Today’s reading is John 10 (click here for link)

The choice of the door as a symbol for the Savior is a curious one. While there is some precedent for door language in the Psalms (118:20) and in the synoptic Gospels (Matt. 7:13), it is hardly a dominant New Testament metaphor. It certainly lacks the poetry and the luster of figures like "the bread of life" and "the light of the world." When I think of doors, I can't help thinking of the 20-odd closet, bedroom, bathroom and exterior, doors in an old house that Pam and I used to live in back in Arkansas--few of which worked properly. Some didn’t latch evenly. Others had rusted hardware, squeaky hinges and handles that didn’t match. Still others swelled hopelessly with summer humidity and shrunk miserably with winter cold. So why the reference to Jesus as the door of the sheepfold? Why such a mundane symbol for the Savior of the world?

Well… a door is about as straightforward an image that there is. We all need a door in life. Without a door we are trapped. So when Jesus speaks of saving those who pass through the door, he has rescue in mind. "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, is a thief and "a bandit." No one can know the realm of abundant life without entering through Jesus. Everyone else will come up short. Sheep locked in a pen without a functioning door will never discover freedom. In fact, we can be trapped even when we feel secure in our own self-assuredness that we’ve got things under control. Full life comes through a different door.

For years St. Anthony's Catholic Church in San Francisco has served meals to people in need. Over the doorway to its dining room the church has posted a sign bearing the inscription: Caritate Dei. One day a young mechanic, just released from jail and new to St. Anthony's, entered the door and sat down for a meal. A woman was busy cleaning the adjoining table. "When do we get on our knees and do the chores, lady?" he asked. "You don't," she replied. “Well I guess I need to pay my dues… er… give an offering,” he said sarcastically. The woman just shook her head and said, “Nope… We just enjoy having you here.” "Then when's the sermon comin'?" he inquired. "Aren't any," she said. "How `bout the lecture on life, huh?" "Not here," she said. The man was becoming very suspicious. "Then what's the gimmick?" The woman pointed to the inscription over the door. He squinted at the sign. "What's it mean, lady?" "Out of love for God," she said with a smile, and moved on to another table.

Check out the inscription over your next door in life. If it has to do with genuine love for God, you won't go wrong.

Is Jesus over the door you are walking through today?
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 9 (click here for link)

It is amazing how quickly the sinful mind can turn a blessing of God into something miserable. In the Bible we see that the Pharisees succeeded in turning the Sabbath day rest into a burden, rather than the blessing God originally intended it to be for his people. The Jewish legalism was ridiculously absurd. Even today, Orthodox Jews follow this rigid way of life. But Jesus saw it as complete absurdity. It was absolutely contrary to everything he was about.

Jewish law attempted to take the rather vague and very specific laws of Moses (found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and apply it to every situation of life—for every generation that came afterwards. But to do this required a obscene about of loose interpretation and construal. Over time the law was divided by the category of “father” and “descendent.” Laws designated as “father” were those originally given by Moses. “Decedents” were those laws that derived from it. For example, plowing was a ‘father’ law. According to the Mosaic law, on the Sabbath, a farmer could not plow his field because that was considered work. But what about a lawyer? Could he plow a field since it wasn’t technically work associated with how he made a living? What about simply making a hole in the ground? Well… to answer these questions several “descendent” laws were made. Digging was a “descendant.” In fact anything that cut or furrowed the soil was considered to be anti-Sabbath. Thus dragging a chair on the ground was a “decendent” because it would make a kind of furrow, and therefore was forbidden, but dragging a chair on a hard surface was permitted. Yes... you can see how tedious this is becoming.

