Majestic
Joe Albright

Majestic

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One afternoon sometime back now, I was out surfing alone. As I turned to catch an incoming wave, I glimpsed a fin breaking the surface of the water. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and I froze. Then, much to my relief, I noticed several other fins break the surface. It was just a pack of dolphins playfully cruising the surf zone. In an instant, my emotions made a full swing from fear to joy as I saw a dolphin leap clear out of the ocean. The word “majestic” came to mind.

As I turned the nose of my longboard around to catch the next wave, I found myself giving thanks. Thank you, God, for the majesty of your creation. Thank you for allowing me to share in it – if only for a moment. Thank you for the warm sun on my back, and the changing weather. Thank you for my friends and family.

It never ceases to amaze me what gratitude does to our attitude. When I left the water that afternoon my worries and burdens felt lighter. I could laugh at the fear I had felt over a dolphin fin. And I went home with a smile on my face.

Today, may you look for the majestic in life. Make a list of your blessings, and give thanks.

Let us pray: Our Lord our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! When we look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? You do care for us, O Lord. Blessings rain down upon us on every side. Give us eyes to see them, and hearts to give you thanks and praise. And, may we remember that we are blessed to be a blessing. Amen.

Trust, Trust, Trust
Joe Albright

Trust, Trust, Trust

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There is an old story about a man who fell off a cliff but managed to grab an outcrop on the way down. As he’s hanging there, he looks up and yells, “Is anyone up there?”

A voice booms down, “I’m here. I am the Lord. Do you believe in me?”

“Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.”

“You’ll be ok. You have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the outcrop.”

A moment of pause, then, “Hey! Is there anyone else up there?”

Somewhere along the journey of life most of us realize there is far more to this life than we can comprehend, huge stretches of the unknown. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. We don’t even know what the next minute holds.

Somewhere along the journey of life most of us realize that no matter how much we try to control or manipulate or impose our own will, ultimately so much is completely out of our hands. And at some point, most of us sense that if there is a way forward – then we have to trust something or Someone larger than ourselves.

Psalm 61 prays, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

Let us pray: O God, we want to trust you. We know that we can’t make it alone for very long. We need you. So we ask you today, to help us to trust that our lives are in your hands. Give us hearts that are in tune with your direction, your guidance, your leading. Help us trust and in trusting follow. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ – our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

On Earth as it Is in Heaven
Joe Albright

On Earth as it Is in Heaven

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I remembered several years ago when a Korean pastor in our Presbytery approached me about the possibility of his new church development sharing space within the church I was serving. He further broached the idea of shared ministry, shared worship, and potentially even a shared session. At first, my thoughts were a little territorial. And then focused on logistics: How would that ever work? Culturally, we are so different. Language barriers…

As we were talking about this over dinner, I raised my concerns. In response, he asked me, “Joe, what do you imagine the kingdom of God looks like?”

“Well in theory…,” I started.

“No. In the Bible, they will come from east and west. They will come from north and south. There will be people from every nation, speaking every language, from every race…”

“Is that just in heaven?”

“Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth, as it is in heaven.”

Oh. That’s true, isn’t it?

I wonder what you think about when you think about the Kingdom of God. I wonder what glimpses you have seen throughout your life. I wonder when you have noticed the in-breaking of God’s reign here on earth. And then I wonder, how you respond…

Let us pray as we prayed yesterday: Holy God, draw us closer. Renew us and heal us. And, then grant us eyes to see, and hearts to follow. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

At Hand…
Joe Albright

At Hand…

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At the very beginning of his ministry, Mark tells us, “Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near…’”

We don’t use the word kingdom much these days… unless you are into Disney Princess movies – which we were in our family for many years. But, it would have been a very familiar concept for those of Jesus’ day… The Greek word is “Basileia” meaning, the personal rule and presence of the king.

In Israel, this kingdom was longed for. It was expected that God would send a Messiah (or King) who would usher in a new unprecedented age of blessing, peace, and joy. You might think about it as a place and time when there will be no more hungry children in our communities; no more violence; no more destructive addictions; no more broken relationships, no more war.

