Hebrews 12:14-17 Followers of Christ actively pursue peace with all people.

 Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

The grace and mercy of God, in the person of Jesus Christ, allowed salvation to come to the world. He came with shouts of peace, peace to the people on earth. If we have been given such an invaluable gift shouldn’t we also be a people of peace and mercy? Out of His agape love God offered Himself up for our sins how can we not offer others the same. Carla

Hebrews 12:14-17

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness •springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that •afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. (NKJV)

Believers pursuing peace and practical righteousness should watch for three dangers: (1) falling short of God’s grace—that is, refusing Christ’s gracious offer of salvation and His provision for their needs (4:16); (2) allowing a root of bitterness to grow in their assembly and (3) becoming sexually immoral or irreligious. Esau illustrates those who are irreligious. Under the Law, the eldest son would receive a double inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17). Esau lost his inheritance, which included God’s gracious promises, by despising it and valuing the pleasure of food over it (Genesis 25:34). The NKJV Study Bible

Christ’s sacrifice made His people holy (10:10, 14). Those sanctified belong to God (2:11) and, sharing in His discipline, will experience His holiness (verse 10).

To fall short of the grace of God the author exhorts his audience to care for others and assure that none lack God’s grace. This phrase resembles 4:1, which warned of falling short of entering God’s rest.

The root of bitterness refers to someone who is idolatrous. This agricultural metaphor refers to  the description of useless land in 6:8.

Esau Refers to the brother of Jacob, son of Isaac (Genesis 25:24–26). He took foreign wives, which was viewed negatively by his parents (Genesis 26:34–35; 27:46) and in later passages Israelite men marrying foreign women is condemned because it could lead to idolatry.

The heir apparently would receive a double portion of inheritance (Genesis 43:33; Deuteronomy 21:17). In the case of Esau and Jacob, the elder son also would receive from Isaac the divine blessings that God had given to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:18–20). The remark that Esau despised this birthright (Genesis 25:34)—which holds foundational significance for Israel—contributes to the negative assessment of him. 

Esau despised his birthright (Gen 25:34) and ultimately lost it because of the cunning of Jacob and Rebekah (Genesis 27:4–29). Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

Tomorrow’s celebration here in the U.S. is a big one. 250 years.
And we must not avoid or ignore the mood of our country now. That would be unwise. While sixty-five percent of U.S. adults say they are still proud to be American, eighty-three percent of U.S. adults feel America has strayed from the ideals the country was founded on two-and-a-half centuries ago. It doesn’t help to pretend otherwise.
But yes. There are many more chapters yet to come. And here’s the deal: we—every single one of us—can plant those seeds, of hope. Seeds of inclusion and repair and restoration and sanctuary.
It’s been the theme—the grounding principle—of my ministry. How, and in what ways, can we—as church, community, country—create places of sanctuary and welcome and healing and renewal?

I’m not preaching on Sunday, but if I were, my theme would be, “All are welcome here.” Sabbath Moments

Celebrating the 4th of July and its message of freedom for all of us.

 Let me start with my confession. July 4th is not fun for me. Loud noises unnerve and frighten me. (I remember comforting my dogs through the years. We shared the same dread, and we would hunker down in the corner. Every July 4th, they were on edge. And it took them some time to recover.)

I am, however, a big fan of celebrations, and anniversaries. But yes, I do prefer the ones that allow for moments of calm (no surprise that I am a fan of monastic life). I applaud anniversaries that encourage moments of reflection and contemplation.
And all the better, with a good glass of red wine.
Tomorrow’s celebration here in the U.S. is a big one. 250 years.
And we must not avoid or ignore the mood of our country now. That would be unwise. While sixty-five percent of U.S. adults say they are still proud to be American, eighty-three percent of U.S. adults feel America has strayed from the ideals the country was founded on two-and-a-half centuries ago. It doesn’t help to pretend otherwise.
But yes. There are many more chapters yet to come. And here’s the deal: we—every single one of us—can plant those seeds, of hope. Seeds of inclusion and repair and restoration and sanctuary.
It’s been the theme—the grounding principle—of my ministry. How, and in what ways, can we—as church, community, country—create places of sanctuary and welcome and healing and renewal?

I’m not preaching on Sunday, but if I were, my theme would be, “All are welcome here.”
Instead of a hymn, I’d start with Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ singing Room on the Porch.
“Come on up, there's room on the porch
For everyone
Share your feelings, share your heart
Just be you, it's who you are
You'll be accepted, you're so precious
To me
The problem with the world these days
Is people hide what they should say
But not today, speak your mind
And set yourself free
And even if you go away
The more you come the more you stay
'Cause round here you'll only be
A stranger for one day”
Now that, is worth celebrating wholeheartedly.

Fifty years ago, on the occasion of our bicentennial, President Gerald Ford made it a point to travel on July 5th to Thomas Jefferson’s home in Monticello to speak at a naturalization ceremony. His remarks are worth remembering:
“I am very proud to welcome all of you as fellow citizens of the United States of America. I invite you to join fully in the American adventure and to share our common goal and our common glory… You have given us a birthday present beyond price—yourselves, your faith, your loyalty, and your love. We thank you with full and friendly hearts.
The patriots of 1776… wanted to build in this beautiful land a home for equal freedom and opportunity, a haven of safety and happiness, not for themselves alone, but for all who would come to us through centuries. How well they built is told by millions upon millions who came and are still coming.
Immigrants came from almost everywhere, singly and in waves… Such transfusions of traditions and cultures, as well as of blood, have made America unique among nations and Americans a new kind of people… We offered citizenship to all, and we have been richly rewarded.”
Ford celebrated America as a land of immigrants. He didn’t merely respond to nativist attacks. He wasn’t defensive. He made the case for immigration. He argued that we were “richly rewarded” for being a nation of immigrants. And so, addressing the new American citizens, Ford said: “You came as strangers among us and you leave here as citizens, equal in fundamental rights, equal before the law, with an equal share in the promise of the future… We have gained far, far more than we have given to the millions who made America their second homeland.” (Thank you, William Kristol)
Yes… “Come on up, there's room on the porch
For everyone”

Thirteen years later, on January 19, 1989, Ronald Reagan, gave his last public address as president. In it, he discussed what he saw as “one of the most important sources of America’s greatness”:
“We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people—our strength—from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation. While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we’re a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.
It is bold men and women, yearning for freedom and opportunity, who leave their homelands and come to a new country to start their lives over. They believe in the American dream. And over and over, they make it come true for themselves, for their children, and for others. They give more than they receive… But their greatest contribution is more than economic, because they understand in a special way how glorious it is to be an American.”

And this from The Chicago Tribune this week. “But those of us who were around for America’s 200th likely don’t recall much about Gerald Ford’s address. We may well remember the grand sight of the tall ships in New York Harbor. But, mostly, we’ll recall the celebrations in our hometowns, be those cities, suburbs or small towns, and how our family, friends and neighbors came together as fellow Americans simply to have a good time. To have fun. To celebrate all that is good about our country.
The nonstop attention-seeking of our current president threatens to intrude on the day. Don’t let it happen.
Fly your American flag and be proud to do so. Enjoy the day with the people you love. Be hospitable to the people who think differently from you.
Eat hot dogs and burgers. Watch fireworks. Be grateful for the opportunities America affords to you and yours.
On the coming Fourth, while we surely will contemplate the important questions Ford asked, we mostly will enjoy the day along with those around us and will tune out unnecessary noise — 250 years after more than 50 brave signatories put their lives and fortunes at great risk in the cause of converting an idea into a nation, we will celebrate America, knowing more great chapters are to come.”

Savor your weekend my friends. Let’s have hot dogs, and listen to Ray Charles sing, America the Beautiful. Sabbath Moments

Isaiah 26:3-6 Trust God in Him is our peace and He will not be mocked.

 Isaiah 3:14–15

The LORD will enter into judgment

With the elders of His people

And  His princes:

For you have eaten up the vineyard;

The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

What do you mean by crushing My people

And grinding the faces of the poor?”

Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

God will not be mocked. Two things He hates, pride and arrogance. What does He expect of us?  He commands us to hate evil. He commands us to love our  neighbors as ourselves. He commands us to care for those who cannot care for themselves. He commands us to care for the foreigners who dwell in our land. He cares for all people of all nations and wants all to come to Him in the truth that Jesus taught. There is no other way to the Father except in Him. Blessed are the peacemakers! Carla

Isaiah 26:3-6

3 You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

4 Trust in the Lord forever,

For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

5 For He brings down those who dwell on high,

The lofty city;

He lays it low,

He lays it low to the ground,

He brings it down to the dust.

6 The foot shall tread it down—

The feet of the poor

And the steps of the needy.”  (NKJV)

The righteous can count on peace instead of war, destruction, and judgment as long as they continue to trust in Yahweh. Judgment came because they did not fully trust in Yahweh.

The major sin and folly of Judah (and all the nations) was placing trust in themselves and their own power rather than trusting in and acknowledging Yahweh’s power. The theme of judgment throughout Isaiah is intimately linked with the theme of human pride and arrogance.

The image of a rock is a common metaphor for God in biblical poetry (Psalm 18:1–3; 31:3; 71:3; Deuteronomy 32:30–31). Here, the metaphor brings out the trustworthiness of God. God humbles those who exalt themselves (Isaiah 2:9–12). God casts down the proud, but the poor and needy who were formerly oppressed assist in the judgment. Faithlife Study Bible

The Hebrew expression translated perfect peace is literally “peace, peace”; compare the word holy in 6:3. Immanuel will inaugurate this superior kind of peace (9:6; 11:6–9). Trust means “to commit oneself fully to.” Yah, the Lord is an emphatic designation of God (12:2).

Line after line asserts the destruction of the lofty city (verse 1) by the power of God. The NKJV Study Bible

Isaiah 25:10–12

For on this mountain the hand of the LORD will rest,

And Moab shall be trampled down under Him,

As straw is trampled down for the refuse heap.

