Reflexion, A Spiritual Community

Guest Speaker: Ed Piorek - It's All About Love

Jeremiah 17-18

My senior year in high school, my best friend surprised me He said, “I don’t think I can justify bringing a child into this world” - that was something I was still looking forward to enjoying, • getting married and some day having children ◦ I knew about war and poverty and race riots and assassinations and environmental pollution • but my outlook was not so bleak as to rule out children - what God is describing in this passage is just that bleak! • there was no future for the people of Judah ◦ ...

Jeremiah 13 - 15

The purpose of Yom Kippur was to resolve a problem Israel was the community of God’s people living in a world of impurities – some impurities resulted from contact with natural sources (not sinful) • others resulted from violations of God’s religious and social laws • these impurities affected the entire community, even God’s sanctuary and its furnishings – every year, atonement was made for the people and the sacred tent • Kippur, is usually translated as “atonement” and means “cover” ◦ the lid...

Jeremiah 11 & 12

To fully appreciate what’s here, we need perspective If we take an aerial view and rise high enough, – we’ll discover in Jeremiah themes and sayings from Deuteronomy • both use the metaphors of a circumcised heart and an iron furnace • both lay great emphasis on God’s covenant with Israel The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today (Deut. 5:2-3) ◦ it turns out, Deuteronomy is laid out in ...

Jeremiah 9 & 10

There were two times in the gospels when Jesus identified precisely what had to be done in the moment - once, when he told a wealthy man, “you lack one thing” (the man had to liquidate all his assets and follow Jesus) - another time he explained to Martha, “one thing is necessary” • then he defended the one thing Mary had chosen to do - it can be a big relief to narrow down what’s most important now to one thing Through Jeremiah, God confronted his people for their many betrayals - one of their ...

Jeremiah 7-8

The first time I visited Shiloh in Israel, I loved it Finally I felt something extraordinary in Israel--like an energy vibrating up through the soil - that was on the path, before we had even reached the site • one strong appeal that Shiloh that appealed to me was that there was nothing there but bare hillsides • but for that same reason, Shiloh was a message of doom for Jerusalem - I knew about Shiloh from this passage in Jeremiah–it had always intrigued me • so I looked closer at scripture and...

Jeremiah chapters 5-6

In 1989 Bob Dylan released the song “Everything Is Broken” - it’s a bluesy song that I love listening to when I feel down but not out • when something that is important to you falls apart, ◦ or a lot of unpleasant things line up in your day, this song fits your mood ◦ lots of people, in different situations can connect with these lyrics • it sometimes seems everything, everywhere is going wrong - this was Jeremiah’s world

Jeremiah chapter 3-4

Every year, my dad directed a summer camp in Williams, Arizona So that was our typical family vacation - one year, when all the campers were assembled in the chapel, • Dad began, “There was a murder in the forest last night ◦ he paused to let that sink in • then holding up a carving knife, he said, “This was the weapon” ◦ and “Here is the victim” – and he showed us a twig from an apple tree - he explained that once he cut the twig from the tree, • separated from its supply of sap, it was as good...

Jeremiah chapter 2

I always been enchanted with the way this chapter opens If you look at the text, God’s speech is arranged in a poetic format - Hebrew poems do not look or sound like English poems • Hebrew poetry has a different structure and rules ◦ in chapter 1, Jeremiah had expressed his thoughts in prose (the ordinary written form of essays, etc.) ◦ but God’s messages were laid out in poems (God's speech is always in greater than the words he uses) • poetry gives language greater force ◦ it’s primary objecti...

Jeremiah Chapter 1

There are several words in the Bible we don’t understand They pose a problem for us, because they’re common words, - and we assume we know what they mean • that is why we get confused when we come to them ◦ for instance: "name," "fear" ("Am I supposed to be afraid of God?"), "holy," and "sons of" • biblical Hebrew has a small vocabulary ◦ so it has to expand the meaning of various words ◦ that enabled biblical writers to describe spiritual values and experience - I thought a series of talks on t...

