Bible Readings for October 31, 2020

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages Lamentations 4:1–5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; and Proverbs 26:23. The readings are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 

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Lamentations 4-5:22 (The Message)

Lamentations 4

Waking Up with Nothing

 ¹ Oh, oh, oh...
How gold is treated like dirt,
   the finest gold thrown out with the garbage,
Priceless jewels scattered all over,
   jewels loose in the gutters.  ²And the people of Zion, once prized,
   far surpassing their weight in gold,
Are now treated like cheap pottery,
   like everyday pots and bowls mass-produced by a potter.
 ³Even wild jackals nurture their babies,
   give them their breasts to suckle.
But my people have turned cruel to their babies,
   like an ostrich in the wilderness.
 ⁴Babies have nothing to drink.
   Their tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths.
Little children ask for bread
   but no one gives them so much as a crust.
 ⁵People used to the finest cuisine
   forage for food in the streets.
People used to the latest in fashions
   pick through the trash for something to wear.
 ⁶The evil guilt of my dear people
   was worse than the sin of Sodom—
The city was destroyed in a flash,
   and no one around to help.
 ⁷The splendid and sacred nobles
   once glowed with health.
Their bodies were robust and ruddy,
   their beards like carved stone.
 ⁸But now they are smeared with soot,
   unrecognizable in the street,
Their bones sticking out,
   their skin dried out like old leather.
 ⁹Better to have been killed in battle
   than killed by starvation.
Better to have died of battle wounds
   than to slowly starve to death.
 ¹⁰Nice and kindly women
   boiled their own children for supper.
This was the only food in town
   when my dear people were broken.
 ¹¹God let all his anger loose, held nothing back.
   He poured out his raging wrath.
He set a fire in Zion
   that burned it to the ground.
 ¹²The kings of the earth couldn't believe it.
   World rulers were in shock,
Watching old enemies march in big as you please,
   right through Jerusalem's gates.
 ¹³Because of the sins of her prophets
   and the evil of her priests,
Who exploited good and trusting people,
   robbing them of their lives,
 ¹⁴These prophets and priests blindly grope their way through the streets,
   grimy and stained from their dirty lives,
Wasted by their wasted lives,
   shuffling from fatigue, dressed in rags.
 ¹⁵People yell at them, "Get out of here, dirty old men!
   Get lost, don't touch us, don't infect us!"
They have to leave town. They wander off.
   Nobody wants them to stay here.
Everyone knows, wherever they wander,
   that they've been kicked out of their own hometown.
 ¹⁶God himself scattered them.
   No longer does he look out for them.
He has nothing to do with the priests;
   he cares nothing for the elders.
 ¹⁷We watched and watched,
   wore our eyes out looking for help. And nothing.
We mounted our lookouts and looked
   for the help that never showed up.
 ¹⁸They tracked us down, those hunters.
   It wasn't safe to go out in the street.
Our end was near, our days numbered.
   We were doomed.
 ¹⁹They came after us faster than eagles in flight,
   pressed us hard in the mountains, ambushed us in the desert.
 ²⁰Our king, our life's breath, the anointed of God,
   was caught in their traps—
Our king under whose protection
   we always said we'd live.
 ²¹Celebrate while you can, O Edom!
   Live it up in Uz!
For it won't be long before you drink this cup, too.
   You'll find out what it's like to drink God's wrath,
Get drunk on God's wrath
   and wake up with nothing, stripped naked.
 ²²And that's it for you, Zion. The punishment's complete.
   You won't have to go through this exile again.
But Edom, your time is coming:
   He'll punish your evil life, put all your sins on display. 

Lamentations 5

Give Us a Fresh Start

 ^1-22 "Remember, God, all we've been through. Study our plight, the black mark we've made in history.
Our precious land has been given to outsiders,
   our homes to strangers.
Orphans we are, not a father in sight,
   and our mothers no better than widows.
We have to pay to drink our own water.
   Even our firewood comes at a price.
We're nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed,
   worn out and without any rest.
We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt
   just to get something to eat.
Our parents sinned and are no more,
   and now we're paying for the wrongs they did.
Slaves rule over us;
   there's no escape from their grip.
We risk our lives to gather food
   in the bandit-infested desert.
Our skin has turned black as an oven,
   dried out like old leather from the famine.
Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion,
   and our virgins in the cities of Judah.
They hanged our princes by their hands,
   dishonored our elders.
Strapping young men were put to women's work,
   mere boys forced to do men's work.
The city gate is empty of wise elders.
   Music from the young is heard no more.
All the joy is gone from our hearts.
   Our dances have turned into dirges.
The crown of glory has toppled from our head.
   Woe! Woe! Would that we'd never sinned!
Because of all this we're heartsick;
   we can't see through the tears.
On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined,
   jackals pace and prowl.
And yet, God, you're sovereign still,
   your throne intact and eternal.
So why do you keep forgetting us?
   Why dump us and leave us like this?
Bring us back to you, God—we're ready to come back.
   Give us a fresh start.
As it is, you've cruelly disowned us.
   You've been so very angry with us." 

