(Tuesday)
As I was growing up, we spent a lot of time playing in the great outdoors. Adventure was as close as our metal swing set which tilted precariously if you flew too high. We caught thousands lightning bugs, picked buckets of blackberries, ran hundreds of miles, and never lost sight of our house. We dug clay from the creek banks to shape ashtrays and climbed the tree in the front yard to find caterpillars for fishing. We played kickball between the tool shed and the drainage ditch, and draped lawn chairs with blankets for incredible carport forts. We made up our own games and chose teams from whomever was done with home chores. Sometimes those teams were stacked a little unevenly because the older kids would choose each other and leave us younger ones to fend for ourselves.
When we named our teams, we young ones would pick something mild, something happy, something that made us feel like good people. Maybe we would be the Lambs or the Butterflies. The older kids had different ideas. Their team names gravitated toward Pirates or Wolves, and then they would make up rules that benefited their side. “Pirates don’t play by the same rules you do,” they would say. “Pirates are bad guys.” We didn’t win games back then. We just enjoyed being outside and accepted the fact that we were going to lose to the bad guys. That’s ok, I’d tell myself. I’d really rather be a good guy. Besides, I like butterflies.
Narratives about good guys and bad guys have been in place since the beginning of storytelling. Long before house-building pigs and a ruthless wolf, tales of good choices vs. bad behavior flavored our history. As oral traditions gave way to the written word, conflicts persisted. One of the first biblical stories was about the bad brother who murdered the good brother. Generations later, stories continued to flow about folks whose conduct fluctuated among the good, the bad and the ugly.
The people craved evil things, worshiped false gods, practiced sexual immorality, tested God, grumbled… and they died. They behaved badly and were killed because of that. One time, twenty-three thousand died in one day! We’ve read the stories, but these were not necessarily who we might consider bad guys. They weren’t corrupt government officials or immoral drug dealers; they weren’t even pirates. These people were Hebrews – the chosen people of God. These were the ones who had the teaching of Abraham and were being led by Moses. These were supposed to be the good guys!
In his first letter to the people in Corinth, Paul reminds us of those very Israelite people and their defining deaths. “These things were examples for us,” he writes. “These things happened to them… and were written as a warning for us.” Paul goes on to detail how all the enticements we face today are neither new nor unique. Rather, temptations to enter into bad behavior and make poor choices are commonplace among people of all times. Just as the generations before us, we crave things that are unhealthy. We adore things in ways that take our focus away from God. We exercise little restraint when faced with morality.
However, Paul notes, we have a promise of constancy from the Creator of our Universe. God is faithful and will never allow us to be persuaded beyond what we can handle. “Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.”
What a comforting thought that is. When I face dangerous decisions, risky escapades, or unhealthy activities, I have options. God provides me with enough hope, enough strength, enough wisdom, and enough courage to power through anything I encounter. I never have to fend for myself, and in the end I’ll always be on the winning team.
Playing for the good guys,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 107
Eternal God, by your word you create and by your breath you give life. We worship you with joy and thanksgiving, praising you for the fullness that your presence brings to our lives, and our life together. We praise you that by your word you feed us; we are satisfied, and there is always more. Your goodness is displayed in your wonderful works for all humanity, and in your perfect love. In our humanity we are rebellious, and sometimes follow after foolish ideas; going ways which lead away from life with you… And yet, when we cry out you are there, your word healing our inner emptiness and pain, embracing us, leading us in your life-giving ways. For your unending faithfulness, revealed to us in Christ Jesus, and made present to us in your Holy Spirit we praise you, Lord God. Amen.
re-worship.blogspot.com
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 107 – So they cried out to the Lord in their distress, and God saved them from their desperate circumstances. God brought them out from the darkness and deep gloom; he shattered their chains.
Numbers 20 – The Lord spoke to Moses: “You and Aaron your brother, take the staff and assemble the community. In their presence, tell the rock to provide water. You will produce water from the rock for them and allow the community and their animals to drink.”
