May 28th Weekly Word

What a Manatee Teaches us about God

“Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures" (Genesis 1:20).

I took the photo above years ago while visiting Blue Springs. We saw quite a few manatees that day. I love these slow, gentle giants of the sea — their movements ponderous yet somehow also graceful.

But, of course, the manatee is just one species of many that dwells in the waters on earth. Beyond them, over 300,000 others have been identified if you include the different kinds of fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, plants, algae, and microorganisms. And those are only the ones that we know of; there could be as many as ten times that number.

It's mind blowing to ponder such things when we read in Genesis that God spoke into existence all the living creatures in the water (and in all the world for that matter). This is the creativity of our God who displays a bit of who he is through the diversity of every creature he made. Romans 1 tells us as much: "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."

You see, God's creation points to God. It's why we should never take for granted what surrounds us. If we have eyes to see, the trees and the manatees and everything in between tell us something about the divine.

So what might a manatee teach us about God? What comes to mind for me is God's patience, and the fact that he is never in a hurry. I don't know about you, but that's something that really speaks to my heart because it's the opposite of our society. Just hop on the freeway and do the speed limit to see the truth in this. What you'll find are people riding your tail, flying by you in a huff, honking, flashing their lights or signaling their displeasure by other means (or gestures). The truth is we are a rushed people even if nothing is pressing.

But that's not the case with the manatee. This lumbering beast meanders from one algae covered rock to another, rolling along restfully without, it seems, a worry in the world. And that reflects its unworried, unhurried Creator.

Jesus further confirms this. As the one who Paul tells us is the image of the invisible God, Jesus showcases for us who the Father is. And what do we find with him in the Gospels? A man on a mission? Yes. But never, not once, do we see him in a hurry even when it seems he should be.

He pauses to heal a woman with an issue of blood while on the way to heal a synagogue leader's daughter, who happens to be on the brink of death. And this delay kept him from arriving before she died. The same thing happened with Lazarus when Jesus intentionally stalled his arrival. In both cases, his unhurried disposition led to more glory for God as Jesus raised them both from the dead.

Friends, this characteristic of God is important for us to consider. But one of the ways to apprehend it, as well as his other attributes, is by observing his creation. Stopping to admire the beauty of God's world is part of what it means to think theologically. Let's remember then to look around and allow the wonder of all that God has made to reveal the wonder of who he is.

Darin+

May 21st Weekly Word

Pentecost: The Gospel for the Nations

As many of you know, I previously worked for Wycliffe Bible Translators, where Ginger still serves. Wycliffe is devoted to making Scripture available to all people in the languages they understand best. As part of my work, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Tanzania and be involved with the celebration of a newly published New Testament in Burunge – a minority language of roughly 40,000 people. The people were joyful to have God's Word in their language. As you can see from the photo, expressions of elation broke out in the form of dancing, singing, and praising God.

I'm remembering this trip as I reflect on the readings for Pentecost because something like it happened on that first day of the Church's existence. The Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and they proclaimed God's "deeds of power" in the languages of all the people present. Of course, the difference is that this was a supernatural experience whereby the disciples received utterance from the Spirit.

But the point of the event applies still today: God desires to reach every tribe, tongue, and nation with the glorious message of the gospel. Friends, let's not forget this. On the day of the Church's birth, God's first act was to fill his people with the Spirit so that they could proclaim the good news of Jesus to the nations. And that is still our call. Would you take a moment to pray for this? Below is a wonderful prayer from the BCP that you can pray right now.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP)

Darin+

May 7th Weekly Word

Monica and the Strength of a Mother’s Prayer

Since this Sunday is Mother's Day, I want to take this time to honor mothers and all who offer a mother's love in our lives and community. I’m especially grateful for my mother, whose deep love and tireless prayers have sustained both my brother and me.

Our prayer book includes a calendar list of Christians we commemorate throughout the year, and this week we honor one of the most celebrated mothers in Christian history: Monica, the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo.

Augustine is arguably the most important theologian of the early church. Later dubbed the Doctor of Grace, he's known for his articulation of original sin, human moral incapacity, and the absolute necessity of divine grace for salvation. So pervasive and respected was his influence that later theologians during the Reformation (both Catholic and Protestant) sited him to defend their views regarding various contested issues.

However, as significant as Augustine's theology was, his influence on the Church was preceded by his mother's influence on him. You see, Augustine didn't always hold to Christian beliefs. In fact, during his youth, he lived a life devoted to philosophy, sensual pleasure, and status. And when his attention did turn toward religion, at first he latched on to a heretical belief system called Manichaeism.

