Zoë and Sofya

Searching for Epiphany after Christmas

2010-01-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

* We know it's been a while since our last post, and we will try to do better. This Wednesday marks Epiphany, an often forgotten about time of Christ's birth that we sometimes roll into Christmas. The "Epiphany," or the awareness of Christ's arrival, is the celebration of the wise men searching and finding the Christ-Child. The post below is a sermon preached about two years ago for Epiphany by Mary and we thought it would be good to give a little light to it here, so that we can remember to search for Christ all year (and to remind Whitney and Mary that more posts need to happen in the new year!). Also, please remember that the below text was written to be spoken, so please forgive an grammar mistakes, Mary is not always good at writing in complete sentences when writing a sermon. :)

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¹⁵For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^a]">[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. — Ephesians 1:15-20

A long time ago, in a small Italian village, a young woman was sweeping her house. She was considered one of the best housekeepers in town, and all the villagers knew that if they needed anything they could come to this young woman and she would do everything she could to help them. The woman was kind, sincere and loyal, so it was no surprise when three strange men entered the town the villagers sent them to the young woman to make them feel at home. The woman welcomed the men into her home, she knew there was something special about them, each one was dressed in colorful robes, they had long beards, and they carried with them all sorts of amazing things.

The men sat around the woman’s table and told her a story. They said they had been watching the night skies for months and months and they believed that they were on the path to finding the Christ child. The woman was amazed and asked how the men knew, they explained that they had been following a star and it was leading them toward Bethlehem. The woman stayed up all night with the three men and when the morning came they asked her to travel with them to find the Christ Child.

The woman thought about going but looked around her little home … she could tell the chimney hadn’t been swept in a while, there was family coming later for dinner, and she couldn’t remember the last time she got around to mending socks, so she turned to the three men, shook her head no, and returned to her work. After much thought the woman changed her mind and began to look for the Three Wise men and the Christ Child, however, they were long gone. La Befana, the Italian gift giver, missed her chance at the opportunity to meet Christ.

A few weeks back I was sitting in a Bible Study class and was asked, "have you had an epiphany in this study? "The question really got me thinking about what it really means to have an epiphany from God. We read in today’s scripture that Paul hoped that the Ephesians would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know God, then he says one of my favorite things in the Bible, he says “with the eyes of your heart enlightened.” Now, what more is an epiphany than having the eyes of your heart enlightened? But really, what is an epiphany and does God really provide them for his children? Well, according to the good book, and I mean the other Good Book, that of Webster’s Dictionary, an epiphany is an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure. Now, I don’t know about you, but having your heart enlightened would be an illuminating discovery, don’t you think? But, how many times, like the legend of La Befana, does God reveal something to us and instead of leaving our chores behind and following him, we decide to turn and look the other way?

It’s really quite interesting when we look at our lives. As believers each one of knows that Christ has come. And like the wise men, at one time in our lives, we have searched for Christ and found him. But, are we still searching? It’s easy to see Christ if we are looking, but how often are we looking for him?

But, let’s go back to the Epiphany, shall we? How do we know that God has placed something before us to be an “illuminating discovery?” Well, I think that all depends on how you are looking at things. I know a lot of you parents out there hear a lot about teachable moments with your children, but how many times do take those opportunities as a revelation from God that it’s time to talk about some of the more serious subjects …

And what about those little things that we sometimes seem to miss, those phone calls we don’t return because we are to busy to reach out to a friend in need, the card we didn’t write to someone who’s going through a rough time, the dollar we didn’t give to the man on the street because we didn’t know where he would spend it? Were those our teachable moments? Were those epiphanies from God that we ignored? When I recite those questions, I can see so many things that I have personally let slip, so many good intentions that never came to pass, the little ideas I had to bring a smile to someone’s face and I didn’t because I thought I was too busy. The laundry had to be done, the floor needed sweeping … did I miss my chance to meet Jesus face to face?

Of course we all have missed a moment that may have been from God, but it’s not all bad news! Ephesians tells us today that God will give us a spirit of wisdom, because of our faith; he will enlighten the eyes of our hearts. So that next time, when the moment presents ourselves, God will reveal to us what we should do. He’ll give us the Epiphanies that we are looking for. And, if we stay in faith, we will know when God has done so. Sometimes it’s the littlest things that teach us about God. Back in the Bible Study class I shared one of my own Epiphanies, I shared how God had opened my eyes to seeing the Christ child in everyone’s face, and being able to reach out to those who were really in need. I knew that through that class God had taught me about being loving and compassionate to every soul that I meet. It was a small thing, a simple revelation about the nature of Christ, but something that I was so thankful for.

