1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Love Never Fails.

 Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 

Without the fruit of Holy Spirit in our lives we are unable to follow the commands of God to love our neighbors and live in peace.  We are able to love others because God first loved us and without His  love behind our actions we are just making noise. We can serve God or man we choose whom we will serve. Choose life not death. Carla

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  (NKJV)

Bestow all my goods likely pertains to the spiritual gift of giving to others (Romans 12:8). Paul uses an intentional exaggeration to illustrate the uselessness of each spiritual gift without love. The Corinthians would readily understand the images of sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Many of them had used brass instruments and cymbals as standard elements of pagan worship in their lives before Christ. Love never fails. The NKJV Study Bible

The reference to tongues “of angels” probably indicates the belief that one type of “gift of tongues” involved speaking in the language of angels.

A genuine and selfless concern for the well-being of others Paul identifies  as the greatest of the three Christian virtues (verse 13). Paul chastised the wealthy believers because they did not demonstrate love to the less wealthy believers (11:17–21).

People used cymbals to worship Dionysus, the god of wine. Paul mentions the crashing cymbal to suggest that spiritual gifts without love make the Corinthians’ worship no different from the pagans’.

Helping the poor was a focus of Paul’s ministry. Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 17:20

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 

Matthew 21:21

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 

Mark 11:23

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

1 Corinthians 12:8–10

for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit…

1 Corinthians 13:8

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away

We can choose. This is an invitation to participate—and invest—in this life. To bring all that I am to the table of this moment.
To invest my heart.
To be a witness for integrity and justice.
To create space for healing and restitution.
To spill light where I can.
What Barbara Kingsolver calls a “conspiracy with life.”

Easy? No. Somedays, I feel very broken. Broken and dispirited. And I don’t have the words. And I don’t have the strength. Maybe you can relate.
So, how can we be a witness then? What possible difference can we make?
Well, this is interesting. You see, compassion (service and care) and healing (restoration) are not mutually exclusive. Because the light we share is born in those broken places. Which means that being a witness goes hand in glove with renewal.
In other words, we find replenishment and we choose to be a witness.
This is not a pep talk. This is not a test to pass. Or a list I check off for God’s thumbs up. This is permission; the invitation and the affirmation to be, and to live, wholeheartedly and kindheartedly, the truth of who I am.
Please know this my friends: it is from this self—the broken or wounded self—that compassion and kindness and tenderness and empathy and healing and reconciliation can flow. Sabbath Moments

“May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.”

(St. Therese of Lisieux (“the Little Flower”).

Matthew 22:15-22 Jesus is Lord. Caesar is not!

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 

But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” 

And they brought him a denarius. 

Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 

They answered, “The emperor’s.” 

Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 

When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

In one of his finest no-answer answers, Jesus said: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

His critics were “amazed.” They got it. They understood his point.

It seemed somehow clear to them. Clear enough to turn and walk away.

But it has rarely seemed that clear to us. Over the centuries Christians developed at least five interpretations of Jesus’ “render to Caesar” comment: (1) Caesar and God are separate — pay the tax; (2) Caesar and God are an enigma, an unsolvable puzzle meant as a deflection; (3) Caesar and God are a paradox and we, somehow, must serve both; (4) Caesar and God are at odds — pay your taxes but “with contempt”; or (5) Caesar is under the authority of God and give the state nothing, no matter the consequences.

Take your pick. Each one of these positions has theological oomph — and has been supported and argued over and over and over again in church history. 

That makes me wonder: Have we missed the point? 

When this story was first written down, sometime between 60 and 80, Roman emperors made a claim to divinity. Indeed, the imperial titles for Caesar included “Dominus et Deus” and “Dominus et Salvator.” Not “Mr. President” or “Your Honor” or even “Your Royal Highness” or “Your Majesty.” But “Lord and God” or “Lord and Savior.” Those were titles held by Caesar.

Jews hated it. This was idolatry. And Christians hated it, too. Christians hated it so much that they stole the titles and gave them to Jesus. No calling Nero their Lord and God. Instead, they proclaimed “Jesus is Lord.” 

And the year 60, they were being killed for saying it.

That’s the invisible context of the Caesar tax story. In these early years, every Christian knew their creed: Jesus is Lord. Not Caesar. 

The first audience of Matthew’s gospel would have known exactly how it was intended. The story undergirded their creed — Jesus is Lord. Not Caesar. They might have laughed upon hearing or reading it. Caesar thinks everything belongs to him. We don’t think that! Because nothing belongs to Caesar. Everything belongs to God! 