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Hebrews 2:1-18 (The Message)

Hebrews 2

 ^1-4It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.

The Salvation Pioneer

 ^5-9God didn't put angels in charge of this business of salvation that we're dealing with here. It says in Scripture,

   What is man and woman that you bother with them;
      why take a second look their way?
   You made them not quite as high as angels,
      bright with Eden's dawn light;
   Then you put them in charge
      of your entire handcrafted world.
When God put them in charge of everything, nothing was excluded. But we don't see it yet, don't see everything under human jurisdiction. What we do see is Jesus, made "not quite as high as angels," and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory "bright with Eden's dawn light." In that death, by God's grace, he fully experienced death in every person's place.  ^10-13It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory. Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn't hesitate to treat them as family, saying,
   I'll tell my good friends, my brothers and sisters, all I know
      about you;
   I'll join them in worship and praise to you.
Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says,
   Even I live by placing my trust in God.
And yet again,
   I'm here with the children God gave me.
 ^14-15Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
 ^16-18It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham. That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins, he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—and would be able to help where help was needed.

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Psalm 103:1-22 (The Message)

Psalm 103

A David Psalm

 ^1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
   O my soul, bless God,
      don't forget a single blessing!

 ^3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
      He heals your diseases—every one.
      He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
      He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
      He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
      He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.

 ^6-18 God makes everything come out right;
      he puts victims back on their feet.
   He showed Moses how he went about his work,
      opened up his plans to all Israel.
   God is sheer mercy and grace;
      not easily angered, he's rich in love.
   He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
      nor hold grudges forever.
   He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
      nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
   As high as heaven is over the earth,
      so strong is his love to those who fear him.
   And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
      he has separated us from our sins.
   As parents feel for their children,
      God feels for those who fear him.
   He knows us inside and out,
      keeps in mind that we're made of mud.
   Men and women don't live very long;
      like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
   But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
      leaving nothing to show they were here.
   God's love, though, is ever and always,
      eternally present to all who fear him,
   Making everything right for them and their children
      as they follow his Covenant ways
      and remember to do whatever he said.

 ^19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
      he rules over us all. He's the King!
   So bless God, you angels,
      ready and able to fly at his bidding,
      quick to hear and do what he says.
   Bless God, all you armies of angels,
      alert to respond to whatever he wills.
   Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
      everything and everyone made by God.    And you, O my soul, bless God!

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Proverbs 26:23 (The Message)

 ²³ Smooth talk from an evil heart
   is like glaze on cracked pottery. 

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Thought for the Day

“Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 - Contemporary English Version) The world is full of false saviors, men and women who appeal to what's worst in our nature. We must resist them and their message by focusing our attention on Jesus Christ and his words.

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Quote for the Day

Scottish actor and producer, Sean Connery wrote, “Some age, others mature.”

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A Joke for Today

Her: What do you do?

Me: I race cars.

Her: Do you win many races?

Me: Not really, the cars are much faster.

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A Prayer Request

As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.

That we condemn racism in all of its forms.

Third Presbyterian Sunday Morning Bible Study - November 1, 2020

elow is the Bible Study written by Jim Rudiger for his Sunday School Class which meets at Third Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia. It's based on Ruth 4:1-10.

In our day and time, what defines a family?  Mother, father, kids, grandchildren and grandparents.  These are our immediate family.  Then there are our other kin.  Uncles, aunts, cousins - first, second and third removed - great aunts, uncles, great grandparents and so on.  Before you know it, you have a family tree.  Anybody into genealogies?   

A few decades ago, I decided to find out about my ancestors on my father’s side.  My grandfather had immigrated here from Germany in around 1880.  He left a sister there and I wrote her son who sent me a history of the Rudigers traced back into the 1700s.  They were just ordinary working people, mostly stone masons.  Jackie’s cousin wasn’t so lucky.  She was really into genealogy.  She went to libraries, town records, and cemeteries tracking down her ancestors.  Things were going fine until she ran into a relative who lived in about 1850.  In going through his dealings, she found out that he had been a slave owner.  That cooled some of her enthusiasm for following that branch of the family.

While we all keep in touch with great Aunt Sadie, we generally center most of our concern on our immediate family.  When one of them is in trouble, we try to help out.  A third cousin twice removed who we have never laid eyes on, doesn’t enlist much of our energy or help.  Things were different for the Israelites back in Ruth’s time.  A family then consisted of not only your immediate relatives, but, anybody remotely related to you.  All degree of cousins, aunts and uncles were part of your responsibility.  Their custom dictated that you were obligated to help anybody in this extended family who got into some difficulty.  And this extended family included your whole tribe.  

