Psalm 51  &  2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10  &  Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 From Transfiguration to Crucifixion... we are on a journey into the wilderness the lies within. Our goal: for God to create in us a clean heart that is no longer focused on worshiping and honoring ourselves, but on worshiping and honoring God. They journey we are on leads to a cross before a resurrection.  To rise again as a new creation into the new Reign of God that bursts forth from the tomb of Jesus, we must first die to ourselves. Jesus leads the way to new birth, resurrection, eternal life, salvation,... or however else you have heard it labeled. Will you journey with us? To begin a journey, we must prepare.  Silence will be our guide into the wilderness of our hearts.  The wilderness within is often unexplored, which is why we struggle to know who we are. The challenge: read each passage of scripture above (one at a time) and sit in silence for 5 minutes after each reading.  Create a space for complete silence, no distraction, and no interruption. This silence is awkward and hard, but if you journey within using scripture as a guide, the Holy Spirit will speak to you.  You will find your inner struggles coming to the forefront of your mind. Engage this struggle.  Enter into the struggle knowing that we are going to be placing ourselves on a cross on Good Friday mid April.  What will you offer?  What needs to die within to allow for you to have the life God so badly wants to give you? Prepare yourself for the journey inward, which will lead you onward. The Holy Spirit transforms us, if we allow her to. Use your time of fasting to be cleansed spiritually. Journey.

Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration of Jesus is one of the most bizarre stories in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke).  The placement of the story in Matthew tells us a great deal about how the author wants us to understand the divine encounter on the mountain. The Hope of Jesus is directly connected to the Suffering of Jesus. Join us as we place the Transfiguration side by side with the Crucifixion.  The season of Lent is bookended by these two stories and we can learn a great deal about Jesus and ourselves if we approach the Lenten Season with them both in the forefront of our mind. Follow Jesus up the mountain as we begin our journey to the hill of Jerusalem where a cross awaits.  Spend this Season in examination of what in our life we will place on the cross on Good Friday (4/14).  Walk in the footsteps of our Savior, and you will never be the same.

Matthew 5:38-48  &  1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) Jesus offers the antitheses; "You have heard it was said...  but I say..." Jesus does not abolish the Law; he fulfills it.  This means that he is bringing us into the meaning of the Law.  As humanity grows and learns, we are able to become more human/humane/the creatures were always meant to be.  Jesus moves us forward and deeper into the heart of the Law.  Turn the other cheek is often misunderstood out of its context as either a simple metaphor or as a call to be walked on by an abuser.  Jesus did not have either of interpretations in mind. Let's take a closer look and understand how we can find a solid foundation in Jesus for how to live, act, and be in this world.  The storms of life are raging--plenty of people are full of anger and frustration and ready to take their aggression out on others.  In a world that thrives on a "dog eat dog" mentality, let us open ourselves to a new way. Open your eyes and heart and consider the message of this new Kingdom led by a different kind of king.

Matthew 5:1-12  &  1 Corinthians 3:1-9 The final week of the Beatitudes focuses on the last three pronouncements of blessing Jesus gives upon the peacemakers and the persecuted.  While the message of peace and persecution seems simple, the practice he uplifts is difficult and necessary for our world today. Something about the people Jesus describes as blessed and fortunate seems foolish in 21st Century America.  The Kingdom of Jesus is upside down and backwards to the ways of our culture. Hear the words of Jesus and consider the truth found in the seemingly foolish blessings.

Matthew 5-7 is the Sermon on the Mount.  The "prelude" to the Sermon in Matthew's Gospel are the strange and elusive "Beatitudes."  This title references the idea of a blessing being upon those who are poor in spirit, mournful, meek, longing for justice, merciful, and pure-hearted.  This blessing is already upon people who are described by Jesus. Everything about the Kingdom which Jesus consistently speaks of in Matthew is upside down from any and all kingdoms of this world.  Jesus keeps telling people they are invited into the Kingdom/Reign/Rule of God/Heaven right here, right now.  Salvation is at hand for all who have faith. As we, the Church, struggle to live into this invitation...  As we struggle to live in gratitude for all that God offers us...  As we fail to live as faithful examples of the love of God in Jesus...we lean upon the truth that God is with us and for us through Jesus. As we let go of our own kingdoms in this world to grab hold of the Kingdom of God, we long to be like the folks in the first part of this Sermon of Jesus. As we continue into week 2 of 3, let us consider what it means to be hungering and thirsting for justice, merciful, and clean-hearted. Let us join in with our fellow fools for God!

Matthew 5:1-12  &  1 Corinthians 1:18-31  &  Micah 6:1-8   - The Sermon on the Mount is the most important teaching of Jesus according to the author of the Gospel we call Matthew.  In chapters 5-7 we find the kind of way we are called to live which leads to a life in the Kingdom of God now, and forevermore.  Jesus ushered the Reign of God into this world; it's available right now! So what does a life in the Kingdom look like? The "Beatitudes" announce that the poor in spirit, broken-hearted, and meek of this world are...blessed, happy, and fortunate. The truth is that this Kingdom is foolish by the world's standards, but the life found within is the only true life we can come to know.  Are the poor in spirit, broken-hearted, and meek blessed, happy, fortunate, etc.?  Yes! Walk with us over the next few weeks as we take the Beatitudes, bit by bit, in an attempt to understand a little more about the new Way of the Kingdom ushered in by Jesus of Nazareth. Join us on this seemingly foolish quest

Matthew 4:12-23  &  1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Jesus withdraws to Capernaum where he finds fishermen along the Sea of Galilee.  He says, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people."  Immediately they drop their nets and follow. Is that all it takes?  A request to follow and a promise to repurpose leads to a world-changing recruitment. We are looking to become fishers of people today.  But how do we accomplish this task? Is your life headed in a direction worth following for others? Let us take a look at the qualities of fishermen in Jesus' day to see if we can understand why these men were chosen then.  Let us apply what we learn so that we can all become fishers of people in our world today; we just might change the world.