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Good Samaritan United Methodist Church 19624 Homestead Road, Cupertino, California 94087 - 408-253-0751 - goodsam.info |
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Sunday, February 10, 2008
Matthew 4:12-25 Jay Stanton
Oh yes! It is so great to sit and ponder what Jesus started so long ago!
We start by leaving our home and “breaking out” of our normal everyday lives.
It’s time to start a Ministry in Galilee.
It’s time to fulfill the Prophecy of Isaiah.
For the People who sat in darkness, the light has dawned anew. Our lives today are indeed hampered by the darkness. Everywhere you turn it creeps into our daily lives, sometimes all at once, but most of the time, it seems to be a gradual relentless bombardment.
Remember the light! Remember it’s always so close that you can “breakout” and move into it. It feels so good!
You are now bathed in the “Light of our Lord” Jesus Christ.
Feel the warmth, feel the love, it is freely given and all are invited to share in the light.
So now you are warm from the inside out. As you walk along you have a certain bounce in your step. The world is so beautiful and you are so fortunate to be alive and it is “well with your soul”. You come to the water, you see the people, casting out their nets and you say, “Come, Follow me!” The glow from your spirit lifts their hearts and they drop their nets and come. Today, we step out into our communities, our country and the world and we have the same challenge. To ask the question. To show the light. To be a living example of what being a Christian is all about.
“So Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.” Mat 4:23
So must we all, as we move throughout our lives.
Whether it’s at the waters edge or in our own homes. The opportunities are endless for sharing the love and light. God Bless
Monday, February 11, 2008
Matthew 5:1 – 20 Ms. Guang Hua Chow
Each year as the Lunar New Year approaches, I am reminded of the many cultural activities associated with the New Year. Two activities are especially remarkable: door scrolls and New Year greetings.
Right before Chinese New Year, Chinese people get ready by posting new door scrolls by either side of the front door. In the center of the front door is a large size “Fu” (fortune or good luck), “Bao” (treasure) or “Cai” (financial fortune), welcoming the fortune to roll into our household. On the New Years day, we visit our family and friends with greetings: “Gong Xi Fa Cai – congratulations and booming fortune”; or “Bu Bu Gao Sheng – climb up each step of the way” These greetings never steer far away from fortune, fame or power.
But here in Matthew 5, Lord Jesus teaches us the true fortune – a blessing from God – the Beatitudes. Such teaching is a huge departure from our cultural norm. In the text, “Blessed are the poor in spirit ... Blessed are those who mourn … Blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness …” Jesus had taught us these guidelines for our values in life.
Put against our cultural norm, not only are the Beatitudes not blessings, they can become problems for the believer. During the Cultural Revolution, the Christian believers were persecuted for their belief; such blessings have turned into trouble in the minds of the non-believers.
Yes, we are often locked up in our own perception of the cultural norm, unable to fight them while moving through life events. After becoming Christian, we frequently forget God’s blessing and continue fighting for the fortune and fame of this world. We find it hard to remove ourselves from the values of this world. Without the total transformation, we can not experience the true blessing.
When Jesus started his ministry, the first thing he taught was repentance. How important is repentance for us? Only through repentance and admitting our sins can we change into a new life. Return to following Jesus; in order to live out the true life – that is truly receiving the blessings which Jesus has given us.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Matthew 5:21-48. Dave Land
In Other Words …
At the close of yesterday's passage, Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the Scriptures, but to complete them. I think he also meant to "re-form" them so that they could speak again to the people of his time. These ancient words and ideas had ceased to be alive for them. Though they were observed, technically, they were often observed only technically. They had been around so long, repeated so often and practiced so automatically that they could no longer animate those who followed them.
Almost 800 years before Jesus, the prophet Hosea spoke for God, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Like his father, Jesus had no interest in heart-less rituals or mind-less repetitions of words, which deaden the spirit. When Jesus said that he came so that those who follow him will have life, he did not mean a sort of waking death, blindly following laws and pointlessly practicing rituals, but that seems to be what he found in Israel.
How would he wake them up? How could dead words — and people — live again?
One day, on a hillside east of the Jordan River, before a crowd of followers, Jesus set about reframing the old commands.
Today, when some people read Eugene Peterson's The Message or the New Living Translation and encounter modern language, contemporary idioms and approachable phrasing, they feel that they are no longer reading The Holy Bible, but some inferior, possibly untrustworthy human product. I wonder if the crowd on the hillside received Jesus' teachings in the same way?
