Tuesday, June 24

Acts 5:27-42 ...if this plan should be of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God you will not be able to overthrow [it]…. (vv.38-39)

Today’s reading reveals not all Pharisees of Jesus’ time were “whitewashed tombs” as he so bluntly put it. Apparently, there were a few reasonable thinkers like Gamaliel who put today’s proposition before a Jerusalem Council considering jailing apostles.

In my early years as a believer, I was taught to have great suspicion for organized religion. Our mentor, Watchman Nee, was quite dubious of anything but home-grown church gatherings. A church’s only distinction should be of location: The church of Seattle. The church of Miami. The church of Chicago, etc. Clergy were frowned upon, and the Catholic Church itself was considered Babylon.

Needless to say, it was quite a surprise for me, decades later, to hear an Episcopal Bishop expound on grace, challenging a shaded image I had of the church and leaving me to wonder if I had been throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

After 2,000 years, the good news of Christ has yet to be overthrown. Whether I fully assimilate it is the real challenge—be it draped in robes or denim.

1 Samuel 6:1-16; Psalms 97, 99, 100; Luke 21:37—22:13

Wednesday, June 25

Acts 6:1-15 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” (v.11)

As a caretaker to a private estate in my early 30s I worked tirelessly during one hot summer maintaining nine acres of gardens, a pool, tennis courts, two resident dogs, a fleet of vehicles, a 20,000 square foot mansion and coordinating tours. I was exhausted one day after weeks without a day off only to learn the house sitter, out of the blue, had called my vacationing employer with a list of nefarious lies about me. Even of me having my way with women in the upstairs bedrooms!

With the wind knocked out of me I barely made it to the phone. Then I unleashed. She was sent packing within 24 hours. We later learned of her bouts with mental illness.

There is something about unadulterated mendacity that is very hard to fully heal from. Even now, some 40 years later, that out-of-the blue sucker punch is still felt. Scholars define blasphemy as the attempt to ruin someone’s reputation with scurrilous language. I learned it also comes with a wicked shelf life.

1 Samuel 7:2-17; Psalms 101, 109; Luke 22:14-23

Thursday, June 26

Luke 22:24-30 For who is greater, he who sits down, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits? But I am among you as one who serves. (v.27 Lamsa)

I often wonder what people think when they call the US a Christian nation? Does today’s reading come to mind? Ubiquitous servitude? A vast population mimicking the role of Christ? Oh my, my, my. Perhaps if you are on drugs. Today’s reading is, nevertheless, one I yearn to see. Wouldn’t it be wonderful, even to imagine such a thing? Hmm...I must settle for glimpses.

And Peter Farrelly’s 2018 Green Book might just serve as such a glimpse. With tables turned, this film, based on the true story of classical pianist Don Shirley, portrays a prominent black musician who is chauffeured through the American South on tour by Italian American driver and bodyguard, Tony Vallelonga. How would such an entourage navigate the South one might ask? As expected is the answer. It is a magnificent tale of the servant being the greater in so many ways. Shirley’s talent to the sittingaudience. Sometimes the driver’s candor challenging his employer, the lonely musician. An endearing story of an unlikely duo that—in their service—come to cherish one another.

1 Samuel 8:1-22; Psalms 105:1-22; Acts 6:15—7:16

Friday, June 27

Luke 22:31-38 ...let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. (v.36 NAS)

At first glance I was puzzled by today’s reading. Jesus taught to turn the other cheek, that he who lives by the sword dies by the sword. So, why does he now say sell stuff and buy weapons? Doesn’t make sense.

But after researching, I discovered the consensus among scholars is that, in the spirit of being wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove, Christ took to smoke and mirrors to create an appearance of shade in order to help fulfill him being classed among criminals. The ultimate playwright—knowing just how to stage the furniture.

What’s unusual is that illusions are usually employed for personal gain such as the high stakes gambling farce in George Hill’s The Sting. Or, Cillian Murphy’s cunning enticements in The Peaky Blinders. Or, my own life in which I go at lengths to save. I may repeatedly fail to lose my life in order to find it, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing and hoping I could, like the One who so selflessly and cunningly did.

