As I read about Joseph, I am thinking of that famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. Joseph’s dream, like King’s dream, threatened people. And I am wondering why.

Why couldn’t Joseph’s brothers just dismiss those dreams as the taunting of their annoying little brother? If blacks and whites really were naturally meant to be separate, why couldn’t the racists just leave King alone?

We are threatened by what we know is, or could be, true. If we are afraid, and we hear a dream, we will resist the possibilities and only dwell on the threats to our own status or comfort should this dream come true. But if we encounter these dreams with an open heart, who knows where God will take us.

How easy to forget that great things start with a dream.

And let’s not let this time with Joseph go by without a little Donnie Osmond.

Day 11: Genesis 37

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My first reaction when I read the heading of this chapter was, “Whoa! We skipped a lot!” An awful lot happens to our hero Jacob in 5 chapters. I have been intentional about staying in the passage I am given, but I think, for today, a little more of the story is helpful, particularly to understand Jacob’s humility with Esau.

Rebekah’s cousin Laban, like Rebekah, was a conniving man. When Jacob arrived in Haran, he immediately fell in love with Laban’s daughter, Rachel. Laban gave consent to the marriage but only if Jacob would work for him for 7 years. On their wedding night, Laban replaced Rachel with his elder daughter, Leah. When Jacob discovered he had married the wrong sister, he returned to Laban, who agreed, again, for Jacob to marry Rachel after 7 more years of labour. Jacob then marries Rachel and, between his two wives, has 12 sons and a daughter. By this stage, Jacob has taken not only his family, but all the wealth owed to him by Laban, and is on his way to find a new home.

Now that we are all caught up, compare these two brothers with the blessings they received from their father, Isaac. Around 30 years have gone by. A lot has happened with no contact. Jacob enters this encounter richly blessed with wealth, but full of fear. Esau arrives, perhaps with some fear since he brought 400 men, but, as he says, “I have plenty.”

Isaac’s blessing was about land and wealth and power. After all this time, I wonder if Esau and Jacob looked back on the blessings they received. With age and wisdom, do they still want what they wanted when they were younger men? If Isaac had blessed them with full lives and the guidance and love of God, would they have been happy then? Would that blessing mean more to them now? Isaac’s blessings divided them. God’s blessings, their children, their homes, have united them.

Afterthought: of course, then Jacob goes his own way. I wonder why? Perhaps he was afraid that, like most family visits, like fish, it would go bad after a week, so better to take what he has and go.

Day 10: Genesis 32 and 33

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I don’t know if it angers me or comforts me that our faith is descended from the likes of Rebekah and Jacob. Again, more uncertain times, more chasing after security. Rebekah wants the blessing to belong to her favourite son, her Jacob. Jacob will be the one to take care of her.

When I am in dire need of God’s forgiveness and grace, I look to Jacob. Jacob may or may not have known happiness, but as we read through the story of this long family we know that he was blessed.

What irony. Jacob receives the first blessing and then is banished and Esau remains with his parents. Rebekah’s favourite is given the security she needs and then he must disappear.

I wonder if these blessings of Isaac end up being empty words. Does the proper son receive the right blessing after all? Is blessing about land and servants and power? Or is it about something else?

Day 9: Genesis 27:1-28:22

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I couldn’t write about this reading yesterday. There was far too much. I think I will write more blog posts on this story. How can I let the sacrifice of Isaac just go by? But how can I just respond off the cuff? So, today, I will focus on Sarah and Hagar.

At Trinity Aurora, where I serve,  we are in the midst of a preaching series called, “Hope in Uncertain Times”*. This reminds me of this family. Talk about uncertain times. All the journeying, famine, this growing family with a very uncertain future. No wonder Sarai wants to ensure security for the one son she never imagined she would conceive, with the fierceness of a mother.

We are also living in very uncertain times. Our instinct, especially with our current financial insecurity, is to focus on ourselves, our savings, making sure we maintain as much stability as we can.