"It's only right that he upholds the commandment, Thou shalt not kill", they may have said to one another, "but why is he talking nonsense about calling people names? What's that got to do with murder?" To Jesus, apparently, character assassination was murder just as surely as the crime of Cain. Jesus reframed the concept of murder beyond a physical act. Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism, follows Jesus' lead, restating the commandments in the positive. If we shall not kill, what, shall we do?
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our
neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.
Jesus continues, reframing adultery as a crime of the heart and not merely of the body; expanding the commandment against bearing false witness to prevent our making empty pious promises and dressing them up in religious phrasing.
Jesus summarizes in verse 48: "Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." Isn't that the point? To be more like God: crazy-generous towards others, even (especially) when they don't deserve it?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Matthew 6:1-18 Lucy Fang
Thank you, Lord. As I read this passage over, the familiar verses carve into my heart like a knife. Yes, simple guidance for all Christians, but how many people can do it? I ask myself in deep reflection, “How much have I done?” May God have mercy on me!
Speaking of prayer, the communication with God is as natural as children chatting with their parents. I have the habit of chatting with my heavenly father over the years. Prior to my retirement, I would chat with Lord Jesus while I drive: about happy events, about sad teary moments, about asking for help… no topic is off limits. Prior to sleep, I usually pray to God, as natural as saying “good night” as a child to my parents. But many times I have been too sleepy, and the prayer is done in a dream state. Even when I wake up in the middle of the night, I say a few words to the Lord. The night is deep, but the thoughts are especially clear. I feel so close to God. How can I have the joy of this special relationship with God if I didn’t have the insomnia?
Yes, it is a blessing to pray to the Lord. As the scripture says “…pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, we are not worthy to call you Lord. You chose us with your love, you gave us re-birth through your resurrection. I offer up my utmost gratitude. Lord, please grant this blessing to those who don’t yet know you, so that your kingdom will come soon. Lord, please encourage us as Easter comes around again, to grant us strength. Whether in what we say, how we act, I pray that we can follow your will. May God protect our hearts and thoughts. Amen
Wednesday, February 14 2008
Matthew 6:1-18 David Wang
Each Christian should pray, should know how to pray. Prayer is the communication between a human heart and the Holy Spirit. It cannot be seen or touched, but it can be felt. As if sending an e-mail message to our father in heaven, God can receive our message and know the sincerity in our plea.
When we communicate with the Holy Spirit, we can gain faith, receive strength. We’d have the perseverance under heavy burden, and see the first light of dawn in the dark. At the same time, we are able to decipher whether our action is pleasing or not pleasing to God.
It is important to have a quiet heart and sincere mind in prayer – because we are talking to God. Just as taught in Matthew, “do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men...” “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans…” Prayer is an assignment given to Christians by God; we need to work hard to do it well.
God is wonderful. As long as we approach God with a sincere and joyful heart in prayer, God will reply to our prayers. In 2007, Lucy and I frequently prayed that the daughter in Hong Kong would believe in Jesus Christ. On January 1, 2008, I receive a call from my daughter reporting that she has started regular worship. Witness the power of prayer.
O Lord, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You brought me into your pasture, so I can be away from the attacks of the snow storm and the savage of the wild beast. Lord, I thank you for listening to my prayers and bringing my daughter into your pasture. Amen.
Thursday, February 14 2008
Matthew 6:19-34 Bob Olah
This section is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus. There are several points made by Jesus discussing right living. Some of the ideas that come to mind are to not put all your heart and mind behind worldly things since these things are only temporary. You cannot serve God and money always jumps out during reading this section. It does not mean that we do not need to earn a living and save for unexpected expenses, but collecting money should not be our all consuming purpose in life.
The last section discusses not worrying about life, food, or the things you wear for God will provide. This does not mean that we just sit back, relax and all needs of life will be cared for. We are not to worry about our life but we are expected to take care of ourselves with God’s help.
When I think of worry I think of a corollary to worry and than is to over plan and over structure our life such that we cannot live each day to its fullest or live more in the now allowing room for the “aha” moments. This is a result of the being busy, over planning so as to not worry about what is next, but not leaving enough time within a day to enjoy the now and leaving more room for our relationship with God. I have tried to forget the task list periodically to experience the now more fully (maybe easier for non-engineers).
The other impression one can get from these sayings of Jesus is that if I do these things indicated, all will go smoothly with my life. Life is not that easy, but what it does mean is that the focus on our relationship with God and growth in his Grace and Goodness will help us through the challenges of life. The very end of this section gives the major point and that is to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you. By “given” is that we set our priorities such that when trials of life occur we will have our relationship with God and with our family of Christian believers who have helped us grow in faith and will be there to support us in our time of need.
Gracious God,
Help us to grow in our relationship with you: putting you first in everything we do. Amen
Friday, February 15, 2008
Matthew 7: 1-12 Lauren-Michelle Stevens
“I forgot she was created in the image of my God”
I do not want to be judged. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that sentence, with my friends, from my own mouth, etc. I think everyone has shared that thought, yet we continue to judge, day-in and day-out. For a while I convinced myself, and told others, that I did not judge people. That was, until I realized that “what color is her shirt, it looks like barf” and “wow, I could have played that piece of music in 6th grade” were judgments coming out of my own mouth. I find it hard to remember God’s message about not judging others, so I will share with you some lyrics that have helped me remember His message in a more current context.
Wide Eyed by Nichole Nordeman
When I met him on a sidewalk
He was preaching to a mailbox
Down on 16th Avenue
And he told me he was Jesus
Sent from Jupiter to free us
With a bottle of tequila and one shoe
He raged about repentance
He finished every sentence
With a promise that the end was close at hand
I didn't even try to understand
He left me wide eyed in disbelief and disillusion
I was tongue tied, drawn by my conclusions
So I turned and walked away
And laughed at what he had to say
Then, casually dismissed him as a fraud
I forgot he was created in the image of my God
Dear Father God,
Give me strength to refrain from passing judgment on your children, and
courage to admit that I am not perfect. I ask you to forgive me for measuring the worth of those created in your image.
Amen
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Matthew 7:13-29 Curtis and Lela Wilson
The Narrow and Wide Gates, verses 13, 14
It’s easy to lead a life of separation from God because we can decide for ourselves what’s good and what’s bad. The harder but much more satisfying path is accomplished by doing God’s will. Leading a Christian life can sometimes be difficult but the blessings are numerous. Life has many temptations but giving in only feels good a very short while. We must continually work hard at doing God’s will.
A Tree and It’s Fruit, verses 15 – 20
A prophet is one with a message from God. A false prophet is a person with a message not sent from God but who claims it was. “They come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” It’s hard to tell who’s a false prophet unless we look at what they do, not what they say or claim to be. “By their fruit you will recognize them.” Look for “good fruit” by observing what others do. Let’s not forget the evil of Jonestown and Jim Jones.
Asking to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven, verses 21, 22, 23
Does prophesy in God’s name, performing miracles and driving out demons automatically guarantee entrance to the kingdom of heaven? Not unless those doing so are truly doing the will of God. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
The Wise and Foolish Builders, verses 24 – 29
My daughter’s father-in-law has a home on top of a mountain in Marin. Several years ago they had severe rains which caused landslides. The father-in-law’s house was built on bedrock but his back yard was sandy soil. The back yard slid down the mountain but the house did not move.
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man building his house on rock.” But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us as we strive to be a truly good Christian. We know that life will sometimes be difficult but we also know that we will be blessed by doing your will. Help us not mislead others or be misled ourselves. Amen
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Matthew 8: 1-17 Cliff & Gretchen Ludwig
My kids are heavily into fantasy fiction. One says, “I’ll read any book with dragons in it.” When I was their age, I watched Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie on TV, but also studied the Gospels in my new KJV Bible. I equated magic with miracles and figured if I couldn’t be a witch or a genie, I’d go for Disciple.
Far from making life easier, working miracles is a tough job. Jesus is taking big risks in this passage. He touches a leper. He offers to enter a Gentile’s house. He is doing all this on the Sabbath. Each of these acts is prohibited under Jewish law. He comes to Peter’s house, presumably to rest from a full day of preaching and teaching, driving out demons and healing the dying. There, Jesus finds Peter’s mother-in-law suffering what may well have been typhoid or malaria. Rather than relaxing, Jesus calls up the strength and love necessary to “take up her infirmity” and make her well.
Even then he is not through. Once the sun goes down and the Sabbath officially is over, many more emerge carrying the lame and the ill and still Jesus musters the reserves of compassion inside his heart to heal them. 2000 years later, we still call on the love, strength, patience and determination of Jesus to carry us through those moments when we can’t manage alone.
Gracious God,
You’ve shown us, through Your son, how much one person can do. We know that we possess the necessary talents and strength to live out Your vision for us. We also know there are temptations, challenges and distractions that lure us off course. You never said it would be easy; there’s no magic spell that will do it for us. Better than that, You’ve provided the example, the enduring love and compassionate sacrifice of Jesus Christ to guide us, support us, forgive us, love us. Thank You for entrusting us, stumbling and tired, selfish and distracted, to further Your work in this world. Amen.