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The Voice of God is interrupting us from our lazy Summer daydreams. The fact is that we have too many distractions from worship and obedience. The scriptures speak especially to me, but you’re invited to listen in: counter-cultural, they hit us between the eyes for not sharing, and hoarding what’s been given to us. We’re reminded of the song from PORGY & BESS that claims, “I’ve God Plenty of Nuthin'”. And indeed, without God, it IS nuthin’.

HOSEA 11:1-11 imagines God speaking to Israel and all of us rebellious children: “I will not again execute my fierce anger: I will not again destroy Ephraim …” But these children–and us–kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols! Is God’s just anger going to come upon us? Or does God’s compassion grow warm and tender? Does that mean we can continue putting our trust in military might and storing up junk just in case? Or will God’s patience run out? “Ephraim, an early runaway, is running still, in a mad return to enslavement.”(Paul Simpson Duke, in FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:293)

Whoever wrote it, COLOSSIANS 3:1-11 is inserted to help church members keep loyal to the Presence of Christ. Five idols are listed, and there may be more: “fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed”. These are all marks of the Old System which has ruled our lives, whether we be ancient Israelites or contemporary pew-sitters anxious to get to the next thing. But by our baptism we have been given NEW clothing, putting off the old rags of idolatry and “putting on the new self” which is found in Christ.

Ruh-roh. LUKE’s Gospel, 12:13-21, is a parable of Jesus which is aimed at me! It describes an idolatry close to my own heart: Too. Much. Stuff. It seems that a guy had too much, so he did what we all would do: he got more space. Never mind sharing with those who had less. Don’t even consider giving it away. Make sure that any who get government programs of help are deserving–and temporary… But God says, “You jerk! What happens when you die? Who’s in your will?”

We’re invited to place our trust in God’s economy, rather than the ups and downs of the Global rat-race. Is God crying as God watches our planned accumulation? To God all praise and glory…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come listen in every Tuesday–and share with your friends–to how the scriptures to be heard on the upcoming weekend continue to accost us…at horacebrownking.com

Scripture readings for the upcoming weekend are challenging, and not for the weak at heart. They tell the Good News of God’s Love in a most primal way, and indicate that our God is a Person who can wrestle in the mud, far away from dwelling on a cloud somewhere. Here there’s no question of God’s continued presence, no requirements of passwords or devotional bribes. The God described here is one who will always be part of us, and who wants us to be a part of God…!

If you think that HOSEA 1:2-10 is about sex, you’re only partly right. (Having trouble with the “Scandal” words? Ask your grandchildren: they probably know all about them.) It seems that Hosea was told by God to marry a promiscuous wife, who then had three children–none by Hosea. The rest of the story, which should be included, is that Hosea eventually dissolved his relationship with her–but then takes her back! Did they live happily ever after? Probably not. But this is the analogy: God’s People have cheated on God, are “put away”, but THEN RECLAIMED. The broken covenant is restored…because God loves us. In spite of it all.

Some of us have been taken captive “through philosophy and empty deceit”, says Paul & Co. to the churches of Colossae (COLOSSIANS 2:6-15), “according to human tradition…and not according to Christ.” The Gospel of Reconciliation seems foolish to those who look out for only themselves, whether the fake gods are Baal or Self-Fulfillment. But this old contract has been laid aside by God in Christ, and the old Egyptians within us have been drowned in the sea of Baptism. Will we remember?

LUKE 11:1-13 is important because it gives us the Lord’s Prayer. But then it goes on to say what a prayerful life looks like: if a child asks for a fish, will the Father give him a snake? Or a scorpion for an egg? Certainly not. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; Search and you will find it; Knock and the door (to heaven?) will be open for you.” The purpose of prayer is not just to receive what we want, but is an exercise in humility by which we acknowledge that God is God, and we’re not.

These readings picture a God not afraid to wrestle with the everyday problems of God’s People. What God expects of us is that we will see God’s Hand at work in our daily crises. Will we remain faithful to God’s Presence, or will we run off after our own answers?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Is it Tuesday already? Time for our weekly travels to be involved in scriptures suggested by the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming weekend: come join us at horacebrownking.com.

We seem to be in a season of contrasts: understanding the Lord’s ethics as opposed to those of the surrounding culture. Lessons to be heard this week note that humans have a choice between the Godly Way and that of the System. This is a hard teaching, especially in the face of slogans such as “My country, right or wrong”, and “God Bless (only) America”. Are we less than patriotic when we cast our lot with God and God’s People?