Another ‘father’ law was carrying a load on the Sabbath, and this prohibition was attended by a host of ‘descendants.’ Any unnecessary item was not to be carried on the Sabbath because it was considered a “load.” Therefore, to wear an unneeded garment was prohibited, and so a tailor, for example, had to leave his needle and thread at home, and a scribe could not carry his pen. In fact, so absurd were these regulations, that Sabbath law even made protecting ones property impossible. A humorous example, which apparently caused a great deal of discussion, was what a man could or could not do if his home caught fire on the Sabbath. According to the Pharisaical law code, absolutely nothing could be carried out, except clothing, and only if it were put on one piece at a time. It could be worn outside, taken off, and then one could return for another garment. People must have come from miles around to watch the spectacle as the house of a devout Jew burned down when it happened on the Sabbath! I suppose a gentile could have made a killing charging $100 dollars for every item he carried out of his Jewish neighbor’s burning house.

Although we have only scratched the surface of the issue, you can easily see why our Lord viewed the regulations of the Pharisees as a heavy burden upon the people. Not to mention that fact that many skilled in the Law also were skillful in devising ways to circumvent most of the meticulous rules which they had laid down. Jewish lawyers were very good at finding loop holes and technicalities to squeeze through. In the end, what had been given for a blessing—a way of orienting God’s people toward their holy God in all they did—became just a generic form of legalism, a system that was more concerned with the means than it was with the end.

The Pharisees big problem was that even in following what they believed was a religion faithful to the OT, they had created God in their own image. They in effect were practicing a religion that attempted to control God. They were defining God, putting him in a box. They had become blind to the power of a God who cannot be confined to human expectations, a God who works in mysterious and surprising ways (just read through the OT and anyone “with eyes to see” will behold a surprising and shocking God). It is for this reason that they could not see Jesus as anything but a devil in John 9. He was absolutely the contrary to the god they worshiped.

And so it is with people today. “I like to think of God as …” someone says. But that is precisely the problem. It doesn’t really matter how you wish to think of God. God is who he is. He has made himself known in Jesus.

Are your eyes open to Jesus’ in your life? Or are you trying to close up the box on Him?

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 8 (click here for link).

The Pharisees and enemies of Jesus really must have been desperate to get rid of Jesus for them to resort to this… drag a half naked woman to temple and present her to Jesus. They could have judged her themselves, although even in this account they fudge the law a little bit (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 specifically prescribes stoning as a means of execution for betrothed virgins, however adultery too was punishable by death and also included the man involved in the act and not just the woman).

But they thought they would bring someone who was a "real" sinner. No more of this highfalutin theological talk about sin. Sure everyone is sinful in “that” way… We know that “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but what about “real” sin? How frequently do we try this ruse on the Lord? We try to distinguish between real sin and theoretical sin. For example, We might occasionally fall into gossip, but we aren’t "real" gossips like so and so. Or do we ever find ourselves listening to a sermon thinking "Boy, he/she really needs to hear this"?

But Jesus cuts to the quick… it’s not about sin, it is about forgiveness. “Stop looking at other's sin and judging them. You have no right to judge at all,” He says to us sinners. Yesterday he reminded us that “If anyone is thirsty, let him come and drink of me… and rivers of living water will flow out of him.” What is flowing out of us as believers? Stony judgment or forgiveness? If only we could forgive others as liberally as we judge them, the world would be a much less “stony” place to live. Better yet, the Church would be a more inviting place as well.

Of course, I am not saying that we are to live in a sinful world and not see it as sinful. It is sinful! But Jesus calls in another place in the gospels to be as innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents. We are called to see sin and refrain from it. But at the very same time, Christ calls us to see hope. Even the worst of sinners has hope of forgiveness in Christ. If that wasn’t the case then you and me should be stoned as well.

Don’t ever throw the stone. Forgive… and forgive… even if it is the hardest thing you have ever done… forgive!

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 7 (click here for link)

I once had the opportunity to spend a day boating down the Rhine River in Germany. It was one of the most beautiful and inspiring trips of my life. The green, hilly landscape and the ancient cliff-side castles drifted by emerging in and out of the cool morning mist, all in stark—yet appropriate—contrast to the modern fishing villages and shops nestled on the rocky banks. The Rhine made innumerable winds and winds through that rugged landscape, no obstacle could deter it. I will never forget that trip.

