New Testament

Bible in a Year: Day 10

The Readings

  • Luke 10:1-20
  • Genesis 17:1-26
  • Psalms 10:1-18

Interesting Passages

You will listen, O Lord, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage.
You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more. Psalms 10:17-18

But don’t be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

Reflections

In Genesis we have Abram because Abraham, and agree that circumcision is close to godliness. I’m not sure I can get on board with that, thankfully the old testament is pretty out. The psalms had a touch of vengeance, but some nice bits that encourage those who need it and focus on support.

In Luke we continue exploring the good works of Jesus, which always makes me happy. It’s part of why I like to read the Gospel last. They leave me in a better mood and less confused than the old testament does. I’m not entirely sure what that says about me…

Bible in a Year: Day 9

Yes. This should have been yesterday… I’m pulling a double today.

The Readings

  • Luke 9:28-62
  • Genesis 16:1-15
  • Psalms 9:1-20

Interesting Passages

Then Sarai said to Abram, “It’s your fault that Hagar despises me. I myself gave her to you, and ever since she found out that she is pregnant, she has despised me. May the Lord judge which of us is right, you or me!” Genesis 16:5

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed. A place of safety in times of trouble. Psalms 9:9

[Jesus] said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, also welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among you all is the greatest.” Luke 9:48

Reading Reflections

I honestly cannot say I understand today’s reading from Genesis, how to apply it to life, or how to figure out something to say about it. It’s harsh. Just harsh. The psalm doesn’t bring me anymore understanding. In verse 9 I can’t help but thing “except when she send you back to continue being a mistreated slave”. Sometimes I have issues with the old testament… It’s so colored by the time in which it was written.

Well… There is at least a tone of kindness to Luke right now… I still don’t understand Genesis  for today, but at least Jesus was a nice guy…

Daily Faith Practices

Questions that are answered are derived from ELCA.org’s Daily Faith Practices.

The Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Word of Life

1.) Staggering. To not find something where you know you left it is always a bit if a sideswipe, and decidedly off-putting and disorienting.

2.) Disbelief, I’m sure. Even the disciples had their doubts.

3.) The text of the bible study summed it up well. Genetics. We share a gene pool, in addition to a world history and a shared past.

4.) It can be incredibly difficult to talk about death. The idea of dying is a bit scary, and the sorrow we still feel for those we’ve lost can be intense.

5.) What would be said would differ greatly based on age. Some intricacies of the story, such as the complicated politics in place, just aren’t suitable to a child first learning the story. If it was an adult or older child I would take them through the story of Holy Week. Perhaps I would leave out a few details, and give them simply an overview, but there is a lot to learn, and a lot to know. It’s okay for a newly initiated person to take some time to come into full understanding of the depth of the story.

6.) Faith in the resurrection is difficult, but it instills death with hope, rendering a new beginning into the narrative, instead of simply an ending.

Word Among Us

1.) Here the artwork on graves is almost exclusively crosses and angels. There isn’t much creative symbology that I’ve seen. Though I don’t spend a great deal of time examining graves in cemeteries. My paternal grandparents’ gravestone has a country vista with trees and deer drinking from a lake…

2.) The angels that visited the tomb to tell the good news are about the only connection that there is…

3.) The empty cross.

4.) I like to try and encourage remembrance of the person alive, and share in my caring for them as they journey into the next life.

Faith Practices in Daily Life

5.) By being unafraid to with people a happy easter, even when there’s a chance they will not know the true sentiment behind those words.

6.) Decorations, color choices, caring for others, and honoring those who have gone before.

Bible in a Year: Day 8

The Reading

  • Luke 9:1-27
  • Genesis 15:1-18
  • Psalms 8:1-9

Standout Passages

Abram put his trust in the Lord, and because of this the Lord was pleased with him and accepted him. Genesis 15:6

what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them? Psalms 8:4

O Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Psalms 8:9

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanks God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the [5,000] people. They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over. Luke 9:16-17

 

Reading Reflections…

The Psalm today, while it had a slight bit of vengeance in it, is decidedly sweeter than the past ones, which I appreciated. and Abram’s story is getting more interesting as we progress through Genesis. I’m seeing the first hints of the coming Passover and the plight of the Jews in Egypt. It’s interesting to get this new perspective on a story I have known so well for so long.