But through all of Augustine's waywardness and confusion, there was one constant. The prayers and influence of his mother, Monica.

Her life had not been easy. The man she wed, through a prearranged marriage, was a pagan and given to a volatile temper. But Monica responded with gentleness, patience, and persistent prayer, through which he softened and converted to Christianity shortly before his death — a change Monica attributed entirely to God’s mercy.

She brought to bear this same disposition of gentleness, patience, and prayer when it came to her son's waywardness. His straying weighed heavy on her heart, and she shed countless tears for him and stayed close, following as his academic career moved him across the region — first to Carthage, then to Rome, and finally to Milan. While in Milan, she met the bishop whose preaching would become the catalyst for Augustine’s conversion. When Augustine finally placed faith in Christ in 387, Monica’s lifelong hope was fulfilled. That same year, she fell ill and died.

Friends, a mother's love and prayers are often behind the scenes of those whom God heals, guides and raises up. Whether biological or not, God ordained the nurturing care of maternal love to be that which God often uses to anchor us in seasons of uncertainty and draw us back to him.

This Mother's Day, let's give thanks to God for our mothers or those whom God has used to showcase maternal love in our lives.

Darin+

April 30th Weekly Word

Spiritual Milk — God's Word and God's People

"Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:2).

Three years ago this coming Sunday, our youngest daughter was born. In one respect, it feels like no time at all. On the other hand, it seems odd now to consider that there was ever time that she wasn't here with us. But, of course, there was that time, and when she arrived everything changed. One of the primary concerns back then was making sure that she was feeding well, which is a concern for all parents with newborns.

But it's not just a concern for newborns on the physical level. Peter makes clear in our upcoming epistle reading that feeding well is a spiritual consideration for Christians too. You see, he's connecting this metaphor of spiritual milk to what he said earlier in the chapter about God giving us "a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Now Peter isn’t limiting the need for spiritual milk to recent converts. Rather, he’s instructing all believers to feed on that which moves us toward experiencing the goodness of the Lord.

But what is this spiritual milk? Well, earlier in the chapter Peter tells us that it's the "living and enduring Word" that has brought about this new birth in us. So God's Word is one of the main things we feed on that allows us to experience his goodness and sustain us as believers. The exhortation, then, is to feed on Scripture with the eagerness of those who know it is our sustenance.

But that's not all. Our reading also connects this necessary nourishment to the shared life of God’s people, where we grow together into Christ. You see, Peter proceeds in this chapter to articulate an ecclesiology (which means the theology of the church) that is so interconnected that it can be described as one spiritual house — made up of God's people, formed as living stones with Christ as the cornerstone.

Now that is unity. That is interdependence. And as it pertains to our original metaphor, it points to church community as one aspect of the spiritual milk that helps us experience the goodness of God and "growth into salvation."

So friends, let's eagerly feed on the spiritual milk that nourishes us by means of God's Word and connection with his people. And as we do so, may God's goodness be revealed in our hearts and lives.

Darin+

April 23rd Weekly Word

Goats, Sheep and the Way of Dependence

As I was thinking about Good Shepherd Sunday, I couldn't help but reflect on sheep, of course, but also on another farm animal – goats. For such a cute creature, its seems like goats get a bad wrap in Scripture. After all, in one of Jesus' parables (Mt 25) about the final judgement, he separates the sheep from the goats, with the goats representing the unrighteous.

Why this symbolism though? Well, it really amounts to the fact that goats are independent, curious, and willful while sheep have more of a gentle temperament and are thus more apt to follow their shepherd.

But here's the thing, those goat characteristics aren't necessarily bad. In fact, who wouldn't want their child to be curious, in some respects willful, and one day independent. These are descriptors of a healthy individual, right?

Well, yes. But the contrast that Jesus' parable sets up revolves around a heart that trusts God and relies on him (sheep) versus one that strays and seeks its own way (goat).

You see, it's only when we acknowledge our reliance on God that we can be independent in a truly healthy way. Why?

Because when we seek independence apart from God and apart from his people, it becomes self‑protective, self‑sufficient, and eventually self‑absorbed. And that is a dangerous place to be. In fact, it's the very reason the goats in this parable are condemned. Their independence from God and others had apparently collapsed into indifference, and they refused to address the basic needs of those around them.

But when we trust our Good Shepherd and follow him as his sheep, we experience a security that allows us to be ourselves – our true selves who God has called us to be. In that Christ-rooted identity, we can give, risk, serve and grow because we don't have to be guarded, defensive or anxious, trying to establish our own worth or protect our own domain. Dependence on God then creates the ground from which real independence can flourish.