But sometimes, we forget to look for ways that God is calling us the teachable moments that he has put in our paths. There are things going on in your life, there are circumstances that only you and God know, but if you are searching for his answers, God will give you your epiphany. And he’ll always want you to keep searching through his word until you find it.

Searching, that’s something La Befana knows something about. You know, that night when she went out looking she never did find the Christ Child. But legend has it that each year she travels leaving gifts on the day of Epiphany for every good child she sees. She may have missed her chance once, but if the Christ child returns, she’s not going to miss him a second time.

We may have missed him too; we may have been so busy getting ready for the Holiday, that when Christmas got here, we missed seeing Jesus. But now, after all the presents are unwrapped, the ham has become sandwiches and Wal-Mart is already decorated for Valentines Day, will we stop and look up at the star?

Will we search for the one who was the word, who became flesh, and came to shine in our hearts? Will we be like La Befana and take care of the here and now, or will be stop what we are doing, follow the signs and look clearly at Jesus’ face. Think about it — Have you found an Epiphany yet, or are you still waiting for God to reveal it? Have you even been looking for one?

Sarah Laughed

2009-08-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh." Genesis 18:10-15

Oftentimes we find ourselves wondering what God's plan for our life must be. Things seem to be going along just fine, we've found our place in the world so it seems and then, out of nowhere, life changes so suddenly, our plans don't seem to make sense anymore, and we have to stop and ask God, "Hey, what just happened?"

This must have been how Sarah was feeling when she was sitting inside her tent eavesdropping on her husbands conversation with the "Lord" outside. She was old, she and Abraham had been married for quite some time, and honestly the opportunity for her to have children had passed. I'm sure she had mourned in her youth for a child. Her heart must have broken each time a woman in her village walked by with a protruding belly. I'm sure her womb ached with envy when a newborn was placed in her arms. So, is it any surprise that now that years had passed that Sarah LOLed at her house guests?

What is interesting about Sarah is that she had traveled with Abraham all over the world, she had a strong marriage, she had slaves, she was very well-off. The one thing she didn't have, was a child of her own. So, when she laughed out loud and the "Lord" asked "Why did Sarah just laugh," it's strange that she would deny it. It seems that Sarah had ever right to laugh, the idea of her getting pregnant at such an old age was UNHEARD of ... it was down right funny. Why not laugh?

Because laughing proved a small truth about Sarah, and all of us. Her laughter proves that for a brief moment she doubted God. The God that had protected her family thus far, the God that had given her gifts galore, she doubted could give her the one thing left of her heart's desire ... a child. We see Sarah's weakness in her faith later on in this story, when she doesn't get pregnant right away, she sends her slave into Abraham so that he can have a son with her. These two actions prove that even though Sarah was blessed beyond measure, she still doubted that God could do all he promised.

However, when I read this chapter in Genesis, I love that Sarah laughed. Because it shows how human she really was. It reminds me that we all laugh in the face of who God sometimes, and that, even though it happened, God STILL gave Sarah a son of her own. Even though she made mistake after mistake, even though she doubted, God didn't give up on her, God gave her everything that she asked for.

Sarah laughed because it seemed impossible, later, I like to imagine, Sarah laughed because it all came true. Sarah first laughed out of fear and doubt, but, in the end, it seems that God and Sarah ended up laughing together. Yes. You did laugh.

-- Mary

Discussion Questions:

1. When have you gone through a time when something seemed impossible but God made a way?

2. How do you see Sarah, was she wrong to laugh? Right?

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Sorry it's been a while on the blog, life has been crazy. We are working on updating more. Please comment and let us know what you would like us to explore.

A New Commandment

2009-05-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35 (New Living Translation)

The title of this series is "10+1," and we are looking at all the commandments that are given in the Bible. However, the more I researched this (and maybe this will make up for how late this post is) I found there are other "commandments" hiding out in the New and Old Testament that we sometimes overlook. So, really, we should have called this "10+how many other commandments can we find in the Bible."

One of these commandments is listed above. Christ tells us, I am giving you a new commandment, to love each other, and by that love people will know that we are his disciples. This really makes me think about how we present ourselves to others. I heard a great sermon last week on having influence on people and that everything we do influences someone, be it our coworkers, or friends, our kids, families, whatever, we are making an influence. The question was said, it isn't IF you are making an influence it is what TYPE of influence are you making?

This really got me thinking. I try my best to stay positive and strong, but lately I have been a little discouraged by some things that are happening in my home church and I was complaining about it to people who didn't go to church ... I was hit smack in the face when one of those people said to me, "this makes me not want to go to church." CRAP.

In my complaining, I gave the entirely wrong impression of what church was, and I realized that because I was not offering a whole lot of grace to my current situation, I wasn't doing a good job of showing grace overall. My influence, even though I didn't mean it, ended up being the wrong kind. Luckily, I was able to discuss this again with the person and I think I have cleared it up, but talk about MOUTH, INSERT FOOT.

So, we are to love each other. Even when we are mad, even when we are upset, even when things don't go the way that we think they should. We should give this love out freely and openly, like Christ did. We should be a positive influence on others and, well, get over ourselves. Or, at least that's the message that I am working on for my life. "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples," it's enough to change the world.

Discussion starters:
1. Have you ever put your foot in your mouth when talking about religion with others?
2. Where is it hardest for you to show "love for one another?"
3. What advice would you give others to help show love to the world?

--Mary

God's Law and God's Grace

2009-04-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

*This post starts a new series, 10+1 -- The Commandments. We hope you will join us as we learn more about The Ten Commandments and the Greatest Commandment.

Read: Deuteronomy 5

“Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?” Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22:34-40)

When asked whether they believe they'll go to heaven, many people claim something along the lines of, "Yes, I'm going to heaven. I'm a good person. I follow the 10 commandments." That simple statement is quite loaded as it makes a lot of assumptions.

To begin with, being a good person does not equate entrance into heaven. Only faith and grace can get you there. We could not possibly earn our way in. None of us are that good. The concept of God's unending grace while we repeatedly fail to follow his instructions is one of the topics we'll discuss in this series. His grace is something that's offered even to those of us who are "bad." We all need it.

Faith and belief are not just about perfectly following a set of rules. Doing so does not earn us God's love. We already have that just because we exist (and he created us). At the same time, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:26) Following God's laws is a way to honor him and show him respect, not a way to work our way to heaven. If we truly believe in God and love him, we'll want to follow his laws.

As Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’" Keeping just those two rules encompasses all the others.

The statement also assumes that the 10 commandments are something fairly easy to follow when, in fact, they're not. I'd like to discuss each commandment in depth and what it would really mean to carry them out in our daily modern lives. We should remember that these laws are designed to be in our best interest. We'll be happier if we follow them, not merely stifled by restrictions.

Here's a review of those top 10 to get your started on getting your thoughts together and clear on for the upcoming weeks:

You shall have no other gods before me
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
You shall not covet

Discussion Starters:

Do you believe that your works are as important to God as your faith?
Do you believe that any of the 10 Commandments are outdated and based on the culture of a specific area at a specific time?
Do you believe the Levitical laws are as relevant as these 10 Commandments?

--Whitney

Upcoming Series!

2009-04-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

We are working diligently to get our upcoming series: 10+1, a look at the Commandments, up sometime this week.

However, I wanted to take a moment and post this op ed for you to review in the meantime.

Thoughts?

He is Risen!

2009-04-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:15-18)

We come to the end of our Lenten season (and our series). We now enter into a time of EASTER! Easter is not just celebrated today, but it is celebrated in the church for the next 50 days where we study Jesus as he appears to his disciples and gives them the great commission. But, before we go there, let's discuss what today really is ... it is RESURRECTION DAY!

We celebrate Easter because Jesus has risen, he tore the veil of death, bridged the divide between death and life, and now he offers us everlasting life because he has conquered death!

This is a short post, because today is also a day for spending time at church and with family, and I don't want to keep you from that! But I encourage you to use today as a time to thank God for all he's blessed you with, especially for the miracle of the resurrection ...

"He is not here ... He is Risen!"

RISEN INDEED!

Discussion starters:

1. As we celebrate Easter as more than a day, but as a season, how will you continue to remember to focus on Jesus' gift of everlasting life?

2. Today in my worship service the sermon discussed reaching out to others about the "Good News" of the resurrection. How have you in the past shared the good news with others? Do you share the news of Christ with others, why or why not?

-- Mary

It Is Finished!

2009-04-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

The Last Seven Words of Christ

But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. — Isaiah 53:5

When Christ was placed on the cross, there were seven last statements that he said before he breathed his last breath. These statements literally send chills down my spine every time I read them, and especially when I hear them out loud. I encourage you to read the scripture and speak the words that Jesus spoke (if you didn't hear them today in a service). This is why Christ died, to save the world from its sin. He had to die, even though he was innocent and without shame.

