Devotional 1-27-12

Astounding Authority and Amazing Power

Please read Mark 1:21-28

Mark is widely believed to be the first written account of the life and works of Jesus Christ. It is an action-packed Gospel that establishes Jesus’ messiahship not only by who he is, but by what he does. The very first words of the Gospel declare who he is (“Jesus Christ, the Son of God”). Mark immediately seeks to provide support for that claim by depicting the works of Jesus. An example of the quick action in Mark can be seen in the fact that in its 16 chapters, Mark uses the word “immediately” some 31 times, 9 of those in the very first chapter. Mark gets right into it.

 

This week’s reading falls just before the middle of the first chapter of Mark, and already Jesus has been introduced, baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit, driven into the wilderness where he was tempted, and called his first four disciples. And I thought I was busy!

 

This passage portrays the first of many miracles of Jesus—specifically the healing of a man with an unclean spirit. I confess that the miracle stories are difficult for me to accept, and of the miracle stories, the hardest for me are the exorcisms. I suppose my skepticism comes from the fact that demon possession and exorcism is just not part of my own life experience. And yet it is the first act of Jesus’ public ministry.

 

As I studied the passage, I realized that Jesus didn’t set out on a healing spree or an exorcism tour. He was simply preaching in the synagogue. I can imagine myself in the synagogue listening to Jesus deliver his first sermon. It must have been powerful preaching; Mark says the people were astounded because Jesus spoke as one having authority. Who did he study under? Where did he go to seminary? What is his degree? Is he a Rev. or Dr.? What other churches has he served? Where does he get his authority?

 

The answers comes from a most unlikely source—because just then, the sermon is interrupted by a man possessed of an unclean spirit who declares the preacher as the Holy One of God. It is easy to imagine that there would be aides in the temple who would act quickly to resolve such disruptive behavior. If it happened at Johnson Memorial, we would look to the ushers to escort the man out. But Jesus—baptized, anointed, and tempted—has been prepared to fight against forces of evil in the world. He commands the spirit to shut up and get out, and the evil spirit obeys. If they were astounded at his teaching, Mark says that they were amazed by his actions.

 

The source of Jesus’ power and authority is in who he is, to be sure; but its revelation to us is in what he does. Actions speak louder than words.

 

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 1-20-12

Livin’ In the Belly of a Big Fish

One of the lectionary passages for this week is in Jonah. I love Jonah…I am Jonah. He/I know what to do, we understand the message and yet…not gonna do it.

We recently purchased a new appliance for our home. An appliance large enough that even with the seats down in the minivan, needed to be delivered. The clerk told us that an automated system would call my designated number and advise us of the ‘delivery window’. Well hey, that’s good news, right? No more waiting around from 8A to 6P for someone to show up. I should have suspected trouble when the call did come and the computer generated voice announced that my TWO hour delivery window was from four o’clock PM to eight o’clock PM. I was no math major but it did not take a whole lot of brain power to pick up that error. Four PM rolls around and nothing. Five – nothing. Six – nothing. Seven – nothing. At eight I called. Still in possession of my composure, I asked the person at the other end of the 800 number about the status of my delivery. I was informed that I was number 13 and the truck was on number six. I felt the glue slipping. I was about to come unhinged. “You mean I have waited here for the four hours of my two hour window and no one could bother to call me with an update?” I was assured that someone would call me right away. No return call. Nine – nothing. Ten – nothing. At 10:15 I called back. I’ll have to say I wasn’t obnoxious, but I was certainly belligerent. The call at 10:45 found me in no better shape. When the fourth call ended, Kim said, “It’s not their fault, they can’t control the truck.” Not what I wanted to hear! I was in a mood, and I wanted my delivery. With a birthday just around the corner, anyone watching would have guessed that I was going on five not 50. The only thing missing was me stomping my little feet and promising to hold my breath until I got my way. More calls, more angst, more raised voice and more unkind lip service from me.

Jonah knew what he had to do, and he didn’t want to do it. He wound up in the belly of a big fish. We wrestle with the Ten Commandments; is it seven thou shalt nots and three thou shalts or seven shalts and three nots? Jesus made it simple; Love God, Love your neighbor. That night on the phone I felt like I had turned from what I knew I should be doing, how I should be acting and landed smack dab in the fish >> and that stinks. I know that I can’t un-ring the bell from that night. There’s no way to track down the people who got to “deal” with me. But I also know that I’ll get spit up on shore. That God will dust me off and set me on the right path – again. Grace is an amazing thing.

I pray that the next time I/we are in a situation and are ready to strike that we smell fish and God and our neighbor.
Steve Matthews

Devotional 1-13-12

Ginzel – Pauline – Madame Alexander - Can you guess what I collect?

