Weekly Readings Reflections: Holy Trinity Sunday

Our readings for Holy Trinity Sunday are:

Whenever a speaker is introduced at a conference, their current position, and their many accomplishments are listed so that the audience has a context for what they are about to hear. They know where the speaker comes from, what has shaped their perspective on this topic, and ultimately, what authority they have to speak on this matter.
God introduces Himself with "The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." If that was our first and most prominent impression of God, it might well change us in many ways.
If someone were to ask you to introduce yourself in one sentence, what would that be?
Would your introduction change for different audiences, different people asking?
Why is that?

This passage from Daniel comes just after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had them thrown into the furnace for refusing to worship the king's statue. These three disciples did not know whether God would deliver them or not, but they did know, that they would not abandon their God.
How do you decide what to pray for? Do you pray for the really important things, things that others ask you to pray for?
Or do you try to find what is important to God for you to pray for?
Has your prayer changed over time as you have prayed for something?
How have you changed over the years through your prayer?

No matter what your definition of peace is, peace seems such a long ways off these days. More and more Evangelical Christians see the end times in the morning newspaper, the violence and rage seems to mount week by week, and yet, God calls us to find peace.
Is peace the absence of conflict?
Is peace the absence of emotion?
How are we to find peace during these times?
How will peace change us once we achieve it?

I used to work with a programmer who's catchphrase was "I feel so much better now that I've given up all hope." Until you've been in a situation where all seemed lost and there was no way that things would improve, it's hard to see that perspective. The opposite is also true. Hope for many of us can be painful because hope draws us from our comfort zone, holds before us the promise of a better day in our lifetime, invites us to work toward that new day.
If Jesus did not come to condemn us and the world that we live in, what did He come to do?
Is that process over, or is it ongoing?
How can we, as church, participate in that process?
How can you participate in that process?

Whatever

Often signals the bitter end of conversation with teenagers these days.

Signaling a giving up, a passive aggressive surrender

When they feel that nothing that they say will really matter,

The deck of life is hopelessly stacked against them,

And no amount of work or effort on their part will change that.

Whatever transformed is far removed from giving up, giving in.

Whatever transformed acknowledges God's deep commitment to us,

Banks on His mercy and trustworthiness,

Opens up to the possibilities,

And puts trust into action, and discernment to the test.

Whatever transformed prays "whatever you will,

However you reveal it,

Whenever you reveal it,

I'll be ready to help make it happen,

Because I trust your trust in me."

Whatever transformed places my hand in God's

My footsteps in His,

My motivation, energy, vision at His direction.

There's freedom in such abandon,

And always more than a little fear.

I'm banking that the freedom is worth it.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections