Come, Live in the Light!

by Patricia Harris (who also blogs at http://thepastorsmusing.blogspot.com/ )

After following the btw blog for a couple of years, I am delighted by the invitation to share a few thoughts with you…

When the sparkling energy of Christmas is over, it can seem like there is little to look forward to. Many Christian communities strive to continue the Christmas spirit (the spirit of Christ born within us) and let it shine even more! This “follow-up” time after Christmas is called the season of Epiphany.

Take a peek into this “Epiphany” story, where people just like us are caught up in the charismatic light of Jesus: John 1:35-42.

Did you catch Jesus’ words to come and see, inviting two intrigued people… and inviting you? Yes, you personally have received an invitation to “Come and see”! This is an invitation into the experience of being in Jesus’ presence. These words, recorded in the Gospel of John are written for you, as well as the two disciples originally addressed by Jesus.

He said to them ‘Come and See.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.” (John 1: 39).

Jesus had seen these two disciples following him at a distance and first asked them what they were looking for, and then invited them to hang out for a while.

Jesus’ invitation to followers is warm, inviting, and down to earth. He calls to them and encourages them to see for themselves. Jesus doesn’t give an abstract discussion of what it means to follow him, but rather shows what it means to be in his company. The disciples came for an afternoon, and after the experience remained his disciples for the rest of their lives.

How do we invite people to join us in following Jesus? Do we give abstract reasons why it would be good? Do we attempt verbal descriptions of what it means to be a follower?

What can we learn from Jesus’ own words: “Come and see”? Come, join me in reading and responding to a blog. Come, join me in a Skype conversation. Come, sit and pray with me. Come, join me at the homeless shelter. Come, join me at the soup kitchen. Come, join me at a worship service. Come and see!

Some of the spirit of this personal invitation is captured in these verses of a poem by Bessie Flint.  (The rest of the poem can be found at faithwriters.com.)

For many years the great story has been told,
of the man who walked the shores of Galilee.
We’re told of the many miracles which he does,
to truly believe, you’ll need to come and see.

Oh come and see the eyes that he has opened,
see the lives that he has mercifully restored.
Come look at the broken hearts he’s mended,
just come and meet him, this wonderful Lord.

We are often reluctant to issue personal invitations to others to join us in a life of faith. Our faith in God may seem too personal to discuss with others, or we might be afraid that our invitation will be rejected. Yet, most people join a faith community because they have been personally asked by another person. So…  issue that invitation!  Call to someone else to “Come and see” and come and experience. Help someone else personally learn the joy of becoming a follower of Christ.

You are the most important component in giving Jesus’ invitation today to “Come and see.” Without your invitation, someone else may never have the opportunity to:

Come, live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord.
(from  "We Are Called"  by David Haas, from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Augsburg Fortress, 2006)

You have been personally invited to “Come and see” what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Accept the invitation yourself and spread it further. Put it on Facebook, send a text or email, of just personally ask someone else to “Come and see”!!!

Please feel free to join in the conversation, by leaving your comments and looking out for the comments of others. You can also join in an audio skype conversation Thursday at 7pm (EST), Jan. 13. You need to have downloaded the program from skype.com and have a microphone with your computer (as most laptops do). Then add "bythewaycommunity" to your contacts list on skype, and call in on Thursday.

Epiphany: a journey.. by Heidi Jakoby

Growing up I have always heard the word epiphany used and I think the best definition I have found comes from the book Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas by Ace Collins

Epiphany is defined as “an intuitive grasp of reality usually through something simple and striking, an illuminating discovery, a revealing scene or moment.” What could be more simple and illuminating but a star that shined both day and night?

Epiphanies, moments of clarity or Ah-ha moments come in all shapes, sizes and timings. I think some of the most meaningful epiphanies are those little ones that just sneak up on you. They happen when you are just going about your business for the day. What have been some of your Epiphanies?

I really liked the final comment Helen made that: “God is there to help direct us at all turns in the roadways of our lives. We are not alone. That in itself is perhaps the greatest Epiphany!”

God’s presence is a source of comfort for me. Have you notice where God has shown up in your life? Where have you seen God today? Are these God moments epiphanies?