And He will spread out His hands in their midst

As a swimmer reaches out to swim,

And He will bring down their pride

Together  with the trickery of their hands…

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my salvation,I will trust and not be afraid;

‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song;

He also has become my salvation.’ ”

Isaiah 26:12

LORD, You will establish peace for us,

For You have also done all our works in us.

Isaiah 50:10

“Who among you fears the LORD?

Who obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who walks in darkness

And has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the LORD

And rely upon his God.

Some time ago, I spent a day with the good members of a Seattle area garden club. I gave a talk about creating sanctuary spaces in your garden.
After the talk, a woman approached me to say, “I don't know if you noticed that I was nodding off during your lecture. Don't take it personally. I just had my radiation treatment.”
“When?” I asked.
“This morning,” she told me.
I am surprised, at her admission, and at the fact that I had seen her doze, and confess that I had made judgments about her before I knew any of the facts.
But before I can talk, she continues, “It gives me a new perspective on the kind of things that really matter.”
As we're talking, a glass of sparkling cider is spilled, on the tablecloth, and onto parts of her dress. “Like what just happened,” she tells me matter of factly, “that's not important.”

Sometimes we miss the invitations—the little things—we receive to be present. Let’s call them the unexpected flowers for the sacrament of the present moment.
The invitation that happens even in the dented, or cracked, or imperfect moments.
So. I wonder. Does it take disarray for us to pay attention?

What I enjoyed about my conversation with this woman is her willingness to embrace the present moment with gratitude.
As my mentor, Lew Smedes wrote, “Gratitude dances though the open windows of our hearts. We cannot force it. We cannot create it. And we can certainly close our windows to keep it out. But we can also keep them open and be ready for the joy when it comes.”

My friends, let us live “awake” one window at a time. Sabbath Moments

Romans 12:9-18 Jesus is our example of how to live.

 Romans 15:5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

Jesus is our example of how to live. He was all-God but He lowered Himself as a man to be obedient to His Father in all areas of His life. He had compassion on all of humanity understanding that we are mere humans. The love of God for creation allowed Him to bear the ultimate sacrifice of His life in exchange for ours. No one love you more than God…no one! Carla

Romans 12:9-18

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, •as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  (NKJV)

Love must be without hypocrisy. The New Testament  presents love as the defining ethical standard for Christians.  Paul assumes that his audience already shows love to one another; he calls for their love to be genuine and sincere.

Paul uses this term, brotherly love, to emphasize the familial nature of the body of believers. Enduring in affliction can refer to any kind of hardship; however, Paul might have persecution in mind (Romans 12:14).

Hospitality refers to an extension of generosity to strangers.

Bless those who persecute reflects Jesus’ teaching, Paul calls for prayer on behalf of the persecutor (Luke 6:28).

Christians are called to share in both the joy and suffering of fellow believers, since they are members of one body of Christ.

Pay back no one evil for evil. This instruction seems to draw on the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:39). Although believers will encounter opposition, Paul urges them to live peacefully, not taking revenge upon those who wrong them. Faithlife Study Bible

There are at least four Greek words for love, not all of which are used in the NT. (1) The highest form of love is agape. This is a self-sacrificial love. It involves an act of the will whereby one seeks the best for another. Agape is used in verse 9. (2) The Greek word philos means “affectionate regard,” and the derived form philadelphia is translated brotherly love in this verse. (3) Philostorgos means “family affection” and is translated kindly affectionate in this verse. 

The greatest proof of the truth of the gospel message and of the reality of Jesus’ love is the love believers show to each other. Christ is the model for such self-sacrificial love (Philippians 2:3–8). Christians should not offer their service half-heartedly or in a lazy manner. Instead, Paul encourages the Romans to serve eagerly and in earnest.

Hospitality means “love of strangers.” The primary reference is to housing travelers, though all forms of hospitality are included. The progression in this verse is significant. we will have opportunities to serve strangers and thus witness to them about the love of Christ.

Bless means “to speak well of” or “praise. Because believers are a body, when one part hurts, everyone feels the pain; when one is joyful, everyone can rejoice. Christians cannot be indifferent toth  suffering or joy of their fellow believers. The word good in this verse means “morally good,” “noble,” or “praiseworthy.” This is the positive side of the negative command not to return evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9). The believer’s aim should be to live peaceably. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 5:44

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 

2 Corinthians 6:6

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

1 Titus 1:5

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 

It’s the little things that matter. So. What if we begin our day with this question; “In what ways today, can I be the giver—spiller, sower—of small gifts? The little gifts that nurture and inspire the human spirit, gifts that raise the flags of compassion and healing and restoration, and make a fellow human glad to be alive?”

And before we answer, let us remember that care of any kind—compassion and healing, spilling and sowing gifts of kindness and renewal—begins with self-care.

And that’s not always easy. To let ourselves be the recipient of gifts that replenish.

Parker Palmer’s guidance deserves to be read twice. “By surviving passages of doubt and depression of the vocational journey, I have become clear about at least one thing: self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves but for the many others whose lives we touch.”

Yes. Self-care enables and empowers us to be care-givers.

Love is not something you have.

Love is something that has you. Sabbath Moments