Midweek Message: Winging It

Midweek Message – Winging It

Psalm 57:1      Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

I can remember my old pastor preaching part of this psalm to me when I was about twelve years old. It left me confused, not because of what he said, which was all about security and refuge in God, but because of the mistaken image that I had concocted from what the psalmist wrote. You see I tried to picture God having wings, but I couldn’t decide whether they were the soft, white wings like a dove, or the mighty, golden wings of an eagle.

My problem arose because I was trying to interpret the Bible verse literally. I got so hung up on picturing g the image that I missed what was really important in the psalm – that of knowing God as my refuge in times of trouble.

I also fell for the same mistake when I was at seminary. This time it wasn’t the wings that caused my confusion, it was the shadow of the wings. I reasoned that in order for a shadow to be produced, light has to be behind and above the object in order to cast it on the ground. “How could anything be above and behind God?” I argued. Again, I was taking the text too literally and just using it for the sake of debating with my professors and peers.

The Bible helps us to understand about who God is and how He intervenes in our lives. However, if we take the scriptures too literally, as in the case of this image, then we will miss the point altogether. The Bible guides us towards God and reveals to us His plan of salvation through Christ. It is sacred and gives us a better understanding of the holiness, power, and grace of God, but the Bible is not meant to be fanatically idolized or worshiped like God.

Point to ponder: What biblical images of God mean something special to me?

Prayer: Lord God, when we take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, we know that it means we can find a haven and sanctuary in You. As we rely upon You for everything in our lives, encourage us to read more from the Bible, so that we can learn more about You in order to faithfully and thankfully worship You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Gospels of Paul - 2 Timothy 4:11

2 Timothy 4:11           Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

            I find today’s highlighted verse fascinating. It seems the two Gospel writers, Mark and Luke, were closely involved with Paul toward the end of his life. Luke had traveled extensively with him throughout the Mediterranean; John Mark had initially worked with him on his earlier missions. From this passage, Paul is isolated and has been abandoned by some of his friends. He seeks the company of Mark and Luke, probably because he feels he can trust them and perhaps still influence their own ministries.

            I find it fascinating because I’ve heard and read many people write or say that they ignore Paul’s Letters and just live as Christians by purely following the Gospels. They seem to think that Paul had nothing to do with how the Gospels were written or what they contained. Today’s verse proves them wrong – Paul had a deep and personal interest in the ministries of the Gospel writers, so he must have given them guidance on what they eventually wrote.

            Some of the anti-Pharisee stories and the trial of Jesus reveal great insights into how the Pharisees operated at that time. Paul called himself a Pharisee of Pharisees, who had personal access to the High Priests and the great Pharisee teachers of both his and Christ’s time. It is my personal opinion that some of these Gospel insights came from Paul, the Pharisee Persecutor, who would have received a lot of personal inside information about the encounters that Christ and His followers had with the Sanhedrin Council, the High Priest and local Pharisees. At one time, he needed the information to condemn, arrest and imprison members of the new Christian sect. It’s amazing to think that what was given to him to persecute the faith, ended up in our Gospel stories from the pens of Luke and Mark, which were written in order to expand the faith. God surely does work in mysterious and wonderful ways!

Questions for personal reflection

What do I think about Paul? How has his influence shaped my Christian faith?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You personally chose Paul to be the appointed Apostle to the Gentile nations. His work for You has shaped who we are Christians today. Help us to recognize his worth to You, as well as his influence over our personal faithful lives. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Communion drawings called ‘Word.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Word.

Creation devotion: Constantly Amazed - 1 Kings 8:27

1 Kings 8:27   Solomon said, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”

            God often amazes me. In the littlest things like a blade of grass, I see His handiwork. In the vastness of space and the colossal starry sky, I recognize His hallmarks of creation. In the people I love, I see His image constantly before me. In the work of the church I serve, I watch for His ways. Every day is a special gift from His goodness, so no matter how I feel, what I am experiencing, or what I face, I still find sacred seconds in which He just plainly and truthfully amazes me.

