Category Archives: About the Author

Seeing Self in Seeking God

matthew-7_5-revised1Living in the Spirit
October 23, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14

But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’ –Luke 18:13-13

The moment we see ourselves for who or what we uniquely are is life changing. It is also necessary for normal maturation as we transition from child to adult. It is equally necessary for spiritual growth. The tax-collector in our scripture today has apparently experienced one of those Aha! Moments, where he understands how what he does, impacts others. I can image him overhearing the gospel Jesus taught. He took it home with him, and he could not let it go. Perhaps he was one of the curious 5,000 Jesus fed. Maybe he witnessed a healing. Whatever happened, he had turned around suddenly facing a full-length mirror, and not liked what he saw.

The tax-collector was most likely Jewish. The Romans like to hire Jews to collect their taxes from other Jews. These tax-collectors returned to the Romans the collections demanded, but the tax-collectors could take as much as they wanted above the Roman tax from their fellow Jews. As you might assume, they were not popular. They were often wealthy, living the good life, measuring their success by their cunning ability to get as much as they could for their own use. I wonder how much faith training he had received and applied as a Jew. Did the tax collector claim purity in the law, justifying his actions by narrow translations? Jesus quoted Hebrew scripture when he commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. How could one rectify overtaxing families and follow that command?

Jesus picked an easy target for his example. He did not have to do a lot of explaining for his listeners to get the picture. He surely sent them home with the same nagging question the tax-collector had that eventually drove him to his knees. We each must search our hearts to find what is holding us back from fully engaging in our roles of service to Jesus Christ. He is rather like a mirror for all of us. Do we see ourselves when we look deep into his life and way of being?

Prayer: God be merciful to me, a sinner! Reflect back to me the things in my life that are limiting me from being what I am called to be. Lead me forward in your grace. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

The Lord Knows Us

GiftsEastertide
May 12, 2015

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:24-26

Does Matthias represent each of us, called to serve in a vacant slot or perhaps even in a new way? Every Disciple of Christ comes to serve with a unique set of talents. Talents with which we may have been born but also, I believe, instilled in us as good sees the need.

While, I must confess, it is a bit intimidating to realize that the Lord knows all of our hearts. On the other hand that can also be a confidence builder. For if we know that God loves us just exactly as we are, we can be assured that God can mold and make us what we are becoming to be in his service.

The key to being a productive Disciple of Christ is staying in synch with Christ: living the way Jesus taught us to live; communing regularly with God in prayer, study, meditation, and worship; and striving by choice to bear fruit in service to God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Called as Partners in Christ Service

Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring,
Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering,
Reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer,
All God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for knowing me completely and still loving me. Teach me your ways and show me my way in your service. Amen.

*Called as Partners in Christ Service, verse 2, words by Jane Parker Huber, see at
http://worship-organizer.awtrey.com/hymnal/?number=343
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For Waiting Souls

WaitingChristmas
December 31, 2014

Scripture Reading: Psalm 62:5-12

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
   for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
   my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
   my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.  

Trust in him at all times, O people;
   pour out your heart before him;
   God is a refuge for us. — Psalm 62:5-8

 It has been an eventful years as are most anymore it seems.

  • USA troops are being withdrawn from Afghanistan as you read this. Some of those same troops began providing air support against ISIS earlier in the year. They are still there.
  • Mid-term elections were held but the majority did not vote. Perhaps this is verification of the findings in a recently published Princeton study* that the USA is no longer a democracy but has become an oligarchy. Have we sold our precious democracy to the highest bidder?
  • The stock market reached its highest level ever while workers saw little if any change in their incomes. Median household income barely budged [in 2013], edging up to $51,939 from $51,759 in 2012, the Census Bureau noted separately. Median income is still far from the $56,436 in 2007 and the all-time high of $56,895 in 1999.**
  • Racial tensions boiling in the background for years spilled over into the streets. I have to wonder if that is not as much about too low incomes and the rule of law, on which our country was founded, now seemingly only applying to the disenfranchised. Is that also the reason that most of us quit voting?

New Year’s Eve is a good time to lay all these and other concerns before God and to wait silently for the renewal of hope we must have from God to fortify us as we turn around from any of our own actions or failure to act that have led to such a dismal state of affairs.

Prayer:
God, who touchest earth with beauty,
make my heart anew;
with thy Spirit recreate me,
pure and strong and true.*** Amen.

* http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/princeton-experts-say-us-no-longer-democracy

** http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/16/poverty-household-income_n_5828974.html

***First verse of hymn God Who touchest Earth with Beauty, words by Mary Susanne Edgar, Lryics found at: http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/110/hymns..unknown..god_who_touchest_earth_with_beauty.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.