Love Carved in Stone:A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 6: EXODUS 20:14; GENESIS 2:18-25; JOHN 8:1-11 Many years ago, a large group of us gathered at a church to watch the black and white movie, “It Happened One Night,” on a large screen. It starred Clark Gable as a reporter looking for a story, and Claudette Colbert as a runaway heiress. The characters were well developed and there was not a risqué moment in the film. There was almost a kiss, but the couple’s moment was interrupted. In disappointment, the audience said, “Aw.” Today, we would be hard pressed to find a television show or movie as innocent as the film we viewed. Instead we are exposed to dating couples who move from a passionate kiss to intercourse almost immediately. Sex is portrayed as casual and adultery as common. In actuality, infidelity is common to about 20% of Americans. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reported: “National surveys indicate that 15 percent of … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 5: “Words of Love: Don’t Kill Each Other” Exodus 20:13 and Matthew 5:21-26 Just when we think that we have come to a commandment that we have not broken, in comes the centuries of interpretation of the sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.” Rabbis and Reformers alike have equated hateful speech to murder — and malicious speech is common. We are trigger-happy when it comes to disparaging others. Gossip and condemnation are part of our everyday conversations. Plus, our culture is full of trash talk. Television programs disguise insults as humor. Latino immigrants are labeled “criminals.” The poor are denigrated as “lazy.” The other political party is reviled as immoral and ignorant. Words wound us. The psalmist in Psalm 69:20 laments: “Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” Speech can damage. In college, I … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 4: Exodus 20:13 and Matthew 5:21-26 The training for the board of the nonprofit took an unexpected but meaningful turn. The trainer asked us why we serve on the board. Our answers to the trainer’s question were generally about helping those who are homeless and preventing cycles of abuse. Then a big, burly man – let’s call him Tom – answered. He said that his parents told him that he would never amount to anything and, of course, he believed his parents. As a boy, Tom had been a scout. His scoutmaster – let’s call him Miquel – was kind and praised each boy for small and large accomplishments. The boys were quick to follow Miquel’s instructions. The scoutmaster offered to pick up boys for church and Tom often went with them. From the messages at church and the encouragements from Miquel, Tom began to believe in a different future. A future that included college and a responsible job. Today, Tom is the chief … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 1 EXODUS 20:1-6, MATTHEW 22:34-37 I am fascinated by the Avenger movies where gods and super-human heroes battle the forces of evil. They are wildly popular and three of these movies are among the 10 highest-grossing movies of all time. I began watching them to help me understand the culture of my grandsons. Power, resilience in the face of personal and physical struggle and defeating evil are the values demonstrated in these movies. Power can be an idol, as can be money, work, family, possessions, status, education, sports, points of view or entertainment. The 14-year-olds who participated in this year’s confirmation class were a lively bunch. Talk about sports, scouts, school and siblings quickly bubbled up. In a conversation about idols, I mentioned that idols weren’t usually objects for us. Rather, idols are those things that keep us from putting God first in our lives. In asking what their idols … [Read more...]