09/09/2024
The Importance of A Noise Cancelling Lifestyle
While hiding in a cave on the mountain the word of God asks Elijah, ‘What are you doing here?’ Elijah proceeds to launch into a rather whiney rant along the lines of “No one likes me, Everybody hates me, and all my hard work and sacrifice on your behalf, Lord, has fallen on deaf ears.”
So God tells Elijah to go stand on the mountain because he is going to give Elijah the greatest and most empowering gift of all—God is going to be present with his servant.
Then there are a series of spectacular, nearly apocalyptic events: there is a stone-shattering wind, there is a mountain-trembling earthquake, and there is a all-consuming wild fire. But the scripture says, God was not present in any of these attention-grabbing displays of power. Then there is, depending on your translation, “the sound of sheer silence,” a still small voice, or a gentle whisper. God makes himself known to Elijah—not in the engaging, fast paced, awe-inspiring ways that he is used to—God comes to his prophet in utter silence, wrapped around a whisper.
And here’s what most people miss about this story: Elijah can’t hear it. Elijah misses it. Elijah fails to recognize it for what it truly is. God offers the rarest and most transformative gift God can—his literal presence with one of his creatures—but Elijah is so wired into the impressive displays of power that he is unable to receive the gift God has given him.
In Shaina’s children’s sermon Sunday, she pointed out how many loud and demanding noises, voices, and sounds we are subjected to all the time. When the radio’s playing, the podcast is casting, the TV is blaring, the neighbor’s car alarm is squawking—it is hard to hear our own children, spouse, or friends. Perceiving a whisper is practically impossible. Yet that is exactly how God chooses to make himself known to us—at least some of the time. Woe to us if we consistently fail to turn down and tune out the distractions and really listen. Woe to us if we too fail to hear God’s word or appreciate God’s presence.
Archived Posts
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
There are several powerful and evocative artworks that depict the scene from Mark 9:14–29, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit... Some of the following have internet links, the others are worth googling. Enjoy!
The Gift of Ourselves As A Gift of Love
The more the giving of myself costs me something, the greater the power of the gift. You know I love quotes, so after a little research, let me share a few of my favorites on this very subject:
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.