AMOS is a shepherd from the South sent by God to prophesy in the North. In 8:1-12, he’s shown a basket of Summer Fruit; nicely ripe for now, but soon to spoil. It’s an analogy of Israel–pleasant enough for now, but soon to be overthrown. (The Assyrians did indeed wreck Israel in about 730 BC and sent the Northern Tribes into exile “somewhere”.) Amos was particularly concerned with economic justice: merchants were using unfair weights and selling the chaff with the wheat. They made “the epah small and the shekel great”, and cheated the widows & orphans. Amos’ message? “You’re gonna get it”, says the Lord.

COLOSSIANS 1:15-28 was probably written on behalf of Paul, telling the congregations there what the Apostle probably would say. The passage describes the Christ as “first-born of all Creation” including “all the fullness of God”. So the Church’s main duty is to proclaim the Person of God, not only by words, but by deeds of honesty and acceptance. We are challenged to decide whether to have the ethic of Christ or to sell out to the System, the culture around us.

The Gospel is the story of Martha & Mary, LUKE 10:38-42. You remember that Mary was listening at the feet of Jesus–a “masculine” thing to do–while Martha was slamming cupboard doors and banging pots and was in a dither about feeding Jesus & Co. The point of the conversation was that Mary had chosen “the better part”, risking propriety and hospitality in favor of Jesus’ words. The message for the Church of Today is that celebrating Christ should be the central thing, not being “distracted” by organizing the pot-luck for next Wednesday…

Will Wilimon, a retired Bishop of the United Methodist Church, has said (in FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:248), “One way you can tell the difference between a true and living God and a dead and fake god is that a false god will never tell you anything that will make you angry and uncomfortable!” These readings do make me uncomfortable, ’cause I care too much about the System. My personal prayer is that I can stop counting my blessings long enough to hear and respond and make the better choice…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Every Tuesday we meet the scripture lessons assigned by the Revised Common Lectionary to the upcoming weekend; at horacebrownking.com

It was quite impossible to read these scriptures without singing Mr. Roger’s theme song: “…It’s a beautiful day for a neighbor: won’t you be mine?” These lessons are all about the tie between being Christian and acting like one. Not all “nice” people are Christians, but you really cannot be one if you trample upon the poor and needy. We were reminded of this during the recent Fourth of July telecasts where a group of lily-white folks sang about liberty and justice “for all”…

AMOS was from Tekoa, a village in Judah (the South), but he was appointed to prophesy to Israel (the North), to denounce their King Jeroboam and the accompanying injustices. They thought they were fine, since they kept all the Rules. The Plumb Line of 7:8 tells whether the structure is straight or if it’ll fall down under stress. According to God/Amos, Israel’s structure was flawed and would collapse under Divine Pressure. Does a gracious God judge God’s People? Yes, if such judgement helps them to straighten up and fly right… Are contemporary times under like judgement? Or are sophisticated moderns more at home with the status quo than they are with an ancient God?

We’re pretty sure that the Letter addressed to the COLOSSIANS wasn’t written by Paul himself, but by his team. At any rate, 1:9-14 are intercessory prayers that these Gentiles should treat the World right. Christ has transferred them from “the power of darkness to the kingdom of [God’s] beloved son” where they shall find redemption. Leading “lives worthy of the Lord” involves bearing “fruit in every good work”, evidently living for others as well as themselves.

The Gospel lesson, LUKE 10:25-37, is the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. But Samaritans are mongrels, hated foreigners and don’t worship at the True Temple in Jerusalem! Who’d want to be one of THOSE? But there are “Good Neighbor Sam” clubs dedicated to helping change a tire, etc. This is a story for those of us on a journey, for those who meet crises and need help. Will we accept help from just anyone? Don’t be too hard on the two guys who were playing by the Rules: they were choosing to be Holy over being Helpful. Inhibited by tradition, like many of us they passed by on the other side. If Jesus were telling this parable today–and who says he isn’t?–he probably would substitute “illegal alien” for the Samaritan.