A river is a powerful force, it is victoriously persistent. It overcomes every barrier. When it comes to an obstacle, for a brief while it may be baulked, but it soon makes a pathway round the obstacle.

Jesus' words in our text today reflected the same: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For whoever believes in me, the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-38

Jesus says our lives lived in faith are like rivers of living water. In fact, this how the Holy Spirit stirs in our hearts—like a river. We never know when and how he will flow through us. But he does! And notice… he flows out of us, too! In fact, it is interesting to note that Jesus did not say, “Believe in me and you will have an abundance of the fullness of God.” Rather, he said, “Believe in me and every blessing God gives to you shall flow out of you.” In other words, If we drink of Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts.

The Holy Spirit has been opening up marvelous truths to our minds, and every truth He has opened up is an indication of the wider river He will flow through us. God intends to flow blessing through you into this dry and parched land. Indeed, if you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has nourished in you mighty torrents of blessing for others.

Moral of the story… Don’t put an obstacle in that way of God’s river! Let the Spirit flow through you.

Pastor Aaron

Today’s Reading John 6 (click here for link).

*** WARNING *** Today’s post is a bit theological. But I am sure you can handle it.

“Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” John 6: 53-57

The entire Bible—OT and NT—is entirely an account of how God relates sacramentally or “mysteriously” to his people (Sacrament is a Latin word for “mystery”). In other words, God makes his unsurpassable, almighty, and divine goodness known in “knowable,” physical ways so that we limited and physical creatures can be in relationship with him. Obviously the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are sacraments in this way. God takes bread and wine and water and gives himself through these elements. And in this case, he does this specifically for the forgiveness of sins. But that is not the only way he has communicated something about himself through physical, sacramental means. The prophets and kings of Israel were also an example of God working through sacramental means—in that instance, not for forgiveness of sins but to reveal his Holy will for his people by speaking through a prophet or king. Today, in John 6 we are reminded of another OT sacramental act of God when he gave his people manna (bread) from heaven while they wondered in the desert for 40 years. However, Jesus uses that to allude to an even greater sacramental act… God becoming flesh! Jesus points to himself as the greatest sacramental (mysterious) act of God working to redeem physical, sinfully limited people who could never know him unless he acted in incredible and mysterious ways to make a relationship possible. And who would deny that incarnation (God in the flesh) is anything but a total mystery?

Yes, like manna, Jesus is indeed “bread from heaven,” but he is infinitely better. His life and his death in the flesh show us that God does not just provide for us physically (which is all manna could ever do) he provides for us spiritually and eternally, too.

So how do we interpret John 6? To answer that we must be careful to understand that “eating” and “drinking” and “bread,” “body,” and “blood” in John 6 is not so much a reference to the Lord’s Supper as it is Jesus declaring that he, himself, is the only way to eternal life; that if we have a hope of ever knowing God and being in relationship with God, it can only be done by participating in Jesus body and blood—the greatest sacrament/mystery ever given. We do this by faith. Faith in Jesus is what saves, and faith alone!

Of course, you might wonder how the Lord’s Supper fits into John 6, especially since John never actually mentions the Lord’s Supper later on? Well, why he didn't will always be a mystery. But, nevertheless, the allusion to the Lord’s Supper in John 6 cannot be completely ruled out. After all, Jesus knew even in our text today, that he would later institute this mystery of “bread from heaven” in an actual meal of bread and wine and his real body and real blood.

But we must read this text as is presented. Jesus never actually institutes or even refers to the Lord’s Supper in John 6 nor anywhere else in the entire Gospel of John. But this shouldn’t disappoint; rather, we simply celebrate that by God’s gracious love, he has given us yet another sacramental gift—not just a spiritual connection to Christ through faith (John 6), but a physical connection to him as well when we are baptized into his body and regularly eat his body and blood at the altar (Lord's Supper). Both save us! This means he gives us not only faith upon faith, but grace upon grace, and gift upon gift.