God understands Sarai’s fears as well, and not only assures Abram, but protects the victims of Sarai’s insecurity. God follows Hagar and Ismael into the desert and saves them from death. They are not only saved, but they are made secure, as Ismael marries.

Two nations, two families, struggling to trust a God whose plans are elusive. God works in the uncertainty and creates security and family.

*You can read and listen to our preaching series at Trinity Aurora’s website. I’ll be preaching on Guilt and Self-Doubt on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 8am, 9:15, 11:00 and 4:30. 

Day 8: Genesis 21:1-22:19

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Do you notice that God makes the covenant with Abram and THEN gives him the bad news? Nice.

If you were offered this deal, would you take it? You will be an ancestor to many, your legacy will be long, but your legacy will also include 400 years of slavery. That’s 16 generations of your progeny.

But here’s the thing. It’s not a deal. God declares it. As those who are in exile try to understand their plight, it is far easier to understand in the tapestry of God’s plan.

Of course, we accept the gift of children knowing their lives will not be cakewalk because we long for family. Of course Abram would take the deal, if it were an option. Because life, like family, however it is lived, is a gift.

Day 7: Genesis 15:1-21

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Some biblical writers are incredible storytellers. Some, not so much. This writer falls in the latter category.

Here we have an incredible story of a family, receiving a message from God, following that voice through deserts, into a promised land, only to turn to famine, then move on to Egypt, where this couple has to hide their love for one another just to survive. Imagine what a painful conversation that must have been (vv 11-12), walking into a city knowing that your wife is going to be taken because of her beauty. How did Abram sleep, not knowing where his wife was?

Pharoah, of course, blames Abram for the plagues. Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? As if anyone believed for one minute that Pharoah would have left her be if she was married. As Abram predicted, Pharoah likely would have taken Sarai and had Abram killed. Perhaps Abram and Sarai were simply scapegoats. Perhaps the plagues came because Pharoah was kidnapping women for his harem. Or any other injustice. Or, maybe, the plagues came because of dirty water, or airborne disease, as all plagues do.

It is important to reflect on what has happened in order to move forward, but sometimes, things just happen. If we dwell on looking for a cause, a reason, especially when circumstances are beyond our control, we can miss the big picture, and ignore what could be an insidious systemic justice.

Scapegoats distract us. Is there something I am deliberately using as a distraction?

Day 6: Genesis 12:1-20

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Would it be ok if I forever call this place Babble? It just seems to make sense. Is this where the word babble comes from, I wonder?

So, unless you come from the school of Christians trying to scientifically prove that every myth in the Old Testament actually happened exactly how it is written, I think we can agree that this is not really how language evolved. Language evolved in different lands, among different peoples.

I wonder how the writer of this myth reacted when she or he first heard a different language. Surprise? Thinking they were demons?

It is certainly easier when everyone speaks the same language, when everyone comes from the same background, the same values, the same religion, the same age. Things get done faster when we are all on the same page, sharing a vision. If life is about getting things done, then let’s stick to what we have in common.

But is life about getting things done? Life isn’t about building towers. We live when we grow, not necessarily when we build. We grow when we encounter new experiences, new people, learning new languages and ways of doing and being.

Day 5: Genesis 11:1-9

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In Genesis, God says,

“Everything that lives and moves will be your food. Just as I gave you green grasses, now I give you everything.” (Genesis 9:3, CEB)

This writer weaves a tale of a society moving from a hunter gatherer to an agrarian society. As a story of God’s action, I wonder. Why did God change humankind’s relationship with the animals, so that now humans can eat the animals?

I wonder if it was because Noah took care of them, and so now knew what it meant to eat another of God’s creatures. On the ark, Noah and his family were in the minority, one of many species that God created. Perhaps God reserved that right to eat animals until humankind could regard this source of food as beloved creatures of God, just like humans. If you would eat it, you must respect it, love it and, when the time comes to eat, give thanks for its life.

And all of this is the result of God’s promise to us, to never destroy, to love, to sustain and never abandon.

As I have been reflecting on this passage today, this song has been rolling around, an expression of love and sharing good things. I could sense God’s voice in the lyrics. I share it with you.