So friends, let’s follow Christ, our Good Shepherd, and entrust ourselves again to his faithful care.

Darin+

April 16th Weekly Word

Cosmic Currency

"You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish ...Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart." (1 Peter 1:18-19, 22).

I vaguely remember the day this photo was taken. It was Easter, and I was three or four. Notice what's in the bowl. Eggs... real eggs. Yep, back then, we'd hunt for actual eggs – hardboiled and colored with food dye. Nowadays, of course, the eggs used in egg hunts are plastic and contain chocolate.

I get it. I mean you don't want to eat hardboiled eggs that have been out of the fridge for more than a couple hours. And kids generally like candy better anyways.

But I have to admit, I miss the days of real egg hunts. Why? Likely it's just nostalgia. But I think that wistfulness is connected to a desire for what's real in a much broader sense, especially in a society now where that which is fabricated prevails.

Do you ever have similar longings for realness? Our upcoming epistle reading struck me with the truth of what's ultimately real. In chapter 1, Peter sets up a contrast between the temporary, fabricated notion of worth versus that which is really valuable.

He says that we have been ransomed "not with perishable things like silver or gold." You see, as appealing as these metals are, they only have value because humans agree they do. Not only that, but they are temporary in that they can be corrupted, stolen, or devalued. All physical currencies then only signify something based on a worldly estimation of worth – one that is ultimately fleeting.

But the blood of Jesus, Peter declares, is different. It is the substance that signifies the reality of his sinless, holy, divine life poured out in obedience to God and love for us. And as such, his blood constitutes ultimate currency that paid our ransom. Why? Because it accomplishes what it signifies – it liberates, heals, cleanses, reconciles, redeems.

And if Christ's blood functions as cosmic currency in this way, then his resurrection is the receipt, the proof that redemption is real and that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice as that which secures our salvation.

Peter makes this clear a verse later, saying, "Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God."

Now that is wonderful news. And as such it can inspire us toward something else that is real. Peter mentions it a the end of the reading. He calls it "genuine mutual love," a love that is deep and from the heart. Friends, when the truth of God’s redemptive plan fills our hearts with what is most real—God's love in Jesus—it naturally overflows as genuine love toward others.

So, as we move into the third week of Eastertide, let’s allow the realness of God’s restorative work in Christ to flood our hearts in ways that ripple outward to one another and to a world that needs the life his resurrection unleashes.

Darin+

April 9th Weekly Word

Beyond the Bowl

"My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;

my body also shall rest in hope.

For you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor let your holy one see the Pit.

You will show me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy,

and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore."

(Psalm 16:9-11)

When my oldest daughter was four, she had a betta fish that she named Curly. But one day it jumped out of its bowl. We found it still alive and placed it back in the water, but it was too late.

Hours later it hovered motionless at the bottom of the bowl and eventually became a belly-up-betta. We did a brief service by the toilet, at which my daughter sang and then cried. It was a solemn yet beautiful ceremony.

Poor Curly had decided it would push the envelope of its existence. Apparently, the proverbial grass looked greener on the other side of the glass. Obviously, it was not – it was the wrong environment for a fish. But our funeral rectified that as we placed Curly’s corpse back in water – the place of its origin.

As a result of this memorial, I’ve come to the conclusion that toilet bowl funerals are

quite suitable for fish in the same way that dirt funerals are appropriate for humans and

ground dwelling animals; it makes sense in the circle of life as we know it.

But while death may mark the doorway to dirt for human bodies and a segue to the sea for pet fish named Curly, I’m convinced that through Jesus, resurrection and restoration have entered the world—their presence incrementally and mysteriously rewinding and reversing the known order of nature. Now, in large part hidden, a quantum explosion of revelation will one day disclose the ways in which these forces have been at work in and through God and his people.

On that day, I believe fish will still swim in the sea, and humans will still walk on land, but the circle of life will no longer entail death in this new heavens and new earth. Life will abound undaunted by the boundaries now imposed in this decaying world. Why?

Because we are returning to the ultimate place of our origin beyond the doorways of death and dirt. We are returning to God, whose breath brought us into being and whose life will sustain us into eternity.

This returning, of course, involves exiting the aquarium, but don’t be afraid; Jesus’ resurrection assures us that beyond the bowl, a new body and a restored environment await those who believe and trust in him.

Darin+

April 1st Weekly Word

Resurrection Rejoicing

by Ginger Metz

Psalm 118:14-19

The Lord is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.

There is a sound of exultation and victory

in the tents of the righteous:

The right hand of the Lord has triumphed!

the right hand of the Lord is exalted!

the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!"

I shall not die, but live,

and declare the works of the Lord.