            My mind cannot contain the infinite wisdom and boundless glory that is God’s. My heart overflows with His love because it cannot be kept personally within me. He makes me glad to be one of His creatures and He makes me proud to be a child of His. I know that I do not deserve such goodness and love, or His compassion and mercy, but I am joyful at knowing these beautiful blessings. Sometimes my heart is fit to burst with God’s overwhelming love; in those sacred moments, I wish that the whole world could be filled with the same feelings.

            Ages ago, when King Solomon had completed the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem, he knew that God could not be contained with the bricks and mortar of a mere building. However, Solomon understood the symbolism of God’s dwelling with humanity and felt humbled by God’s favor on his people. It must have been a glorious and sacred day for all of God’s people.

            The older I get, the more that I realize that because God is gracious, He allows His Spirit to reside on this paltry planet we call Earth. Humanity does not deserve such a blessing because of our broken and sinful ways, but the love of God persists in the midst of all the evil in the world. We are still His people. We are still His children. We are still loved and never alone.

The infinite God abiding in a finite planet – this is what constantly and will always amaze me.

Questions for personal reflection

Where do I see God’s handiwork around me today? When do I feel His love in my life?

Prayer:            Lord God, You have created the entire universe with its vast array of galaxies, solar systems, stars and planets. You have also made the tiniest of things like atoms, cells, seeds, and people. Thank You for the wonders of creation that are all around us, which constantly amaze us. And we especially thank You for Your deep and abiding loving presence which will always gladden our hearts and give meaning to our lives. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalm pictures which depicts God as Creator. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Psalm 115.

New Age Religions - Same Old Problems

Recent Australian Study Published: New Age Religions breed unhappiness

By Chris Rizo at http://www.religionandspirituality.com

Replacing traditional religious beliefs with trendy, self-focused religions and spirituality may make people more anxious and depressed, a new study indicates.

An Australian survey of 21-year-olds in Brisbane suggests that the shift away from traditional and organized religious beliefs to New Age religions is not making young adults happier, The Australian reported.

The study by Dr. Rosemary Aird, a population health researcher at the University of Queensland, surveyed 3,705 people on their beliefs in God, higher powers other than God, as well as their church-going habits and other behaviors, the newspaper reported.

Aird said young adults who believed in a spiritual or higher power other than God were at greater risk of poorer mental health and deviant social behavior than those who rejected these beliefs.

Read the rest of this article here

Daily Devotions: Digital Faith

First, let me apologize for the last couple of days. I have been so busy setting up the new Coffee Club weekly studies that I have neglected to write these devotionals. I’d forgotten how much planning and preparation goes into initiating a new group, but it has been highly enjoyable and worthwhile. If you want to see how the study is progressing, you can visit the Erin Coffee Club blogsite at www.erincoffeeclub.blogspot.com .

Isaiah 48:6 You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? "From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.

Podcast version here

Earlier today, I was reading a religious news items about a publishing company in Britain that is now producing digital hymnbooks. These can be downloaded onto I-pods, I-phones and Blackberries, giving church members the opportunity to bring them to worship on Sundays. Instead of telling people to turn off their cell-phones, pastors in the future may ask their congregants to turn them on. An Order of service can be downloaded and all of the music is produced digitally. There will be no need for traditional hymnbooks or musical instruments – the downloaded programs will produce what sounds are necessary.

Hmmm, sounds like worship from hell to me. It may be appropriate for soul-less robots to clinically digitalize hymn singing and accompaniment, but I prefer the human approach to worship. I love to hear the blend of voices and the soar of the organ in a worship service. Each singer sings from their hearts; each worshipper gives to God, and each organist that I have ever known expresses their love of God and Christian faith through the talents that He has given them. Replacing it all with digitalized hymnbooks would only alienate the worshiper from the worshipping community, and also separate them from the real and sacred presence of God.

Digital hymnbooks may make commercial sense to publishers, but in my book, they don’t understand that the true components of worship require human involvement, as well as the Divine.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are constantly barraged with new innovations and advanced technologies that are overtaking our lives. We thank You for those inventions that make life better for everyone. Keep us from embracing too much technology that potentially may isolate us from the community of faith and separate us from You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart, Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee

Download a hymnbook on your I-phone and bring it to Church

Churches to Sing From Digital Hymn Sheets

CHURCHES are being invited to join the digital revolution by downloading digital hymn books.