Have a great day,
Pastor Aaron

P.S. Yes, I know today was a bit too theological. But it is important. John 6 was a huge point of contention between Luther and other reformers during the Reformation. For more information, google the Marburg debate between Zwingli and Luther. Also, remember... NO POSTS ON FRIDAYS anymore. See you Monday!

Today’s reading is John 5 (click here for link)

Comparison between ministries that have a lot in common can be deadly. In the Gospels, we read that John the Baptist’s disciples were highly disturbed that Jesus’ disciples were outbaptizing them. They must have read some of the “new” theories of ministry expansion, because Jesus was clearly siphoning people out of their ministry, devastating their annual plan numbers. Jesus ministry was stealing away precious volunteers. Even Jesus’ disciples were concerned and threatened by someone who was not “one of them,” yet was casting out demons in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38). And though others compared Jesus to the great prophets (Matt. 6:14), it would have been unhelpful for him to do so. He had to trust the Father explicitly for his mission, without measuring himself against prophets, kings or even angels (Heb. 1:5) No, Jesus did not compare himself to anyone else. He simply looked to what the Father was calling him to do-- march headlong into a place of abandonment and crucifixion – something God had asked of no one else.

Today Jesus reminds us in John 5, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” By sheer grace, we are “in” Christ. God sees us as his sons and daughter, too! As we walk our faith, let us be reminded to look to the Father and all he does for us in grace through Jesus.

I find Jesus words above especially pointed for Epiphany. Our church is a growing multi-site congregation. We have 4 unique worship services every Sunday in 3 different locations (Pearland sanctuary, AFLC, Missouri City campus). In some ways, these services are becoming distinct communities with unique needs. We also have many and varied ministries, groups, organizations, and programs. Comparison is inevitable. But living in Christ means embracing the “oneness” we have in Him—we are one congregation/family in Christ, no matter how many locations. And as his children, the Father is doing amazing things among and through us—reaching the lost with salvation. That is a great work to be a part of no matter how we are involved or where we are involved in the Church. When we remember that we are “in” Christ and loved by the Father, our comparison can’t help but compel us to greater acts of sacrifice and loving encouragement—because wherever our resources go, they go to do the Father business.

Have a great day,
Pastor Aaron

Okay... So I have been delinquent for a couple of days. Sorry! Just busy. But I am going to go to bed now (11:00 p.m) and I promise I will post for John 5 tomorrow. Seriously :)

Also... I believe that I may go to a Monday-Thursday scheule because it's not working out so well for me to blog on my day off. At least my family is objecting to it.

See you tomorrow and I hope you have a blessed night.

Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 4 (click here for link)

It is my opinion life is more about asking the right question than having exactly the right answer.

The Samaritan woman is a good example. She immediately recognizes the societal barriers and boundaries that keep her in her place but at the same time she challenges Jesus' authority over and against the ancestors of the faith. Like Nicodemus, she first interprets Jesus' words on a literal level, but she is able to ask for what Jesus has to offer rather than question the possibility. She is not certain that Jesus is the Christ but she does not let that stop her from leaving behind her water jar, going into the city, and inviting the people to their own encounter with Jesus. She demonstrates what can happen when we actually engage in conversation and questions about our faith.

But notice, she has no doubt that Jesus had the needed answers, instead, the woman at the well shows us that faith is about dialogue, about growth and change. Yes he has all the answers… the right answers. But are we willing to ask the right questions? Or do we often ask the wrong questions—our questions—and expect him to provide the answer. Yet there is no right answer to the wrong question. Instead, walking and living by faith means struggling with the fact that It is not about always having the answers. If we think we have all the answers, if we believe more in our own convictions than the possibility of revelation and guidance from God, we will be left to ponder whether or not God will choose to be made known through us. We will have to wonder when and if we will ever feel confident enough, secure enough, and knowledgeable enough, to invite others to "come and see."

