D-V's Desk

  “I am the Church! You are the Church! We are the Church Together. All who follow Jesus, All around the world. Yes, we’re the Church together!” I can’t help but think of this refrain every Pentecost.   The song is a hymn from my days as a United Methodist.   A pastor even showed us hand gestures to go with the words.   Richard Avery’s hymn reminds us that the church is not about a building.   The church is about you and me, God’s people, coming together. In its original context, Pentecost was a harvest festival.   Fifty days after the Passover, the people are called to bring the first fruits of their harvest and dedicate them to God.   Those fifty days are where we get Pentecost; pente meaning fifty and cost meaning days.   Leviticus 23 commands God’s people: “Count seven full weeks from the morning after the Sabbath when you brought the sheaf as a Wave-Offering, fifty days until the morning of the seventh Sabbath.   Then pre...

  I once heard a story about a United Methodist Church.   One day the congregation decided to split.   “What was the issue?” I hear you ask.   Was it liturgical reform?   Was it women clergy?   No.   The disagreement was the number of slices into which pies should be cut. Now, the number of slices in which to cut a pie seems like a rather petty dispute.   Sure, some get a slightly bigger piece of pie.   Does it really matter if one gets 6 or 8 slices out of a pie at a church potluck?   No, it does not matter in the eternal realm of things. Jesus, in His “high priestly prayer,” prays for His followers to have unity.   To be one as Jesus and the Father are one.   To be one as Jesus is one with us.   Here, Jesus does not mean conformity.   I have said before, unity does not equal conformity. Jesus is not talking about everyone having the same beliefs.   You poll twenty Christians and you will get at least twen...

  Jesus reminds me of a teacher just before finals.   Jesus is trying hard to remind His friends of what is important.   What they’ll need to know for after Jesus is gone.   This is not the first time that Maundy Thursday evening that Jesus has reminded them of the importance of love.   Earlier, just after washing their feet, Jesus says: “Let me give you a new command: Love one another.   In the same way I loved you, you love one another.   This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:34-35; MSG)   Now, after supper in an extended teaching moment, Jesus tells His friends: “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. . . The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me” (vs. 15, 21).   This begs the question of what Jesus means.   Just what are Jesus’ commandments? In Mark chapter 12 , we read the two great commandments ar...

  “Don’t let this rattle you.   You trust God, don’t you?   Trust me.   There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.   If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you?   And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.” John 14:1-3 (MSG)             Here I love the King James Version.   “In My Father’s house are many mansions” (v. 2a).   Mansions.   Not just a closet or a spare room added on but a mansion.   To me, that speaks of the lavish abundance of God’s grace and mercy.   There is room enough and to spare in God’s kingdom.   Room for you and for me.             Jesus speaks these words of assurance just hours before His own death.   Here a little context may be helpful for us.   Jesus is gathered w...

              1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)             Psalm 23 is a familiar and favorite psalm for many of us.   Psalm 23’s words are full of comfort and assurance.   Generations have found hope in the reminder of God’s faithfulness and love, even in the most challenging of times.   Sheep and shepherds are not a common image for us.   We are far from our farming roots.             Shepherds and sheep were common in Jesus’ time.   They are still frequent sight in the Middle East and in parts of the British Isles.   In the Hebrew Scriptures, as in Psalm ...

  Grief                             Shock Doubt                            Fear Uncertainty                     Anger These are just a few of the emotions that I’m sure filled the Upper Room that first Easter afternoon.   The women have come with their strange report- the tomb was empty.   But those gathered together do not yet believe.   Suddenly, the resurrected Jesus is with them behind the locked doors of the room. In the midst of pain and confusion, in the middle of fear and doubt, Jesus offers His friends the gift of peace.   We tend to think of peace as an absence of war or conflict.   Pea...