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Thursday, 23 November 2017
Ephesians 5:15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. 16 Use your time well, for these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — 19 sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; 20 always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
21 Submit to one another in fear of the Messiah.
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We hope you find much for which you can be grateful this Thanksgiving Day! In the ancient world, as today, some people tried to numb themselves against life’s pains with alcohol (as well, of course, as with other escape mechanisms). That can be the downside of holidays like Thanksgiving. To Christians in Ephesus, Paul wrote that psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and always giving thanks to God were a much better alternative, with better life results.
• The Message paraphrased Paul’s counsel in verses 18-19 this way: “Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs!” Can gratitude to God be in any way “intoxicating,” even habit-forming? Have you ever been in that condition, and if so, what was the experience like? What are some of the life benefits of a “gratitude habit”?
• Robert Emmons wrote, “I asked people with debilitating physical illnesses to compose a narrative concerning a time when they felt a deep sense of gratitude….It was evident from reading these narrative accounts that (1) gratitude can be an overwhelmingly intense feeling.” * What can help you look beyond whatever challenges you face in order to experience the power of gratitude on this day?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as most of us pause in our pursuit of more to offer thanks for what is already ours, guide my heart into a more determined choice to make every day you give me a day of thanksgiving. Amen.
* Robert Emmons, “How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times,” syndicated from Greater Good, Sep 12, 2013 at http://www.dailygood.org/story/532/how-gratitude-can-help-you-through-hard-times-robert-emmons/
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Chris AbelChris Abel is the Young Adults Pastor at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
I love personality tests. I’ve taken Myers-Briggs, DISC, StrengthFinders, and even the Enneagram. Maybe you’re familiar with these and maybe not. But that last one, the Enneagram, has been popping up everywhere the last few years. It works by dividing up people into nine types, which can drift to other traits based on happiness or stress. I am a seven, also known as the Enthusiast. We’re excitable, good at generating enthusiasm in others (shocker), and enjoy chasing big experiences. It’s pretty spot on!
These are the reasons I like personality tests. They help me understand my strengths and weaknesses. Sure, I might want to chase adventure and excitement, but I also have a tendency to be distracted by the pleasures that this life can offer.
And in modern day America there are a lot of pleasures you can attain. So many, that you might even say that we’re all Epicures. As the famous comedian Aziz Ansari has penned in the TV show Parks and Rec, “Treat yo’ self.”
But when it comes to pleasure, can you treat your self too much?
In the early 20th century, Danish biologist and Nobel laureate Niko Tinbergen developed a theory about something called supernormal stimuli. He observed nesting birds and the shape, color, and size of their eggs. Then he crafted these larger, artificial eggs with more pronounced coloration and put it in the nest.
Want to guess what happened?
The birds neglected their real eggs to sit on the fake eggs.
And it turns out, humans aren’t so different. When it comes to food, sex, and other pleasures, we have been designed for a particular kind of experience. God means for us to eat, have sex, enjoy life. But as intelligent creatures, we have discovered that our “instincts,” too, can be misled and tricked. Instead of eating a healthy meal, our brains crave salty, fatty food. Instead of the love of a spouse, we turn to porn. Instead of living a vibrant life here and now, we seek the action-oriented or laughter-filled entertainment of television and movies. But the problem is, you and I can’t survive off of these things. They’re designed to pull us in. In society today, marketing and sales use larger and more colorful eggs—far more colorful than the eggs of regular day-to-day life.
But this isn’t just the 21st century. The author of the letter to the Ephesians writes, “Don’t get drunk on wine, which produces depravity. Instead, be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts; always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; and submit to each other out of respect for Christ.” (5:18-21)
We like feeling good. And always have (even in Bible times). But scripture advises us to be cautious about our pursuit of pleasure. It can be easy to feel better with alcohol, but it literally exists to limit and trick your brain. Think about it. We purposely created a substance that inhibits our brain functions! So weird. That doesn’t mean we should ban it (didn’t work so well in American history), but it does mean we need to be realistic about the way we interact with the pleasures of life. When things are hard, we often turn to easy “highs” to cope with the eggs that aren’t so bright.
And you know what? Thanksgiving applies, too. We use it as a free pass to stuff ourselves. The average Thanksgiving meal is 4000 calories. I’m TOTALLY guilty of this. (And 4000 sounds a little bit short for my typical Thanksgiving.)
This, for the record, is not what I am suggesting. (How much of a bummer GPS entry would that be?)
But every day we have choices about the kind of pleasures we pursue. Even on Thanksgiving. So here’s a challenge for you: How can you spend this day deepening relationships, serving others, or “giving thanks to the Father”? This day and all days, we have to realize that the greatest pleasures in life don’t come from the artificial eggs in our lives. The greatest pleasures come from the result of sitting on that real egg—you know, friends, family, faith, service. They might not be as colorful or bright as the Black Friday sales, 7000 calorie meals, and escaping to Facebook when family gets on your nerves, but when the time comes, one egg actually brings forth life and the other… never does.
I suggest the real egg.
And Happy Thanksgiving!
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"Jesus claimed Isaiah’s promise—'a mantle of praise'”
Friday, 24 November 2017
Luke 4:16 Now when he went to Natzeret, where he had been brought up, on Shabbat he went to the synagogue as usual. He stood up to read, 17 and he was given the scroll of the prophet Yesha‘yahu. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of Adonai is upon me;
therefore he has anointed me
to announce Good News to the poor;
he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the imprisoned
and renewed sight for the blind,
to release those who have been crushed,
19 to proclaim a year of the favor of Adonai.”[Luke 4:19 Isaiah 61:1–2; 58:6]
20 After closing the scroll and returning it to the shammash, he sat down; and the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He started to speak to them: “Today, as you heard it read, this passage of the Tanakh was fulfilled!”, Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of Adonai Elohim is upon me,
because Adonai has anointed me
to announce good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted;
to proclaim freedom to the captives,
to let out into light those bound in the dark;
2 to proclaim the year of the favor of Adonai
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn,
3 yes, provide for those in Tziyon who mourn,
giving them garlands instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
a cloak of praise instead of a heavy spirit,
so that they will be called oaks of righteousness
planted by Adonai, in which he takes pride.