Last week we were introduced to what was called a “kinsman-redeemer.”  Who was a kinsman redeemer?  A ”kinsman-redeemer” was a member of your family or tribe, who was pretty well off.  He was expected to pay off the debts of a relative who was unable to pay and faced becoming an indentured servant.  If the relative died and left a widow who didn’t have any children, the “kinsman-redeemer” had to marry her so she could have a child and carry on the dead husband’s name.  That first child born to the couple would be considered the off spring of the dead husband.  The obligation was taken so serious that if a relative was murdered, the “kinsman-redeemer” had the right to track the murderer down and kill him.  So the role of “kinsman-redeemer” wasn’t something to sneeze at.  In our story of Ruth, this custom was used to save Ruth and Naomi.

Two weeks ago Ruth went to fields owned by Boaz as a gleaner.  Boaz had heard about Ruth and was impressed with what he had heard.  He called Ruth over and allotted to her the best pickings position among the gleaners.  When Ruth told Naomi what had happened, Naomi said that Boaz was kinfolk and actually encouraged Ruth to flirt with Boaz.  The plan was for Ruth to lay at the feet of Boaz.  When he woke up and saw Ruth laying there and she called him her next of kin which was the same as telling Boaz that he was responsible for her as her “kinsman-redeemer”.  Now this was fine with Boaz, but, the fly in the ointment was that there was another kinsman who was closer to Naomi and Ruth than he was.  Boaz agrees that he will marry her if he can work things out with the other kinsman.  As a token of that pledge he sends Ruth home the next day with her apron full of barley. Now, giving Ruth the apron full of barley had more meaning than just a meal.  Grain was a symbol of fertility.  Boaz was saying that if they get married, Ruth’s and Naomi’s life won’t be empty because the baby mill will be operating 24/7.  Ruth hurries home to tell Naomi that Boaz has popped the question and he will work out the problem with the other unnamed kin folk.  In the meantime Boaz is planning on how he can snake out the other kinsman and be declared Ruth and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer.  And that is where we start our lesson today.

Ruth 4:1 No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, "Come over, friend; sit down here." And he went over and sat down. 2 Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here"; so they sat down. 

Where does Boaz go after Ruth leaves?  To the gate.  When we hear “the gate”, what comes to mind?   A big wooden door that was part of a wall around a city.  Then, where would be the weakest part of the city wall?  The wooden gate.  We’ve seen hundreds of movies where the gate in a walled city is pushed open and the enemy floods into the city.  In many cases, the gate was more like a stone building with several rooms and gates through which people had to pass to get into the city.  By having the gate open into one room and then another, the enemy was slowed down making the defense of the city easier.  So, by adding the rooms, busting down one gate didn’t make the city so vulnerable.  

With these rooms just sitting there, the gate became a place for people to gather and discuss what was happening in the city - socially, financially and legally.  There were even benches along the inner walls of the rooms.  Court was held there.  The city elders took complaints and settled questions of ownership and disputes there.  The latest twitters from the mayor's office were discussed there. 

Now it’s early in the morning when Boaz gets to the gate and who just happens to be walking down the street eating a Hardy's sausage biscuit?  The next of kin Boaz is looking for.  Do you think that this was just a coincidence?  The book of Ruth seems to be full of coincidences.  Was it a coincidence that Ruth left her people to come to Bethlehem with Naomi?  Was it a coincidence that she chose to glean in the field owned by Boaz?  Was it a coincidence that Boaz showed up that particular day Ruth was gleaning?  Was it a coincidence that Ruth played footsy with Boaz in the threshing room and finagled an engagement party? And now, Boaz just happens to run into the very guy he is looking for.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Who do you think was behind all of these coincidences?  Who wrote the book and knows everything?   

Of course it may be that Boaz knew that it was the habit of the next of kin to come to the gate first thing in the morning and meet with all of his buddies before starting to work.  When Boaz sees the next of kin what does he do?  He says, “Hey, cousin.  Come over and sit with me for a while.”  Do you think Boaz was just lonely?  No.  His plan to snake out the next of kin was being put into action.

What does Boaz do next?  Invites ten elders to come and sit with them..  Why?  He needed witnesses if his plan is to work.  It also tells us that either Boaz knew that ten elders, which would constitute a quorum of elders, would be there that particular morning or he sent word to them and asked to make sure that they were there that morning.  Boaz is a rich influential guy in the city.  A guy the elders would listen to.  It never occurs to the next of kin that something fishy is going on when the elders just happen to come over and sit with them.

Ruth 4: 3 He then said to the next-of-kin, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you." So he said, "I will redeem it." 