Jesus says this kingdom, this new age, this realm is at hand…

Now the word Jesus uses for “at hand,” or “is near,” can mean both “already”, and, “not yet”. So what did Jesus mean? Well, he doesn’t resolve it for us. But, there are instances in the Bible, and in life, where we get the sense that it’s already begun. We get these glimpses…

I remember several years ago now being a dedication ceremony for a Habitat house. I remember looking at the house, thinking what a labor of love between both the community and the young woman who was to move in. (Hours and hours of work). We learned that she would be the first in her family for generations to ever own her own home. And I was right up front – so close that I could see the tears running down her face as they handed her the keys…

It was just this glimpse of the kingdom. Which makes me wonder where you have seen glimpses yourself… While the kingdom is not here in its fullness yet, I pray that you would pay attention to where you see it breaking in, here and now. May these glimpses give you hope. And, may they ever be an invitation to join in.

Let us pray: Holy God, draw us closer. Renew us and heal us. And, then grant us eyes to see, and hearts to follow. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Lamplighter
Roger Kunkel

The Lamplighter

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It is an old story, but it is true and it is good. The famous British author John Ruskin, one night in his later years, sat watching a lamplighter who, with a torch in his hand, was lighting the lamps on a distant hill. The man himself could not be seen, but the lights would gleam as each one was lighted. Ruskin said to a friend, “That is what I mean by a real Christian. You can trace their course by the lights they leave burning.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). Friend of Dial Hope, make today a masterpiece with your contagious enthusiasm, the light of your joy, and hope.

Let us pray: O God of china blue skies and dazzling sunrises, with each new day your promise of hope is restored. Each day is like the Day of Resurrection filled with new life and hope. Grant us the boldness to move out of comfortable security to the risk of faith, the joy of service, the laughter of love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Way God Loves
Joe Albright

The Way God Loves

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In his book Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery, Physician Richard Selzer wrote the following touching observations:

“I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had to cut the little nerve. Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily?

“The young woman speaks. ‘Will my mouth always be like this?’ she asks.

“‘Yes,’ I say, ‘It will because the nerve was cut.’ She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. ‘I like it,’ he says. ‘Kind of cute.’ All at once, I know who he is. I understand and I lower my gaze… Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth and I am so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works.”

The story strikes home because it speaks of love unconditional; the kind of love that the world desperately needs, but doesn’t always understand. It is this kind of love that promises never to give up on us, no matter what. That’s the kind of love, the kind of commitment that God has promised us.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote: Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. (49:15)

Jesus said, “Remember I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Let us pray: We thank you, Loving God, that you have promised never to give us on us, never to forsake us or leave us. We are ever grateful that we don’t have to earn your love, and that there is nothing in life or death that can separate us from you. We pray today for those who find themselves in really difficult situations, people who need to know you are with them. We ask that you would surround each of us with your grace. May we know your merciful presence, right here and right now, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Choose to Find God’s Fingerprints
Joe Albright

Choose to Find God’s Fingerprints

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Listening to a podcast some time ago, I heard a worship leader at a church in Grand Rapids speaking about himself. He said, “In my life, in the past, I found that I so quickly become the cynic. I so quickly become the critic. I would only see what was wrong all the time, and I’d be the first to point it out to anyone who’d listen. And you know, everybody loves that guy. But I just thought I was one of the perceptive ones, one of the smart ones. And here I was standing at the back of the room throwing stones at everything. It is so easy to find and point out what is wrong. But it takes courage to believe. In a world where there is so much darkness, so much messed up sin, it takes the deepest courage to stand up and find the good – to hold out hope, and to chose to find God’s fingerprints everywhere.”

It’s so true, isn’t it? Friend of Dial Hope, I pray today for you to have the courage to believe. That you would be able to let go of any bitterness or cynicism. And that God would give you eyes to see His hand at work in every aspect of your life.

Our prayer this morning has been passed down to us through the centuries. It was written by Alcuin of Tours sometime around 800 a.d. Let us pray:

Eternal Light, shine into our hearts.
Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil.
Eternal Power, be our support.
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance,
that with all our heart and mind and strength, we may seek your face,
and be brought by your infinite mercy to your holy presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth
Joe Albright

How Majestic Is Your Name in All the Earth

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Spiritual giant, Martin Luther, once made the claim that God writes the gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.

Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes…”

In our scriptures, Psalm 8 begins by praying, “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth. In Hebrew thought, a person’s name – was not just a word – but their name also represented their character, essence, presence. O Lord, how majestic is your presence – your essence – your power in all the earth.

