Vol. 18 No. 17 | April 25, 2016 

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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35, NIV) 

“Love one another.” Sounds easy enough. Just love each other. That is how people will know that we are Jesus’ disciples. Just love each other. 

You do not need any title. You do not need to pay a membership fee. There are no hoops to jump through. You do not need any special marking or identification badge. You do not need to make a loud public announcement about being a follower of Jesus. Just love one another. 

Churches who bear the name of Jesus Christ: Love one another. Churches who disagree on some doctrinal beliefs: Love one another. Churches who almost nothing in common except your love for Jesus: Love one another. Churches that disagree on the specifics what should be preached from your pulpits, the specifics of how you should worship, but agree on who you worship: Love one another. 

As you live within your churches you really need to love one another. Your roles are different so love one another. Your gifts are different so love one another. You may differ on the exact way ministry should be carried out  so, love one another. There are going to be times some people really get on your nerves so, love one another.  

Love one another. That is how everyone will know that you are my disciples. Sounds easy. It easy as long as everyone stays in their designated places doing what they are supposed to do. It is easy as long as no body tries to do anything that goes against what I am comfortable with. It is easy until I am not getting my way, or it appears that I am not getting my way. It is easy one another as long as we think alike, dress alike, and talk alike.

Those times when life gets stressful are the times Jesus probably had in mind when He said, “Love one another.” He knew His disciples were about to experience stress, distress, danger, and confusion unlike anything they had ever known. He knew they were going to tested in their faith and devotion and would be tempted to turn against and away from each other. He knew that the world would be watching them as they endured the images fo Jesus on the cross and in the tomb. He knew they would need one another more in the future than they had in the previous three years. So, He tells them, “Love one another.” 

Jesus knew the challenges disciples of His day would be facing as the cross loomed closer. He also knows the challenges disciples in our day are facing as we attempt to live faithfully in our times of stress, distress, danger, and confusion. He knew our faith would be tested and that we will be tempted to turn against and away from each other. He knew that our world would be watching us as we endure difficult times. He knew we would need one another more and more as we wait for the Lord’s return. He knew so He still tells us, “Love one another.” 

Sound like it should be easy. Whether it is easy or not, He wants us to love one another so that everyone will know we are His disciples because of the love we have for one another. He still wants us to be known by our love.  

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 16 | April 18, 2016

John 8 begins with the story (questioned whether it was actually included in the original text) of a trap set by “the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees” that involved a woman caught in the act of adultery being brought into the courtyard to stand judgment for her sin. Apparently not totally out of the ordinary, one has to wonder how often this was done since this was an opportune time for these religious leaders to put pressure on Jesus.  (John 8:1-11)

Although it does not say it the text, surely at that moment when Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground for the second time, the only sounds in the temple courts area was that of stones dropping to the ground, the sniffling of the woman standing in front of Jesus, and shuffling of feet as those who moments earlier were ready to stone her leave the courtyard.

Can you imagine how deafening that must have been? One moment she was humiliated and feared for her life. Then, as the stones dropped she received another chance at life. Or, since we do not know her whole story, maybe this was really her first chance for a real life.

Expecting to feel the pain of the stones, instead she heard them drop to the ground, the silence, then the gentle loving voice of Jesus, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “Then, neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”   

Maybe as Jesus spoke to her, she opened her eyes and looked around to discover that the sound she heard really was that of stones dropping to the ground. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, or perhaps Jesus did, she began to see like she had never seen before. Instead of seeing a life of condemnation and shame, for the first time in a long time she saw a life of hope. For the first time she felt the power of forgiveness. For the first time instead of dreading the events of another day of being used, she began to think in terms of newness, refreshment, and kindness.

Jesus’ stories give us the opportunity to ask, “Where I am I in this story?”

Like most of His stories this one is aimed at those who held the stones in their hands. They have already passed judgment on this woman. She is yet again only an object to be use…this time by religion. They had no concern for her; only how she could be useful in catching Jesus in a misapplication of the Law. If you find yourself identifying with this group, maybe it is time you heard what that stone sounds like when your hand releases it and it drops to the ground. 

Maybe you identify with the woman. You are guilty. The judgment waged against you is true and right. Whatever punishment the law demands is justified. Any feelings of value or self-worth left you long ago. The humiliation you feel as you stand there in the middle of the courtyard is only unique because you now stand there alone with Jesus. As you await His sentencing you are stunned when instead of glaring eyes and painful stones you hear His gentle voice ask about your accusers. When you acknowledge that they have departed, you are further stunned as you hear Him say, “Neither do I condemn you. God and leave your life of sin.” 

Could this be happening? Could He possibly be forgiving me? Could this One they call Jesus actually be this loving, this gentle, this kind, this merciful?

Some will identify with the judgmental crowd, some will identify with the judged. It is my hope that we will strive to identify with and develop a spirit more like that of Jesus. Not as a judge; though He certainly could have judged her. Not as one who condemns; though He could have condemned her. May we strive to be one who loves gently, judges rightly, and forgives completely!

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 15 | April 11, 2016

When the news reported that Merle Haggard had died, not only was it a big story for the Nashville community, but for country music fans everywhere. Merle was truly a legend in country music.

