart – but apparently God’s law about not touching the Ark takes precedence over Uzzah’s innocent attempt to do the right thing. I wonder if David was thinking - “Uzzah and I should have just let the dang thing fall on the floor!” It just seems so uncaring and compassionless for God to act so rashly against Uzzah. It is no secret to me how/why David now became afraid of God, and refused to continue the move to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem.
There is a telling phrase in this whole difficult story, though – found at the end of verse 12 - “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” I don’t want to try and super-spiritualize any of what seems a preposterous story in order to “get God off the hook” – for what from my perspective seems an inappropriate punishment for what also from my perspective seems not only an innocent, but even an attempt to helpfully do the right thing. But, there may be more to what David said than meets the eye. Was it really David’s responsibility to “care” for God’s Ark? Maybe God wanted to do some miracle for Uzzah, or David or the people as the Ark fell off the cart. Maybe God wanted to teach some other lesson that we now have no way of learning, because a human intervened, innocently, but without regard for God’s greater law. Maybe David was never supposed to bring the Ark of God into or under “his” care at all. Maybe God is quite capable of handling His own holy things and does not need our help at all. I don’t know, and again, can’t presume to feel like even my skeptical (doubtful) questions in any way make sense of this story.
My “take away” today is to pay attention to God’s law, and regardless the outward circumstances, do my best to do the right thing. If I end up like Uzzah, dead, for mishandling the holy, but my intentions were good, right, honest and honorable – so be it – I can accept that. But if I, like David, have ever thought that handling God’s holy business was my personal responsibility – God go ahead and strike me dead. I know God is capable of handling His own affairs, and probably doesn’t “need” my help! I’m just glad God enlists my help, occasionally, and allows me to handle His holy matters – even when I don’t always understand his ways, and too often disregard His commands. I’m also glad the New Testament, and Jesus, help finish the portrait of God begun in the Old Testament.
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry120105-083706 2012-01-05T00:00:00Z 2012-01-05T00:00:00Z This is another interesting chapter listing, numbering and naming all the soldiers who came to join David’s army, and force the crown upon David’s head. At one point David’s growing army is described: Day after day more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God. (vs. 22) That is pretty heady stuff – must have been an amazing sight. What I also found interesting were the descriptions used of the various groups of soldiers joining David’s army – I’ll give you some samples: all of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right hand. (vs.2) Some brave and experienced warriors…they were expert with both shield and spear, as fierce as lions and swift as deer on the mountains . (vs. 8) These warriors were army commanders. The weakest among them could take on a hundred regular troops, and the strongest could take on a thousand! (vs.14) But I found this description most interesting: All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. (vs.32)
I would love to be noted for any of those valiant characteristics – I’d love to be ambidextrous, I’d love to be fierce as a lion and swift as a deer. But the one listed quality from which I think I’d most benefit is the last – to understand the signs of the times, and know the best course to take. I think understanding the signs of the times is more valuable today than then. We have so many competing voices trying to decipher and dispel their version of reality that it makes it hard to really know which course of action to take sometimes. We have 24 hour media coverage that instead of reporting and clarifying the issues, more often confuses them. They are wholly incapable of presenting an unbiased report on any subject of any kind. We have a massive governmental machine that seems wholly incapable of making one decision for the good of the people that elected them, instead thinking only of being reelected. And we now have this invasive social network that allows individuals to claim an elevated status of intelligence based on how many “likes” their latest post receives. It is a pseudo sense of ill-gotten fame generated by some so-called “friends”.
These are the “signs” I read today. Faith in God is not seasonal or subjective – it is the core of life. Family are indispensable and irreplaceable – the most important people on this earth. Friends are not those who like you on Facebook, but those who walk with you in good and bad times; without judgment, without answers, without hurry. Truth is not shaded by degrees of interpretation – it exists independent of any twisted sense of personal justification. Authenticity is a core value of human existence that shines when all else is dulled. I want to use these signs to guide the way I live today. What signs are guiding your way?