In passing what does Boaz tell the next of kin?  “Oh, by-the-way, did you hear that Naomi is going to sell that patch of land over in Back Bay that our cousin, Elimelech, owned?  I just thought that since you were the next in line kin, you might want to take advantage of the kinsman redeemer law to buy that land.  And look, we just happen to have ten elders sitting here beside us, so.  If you want to buy it using your 'kinsman redeemer' status, they can witness your claim and it’ll be a done deal.  Of course, if you don’t want to do it, then, since I’m the next in line kin, I’ll make the sacrifice and assume the role of 'kinsman redeemer' and buy the land myself.”  

The next of kin jumps at the chance to get Elimelech’s land and says what?  “I’ll redeem it.”  Now, we’ve talked about redeeming and what it entails even if it did border on Pungo.  The next of kin thought about the deal and the way he saw it was this was a prized piece of land.  It could double his gross income per year.  Now, he recognized that as the “kinsman redeemer”, he would have to take care of Naomi.  But she was old and scrawny way passed her prime. Didn't look like she eats too much either.Taking care of her was nickel and dime stuff.  More importantly, she was way passed having children, so there would be no more babies for her.  That meant that when he died the land would pass down to his kids since she wouldn't have any.  Sounds like he has everything covered, right?  What has he left out or rather who has he left out of the equation?  Ruth.  Up to now, has Boaz even mentioned Ruth?  No.   Apparently, the next of kin doesn’t know about Ruth.

Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, "The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance." 6 At this, the next-of-kin said, "I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it."

And now Boaz drops the “R” bomb.  In addition to Naomi and the land, who else will the next of kin get?  Ruth.  And how does he describe Ruth?  A Moabite woman.  Obviously, the next of kin has a thing about Moabites and doesn’t like them, so Boaz plays the race card.  And, besides Ruth being a Moabite and all, she is what?  The widowed daughter-in law of Naomi which makes her his next of kin, so he will have to marry her so she can have a son who will legally be considered the son of her dead husband, Mahlon, and the grandson of Elimelech.. 

How does the next of kin respond?  Deals off.  And who was the deal breaker?  Ruth.  Why doesn’t the next of kin want to marry Ruth and have children by her?  It won’t be fair to his children.  Why not?  Here is the way the next of kin sees it.  He not only has to take care of Naomi who probably doesn’t have a lot of time left on this earth so her cost was minimal, but, he now has this young girl who he will have to take care of for the rest of her life.  In addition it’s going to cost him a lot of money to get the land back in shape.  Remember it has been ten years since anybody took care of the land.  It will bring in more money, but, he’ll have to hire additional workers.  Now, if in the end he would own the land and his kids would inherit it, it might make sense and be worth it.  But, if Ruth has a son by him, the son will be considered the owner of the land since he was legally the son of Mahlon who was Elimelech’s son.  All that work and expense would end up in the hands of another family not his son’s.  You see.  It is all about money.

Ruth 4:7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, "Acquire it for yourself," he took off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses."

Before the next of kin leaves the city gate, what does he do to cement the deal? He declares that Boaz can acquire it for himself.  How does he confirm it? By taking off one shoe and giving it to Boaz.  Seems like a dopey thing to do unless he was going to throw it at Boaz.  This exchange appears to symbolically represent that the true next of kin is relinquishing his obligation as “kinsman redeemer” and turning over the responsibility to someone else.  Maybe it was their way of saying that if the shoe fits, wear it.

Boaz then addresses the elders who had been witnessing all of this and he claims the role of “kinsman redeemer”.  He states that he is willing to buy everything that had belonged to Elimelech and his two sons including, the widow of Mahlon.  That means that from now on Ruth will not be that Moabite woman but a full fledged Israelite.  Was Ruth the only widow of one of Naomi’s sons?  What about Orpah?  Is Boaz also the kinsman redeemer of Orpah?  Yes, if she was still there with Naomi.  But, she left Naomi and returned to her people which was the same as divorcing herself from Naomi’s family. 

After that, the elders spoke up.  They are overjoyed that Boaz will be the “kinsman redeemer”.  Makes you kind of get the idea that they were pals of Boaz and bolsters the theory that Boaz had asked them to be there so that they could act as witnesses.  They pray that Ruth will bear as many children as Rachel and Leah.  How many sons did Rachel and Leah give Jacob?  Twelve - which formed the tribes of Israel.  This whole plan could have all blown up in Boaz’ face if the next of kin had accepted his responsibility.  Is this another coincidence?  

Get ready.  It’s happy ending time. Boaz took Ruth as his wife.  The taking was more actual than literal.  He didn’t get down on one knee or bring her a bunch of roses.  There was no Justice of the Peace.  No church wedding with a big wedding cake.  The marriage consisted of Boaz going over to Ruth’s house and taking her back to his house.  They came together and you know what that means Biblically.  She got pregnant immediately and had a son.