Well, if not, these are the names of some of the companies that make the dolls that I have collected as an adult.

However, when I was just a young girl, my family began the collection for me.  Every time a member of our family or a friend of the family’s traveled to a foreign land or an unusual location in the United States, they were encouraged to bring back a doll to add to “Suzanne’s collection”.  And so I have dolls from Siam (now known as Thailand), the Czech Republic, Argentina, Greece and India – just to name a few of the countries.  I also have some of my most precious dolls from my childhood – Tiny Tears, Shirley Temple, as well as the original Barbie and Ken dolls. Then added to my collection was my mother’s doll in her original outfit from the 1930’s, and my aunt’s Bi Lo Baby, in pristine condition, because it was never played with, since it was so special. 

Now that I am in my golden years, I seldom buy a new doll for my collection.  But when I do buy one, it’s not because of the company that made it, or the antique or monetary value of it.  Rather, it is because of the doll’s face. I like to look in the eyes of the doll, and if it speaks to me, then I can’t resist adding it to my collection. The eyes make all the difference.

In Psalm 139, David explains that God and God’s eyes have searched him and have known him inside and out, in all ways. God put David together in his mother’s womb, and God’s works are most wonderful.  For David, such knowledge is truly amazing and beyond comprehension.

I love this Psalm.  God’s eyes.  Only God is with each and every one of us from the beginning until eternity.  Only God knows our every thought, word and deed.  Only God sees and knows our inner workings, our innermost thoughts, our comings and goings. God’s eyes are beyond our comprehension, but truly are amazing!

In our daily lives, we encounter so many people.  And yet we only see into someone else’s life what they allow us to know or see.  We all do it.  We keep so much from every other human being around us.  But God knows us in every way, whether we want God to know it or not.  To me that is scary and yet such a comfort.  God’s eyes are a blessing to me in all that I do and say.  God – the one being I can always count on – God’s presence and love with me every minute in every way. 

God’s eyes – God’s love and grace – always present for all of God’s children.  The eyes are so important and make the difference!!!!!   

Blessings,  

Rev. Suzanne Ellis

Devotional 1-6-12

What a Blessing

1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 1:11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
I am struck by the image of Jesus being baptized by John in the river Jordan. As he comes out of the water he sees the “Spirit” descending like a dove on him. Then Jesus hears a voice coming from heaven. With my mental health background this is somewhat suspect. Was Jesus so stressed that he was delusional and having hallucinations?

During my three years of training in both the Georgia and South Carolina mental health systems, I met and talked with many individuals who believed that they had a special relationship with God. God had talked with them, and they had heard the voice of God. God had touched them and given them various instructions or messages for this world. Some believed they were God, some Jesus, and others that the Holy Spirit possessed their souls. This experience certainly gave me a different perspective than I had prior to my clinical training.

When one reads this passages it is natural to ask the question “Is it true?” or “Is it real?” This question always raises the anxiety of those who hear it. For some finding an answer is difficult. For others it is easy to use theological double talk, religious shaming or rigid indoctrination to quickly answer, “Yes!”

Even with my mental health background, I believe it as it is written. Here’s why: It happened to me.

It did not happen when I was baptized because I was baptized as an infant. I have no memory of the event. It did not happen when I joined the church at six years of age. I only remember my aunt who never showed affection hugging me as the church members filed by to congratulate us for what I did not at that time know. It did not happen when I was sixteen and decided to answer this mysterious thing referred to as “the call to ministry.” I was not even sure I wanted anyone to know about my career choice.

In fact I do not know at what age it happened or if it is a “true” event. That is the point. In our religious lives we are so locked into the need for certainty that we miss the truth of spiritual events. The world has to be created in seven days and Mary has to be a virgin. Many times we believe it has to be true or if not, it is false? Not true!!

Here is what happened to me: I saw God in his heaven. God spoke to me. As a scared, frightened, child who was abused by parents, teachers, siblings, school mates, I did not know if the world was safe or if I would survive. During Sunday school, Vacation Bible School or maybe in a dream I looked to the heavens and the heavens opened up. There sat God on his throne. God looked down at me with compassion in his eyes and caring in his voice and spoke. God said, “Son it is going to be ok. You are going to be ok. Don’t worry.” That’s it! The End.

Did it really happen? Was it real? Is it true?

To me it is, and that is all that really matters.

So it was with Jesus.

So it is with you.

What a blessing.
Rev. David C. Johnson
Rev. David C. Johnson DMin BCC is assistant director for operations in the Pastoral Care and Education department of Carolinas Medical Centers in Charlotte, NC. He serves as president of Association of Professional Chaplains and may be contacted at: David.Clark.Johnson@carolinashealthcare.org,