Something to Chew On
"All who feast on the Bread of Life are family. All who dare to feed the hungry, fellowship with the suffering, and befriend sinners are companions of Christ. This, after all, is the Kingdom: a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered together, not because we are rich or worthy or good, but because we are hungry, because we long for more. And just as the fish and the loaves continued to multiply, so have the companions of Jesus. The family just keeps growing and growing."
Rachel Held Evans
Looking for a Morsel, Finding a Feast
I planned to share my weekly letter with you that I shared with the guys at the BCJ. After looking at the my letter, I thought I needed to start with a tiny morsel. Just a thought before going in to my message. What I found was this quote from Rachel Held Evans. This led me on a search for the source of the quote. On this search, I stumbled upon a feast. Rachel's message is powerful. You can keep reading my letter below, but I'd actually prefer you stop here and go read Rachel's article. Let me know what you think.
Enjoy the feast.
Enjoy the day!
A Note from your Chaplain
December 3, 2019
Hey there, brothers and sisters. “Grace and peace to you...I always thank my God for you..” 1 Cor 1:3-4. Today, I pray that you know love, joy, and peace. I pray that you know you are loved and greatly valued. I pray that you know you can have joy that comes through gratitude for each moment. I pray that you know you can have peace that comes when we trust, rather than fear.
The Bread of Life
Yesterday, I was reading through John 6 and started thinking about the bigger picture of the stories and lessons we learn from the Bible. I was thinking about how the stories are interwoven and teach bigger life lessons. When I read the passage where Jesus called himself the bread of life, I noticed that it immediately followed the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. That story follows the testimonies about who Jesus is in chapter 5 which follows the passage “Authority of the Son” and “Life through the Son.”
Being Provided For
I like how this all builds to tell a bigger story. Take a moment to think about Jesus as the “bread of life.” Bread is a good symbol for provision, or being provided for. A provision is a gift that keeps us going. We don’t need much. Just enough for today. In Matthew 6 and Luke 12, Jesus prays for “our daily bread.” In Exodus 16, we see the story of manna (bread) from heaven. The daily provision for the Isreaelites. I find these connections fascinating.
So What is the Lesson Here
I have some ideas, but I can’t really say I know what all this means. It seems we often see ourselves as detectives solving the mysteries of the Bible. We see some clues and evidence and draw some quick conclusions. But I think the real lesson of our “daily bread” that we have to keep searching for meaning day after day after day. To me, that’s it. Keep searching and reading and studying and praying and talking with others. Keep living day to day relying on the fact that we may not find the answers today. Or tomorrow. But we have to keep searching. To me, the lesson is to keep looking to Jesus and following his ways and his teachings. This daily search is our path to life. Real life. My interpretation is that we are not here to survive, but we are here to thrive in the fellowship of God and each other. And we can thrive, even when we don’t know all the answers yet. What do you think? What strikes you?
Embracing the Mystery Together
The Bible and God and spiritual living are a mystery to us all. Today, let’s embrace that mystery. Let’s talk and search for spiritual truths together, knowing that we may never uncover the answers. To me, that’s the beauty. Always moving forward together. Searching together. Seeking together. Making discoveries together. This is life! The bread of life that sustains us is the search for meaning and direction and purpose. This daily pursuit is what keeps us going. I actually don’t want to reach a place where I think I’ve totally arrived with all the answers. I don’t need bread for a lifetime. I need bread today. So let’s embrace this mystery. Let’s be excited. Let’s enjoy our journey of each new day. Let’s live! This is our daily bread.
Gratefulness
I am grateful for each of you. I am grateful for today. I am grateful for each new moment. I pray that you can find and know peace and grace in the mystery of life. I pray for gratitude and joy of each new day. I pray for silence and calm in each new moment. Enjoy today’s bread. God bless!
Grace and peace!
Thom Miller
BCSD Chaplain
Mark 12:30-31, Matt 22:37-40; Gal 5:22-23; Luke 10:27; Rom 12:2; 1 Thes 5:16-18;
Eph 2:4-5, 8-10; Eph 3:16-21; Eph 4:1-3, 22-24, 32; 1 Cor 13:4-7, 13; 1 Cor 16:12-14;
Psalm 46:10; Rom 8:37-39; Phil 2:3-5; Phil 4:4-7; James 1:22-25; John 3:16-17, 21;
Col 3:12-14; Isaiah 40:13; Jer 29:11; Psalm 136:1; Rom 12:10-13; Matt chapters 5-7