We spend too much time and energy trying to decide who’s In and who’s out. Jesus keeps calling us to love God’s Created People with all we’ve got, to forget the Rules and get on with Life! Just after the Civil War, William W. How wrote, “From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Alleluia!” Won’t you be? Won’t you be? Please won’t you be my neighbor?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Join us every Tuesday to be explored by Scriptures to be heard in worship on the upcoming weekend: at horacebrownking.com

When we least expect it…God shows up. We make assumptions about where God is, and where God is not. Our behaviors embrace the Holy, or they gleefully turn to the Other Side. Is it true that God is everywhere, doing godly things to everyone? Scriptures to be heard this weekend emphasize that healing is often where least expected; and that an intersection with God is with Jew and Gentile alike, even with those–gasp!–awful Samaritans. Or their descendants in the ‘hood.

Naaman, was a powerful Syrian general–but he had a troublesome skin condition known in those days as Leprosy (II KINGS 5:1-14). But he had also a Hebrew slave-girl (the least of the least) who told him about the prophet Elisha and his many miracles. He was told through Elisha to dip in the Jordan River (“What? That muddy brook? I’ve got better rivers at home!”) You remember that he WAS healed, to God’s glory. Both the King of Israel and Naaman himself were surprised that God showed up, just as later faith-heroes are surprised at the mighty works shown to the marginalized. As Carrie N. Mitchell reminds us, “God employs ordinary people to act in extraordinary ways”. (FEEDING on the WORD, C 3:198)

St. Paul concludes his letter to the GALATIANS, 6:7-16, with an exhortation to not be as the rest of the world expects, but to “work for the good of all”. The Galatians were not Jews, remember. but were from central Asia Minor, perhaps the ancestors of the Celts. As they had experienced Godly compassion, Paul expected them to show the same to all persons, regardless of theological rules.

LUKE’s Gospel, 10:1-20, is the story of Jesus sending seventy missionaries (to all the world? 70?) to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was near. Jesus himself planned to visit these places soon. They were to go without provisions, vulnerable to the hospitality of strangers. Jesus knew that God had plotted the maturity of “the harvest”, and would accept these persons wherever they were or had been. Some folks concentrate on the SCARCITY of the receptive ones (the Church today?), whereas God knew that there would always be those who lived as if the Kingdom were near…

Long ago when I was in Seminary, a preaching course sent those who would go out by twos into Greenwich Village. One evening during these times, my friend Ed and I stepped into a bar to say that the Kingdom of God was near. A woman customer, seeing our clerical collars, exclaimed to her consort, “Look! They’re EVERYwhere, aren’t they?” Thank Goodness, we WERE!

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

We explore the lessons to be read on the upcoming weekend, according to the Revised Common Lectionary, every Tuesday. Come join us at horacebrownking.com

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Stories heard this weekend remind us of the urgency of proclaiming God’s Kingdom. Headlines and digital posts say that the world is going crazy, that the System is exerting its ugly head yet again. Bombs and missiles fall from the sky to fulfill the wishes of a would-be king, and the chariots of Pharoah close upon us quickly. Is there a way out? or should we just lie down under a broom-tree and wait for death…? What in the world are you doing, for heaven’s sake?

II KINGS 2:1-14 revisit Elijah, as he walks with his protege Elisha. The (senior) prophet is going to see God, and his helper is gonna stick with him, come what may. They part the Jordan with Elijah’s cloak, to remind us that Elijah was in the Moses-tradition. Elisha does the same, on the return trip, to signify that he also is speaking up to the Pharoah-figure of the System. They are both engaged in the God-work of pointing out the fallacies of the king-figure and the constancy of YHWH. What is God calling US to do in Today’s challenge?

St. Paul, in GALATIANS 5:13-25, is telling the new Christians of Galatia to be nice to each other. The System can be pretty crude–Paul tells us to embrace one another in response. (The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-6 has already told these folks to “go the second mile”.) People in the pews are being commissioned to go tell the News TODAY, either by word or direct action. The fruit of the spirit is contrasted to the feel-good works of the Evil Empire, which spin disorderly cocoons in our daily life.

One commentator, James W. Thompson, points out that LUKE’s Gospel often portrays Jesus as on the road; 9:51-62 finds him in Samaria, with “his face set toward Jerusalem”. As he went from village to village, several confronted him by saying they would go with him, “but…”. Here Jesus points out the urgency of the Gospel: it is for Today, not Someday. (Reminds me of the story of the guy falling from the top of a skyscraper–as he goes past the Tenth Floor he calls out, “I’m OK so far!”) Annie was right: Tomorrow is always a day away!

