a new law

over the past few weeks we have been discussing jesus and his 'sabbath-breaking' tendencies. we have realized that all too often our tendencies are to make lists and rules and we may even have the audacity to place those rules above compassion and love for others. this video captures the heart of that. it is by an artist that often inspires and always challenges me...derek webb. enjoy.
peace to you,
scott

hand hand fingers thumb

hand hand fingers thumb
one thumb one thumb
shrivelled up and numb

one hand two hands
called him up to the front
the pharisees lean forward
to see the sabbath stunt

hand hand fingers thumb
one thumb one thumb
made right and them some

one hand one hand
the healing over and done
by the love of god’s one and only son

the power of jesus to heal amazes me. whether it is cancer or a disfigured limb, jesus has power over this body. the physical world is under his authority. i do not understand why or how it happens, but there have been times where i have witnessed firsthand the healing power of christ. (i have also had more times than i can count where i have prayed and it seems that there has been no change in the situation at all--maybe that is proof that there is no formula)

i love the story that mark shares in the beginning of his third chapter. jesus is in the synagogue again. the pharisees have gathering in the front row, the place of honor…hoping to somehow trap jesus in leading people astray.

enter the man with the withered hand. he was not born this way. a disease has taken hold of his body and rendered his hand useless. jesus has compassion on him…a stone mason by trade, desperately in need of both hands to provide for his family. too proud to beg. he turns to jesus.

jesus asks him to stand. the pharisees get excited…this is their moment. he will heal this man. they will have him trapped.

the plot thickens. is it lawful to do good on the sabbath or to do evil? to save a life or to kill?

stretch out your hand.

hand hand fingers thumb
one thumb one thumb
made right and them some

one hand one hand
the healing over and done
by the love of god’s one and only son

peace to you,
scott

wheat kings and pretty things

one sabbath jesus was going through the grainfields,
and as his disciples walked along, they began to
pick some heads of grain. the pharisees said to him,
“look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
he answered, “have you never read what david
did when he and his companions were hungry and in
need? in the days of abiathar the high priest, he entered
the house of god and ate the consecrated bread,
which is lawful only for priests to eat. and he also gave
some to his companions.”
then he said to them, “the sabbath was made for
man, not man for the sabbath. so the son of man is
lord even of the sabbath.” mark 2:2
the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath...there is a lot packed into that statement.
we will unpack that phrase...the picking of wheat...the eating of consecrated bread..on sunday at 4 at fude.
peace to you,
scott

slow down and go fast

fasting is not one of my strong suits. let's just get that out on the table. i like food. i thoroughly enjoy the consumption of carbohydrates, proteins and sugars. i take great pleasure in pacifying my palate. i have actually contemplated writing a book on food. certainly not a cookbook, as unless it goes on the bbq, i am quite sure i can make it taste bad. but a book based on the biblical model of sharing a meal. (i even have a couple of sample titles should it become a reality: 'the sacrament of the shared meal - eating together as a sacred act of worship' or 'the sacrilege of the common meal - rediscovering the lost art (heart) of eating together')
that being said there have been times in my life where i have chosen to fast. usually at some point of decision or crisis. not typically as a discipline, more as a desperate search for clarity. it has been in those times, where i have slowed down, skipped a meal or two, that i have thought more clearly and heard more deftly the nudging in my heart and soul. where i sensed god speaking to me. there is something to this sacred discipline of fasting...if not i doubt that jesus would have encouraged it.
in mark 2:18-22 jesus is challenged by the religious leaders as to why his disciples do not fast. he talks about the bridegroom being with them (we will discuss this more on sunday) and he says that when he is gone, his disciples will fast.
so as his disciples, do we fast?
it seems there is a time to feast and a time to fast?
when is your time?
peace to you,
scott

baby dedication

we will be having our first baby dedication for two sweet little girls...sadie and maddy this sunday. join us as we celebrate and dedicate these precious gifts.
see you sunday @ 4,
peace to you,
scott

this is how we do

“once again jesus went out beside the lake. a large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. as he walked along, he saw levi son of alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. ‘follow me,’ jesus told him, and levi got up and followed him.
while jesus was having dinner at levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. when the teachers of the law who were pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: ‘why does he eat with tax collectors and “sinners”?’
on hearing this, jesus said to them, ‘it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. i have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” mark 2:13-17
this was one of those passages in scripture that motivates what we do at the upper room. this is why we eat together. there is something almost mystical that happens when we share a meal. my prayer for the coming year is that we would find more around our table…those that some might label tax collectors or sinners. the call is still the same…follow me. he ate with tax collectors and sinners…i want to follow him…
so this is how we do
peace to you,

scott

a tale of two healings

the leper he touched
the paralytic broke through the ceiling
both healed
both for different reasons?
a man cried out on his knees
"if you are willing"
and jesus was filled with compassion
friends carried the other to the lord
and again jesus healed
this time by forgiving sin
who is this man who claims he can forgive sin?
Son of Man and Son of God
we echo the words of the crowd that day
"we have never seen anything like this!"