The First Word: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

Jesus had been punished for doing no wrong, yet he still was more concerned with the salvation of the word than his own pain and suffering. Oftentimes, these words still ring true for us, we do not know what we do. Every time we sin, we nail the nail once again, we, all humankind, stand the cross up high, and we are the ones who cried out, "Crucify him!" We are to blame, but Jesus took our blame, our shame, and hung it on a cross, and then he asked God to FORGIVE US!

The Second Word: "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."
(Luke 23:43)

Jesus, even in his death, offered resurrection hope to the man beside him on the cross. The thief beside him WAS guilty, but Jesus, in his blanket of love, wrapped him in forgiveness before the thief took his last breath. Jesus, who was dying himself, took time out, on the cross, to forgive another. It puts our struggles of forgiveness of others in a new light, if Jesus can forgive even then, why do we find it so hard to forgive now?

The Third Word: “Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)

Jesus said this word to his mother and the "disciple that he loved." Some Bible scholars believe that the reason why we do not hear the name of the disciple is because we are ALL the disciple that Jesus loved and we are all called to take care of the widows and orphans of the world. Jesus showed that he wanted to honor his mother, and make sure she was taken care of, and he taught us to take care of others, before we take care of ourselves.

The Fourth Word: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)

Sometimes we doubt God, and we somehow think that there is something wrong with that? How can we not see that it's okay to ask God questions about our faith, if Jesus even asked "Why have you abandoned me." I'm sure deep down, Jesus knew that God, his father, was with him. But it must have been so lonely on that cross, so painful. We sometimes feel abandoned too, and we cry out to God. However, we know the victory is won. Because Jesus was lonely on the cross, abandoned and all alone, we never have to be lonely again!

The Fifth Word: “I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)

How can the one who offers us water that will make us "thirst no more" be thirsty on the cross? At this moment Jesus had nothing left to give us, he had given it all, even the everlasting water that he had promised. He had to be thirsty so WE never have to thirst again!

The Sixth Word: “It is finished!”
(John 19:30)

Jesus, the perfect son of God had come to do what he had been sent to do — Die for all humankind. There he was — lonely, abandoned, thirsty, and so very tired. His work on Earth was complete - It is finished.

The Seventh Word: “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)

The truth of everlasting life -- the father takes the spirit and it is entrusted in his hands! How must we mourn today the death of the perfect son? How do we ever repay him for the life he laid down for our sins ... He was pierced for OUR transgressions, and by HIS wounds we are healed! Amen.

Discussion Starters:

1. Reflect, pray, make the passion real for you! It's easy to ignore the pain, the lament, but know it, feel it, believe it! Don't just skip to the resurrection, Jesus WILL rise, but right now ... he has to die.

--Mary

Working our Way Through Holy Week

2009-04-07T13:16:00.001-07:00

Read: John 12:11-19

"Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." (John 12:15)

Sunday marked the beginning of Holy Week with Palm Sunday. I hope your church celebrates Holy Week, but if they don't I would like to give you a little information on each special day so that you too can prepare for Christ death and resurrection.

Palm Sunday:
Palm Sunday is the day that we typically celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is a time when we recognize that the people of the time saw him as a great leader, and actually bowed down before him and praised him for all that he had done (including just raising Lazarus from the dead!) Jesus was at the height of his ministry and he was wildly accepted into Jerusalem. It would only be a few days before he would be scorned and mocked, but today we celebrate his acceptance and power. In most churches that celebrate Palm Sunday palm branches are waved by children as they parade around the sanctuary (these same palms are later burned and the ashes are used for Ash Wednesday the following year).

Holy Monday -Wednesday:
These are the days leading up until Maundy Thursday. There is not much information in the Bible leading up to the time of the "Last Supper." But we know Jesus was in Jerusalem, he gave his disciples instructions on where to meet in the Upper Room, and he was anointed by Mary of Bethany (and he states that she is preparing him for his funeral). Jesus is somber, but the rest of the world is still jubilant, not realizing the Jesus' days are coming to an end on Earth.