An interesting part of having an Epiphany even though you many have a new fresh understanding it does not mean a change will happen. One needs to choose to change. An epiphany in and of itself only indicates new understanding and may or may not cause a person to change or be changed. In some ways this is like the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions. You can make a resolution but nothing is going to change unless you take action.

One of my favorite parts of the Epiphany story is the journey of the Magi, their journey to Jesus led by a star. I often wonder what their journey was like. In the passage form Matthew2:11-12 we learn that the Magi gave gifts to Jesus and that their journey took an unexpected turn. Instead of heading home the way they came they needed to find another route. What new challenges and or discoveries did they have by not going home the way they had intended? What have you learned by taking a journey that was unexpected, what epiphanies did you have because you took an unexpected turn?

Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments, and join us sometime in person or by Skype. I hope your Epiphany journey is filled with illuminating discoveries.

Star-gazing, God-spotting... by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

The question January poses for me is: What is there to look forward to after “the holidays” are over? What can brighten our dreary existences now? Valentines’ Day just doesn’t cut it. And Spring doesn’t seem to be making any headway yet.

I myself am quite fond of making a big deal out of the season called Epiphany, which just happens to be starting today. January 6 is a day to remember when some ancient astronomers just had to see what God was up to, given the spectacularly bright star that was making its way across the night sky. They found God’s bright idea named Jesus, and it all came together for them.

So Epiphany is the season to follow those star-gazers’ example and open our eyes to other things God might be up to. Whether we are gazing up into a gorgeous night sky or just staring at the same old computer screen… What epiphanies might be waiting for us? What clarifying insight is going to grab me?

Whenever I'm contemplating epiphanies and revelations, I can't help but think of my favorite scene in Steven Spielberg's movie, Hook.  Captain Hook says to his sidekick, Smee, that he’s had an epiphany (“epiphy-what?” answers Smee), a suddenly clear understanding that his life is over, so he might as well end it. Then minutes later, Smee, who has just interrupted Hook’s suicide attempt (at Hook’s comical insistence), has the true epiphany in the scene (“I’ve just had an apostrophe!” he says, “Lightning has just struck my brain!”). Smee brings hope back into Hook’s world with his brilliant plan to defeat Peter Pan: They will defeat Peter Pan by getting Peter’s own children to love Captain Hook.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPP56_I4IB4)

Even though the two of them are up to no good, they do demonstrate the truth that light sometimes dawns when you are least expecting it. Even when you’re sure your life is over. And yes, it can happen when two less-than-stellar scoundrels put their heads together. How much more can come from truth-searching people putting their heads, hearts, and souls together? That’s pretty much what by the way is up to: giving all of us an online place where we can think and feel and pray together about what moves us and gives us meaning and direction… a place where God shows up.. where people who may have very different ideas of who God is can exchange those ideas and grow together.

Though the Epiphany season starts with the revelation of God showing up in the child Jesus, who welcomes guests from the ends of the earth, the rest of the stories get us into Jesus’ grown-up life as a teacher, healer, liberator. It all begins the day he’s dunked in river waters, baptized along with tons of others. Take a look at the story the way Luke tells it: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%203:15-22&version=MSG
Notice how the crowds are excited but confused: Is this John the One? John’s crystal clear: Nope, not me. I’m just the water-guy; you’re looking for the fire-guy, the one who’ll “ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out”.

And Jesus is right there in the middle of them, not looking much like the fiery blaster that John was describing. But the epiphany is still coming; God’s presence in Jesus becomes clear, as those who’ve been baptized along with Jesus see an amazing vision. The sky opens, a dove swoops down, a voice speaks. No fire yet, but that will be coming later. Jesus’ timing is different than John expected. Jesus doesn’t clean house by force; he draws people into God’s life by the power of his all-giving love.

What epiphanies have you experienced?
What ways has God shown up for you, if at all?
What clarifying visions are you hoping for?
If you’ve been baptized, how does this story of Jesus’ baptism affect you? How about if you haven’t?

Please feel free to enter the conversation in whatever way fits you. If you happen to be near Nashua, come by Applebees on Amherst St./101A, Thursday  Dec. 7th at 7pm, to chat about all this.

Epiphany-watching with you,
Kari