The Lord has punished me sorely,

but he did not hand me over to death.

Open for me the gates of righteousness;

I will enter them;

I will offer thanks to the Lord.

Easter is coming! We’ve spent all this time in Lent pondering the desert. Now we are coming to REJOICE! Yes, we still have a few very solemn days ahead. Some of the darkest but we know the story. We know who is triumphant!

But this makes me think, how do we show this rejoicing? A few years ago, I stumbled upon an Orthodox monastery that streams services on YouTube. Let me tell you, their Easter celebration is amazing. The sanctuary is covered in flowers, and they are dancing and shouting “Christ is risen. Truly He is risen.”

N.T. Wright in his book, Surprised by Hope endorses such a celebratory response. He says, “Easter is about the wild delight of God’s creative power…we ought to shout Alleluias instead of murmuring them.”

This is the most holy of days, the most holy of times. Are we really embodying that spirit? Or does our attitude during Eastertide resemble Lent? Let’s start looking at calendars differently. Easter is more than a day; it’s a 50 day celebration until Pentecost. Maybe we should take this time and further the Kingdom. Let’s rejoice in art, plant a tree, start a garden, or maybe we just need a bit of self-care. As for me, I’m going to start learning a new skill, something I’ve wanted to learn for many years.

May we celebrate loudly our Risen Savior, the hope that we have and the beauty of the Kingdom.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

March 26th Weekly Word

Donkeys of Peace and Passion

"The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

'Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!'"

(Matthew 21:7-9)

Yes, I know. That's a horse with Ginger and not a donkey. We searched and searched on our devises for a photo of a donkey but to no avail.

But I do remember interacting with a donkey on different trip to North Carolina. We were at an orchard grove that stabled some farm animals, including a donkey. I wasn't too fond of him though, in large part because he wasn't at all fond of me. When my family went up to the fence, he was fine. But when I approached, he brayed madly. And if you haven't heard a donkey bray, try to keep it that way. It's a terrible racket.

The truth is donkey's can be fierce. In fact, farmers often use them as a sentinel of sorts to guard against wolves or canines. Not only will they sound the alarm when a predator approaches, but they've been known to full on attack the intruder.

So it's interesting to consider why Jesus selected a donkey to ride into Jerusalem for his triumphal entry. The short of it is that even though donkeys are fierce, they were a symbol of peace in ancient times. We see that in the prophecy Jesus fulfills in this passage from the book of Zechariah. Chapter nine says:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth."

So riding a horse into a city would communicate military power, conquest and domination while a donkey would have indicated diplomacy, humility and peaceful intent.

Jesus is very deliberate about that image here. His mission into Jerusalem wasn't to bring violence to the city but rather to allow it to be done to him so as to fulfill his vocation as the sacrifice for sins.

Still I find the fierceness of the donkey compelling too. Yes, Jesus' intent was to bring peace and reconciliation to the hearts of those who trust in him. But during the week leading up to his crucifixion, he boldly took on "wolves in sheep's clothing" by calling out the hypocrisy of religious leaders and the oppressive structures they upheld in the city.

Friends, this is our Lord. Fiercely intentional to uproot evil yet doing so through the sacrifice that would make true peace possible.

Join me this week in meditating on this truth about who Jesus is and what that means for us, his people.

Darin+

March 19th Weekly Word

St. Patrick's Breastplate

Although the Beacon goes out on Thursdays, I'm writing this on Tuesday – St. Patrick's Day. So I thought I'd honor the Saint by including a prayer attributed to him, called St. Patrick's Breastplate. It's a beautiful and powerful prayer filled with rich theology and an extensive list of petitions, all grounded in a plea for the presence of Christ. While not included in our prayer book, the prayer does make up the lyrics for one of the songs in our hymnal. Will you join me in praying this prayer this week? Perhaps it will so move you that you'll go beyond that and add it to your daily or weekly prayers.

Darin+

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgement of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of the Cherubim,

In the obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward,

In the prayers of patriarchs,

In prediction of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven;

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendour of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak to me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's host to save me,

From snares of devils,

From temptation of vices,

From every one who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poisoning, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So there come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye of every one who sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

March 12th Weekly Word

Lesser Staffs

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall fear no evil;

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

(Psalm 23:4)

Whenever I go for a walk, I take my hiking stick (pictured above). A few months ago a neighbor asked me why I carried a stick in the neighborhood. I don't remember my response, but I think it was something deflective because I didn't want to share the real reason with a stranger.

The thing is, I feel a bit uneasy walking without my stick because of something that happened over 20 years ago.