Maunday Thursday:
A solemn day, the day of the last supper. We find Jesus in the upper room with his disciples. He reveals that someone will betray him, and that even Peter will deny him three times. He washes his disciples feet, he humbles himself before them, and then they head to the garden to pray. It is at the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus asks him disciples to stay awake just one more hour and pray for him and with him. It is at this garden where he is kissed by Judas, and it is on this night that he is beaten, cast lots against, and every single disciple disowns him. Churches who have a Maundy Thursday service sometimes have a Tenebre service, where they go through each of the scriptures extinguishing a candle with each step of the way to the cross, others have a simple service where they tell the story of the betrayal, and then strip the church of all pageantry, so that the church is bare and naked, just as Jesus was betrayed on the cross. Communion is often served on this night as well, since it was the night that Jesus taught us to remember him through sacrament.

Good Friday:
The day of Jesus' death. Some churches have noon services and others have three hour services counting down to the actually time of death (roughly 3 p.m. in most traditions). This service is very solemn, and it focuses on the Passion. The story of the nails being nailed, the bitter vinegar, and the last breath ... the act of total sacrifice for an undeserving world.

Holy Saturday:
A day of holy rest.

Easter Sunday:
I would like to do a post just on Easter, so be looking for it on Easter morning!

Discussion Starters:

How will you celebrate Holy Week?
When you think of the Passion of Christ what feelings or emotions do you have about his death and resurrection?
Easter is coming, he will be risen, how will you dedicate your life to rise again with him as a new EASTER people?

-- Mary

My First Lent Experience

2009-04-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, my husband is Catholic and I grew up Southern Baptist. Therefore, I didn't even become aware that such a thing as Lent existed until I was already out of high school. So it wasn't part of my upbringing. This is all new. It's even new for my church (which is part of the Evangelical Presbyterian denomination) where this is the first year there has been an Ash Wednesday service and any talk of Lent.

For anyone else who is unfamiliar with it, the season of Lent is a time of preparation. This preparation normally includes extra prayer and fasting and choosing something to give up for the 40-day duration from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday.

Technically it's 46 days, not just 40. Some people count Sundays, and some people don't. I personally think it's a bit sneaky to count Sundays as mini-Easters where you don't have to observe giving up whatever it was you gave up. But I won't be offended if you disagree with me on that. Whatever works for you. Observation of Lent is another one of those non-essentials for me. Practice it or don't. Salvation doesn't depend upon it. But I have come to decide that it is helpful.

It is helpful because it is not just about giving something up as I initially thought when I first heard of it. I couldn't see any benefit from simply giving something up unless it was the benefit of a smaller waistline from giving up something like chocolate or soda. I now realize, the point is really to replace whatever you gave up with more focus on God.

I gave up Facebook this year because it was eating up A LOT of my time. With that extra time, I have been able to double the amount of Bible study I do each day and to co-found this blog. I started following a schedule to read the Bible through starting mid-February, and by doubling up, I'll be back on track by Easter as if I had started January 1st.

At first, I thought my choice to give up something like Facebook might be silly, but I now think the best things to give up for Lent must be the things that take up too much of your time. I'm still unsure how giving up food helps. It is a sacrifice if you choose the right thing, and I guess you would think of God every time you want something and don't eat it.

We've observed the Catholic tradition of no meat on Fridays this year, and I don't really feel like I've gotten anything spiritual out of that. It's been more of an excuse to have shrimp and sushi and pasta. I must be missing the point on that one.

Our church is asking us to fast from food between the Good Friday service around 6 pm through breakfast Easter morning. I've got to say, I love food, and that's not going to be an easy thing for me. I have enough trouble just sticking to my Weight Watchers points. I can't decide what we're going to do about the fasting challenge yet. If we wind up at Graham's grandparents house this weekend, spending a day and a half without food may just be an impossibility. If we stay home, it's much more likely. If I commit to it, I'll do it. I just can't decide what exactly I want to commit to.

I've been trying to figure out what fasting means to different people. I don't know that the same rules will apply, that I'll be able to replace thoughts of food with thoughts of God the way I replaced Facebook. I've had some suggest a juice fast where there is no food at all only juice or a fruit and veggie fast where of course it's only fruits and veggies. Our Hindu friends often fast by limiting themselves to one small meal a day. I got the impression they thought it was cute that we fast from meat one day a week. I think they saw it the same way I do. Is one day a week without meat really a sacrifice, especially if you can still have seafood? Of course, they often fast for multiple days so going without at all wouldn't be practical.

Discussion Starters:

Do you feel that observing Lent and giving something up for 40 days is a beneficial practice?
What are some things you have given up for Lent in the past and how did you feel about it?
What are your experiences with fasting from food?