The story was written down because it supported what Christians already believed. Not that they were trying to figure out some doctrine of church and state. 

They were not worried about taxes. They were worried about Roman authorities throwing them to wild beasts. 

They already knew that Caesar was a pretender. That evil was upon the throne. And God? Well, no matter what Caesar did, even if he murdered them, Caesar could never own them. Because God did. Through faith. Through baptism. Through their love of God. Through their solidarity with neighbors. Jesus is Lord! 

And that’s it. The first creed was a theological statement. And it was a political statement. The first creed was theo-political. Jesus is Lord. Caesar is not.

In the case of this verse, the long historical argument of state and church in Christian theology is a complexity of our own making. It is complicated because we’ve made it complicated — trying to justify governments and practices and systems of politics that literally have nothing to do with divine intention and the sacred heartbeat of the cosmos. 

Jesus is Lord. Caesar is not.

The Pharisees were amazed because it was so clear. So simple. They’d complexified Caesar and God — and Jesus cut to the chase. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s — to God what is God’s. 

It is simple. Everything belongs to God. Simple, yes. But it is very hard to live. The early Christians knew that. Simplicity doesn’t mean it is easy. And we know that, too.

But the simplicity still shines: God. Dominus et Deus. Lord and God. Dominus Mundi. Lord of the Earth. Dominus universum. Lord of the Universe. 

Remember the creed — the cry — of the first followers of Jesus: Jesus is Lord! 

Not Caesar. Never Caesar.

May we be brave enough to proclaim the same — and courageous enough to live it in our day.

Diane Butler Bass “The Cottage”

John 6:35-40 We enter into the Body of Christ by faith!

 John  6:44–45 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

No one comes to the Father except by the precious blood of the Lamb. In the  sacrifice of Jesus we are united into the Body of Christ. The only thing that can separate us from God is unbelief. Whomsoever believes in Him will no perish but have everlasting life. The Father has always known those who would believe in Him. Carla

John 6:35-40

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (NKJV)

Bread of life means “bread which supplies life.” Manna satisfied physical needs for a while; Christ satisfies spiritual need forever (4:13, 14).

Seeing does not necessarily mean believing (verse 30; 11:46–57), although sometimes it does (11:45; 20:29). On the other hand, Christ blesses those who believe without having seen (20:29).

For indicates an explanation of the previous statement. Christ will not cast out any who come to Him because He came to do the Father’s will.

The will of the Father is twofold: (1) that all who come to the Son will be received and not lost; (2) that all who see and believe on the Son will have everlasting life. The NKJV Study Bible

I am the bread of life Since the audience continues to miss the point that Jesus is referring to Himself as the one sent by God, Jesus makes the point explicit.

Jesus uses seven metaphorical “I am” statements to define His role as Savior and Messiah (4:26). These sayings also carry strong overtones of being claims to divinity. He identifies Himself as the bread of life (verses 35, 48, 51), the light of the world (8:12; 9:5), the gate for the sheep (10:7, 9), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way and the truth and the life (14:6), and the true vine (15:1).

Jesus briefly sets aside the topic of the “bread of life” to expound on the issue of the Jews’ persistent unbelief, reiterating His role as agent of the divine will and stressing that eternal life is gained through belief in Him

No one who believes in Jesus will be rejected by Him.

John 6:54

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 

John 4:14

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 17:2

as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 

John  17:24

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 

And this I know my friends: We live in an emotionally and spiritually de-hydrated world, thirsty for the sustaining balm of builders of healing places and repairers of our world. Because we live in a culture of bluster and ado, we forget that we can make a difference. And more often than not, the wrong people get the attention. Sabbath Moments

Colossians 3:12-15 Above all put on Love!

 Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 

We will know followers of Jesus by the fruit that is evident in their lives. Love and compassion are the outward expressions of the inner heart, the Spirit,  that belongs to God. Carla

Colossians 3:12-15

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NKJV)

In the Roman Empire a person who did not speak Greek was despised.

