Mosaic Church Of Bellingham

Rather than following the cultural norms of Lenten practices like giving up coffee or chocolate, I suggest that we look back at the past year, when all of us and most every nation on the earth, found themselves drawn into the wilderness of a pandemic. At some level, almost everyone has experienced some type of loss.

I have really struggled this year with any desire to lead us through the season of Lent. I have been thinking that the best thing we could do was give up Lent for Lent. It just seemed like the wrong time to say to everyone, “let’s take the next 40 days and really focus on fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial, and spiritual discipline.” As if we haven’t been doing most of these things for the past 12 months without even wanting to.

Hesed is a love that is so enduring that it persists beyond any sin or betrayal to mend brokenness and graciously extend forgiveness: Hesed is not just a feeling but an action. It intervenes on behalf of loved ones and comes to their rescue. Hesed describes the attitude behind what what we do, the way we do it and what we are doing.

Riding by the homeless encampment at City Hall provokes a lot of feelings and prayers. The problem is, it is very difficult to figure out what to actually do!

Mosaic is a diverse community, with many people having very different views. But Mosaic is also an entity, a collective, and it is a collective with a common overarching focus. WE are a community of people seeking to orient our lives around the life and teaching of Jesus. We don't all do this in the same way, or have the same understanding or even the same doctrine. But, we do it with the same center; Jesus.

This year I found myself looking at the new year with a bit different set of lenses. I think part of it was seeing all the posts and comments about leaving 2020 behind and being so glad it was over, as if the turning of the calendar was going to make any difference at all with regard to the pandemic or the restrictions we are all experiencing. I read something that got me thinking about a different idea or way of looking into the NY.

"I say it every year, but if there is one thing missing from Advent, it's math!"

If Jesus is the ruler of the domain of peace, then when I step outside of peace, I am outside the realm of where Jesus rules. Or said another way, when my actions or thinking creates anxiety and worry in my life, something is wrong with my actions or thinking. Of course, I can’t do this every waking moment, but the more I can be in touch with my own internal and external experience of shalom, the more I can be in touch with God’s presence in my life.

Remember when you had people over or met in a restaurant for a party? Remember last year when you went to Christmas parties and got to celebrate NY’s Eve with a whole bunch of friends? It’s hard to get excited about anything these days, for fear that it won’t happen. This year, more than most years, we need to shout the words, "DON'T LOSE HOPE!"

Though the book of Job never comes right out and says that Job’s friends betray him, this is what I see in his response. I see a man that has been betrayed by those that he thought had come around to help him process his loss and pain. Boy was he wrong!

How many of you have ever been betrayed by someone, such that it impacted your life in a significant way? Most of us have!

Is it ok to argue with God? What if you get to a point where you can't argue anymore and just tune out? Is that ok? This is especially difficult because I am convinced that Christianity has become about thinking the correct doctrinal things, even if they make God into something that God didn’t intend.

I think one of the joys of being young, is the lack of complexity that life has. Do you remember how easy it was to just go outside and enjoy a day when you were a kid? But, the lack of complexity to life as a young person is also a problem, because life is not that simple.

Philip Yancey, in his book, “Disappointment with God” reflects on a conversation with a friend: “As I brooded over our conversation, . . . I kept returning to three large questions about God that seemed to lurk just behind the thicket of his feelings.... “Is God unfair?” “Is God silent?” “Is God hidden?”

Many people use Job 1:21 as a statement of faith, particularly when crisis hits. But, is that a good theological statement and one we should adopt as reality?

I wonder how we would start a book about why good things happen to bad people. I’m thinking mine would be short and sweet. "Life is hard, get used to it!" But that wouldn’t tell a story, that would just be trying to make a point. Story is much more powerful and so much harder. Anyone can give their two cents about anything. Just look around social media and you’ll see that. It doesn’t have to be thought out, it doesn’t have to look at all sides of an issue, it doesn’t even have to be true. It can just be puked out there for everyone to deal with. Then, within a day or so, we are on to the next gag reflex conversation.

If you were really honest, who do you relate to more, Mother Theresa, Job, Jesus or Ghandi? Now, if you are like, me, you hear the words “blameless and upright” and go, “Well, Job is not me then.” But let me stop you there. Even though that may not be you in general, haven’t you felt that way at certain times and wondered why something was happening? Haven’t you asked yourself what you did to deserve this thing or that thing? Haven’t you at least felt, if not voiced, that something happening simply wasn’t fair?

The book of Job is what’s called “epic poetry”. It is epic, not just because of its length, but because of its style. Written long ago, it could have been meant for a very early form of tragic theater, rather than a story that is meant to help us understand that God is in charge of everything in this world; whether good or evil or prosperous or destructive. That reading of the book of Job creates way more questions than answers and honestly, may miss the whole point of the poem.

It's funny what I remember and don't remember from my childhood. One of the things that I remember is one of my first passages that I committed to memory; Ps. 1. On my 59th birthday, it's one of the things I reflect on and pray for, for all of you.