Rather, we learn from the Samaritan woman that in our own encounter with Jesus, not only are we changed, but that which God will reveal to us will change as well. After all, he only gives us that which we have faith enough handle. If you can handle things alone then faith is of little use to you.

Only faith changes us, not knowledge. It time to put down the water jug…
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 3 (click here for link).

“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5.

Nowhere in the Christian life is this radical birth made more evident than in Christian baptism. Jesus calls this being “born again.” The believer in Christ experience new life through the radical life and death of Jesus Christ. In Baptism we are attached to this mystery. We experienced two birthdays. The first is in the hospital were our first physical breath is drawn and life in this world begins. The second birthday is in the waters of baptism, were we are suscitated by the breath of God breathed into us and we begin life in eternity. Physical life and Spiritual life are both given us. We can claim neither as a work of our own accomplishing. Both are a sheer gift from God.

Yet, both are a mystery. Even physical life is a mystery. No doubt, we all wondered about such things when we were young. We probably pestered our parents with questions like, “Where do babies come from?” Our parents probably put us off with fictions about birds and bees and storks. But one day we discovered the truth—truth that at the time probably seemed stranger than the fiction. And anyone who has witnessed the birth of their child would still admit to the strange mystery of it all—that God knit us together in our mother’s womb. In the same way, the gift of spiritual life and birth is a mystery. The explanation I give my confirmation kids is really not much of an explanation at all. Mystery is mystery! You can’t really ever understand how and why God works the way he does. Who would have guessed that life—true life—would come from such ordinary things as water and bread and something as unpredictable as wine?

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. The answer: “…whosoever believes in HIM shall not parish but have eternal life?”

God’s peace,
Pastor Aaron

Today’s reading is John 2 (click here for link)

I am no chemist, but I once saw a trick done with water that reminded me very much of John’s account of Jesus turning water into wine. It was like this: Two glasses of water were set before the chemistry class to observe—nothing special, just clear water. But then my teacher took a clever little wand with some special crystals embedded in it and stirred one of the glasses of water. Magically, the water turned a brilliant wine red. My chemistry class was only mildly impressed (I figured I could do the same thing with Kool Aid!). But the trick wasn’t over, yet. My chemistry teacher then proceeded to pour the remaining glass of clear water into the newly tinted red water, and abra cadabra… the red water turned crystal clear once again. Yeah, cool but… Had my chemistry teacher one upped Jesus?

Of course not! My teacher left out one important part… he never gave us a taste. Yes, it looked cool, but it was just a trick. Red water doesn’t make fine wine. However, Jesus’ miracle was no trick, it was the real deal! It was the best wine ever tasted, and it is the taste that makes all the difference.

I know this may seem to be a simplistic point, but then again, there is significance in even some of the most basic details in the Gospel of John. We know the wine Jesus made from water was no tint or dye or trick, it was good wine. In fact, it was no mere miracle… it was a sign! It was Jesus’ first sign that the kingdom of God is at hand. That is significant! In the same way, it is probably no coincidence that this wedding feast took place on the “third day.” Another sign yet to come… interesting! That is what signs do, they point us to the future—to things yet to come. So what was this sign pointing toward?

Maybe it was a sign that wine is a parody of life. There are beautiful wines, quaffing wines, and terrible wines. But even with beautiful wines, some age well, and others turn sour before our very eyes. So then, as with wines, the same with life. We are constantly reminded of the impermanence of life, reminded that "moth and rust corrupts." Disappointment abounds. Everything in this world eventually runs out and we are left dry. And while we can try to be stoic about imperfection and disappointment in this world, this approach doesn’t work for verylong. In the end, it only leaves a bitter taste in our mouth. Or we can follow the signs of the kingdom. We can look beyond this moment to a brighter day when the wine will not disappoint us. The Bible calls it the heavenly banquet—the feast of the kingdom to come.

