"What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." -- Luke 13:18-19

Spring is in full force!  Things are growing like crazy!  Isn't it a wonder how such magnificent plants come from just a small seed?  This is the nature of God's kingdom.  Plant a seed of love, grace, kindness, mercy, etc... and watch what happens.  Lives are changed.  Relationships are healed.  Communities are restored.  Peace dwells throughout.  On the flip side, weeds grow aggressively too.  They choke and try to stop the growth of the good plants.  The good news is as the good seed becomes more and more established, it becomes more difficult for the weeds to choke them out.  May you live your life planting seeds of the kingdom that will change the landscape of the world.  Here are some pictures of things in my own garden that started as just seeds...

Readings:  Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25

"But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!" -- Luke 12:50

We see the human side of Jesus here as he confesses he is distressed about what is to come.  Today, in 2012, it is Easter morning.  It is just before dawn, and the light on the horizon is showing the day's promise.  I am reminded that Jesus suffered, but he rose, and he lives.

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Readings:  Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalms 78:56-64; Proverbs 12:24

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." -- Luke 12:22-23

The older I get, the more frustrated I become when I have to spend time looking for something, whether that be keys, the remote control, a book, a receipt... etc... anything that causes me to waste precious life energy.  And then I read these words of Jesus, and I wonder how much time I spend worrying about things in life like eating and staying warm.  And honestly, I'm fortunate in that I don't worry about that for myself too much.  And so I hear Jesus say it, and I think, "yeah, that's right-- people shouldn't worry-- tell 'em, Jesus."  But then who am I kidding?  While I don't worry for myself so much, I worry an awful lot about providing for my family-- food, clothes, shelter, college.  I worry for their safety, and pray that they make good decisions, and that they don't repeat some of the same mistakes I made.  Some nights, I toss and turn as I pray and struggle through issues related to my loved ones.  So is that okay, Jesus?  My question returns.   How much time is wasted on worry?  How much energy is spent on would've- could've- should've?  How much time is spent on things beyond my control?  The answer is too much.  Should that worry me?

Readings: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27; Luke 12:8-34; Psalms 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." -- Proverbs 12:19-20

If you want broken relationships in your life, there's one sure way to get them: lie.  Be dishonest and deceitful, and people will run from you.  Be fake in all that you do, and you will miss out on what it means to have true friends.  Or, choose a different way: be honest.  Once you come to terms with your brokenness, find someone to share it with that you trust.  Be real.  Be yourself.  Be authentic.  Through this, you will begin to have healing and restoration in relationships.  If you want to be loved, then love.  Love doesn't hide behind masks, and it doesn't lie.  For some reason, I can't help but think of Star Trek's Spock as one who didn't seem to have the capacity to lie, but upon parting, he would say the famous "Live long and prosper."  That's hard to do for one who doesn't live in truth.

Readings:  Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalms 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20

"Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." -- Luke 11:17

This perhaps is one of the wisest things Jesus ever said.  And while it was directed to those of the Jewish faith around particular circumstances, it's one of those teachings that spans across space and time.  It applies to all kingdoms, all nations, all families, all groups of any sort.  That's why groups are sometimes at their best when all members share a common enemy.  When the group and each person within it is threatened, the group tends to be unified and resilient.  Consider the difference of national unity between World War II, when the nation stepped up and came together, and Viet Nam, when the nation was divided.  Or more recently, the united strength of the country in the Fall of 2011 compared to today-- one of the most polarized periods in US history.  A third party threat does wonders for a group of any size, whether small or as large as a nation.  But when there's relative peace, or when we disagree, we have a tendency to turn on each other.   We make members of our own group the enemy, when the real enemy is not that person on the other side of the aisle... but the person we see in the mirror.

Love God.  Love your neighbor.  No matter if they're Republican, Democrat, or Independent.  Yes, they are your neighbor too.

Readings: Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Luke 11:14-36; Psalms 77:1-20; Proverbs 12:18


*Note:  While this post addressed the Luke passage, make sure you read Deuteronomy, as it enlightens us to what led Jesus' own faith community to adopt fanatical legalism.  After reading this, wouldn't you?  It was a tough tide for Jesus to turn.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." -- Luke 11:9-10

I used to read this, and I would think it was about stuff.  As a kid, if I wanted a new bike, I trusted that God had my interests at heart, and I would pray really hard, only to be confused when I didn't get the bike.  Did I not pray hard enough?  Did God not hear me?  What gives?  Later, I came to think differently.  It wasn't about the stuff at all.  It was about what I thought the stuff would bring to my life.  With the bike, I wanted a way to play and move and connect with my fiends.  My old bike provided that just fine.  The flashy model wouldn't change that, and perhaps God understood I didn't need it.  Maybe it was something else I needed that I thought the bike would give me-- validation, attention, status.  There are many things I want even now, and while I don't pray to get them, rarely do I examine the needs I'm experiencing that I think the stuff would fill.  Maybe I should do that more, and understand what I should really be praying for.

Readings:  Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalms 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17

"Who is my neighbor?" -- Luke 10:29

An religious man, who was an expert in the Law and Jesus were discussing the Law.  In Jesus' classic reductionism, he boiled it down again to one law with two parts:  Love God, and love your neighbor.  So the expert says, "yes, but who's my neighbor?"  Today, we read Jesus' answer in story form:

"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."  Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." -- Luke 10:13-37.

Who needs your mercy today?  Who are you passing by that needs your grace and attention?  Remember to be a good neighbor to all.

Readings:  Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalms 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14