January 17, 2011

1-17-11 Monday, Martin Luther King Day, 32 degrees, cloudy, wind 15 mph out of the south, bringing high temp to around 47 today.

We had a fruitfull weekend at Wesley, with Upward basketball and five worship services (including the 9:30 Children's worship in Cundoff Hall)and the congregation responded well to the call to prayer issued by Sherri Habben. In the afternoon we had 30+ leaders involved in the first of three training sessions for the Spring season of “Life Hurts, God Heals”. Today we have the funeral for Hugh Olson at 2:00. On Saturday night I drove to Clinton to pick up a very precious family whose car had broken down, and we got back to Springfield around 2:00 am. I was so glad they called and that I was available. Yesterday went okay on 3 ½ hours sleep, and I can still feel it this morning.

Isaiah 5

The prophet uses the metaphor of a well planted vineyard that produces worthless grapes to describe God’s chosen people. Throughout this chapter the writer states that “the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his delightful plant.” (verse 7). Verses 18 – 23 contain several “woes”, including “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; … Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!”

This chapter could describe the mainline protestant church in which I grew up. That church is fading fast, and a more authentic body of Christ is replacing it slowly. As a leader in the church, I benefit much from reading Isaiah, and paying attention to the warnings for religious readers and faith communities who have been blessed by God in the past, and have drifted. Guide me today Holy Lord as I serve and lead.