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Day 4: Injustice

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I have always been afraid to ask God certain questions, one of which is: “How can a just God let over half the world live in poverty?” I am afraid to ask this question because I am afraid He will ask me the same thing.

“How can you, Brad?”

31 “Now when the Human One[a] comes in his majesty and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his majestic throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them from each other, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right side. But the goats he will put on his left.

34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’

37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’ (Matthew 25:31-40)

The first thing that I always ask is what can I do about poverty? I think a quote by Mother Teresa is a good place to start.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” -Mother Teresa-

Feeding one person may not cure world hunger or injustice, but it feeds one more person that it did before. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. If we are to be the ambassadors of Christ then it is very paramount that we act like Christ does, notice I said “does,” because Christ is still with us! The brutal truth about this world is that there will always be injustice. We exist in a very unjust world.

However, an even more powerful truth is that wherever injustice is the Lord Jesus Christ is there with people helping, comforting, and equipping healing to occur. So in closing.

Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Go therefore and be Christ’s ambassadors!

Amen.

 

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Day 3: See

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Ever want to know where you stand? What people really think about you? Well, you are good company because I believe that Jesus just wanted to know what the disciples thought. I find it very interesting that Peter is the only one that said what he thought, but then again that is the way that Peter usually was. He was the disciple that walked out on the water to Jesus after all.

I think this is why I have always respected Peter.

Peter saw Jesus for who He was and is and maybe He saw that the day that He called those fishermen to come follow him. This is powerful because there are im sure many people who thought them to be completely out of their mind and yet Peter stands strong and says that He is the Christ. The One.

So who do we say that Jesus is?

We already know who Peter says He is, but who do we?

It’s a good question to ask in our lenten journey.

Almighty God,

Help us to know at all times who you are and more importantly where you are, in our hearts. Transform us Lord to understand more and more. Thank you for your love and grace and for helping us to extend that love and grace to the world.

Amen.

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Day 2: Return

Day Two of Lent. The theme per the ReThink Church Lent Photo Challenge is:

“RETURN”

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“Church work without soul work is just busy work.”

My candidacy mentor, Pastor Wade Killough said that to me today in a meeting with him today. I would encourage us to remove the word church and put a blank there instead.

“________ work without soul work is just busy work.”

The blank is placed intentionally because it isn’t church work that can distract us at times, its any kind of work. Today for my picture I chose a picture of my John Wesley Study Bible and my Moleskine because it represents a practice that I have very recently gotten back to doing. It’s the simple practice of reading God’s word and journaling my reflections as I read. I returned to this practice because quite honestly I desperately need it.

“The word of Christ must live in you richly.”

If it doesn’t then we are left to our own words, which lets be honest aren’t the most trustworthy of words at times to live by. For us to completely understand what life Jesus was talking about in the “abundant life” there must be a relational activity going on all the time. In order for any relationship to deepen there has to be effort on both ends. Give and take, Give and take. When we are not participating in the relationship by reading God’s word it turns into Take, Take, Take. Which doesn’t work. Ever.

So, today we return to the right understanding of what a relationship with God is supposed to be like. We return to our Heavenly Father and repent and believe in the Gospel, and when we do this God remembers us and restores us.

Holy and Awesome God,

Help us to return to you and your love and grace.
Help us to repent and believe in your gospel.
Create in us a new and faithful spirit that is connected in a vibrant relationship with you.

We ask this in Jesus’ name

Amen.

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Lent Photo Challenge

 

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This year at Lent I am practicing it as a photo challenge. The photo challenge that I am doing is put on by rethinkchurch of the United Methodist Church. You can find the challenge here. The instructions for this challenge are listed below: 

As we journey through this season of Lent, some will choose to give up something. Some will go about their lives as if it was ordinary time. Some will choose to be more reflective. Whatever your practices this season, will you join this photo-a-day challenge and share with the community how you perceive each word or phrase for the day? No explanation needed, unless you want to. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Tag us on your instagram photos with @rethinkchurch or on twitter [@umrethinkchurch] with #rethinkchurch and #40days.

Connection. It’s what Lent is all about. Finding the connection with our creator and for even a moment each day cultivating that connection. Everyday of this challenge I will be posting my pictures from instagram to my blog here on methodork.com. I hope that through this blog series that we will find God in the most amazing places. So without any further explanation let’s begin with….Who Am I? 

 

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I am a husband, a brother, a son, but above all else I am a child of God. This is where Lent begins in knowing who I am. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Who Am I?

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Who am I? That question is one that we continually battle with, at least I do. The battle is usually mixed in what we do, which is where we go off track. What we do is not synonymous with who we are. In order for us to do things effectively we must first know who we are. Not the reverse. 

So who are we?

Honestly I can only speak for myself.

I am a child of God.
I am a husband.
I am a brother and a son.

More importantly I am free because of God’s love and grace. I am made new. 

This is where start. 

Knowing this is crucial to knowing what we do. 

So, who are you?