1 Samuel 9:1-14; Psalms 102; Acts 7:17-29

Saturday, June 28

1 Samuel 9:15—10:1 ...Am I not...of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all families…. (v.21)

Although Saul was described as unusually handsome he is, nevertheless, surprised that the great Seer Samuel would consider talking to someone of his low caliber—that is, one of “the least of all families and from the smallest of all tribes.”

God choosing the underdog is a common thread in Scripture. Gideon, Saul, Esther, Moses, David, Daniel, Mary. Everyone loves a winner, especially when they are “losers.” Jesus seemed certain that God takes great note of what the smallest grain of mustard seed can do. But underdogs eventually are tested just as everyone else. No one gets carte blanche even if you were the underdog Israel as the Book of Kings chronicles.

As a gay man the hatred I feel from the bigots of the world is real and painful and endless. It has always made me feel least of all. But I also grow weary of whining. There comes a time for bucking up, soldiering on, and concentrating on how to fulfill that all important commandment to love thy neighbor—especially the nasty ones.

Psalms 107:33-43, 108; Acts 7:30-43; Luke 22:39-51

Sunday, June 29

1 Samuel 10:1-16 When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all these signs came to pass that day. (v.9 RSV)

Heart transplants are new in terms of what mankind can do, but God has always given new hearts to those willing to be obedient to Him. The key is the willingness to be obedient!

Obedience is a struggle. For me, it means not being in charge, not having control, and trusting another. I don’t want to let go of the reins of power. I’m sure I have the answers to most of life’s problems, if only I would be consulted and then obeyed.

Back to obedience. God has the answers to all our problems, if we but obey. I smile at those who ridicule the Old Testament rules listed by the hundreds. We’ve yet to really obey those rules. I wonder how our emotional health would be if we really listened to God and not our own physical desires?

I say I want that new heart only God can give me, but I’d really rather have the new heart and still be able to eat three candy bars. At times the distance from my mind saying “yes, Lord” to my heart saying “I will obey you, Lord” is such a great distance. I do want that new heart, Lord. I do want to obey. “And all these signs came to pass.”

Psalm 118; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 21:23-32

Monday June 30

Acts 7:44—8:1a “As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute?” (vv.51a-52b)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. “Pop” psychology tells us that humans beings are getting better and better in every way, every day. Yet, the headlines in the news scream at us that humans continue to lie, steal, cheat, and hurt each other.

The Israelites believed that a king would help them be a better people. God Himself as King wasn’t good enough. They had to have that human icon of a king.

The kings didn’t do for the Israelites what they had hoped for. The prophets told the people, time and again, to turn away from their evil deeds and turn to God, God being the only way to salvation. Yet, the people persecuted the prophets. Who wants to turn to God? Can’t some human help us?

God heard their cry and sent His only begotten Son to be a human, to live as we do, to show us how to be better and better every day. Yet, we humans didn’t listen. Peter, Jesus’ faithful follower, denied Christ three times before the cock crowed. And what do we do? Are we any better than our forebearers? The example given us in Scripture from generation to generation is that of a stiff-necked people who want to do it “their own way.” The only way to peace and happiness is to let God be in charge! That is the way to being better and better.

1 Samuel 10:17-27; Psalm 106:1-18; Luke 22:52-62

Tuesday, July 1

Luke 22:63-71 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer.” (vv.67-68)

The magician swirls his baton over the empty top hat and a rabbit appears. The audience gasps in admiration. A rabbit pulled out of a hat. Where was it before? How did it get in the hat? A simple conjuror’s trick that delights audiences of all ages. It would spoil the magic if the magician told the audience how the trick was performed.

Jesus is no trick. The Resurrection is no sleight of hand maneuver. Jesus tried to tell the people of God’s great love. Few listened, most wanted to be entertained by signs and wonders. The desire for entertainment seems to be the common thread for humanity. We want someone to distract us from the reality of everyday life. The magician swirls on stage and our lives are brightened by the mystery.

If we’d let Jesus work his “magic” in our hearts, then every moment we lived would be the best it could be. There would be no need to ask if he was the Christ. Our lives would be transformed, and all would know the answers without asking!

1 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123; Acts 8:1-13