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Israel’s law included a provision (perhaps honored more as an ideal than in actual practice) that every fiftieth year was a “Jubilee” year in which people forgave debts, returned property and restored hope to all citizens (cf. Leviticus 25:8-10). Isaiah 61 evoked that idea as a model for what God would do for God’s people. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 to define his mission—he would do good things for us that we were incapable of doing for ourselves.
• God is the ultimate source of our “mantle of praise.” Or as researcher Robert Emmons put it, “We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received. This doesn’t mean that life is perfect; it doesn’t ignore complaints, burdens, and hassles ….We recognize the sources of this goodness as being outside of ourselves.” * How easy or hard do you find it to thank God for the good things in your life?
• After Jesus spoke, the people of his hometown tried to kill him (cf. Luke 4:28-30). Why? Scholar N. T. Wright said Jesus “speaks of Israel being called to be the light of the nations …. The servant Messiah has not come to inflict punishment, but to bring the nations God’s love and mercy. That was a central theme in Israel’s own scriptures, yet…Jesus’ claim to be reaching out with healing to
all people…was not what most first-century Jews wanted or expected.” ** Are you inspired or frustrated that the same love and mercy Jesus extends to you is also for all other people?
Prayer: Lord, thank you that even as I seek you, you have been seeking me. Help me respond by setting aside anything that might get in the way of loving and serving you. Amen.
* Robert Emmons, “Why Gratitude is Good.” In Greater Good Magazine, Nov. 16, 2010, found at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gratitude_is_good
** N. T. Wright, Luke for Everyone. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, pp. 48-49.)
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"Contentment: a learned attitude"
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua., 10 In union with the Lord I greatly rejoice that now, after this long time, you have let your concern for me express itself again. Of course, you were concerned for me all along, but you had no opportunity to express it. 11 Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me power.
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Many Bible students call Philippians Paul’s “epistle of joy.” From a prison cell (cf. Philippians 1:13), he wrote a letter “known for its emphasis on joy….Believers have this gladness because they know that
having problems, or even enduring harassment, doesn’t mean God has deserted them.” * But we need to observe that the apostle didn’t say his joy grew from a naturally grateful, upbeat disposition. Quite
the contrary—“I have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance” was his testimony in verse 12.
• Robert Emmons’ research bears out Paul’s testimony: “Emotional venting without accompanying insight does not produce change. No amount of writing about the event will help unless you are able to take a fresh, redemptive perspective on it. This is an advantage that grateful people have—and it is a skill that anyone can learn.” ** What life experiences and choices have already helped you learn to live life from a more grateful point of view? What additional steps do you want to take to learn this important spiritual and life skill?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, if the aggressive, angry Pharisee Saul could learn to be the apostle who wrote an epistle of joy from prison, then I can learn, too. Guide and teach me in the ways of gratitude. Amen.
* Jerry L. Sumney, Introduction to Philippians in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 373 NT.
** Robert Emmons, “How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times,” syndicated from Greater Good, Sep 12, 2013
at http://www.dailygood.org/story/532/how-gratitude-can-help-you-through-hard-times-robert-emmons/.
Family Activity: Gather as a family and bring paper, markers, magazines, glue, pens, scissors and envelopes. Together list at least seven people you would like to thank in some way. Consider family members or friends, firefighters, teachers, church staff or volunteers or police officers. Spend time creating thank you notes for each person. Older family members might write notes. Younger ones might draw pictures or cut pictures out of magazines. Have everyone in your family sign their name to each card. Place each card in an envelope, then address and stamp them. Pray over each one, giving thanks to God for each person. Pile in the car, head to the post office to mail the cards and stop for ice cream or hot chocolate along the way! Continue to pray for those receiving your thank you notes!
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
- Praise for the birth of: Ella Glen Owens, 8/14/17
• Kay Kimes and Kathy Ensign on the death of their aunt Winona Ensign, 11/13
• Carlene Adams and family on the death of her husband Jerald “Jerry” Adams, 11/12
• Randy Renfro and family on the death of his father Jerald “Jerry” Adams, 11/12
• Jack Dick and family on the death of his wife Cordelia “Corky” Dick, 11/12
• Melissa Bennett and family on the death of her mother Cordelia “Corky” Dick, 11/12
• Ryan Turnbull and family on the death of his father Reginald H. “Reg” Turnbull, 11/9
• Cherie Thomas and family on the death of her brother Roy Thomas III, 11/8
• Jim and Judy Sylte and family on the death of their daughter-in-law LaRie Sylte, 11/5
• Mark Jansen and family on the death of his father Donald “Don” Jansen, 11/5
• Joanne Montgomery and family on the death of her grandfather Donald “Don” Jansen, 11/5
• Suzanne Wallace and family on the death of her father Robert Wallace, 11/1
• Dee Anderson and family on the death of her aunt Leanna Moller-Little, 10/29
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Gratitude for God’s works is always in order
Gratitude for “food and clothing” fosters contentment
Gratitude keeps spiritual life from being choked out
Jesus himself often expressed gratitude
Jesus appreciated gratitude
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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You might also like
Gratitude for God’s works is always in order
Gratitude for “food and clothing” fosters contentment
Gratitude keeps spiritual life from being choked out
Jesus himself often expressed gratitude
Jesus appreciated gratitude
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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