Readings: Psalm 21 (NRSV, The Message); 2 Samuel 5:11-16 (NRSV, The Message);  James 5:7-12 (NRSV, The Message)

Friends, don’t complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner. James 5:9 (The Message)

Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.  James 5:10-11 (The Message)

David is finally made king. Sometimes it takes a while to fully realize what God is working within and through us. In this passage from James, the writer is discussing the return of Christ, but it applies to whatever, however we are waiting for Jesus to show up in our lives. Like the prophets, like Job we are called to put up with anything.

Life is a gift to those who stay the course. I learn that more each day, though I don’t know that I will ever know it completely until the day I stand before the Lord.

Readings: Psalm 21 (NRSV, The Message); 2 Samuel 5:1-10 (NRSV, The Message); 2 Corinthians 11:16-23 (NRSV, The Message)

David proceeded with a longer stride, a larger embrace since the God-of-the-Angel-Armies was with him.                                                            2 Samuel 5:10 (The Message)

The way that The Message phrases this is awesome. It reads like I feel when I am living in the confidence that God is with me.

Readings:  Psalm 150 (NRSV, The Message); Proverbs 9:1-6 (NRSV, The Message); Mark 16:9-18 (NRSV, The Message)

Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home; it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted, 
   wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids, 
   Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, 
   and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? 
   Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread, 
   roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live! 
   Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”    Proverbs 9:1-6 (The Message)

And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good newsto the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’     Mark 16:15-18 (NRSV)

It is always a good reminder to hear the great commission. “Proclaim the good news.” Of course, for me this passage always brings up the question why can’t we heal the sick, cast out demons, and handle snakes. Although, some claim they can.

It was the passage from Proverbs that really caught me this morning though. In the New Revised Standard Version it comes across as powerful, but a little harsh. However, Eugene Peterson in The Message renders it as a beautiful invitation. “Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,  roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live!  Walk up the street to a life with meaning.” Wow! What an invitation. Talking about Good News! So many with whom I come in contact are living in impoverished confusion. As a society, we are the definition of impoverished confusion! And yet here is wisdom (Sophia, logos, voice of God, Jesus Christ) inviting us to a table with fresh-baked bread, a life with meaning. That is an image that is going to stick with me all day.