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry120104-102234 2012-01-04T00:00:00Z 2012-01-04T00:00:00Z David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. I Chronicles 11:17-19
David has been anointed by God to be the new King of Israel. He immediately sets out to shore up the fledgling nation by securing some courageous soldiers to lead his army – and provide him security. This chapter names the Three men (and note that each time the Three are mentioned, as a group, the word Three is capitalized – a notation usually reserved in the scriptures as a reference for someone who is divine.) These Three men serve as officers in David’s growing army, but they also serve as loyal guards, comrades, and likely, friends. The story listed above is one of their exploits, and it is remarkable. In the middle of an ongoing and mighty battle against the dreaded Philistines, while resting one evening, David makes an off-handed remark about desiring water from a well in Bethlehem. The mighty Three take it as a command, break through the enemy lines, retrieve some of that water, and give it to their beloved King…and what does he do with it? He pours it out on the ground!
How would that make these men feel? They have just risked life and limb for their knucklehead friend/king, and he repays their grand act of love and devotion, by pouring the water out on the ground. Don’t miss the meaning. David didn’t carelessly spill this precious water, no, he fully understood the devotion and risk these men ventured; and realized that even as much as they loved him, and he undoubtedly appreciated their sacrifice – it was not justifiable – that kind of devotion ought not be offered to any human being – but reserved only for God. Therefore David offers the token of their gift to the only one who is worthy to receive it – God – and pours out their gift as an offering to God.
There are many levels of meaning one could draw from this story, but I choose the simplest today: the power and need for good friends. David began his reign recognizing his need for close confidants who would share his load, and secure his ‘back’. These men were selected and became his most trusted allies. Their exploits are mentioned throughout this chapter. They could not do all that was required, and 30 other soldiers are also named in this chapter, but these Three dominate the drama. Their willingness to die for a cup of water for their King is just plain remarkable.
I wonder if I have friends like that in my life. But probably an even more important question…I wonder if I AM that kind of friend to some folks in my life! We’d all like to have those kind of friends – and I’m certain that having them…requires first…being one! I am blessed beyond what I deserve to have good friends, many GOOD friends…and I can count 2 or 3 or 5 or 6 who stand out as GREAT friends, and for that I’m humbly grateful. But rather than count my blessings as I number them today – I want to consider what more I can do to be a good friend…even a GREAT friend to so many that God has placed in my life. Am I willing to risk blood to be a loyal friend? That is what I want today. You?
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry120103-085502 2012-01-03T00:00:00Z 2012-01-03T00:00:00Z Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died. So Saul and his three sons died there together, bringing his dynasty to an end. I Chronicles 10:4-6
Saul’s glorious death has been immortalized throughout history, recorded in many books, and woven into the plots of many movies; not his death personally, but other selfless examples have followed Saul’s Oscar winning performance – yet I wonder this morning if it was really all that glorious. Yes, it is impressive that this once great man had the courage to fall on his own sword as his enemies came close to capturing him. Yes, it is impressive that this man commanded such loyalty that his servant was unwilling to kill his master; yet fell on his own sword after seeing his master’s selfless example. Yes, it is amazing that this leader of the nation of Israel was unwilling to die at the hands of the godless Philistines…and so took his own life in this scene right off the big screen. But was this death all that glorious? Look at the last verse from this chapter:
[ b]So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. I Chronicles 10:13
I would like to think I am willing to die for God, and the cause of Christ – but I want to be careful, not to just throw my life on some convenient sword, while I’m missing the real sacrifices that are more manageable and less bloody! I am willing to give my life to this great calling – but I’m not willing to be unjustly abused because someone doesn’t like me, or the decisions this calling have authorized me to make. I am willing to generously give away my resources, time, talent, and energy – but I’m growing tired of being used to fill someone else’s schedule of events. I’m willing to work hard – but I also desire to play hard and balance my work with Sabbath, and even some silliness. I am willing to pay attention to people who legitimately need Jesus, but I grow weary of people who use me for a convenient meal ticket, or bus pass, or one more bottle.
