Feb. 22nd 2011
The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, until there was only one left – his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ “But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. Mark 12:5-8
This is the end of a parable Jesus told about a man planting a vineyard, leasing it to some farmers, and then sending his representatives to gather the owners share of the harvest. The tenant farmers repeatedly kill the representatives, and keep the owners share for themselves. Finally, in a last ditch effort the owner sends his son, thinking that the tenants will respect him. Instead the farmers kill him also.
The point of the parable is quite obvious. The owner is God who lovingly and in great detail creates this beautiful earth, making provision for its inhabitants to have income, resources, and protection. The farmers are the humans the owner placed in the creation. More specifically I suppose these farmers are the Jewish nation, especially the religious leaders, the Pharisees. The servants sent to collect the owners share are the prophets and priests and kings and leaders God has repeated used to call the humans (Jews and us) back to accountability. The Jews continually rejected these clarions, and the owners “covenant”. Finally, God sends his son whom he loves dearly, and they also kill him.
I’m struck today with the end of verse 7: Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves! What audacity and pride to think that somehow being hired hands emboldens them to take over God’s creation. These Jewish leaders were so full of themselves, and so empty of God, that they believed their screwed up law keeping religion could somehow manage all of God’s creation!
I fear that we must not see this parable only for the Jews! I fear there are some Christians even today who get a little experience or exposure to the good things of God, and instantly begin telling God how things ought to run. I shudder at the pride and audacity I see in too many Christians who think God’s warnings are only for someone else. I have come to despise the self-righteousness that assumes their way is the only way, that their interpretation is the only right one, that their church or brand of religion is the only one God is blessing. I loathe the Christian who thinks they’ve got it all figured out, and makes a play to assume the estate for themselves! I cringe at what these foolhardy souls have done with Jesus!
Lord, help me to hear your voice in the ancient word today. Help me to care for my little part of the vineyard, recognizing my tenant status with all I think I own. Give me grace to share generously with you, your rightful share of all my resources. Help me welcome and hospitably receive your Son, wherever I encounter Him today. Help me never succumb to the temptation that somehow I can manage this estate better than you. I’m your hired hand – period!

Feb. 21st, 2011
“I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me! ” Mark 11:29-30
Following all the ruckus by the fig tree, and chasing the money changers out of the temple; some religious leaders corner and question Jesus about authority. They want to know by what or whose authority he does all these things. They demand to know who gave him the right to act like this – upsetting their barren little “spiritual” enterprise. In a fashion that is remarkably consistent with Jesus – he answers their question with one of his own. It is amazing to notice how often he does this throughout scripture; but especially in the throes of conflict or stressful ‘discussions’.
His question to theirs is the verse above. Obviously, this is a debate about authority, and he cuts to the chase, seeing through their intent, and makes his question force them to make a judgment or decision about something they don’t want to address: John’s authority. What Jesus is doing is really forcing them to answer their own question. They probably know that his authority comes from God, but don’t want to acknowledge or admit it – so they refuse to answer his question, and he therefore, and as a matter of principle, refuses to answer theirs. Interesting interplay, and not without merit.
We all might do well to learn the art, (and it really is a learnable art), of asking good questions. So many stressful situations can be diffused by asking artful, intriguing, disarming questions. I wish I could do this better – and I’m getting better. So many times my emotions race to the front of my mind and heart, and I respond to attacks, or criticism, or challenges, or even sometimes innocent questions; with defensive statements or “back-at-you” attacks. I’m learning from the appreciative inquiry methodology of Jesus, to step back, assess what is really going on…and try to ask good questions. Doesn’t sound very spiritual – but it can be very helpful!

Feb. 17th, 2011
Later this afternoon I’m hosting and speaking to a group of BSC students under the tutelage of my good friend Larry Jahnke. The subject of our discussions will center on Unity – specifically unity in the body of Christ. So, naturally I’ve been thinking about this subject: Can Christians and Christian Churches be unified? My answer: I certainly hope so, for that was the command of Jesus in the 17th Chapter of John. I know there is too much territorialism among churches, pastors, and church folks. I know there is too much tension between different religions. I know there is too much that divides us and not enough that unifies us!
My thinking has morphed to considering what does it take to be unified? It takes a willingness to want to be unified, probably first and foremost. It takes some shared vision or purpose or goal. It takes some unifying, agreed upon foundation upon which to base our relationship. It is to that foundation my mind has wandered today. Some years ago a group of Religious leaders from across the theological and denominational perspectives gathered to consider what are the non-negotiable elements of the Christian faith, and might those provide the foundation upon which we can agree, and then begin the process of unification. They published a book which contained the 5, but of course, I can’t find it or remember the 5, so I thought I’d take a stab at listing what I personally believe might be the non-negotiable elements upon which all Christians – no matter their denominational variety – might agree.
1- All human beings are created and loved by God, and therefore have worth.
2- All human beings sin, and therefore have need of a savior.
3- God exists in three separate but unified parts: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.
4- By His death and Resurrection, Jesus is the Savior and Lord.
5- The Bible is God’s Word and has authority for our lives.
You will recognize that this is a cursory attempt at this effort, but it’s my 2 cents today. What would your list contain? How might these foundational principles, agreed upon, help to unify those who bear the name “Christian?” This is what I’m thinking about today.