1 Corinthians 10 – But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
As I was growing up, we spent a lot of time playing in the great outdoors. Adventure was as close as our metal swing set which tilted precariously if you flew too high. We caught thousands lightning bugs, picked buckets of blackberries, ran hundreds of miles, and never lost sight of our house. We dug clay from the creek banks to shape ashtrays and climbed the tree in the front yard to find caterpillars for fishing. We played kickball between the tool shed and the drainage ditch, and draped lawn chairs with blankets for incredible carport forts. We made up our own games and chose teams from whomever was done with home chores. Sometimes those teams were stacked a little unevenly because the older kids would choose each other and leave us younger ones to fend for ourselves.
When we named our teams, we young ones would pick something mild, something happy, something that made us feel like good people. Maybe we would be the Lambs or the Butterflies. The older kids had different ideas. Their team names gravitated toward Pirates or Wolves, and then they would make up rules that benefited their side. “Pirates don’t play by the same rules you do,” they would say. “Pirates are bad guys.” We didn’t win games back then. We just enjoyed being outside and accepted the fact that we were going to lose to the bad guys. That’s ok, I’d tell myself. I’d really rather be a good guy. Besides, I like butterflies.
Narratives about good guys and bad guys have been in place since the beginning of storytelling. Long before house-building pigs and a ruthless wolf, tales of good choices vs. bad behavior flavored our history. As oral traditions gave way to the written word, conflicts persisted. One of the first biblical stories was about the bad brother who murdered the good brother. Generations later, stories continued to flow about folks whose conduct fluctuated among the good, the bad and the ugly.
The people craved evil things, worshiped false gods, practiced sexual immorality, tested God, grumbled… and they died. They behaved badly and were killed because of that. One time, twenty-three thousand died in one day! We’ve read the stories, but these were not necessarily who we might consider bad guys. They weren’t corrupt government officials or immoral drug dealers; they weren’t even pirates. These people were Hebrews – the chosen people of God. These were the ones who had the teaching of Abraham and were being led by Moses. These were supposed to be the good guys!
In his first letter to the people in Corinth, Paul reminds us of those very Israelite people and their defining deaths. “These things were examples for us,” he writes. “These things happened to them… and were written as a warning for us.” Paul goes on to detail how all the enticements we face today are neither new nor unique. Rather, temptations to enter into bad behavior and make poor choices are commonplace among people of all times. Just as the generations before us, we crave things that are unhealthy. We adore things in ways that take our focus away from God. We exercise little restraint when faced with morality.
However, Paul notes, we have a promise of constancy from the Creator of our Universe. God is faithful and will never allow us to be persuaded beyond what we can handle. “Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.”
What a comforting thought that is. When I face dangerous decisions, risky escapades, or unhealthy activities, I have options. God provides me with enough hope, enough strength, enough wisdom, and enough courage to power through anything I encounter. I never have to fend for myself, and in the end I’ll always be on the winning team.
Playing for the good guys,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 107
Eternal God, by your word you create and by your breath you give life. We worship you with joy and thanksgiving, praising you for the fullness that your presence brings to our lives, and our life together. We praise you that by your word you feed us; we are satisfied, and there is always more. Your goodness is displayed in your wonderful works for all humanity, and in your perfect love. In our humanity we are rebellious, and sometimes follow after foolish ideas; going ways which lead away from life with you… And yet, when we cry out you are there, your word healing our inner emptiness and pain, embracing us, leading us in your life-giving ways. For your unending faithfulness, revealed to us in Christ Jesus, and made present to us in your Holy Spirit we praise you, Lord God. Amen.
re-worship.blogspot.com
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 107 – So they cried out to the Lord in their distress, and God saved them from their desperate circumstances. God brought them out from the darkness and deep gloom; he shattered their chains.
Numbers 20 – The Lord spoke to Moses: “You and Aaron your brother, take the staff and assemble the community. In their presence, tell the rock to provide water. You will produce water from the rock for them and allow the community and their animals to drink.”
1 Corinthians 10 – But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html