The innovation could spell the end for the traditional hymn book and church organ.
Publisher HarperCollins is launching a digital version of Mission Praise, the best-selling collection of worship songs.

Song sheets and accompanying musical backing tracks will be available for download.

Churches will be able to create electronic playlists for their orders of service.
The words can be printed off and handed out to the congregation or displayed on video screens, while the music can be played via iPods or computers.

The 1800 songs on www. missionpraise. com include The Lord's my Shepherd, Amazing Grace, Abide With Me and Rock Of Ages.

"Church services are set to be revolutionised, " a HarperCollins spokesman said.
"The site will provide an invaluable resource. We're hoping this will be a cost-effective offer to churches, schools and Sunday schools who can use the resource and tailor it to their specific needs."

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.
(c) 2008 Herald, The; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

As reported at Red Orbit

Erin Daily Devotions: Washing Feet

Podcast version here


Yesterday, in the Sunday School class that I teach, we were watching a clip from the movie “Entertaining Angels.” It tells the story of Dorothy Day who started a homeless shelter in the slums of New York City during the Great Depression. It’s a wonderful story of how a sinner becomes a saint in modern times, and is almost the equivalent of St. Francis of Assisi’s conversion and ministry of compassion.

The scene we watched yesterday shows Dorothy and her associate, Peter Maurin, washing the feet of a homeless old man. Gently, they take off his shoes to reveal soiled, bruised, and blistered feet. They carefully wash the feet clean and then Peter does something unexpected. He takes off his only pair of shoes and hands them over to the homeless man. The scene ends with Dorothy asking Peter what he will now do for shoes.

John 13:5 After that, Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Washing someone’s feet is very humbling for the owner of the feet and the washer. When I read about Jesus washing his disciples’ dirty feet, I am both surprised and a bit shocked. Why should the Lord of all Creation stoop so low to act like a common servant? Why don’t the disciples stop Him, so that they can wash His weary feet?

And then I remember who Jesus is and feel His compassion wash over me. If the King of Kings becomes a servant to His followers, then I must also learn to be a servant in His Kingdom. I may never aspire to be a wonderful servant of Christ like Dorothy, but I can decide to serve Christ each day of my life. Instead of wanting to be a charismatic leader, I need to learn to be more of a compassionate servant.

Wherever we find ourselves today and in whosoever company we end up, let’s attempt to be servants of Jesus, compassionate caregivers, and humble followers, so that people will see less of us and more of Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, washing the feet of others is not something that we naturally want to do. We all have trouble with humility and service, esteem and pride. Help us today to become less of ourselves and more of You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart, pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee

P.S You can watch the movie clip on the internet at the following link:
http://wingclips.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16170&category_id=471

Kentucky Atheist Sues Over Son's Catholic School

A father in La Grange, Ky., is in court trying to keep his son from attending a Catholic high school. David Ryan, the father, is an atheist and the mother, from whom he is divorced, is a Roman Catholic. Their eighth-grade son attends a Catholic school in Oldham County.

Ryan's attorney Edwin Kagin said when Ryan and his wife got divorced, a judge ordered their son to continue attending a Catholic school. Ryan, however, wants his son to attend a public high school next year, so Friday, he took the issue in front of a judge in an Oldham County courtroom, WLKY.com reported Friday.
"David feels the orientation and the indoctrination of the church school is harmful to his child," Kagin said. According to court documents, Ryan believes the religious school will attempt to indoctrinate his son into a belief system he as a parent rejects.

Kagin said the case has larger implications. "The issue really does become one of what does church-state separation mean?" he said. Kagin said part of Kentucky's constitution reads, "Nor shall any man be compelled to send his child to any school to which he may be conscientiously opposed."

Reported at www.ReligionAndSpirituality.com

Huckabee hunts for Evangelicals and gets their vote

Those Iowan evangelicals : Who voted for Huckabee and why.

By Ted Olsen, Christianity Today

The analysis you've probably read this morning or heard last night was that Mike Huckabee won the Republican caucuses in Iowa because of evangelicals. The WashingtonPost.com headline right now: "Evangelicals Fuel Huckabee in Caucuses." You probably also heard a lot of references to Pat Robertson's second-place Iowa win in 1988.