Some worshipers may read along with these stories; others will drowse over their cell-phones. But more important than getting out of there for lunch is the urgency of telling and living out the Gospel today: maybe there won’t be a tomorrow…

In the process of unfoldiing, Horace Brown King

Please join us next Tuesday–if there IS a next Tuesday–to be met by scripture lessons from the Revised Common Lectionary which may be read to you on the upcoming weekend; at horacebrownking.com

We’ve all been there. So deep in doubt, so much in despair. Will anything work right? I’ve done all I can, Lord, and now I’m overwhelmed by life. Readings for the upcoming weekend remind us of these excursions into the Valley of the Shadow of Death…and also that God cares for us, and provides sustenance wherever we are. The Holy Writings are full of these remembrances, helping each generation to remember that “this is the house of God”.

Elijah’s story is long and convoluted, perhaps announcing that he represents the Prophetic strain of speaking Truth to Power. We pick up the story in I KINGS 19:1-9. He’s just called down fire from the sky, seen the drought ended, and killed all the prophets of Baal. Queen Jezebel was livid! Sensing that she would have him killed, he did what any of us would do: he hightailed it out of there. Filled yesterday with God’s Spirit, he was empty today: “It is enough; now, Lord, take away my life…” God told him that this was rubbish, and sent an angel with heavenly food & drink to sustain him for a long (40 days, twice more than you can count on your fingers and toes; sounds like Noah, or Jesus in HIS wilderness) journey to Mt. Sinai. Where the wild things are, God is a providential God. Haywood Barringer Spangler says, “Elijah doesn’t have to give up his frustration, but God will not let him give in to it.” (FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:151)

What does Paul say to the GALATIANS in vv. 3:23-29? “…In Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith.” Good thing Elijah didn’t know the song, “We shall overcome someday”–he thought that TODAY is the Day! There is an immediate need for God’s children–Jew or Gentile, slave or free–to project the ethical and spiritual stand of Jesus even in the face of power. “We will go forth in grace alone.”

LUKE 8:26-33 is the rather humorous story, especially to Jewish folks, of demons going into a herd of pigs, who rushed into the Sea of Galilee and were drowned. But the core, of course, is that Jesus found a non-Jew who had no name but “Legion”, exiled from his community and consigned early to the graveyard. Even though Legion was an alien, Jesus cast out the demons and restored him to “normal” life. Are YOU overwhelmed by voices raging at you from inside and out? Are you consigned to the Wilderness? God wants to confirm you as an individual, as a person, as a vital part of your community.

Mary Louise Bringle has written a hymn, which could be sung to the tune of “Finlandia”: As frailness grows, and youthful strengths diminish, in weary arms which worked their earnest fill, Your aging servants labor now to finish Their early tasks, as fits your mercy’s will; We grieve their waning, yet rejoice, believing Your arms, unwearied, shall uphold us still.

May these remembrances of God’s steadfast love sustain each of us through our wilderness pilgrimage…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come join us every Tuesday to explore and be confronted by scripture assigned to the upcoming weekend by the Revised Common Lectionary…at horacebrownking.com

We’re working toward Trinity Sunday, the day in which we celebrate the Third Person of God, God’s Holy Spirit. Christians don’t worship THREE Gods, rather we acknowledge the Triune faces of God, different functions, yet the same God. Some would call these Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Scriptures to be read this weekend celebrate this Third Person (the Holy Spirit) and how he/she works in our daily lives to bring us closer to Perfection.

Before Jesus, this spirit was considered to be Wisdom, and PROVERBS 8:1-4, 22-31 tells of the everywhere character of this Person: “on the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads…” We are encouraged to remember the spark of Wisdom coursing through our own souls, to affirm that the creative process continues within us as we assume the process of truth and discernment. Even in this mystery we pay attention to our own connection with the Creator.

St. Paul goes deep in ROMANS 5:1-5: he speaks of the rewards of bearing our “sufferings” nobly and with an eye on coming glories. Why? “…because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us”. This faithful love is ours not because of our goodness, but rather through the mercies of One who Created us in a holy image. We are given the opportunity–again and again–to discern this steadfast love in our daily walk.

JOHN 16:12-15 is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse to his followers in which he assures them (and us) that his absence is only temporary, that a great portion of God–the Holy Spirit–” will guide you into all the truth”. The role of the Spirit, then, is an interpretation of the God-like life to all who wish it; that is, to imitate Christ in ethical and moral stances.

