Don’t You Get It?

Mark 8:17-21

¹⁷Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? ¹⁹When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied. ²⁰"And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven."²¹He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

One of our favorite sayings used to be: how many times do you have to hit your head against the wall before you realize it hurts? In other words, don’t you get it? We pray in the Lord’s Prayer: give us this day our daily bread. What does it mean to depend on the Lord for your daily bread? He provides for the needs of his children. He promises that.

For the disciples, they were in the boat and realized that they hadn’t brought enough bread for everyone. They start complaining about it and Jesus, trying to make a point, cautions them about being seduced by the need for signs, like the Pharisees. Missing the point, as they often do, they continue whining about not having enough bread. Jesus flies off the handle into a rant:

Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? 

In other words: Don’t you get it? Why are you still talking about bread? I’m talking again about things far more important than bread and you’re still hung up on bread. Enough about the bread! We’ve been through this and both times didn’t I provide more than ample bread for everyone? 5,000 people, 4,000 people and still more bread than they could eat. Jesus reminds them that the devil is in the details. He reminds them in no uncertain terms of the two “signs” he has already performed and the immeasurable provision of God.

When we were at the Seminary, we were really poor. Literally, we lived below poverty level for nearly four years. Our income didn’t come close to matching our bills. To be completely honest, I never knew month to month if we’d make it. Yet, only through God’s grace, we were able to come out even at the end of each month. Our daily bread was provided. God gave us only what we needed each day.

He provided exactly what we needed in his Son, Jesus. Each daily, he richly blesses us with only what we need, forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. All of these came through his Son. The disciples got hung up on details and signs, just as we often get hung up on details and worry. When we worry about things, Jesus reminds us: Do you remember when I died on the cross? Remember when I rose again? Remember when I promised that I would be with you always, to the end of the age? Remember…

Heavenly Father, help us to remember your amazing provision, through your Son, Jesus. Empower us to share that news and help others to remember. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Epiphany in Savoonga

I don’t have too many mountain top experiences, ah-ha moments or epiphanies. I have a lot of little moments that keep me going, but rarely does God give me a bigger glimpse of His work in the world. I know I only spent four days in the village community of Savoonga, Alaska, but it was one of those moments for me. And to top it off, the ah-ha moment only hit me after I had re-entered “normal” life in Fairbanks.

 

Here is the epiphany: God is real!

 

I know that may not seem like an epiphany to some but for me, this was astounding in the depth of the simplicity. God is real.

 

The moment hit me as I was talking with my wife, Cyndi, about the struggles of the business of church and how I wish that we could not have to deal with that. The day to day, whining, complaining, making mountains out of mole hills, grunt work of the church is incredibly draining and, for me, distracting. I get down when petty disagreements and personality conflicts seem to take precedence over the sharing of God’s word and the good news of Jesus. I know that as a pastor, I am called to share that word with God’s people. That means that in the midst of all of the mess of life, my job is to be the one who brings the good news. So what do you do when all you want to do is tell the people of God to shut up and quit whining? Apparently, a pastor can’t do that.

 

What you do is you go away for a bit. Maybe it’s for a long while, a sabbatical, or maybe it’s a short while, like four days in Savoonga. You have to remove yourself, or have God remove you, in order to gain some perspective. That is how I was blessed by God while in Savoonga.

 

It was not a single moment or a single person who shared with me the reality of God and the power of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of Jesus. It was simply being in Savoonga. While sitting and talking with people, worshiping three days straight, hearing stories and being far away from anything I knew, God was and is real. For the people in Savoonga, God is present, imminent, here and now. He is not some distant, ethereal, vaporous genie, waiting to be conjured up when needed. He is real. God is the guy who delivered food to the house when the wind was blowing. Jesus is the voice that answers prayers and comforts hearts. God is the guy who, somehow, delivered fuel oil to the island just before the tanks ran out. The Holy Spirit is the breath that was given to a dying child who held on just long enough for the parents to say good bye. God is real.