Actually there is more to it than that.  Scripture says that the Lord made her conceive.  And that’s important because of what comes from that birth.  One of the things that had convinced Naomi to return to Bethlehem was that she had gotten word that the Lord had given the people there food.  Now God was not only giving Naomi food, but, a son to maintain her family tree.  And this is where it gets confusing for us today.  Who’s son is he?  Physically, he is Boaz’s son.  But the custom was that since Ruth was the widow of Mahlon, her first son will considered Mahlon’s since he never had a son by Ruth.  Boaz understands this and is happy with it.  So this little boy becomes, by custom, Naomi’s grandson although a DNA sample wouldn’t prove it.  All other children born to Ruth will be Boaz’ children.

The women in Bethlehem were over joyed for Naomi.  Based on custom, there was no doubt in their mind that God had given Naomi a little “next-of-kin.” For Naomi it meant that this little guy would restore Naomi’s life and take the place of the husband and two sons she had lost.  This little boy will reverse all the bad things that had happened to her.  To restore her is to bring her back from where she was when she return to Bethlehem, a lonely bitter woman, to now being a woman with a future because of her new grandson.  No longer will she believe that God had something against her because He took her husband and sons.  God has proven His love for her by giving her this grandson.

What will the grandson do for Naomi after restoring her?  This grandson will nourish Naomi in her old age.  And how will he do that?  Make sure she has a place to stay.  Make sure she has enough to eat.  Provide her with a bridge to the future.  The village women are so happy for Naomi that they tell her that Ruth is worth seven sons.  In those days that was quite a compliment to pay Ruth, but, why seven sons and not six or five?  Seven is the complete number.  The women are really saying that with this little guy, Ruth has made Naomi as complete as she could possibly be.  It would be nice to think that Ruth was there to hear the town women say that about her.

When a new grand baby is born, what is the natural instinct for Grandmomma to do?  Pick up the baby, hug him and count all of the fingers and toes.  That is exactly what Naomi does. Scripture tells us that Naomi became his nurse, but, it doesn’t mean that she took over feeding the little guy.  Naomi is way too old for that job.  What it implies is that Naomi will have a significant input in that little fellow’s life.  I’m sure that when Boaz and Ruth wanted to go out for the evening to eat supper at Surf Rider, Naomi would be all too happy to come over and babysit.  

Like I said before, in the eyes of the community, this baby boy was Naomi’s.  Not the child’s mother, but, like every grandmother, she owned the kid.  Then the women did a wonderful thing. Normally, in the Old Testament, the parents named the baby, but, this time the town’s women named the little boy.  Ruth or Boaz and even Naomi were not consulted.  The women did it all on their own.  It’s like when my brother was born, my parents wanted to name him John, but, my grandmother said it didn’t make any difference what they named him, she was going to call him Jack.  So, my parents named him Jack.  What was happening was that the women in Bethlehem had become so involved in this love story - the love of Ruth for her mother in law, Boaz’s love for Ruth and the love Naomi had for this baby - that naming the kid became a community project. Do you know what they named him?  They picked the name of Obed.  Why pick Obed?  This is a shortened version of the name Obediah which means “servant of the Lord.”  The town women saw great things for this little baby and they will be proven right.  From this little baby will come the greatest Israelite king, David, and still later the Messiah, Jesus.  

That finishes our story of Ruth and it is the happiest of endings.  What makes this story give you that good deep down feeling is that there weren’t any bad guys in the story.  In fact everybody in the story were really nice folks.  An old woman’s bitterness was erased and the love of a foreign daughter-in-law for her mother-in-law gave her a chance for a future.  A rich old man meets the girl of his dreams and doesn’t exploit the relationship.  A town is drawn closer together due to the love shown by an outsider. Even the real next of kin won because he didn’t have to spend all of his money on what he considered a bad investment.  But, best of all, God had used an outcast Moabite woman to start the royal line of David which eventually gave us Christ.

Now about your family.  We have our immediate family and we have our extended family.  But think of this.  We have all been adopted into the family of God.  That means every Christian in the past, in the present and in the future is part of our family.  That’s some family tree and they are all good guys, not a black sheep among them.  And we have the opportunity to be the “kinsman redeemer” for all of them.  And we will learn how to be the best redeemer from a master, the greatest “kinsman redeemer” of them all - Jesus Christ.

Prayer: May we be more like Boaz and take our responsibility for the caring of our Christian brothers and sisters as a personal gain and not as a financial loss.  Amen.