sunday night at fude...4pm
a tale of two healings

peace to you,
scott

happy christmas eve

ancient words come to pass

this is a gentle reminder to celebrate the messiah, not just the merchandise this season. we will be getting together again at fude after the holidays...see you on the 30th at 4pm. bring your leftovers and christmas goodies to share.
peace to you and merry christmas,
scott

christmas at the upper room

here is how the next few weeks unfold for us at the upper room

saturday, december 15 - the upper room christmas @ derek and heidi's (email scott if you would like directions)
sunday, december 16 - no upper room
monday, december 17 - lending hands to osborne house
tuesday, december 18 - lending hands to osborne house
sunday, december 23 - no upper room...spend the holidays with your other loved ones.
sunday, december 30 - the upper room will gather at fude.

we are looking forward to a season filled with family and friends, of celebrating and remembering. we pray that you have a peaceful, meaningful and memorable christmas this year.

peace to you,
scott

advent

merry christmas everybody

advent

heading for a time of solitude

the man heads out for a time of solitude. it is not yet dawn. the cool early morning air causes the hair on his arms to rise slightly. he shivers. in the distance there is the sound of a bird venturing out for its morning meal. a twig snaps under his sandal as he continues out beyond the limits of town. just a few hours ago there was an entire village crowded here. calling for mercy, desirous for healing. so he met them. he heard their story. he took care of them. many were healed. but now he is tired. not just because of lack of sleep, but a tiredness that runs much deeper. he has expended himself for others. power has gone out from him.
his labour of love has cost him. he was willing to pay the price, but now not only is his body tired from the previous late night, but there is a slight weariness in his soul. it thirsts for connection. for a time to recharge.
he finds a place of quiet...of solitude. in the words of paul simon...a time when my restlessness is past and i can lie down on my blanket and release my fists at last. a place of quiet
and it is here that the silence is broken with the words that can shake the mountain...
father...i need you.
there are days where i feel weary. not because i was up at 5am before the sun rose. nor is it because i have worked a full day. but a weariness that runs much deeper. naps, (o how i love thee) do not seem to relieve this sluggishness in my soul. perhaps because it is there that the weariness resides...the soul. it is not merely a physical issue, though they are somehow inextricably linked. nagged by the weariness that sleep cannot requite.
in those times i know only one place to turn. just like my master before me...
father...i need you.
it doesn’t take long for the world to cram in on us. appointments and schedules, people clamouring for our time and energy. jesus knew what it was like to feel this...
do you?
and where do you turn?
this week at the upper room we will look at mark 1:35-37...
peace to you,
scott

advent

sabbath shenanigans

"it is not lawful to heal on the sabbath, right?"
"well...yes, it is not lawful to work a healing unless it is a situation of life and death."
"so what is with this jesus?"
"what do you mean, my son?"
"well, this morning at synogogue, he cast out a demon thereby healing a man. and immediately after synagogue i followed him to peter's house and peter's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever...and he healed her."
"you mean he took a knife wholly made of iron and a piece of thornbush and a braid of hair..."
"no i mean he just spoke, and helped her up...and the fever was gone...no reading of exodus 3...no knife, no nothing."
"he helped her up? So was it life and death? Was it work for him to help her up?"
"well...umm...i'm not sure, but he healed her...and then at sundown a bunch of people showed up with their sick so that he could heal them too."
"who did you say this man was?"
"his name is jesus...i wonder if he could be the messiah?"
"take me to him..."

imagine this conversation on sabbath evening after witnessing at least two miracles of healing on the sabbath by the one called yeshua. (with many more happening immediately after sundown.)

was he breaking sabbath law to heal? did he even care?

healing, rule breaking, sabbath keeping and plenty of other "ings"...this sunday at the upper room.

we will be at fude at 4 o'clock.

peace to you,
scott

possession is nine tenths of the law

possession.
the blue bomber offense has possesion.
an unclean spirit has possession.
we will be looking at both of these next sunday at our place.
the upper room will not meet at fude this week.
we will meet in our home. (email me for the address if you don't know where we live.)
bring snacks to watch the bomber game.
bring thoughts on a different kind of possession found in Mark 1:21-28.
this should be interesting.
4-6 - the upper room
6-whenever - grey cup party

peace to you,

scott

the kingdom is near

the worship industry

four fisherman follow forthwith

lo! and behold!
the now infamous four fisherman
their tale once again told

tending their nets
one bright, crisp, early morn
business as usual
in a boat since near the day they were born.

but change hung thick in the air
this is the calling of the first pair

the son of man came to call
“i will make you fishers of men
if you will leave this all.”

at once they dropped their nets
and followed this rabbi true
two brothers were they
named simon and andrew

the first pair to become
disciples of the chosen one

a little further on
they came to the second pair
james and his brother john

preparing their nets
when the son of man came
they left all with their father
and became disciples the same

some say this calling--be dream, be myth
but ne’retheless, those four fishermen followed forthwith

this week we are looking at the calling of the first disciples...mark 1:16-20

how does their calling match our own? how is it different? what does it look like to follow jesus today? what does it mean to be a disciple?

all these questions...and i'm sure many more,

sunday at 4:00 in the upper room,

peace to you,

scott