The Shepherd and the Star Pt. 4

The book of Proverbs is a collection of pithy sayings If you read it several times, those clever lines stick in your mind - for instance, here is one that comes to mind regarding this last week: Iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens the face of a friend (Pr. 27:17) • you might remember, last year, Guy Gray spoke here ◦ we met up again this past week -- Gut has been my friend for fifty years ◦ I was fortunate to meet him in the early years of my ministry • he guided me to a path of greater ins...

The Shepherd and the Star Pt. 2

About twenty years ago, Barb attended a seminar at work A psychologist lectured on Compassion Fatigue Syndrome - it is a common condition among healthcare professionals • their encounters with the suffering of others takes a toll ◦ if they are not treated yet continue to work, they can become numb ◦ they stop feeling empathy for their patients’ pain and grief • the speaker provided the audience with a list of symptoms ◦ Barb said as she was going down the list checking boxes, she was thinking, “...

The Shepherd and the Star Pt. 1

Last week, God’s question to Elijah was, “What are you doing here?” We’ll start with that question: “What are you doing here ?” - isn’t one reason that your here is because you came to hear what I have to say? • Okay, I feel uncomfortable when I think that or say that ◦ not only because it’s like I have to give an oral report every week (and feel like I'll be graded on it), ◦ but because I can’t take myself that seriously • I’m a mediocre guy who makes more mistakes than gets things right - Howe...

1 Kings 19, The Low Whisper

We’re going to spend time this morning with a unique person Elijah was one of the most gifted prophets in scripture - in fact, he became the representative of all the prophets, • right up to and including John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Lk. 1:17) • Elijah will teach us a lesson on hearing the voice of God

Mediations in Mark - Chapter 16

We’ve come to the last chapter in Mark’s gospel And to the enigma at the end of the book - that’s because the story ends at Mark 16, verse 8 • you say, “Chuck! My Bible still has more verses” ◦ “Yes, I know, but read the fine print” • the most ancient manuscripts that we have in our possession end at verse 8 ◦ scholars tell us the quality of the Greek writing changes at verse 9 ◦ the evidence supports the abrupt ending - this has become a fascination for me – so, it has been a frequent meditatio...

Meditations in Mark - Chapter 15

This story is about Christ the Victim becoming Christ the Victor I’m going to jump right into my meditations on this chapter My meditation: “I want Mark to use his remarkable storytelling skills to enhance the details of what is depicted here. I want him to enable us to visualize it and hear every sound. It would benefit us to begin to fathom what Jesus suffered and to feel the utter hopelessness of the cross. I feel it’s important to sit in dark shadow of his abandonment, aloneness, sorrow, and...

Meditations in Mark - Chapter 14

My first thought is that this is Jesus these religious leaders want to eliminate. He has done only good; he has opened windows to the kingdom of God; he has advocated for spiritual and humanitarian reforms; and he has healed countless people. My second thought is the devious approach the religious teams use to eliminate him. There is something about injustice that disturbs me so intensely it keeps me awake at night. My feelings are intensified if the injustice is intentional, perpetrated through...

Meditations In Mark - Chapter 13

The temple plays an important role in Jesus’ story The one clear accusation brought against him at his trial was, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands’” (Mk. 14:58). - but they weren’t certain what that even meant Yet even about this their testimony did not agree (Mk. 14:59) • I tend to think, if something was sacred, it is sacred forever ◦ if God visited a place, the ground would always be holy • that...

Meditations in Mark - Chapter 12

For the last few chapters, tension has been growing The religious establishment has taken notice of Jesus – in this chapter, the conflict leads to a public showdown • this began at end of chapter 11 with priests, scribes, and elders By what authority are you doing these thing or who gave you this authority to do them? (Mk. 11:28) ◦ so the ‘And’ at beginning of chapter 12 is a continuation of that encounter ◦ the ‘them’ in verse 1 refers to the priests, scribes, and elders • the answer to their q...