The gospel of Luke, however, is starting to worry me. I’ve just done easter and I can feel the death of Jesus on the cross drawing nearer in the text. So I’m going to focus on the storiesI did and didn’t know as this progresses, of his miracles and good works and find joy in them rather than dwelling on the dark days I spent so long in through Lent.

There is always light in the dark.

Bible in a Year: Day 7

The Reading

  • Luke 8:26-56
  • Genesis 14:1-24
  • Psalms 7:1-17

Standout Passages

I will take nothing for myself. I will accept only what my men have used. But let my allies, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, take their shame. Genesis 14:24

I thank the Lord for his justice; I sing praises to the Lord, the most high. Psalms 7:17

“Go back home and tell what God has done for you.”
The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

 

Reading Reflections…

It’s nice to have had the stories from Luke in this reading. Jesus’ healing of Jarius’ daughter is one of the greater miracles, and it’s accompanied by so many other miracles in the same section of the text! And still both Genesis and Psalms are those of revenge and holy fire. I hope that at least the Psalms will change their tone to one of love, soon.

Bible in a Year: Day 6

The Reading

  • Luke 8:1-25
  • Genesis 12:1-20
  • Psalms 6:1-10

Standout Passages

“No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, it is put on the lamp stand, so that people will see the light as they come in.” Luke 8:16

I will bless those who bless you,
But I will curse those who curse you.
And through you I will bless all the nations. Genesis 12:3

I am worn out with grief;
every night my bed is damp from my weaping;
My pillow is soaked with tears. Psalms 6:6

 Reading Reflections

I think I ended up oddly focused in on grief, blessing and light today based on the way Holy Week has left me wrung out and needing rest. Holy week has been long this year, and trying as I devoted myself more throughly than ever in the past, while still working to keep up with my Graphic Designer work.

At least I’m no longer in school and free to do such as I please (unlike the slaves that Abraham took amongst his wealth away from him homeland). Is it just me, or are some of the stories of the old testament a bit… Abrupt?

And the early psalms… A bit, violence and vengeance filled?

Sermon for 31 March 2013

Readings

  • Acts 10:34-43
  • 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
  • Luke 24:1-12

Notable Verses

“But God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,” Acts 10:40

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:26

The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Luke 24:5

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. Luke 24:12

Kitsu’s Thoughts

“He is not here, but has risen” are the words on the front of bulletin, and they have been much repeated today. I’ll admit, I’ve been looking forward to the race with Peter to the tomb, to the end of darkness and the glory of the resurrection.

Finally. We are here.

And today is a new day. And the start of a new life. I ended up finally giving in to the urges of many people in my life and joining the choir. As Jesus is raised from the dead, as of today I’ll be raising my voice (despite its shortcomings) in glory.

Daily Faith Practices

The source of my questions can be found at ELCA.org

Word of Life

  • Philippians 2:5-11
  1. The summary of the story of holy week is as follows: Jesus approaches the city, sending his disciples to fetch a colt who had never been ridden. He rides the colt into town and people lay down palm fronds and their cloaks before them. This eventually leads, following the night of the last supper, to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. From there, Pilate declares him innocent three times and still sends him to execution because of the desires of people. He is crucified. Died. And was buried. He rose again on the 3rd day.
  2. It’s hard to tell. I can’t say if I would have been a supporter or a defier of Jesus. It’s hard to tell how I would be changed by growing up in another place and another time that is so different from now. If I was transported as I am, I would be heartbroken. It hurts so much to see others hurt for so little reason.
  3. “To empty oneself” to me means to shed desire and other emotions. It’s incredibly difficult.
  4. While still being of divine origin, Jesus was mortal, able to die (despite being able to ultimately defy even death). This is what it means that he was “born in human likeness”. Human, but so much more.
  5. One needs to have faith that god’s plan included those things that caused pain and created challenge. God doesn’t wish to cause pain, but in the making of the world, pain seems to have been woven into the fabric. People harm each other without meaning to, harm themselves without meaning to… Part of growing in God is learning to do the least harm you can.
  6. I have so many questions about holy week, most of them stemming from the missing gospels and the fact that not all of the disciples have writings that remain to us. I would love to see the gospels through the eyes of some of the people who were not considered disciples, such as Mary Magdelene.
  7. Through the resurrection and the eternal place Jesus holds with us.
  8. I find mine in the resurrection. It is the light in the dark that makes holy week worth enduring. One must walk into darkness to truly appreciate the light.