One early summer morning in 2003, I was attacked by two Rottweilers while jogging. Nine bites later I was in the hospital getting stitched up. I healed physically, but the mental trauma hung on and to some degree still does.

So for me, the image of a staff (like in our psalm) holds weight. I get the tangible comfort that comes from having a rod put distance between me and whatever might be trying to harm me.

The truth is I'll probably always carry a stick of some sort when I run or walk. After all, I don't think it's a bad practice – but it is one largely motivated by an unhealed part of my soul.

What I suffered in this attack was triggered by physical trauma, but many of us have also endured emotional or spiritual wounds. And to defend those unhealed parts of our souls, it's not uncommon to take up another kind of staff – one that might also involve clinging to that which puts distance between us and whatever we perceive might reenact that trauma or reinjure that wound.

These staffs could amount to a variety of defense mechanisms that prevent us from entering into deeper fellowship with others and/or with God. Depending on the origin of the wound, some will steer clear of community or only enter in on a surface level, while others will use distractions to drown out Christ knocking on the door of their hearts. When things do move toward more substantive relationships, those who deal with emotional or spiritual trauma often engage in some form of relational sabotage or retreat into disconnection.

But here's the irony: through these defensive strategies, it's possible to push away the only one who can really protect us – the one Psalm 23 says is our Shepherd.

It reminds me of what Aslan says in The Chronicles of Narnia, "Oh, Adam's son, how cleverly you defend yourself against all that might do you good!"

How true it is. We often hold tight to our staffs of self-protection while ignoring the Lord's staff that is meant to bring comfort and peace. But the reality is that if the trauma is of a spiritual nature, it's often a process or a path even to get to the point where we trust God's staff as that which protects rather than punishes us.

It is a path, however, that's well worth walking.

During Lent I'd encourage you to consider getting onto that path. It might be a fearful first step, but remember that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is walking with you. And in a figurative way I imagine that the staff he carries has been chiseled from the cross through which he demonstrated his great love for you and me. With that staff, he beats back the enemies of our hearts – sin, accusation, guilt, shame, and fear.

So, dear friend, will you join me on this journey with Jesus this Lent? And while traveling this path, I pray that we learn how to trust him and let go of our lesser staffs.

Darin+

As an additional note, I want to say that these are often deep and hard things to reckon with, and meditating on these truths can be helpful. But God also works through means like counseling, pastoral care and spiritual guidance.

If you’d like to chat personally about any of what I discussed here, feel free to reach out to me. If I'm not the right one to help in your situation, I can certainly point you in a good direction.

March 5th Weekly Word

First Things

"But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

How we perform is important in this world — on every level. From work to family to sports to church, we are assessed based on our competence, commitment, output, effectiveness, etc. And much of the time this is helpful because it aids our understanding of how we're doing and how we can improve.

But that performance-based mindset can have devastating consequences when it bleeds into relationships and sets up conditions for love and acceptance. And nowhere is this truer than when it infiltrates our perceptions and beliefs about God.

But here's the thing, misunderstanding God's love for us as conditional based on performance is incredibly common. And I guess it makes sense because there are commands and consequences for disobedience dispersed throughout all of the Scriptures — both in the Old and New Testaments. So we must understand this correctly to grasp truly the good news message of Christ crucified. And the verse above from our upcoming epistle reading is helpful in that regard.

You see, God's love in Christ was enacted while we were still sinners before we had any inclination to obey or follow him. Now you might object by observing that Christ died long before any of us were even born.

But the point here is that God's love for us predated anything good that we might do. God's plan to redeem us through the cross was put into place when humanity was still in rebellion. It wasn't based on our goodness but on his love for us even when we were in a sinful state. And the case Paul is making here is that if he treated us that way while we were enemies, how much more will he pour out his grace upon us now that we are his children.

While it's true that there are commands and consequences in the Scriptures, those come after God has already accepted us into his family. We didn't have to perform in order to receive adoption. That came freely, lovingly, lavishly. And now in response to that great love, he has called us to live a life that reflects his love back to him and to others — not to earn his love but to channel it. There's a big difference.

First things must be first, you see. And the first thing in the gospel message is that God loved us while we were still sinners. Above all, friends, let that reality sink in this Lent, and may it fuel our Lenten practices and lead us closer to God.

Darin+

February 26th Weekly Word

Beautiful Chains

O to grace how great a debtor

daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

prone to leave the God I love;

here’s my heart; O take and seal it;

seal it for thy courts above.

The lines above are from one of my all time favorite hymns: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." To me, these lyrics bring to mind some very important truths.

