I Believe in Miracles

I had a long talk with my atheist friend this week.

He does not like Pentecost.

This is the Christian holiday that marks the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit. It’s a miracle in which we hear about the descent, on the willing disciples, of tongues of fire that inspire them to speak in languages they had never spoken before.

My friend does not believe in the supernatural. He thinks the universe is bound by scientific laws that keep anything ‘otherworldly’ from existing, much less acting. He believes we humans are all there is and that at the end of the day, we’re alone.

I get where he’s coming from and I value his insight into how the world works, why we’re here, and what we’re supposed to be doing. But I can’t be honest with myself and believe that we’re all alone. I’ve had too many experiences that teach me otherwise. I have the experience of prayer, prayers answered, wisdom given, love received, and the testimony of countless, trusted friends who’ve experienced the same thing.

After all, Pentecost is about God showing us that God is here – that we’re not alone.

And Pentecost invites us to contemplate that God is present to guide, direct, and lead in the challenging work of following Jesus – of acting out of love in every situation. Pentecost is meant to inspire, motivate, arouse, and encourage us to go deeper into loving God and our neighbor.

Our job will never be to convert our atheist friends - it will always be to love them. And the proof of the Pentecost miracle just may lie in our ability to do so.

You've Got Eternal Life!

I went to a funeral this week.

A man in his eighties died after a brief illness.

And as I looked at the picture boards at the funeral home I saw Vern with his army buddies; with his children and grandchildren; and his wife of 53 years. There were pictures of his hometown Dairy Queen, his tomato garden, the patio he put in back in the 70’s, and picture after smiling picture of Vern hugging, kissing, clowning, and enjoying every minute of it.

Vern was described as a man of simple faith, a follower of Jesus, destined for eternal life.

In Sunday’s Gospel we will hear Jesus define ‘eternal life’ this way: “…that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

In this instance Jesus doesn’t describe eternal life as a faraway place called heaven, rather he suggests it is something we have right here and now – something we experience by “knowing God.”

And we get to know God through his Word and his creation – especially the people he has given us and put into our lives.

So it makes me wonder if ‘eternal life’ isn’t found by examining and savoring key moments of our lives – in the richness of human experience – especially when we look at our lives through God-tinted lenses that help us see Christ in every person and situation – reminding us that God is working out everything, both the good and bad, to his mysteriously wonderful purposes.

Eternal life is knowing God – and knowing the depth of God’s loving care for us. O that we might more deeply understand God’s provision and harbor the promised assurance that all will be well! May we see eternal life - both today, and one day.

The Theology of Presence

My friend has a dog named Tinker.

She’s a cute little 10-pound Maltese mix - my friend says she used to welcome her into her bed, until Tinker tinkled.

Anyway, the other night there was a loud storm and the dog got spooked so she darted into mom’s room. After all, storms are scary, unpredictable, and mysterious and there are few better comforts than being held in mom’s arms. Sure, moms can’t slow or stop the storm, but they can be there for you, which can make all the difference.

On Sunday we will meet Jesus as he faces a jittery crowd of his own – he knows they are worried about the scary, unpredictable, and mysterious storm that will arise when Jesus leaves them. And what’s interesting is that he doesn’t promise to slow down or stop that storm – he doesn’t promise to stay or to take away any pain, persecution, or trouble. Instead, Jesus promises to be with them.

So what’s our storm?

Are we asking Jesus to slow it down or take it away? Sure, that may happen, but it’s not promised. What is assured is his presence. Jesus will be there for us. And that can make all the difference.

What's God Like?

One of my son’s best friends is Blake.

Blake is kind, polite, and well mannered. He dresses neatly and cleanly (as well as any 1^st grade boy might…). And one day when I dropped him off at his home I noticed how well kept the exterior of the home was, how clean the new cars were in the driveway, and how neat the yard and adjoining garden were.

So when it came time to meet Blake’s parents, I already had a pretty good idea of what they would be like - and was not surprised at how warm, pleasant, and thoughtful they were.

Could they have been ogres? Possibly, but not likely. As the saying goes, the apple never falls far from the tree.

The same holds true for God. If we want to know what God is like, we need go no further than his son. What’s God like? Take a look at Jesus:

· He’s committed to serving others

· Interested in healing the sick

· Raises the dead

· Feeds the hungry

· Hangs around poor people

· Speaks out against injustice

· Goes out – takes initiative – doesn’t wait for others to come to him, and

· Whatever his attitude toward clothing, food, housing, money or possessions, it did not reach the level in which he was worried about them

This is what God is like.

This is why we’re drawn to him.
This is what we want to be like too.

Hearing Voices

I was at a little league game the other day when a 1-year-old walked by, looked up at me and said with great enthusiasm, “Ga galag habad!”

His mother was close behind and immediately broke out in laughter.

She said, “He wants to borrow your catcher’s mitt!”

I gave him my mitt, then asked his mother how she could have possibly understood her child’s gibberish. She said, “Easy, it makes sense to me because I’m around him all day.”

This Sunday the Church will celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday, our annual foray into one of Christianity’s most memorable images. On this day we are reminded that Christ is our shepherd and that we, as sheep, know his voice.

How do sheep know his voice?

Like the 1-year-old’s mother – it’s because they’re around it all day.

Presence breeds familiarity.

Constant companions do not go unrecognized.

How are we being called into deeper familiarity with the voice that longs to lead, guide, provide, and care for us?

Chris Yaw

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