Since all of God’s fullness resides in Christ, every spiritual reality is found in Christ. In Him, we lack nothing. The Greek word theotētos for Godhead is used only here in the NT and designates the totality of God’s nature and person. All the fullness of the Godhead “dwells” or “permanently resides” in the body of Jesus, the God-man. The NKJV Study Bible

Originally, God chose the nation of Israel to be His people (Deuteronomy 14:2; Romans 9:4–5). However, because such distinctions are rendered irrelevant in Christ (Colossians 3:11), Paul affirms the Colossian believers as being among God’s chosen people. Believers must have patience with one another, even while enduring difficult situations. Even in the community of believers, the actions of some offend or hurt others; how believers respond is critical. Experiencing God’s forgiveness shows that believers must forgive one another (Luke 7:47). The Greek word used here for peace, eirēnē, refers to wholeness or the absence of conflict in a relationship.

Let the Peace of Christ Rule in Your Hearts.

Paul commands the Colossians to express gratitude for the things they have and the people in their lives. Faithlife Study Bible

Ephesians  4:2

with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 

2 Corinthians 6:6

by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 

Philippians 2:1

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 

Luke 1:78

Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

I know this for certain: it doesn't take much to nurse resentment or regret. There are times when whatever we are doing seems not enough (no doubt a miasma of guilt or shame and the vagaries of public opinion).
Over the years I have heard, “I’m just a volunteer (or just a member, or catechist, or teacher, or aid, or worker, or helper, or employee, or friend, or mother or father or fill in the blank).”
To each I say, No.
You see, “just a” creates a label and tells us what we are not. And when we label, we dismiss. (Regardless of the label. Dorothy Day once scoffed, “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.”)
So, how then do we make a difference?
Here’s the deal: Your work (labor) is your turf of responsibility. Which is only part of our DNA. Because no matter where we labor or toil, our calling is to spill the light.
And the good news? For this we don’t have to pass a test, or qualify, we have only to be willing.
Jesus made it simple, "Let your light shine."
Not, when you get your act together.
Not, when you feel noble.
Not, when you find a specific vocation.
Not, after you've chased all the gloom away.
Just let it shine. Because the light is already there. Inside of you. Now.
What we do—how we “choose”—and who we are, touches lives, plain and simple.
This matters more than ever, in a divisive world, a world on edge, a world where a kind word or gesture makes all the difference. We need a reset on making a difference.
Because we live in a culture of bluster and ado, we forget that we can make a difference. And more often than not, the wrong people get the attention.
So. Here’s to the restorative power of small gestures. Sabbath Moments

Psalm 46:10 God alone is to be exalted not man

 Isaiah 2:11

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,

The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,

And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

God reigns in heaven and earth is His footstool and He will teach us the lessons that we need. We can walk in the ways of Jesus or man but we cannot walk in both. We will learn our lessons as individuals and collectively as a nation in the world that He created. We choose whom we will serve. Satan and those who serve him seek to kill, steal and destroy. This is not the way of God. We depend on Him and only in Him is our hope. What does He require of us? He requires us to be fair, forgiving and humble in our walk with Him (Micah 6:8). He alone is God. He alone, by the power of Holy Spirit, can change the hearts of man. He alone is worthy of our praise…not man. Be still and hear His still, small voice that welcomes you into His family. His peace He gives to us, not the peace that man conjures up, but His peace that is beyond human understanding. With God we are a people of peace not war. Carla

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

(NKJV)

The call for stillness before the Lord is not a preparation for worship, but for impending judgment. God will be exalted. All the earth will bow before Him. The NKJV Study Bible

Isaiah 2:17

The loftiness of man shall be bowed down,

And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;

The LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

Psalm 100:3

Know that the LORD, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Deuteronomy 4:35

To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. 

In my memory I’m back in southern Michigan, the son of a brick mason. I’ve been on countless constructions sites. Most of them as a hod carrier (mixing mortar, lugging bricks). So many days eager to quit. And hearing my Father’s words, “Son, build this one like you’re building your own.” (Twenty-six years ago, my Father helped me build the house on Vashon Island.)

So yes. Let us remember; we make a difference with every nail we hammer, each board we choose, each brick we mortar, each window we put in place.

Because we live in a culture of bluster and ado, we forget that we can make a difference. And more often than not, the wrong people get the attention.

We are, all of us, builders. We are about the business of building places and spaces for human dignity and inclusion and justice and hope. For resilience and confidence and courage and safety and wellbeing.

But this is important. This parable is not meant to scold us into making a difference. It’s a recognition that we have been created and are able to do so. It's not about bootstraps and will power and consternation. This is about letting the language of our (replenished and not overwhelmed) heart speak.

When I live from overwhelmed, I react, I live fearful, I give in to cynicism. No wonder the first to go are my courage and my ability to laugh. Which is not good considering that they both come from the same muscle in our heart. Sabbath Moments