Tag Archives: Synergy

God’s Oneness

Lent
April 11, 2017

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:34-43

That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ –Acts 10:37-43

My background is in planning.   After developing a vision, mission, goals, and objectives it is important to track progress to determine if our actions are attaining the desired outcomes. Acts is a report of progress made by the followers of Jesus immediately after his death and resurrection. Acts is a wonderful lesson in how the best laid plans often go astray*. Those pesky temptations of greed and pride and desire for power seep in when least expected. By chapter five we learn of a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, misrepresenting their donation trying to have their cake and eat it too, I guess. Reminded me of when I first moved to the city and learned that membership in certain churches looked good on a resume. Developing a plan with multiple humans is hard. Sticking to it is even harder. Changing it when indicated is the toughest thing of all.

The thing is God created us to work together. Instilled in us skills and knowledge designed to complement each other and produce synergy where the result is greater than the sum of its parts. Such communities of faith work best when their starting point and their continuing emphasis is on being in alignment with God. And yes we even fight over what that might look like but the God who made us is more powerful than all those pesky distractions and will lead us where we need to go as surely as rivers run to the seas.

Prayer: Lord, during this Holy Week, rekindle our desire to be one with you and with each other. Amen.

*The saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns : “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.”

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Multiplying Synergy

connectEpiphany
January 11, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 40:1-11

Happy are those who make
   the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
   none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
   they would be more than can be counted. –Psalm 40:4-5

I often write about synergy, a habit derived from my study of social systems. The term stems from engineering. The formal definition is:

  1. combined action or operation (as of muscles or nerves); specifically: synergism
  2. a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts) *

I prefer the informal definition; the total becomes more than the sum of its parts. Jesus describes this phenomenon in Matthew 18:20 when he says, ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ The Psalmist in our scripture today speaks of God multiplying our combined efforts to become more than what we could ever have done either alone or together. That is a powerful message.

Synergy exists when people work together for a common cause, good or bad. It multiplies when people work together in concert with God toward loving one another.

Prayer: Lord of the Power of Love, enable our love and multiply it beyond our wildest imaginations. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/synergy

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.

Entrusted with the Word

Word of GodLiving in the Spirit
November 7, 2014

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.— 1 Thessalonians 2:13

How does God’s word work in us? First the word “believers” could also be translated “those who have been entrusted with the word”. I like this second translation because it implies more than simply to believe something. It says we are to protect it and value it beyond measure. Since the word translated “believers” is plural, it also means that I must engage with others and come to some common understanding about what the Word of God is saying. We, then, together must let it work within each of us and among all of us for the Word to produce synergy throughout our world today. Paul often called that fruit.

The Word of God for me includes both the Bible and the life examples of Jesus Christ. And yes, I realize that the life examples are for the most part gleaned from the Bible but they are in some ways more real to me in my daily walk. I have sat on the hillside above a crowd of hungry people and had compassion, walked along the water’s edge with friends and co-workers searching for answers to life’s questions, wept over the loss of a dear loved one, and enjoyed the innocent, fresh company of children. And all these experiences look a little different to me having seen them through the eyes of Jesus and actually through the eyes of all those who came before him and followed him. The Word of God is living as Hebrews 4:12 states: Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

As the word of God works within us to shape our hearts so goes our ministry to serve God.

Prayer: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
               Sent from the heart of God,
              Hold us who wait before Thee
             Near to the heart of God. Amen*

*From the hymn Near to the Heart of God words by Cleland B. McAfee, http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/e/neartoth.htm

 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.