--Whitney

It's Passover Season Too

2009-04-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Read: Exodus 7-12

"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord - a lasting ordinance."

Exodus 12:14

It is not only the season for Lent and Easter. It is also time for Passover, a Jewish holy day/festival, which this year lasts from April 9th - 15th. It commemorates God sparing the Israelites when he passed them over during the plague of the firstborn, only killing the first born of Egypt. Hence the name of the holiday.

The plague of the firstborn was just the last of the plagues on Egypt as a result of Pharaoh refusing to let the Israelites go. Before that all the water was turned to blood and pests were sent out including frogs, gnats, flies, and locusts. All the Egyptians' livestock died while the Israelites' lived. Boils broke out on people. Hail came down, and anyone caught outside in it died. There was even a darkness that could be felt, but only upon the Egyptians. After each plague, Pharaoh would act as if he were about to set the Israelites free but then he would change his mind only to be met with more destruction.

This story brings up a lot of questions for me.

Discussion Starters:

1. Do you feel that sometimes Moses' brother, Aaron, sort of got shafted in the recognition department?
He spoke for Moses and later became the head priest. At first, I found it a little sneaky that Moses talked God into letting Aaron speak for him so he didn't have to do it himself. Was Moses sneaky or was he recognizing his own strengths and weaknesses? I initially thought Aaron was kind of underrated with Moses getting all the glory until I realized later on in the story that Aaron was actually the one who formed the golden calf for the people to worship while Moses was up on the mountain getting the 10 Commandments directly from God (Exodus 32) so maybe it was fair after all.

2. Does anyone else find it odd that magicians could replicate most of the miracles God performed through Moses' staff?
And why is there no more magic like this in the world? Or is there?

3. What does it mean that God hardened Pharaoh's heart?
Does it seem fair that Pharaoh was punished because God hardened his heart? Was it fair to make him be bad and then call him the bad guy? Predestination vs. Free Will, which is it?

4. Why don't Christians really celebrate Passover?
The celebration of this festival was to be "a lasting ordinance." Did this ordiance only apply to the Israelite's direct descendents, the Jewish people? We follow the 10 Commandments. We don't take that to only be directed towards Jews. In chapter 12, it does say a temporary foreigner should not eat of this feast, but someone living among them could if all the males of the household were circumcised. Do the same rules still apply? And circumcision is a whole other topic too.

Why are we sleeping?

2009-03-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Our first discussion series will be Lent: 40 Days in the Desert. We’ll be covering topics ranging from the Israelites wandering the desert to reach the promised land to the temptation of Jesus in the desert to general thoughts on the season of Lent.

Read: Mark 14:32-41

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

Mark: 14:37-40

The Lenten Season is almost over, and we find ourselves very tired. We have wandered in the desert with Jesus, we have been tempted by the evils of the world, and we have found ourselves in need of prayer. But, instead of praying and keeping watch, we instead, make our ways to our beds. We pull the covers over our heads, and we close our eyes before we even hit the pillow. WE ARE SO TIRED!

Jesus knew that we would become weary, in fact, he even tried to plan times in his ministry for the disciples to take breaks. However, even on the Sabbath we find Jesus working. So, what sort of examples are we to keep? Do we work until our hands can no longer move, till our eyelids droop, and we forget who we are working for? We don't know the answer ... we are an EASTER people, we are ready for the resurrection, but why is the journey there so hard? Why must there be pain and suffering before there is joy and celebration?

The disciples were tired too, but here they were, hours away from the arrest and death of our Lord, and they are sleeping. Jesus asks them time and time again, "please, stay awake, pray for me." It was a simple task, one that we hope we could do, but when the time came for prayer, the disciples were too tired to even try. This lesson teaches us that it's hard following Jesus out into the wilderness, and that it's not going to be easy. Even the disciples, who saw the mystery of Christ, could not follow cheerfully and be aware. We are the same way. It is hard for us when there is so much that still needs to be done to take the focus away from the world and onto where God is calling us. But Jesus tells us -- STAY AWAKE!

Weariness as a Christian can be found -- in our attitudes, in our relationships, and at the end of the day, like the disciples, in our prayer life. Has life gotten in the way of living for Jesus? Are we too tired to step forward in faith for Christ? Why are we sleeping, when Jesus needs us to stay awake for him ... even just for one more hour?

Discussion Starters:

1. When there is so much to be done, and so little hours of the day, when do you find time to focus on what Christ is calling you to be in the world?