Meditations in Mark - Chapter 11

The chapter begins with Jesus’ dramatic entrance into Jerusalem But first, he gives instructions to two disciples regarding the colt he was going to ride - imagine this: the disciples go find the colt and begin untying it, • wouldn’t the bystanders assume they were stealing it ◦ so Jesus instructed them to say,

Jim Calhoun

Meditations In Mark - ch. 10 05/14/2023

When Nicodemus visited Jesus, his first words were, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God Nicodemus was correct -- Jesus is a teacher - Mark tells us teaching people Jesus' “custom” – his usual response when people showed up • that is what we witness as we watch Jesus move through this chapter • Jesus never ran out of things to say ◦ and every word he spoke was enlightenment - one of his teaching techniques was that he allowed people to ask questions • and when they did, he typical...

Meditations in Mark 9

There are at least two ways to read the Bible We can dive into it head-first or we can enter with our heart – of course it’s important to think about what we’re reading • but it’s also important to feel what we read ◦ to be responsive to the content of the text and how it affects us • I study Scriptures with my head and meditate with my heart – my meditations are mostly private • they consist of what God speaks to me regarding my own issues ◦ so why am I sharing my meditations in Mark’s gospel w...

Meditations In Mark - chapter 8

We are at the center of Mark’s gospel, heart of his message – the hub of the wheel In chapter 8 Mark pulls everything together - Jesus Christ appeared in the world on a mission • he came to introduce people to the kingdom of God • but making them aware of God’s presence and kingdom proved to be extremely difficult ◦ it is not easy for us to awaken to God’s Spirit - this chapter reveals the tension our worldly mind and spiritual mind more clearly than any other • I tried to describe this tension ...

Meditations in Mark - chapter 7

I have been blessed with a number of extraordinary friends One of them was incredibly creative - he could hardly complete a project, because he was constantly distracted by new idea • sometimes I would call him when feeling depressed • his creativity was so inspiring, it changed my outlook - he agreed to fill-in for me as a guest speaker • it took him awhile to come up with a title for his talk, but eventually emailed it to me: “Don’t Be the Kind of Christian There Are Already Too Many Of” • Jes...

Meditations in Mark Chapter 6

Years ago, a woman who worked at the church experienced an emotional or psychological breakdown – her therapist recommended a clinic for in-patient care • when she was allowed visitors, her family asked me to go see her • right away I noticed she looked different – lighter, like a weight had been lifted ◦ she was definitely in a better frame of mind ◦ brighter, positive and hopeful – she explained that to get well, she had to detach from her family • she could no longer be around them ◦ hearing ...

Easter 2023

Every year, one line from the Easter story comes to mind I decided that I would talk about that line today - the women came early in the morning, • and they found the tomb, but they did not find Jesus • however, two men met them, dressed in dazzling apparel ◦ I don’t know about their "apparel," but that sounds like "Project Runway" to me ◦ the only other time Luke uses the word for dazzling, it’s translated “lightning” (later they’re referred to as “angels”--vv. 22-23) they said to them, “Why do...

Mediations in Mark chapter 6

Meditations in Mark Chapter 5

I have enjoyed this story ever since I was a child When spending the night with cousins or friends, - we would sit in the dark and tell ghost stories • it surprised me to find one of the spookiest of ghost stories in Mark's gospel ◦ and this one is true – it really happened ◦ Mark turns flashlight into his face and tells "The Legend of Legion" • “It all began on the other side of the sea” ◦ this is like saying, “the other side of the tracks” -- it was a bad neighborhood ◦ it was Gentile territor...

Meditations in Mark Chapter 4

I’ve enjoyed the privilege of walking the shores of the Galilee "sea" Sometimes in the early morning, other times in the afternoon, and some evenings as well - so once, when reading this chapter, I put myself there • Jesus could be seen walking those shores frequently ◦ that’s what he was doing when he called his first disciples (Mk. 1:16-20) • in the previous chapter, people found him there ◦ so many, in fact that the press of the crowd threatened to crush him (Mk. 3:8-9) ◦ what he did then, he...