NCC Newsletter: Final Days Before the Election

Final Days Before the Election NCC Newsletter October 30, 2020 Click here to donate Three Principles I have been blessed to travel the world extensively over the past 40 years. In fact, it was 40 years ago this month that I arrived in Fiji to work for the Pacific Conference of Churches. I have discovered that most people are very fond of Americans and of the United States although they are often dismayed by our foreign policy and many have been deeply wounded by military ventures and covert operations undertaken by our spies. As we approach this fateful election, I have heard from church leaders around the world. They are deeply concerned for the future of our nation and they are intensely interested in the outcome of our election. Further, they are shocked by our response to the pandemic and the huge numbers of people who have fallen ill and died. Meanwhile, my life has been consumed by anticipation of our election, just a few days away. I have been involved in zoom meetings, strategy sessions, and prayer meetings. Statements have been issued and election crisis task forces have been created. Election resources abound. In the midst of all this, I suggest three principles be adhered to: *Patience should be exercised. Although I am as eager to learn the election results as everyone, we will all survive if we do not learn the winner on election night. *Every vote should be counted. This is of course only right and fair. *Nonviolence is the only way. Although passions are running high, there is no excuse for violence. I have faith that conditions will improve in our nation, but I know it will require a concerted and responsible effort by each individual and institution in our society to re-knit a fabric of love and care. God is with us. Grace and Peace, Jim STATEMENT OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE USA October 2020 “Breathing New Life into Our Nation: Repentance, Re-formation, Reparation” I can’t breathe. These words, uttered through the mouths of dying African Americans who fell victim to racial injustice at the hands, and knee, of law enforcement officers have reverberated through our nation and around the world, calling us to a deeper level of reflection and engagement while pushing us to redefine who and what our nation will be. Indeed, our nation stands at a precipice. We are facing a moment of decision: Will we work to live up to the ideals upon which our nation was founded? Or, will we allow divisions, fear and hatred of others to rule the day? Can we stand united and love our neighbors, especially those who are not just like us? As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prophetically asked decades ago, will we choose chaos or community? As racial injustices plague the country, the novel coronavirus pandemic rages nearly unchecked, and an economic crisis plunges millions into poverty, we find ourselves at a point from which we can fall into an abyss of further division, destitution, and despair, or from which we can move back from the brink, by faith, to a place of justice, restored hope and healing. In the midst of these simultaneous crises, and as we celebrate 70 years of public witness in the fight for justice, we, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), call on our churches to work even more faithfully and diligently to partner with God in breathing new life into our nation – a nation struggling to recover from the sins of the past and chart a healthier, more just way forward. When looking out over the devastation of dry bones in a valley, God asks the Prophet Ezekiel a question that we must seek to answer today, “Can these bones live?” As the question hovers, God’s promise comes to us in these words spoken through the Prophet: “Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live” (Ez 37:5, NRSV). These words challenge us today as we see dry bones, yet declare with God’s help and our persistence new breath and new life into the soul of our nation. In speaking to the crises facing our nation, we approach these issues from a decidedly biblical and ethical mandate. Nothing less than radical hospitality and love, generosity and sacrifice are necessary to secure a new era of justice and peace. We recognize that the sin of racism has left our nation unable to breathe unencumbered and in desperate need of repentance, re-formation and reparation. We cannot move forward in new life collectively if we continue to allow racism and white supremacy to wreak havoc in every aspect of our society. This sin has plagued our nation since its inception, and seems to be making a comeback. Since the land was stolen from indigenous peoples and their communities devastated, and the first Africans were brought here and enslaved in 1619, more than 400 years ago, we have witnessed the atrocities borne out of legislated racial hatred and vitriol. We witness this in continuing notions of white superiority and the realities of white privilege. We witness this when we can turn a blind eye to violence perpetrated against any person of color simply because of the color of their skin. We witness this when we allow our government to separate children from their families, and put them in cages. We witness this when polluted air and water infect poor communities, in many cases rendering children of color unable to breathe because of asthma and debilitated by deadly levels of lead and other toxic substances in their water. We witness this in every institution and system in our society—in education, criminal justice, health care, housing and banking practices, and in our churches and theologies that we have embraced. Enough! We denounce white supremacy in all of the ways it shows up in our society. It is time for us to repent, to re-form, and to repair the damage that has been caused. We express our admiration and thanks to those who have engaged in prolonged peaceful protests against racism, in a movement that has brought about this moment when real change can take place. We join our voices to theirs in demanding this change that will give us new life and a new way of being. We join them in insisting on reforms in policing and criminal justice, in banking and housing practices, in education and countless other aspects of systemic racism. We join them in calling for a new level of accountability for our churches and even within ourselves. We join them in witnessing to the possibility of establishing what Dr. King called the “Beloved Community.” And, as we do so, we call upon our government to join us in taking a leadership role in this work, especially to address the need for reparations for those who have suffered from the legacy of racism. With regard to the global pandemic, which has taken the breath out of the bodies that have been infected by it, we call our nation to take extraordinary measures to defeat it. A coordinated strategy led by the federal