When Jesus visited a wedding in Cana he performed a miracle that served to remind his disciples of that brighter day, a day that transcends the imperfect moment. His disciples understood the point he was making and decided to trust him to carry them to that day. Do we trust him to carry us to that day? Are you willing to trust the signs he has given you?

Taste and see that the Lord is good. He will not disappoint.

Pastor Aaron

Today's reading is John 1 (click here for link)

This morning, John takes us to “the beginning,” so let’s follow John.

We are all familiar with “the beginning” of the beginning of Scripture-- Genesis 1—God created the heavens and the earth. But have you ever really taken a moment, especially at night, to stop and look up and consider everything above you? Think about it… the sheer vastness of it all, the endless amount of space above us. It is hopefully enough to knock our own self-centeredness down a peg or two.

Consider also, what Science teaches us about the Universe: Our Galaxy is said to contain some 400 billion stars. Our own star, the Sun, is actually rather puny according to galactic standards; nonetheless, even at 93 million miles away it has the power to burn our skin on a summer’s day! Thank goodness it isn’t 92 million miles away! But this is no accident. In fact, it is said that if one of the more gigantic stars in our Galaxy were positioned where our sun is, things would be way different. Well, actually… we wouldn’t even be here… the earth would be entirely engulfed within that star! It seems beyond belief that these giants are floating around out there somewhere in space, and yet, despite their size and brilliance, from our perspective here on earth, they are nothing more than a prick of light in the night sky. Incredible!

Science also tells us that beyond our own galaxy, there exists myriad other galaxies, each filled with billions of suns and stars. This sheer quantity of light being produced boggles the mind, and yet only one of these galaxies is visible to the naked eye here on earth—and it is more than two million light years away.

This is the very light that God spoke into the darkness at the foundations of time. From our perspective this light barely seems able to penetrate the darkness of space. Yet, it does. It always does.

Now, if you can’t tell, I love Astronomy. I love star gazing. But if you really want to see the stars, everyone knows you have to get away from the Houston lights. You have to get out in the middle of nowhere. But to do that isn’t so easy. The one time that I ever had a chance to really get away—completely away from all manmade light—was many years ago on a road trip with some college buddies of mine to the deserts just north of Rachel, Nevada (aka: Area 51). The night sky there is incredible. The vastness of it and silence of it all is mind numbing. There you are, looking up into eternity and there isn’t a single solitary sound to be heard. In fact it is the silence that is most impressive—it’s almost oppressive. No airplanes flying overhead; no street noises or barking dogs; no hum of the refrigerator or buzz of fluorescent lighting. There is only silence. You can literally hear your thoughts bouncing in your head. And even they eventually fade away, like little question marks ringing tiny and hollow in the face of eternity. You stand as though you are on the edge of the Universe and you can’t help but think of those first words ever uttered, words of power and purpose: “LET THERE BE LIGHT.” How deafening that must have sounded had any of us been there to hear it.

I tried speaking into the darkness that night, tried shouting. But my words were swallowed up by the darkness. Yet God’s Word not only penetrated the darkness, it created light!

When you think about such things it almost starts to seem absurd, even scandalous, that in all of the vast glory of the Universe, God chose to concentrate all his efforts on one little remote blue speck: that he chose this dirt ball to direct his powerful life-producing Word is simply amazing. In fact, it is very easy for our little and very limited vision to be overwhelmed by the hugeness of everything God’s Word has accomplished. Yes, that God would be so particular really does seem scandalous, and for many people it is simply foolishness. But the truth is… the real and bona fide truth of it all is… God has not just made the Universe and every amazing thing in it, like stars and galaxies and mountains and oceans, but he has made you, too. God has concentrated his amazing and wonderful attention on little you. He loves you. He has died for you. Next time you look up at the hugeness of the unknown before you don’t be overwhelmed by the darkness. His light will always shine through. Hallelujah, indeed!

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Aaron