2. Do you believe that a Sabbath, a true day of rest, is possible? Why or why not?

3. What suggestions do you have for the group that could help us practice "staying awake?"

* Artwork: Praying at Gethsemane by HE Qi

-- Mary

Grumbling All the Way to the Promised Land

2009-03-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

Our first discussion series will be Lent: 40 Days in the Desert. We’ll be covering topics ranging from the Israelites wandering the desert to reach the promised land to the temptation of Jesus in the desert to general thoughts on the season of Lent.

Read Numbers 20-21

They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"

-Numbers 20:3-5

Over and over, in seemingly every chapter I've read for the last several weeks, the Israelites have been complaining, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" (Numbers 21:5) After all God had done for them from bringing them out of slavery to raining down manna from heaven every night for them to eat, all they could do was whine and disobey the rules he clearly set out for them even to the point of worshipping other gods. God was obviously and rightfully frustrated with them and wanted to wipe them all out multiple times, but he didn't. The Israelites were really pretty lucky that their only punishment was 40 years in the desert without seeing the promised land. God clearly wanted and could have easily caused much worse.

I imagine it's similar with us today. God has provided me with far more than just food and clothing and shelter. Yet I often complain about petty things. Even though I know God is full of forgiveness and grace, I can picture him rolling his eyes at me the same way he must have at the Israelites every time I have a pity party for myself.

One of the side notes in the Student Bible edition of the New International Version mentions how people often wonder why God doesn't show himself more clearly to us the way he did back in Biblical times with big shows like speaking from burning bushes and severe plagues foretold by prophets. It then goes on to point out that it didn't matter that he was so clearly present. People still doubted him and disobeyed just as much then as they do now. I thought that was a really intriguing way of looking at things, and something to really think about.

It's amazing to read that these people could doubt Moses was doing God's work when they could see him always off talking to God, and it's amazing that they doubted that God had their best interest in mind by taking them out into the desert after the miracle of parting the Red Sea. If they couldn't see it, it's no wonder people find it difficult today when it's not so obvious. Or maybe it is obvious and we look right past it just the way they did.

Discussion Starters:

Why is it so hard to be grateful sometimes?
Why is there not always a connection between knowing you're fortunate and truly feeling that you are?
Why do you think God doesn’t show his presence in the same ways as he once did in Biblical times?
What do you feel are some obvious signs of God's presence in modern times that people just disregard?

Whitney

Whitney's Background

2009-03-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

I grew up attending a Southern Baptist church in a very small town in Arkansas right in the heart of the Bible Belt. We showed up nearly every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. I went to Sunday School and church camps and Bible studies at friends’ houses, and my mom ran Vacation Bible School. I was involved all the way through high school. Not being involved was sort of a foreign concept. When I went to college, though, I just stopped attending. I wasn’t being rebellious. I never lost my faith in God. I just didn’t feel I was getting anything out of attending services.

Eventually, I married a Catholic guy, a practicing one. For anyone coming from anything resembling a Southern Baptist background, that’s a bit of a shock. Until I went to college, I had never even met anyone who was Catholic. Until then, it seemed to me that Catholicism was a whole separate religion, not just another denomination. Graham and I have been together for 5 years now, 3 years of that married, and we just recently found a church that fit us both well. For the last year and a half I worked most weekends so that made the search even more difficult since I only got off about one Sunday a month. We just recently became members of a Presbyterian church. It’s got a rock and roll feel, but they are trying to incorporate more traditional aspects.

In the past I have worked in human resources, accounting, and photography, none of which had anything much to do with my Management Information Systems degree. I even did a short stint selling mouse ears at Walt Disney World in Orlando. I am currently doing temp work in a marketing/admin capacity while I figure out my next move.

Graham and I live in North Carolina, just north of Charlotte where we share our home with 4 turtles and a couple of fish. We don’t have any children yet, but I think we're almost ready, as ready as you can be I suppose.

Mary's Background

2009-03-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a small town in Arkansas. I lived on 100 acres out in a little village of only 200 people. I have milked cows, driven a log truck, and went deer hunting. I didn't enjoy any of the above. I was always a closet city girl and when the opportunity came to choose between moving to another small town in Arkansas or jumping ship and moving to the big city of Orlando, FL...I didn't walk, I ran!