Word Among Us

  1. This lent I’ve learned that I can overcome even my own physical weaknesses if I only push myself.
  2. In previous years, and since I and Paul become a couple, I haven’t been able to devote myself so fully to Lent. This lent I didn’t miss many services and feel as though I have heard more of the story in the original words than ever before. I have seen glimpses of Christ that I have never seen before.
  3. I adore the “Last Supper Drama” that my church preforms close to every other year. In it men of the church take on the roles of the various disciples (and one stands in place of Jesus) in the poses of the painting “The Last Supper” by Da Vinci. The disciples make speeches talking their relationship to Jesus. I enjoy it so greatly that I participate by running the lights for the event!

Faith Practices in Daily Life

You can set aside time for holy week either by making arrangements in advance with work, or by simply setting aside time to read and reflect on your own. Not everyone is as lucky as I am, and self employed and able to rearrange my schedule to ensure that I can experience as much of holy week as possible.

Bible in a Year: Day 5

The Reading

  • Luke 7:18-50
  • Genesis 11:1-32
  • Psalms 5:1-12

Standout Passages

“God’s wisdom is shown to be true by all who accept it” Luke 7:35

“But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”” Luke 7:50

 

Reflections…

It was an interesting set of readings today. Genesis was pretty-much a throwaway, being a genealogy and containing little more that I could discuss at this time. The Psalm was one that’s colored by a wish for revenge. As a pacifist it really rubs me a bit of the wrong way. Revenge is for those who do not forgive, and are we not meant to forgive?

I did find the readings from Luke to be inspiring, though. The journey through Holy Week as it descends into darkness is a difficult one (though one that makes Easter all the more meaningful). Verses about faith and wisdom are helpful right now.

Bible in a Year: Day 3

The Reading

  • Luke 6:27-49
  • Genesis 6:1-22
  • Genesis 7:1-24
  • Psalms 3:1-8

Standout Passages

“I am sorry that I made any of them. But the Lord was pleased with Noah.” – Genesis 6:7-8

“Noah was 600 years old when the flood came.” Genesis 7:6

“They will live no longer than 120 years.” Genesis 6:3

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45

 

A Chat with the Husband Later…

I have issues attempting to read the bible literally. Mainly because it doesn’t work to over literalize things. Specifically, you run into issues with things like God deciding that he is sorry that he made “any of them” but still being pleased with Noah (who, in a literal interpretation, would have to be placed amongst the “them” that so displeased God). Instead, you have to read without the deeply literal sense and separate Noah from being a part of “them”.

I know I’m failing at elegant writing here, but it’s late and I’m tired, and I’ve already done this once today, so what you get is what you get. I’m jumping strait into the section of Luke that we read. I’ve never been a fighter on my own behalf. I’m willing to protect others, but I’ve got a long history of not fighting back when it comes to myself being the one at threat. My Mother does not appreciate my tendencies here (neither does my husband…). This came up in a conversation with my Mom recently, and reading this was a good reminder for myself about why I’m not completely crackpot in my nature (just a little bit, but so’s everyone else. Just in other ways).

Another abrupt jump, so just that I can recode this thought. I’ve always found it funny that people give God credit in victory, but rarely treat defeat in the same way (blaming themselves instead of crediting God). Is Psalms 3 the source of this practice?