His death prompted me to spent parts of the next couple of days listening to Merle’s music. I listened in my car, in my office, and some while walking the Greenway. I was reminded of years long ago when as a college student a friend and I would sit around with your guitars in “pickin’ and a grinnin’” sessions which often included some of Merle’s tunes. Our playlist often included: “Mama Tried,” “White Line Fever,” “Holding Things Together,” “If We Make To December,” and “Sing Me Back Home.” As I listened to Merle’s simple and easy tunes I relived some of times that also seemed, in retrospect, pretty simple and easy.

The more I listened the more I began to see a connection between Jesus and Merle Haggard that I had never noticed.

The members of the church where I preach are reading through the New Testament together this year. Five chapters a week (Monday-Friday). Each Sunday we are using one of those texts for sermons, classes and small group discussions. The reading for today is John 3. Reading ahead in preparation for this article I saw a connection between this well-known passage and the music of Merle Haggard.

John 3:16-17 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Merle sang songs about life. Many of his songs described a side of life that many followers of Jesus not only try to avoid, but spend considerable time condemning. For instance: “Working Man Blues,” “The Fighting Side of Me,” “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive,” “Branded Man,” “Ramblin Fever,” and “I Threw Away the Rose.” No doubt one of the reasons for Haggard’s impact on the music world is that so many could relate to what he was singing.

Maybe you have felt, “If we make to December (or to the end of the month, or next year, or through the holidays, or until we get paid) we’ll be fine.” Surely there have been days when you felt like you’re just “Holding Things Together.”

We, Jesus’ people, sometimes like to put those kinds of stories in the category of what “those” people go through. “Good Godly people don’t live like that.” “Church goers don’t have such hard times.” “If they’d only get their life right and change their priorities they wouldn’t have so much trouble and heartache.”

Jesus’ words reminds me that I’m missing the point when that is my attitude toward people. Jesus said, “For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his one and only Son,…” Not only the good people. Not only the people who have life all together. Not only the good Christian people. God so loved the WORLD. People who don’t have it all together, those never seem to be able to get it all together, and those who at one time had it all together but failed miserably at keeping it together.

Jesus’ words further convict my too often quick-to-judge attitude when He said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Where did we get the idea that it is our job to condemn? Where did we get the impression that God could not handle His creation and needs us to step in and set things straight.

Merle Haggard sang from the heart about life. Sometimes life is hard, and then it gets worse. Sometimes we mess up; sometimes we get things right. Sometimes we feel like we are down and out, but we keep trying.

Jesus lived, died, and rose again to teach us to love the world like He loved the world. What if we loved the people Merle sang about like Jesus did? Maybe it is time we started.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 14 | April 4, 2016

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Just before the last leg of His journey to the cross, Jesus spent time praying in the garden. He asked His friends to stay near and pray with him. They stayed but they fell asleep. When He finds them sleeping He expresses both frustration and concern for them, when He says, “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’” (Luke 22:46, NIV)

Maybe you have heard those words yourself. I have. It is the middle of the night, or maybe very early in the morning. What sleep you have gotten has been restless and really pretty unrestful. You had a lot on your mind when you laid down, but knew you needed to rest. So you tried. You tossed. You turned. You wrestled with your pillow, the covers, and looked at the clock dozens of times. Finally, you hear the Lord say, “Get up and pray.”

So you do. You go to your spot. Your study. Your living room. The closet. Maybe the bathroom. You go there and you pray. You open your journal, or you get on your knees. You lay it all out before the Lord. “Lord, this is what is own my mind. I don’t don’t know how to say it, so I’ll just lay it out.”

You tell Him what you are worried about. You tell Him why you are sad. You tell Him about the conversation you had the day before that you cannot put to rest. You talk to Him about your marriage, your children, your job, your frustrations, your dreams, your desires, and your needs. You get it all out. Then, you say, “So there it is Lord. All of it. I don’t know what to do with it so I’m giving it to you.”

You take a few deep breaths, go back to  your bed, put your head on your pillow and fall back to sleep for another hour to two. Or, you get ready and go out to face the day. Now, you feel like you can face the day.

Before you go out to fact the day there is one more thing that Jesus mentions that we should not overlook. He said, “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” No doubt His instruction reminded them of the prayer He had shared with them earlier when He prayed: “And lead us not into temptation,” (Matthew 6:13).

Jesus knew what was ahead for His friends. He knew that within a short time they would be confronted with the reality of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He knew that as things digressed confusion and fear would seize them. He knew they would be tempted, that most would desert Him, and that others be filled with confusion.

Jesus also knew that eventually, after His Resurrection, they would be reunited, restored, and commissioned to spread His story throughout the world. As messengers of the Way they would face severe opposition and persecution. Not only had He promised that He would always be with them, but now instructs them to pray for themselves that they would not fall into temptation.

If it was important for Jesus to remind His disciples to avoid temptation, maybe we should consider doing the same. Maybe as we express our gratitude for all God does for us asking Him to supply our needs, we should also ask Him to help us not fall into temptation.

On any given day we can be faced the temptation of compromising our ethics in business, tempted to lose control of our anger, give in to sexual temptation, or give up on our faith. On any given day we can be tempted pass judgment on a co-worker, cheat on our taxes, take advantage of the vulnerable, or abuse alcohol or drugs. Temptations are all around us.

Remember the words from Paul, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV)

Temptation is real. It is possible to resist it. The ability to resist may begin when we “Get up and pray so that we will not fall into temptation.” You have read these words, now, maybe you need to “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.