First, they're a sobering reminder that even the hearts of the redeemed have a tendency to be pulled away from the Lord. Prone to wander/Lord I feel it/ Prone to leave the God I love.

I so appreciate the song writer's vulnerability here because what Christian really wants to admit this? But isn't it true? Haven't we all felt this tendency to wander? I know I have. And I guess it makes sense. Scripture reveals that we have a threefold enemy trying to pull us away from God: 1) Satan 2) the world system aligned with the spiritual forces of darkness 3) and our own sinful nature.

Now the truth is that as believers we are not simply puppets of these enemies; after all, we have received a new heart through the work of the Holy Spirit. But the struggle is real, as they say, because God's sanctifying work in us won't be complete until the day of Christ's return. So until then we must contend with this threefold enemy, which as we all know is sometimes successful in leading us astray.

And because that's the case, our fight against it must entail repentance when we falter. Friends, please hear this because sometimes we can imagine that "fighting the good fight" only means winning the war against temptation. But that's not all there is to it. Contention also entails getting up when we fall, turning away from sin, and turning toward God and his grace – which is the other significant point that our hymn makes.

O to grace how great a debtor/ daily I’m constrained to be!/Let that grace now, like a fetter/ bind my wandering heart to thee.

What an unexpected yet appropriate image! Our wandering hearts chained to the grace of God. In other words, though we might be prone to wander, it's God's grace that holds us fast and brings us back. That's the wonderful prayer of the song writer, and it happens to be the prayer of our upcoming collect for Sunday as well.

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

What a beautiful collect! God's grace leading the wayward back to him through repentance. And Scripture confirms this truth as well, indicating that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4) so that we can experience his lavish grace and mercy. Kindness, grace and mercy – these are the beautiful chains with which God has bound his people. May we ever adorn them, and may they hold us fast within the confines of his eternal kingdom. Amen.

Darin+

February 19th Weekly Word

The Disposition of the Father

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our sins from us.

As a father cares for his children,

so does the Lord care for those who fear him.

(Psalm 103:10-13)

Last night we held our Ash Wednesday service, launching the season of Lent. Lent, of course, is a penitential time when we intentionally do a self inventory that involves repentance and sorrow for our sins. That process can be difficult because, if done right, it unearths areas in our hearts that might be selfish, rebellious or even dark. And it's important to see these realties within if we are to move toward true repentance.

But if we don't understand this season correctly, bringing our darkness to the surface can lead to despair. Inner voices of self condemnation wait to accuse us when the reality of our sin becomes clear. But here's the thing: self flagellation is not the point of Lent. The aim rather is turning our hearts away from the destructiveness of sin and toward God who desires to forgive, heal and restore.

Early Christians throughout the centuries have always understood this to be true. In fact, for around a thousand years, the Church has associated Psalm 103 with the penitential season of Lent — and that, of course, includes the verses above, which state that God is merciful, removes our sins, and cares for us as a father cares for a child.

"As a father cares for a child" ... The photo above is of my dad holding my brother and me at the beach. My dad is a fun person whose disposition toward us has always been that of love. Even in my own failures and rebellion growing up, I never doubted that he loved me. And that's what we need to remember about God as we head into this hard season of Lent.

Yes, our sins and sinful patterns are real and need to be surfaced and addressed. But even so, our heavenly Father's disposition toward us is that of love as he lavishly demonstrated by giving up his Son on our behalf so that we could be reconciled and restored to him. You see, it's because of his great love for us that he's committed to addressing the sin in our lives both through the redemptive work of Christ and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

Keep these truths in mind, friends, as we enter this season. And may God use these coming six weeks to reorient our hearts more fully towards him.

Darin+

February 13th Weekly Word

Head in the Clouds

“You have your head in the clouds.”

Has anyone ever said that to you? It’s a somewhat negative expression meaning you’re out of touch with reality or that you daydream too much. 

But biblically speaking, having your head in the clouds would probably be considered a good thing. Granted the expression is never used in the Bible, but Scripture records times when this literally happened. 

In our upcoming Gospel reading, Jesus takes three of his disciples up a high mountain and is transfigured before their eyes, "and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white." Afterwards, they're joined by Moses and Elijah, enveloped by a bright cloud and hear the voice of the Father.

Contrary to the modern meaning of the expression, what the disciples experienced on that day, with their heads in that bright cloud, connected them with reality – the reality of Jesus’ divine glory and his identity as the Son of God.

In that respect, having our heads in the clouds is not a bad thing. In fact, if by it, we mean basking in God’s presence and growing in the knowledge of Christ, then nothing could be better. 