Feb. 16th, 2011
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 11:20-25
Following the dramatic stories of cursing the fig tree, and driving the moneychangers out of the temple, Jesus adds this dramatic statement: “your faith will allow you to move mountains into the sea.” Now, I’m not sure why anyone would want to move a mountain into the sea, but Jesus is making an equally dramatic statement: “Our faith is Strong!” But…there are conditions.
1) You must really believe. You can’t just pretend to believe. I’m not sure the difference between “real” and “pretend” belief – but my guess is it has something to do with praying with Kingdom results in mind, rather than just personal wants. I bet it has to do with utter and complete dependence, and utter and complete willingness to accept the end result of whatever you are praying for.
2) You must have no doubt in your heart. I have a hard time with this one. I believe there is room in a believer’s life for times of doubt – in fact I think that sometimes doubt is a healthy prerequisite for deeper faith. Apparently I’m wrong – and now it makes sense that I’ve seen so little mountain moving in all my “doubtful” years!
3) You must believe that you’ve received it, and it will be yours. Those big hair channel knuckleheads were right! We must name it and claim it and it will be ours. All we have to do is “really” believe, have “no” doubt, and act like we’ve already received it and --- “poof” --- it will be ours. I’m sorry, but Jesus must have meant something else! The name it claim it exact mantras of faith, and no doubt, and telling God what exactly you want Him to do, expecting and not doubting, and acting like you have already received it is in my opinion a not so subtle form of personal idolatry. You do all the steps right – and God HAS to do what you ask! Nonsense.
4) You must forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against. This is a tough one. Most of us live off the angst we harbor against someone(s). Many of us are motivated by the anger we feel against those who have wronged us. Some of us would rather live in the state of unforgivness and impotent prayers – than do the right thing and make it right with another with whom we “loving” grudge!
This is a hard passage – which seems like it should be easy – have faith and move mountains…sounds good, but seems hard upon further investigation. Lord, help me to grow the faith I have. Help me really believe. Help me allow you to inform and remove my illegitimate doubts. Help me to live like I have received the answers to my prayers – not in some illogical or impractical ways, but in faithful and grateful ways. And help me do the hard, right, work of setting things right with those I must today! Hard!

Feb. 14th, 2011
The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it…The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus has said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!” Mark 11: 12-14 & 20-21
This unusual story baffles me a bit – but I better figure it out – I’m preaching on it this Sunday! Jesus curses a fig tree, and overnight it dies. Not much to go on there. The obvious “application” is that whatever doesn’t produce fruit is “pruned” away. Was this just another obvious metaphor of Israel and the unfruitful religion that had become her benchmark?
The barren fig tree would serve as book ends to another story that happens in the middle of this one: the cleansing of the temple. Upon seeing the temple now transformed into a market place for corrupt retail business in the name of religion – Jesus gets as angry as we see him anywhere in scripture – and runs the thieves out of His Father’s temple. His righteous indignation erupts and he clears the money changers out of church. The fact is missed on the surface, but these merchants knew better than set up their wares in the actual temple, so they erected them in the court of the Gentiles – which left no room for the Gentiles to worship God. The Gentiles were not welcome in the inner Jewish court, their court had been converted into a Wal-Mart, and they were left outside seeking a place at the altar table. Jesus had seen enough and went off on them, for their obvious disregard, and even more egregious prejudice against the faith- seeking Gentiles.
All of that makes some sense, but leaves me still longing for a meaning in the story of the fig tree, which preempts the temple one. And the second half of verse 13 complicates things: But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Maybe I’m looking to deep, and should just accept the story at face value; a prelude for the temple cleansing; but I can’t help but wonder why Jesus would curse a perfectly good fig tree for having no fruit - - when it was not yet “fruit season”? Is God saying that we ought to be producing fruit whether it is “in season or out of season”? Maybe. Is God saying that we ought to be producing “Spiritual Fruit”, even if our natural “season” is past; or not yet come? Probably. Is God saying that fruit which is life sustaining, is more important than leaves which are just pretty to look at, and provide some shade? Yes, certainly. Then why doesn’t he just say that??? Maybe He wants us to figure out for ourselves, and listen to that inner voice with a personal message just for us today. I hope He speaks soon – I have a sermon to write! And more importantly – I’m certain God has a personal message in this just for me!