Tag Archives: Vision

Spirit

Kingdom Building

October 22, 2019

Scripture Reading: Joel 2:23-32

Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves,
   in those days, I will pour out my spirit. –Joel 2:28-29

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ John 3:8

It was chilly when I exited my car and walked across the parking lot to the church entrance on Sunday. When I exited the same door following worship the sun was shining brightly and a gentle breeze was blowing. Walking home instead of driving was tempting. In Oklahoma, the only weather constant is change. Thus, I understand well why John used the metaphor of wind when describing the Spirit of God. For the spirit to pour out on all flesh, it must be malleable as a cloud and strong as a hurricane at any time, at the same time—tough assignment.

Our part in the workings of the Spirit is faith that God is with us and God wants the best for us as we strive to work toward the best for all God’s children in our world today and in the future. I do rejoice in a personal relationship with God and I know deep in my heart that that relationship is synergistic, creating a response greater than the sum of its parts, when it is shared among all people.

I cannot imagine the cacophony of chaos, God experiences when God’s children are caught up in divisiveness and power struggles. Our scripture from Joel quoted above suggests that the Spirit even in our dreams suggest alternatives for better living in the future, if we are willing to open ourselves to letting go of the ways of the world and following the dreams and visions of God.

Prayer: Holy One, cleanse us of all that is holding us back from being the light of the world you challenged us to be. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Running toward a Vision

reading-on-the-runLiving in the Spirit
October 25, 2016

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

I will stand at my watch-post,
   and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,
   and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
   make it plain on tablets,
   so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
   it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
   it will surely come, it will not delay.
Look at the proud!
   Their spirit is not right in them,
   but the righteous live by their faith. –Habakkuk 2:1-4

Physically running is not very often a part of my life with one bum knee and the other stainless steel though I get what Habakkuk is saying here. It feels like I am always running to catch up with myself going to a meeting here, facilitating a Bible study there, shopping and preparing food for the homeless. Retirement, as well as work or raising a family, is good but busy. God instructed Habakkuk to write God’s message large, plain enough so a runner can read it when he or she passes. While God might be referring to people in a race, this instruction is targeted more at people like me and perhaps you who get so caught up in doing, even doing good, that we do not take the time to remind ourselves of the vision we are running to attain.

Keeping our eye on the vision provides substance for the establishment of our priorities. For example, if our vision is for every child to be wanted and loved by nurturing parents, our priorities must align with reducing poverty, providing for quality education, assuring adequate and accessible health care and child care, and postponing teen pregnancy. Such realities can occur in many and varying ways in homes, churches, by non-profits and, yes, by the government. Discerning the best way to enable this vision requires negotiation, compromise, trial and error, more negotiations, and more compromise. Standoffs claiming one way is the only way exacerbates the problem.

Prayer: Lord, hone our discernment and communication skills so that we can further your vision of a world ruled by love. 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.

 

Before the Call

Hands_of_God_and_AdamLiving in the Spirit
May 25, 2015

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’—Isaiah 6:1-5

What is our vision of God? Artist throughout history have tried to capture a portrayal of God. I like Michelangelo’s portrait of The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel where God’s finger and the finger of the first human reach to touch each other. It seems to capture strength and dependency, assertiveness and response, and the choice to love or not love.

Isaiah’s vision builds on God as larger than life in a full, formal worship service where every participant is fully engaged. Isaiah, like all of us made in the image of God, on seeing this vision understands that he is not even close to reflecting back to God the same image he has received nor have the other people of God with whom Isaiah lives and works.

Before we hear God’s call, we must accept the full measure of God’s love and amazing as it may seem that is not easy to do. It wasn’t for Isaiah. God chose to love us when God created us—no matter what, no strings attached. If we are to experience the full fruition of who we are, we must recognize that we are a part of our creator and our Creator is a part of us.  It is a paradox, but it is true: the closer we relate to God the more we realize our own wholeness.

We do not relate to God without God’s nurturing the way through the gift of God’s Son our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way.

Prayer: Lord grant me the wisdom to open myself fully to you. 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.

 

Perspective

PerspectiveChristmas
January 3, 2015

Scripture Reading: John (1:1-9), 10-18

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. — John 1:10-13

Thus the saga begins with a retrospective. The book of John, believed to have been written in the last decade of the first century, gives us the insight of time and experience. It is not breathless like Mark, the first in time of the four gospels. It does not seem to have the targeted purposes reflected in Matthew, directed toward Jewish issues, and Luke, aliening with the oppressed. No, John has the feel of one standing back and viewing the whole picture of God Incarnate.

My collection of pictures is in one of those large round popcorn cans waiting for someone to at least label them. The last time I looked there were already pictures of people I could not remember. My mother on the other hand carefully arranged pictures by subject in albums with hand written notes about whom they were and perhaps some narrative on their lives. As I thumb through those albums now, I wonder why she included what she did and why she arranged them in the order they are in. The gospel of John is like my mother’s albums. It includes stories that only one who was present would have known like the young man running away from the Garden of Gethsemane losing his garment. Yet, it begins with the creation of the world. The gospel of John provides a most important perspective.

As the holiday season comes to an end and that down time (for me at least) between Christmas and New Year’s draws to an end, I am gearing up to get really busy again. It is important for me to live into the book of John holding onto that broad sweep of God at the beginning, God now, and God throughout eternity so that I do not get swept away by the intricacies of daily work. It might be important for you also.

Prayer: Lord, during this new year hold me close to you as I strive to hold you close to me both in the details of my life and in the panoramic view of how my life fits into your vision. 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.