I am married to another small town guy (who Whitney has actually known longer than she's known me, they went to preschool together, I didn't meet them until 1st grade!) and it was actually Martin, my hubby, who moved us to Florida. After graduating from college with a B.A. in Mass Media, Martin and I decided to get married and pursue Master's degrees. By 2006 we both had M.A.'s in Art History and were ready for a change. I went to work at a small daily newspaper as a feature writer and graphic designer and Martin sent our resumes all over the United States. I was also, by this point, VERY involved in the United Methodist Church as a lay-speaker. Lay speakers are basically local pastors who can be sent to churches who are in distress (in this case I was sent to a small local congregation whose pastor had a heart attack). God was calling me to lead in the church (apparently very clearly) but, at the time, I just saw this as me doing something nice for a church in need. After about 4 months of this Orlando called and gave us two weeks to move ... this is when we ran!

It was here, in actually Kissimmee, FL, where God showed me my call. One week after moving here I was asked to apply as a children's director for the First Untied Methodist Church, a downtown church that brags 2000 members. I got the job right away and spent two years working there — first in children's ministry and evangelism, and eventually as program director and basically assistant pastor at times. God called me to dedicate my life to service during this time and I began the process of ordination in the UM church. I've been in the process a year now and am a certified candidate for ordained ministry as a Deacon and am working on my second master's in Christian Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. I also now work at a homeless transitional housing program where I serve in development and public relations. God moving me to where I am now, professionally, educationally, and spiritually has been a blessing beyond words.

As for my marriage, it is the most important aspect of my life. Martin and I have been together for 9 years and have been married nearly 5. We do not have children (yet) but we do have a dog that thinks he's a child. We just bought a house in St. Cloud, FL (which actually is out in the "country," I guess there is some country girl in me after all) and we plan to start a family within the next year.

Zoë and Sofya: In the Beginning

2009-03-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Let’s start with how this blog came to be. Whitney committed to reading the Bible through in 2009, and she loves to take notes when she reads. Biblical topics were becoming more frequent on her personal blog and she decided she needed to create a separate space for them somewhere rather than letting them get lost among the mish-mash of posts about searching for a job, trying to lose weight, and fighting off baby fever. There needed to be a more focused space where these things were easy to discuss and easy for others to find. She remembered previously throwing around ideas with her out-of-state friend, Mary, about possibly forming a Bible study through video-conferencing or instant messaging. That had never taken off because they could not conceive of a good weekly time for multiple people from multiple time zones to get together. But this, a sort of Bible study blog, this could work. People can log in whenever they have time, day or night. It still allows for discussion, and most likely even better discussion than they could have had otherwise.

In addition to the convenience of 24/7 availability, is the potential to involve an unlimited number of people. We would love to include anyone on the internet who wants to participate, anyone, that is, who is willing to act like a grownup and participate in enlightening conversation as opposed to hate-filled flame wars in our comments section. The goal of this site is open, honest talk concerning what it means to be a Christian and how the Bible relates to our everyday lives, mostly from the perspective of educated women in their twenties and thirties. Our intent is to have posts on two to three subjects each week, enough so there will always be something fresh to read, but not so much that there isn’t enough time to reflect.

Contemplating different viewpoints on things will be beneficial to all of us. I know we can raise questions and address them without fighting over them. Disagreements are fine and are to be expected when people from different backgrounds and denominations come together. But flat out rudeness will not be tolerated. We propose that if you are planning to participate in this blog, you shall adhere to a few terms of usage.

Do Not use foul language or insult us. If you are anti-religion, anti-God, anti-whatever we say, this is not the blog for you to yell at us. Believe me, we are not some naive, brain-washed bunch. We know our religion front and back, and we will give you a Bible beating if you decide to change our minds. (Okay, we won't really do that, but we will delete your comment immediately and pretend we never saw it, WE WILL NOT ARGUE WITH YOU). This is not because we want to be closed-minded but because we do not feel that it serves our witness or will enhance this site to do so.
Do give us feedback and start new discussions in a loving and gentle manner. There is always something new that each one of us can learn about each other, and that's what this forum is about. We can all benefit from each other’s experiences, backgrounds, and opposing viewpoints. The success of this project certainly depends on the participation of you, our readers.

Thanks for stopping by, and let the dialogue begin!

Zoë and Sofya

Searching for Epiphany *after* Christmas

Sarah Laughed

A New Commandment

God's Law and God's Grace

Upcoming Series!

He is Risen!

It Is Finished!

Working our Way Through Holy Week

My First Lent Experience

It's Passover Season Too

Why are we sleeping?

Grumbling All the Way to the Promised Land

Whitney's Background

Mary's Background

Zoë and Sofya: In the Beginning

Searching for Epiphany after Christmas