I want to be careful to understand, and make certain to practice this “dying for Christ” existence I live, is exactly that – and not some unfaithful and useless sacrifice that reigns only in my mind as glorious – when in reality, is nothing more than God being faithful and me being unfaithful. Lord, help me to live for and with you today. I choose obedience and faithfulness, I choose to consult only you for guidance. I am willing to die for you – and help me not throw my life away unnecessarily
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry120102-061758 2012-01-02T00:00:00Z 2012-01-02T00:00:00Z I Chronicles 1-9 I’ve decided to spend some time reading I Chronicles. So with all good intention I began today. If I was aware, I’d forgotten that the first 9 chapters are a long list of the leaders of Israel from Adam to King Saul and his son David. I have to confess – I’m not much of a historian and reading 9 chapters of lists of “so and so begot so and so”, has not enriched my soul much today! If I really want to be honest, I’ll confess, I gave up reading the lists pretty quickly – and just “skimmed” my way to Chapter 10.
Confession for my shoddy Bible Study aside, I have to share what I learned from God today. Among the long lists of relatives from Adam to David, are a bunch of recognizable leaders and significant ‘players’ in Israel’s history. Some of the more recognizable are so, for some great, amazing, faithful acts which they committed…and some are familiar because of some screw-up they committed or acts of disobedience they maintained in Israel’s history. And scattered amidst those names I remembered – were countless others whose only claim to fame may be that they are listed in the Bible! I may have read them before – but they certainly didn’t cause me to pause and reflect on their accomplishments or failures – but they were still listed in the Bible.
And it made me think. My name won’t ever appear in the Bible. Whether my life is judged now or at the end for some accomplishment or failure – either way – I’ll never make God’s “top 10” (or top 10 million) list! In the scope of biblical history, my life is a mere blip on the radar of eternity – and today I’m a bit overwhelmed with the insignificance of my life. I know that God knows my name, and apparently even the number of hairs on my head – (not sure that’s all that valuable)! And can I live with that? Can I be numbered in God’s memory and live with that being all I’m known for? Can I be just another “named” but insignificant member of God’s family, listed somewhere on some twig on God’s family tree? YUP! That is enough.
Just to have the scant hope that God lists me somewhere is enough for me today. I know that there will never be a history book that records my name – but it is enough for me today that my name is written in some grand master record someplace in God’s heart, and home – and that is enough! Is that enough for you?
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry111215-092119 2011-12-15T00:00:00Z 2011-12-15T00:00:00Z Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with Christian love. 2 Corinthians 13:11-12
Paul ends his letter with a benediction similar to what he often uses to close most of his letters. Today, I want to focus on the first command. The others are all good too – but today I was struck with the only 2 – word command of the bunch in these two great verses: Be Joyful. My first thought upon reading those words this morning were: there isn’t much joy around today.
In this season of Advent and Christmas – it doesn’t seem like there is much joy in our world, in our country, or in our community. Christmas joy seems to have been misplaced by Christmas stress. Christmas joy seems to play a second fiddle to Christmas running. Christmas Joy appears to be lost amidst the busyness, the buying, and the bulging waistlines of our overfull Christmas lives. I have had enough.
Today I want to reaffirm something I’ve long known, and again forgotten – Joy is a choice. Today I will choose joy. No more frowns when invited to a party I’d just as soon skip. No more nonsense about being so busy this time of year. (We are exactly as busy as we WANT to be). No more “bah humbug for me!” I’m making a choice to live today in the joy that comes with/from Jesus. “Joy to the world – the Lord is Come”.
God – I’m going to need your help. I’m not on some crusade to spread joy to the world, as if that is my new “mission of the week” - I just want to have that inner sense of peace that comes from a source of real joy found only in Jesus. Yes, I want to grow into a mature person, yes, I want to be an encouragement to others, yes, I want to live in harmony and peace (oh, I really want that), and yes, I want to greet my fellow travelers with Christian love; but mostly today, the rest of this Christmas season (the rest of my life) – I’d like my life to reflect a bit more of the Joy I believe you give to those who choose to receive it! I choose JOY!
