Best of i.UCC

The Truth (November 16-22)

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:02:28 GMT

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32
I am the way and the truth and the life – no one comes to the father except through me. John 14:6

The word “Truth” is in the Bible between 130 and 300 times (depending on which translation you are using.)
That is way more than preach (about a dozen times), way less than Love (over 500 times) and about the same as money.

Does that mean that truth is way more important than preaching, way less important than love, and about as important as money?

Some would make that leap. I will not.

So what does that mean? I don’t know.
I have heard people debate what is true. I have heard people argue the very nature of the word truth – if it could really exist – if there is absolute truth . . .
The numbers game and the endless debate are tiring.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice – says Jesus

Instead of focusing on “What is the nature of truth?” or "What is truth?” Let's focus on what Jesus said. How do we belong to the truth – how do we listen?

What will we do to listen the voice of Jesus – to the voice of the stillspeaking God – to experience, to know, and to belong the truth?

When it's hard to be kind (November 9-15)

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:35:27 GMT

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

Peninnah treated Hannah cruelly. She provoked her just to irritate her. What she did to Hannah was awful, unkind, unconscionable and simply mean. In this week’s reading from 1 Samuel 1:4-20, her cruelty is glaring.

I am one who seeks to live the phrase, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey . . . you’re welcome here,” I also say, and try to live the words, “God loves everyone – not just the people you like or agree with – EVERYONE.”

And I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who manipulate, exploit, ridicule, and abuse others.

I have a real difficult time showing kindness and love for folks who make up lies, distort what other people say, use fear and hate as weapons, call some of God’s children evil names, and do it all while calling themselves Christian.

Hannah prayed. She poured out her soul to God. I wonder if she had trouble showing kindness and love for Peninnah?

I sure do.

Functional (November 2-8)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:46:16 GMT

Here's this week's short Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

According to this week’s Bible reading from Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17, here’s how Ruth family functioned:

Find a relative of your dead husband
Follow your mother-in-law’s instructions for what to do to seek security for you and for her.
Attempt to seduce him so that he will marry you
(Not in the reading –but part of the story: Know that he will be a just person who will honor you and who will follow the rules set up by the system.)
Get married
Have a baby
Give the baby to your mother-in-law to care for.
Let the baby be the grandfather of David.

What can you add to the story? What can you learn?

Beyond (October 26- November 1)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:28:03 GMT

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

Elimelech and Naomi went with their sons Mahlon and Chilion beyond the land of Judah – the land of their ancestors, to Moab, the land of their cousins . . . cousins with a tenuous and sometimes violent past.

After their father died, Mahlon and Chilion married Orpah and Ruth from Moab, and when they died, Naomi, Orpah and Ruth were beyond the help of the system

After traveling beyond where they had been living, Naomi went beyond the idea of self-preservation and told Orpah and Ruth to return to their families. She would live out her days in bitterness and poverty.

Though she convinced Orpah to leave and to seek the care of her family, Ruth was not convinced. She went beyond the safe route and cultural norms and she vowed to stay with Naomi no matter what.

Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi has significance well beyond her lifetime. She has been traced as the ancestor of David and Jesus, and her love for Naomi has been lifted up as an example for all to follow.

What else can you find beyond this week’s Bible reading from Ruth 1:1-18?

Leaving town (October 19-25)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:11:14 GMT

Here's this week's i.ucc Bible study:

Do you ever feel like you’ve just arrived somewhere and then it’s time to leave? It seems to happen mostly on the best of vacations. Sometimes it happens when you’re moving from one house to another or changing jobs. Maybe it happens every day where you work, study or do what it is that you do every day.

And isn’t it also all too common that when you’re on your way out, there’s something to do that can’t wait until another time.

This week’s Bible reading from Mark 10:46-52 shows both situations as they relate to Jesus and the disciples’ visit to Jericho.

They came to Jericho.
As they were leaving

No explanation of what happened. Sure, there was a big crowd following so we can make an assumption that something Jesus did attracted them, but the “They arrived. They were leaving” nature of this story leaves you wondering, “What was so unimportant about the visit?” or “What is so important about what is coming up that it makes what happened before unimportant?”

Just one more thing . . .

Jesus had just one more thing to do while he was in town. Bartimaeaus, who was anything but quiet about who he was calling and what he wanted, needed to be healed. And Jesus made sure that happened.

“Your faith has made you well.”

We could spend a whole lot of thought on that part. And it would be worth it. But let’s start by asking something that comes before that.
What transition are you near or in right now?
What is one more thing to do before you’re on the way?

Winning (October 12-18)

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:40:27 GMT

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

James and John had the nickname "Sons of Thunder." Jesus gave them that nickname. Once a Samaritan village rejected Jesus. The Sons of Thunder wanted to bring fire down from heaven to kill everyone.

These two were wildmen.

In one of the bible reading for this week, Mark 10:35-45, there's a less extreme view of James and John. They wanted positions of authority when Jesus took power.

Jesus knew that what they were asking for meant suffering. These two weren't ready for that. He told them about being humble. He told them about greatness only comes in being a servant to others.

Yeah -- that's all good. The last shall be first. Turn the other cheek. Blessed are the meek - for they shall inherit the earth. Great spiritual directions.

What do they have to do with real life?

Life is about winning! The ones who win write the history. The ones who win get all the glory. The ones who win get all the money and power!

Bu the desire to win in all of life’s pursuits can and will turn things sour. The desire can and will lead a person into insensitivity. Insensitivity leads to rudeness. Rudeness leads to arrogance. Arrogance leads to callousness. And callousness leads to ruthlessness.

Jesus said "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Jesus came from very humble beginnings. He worked with his hands. He lived the life of a peasant. He healed people. When he made his final entry into Jerusalem, he rode on the foal of a donkey instead of a proud stallion. He gave food to the hungry and he visited the sick. When he made miracles happen he ran from the ones who wanted him to become a powerful ruler. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Jesus let himself be crucified.

I don't think it's wrong to win or to have money. I don't think it's wrong to have fame. I don't think it's wrong to have nice homes and cars.

But it is not the model Jesus has for us.

Philippians 2:5-8 says this: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, {6} who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, {7} but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, {8} he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

Having the same mind that was in Jesus is not about the competition. It is not about winning. It is about losing. It is about emptying ourselves of the things that we make more important than God.

Be good (October 5-11)

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:08:46 GMT

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

One of my favorite things to say just after “good-bye” to folks is, with a slight wink in my eye, “Be good.” I usually get a smile and something like “not a chance” or a sarcastic “sure” in return.

I hope, however, that the fun of a “Be good” comment leaves at least a tiny grain of thought – one that challenges us at our very core to be good to one another.

In this week’s Bible reading from Mark 10:17-31, Jesus issues a reminder of just how difficult it is, if not impossible, to be good. He goes as far as to say that no one is good but God alone. He reminds one questioner – and any who heard then or read now – how impossible it is to earn any kind of ‘good points’ on our own steam.

But he does offer hope. Everything is possible with God. When we pursue the good that God is and the love that God is and the care and compassion that God is we start to taste what it is to focus not on our desire for ‘stuff,’ but rather God’s desire that all may be considered important, precious, and loved.

Be good.