government is essential to mitigate its spread; to safely develop a vaccine against it; and to provide personal protective equipment to all who need it. Requiring everyone to wear masks, observe physical distancing, and avoid gathering in crowds are reasonable acts of service for Christians to make sure that we are doing our part to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. We lament the time that has been lost to take these simple steps, and we demand that our government take swift and immediate action to set our country on the right path. We are thankful that most of the 38 member communions of the NCC, and the 100,000 local congregations and 30 million adherents who comprise those communions, have been careful, responsible, and a model of right behavior in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Church buildings have been closed for months to in-person worship, but our communities have responded in innovative ways in order to sustain our people spiritually and practically. More so, they have given witness to all that being church is first and foremost demonstrated through the love and care we show to one another. Certainly, we yearn for the day when we will gather again in our sanctuaries, but in the meantime we will continue to express our love for one another by refusing to unnecessarily expose anyone to the coronavirus. Most of all, our hearts ache for the more than 227,000 lives lost to date due to Covid-19, and we pray for the more than 8.8 million people, and counting, who have tested positive for the virus. Likewise, our thoughts are with the millions of people in this country who have lost their jobs due to the impact of this global pandemic. It is not lost on us that a disproportionate number of those suffering come from communities of color; it is also not lost on us that much of the economic hardship could have been avoided had the response to the pandemic been taken seriously from the beginning. As we call upon our government officials to lead us in a better way, we note our gratefulness beyond measure to the medical personnel and other essential workers who have shown us the better way, and who have given sacrificially of themselves to help and serve their neighbors. We also give thanks for the pastors, clergy and lay leaders who have ministered to those who have fallen ill as well as to families who have lost loved ones during these trying times when our normal customs and practices have been set aside in an abundance of caution. Furthermore, we call for courage and conviction for our elected officials, faith and community leaders to address the global pandemic, economic hardship, and racism at a moment when we are in the process of voting to decide on the future direction of our nation. This is a moment for our leaders to go above and beyond political partisanship, taking extraordinary measures to ensure a free and fair election for every eligible voter on and leading up to November 3rd. We denounce efforts to suppress votes as well as words, social media posts, actions, and outright lies that discourage voting in this historic and critical election and those that deepen divisions among us that will last beyond Election Day. And when the votes are counted, as has long been the history in this country, the results must be respected and a peaceful transfer of power must occur if merited. To this end, we call upon our government leaders, candidates, and indeed all citizens to refrain from words and actions that would erode or bring into question our democratic processes. The National Council of Churches marks its 70th anniversary during this particularly challenging and trying year as fragilities have been exposed and systemic injustices laid bare. Howard Thurman once said, “All around us, worlds are dying and new worlds are being born.” We thank God for the gift of the one ecumenical movement that brings us together, as churches and as individual people of faith, to witness to and do the work for the new world that can be—a world of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. May God indeed breathe new life into the soul of our nation. Amen. WCC Issues Statement on Extremist Attacks in France World Council of Churches interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed solidarity with the churches and people of France, and condolences to the families of the victims, in the wake of extremist attacks in Nice on October 29, 2020. Read more NCC Signed On Statement Addressing the NDAA Our religious traditions call on us to work for peace and take action in the face of injustice. We joined other faith-based organizations with strong convictions about the dignity of all people to call on the Members of Congress to negotiate this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure that the final version of the defense bill includes limits on the 1033 program and a prohibition on the use of funds for nuclear testing. Congress put us on track to continue wasting billions of dollars on weapons and war. The 1033 Program is associated with increased use of violence by the departments that receive the gear, and exacerbates the injustices of law enforcement violence against Black and brown communities. Read more Election Messaging and Resources We want to help prepare everyone to exercise their civic responsibility by voting safely and fairly. Expectations about in-person voting differ by state, county, and even local polling station. Geographical location is one factor to consider. There are also: Voter ID requirements, weather, and COVID-19 regulations to keep in mind as voters plan to visit the polling station. Advise voters to be prepared for the weather and changes due to COVID-19. Share suggestions such as: Bring snacks. Bring water. Bring music. Bring a chair.  • To research your state’s Voter ID Requirements, visit VoteRiders.  • View this list of supplies before you brave those long lines and stay safe. • Check this list of your state’s COVID-19 changes to election procedures. If someone witnesses or experiences voter suppression or polling place irregularities, visit the Election Protection coalition or the NAACP-Legal Defense Fund. Election Protection Hotlines: English 866-OUR-VOTE 866-687-8683 Spanish/English 888-VE-Y-VOTA 888-839-8682 Asian Languages/English 888-API-VOTE 888-274-8683 Arabic/English 844-YALLA-US 844-925-5287 It’s Going To Take Longer This Year To Count Votes We strongly encourage all of our partners to start sharing messages to prepare everyone for the possibility of a prolonged vote counting process. Remind your members that every eligible voter should have their voice heard and their vote counted. It's going to take longer to count the votes and verify a winner in this year’s election but that’s a good thing because people stayed safe and more people voted. We are all better off when more people vote. The U.S. has always held elections and upheld the results