 

It makes me ponder, ruminate and question my own approach to God. Have I seen him as real and imminent or have I only thought of him as a metaphysical concept? Have I only spoken of him in big words, deep words or words that help me to fit him into a theologically manageable box? Have I spoken to him as though I didn’t think he really hears me, but only because that’s my job? Have I allowed my mind to be conformed to this world, even the church world, and not transformed by the word and spirit?

 

Now, mind you, this issue has not arisen just since I’ve been a pastor. For those who are concerned about burnout or other things of that nature, relax. This is how God has dealt with me throughout my life. When I stray, he redirects me with a firm hand. That firm hand is always governed by love. It has always happened that way and this time, with Savoonga, it is no different.

 

He took me there through my friends with Celebrate Recovery, Alice, Don, Liz, Charles, Bill, Chris and Lisa. He took me there with a firm hand and certain plan. He took me there to meet Him again. I met him in Jacob and Kammie, Owen and Logan. He took me there to see him again. I saw him in the snow, ice, sunrise, and the general store. I saw him in the homes of Ora and Heather. I heard him in the voice of 94 year-old Ora who told me that men don’t wear caps in front of women. Yes, ma’am. I heard him in the Yupiq voices of “How Great Thou Art.” I heard him in the life story of Sherry and her son who died on the cliff. I heard him in the laughter of Ike and Marvin and Dean. God took me there to meet him again and for that I am humbled and grateful.

 

God is real. He is here with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is with us in the Word and Sacrament and in the body of Christ, the church. He is also as real as the person sitting next to you. Thanks be to God for His patience and love.

About to Burst!

 

Jeremiah 20: 9 “But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

 

Have you ever tried not to laugh? I mean, really tried not to laugh in the face of something so funny? Like when a child says something in all seriousness that, to us, is just hilarious. You can’t laugh because you’d hurt the child’s feelings, so you hold it in. Can you feel the laughter welling up inside, nearly bursting through your teeth? Hold on to that feeling.

            How about when you’ve been drinking a lot of tea or coffee or water and you’re standing in line at the check out. Nature takes its course and soon you feel another kind of pressure. It starts out as irritating but soon it becomes down right painful to hold shut the flood gates. I know you’d rather not, but hold onto that feeling, too.

            The prophet, Jeremiah, is facing torture and ridicule. He’s been put in the stocks and beaten. He’s on public display and I’m sure people are throwing more than insults at him. The reason he’s there is because he has been speaking God’s word in public. That’s a prophet’s job. To save his skin, all he needs to do is stop talking. Just don’t say a word, hold it in. But he says that he’s tried to hold it in, to not speak God’s word. The result is a fire burning in his bones. It’s a pressure cooker, ready to explode. It’s like standing at the checkout line with an over-full bladder. Resistance to the pressure is futile.

            The fire of God’s word burns inside with such intensity that even when he tries to hold it in, he grows tired and cannot keep it up. God’s word is like that. Sometimes it sits quietly in our souls and percolates. Then, when the opportunity arises, so does His word. Perhaps a friend mentions a problem she’s having. There’s a rumble deep inside of you and soon, God’s word, maybe a verse from Scripture, lands on your tongue. Do you clench your teeth? Do you bite your tongue? Do you hold it in? How much energy do you use tightening muscles to keep God’s word from escaping your lips?

            Let it go and speak it. Like Jeremiah, you can’t hold it in forever. And why would you want to? When the promises and reassurance of God’s grace are so wonderful, why would you hold it in? Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:8, “so do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…But join with me in suffering for the Gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” Speak the word of God that is on your tongue and don’t be ashamed of it. Laugh out loud and then run to the restroom!

 

Heavenly Father, your word is a lamp unto my feet and light to my path. It wells up inside like a volcano, ready to erupt. May your Holy Spirit open my mouth to speak it. Strengthen me by your grace and mercy to be a vessel of your word. I know you have saved me through your Son, Jesus, now let me proclaim it! In Jesus’ name, amen

I'm back from church and it's time for a nap.