Day 4: Genesis 8:1-9:17

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Why oh why is this such a popular theme for baby quilts!

If I stick with the rule, “the Gospel is not about you it is about God”*, what is this story telling me of Creator? The fierce and powerful anger that destroyed the earth is frightening.

All anger is rooted in hurt. How much Creator must have grieved at watching humans fight with each other, abusing everything around them. What a colossal failure. And so, Creator’s reaction is to destroy it all and start from fresh.

Now, here’s the spoiler. When all of this is done, Creator repents and promises never again to cause such destruction.

Destruction appears to be the easiest route. Blow the whole thing up and start fresh. Destruction is not the same as death. Death is a natural course. Destruction is a deliberate act to bring death before it is time.

Is there something in my life that has reached it’s time to die? Or am I forcing it to destruction? How am I grieving? Am I so impatient to reach the new creation that I am destroying things along the way?

Day 3: Genesis 6:5-22

*Nod of appreciation to the Rev. Canon Bill Cliff, Chaplain at Huron College, Canada

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A few months ago I wrote about my writer’s block and general lack of creativity. I’ve also had some spiritual struggles which have made it difficult to be fed by and grounded in a spiritual discipline.

I've started the E100 Challenge

After a few months of irregular reading, random praying and weak contributions to theologically stimulating conversations, I decided it was time to get off my faithful but complacent arse and get back to something routine.

Back in the summer a friend told me about the e100 challenge: 50 readings from the Old Testament, 50 readings from the New Testament, reading one passage a day for 100 days. These passages, selected by the Bible Society in England, have been selected as the top 100 passages that all Christians should be familiar with. Like our Revised Common Lectionary, I’m sure there are gaps, passages I would have included, but it’s a good start.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.

Starting at the very beginning (Genesis) is a very good place to start. Perhaps it is because I love the creation stories so much that my mind started to whirl this morning, to the point that I absolutely had to sit down and write. And I did. And I was blessed. So, there will be blog posts.

Growing up in the Baptist church, we were expected to be reading the Bible and praying in solitude every day. The rhythm was to read an assigned passage, read a devotional guide, spend some time in prayer. While at different times in my life I have been fed by the daily offices, meditation, the rosary and contemplative retreats, I felt it was time to go back to the beginning, how I first fertilized the seeds of my faith. The e100 challenge seemed like a good place to start. It is completely interactive and I can use a new translation I have come to like, the Common English Bible. Below is a bit of information on the Common English Bible and then, below that, some information about using the E100 website and YouVersion, which I very happily recommend to anyone looking for a mobile bible app.

Technicalities aside, you’ll be hearing from me, and, for that, I am grateful. I hope to hear from you, I’d love your feedback. And if you’d like to join me with on the challenge, sign up on the website.

What do you use for your devotions?

Common English Bible

This is a translation that has come out in the past year. Like the Message and other current translations, it has gone for a more conversational, narrative style, but rigorous in translation. Along with beautiful print editions in leather, hard cover, paperback and editions for students, it is also available online for free. It has used inclusive language for people and, when possible, used non-gender specific language for God. This has been submitted by the Anglican Book Centre to Faith, Worship and Ministry for approval as an official translation for being proclaimed in churches. I like it. Learn more at www.commonenglishbible.com.

E100 and YouVersion

YouVersion is a mobile bible app that, along with several reading plans, is connected to the E100 challenge. Signing up on the E100 and YouVersion websites, you can have email alerts sent to you every day to remind you, read your passage on your phone or computer. You can also make notes which you can keep private or share with the E100 community. This is where I keep my notes, because they will pop up every time I read that passage, which is kind of nice. I can read other readers’ thoughts on the same passage. These are the notes that will be posted on this blog. I can’t post from YouVersion to my blog, but I can post directly to facebook and twitter. I can also schedule those posts for a later time. It really is a great system, keeping track of all your reading. YouVersion has other Bible reading plans as well. You can schedule how long you want to take to read the whole Bible.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.

Book of Common Prayer (1662), Collects. 2nd Sunday in Advent