Friends, as we move toward the last Sunday of Epiphany, may we experience afresh a manifestation of the light of Christ in our hearts, and may that light reflect out to those around us. 

Darin+

February 5th Weekly Word

Being Salt — Bringing Beauty

"Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.'"

Those who know me well know that I'm a bit of a salt addict, and ... here's a confession: that might be an understatement. It's not a good thing, especially when someone has high blood pressure.

But putting that aside, salt generally is a good thing. In the ancient world, it was certainly seen as such, given its flavoring and healing properties. And Jesus was likely pointing to these components when he spoke of his followers as being "the salt of the earth."

But what does that mean for us and how do we do live into that?

Well, thinking about the flavoring aspect of salt, we are called to make the world a better, more palatable place to live. Perhaps this point isn't communicated enough from the pulpit, but our presence in this world should be something that not only pushes back the darkness but also the dull, the vapid, the banal.

And that comes through engaging the world with redemptive beauty whether that be through art, music, writing... or whatever other creative giftings that God has given us to bring flavor to a saltless society.

Friends, creativity is part of our vocation as believers. After all we are made in the image of our God and Father who is the creator of this vast and beautiful universe. Our calling then is to reflect his image to the world, including his creativity.

And here’s the thing, when we decorate this world with redemptive beauty, we not only bring flavor but healing.

Musician and author Andrew Peterson articulates this point well in his book, Adorning the Darkness:

"I want you, dear reader, to remember that one holy way of mending the world is to sing, to write, to paint, to weave new worlds ... Those of us [who do those things] must remember that to a child a song may glow like a nightlight in a scary bedroom. It may be the only thing holding back the monsters. That story may be the only beautiful, true thing that makes it through all the ugliness of a little girl’s world to rest in her secret heart. May we take that seriously. It is our job, it is our ministry, it is the sword we swing in the Kingdom, to remind children that the good guys win, that the stories are true, and that a fool’s hope may be the best kind.”

Friends, when I think of creativity that way, I’m inspired by this calling to be the salt of the earth. I hope you are as well.

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, p 819).

Darin+

January 30th Weekly Word

Sacrifice and Summary

"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).

Above is a photo I took at the campus of one of the seminaries I attended. While I really enjoyed the experience, seminary can be challenging. After all, it includes many hours pouring over books, writing papers and listening to lectures. And all of that can get overwhelming. So it was nice when professors would take the time to summarize the often complex content that we'd been covering.

In our upcoming Old Testament reading, God does something like that for the people of Israel. At the beginning of chapter 6 in the book of Micah, God reminds Israel of what he'd done for them by redeeming them from Egyptian slavery and delivering them from others who intended them harm.

Then he poses the question as to what their response should be to his gracious love toward them. Should it be to offer an abundance of sacrifices? God's reply here was no. He wasn't interested in the sacrifice of calves or rams.

Instead he laid out a succinct and rather simple summary of what he required from his redeemed people: do justice, love kindness (or goodness), and walk humbly with him.

So is God not interested in sacrifice at all? Well, I would say he is very much interested in sacrifice, but there are a couple things to consider as we ponder this verse from the perspective of those who serve God after the coming of Jesus.

First of all, the animal sacrifices required by the law were mere shadows pointing to Christ's ultimate sacrifice, which redeemed us from slavery to sin. Listen to what the author of Hebrews says:

"Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins" (Hebrews 9:13-14).

You see, once Christ gave himself for us, the old system of sacrifice was obsolete since it served merely as a place holder that pointed to Christ. But even during the time of the Old Testament, those sacrifices didn't undo the necessity to live rightly, as our reading makes clear. If the people offered an abundance of sacrifices yet lived in a manner that was contrary to the Lord's laws, God indicated here and elsewhere that such offerings were unacceptable or even detestable.

So the Lord lays out in our verse here what real sacrifice should entail, and that is right living based on fellowship with the Lord.

Friends, as we remember the matchless sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, let's respond by walking humbly with our God and allowing that relationship to fuel our love for goodness and our concern for justice.

Darin+

January 22nd Weekly Word

The Beatific Vision

"You speak in my heart and say, 'Seek my face.' Your face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:11).

Have you ever wondered what the face of God looks like? Over the centuries, many have considered this question. During the middle ages, theologians delved deeply into the notion and developed a phrase to describe it. "The Beatific Vision" is defined as the ultimate Christian hope of seeing God face-to-face in heaven.

The word "beatific" comes from Latin for "to make happy" because the vision is understood to be the source of complete joy. The medieval theologian, Thomas Aquinas said that to look upon God unmediated (as his redeemed people) equals total fulfillment and utter bliss because that is the final purpose for humanity. Scripture confirms the blessedness of that experience rather explicitly when Jesus says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

But is seeing God's face strictly reserved for the future in heaven? In the ultimate sense, yes. But notice in our upcoming Psalm, God told David to seek his face even while he was alive.

