This is what the LORD says:

“The writing is on the wall for those
who turn their backs on me,
thinking they can live off their own bat
with only human muscle to back them up.

They will be in more trouble
than a fruit tree growing on a salt pan.
Stunted and lonely, they will cry out for relief
but even the rains will bring no life.

What a contrast to those who trust in me.
I, the LORD, will rain down blessings on them.

They will flourish like trees growing on a river bank
with not a worry in the world.
When the dry season comes and the river dries up
their roots draw cool water from deep below.
Even years of drought pose no danger.
They continue to flower and fruit regardless.

Who can understand the human heart?
It’s as shifty as a sand dune;
as devious as a hungry dingo.

I, the LORD, can see right through you.
I know what makes you tick.
I treat everyone as they deserve,
assessing the fruit of their actions.”

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

LORD, how good it will be for those
who turn a deaf ear to the advocates of greed;
who steer clear of corrupt short-cuts;
and avoid those who sneer at goodness.

Instead they relish your word, LORD.
Calming their minds,
they savour the scriptures day and night.

You make them strong and healthy,
like a Redgum tree with its roots deep in a river bank,
flowering abundantly every season,
and always laden with healthy leaves.
All that they do is vibrant with life.

But what a different story it is for the wicked;
they are about as secure as dry leaves in a cyclone.

They will have no defence
when they are brought to justice,
and no friends among people of integrity.

LORD, you keep a protective eye
on all who walk a straight path of peace and justice,
but nothing will save those who leave that road.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

The message that we preached was that the Messiah is alive — risen from the dead — and you became Christians when you heard that message. So how come some of you are now saying that the dead won’t be raised to life? If the dead are not raised to life, then the Messiah has not been raised. And if the Messiah has not been raised, then he is still dead in his grave. And if that were the case, then our preaching is a waste of breathe and your faith is not worth a zack. Actually, it would be worse than that. We’d be guilty of misleading people about God — of telling outright lies — because we have been pushing the story that God raised the Messiah from the dead, and if it’s not true that the dead are raised then that story is a total fabrication.

Let’s face it: if God does not raise the dead, then the Messiah has not been raised. There is no question that he was dead, so if the Messiah has not been raised then he’s not alive now. And if he’s not alive now then your faith is an exercise in futility and every black mark that’s ever gone against your name still stands. What’s more, all those who died trusting in the Messiah, were just clutching at straws and they’ve had the gong. If we’ve put all our eggs in the Messiah’s basket and it has made no difference to how much life we’ve got — we will still just die and that will be the end of it — then we must be the sorriest bunch of losers who ever drew breath.

But the fact of the matter is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead and is more alive than ever. And he’s just the first. Now that he’s set the precedent you can rest assured that there are plenty more to come!

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus and his twelve closest followers came down from the mountain and ran into a huge crowd of people on the flat grasslands below. Many of them were already followers of Jesus and many more were just people who had heard of him and had travelled there to hear him speak or to see if he could heal them of various chronic illnesses. They had come from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and even from the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon. There were people there who were plagued by toxic spirits, and Jesus cleaned up the problems for them. Everyone was crowding in, trying to touch him, because there was a powerful healing energy surging from him and everybody wanted a piece of it. Jesus obliged and healed them all.

While they were there he taught his followers, saying:

“You who own next to nothing have got it made,
because you are already at home in the culture of God.

“You who don’t have enough to eat now have got it made,
because you will be filled with good things.

“You who are grief stricken now have got it made,
because you will be all smiles and laughter.

“And if people hate you and shut you out, treat you like dirt and drag your name through the mud because of your association with me, then you really have got it made! You’re in great company because in every generation they’ve done the same thing to all God’s faithful messengers. So sing! Dance! Celebrate! Heaven is coming and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams!

“But the writing is on the wall for you who have got it all now.
That’s it for you. You’ve got nothing more to look forward to.

“And the writing is on the wall for you who consume to excess.
You’ve had your share. You’re going to go hungry.

“The writing is on the wall for you who think it’s all a big joke now.
The smile is going to be wiped right off your face.

“And if everybody is fawning over you and saying how wonderful you are, then the writing is well and truly on the wall. They come from a long line of people who fawned over every religious charlatan that ever tickled their ears.”

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for in you all hunger is filled,
all grief is turned to laughter
and the Kingdom is handed to those who had nothing.

You created the world and all that live in it.
You called us to trust you,
and to put down our roots
alongside the life-giving stream of your Word.

Your child, Jesus Christ, came among us
and demonstrated your solidarity with all
who live in poverty, hunger, grief and hostility.
Though crowds sought him for wisdom and healing,
those who were rich, satisfied, and powerful
preferred false prophets to true,
so they hated him, defamed him, and had him killed.
But our hope did not die with him,
for you raised him from the dead,
as the first fruits of those who have died,
opening the way of resurrection life to us all.

Therefore with .....

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give you thanks for raising Christ from the dead,
and opening the way of resurrection life to us all,
In you, O God, all hunger is filled,
all grief is turned to laughter
and the Kingdom is handed to those who had nothing.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for in you all hunger is filled,
all grief is turned to laughter
and the Kingdom is handed to those who had nothing.

You created of the world and all that live in it.
You called us to trust you,
and to put down our roots
alongside the life-giving stream of your Word.

Your child, Jesus Christ, came among us
and demonstrated your solidarity with all
who live in poverty, hunger, grief and hostility.
Though crowds sought him for wisdom and healing,
those who were rich, satisfied, and powerful
preferred false prophets to true,
so they hated him, defamed him, and had him killed.
But our hope did not die with him,
for you raised him from the dead,
as the first fruits of those who have died,
opening the way of resurrection life to us all.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

It is true that Christ has been raised from death,
and because he has been raised
we are no longer lost in our sins.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for Christ will raise you to life and laughter.

Sisters and Brothers,
  your sins are forgiven;
    be at peace.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now, with your trust in the Lord.
Do not be influenced by the ways of sinners and cynics,
but delight in the Lord’s teaching
and study it night and day.
Rejoice in your union with Christ
even when people reject you for it.

And may God raise you to new life with Christ.
May Christ Jesus heal you of all that troubles you.
And may the Holy Spirit nourish you from the deep
and keep you fruitful in all you do.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net