Douglas M. Donley questions, “why can’t this form of wisdom be seen as an aspect of God’s Presence in our lives? As we are innately wise, so we are innately connected with God”. (FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:26) In all of our wanderings, we are to remember that God’s Holy Spirit graciously spreads God’s abundance to everyone, even in times of rebellion and anger and neglect…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Lessons to be read and heard during worship on the upcoming weekend are presented every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com.

It’s almost Pentecost. Again. On this day when we remember how the Holy Spirit spoke to so many, we too are called to speak in a language that is opposite of the System. Scriptural references contain two stories plus an appeal to Holy Living. We might read them as our own stories as we try to speak of God within a world where the noise of its several speeches drowns out reality under a sea of material and political gain.

“Grandpa, why are there so many languages and so many races?” “Let me tell you a story, sugar…” And around the campfire a hush arose, for no one ever disregarded hearing again how the People of Earth were frustrated when they tried to build a Tower to Heaven. But the story in GENESIS 11:1-9 isn’t about language, but rather human attempts to make a name for themselves: this sin continues through the centuries, even today, as each nation/individual tries to be more powerful, more dominant than the other. To play God. Instead of a Tower, we build walls and draw lines in the sand. We secure our garages, the home of our idols; we distrust our neighbor… Have you built a tower lately?

God saw that difference in language was anathema to the sense of community, so in ACTS 2:1-21 God translates our apprehension into words all others could understand. Not to build a tower, but to build the church! God didn’t do away with our uniqueness, but gave us a universal understanding of God’s purpose. And in the sharing of our own languages with others we take our places as carriers of God’s Word for the entire World.

How shall we know God? Philip spoke for all of us when he said to Jesus, “Show us the Father, and we will be satisfied”. This gave Jesus the opening to answer, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” According to JOHN 14:8-21, Jesus went on to introduce the Holy Spirit as “another Advocate, to be with you forever”. Here is One who gives the impetus to pass on the Holy Story from generation to generation. This text is about knowing Jesus as One with the Father, and thus not afraid to engage ourselves in acts of mercy and the affirmation of forgiveness.

Jeff Paschal writes, “God’s promise is that our ultimate value does not depend upon our building gleaming cities and towers of achievement but upon God’s dazzling and soaring love….We Christians constantly need to be reminded that we do not have to make a name for ourselves because, as Jesus said, our names are already written in heaven.” (FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:5) Have you built a tower lately?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Join us at horacebrownking.com every Tuesday to be confronted by scriptures from the Revised Common Lectionary to be read on the upcoming weekend.

According to Abraham Heschel (“The Pious Man”, from MAN IS NOT ALONE), piety is living at the point of God’s presence. He says that the pious one is one who recognizes that God is constantly breaking into ordinary human circumstances. Scriptures to be read on the upcoming weekend describe some of these meeting points as a reminder to those in the pew who have lost or mislaid their understanding of life within God’s purview.

ACTS of the Apostles 16:16-34 tells two stories about freedom. The first tells of the slave-girl whom Paul frees from the demon of soothsaying; the second is about Paul & Silas & the Phillippian jailer. We note that neither freedom was the result of special actions, but rather depended upon God’s initiative. By the power of Christ, duty was turned into health and renewal of living as it should be. What duty holds us captive?

The concluding several verses of the REVELATION to St.John of Patmos, 22:12 onward, lift up the Presence of the Son in the Eternal City. The waiting is now done and the Eternal Heaven is here. God has broken into history and “anyone who wishes to take the water of life” is free to do so. The invitation is clearly into Holiness for the enslaved and the pious both. “Washing of the robes” is a command to make clean and sparkling even that which is faded and tawdry.

The Gospel–JOHN 17:20-26–continues the High Priestly prayer of Jesus at table in the Upper Room. He prays for his followers (including us) that they/we may be One with the Father. This One-ness indicates that there is no hierarchy among the Believers, for God continues to break into all of our human circumstances when we least expect it.

The experience of Christ changes our lives: as we look back, we recognize the constant inbreaking of Heavenly Love with situations which would otherwise seem impossible. Our dead-ends yield to a thoroughfare well-travelled by those who’ve gone before. Come quickly, Lord Jesus….

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

A few have come every Tuesday to meet with scripture lessons reserved for the upcoming weekend by the Revised Standard Lectionary; at horacebrownking.com