Now, there is a metaphorical aspect to this because to seek God's face can mean generally to seek God himself. But the focus on his face particularly indicates the pursuit of a more intimate, personal encounter with the Lord. Consider the intimacy conveyed in the expressions of a face, like a warm smile of love and approval from a friend, a parent, or a spouse?

And this reveals a wonderful thing. God is eager for us to seek his face because he wants us to experience the blessedness of his presence. To be sure, we won't know the fullness of that joy until we stand before him as his redeemed children. But God is desirous that we get a foretaste of it through our daily interaction with him here and now.

Friends, let's respond to God's call like David did by praying, "Your face, Lord, will I seek."

Darin+

January 15th Weekly Word

Revisiting an Important Image

Are there photos that you look at a lot? I go back to the one above with some frequency because it reminds me of what a wonderful day our wedding was and what a wonderful woman I married. I think these kinds of reminders are helpful especially when the busyness and stresses of life pile up and tempt us to prioritize other things.

In a similar way, our upcoming Gospel reading gives us a metaphorical image of Jesus that is vital to remember and revisit in the midst of life's many distractions.

During the season of Epiphany, our readings quite naturally highlight different epiphanies related to who Jesus is. The Gospel text for this coming Sunday points to a significant one — the moment John the Baptist identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." What an insight for so early on! John said this shortly after Jesus' baptism when his ministry had just launched, somehow picking up on the nature of Jesus' purpose and what that would entail.

You see, "the Lamb of God" hearkens back to the Passover in the Old Testament, when God told the Israelites to sacrifice a spotless lamb and paint its blood on the doorposts and the lentil (top) of their dwellings, so the Angel of Death would pass over them in the final plague against Egypt.

Whether or not John understood the full implications of his words, we don't know, but in that moment, he prophetically identified Jesus' purpose on earth and the means through which he would save his people from their sins. Jesus — God's own sinless Son — would shed his pure, precious blood on the cross to pay the sin debt we incurred. Interestingly enough, John revisits this truth again the next day, pointing out Jesus as the Lamb of God to two of his disciples. John, it seems, recognized the significance of this image and the need to come back to it again.

While this may not be a new epiphany for us as believers, it's one of the most important of all. Hence the reason that we remember it every week during Holy Eucharist as we partake of Christ's body and blood.

Friends, don't let the importance of this truth get away from you in all the bustle of life. This epiphany is at the heart of the gospel message. By believing in it, you entered the household of God whereby you were adopted into his family. God has granted you eternal life and everlasting fellowship with him because of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

So let us lean into this description of Christ as the Lamb, our sacrifice, and may this image of our loving Lord inspire in us a renewed love for him.

Darin+

January 8th Weekly Word

Divine Manifestation

Have you ever experienced an epiphany? Aside from it's significance as a season in the Christian calendar, it's defined as: "a sudden, profound moment of clarity, insight, or realization that dramatically shifts one's perspective, understanding, or worldview."

This modern use of the word can have different contexts. Perhaps you had an epiphany regarding some challenge you were facing at work or in a relationship. Or maybe it was an introspective psychological insight related to your past that helped you understand current patterns in your life. For me sometimes nature itself can facilitate what I call mini-epiphanies. The photo above was one of those moments where the blue in one part of the sky appeared almost otherworldly – divine even. My epiphany in that moment revolved around a renewed sense of the Lord's beauty as revealed in this aspect of his creation.

Whatever the context that facilitates the insight, these kinds of epiphanies are moments that contribute to a change of perspective.

The Scriptures also communicate the idea of of epiphany but on the divine scale. The root of the word epiphany is derived from the Greek, meaning "manifestation." Epiphany as a season in the Christian calendar initially points to the manifestation of the star that led the wisemen to the Christ child. Beyond that, it speaks to the manifestation of Christ himself to the Magi, who were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as King.

But that's not all that we find in our Scripture readings this season. The first Sunday after Epiphany is a feast day that marks the baptism of Christ, which is also a significant manifestation. There in the waters of the Jordan, God the Father identifies Jesus as his beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him, filling him and equipping him to take up his calling as the savior of the world.

Friends, may we orient our hearts toward Epiphany this week, remembering that God manifested himself to the world through the incarnation of his dear Son. And may our focus on that truth grant us a personal epiphany whereby we experience renewed joy, love, and purpose that comes from the knowledge of Christ's love.

Darin+