"Evangelical Republicans in Iowa chose one of their own in Mike Huckabee," writes Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press. "He made his religious beliefs and his rock-solid opposition to abortion, gay marriage and gun control central parts of his campaign — and it paid off."

Read rest of the blog here

Free Faith in the Land of Liberty

Podcast version here

I know that by the end of the year we will be fed up and saturated with electioneering, but let’s remain thankful that we live in a time where democracy and freedom still rule this great land. All over the world, there are places where people live under cruel dictators and absolute tyrants. Their lives are made miserable by the fear and terror that these despots use to control their lands. Thank God that in the United States we have democratic elections, primaries and caucuses that allow the people to make their leadership choices every four years. We may not always get the perfect President, Senator or Governor that we would like, but at least we all have the opportunity to vote them out of office and bring in someone new on a regular basis.

Acts 12: 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Herod was an absolute tyrant, just like his father before him. He persecuted Christians because it suited his reign. The Christians had become the scapegoats Herod needed to divert the Jewish people’s attention away from him. So long as he persecuted their enemies, his rule would not be challenged.

It amazes me how resolute and tough the first Christians were. They experienced and endured all sorts of injustice and intolerance. They won the public relations battle because they were not aggressive or vengeful. They won over the hearts and minds of many because they advocated a path of faith and hope mixed with peace and love.

As always, we can learn from their example. If we as Christians want to re-win the world and make a positive impact on our society, then we have to lose our belligerent, aloof, and grandiose ways. The world owes us nothing and we are not entitled to its respect if we keep demanding our rights above all others. All that the world will see is a bunch of religious fanatics who want to suppress society, instead of a community of faithful people who want to support the world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You dealt with tyrants by expressing the truth about Your Kingdom without resorting to aggression, anger, or violence. You want us to do the same, so please help us to depart from claiming to be victimized; instead enable us to proclaim Your victory in the world by showing faith, hope, peace, and love, especially during those moments and times when we feel aggrieved and oppressed. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Rhoda - Ordinary people with Extraordinary messages

Podcast version here

Don’t you just love the honest reactions in this story from Acts 12? Christians are praying for Peter to be released from prison, and then when he turns up at the front door, no one believes it. Instead of thanking God for a miracle, everyone is quick to presume that it must be Peter’s ghost. I just love these first Christians – I can really identify with them.

I can imagine that just before Peter arrives, the people are very serious and highly focused with their prayers. “Lord, keep Peter safe and bring him back to us.” “O Lord, free Peter from the satanic authorities that have bound him.” “Lord, bring justice to us by letting Peter return among us.” I’ve been to those kind of prayer meetings myself. All the right words being spoken, but no real heart behind the petitions.

Acts 12:15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

When Rhoda persists that Peter is back, they call her crazy and then tell her that she’s seen a ghost. They just don’t believe what she is saying, but why? Is it because she is just a servant? Is Rhoda a young person? Does her opinion count so little amongst the others?

It seems to me that God is doing His usual thing: He selects the weakest and the least to present the good news. Rhoda’s lowly position as house servant is exalted by God; she becomes His messenger, His herald of good tidings.

The world continues to think that Christians like Rhoda are crazy, unimportant, and insignificant. And yet God continues to use the lowliest amongst us to effectively get His message across. We may live in a society of mega-churches and famous church-speakers, but the real work of the Gospel still takes place in the everyday homes and workplaces of ordinary people. The Rhodas of this world may seem to be of little importance, but in the eternal scheme of things, it’s the ordinary Rhodas in the church that bring in more people to Christ’s Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, use us in ordinary ways to present Your extraordinary message to other people. In the insignificant tasks and daily routines of our lives, grant us opportunities to serve You and to share the Gospel. In your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

'Who is God' tops Internet searches

News just in from Religion & Spirituality

According to Google Zeitgeist's second annual report, "Who is God" was the most searched question on the search engine last year. It was first in the "Who is . . . ?" category. As for "What is . . . ?," love came on top, AsiaNews reported Wednesday. All this confirms that existential questions play a hugely important role on the net. Google Zeitgeist looked at all the questions internet surfers placed in the search engine. The study indicated that most questions came from the United States, the country with the most developed Internet.

Rest of the story can be found here