Think about those times when you’ve seen an awe-inspiring sunset; or when you’ve been on a mountain top and it’s breathtaking, or you’ve been on the ocean and you have watched the pelicans soar just above the breakers. It’s moments like these when we feel connected to something so much bigger. It’s moments like these that you can almost feel God’s presence, right there.

Today, if you are able, try to get outside and enjoy God’s good creation. If you are not able, spend some time looking out a window. Take a walk in your mind’s eye. Look around at God’s handiwork. Remember God is with you. And give thanks.

Let us pray: O God, We don’t have to look far to see your fingerprints – in the stars, the sunrise, the movement of the ocean, and the reflection of trees on a pond. We also see your fingerprints right here in the beauty of the people all around us. Help us never fail to notice – and help us never fail to give thanks. We love you, Lord. Thank you for loving us. Amen.

Change Your Mind
Joe Albright

Change Your Mind

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Jesus’ first words recorded in the gospel of Mark are, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Now the word repent can be kind of a scary word. It makes me think about street preachers. I remember going to the beach one Sunday when I was a kid seeing a group of angry people holding signs which read, “Turn or Burn! Repent!” Which made me think: if repent means that I have to be like you, angry and judgmental, I really want no part of it!

But Jesus says, “Repent.” And it does imply a turn. However, the actual Greek word that Mark used when he first wrote this is Metanoia – which literally means: change your mind. Meta: to change. Noia: thinking… Change your thinking.

Change your mind…

I remember my pastor Herb Meza teaching on this. He said Jesus was saying, “Get a new heart and a new mind for this new kingdom – a new mind for this new world that Jesus is ushering in.”

Change your mind… Change your perspective. Change your thinking… and your actions will follow…

All of this makes me think about the times my mind and heart have been changed, especially those times when my perspective has shifted more towards what I know to be true about God’s kingdom.

However, for all the times when my heart has been changed, there have been many other times when I’ve not wanted to change. I think about how so often stubborn pride keeps us stuck in old narratives…when wanting to be right has kept me from doing what is right; when wanting to be right kept me from building bridges to those who believe differently; when inconvenience or discomfort have kept me from jumping; times when I felt apathy even though I knew courage and action were called for…

Jesus says, “Repent.”

I hope… and actually truly believe that this is less about judgment and more an ongoing invitation. An invitation that when we follow it, brings us closer to him.

I hope I ever stay open to God changing my heart and mind. And I hope you do too.

Let us pray: Thank you, God, for your grace, mercy, and love. We offer you our hearts and minds again this day. Heal us, renew us, and transform us more and more into the image of your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Pay it Forward
Joe Albright

Pay it Forward

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Several years ago, Ann Moore, who serves on the Dial Hope board of directors, shared with me a great story about the famous artist Henri Matisse. In his later years, Matisse became very ill and required the care of a regular nurse. He was assigned to a young student nurse named Monique Bourgeois. Monique was fun-loving, joyful, and gregarious. And over time, she and the artist developed a friendship.

As it turns out, Monique was also a person of deep faith, while, Matisse himself was not. But through their friendship, his own spirituality began to deepen.

Later, after Monique went on to enter a community of Dominican nuns, she shared with Matisse of her community’s wish to build a chapel. And, she asked for his help. Matisse responded to her request by giving everything he had. He later wrote:

“I began with the profane and now, in the evening of my days, I am ending quite naturally with the divine. This work took four years of intensive labor to the exclusion of all else, and it is the culmination of my whole working life. In spite of its imperfections, I regard it as my masterpiece.”

And a beautiful masterpiece it is! I can only imagine how many lives have been nourished and inspired over the last 50 plus years as they visited this chapel.

Matisse’s life was touched by a single person. In turn, he paid it forward. He put everything he had into a final masterpiece. That masterpiece in turn has touched the hearts and souls of many, many lives…

My friend Roger Kunkel would call this the “Ripple Effect of Generosity.”

I wonder how you in your own life have been touched by others. And I wonder, how you in turn are passing that on.

Let us pray: I thank you, O God, for those people who have made a difference in our lives. As we have been blessed, help us in turn to find ways to be a blessing to others. Amen.