All The World's A Stage - August 30, 2015

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James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

"All the world's a stage, and All the men and women merely players. They have their exits and entrances." So said William Shakespeare in his play As You Like It.
All the world's a stage. At home we play our roles as parents and children, brothers and sisters. At work we take on the duties assigned to us, hoping to please our superiors. Within the community we assume responsibilities and interact with others. And yes here at church people fill a variety of roles.
It is natural and normal for us to be aware of how others perceive us, like actors who respond to the audience's laughter, boos, or even snores. In and of itself there's nothing wrong with that for we live and respond to each other.

Read more: All The World's A Stage - August 30, 2015

The Wisdom of… Solomon? - August 16, 2015 (Guest Speaker Doug Wood)

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1Kings 2:10-12,3:3-14
John 6:51-58

You ever wonder about Solomon?
He was rich. He had 700 wives – and if THAT wasn't enough – he had 300 concubines. 1,000 women – and THIS was the guy who asked for WISDOM?
He was the son of King David and Bathsheba. Note that she was not QUEEN Bathsheba. She was one of David's many wives – not the Queen. And Solomon was not the first child of Bathsheba and David – the first son died. That was punishment for David having Uriah killed – and for disobeying God by being greedy.
Think about the stories that Solomon grew up with around the palace.
"You mean I had an older brother? What happened to HIM? He DIED, because the LORD killed him????"
"Hey mom, how did you and Dad meet?" "Ummmmmm... ask your father."
And many others. "Dad, what did YOU do in the war with the Philistines?" "I killed a giant who was 9 feet tall with one shot from my sling!" "Suuuuurrrreeee, Daaad?" - Cue the teenager eye roll...

Read more: The Wisdom of… Solomon? - August 16, 2015 (Guest Speaker Doug Wood)

Will God Dwell On Earth? - August 23, 2015

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I Kings 8:22-30, 41-43

God's presence among the people of Israel was often visible and nearly tangible. Back when Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt, God showed up in a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. When Moses went up Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, he disappeared into a thick cloud on the mountain and the people knew for sure that he was with God.
Eventually the people made a tent to which Moses went to meet with God, who would descend in a cloud. The tablets of the Ten Commandments were placed in a box called the Ark of The Covenant. The ark symbolized for the people God's presence. It was so holy that only the priests were allowed to carry it, and even they could only touch the poles and not the ark itself. Most of the time it was kept in the tent of meeting. Sometimes it preceded the army into battle.

Read more: Will God Dwell On Earth? - August 23, 2015

Justice Is Hard Work - Augurst 9, 2015

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II Samuel 18:5-9,15, 31-33

"O my son, Absalom, my son, my son, Absalom! Would I had died instead of you; O Absalom, my son, my son!"
King David's words of grief at the death of his son, Absalom, tug at our heart strings. Having watched my husband grieve at the deaths of two of his children, I have a hint of the deep pain bereaved parents experience. I think I actually quoted David's words to him when Matthew Scott died. Truly he would have given his own life in exchange for either Matt or Erin.
As poignant as David's words are, however, his cry of grief masks the full story. Always it is more complicated than it appears to be on the surface.
We've been following David's story for much of this summer, though even then our readings have missed some important pieces. Let's review:
After he became king, David stayed home from the war. He noticed a beautiful woman bathing, sent for her and slept with her. Actually, he raped her. After using her for his own pleasure, he discarded her like a used tissue until she sent word that she was pregnant. To make a long story short, David arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle, and then married Bathsheba. The prophet Nathan predicted "Thus says the Lord, 'I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house.'"

Read more: Justice Is Hard Work - Augurst 9, 2015

Hearing The Truth In Love - August 2, 2015

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2 Samuel 11:26-12:13
Ephesians 4:1-16

Hearing the Truth in Love

A little over eight years ago, Doug and I attended the installation service for Kayle Rice as the new pastor at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse. Prior to the service, as we read through the bulletin, we noted that the congregation would charge their new pastor to "preach the truth as we see it." We nudged each other and wondered a bit at the wording. Sure enough, when the time came, the congregation dutifully said to their pastor, "preach the truth as we see it."
A few moments later the service included a time for a denominational official to speak. "That charge is supposed to be "preach the truth as YOU see it," she noted. I don't remember if she admitted that in all honesty, most congregations really want their pastor to indeed preach the truth as they see it, but it is true. Of course, in any congregation there are about as many understandings of the truth as there are people in worship. The pastor's job is to preach the truth as s/he sees it, which will nearly always leave at least a few people uncomfortable if not downright miffed.

Read more: Hearing The Truth In Love - August 2, 2015