even in times of great crisis - amid the Civil War, Great Depression and both World Wars. Not it’s our turn to prove that nothing – even a global pandemic – will stand in the way of our democratic commitment to voting. We need to be patient so election officials can take the time to make sure we #CountEveryVote. Faith in Public Life has a campaign to provide messaging on counting every vote which should be shared widely. Be a Volunteer Chaplain at polling sites of vulnerable voters on election day. Help Protect the Precious Right to Vote in key states (Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.) Lawyers and Collars brings together faith leaders, working in partnership with attorneys, and civic engagement organizations to involve communities of faith in voting rights education and protection. The initiative is dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable citizens and protecting the right to vote for all. Oklahoma Church Coalition Launches Anti-Hate Campaign A statewide coalition of faith groups released a theological statement condemning racism and discrimination on Friday, launching a new year-long anti-hate campaign called "No Hate in the Heartland." The Oklahoma Conference of Churches moved forward with its new statement even though one of its members, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, withdrew from the coalition because of it. The Rev. Shannon Fleck, the conference's executive director, said the diocese balked at language that included the LGBTQ community as a group in need of inclusion and anti-discrimination measures. Other denominations represented include: African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Cooperating Baptist Fellowship. Christian Methodist Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mennonite Church, Presbyterian Church USA, Progressive Oklahoma Baptist State Convention, Reformed Church in America, Religious Society of Friends, United Church of Christ. Several individual churches and faith organizations are part of the coalition, as well. Read more Thursdays in Black Created Awareness of Domestic Violence October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month in the United States and Canada observes this special month in November. WCC’s created a simple campaign, Thursdays in Black, in which everyone was asked to wear black on Thursdays then share photos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, using hashtags #ThursdaysinBlack and #WCC. Black is used as a color of resistance and resilience.  In a video released on October 22, 2020, Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Susan Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, are promoting awareness of domestic violence and offering support through the Thursdays in Black Campaign for a world free from rape and violence. Events from our Partners One-hour Virtual Prayer Meeting for Peace and Healing Men's ministry leaders in The United Methodist Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will hold a one-hour virtual prayer meeting for peace and healing, in preparation for the Nov. 3 U.S. election. The meeting is set for 11 a.m. U.S. Central time October 31, 2020.  Episcopal Church ‘Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness’ Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness, with a combination of live and pre-recorded elements, will be live streamed on November 1, 2020, from the Washington National Cathedral at 4:00 p.m. EST. The service, available in English and Spanish, will create a common space for us to come together to mourn, confess, and seek guidance as we look not only to our own interest but to the interest of our neighbors and country as well. Nagorno-Karabakh: Context and Consequences Join the Office of Public Witness, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations,and World Mission,for a webinar: Nagorno-Karabakh: Context and Consequences on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 12 pm ET. Hear from an award-winning journalist and learn about the history of Presbyterian work with the Armenian community. Tune in to find out how you can help support our faith partners on the ground and press for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Register at this link. Be Sure to Watch and Share NCC's Recent Events! Christian Unity Gathering (CUG): Breathing New Life Into Our Nation Opening Remarks from Dr. James A. Forbes and Session 1 - Repentance with Keynote Speakers Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes and Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove Watch Repentance.  Session 2 – Re-formation: Protests, Policies, Polls and the Pandemic Watch Re-formation.  Session 3 – Reparation: Looking Back-Looking Forward Watch Reparation. Closing Worship and Memorial Service The Impact of the Trump Administration on the Churches in Cuba  Spanish subtitles: Webinar with Subtitles in Spanish (English, autotranslate for Spanish) English subtitles: Webinar with Subtitles in English. (Spanish, autotranslate for English) Viewers have to turn on captions and use the auto translate feature to view the translated subtitles. New Disasters & Religions App The Disasters & Religions presents easily accessible religious literacy and competency information on 27 unique religions, from Baha’i to Zoroastrianism, including 12 Christian denominations. On the app, users—including religious leaders, chaplains, first responders, government workers, disaster and public health emergency professionals and volunteers—will be able to navigate information by either religion and see tips by topic areas. Like crises before it, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of government agencies partnering with faith organizations, which are on the frontlines of responding to crises in their communities. Fellowship Listing Walter Wink & June Keener Wink Fellowship Nomination The Walter Wink & June Keener Wink Fellowship is intended to inspire new generations to carry on the true spirit of their work. The one-year Fellowship will provide s $25,000 award; opportunities to leverage local, regional, and national FOR networks to elevate their work and ideas; a platform to present their work to international audiences; and, opportunities to engage and learn from sister movements; and, support through FOR to undertake new aspects of their work or deepen work already underway. Please send an email to winkfellowship@forusa.org with the following information by November 15, 2020. • The nominator’s name, title, complete contact information • The nominee's name and complete contact information (we will forward an application to your nominee for them to complete) • A brief justification (no more that 250 words) for why the nominee should be considered for the fellowship Include the word NOMINATION along with the candidate’s name in the subject line.

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