David Knebel - Prophets & Kings 5.1.16

1 Kings 11:4-6, 9-11

God Comes Down - Tim Knipp, Prophets & Kings series (Gen. 3:8; 1 Kings 6)

Strolling through Eden
just to be with us,
God offers Himself -
a companion 
for life.

A temple rose slowly
in the desert.
Excellence graced
carved doorways
and statues
of awesome size,
Evocative of 
garden space
shared.

God comes down
to be with us
in the here and now,
to stitch Himself
as permanently as shadow
to our fractured
souls
so that we might
never
be
alone.

Prophets & Kings - Johanna Vicklund - 1 Kings 3:16-21

Missions Sunday

Celebrations God's Works

What is it? - Prophets & Kings series, Tim Knipp (1 Kings 3:4-7)

At the beginning
it was good
until the fractures came.
Since then
You have battled
to mend and bring us back
to good.

There came a time 
when we clamored 
for a king -
tired of differing 
from other nations -
and You relented,
though likely with
saddened heart,
knowing the bruises
and dislocation
to come from
our foolishness.

Such children we were,
blinded by the need to fit in,
follow flesh
and have our own way.
Looking back,
the stumbles are easy
to see
as are Your infinite
tender 
mercies.

You asked me in a dream
to tell You what I need
and I asked for the wisdom
to handle my task
with justice.
You showed up 
again and again
to guide me through
the obstacle course,
bandage my scraped knees,
and turn my face
back 
to good.

You are asking 
that same question today:
"What do you want?"
And the question echoes
and trembles 
with significance.

What do I want?

"Death as a Doorway" -- Tim Knipp

Festivity is for not forgetting
what the Mighty Hand
has done
for Us.

We were slaves -
faced with extinction,
in danger
from hubris gone wild.
Supported by 
pagan beliefs,
the citizens obeyed 
their human god -
treating people as property,
annihilating Hebrew males
as a form of population control.

Meanwhile...

The Burning Bush
speaks
(moved by compassion)
and mounts a plan
to rescue a people
and call them
to Himself.

Then darkness
unravels
as Creation
rebels.

Blood of lambs
serves as a symbol
and safety net -
islands in the midst
of a destructive
storm.
Doorways framed
in scarlet;
death as a path
to hope.

So we remember
again and again
in ritual
and celebration.

Choosing a lamb who
is worthy,
the first criteria.
Jesus bows His head
in submission.

We are slaves to sin,
owned and driven
by the Power 
clothed in shadow.

Jesus offers freedom.
Death
as a path
to hope.

Kellie Gamble - Matter Matters