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry111212-082435 2011-12-12T00:00:00Z 2011-12-12T00:00:00Z So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
I am not quite sure why Paul has felt the need to spend the better part of 3 chapters of this second letter defending his life, character, and ministry. He has gone to almost overbearing lengths to remind the people in Corinth that he has the right to boast about his success, faithfulness, and abilities. But in the middle of this 12th chapter, he mentions this “thorn in his flesh.” Scholars have debated what this was, exactly, and there is no real consensus. Some believe it was a malady of the eyes, some believe it was another disease. All we really know for sure was that it was a physical disability for which he prayed 3 times to be delivered. He was unsuccessful in his prayers.
I find it a rather sharp indictment on the “health and wealth” proponents that the great Apostle Paul was not healed from this clear and crippling ailment. How can people believe that every faithful prayer for healing will be answered by God – when the greatest of Apostles apparently went to his grave with this disability untouched by God? I certainly claim no corner on the market of understanding God’s ways when it comes to healing – but it seems odd to me that Paul was not healed, and some modern day preachers would lay it in Paul’s own lap for a lack of faith, belief, or saying the right words.
What I must learn today from this passage is how Paul came to accept and understand this “thorn”. He accepted it as part of God’s plan to keep him humble, and to relieve from him any sense that all his boasting of his abilities was in any way his own doing. God was the one, who made Paul successful, and because of his weaknesses God’s grace became all sufficient, and God’s power received all the credit. I know I have some “thorns” in my flesh as well. (Most of my own ill-choosing) – but thorns none-the-less. I know my human frailties embarrass me at times, I know my humanness gets me in trouble too often – but Paul helps me understand that my weaknesses may not be just thorns to be jettisoned – but the very platform necessary for God to do God’s amazing work. Out of (not in spite of) my human weaknesses, God’s power is most effectively displayed. Maybe our broken efforts to work for God are not being hampered by our weaknesses…but actually part of God’s plan in the first place.
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry111207-090433 2011-12-07T00:00:00Z 2011-12-07T00:00:00Z I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 Corinthians 11:1
This second letter from Paul to his beloved church in Corinth is especially personal. Paul goes into some great details about how they are conducting themselves in the church he helped start there in the great city of Corinth. But this chapter is even more personal. It makes me think that even though this book was “inspired by God” as the entire Bible was; it might need to be given a different “weight” as we interpret it. Not to say it’s not God’s Word, but I don’t think we can read it and make sense of it apart from its pretty obvious and local context.
That being said, this first verse made me laugh today. It could be my constant prayer as I think about my life and my ministry, especially here at Legacy UMC these past 15 years. I know there have been some great movements of God in those 15 years. We’ve seen God change lives – but we’ve also had a lot of fun! I know I’m not the smartest tack in the ‘pastoral box’, and I know I’ve made lots of mistakes along the way…but I also know that part of being a follower of Jesus for me is the overflowing joy He brings – that unfortunately for some – spills out of me and my life in fits of foolishness. It has been so much fun to develop my passions in life (hunting and golf) into some church activities that might even qualify as “ministry”.
I heard a quote long ago that has come back to my mind today: “Human beings take themselves way too seriously – and don’t take God near serious enough.” I think that has been true at times in life – but I want to work on that trend as a goal for today – and maybe the rest of my life. A good reminder for me today.
So, if my foolishness has been or might be an affront to you today – I’m sorry. If other expressions of my humanness have disappointed or frustrated you – I’m sorry. If I’ve failed to live up to some expectation you’ve had of me, or of ministers in general – I’m sorry. I am who I am, and I have what I have because of Jesus Christ. I know that I’m a fool for Christ – and today, at least today, I am one on purpose!
]]> http://www.bisfumc.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry111201-105143 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z