Author: Erin Newton

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 26  Read: Jeremiah 20 Listen: (3:07) Read: 1 Thessalonians 5 Listen: (2:37)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 20:14–15

14 Cursed be the day I was born!
May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
15 Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,who made him very glad, saying,“A child is born to you—a son!”

Reflection: Cursed Birth Day

By Erin Newton

What do Jeremiah, Job, and Frankenstein’s monster all have in common? Answer: They curse the day they were born. 

Jeremiah has been ridiculed and imprisoned for his prophesying. He curses the day that brought him life and the messenger who brought the news. 

Job suffered the deaths of his children and the loss of his wealth and health. He declares: “May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’ That day—may it turn to darkness” (Job 3.3-4). 

The Creature in Mary Shelley’s gothic novel experiences rejection from his maker and cries out: “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence which you had so wantonly bestowed?”

We know the value of life. We celebrate birthdays. We pray for healings. 

But let’s be honest. Many of us have felt pain deep enough to wish it away. We have grieved to the point that the future seems not worth the trouble. We understand that living is a gift, but pain brings us to the place we want to trade it all in. 

And that’s expected. Despite our desire for ease and comfort—this world often brings the uncomfortable and the painful and the awful events right to our doorstep. 

It is good for us to sit with the uneasiness of this chapter in Jeremiah. It ends rather bleakly. We want to rush to tidy it up, to add a “but then” phrase in there. 

But if we move past the harsh, raw emotions of pain too fast, we lose the transformative moment of what brutal honesty can do for us. Telling God we wish we’d never been born is probably the most honest we will ever be. But it’s scary. Are we allowed to not want this? 

I think Jeremiah and Job give us permission to say what we are really thinking. Job sits in misery for a while. He bangs on the doors of heaven until God speaks. A fire of passion is stoked by God in the heart of Jeremiah. He cannot contain it even if he wants to give up. 

We are not a creature stitched together from decomposing flesh and rejected by our father. We are like the prophet and the most faithful servant—seen, heard, and tended to by God. Don’t be afraid to be honest. He’s heard all this before and still loves us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. — Psalm 86.4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Better Unborn

It is normal to feel ready to give up, regret answering God’s call, and wish we could go where no one can reach us.

Better Unborn — Readers’ Choice

Read more: Be Awake Be Light

In Christ, we are “of the light” but live in a world dominated by darkness…How then should we live?

Be Awake Be Light

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 19  Read: Jeremiah 13 Listen: (4:11) Read: Galatians 4 Listen: (4:13)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 13:7–10

7 So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless.

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless!

Reflection: Burn Out, Rust Out, or Rot Out?

By Erin Newton

There was a saying I heard in seminary: Better to burn out than rust out. A friend would quip: “But either way, you’re out.”

The saying was meant to encourage people to enter ministry with passion and fervor. The saying helped keep the flames of motivation going when long years of service weighed you down. The contrasting negative option was the picture of doing nothing—either through laziness or apathy. Those people rusted. Obviously, fire sounds cooler than oxidation. Duh.

Yet the friend’s retort was telling: Neither ash heaps or rust are helpful tools.

Then there’s a third image of being “out”—Jeremiah’s depiction of the rotten linen belt.

Linen is a fiber, one we tend to relate to for its coolness, comfort, sturdiness, and breathability. But it’s a natural fiber which means it’s of this earth—from dust it came and to dust it shall return. (Which in its purest state means it won’t leave pollutants in creation.)

While linen can start decomposing within weeks, this belt is meant to be purposefully worn. Belts are utilitarian. Belts are secured to their wearer.

Israel and her pride were this belt. But they had turned to worshiping other gods. They became stubborn and neglected their duties. The purpose and utility they were supposed to perform were tossed aside. So God says he will bury this belt. To dust it will return. When it is dug up, it’ll be tattered and weak—useless.

So now I amend that seminary saying: You can burn out, rust out, or rot out—but either way you’re out. What’s the better solution? Even if you aren’t in ministry. What if you’re just trying to live your life in a way that honors Christ? 

Burning out might look flashy and impressive, but there is purpose to retreating and relaxing. Some might assume you can only fight fire with fire, but we know that water will also do the trick. 

Rusting out from apathy is truly shameful. Laziness is not any better. I guess rust is still our lesser preference. 

Rotting out would be to deny our call, forsake our God, and refuse to change. The rusty ones might not be too helpful but they are still faithful. Rotting out is the bottom of the list. 

What should we do instead? 

Look out – for God’s direction. 

Cry out – for God’s wisdom. 

Work out – our salvation with fear and trembling.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive us our sins, for your name’s sake. — Psalm 79.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: A Neglected Garment

Let us consider ourselves with sober judgment. Do we treat our status under Jesus with disdain? Neglect? Pride?

A Neglected Garment

Read more: Why the Cross?

Why the cross?…people express discomfort with the cross. “Isn’t it gross?” “Isn’t it violent?”

Why The Cross?

Links for today’s readings:

Aug 12  Read: Jeremiah 6 Listen (5:10) Read: James 2 Listen: (3:32)

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 6:16-17

16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen over you and said,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
    But you said, ‘We will not listen.’

Reflection: Highway of Legends

By Erin Newton

Once every few years, my family drives from Texas to Colorado. There are a few routes you can go, but we generally prefer to go through New Mexico rather than through Kansas. Why? Mountains. We live in such flat terrain that any sort of large hill is worth celebrating. If we can ever make the trip with extra time to spare, we talk about taking the scenic byway in southern Colorado called the “Highway of Legends.” The route takes you past key places from various Colorado lore—what sounds like a contemporary parallel to Jeremiah’s “ancient paths.”

I assume, despite the pleasures of just seeing mountains in the distance, driving through the byways would be pleasant and restful for my soul.

The language of paths and roads reflects the universal and timeless imagery of life as a journey. Each time we are met with various choices or life experiences, we stand at the crossroads. Jeremiah reminds us to look, think, and ask.

The ancient roads are the good paths. This is not some call to live like it was “in the olden days” or to bring back some bygone “great” era again. The good paths are well-worn by saints who have gone before. They are the tracks through the Red Sea, the routes through the Wilderness, and the footsteps across the Jordan.

Jeremiah is calling the people to remember the One who had led them all this way. God is the ancient path. God is the good way. And if they would simply take his hand and walk alongside, they would find rest for their soul.

I am exhausted lately. Is it my own schedule? Is it the frenzy of summer activities? Is it the state of our economy and the strains on our wallets? Is it the constant need to examine information coming our way: is this real, true, unbiased, fair, good, and worth my time?

I long for rest. I read this verse and scoff at the response of the people, “We will not walk in it.” But I’m sure we are tempted to respond in the same way.

God tells us the ancient path is to trust in him. The ancient path is to see that creation is good. The ancient path is to call out for help. The ancient path is to help one another. The good path is listening to the call of God.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; instruct me in your statutes. — Psalm 119.64

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Maintain Love and Justice

It is not just modern people who notice one justice system for the poor and another for the rich. Hosea saw and condemned it. Ephraim saw and abused it.

Maintain Love and Justice

Read more: Cut and Run from False Prophets

Part of the crisis of abuse within the church is that powerful leaders, in God’s name, shamed their victims into silence.

Cut and Run from False Prophets