Seeing with the eyes of Christ

In worship on Sunday, the gospel reading was John 9: 1-41. This LONG reading is the story of a man born blind who is healed by Jesus. Actually, that only takes 7 verses. The rest of the chapter is filled with questions. How could this man be healed, why has he been healed, who healed him and what is the purpose behind it? The blind man was almost invisble from the beginning, the disciples talked about him as if he couldn’t hear, everyone else talked around him and at him. 

Not only had he been born blind, but his blindness made him practically invisible. I have pondered this story and wondered who I overlook? Who is invisible to me or who do I see, but not see. It seems to me Jesus doesn’t overlook anyone, but always sees them and offers new sight and new life.  Sunday’s worship service looks at this gift of sight or lack thereof. The whole service can be found here:http://sundaystreams.com/go/firstwichita

Sunday musings

Yesterday I preached on John 4: 4-42. This encounter between Jesus and a Samaritan woman has been preached hundreds of times by hundreds of different preachers. I could probably preach on it several Sundays in a row and not scratch the surface of this amazing encounter.

Casting Crowns produced a song several years ago that has become one of my favorites, “Jesus, Friend of Sinners.” There are so many phrases in the song that catch me, deeply in my heart and spirit. “the world is on their way to you, but they are tripping over me, always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded.”

My youth director and his spouse Caleb and Mandy Fouse sang it in worship It comes in at 36:10 in the worship video from yesterday’s service First United Methodist Church  My sermon comes a little bit after that.

In this text I find it compelling how much I add to what is not there and do not take away what is life changing. I want live authentically and deeply, allowing God to change my heart and change my ways. In the middle of Lent, it is a good reminder for me.