Monthly Archives: January 2015

Waiting for God

wait on GodEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 21, 2015

 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.  — Psalm 62:5-7

 It takes a while for me to be truly still and wait for God. I have a busy brain. It seems to think that the stiller I get is its opening to be even busier. I read some good advice a few years ago that was really helpful. Sorry, I cannot give credit to its author, I simply do not remember, but the gist of it is that it helps to keep a busy brain busy while trying to be still. Distracted might be a better word. The article said to work puzzles, for example. I count while riding an exercise bike and it seems to work. When we stop talking ceaselessly to ourselves, we create space to hear God’s voice.

It seems as a society we do not really get the idea of waiting. In many instances we procrastinate so long that we miss opportunities to make a difference. Such behavior is not waiting. At other times we respond too quickly running amuck just so we can say we are doing something. It happens in basketball games all the time. The players start off well implementing their plays and then one side or the other gets a steal and runs down to make a dunk and the race is on, the playbook is out the window. Eventually one coach will call a timeout to reset the play button.

The Psalmist is calling us today to build moments into our lives when we can routinely reset our play button and get back into God’s plan for us.

Prayer: Lord, teach me the art of waiting in your love and 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.

A Relenting God

JonahEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 20, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.  — Jonah 3:10

The verse above gives me great hope that God not only forgives but may alleviate some of the suffering we bring upon ourselves. The interesting thing is the rest of the story, not included in our scripture today. Jonah was angry at God for relenting. Jonah had told the people of Nineveh to expect calamity and calamity they should get. He says, O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ (Jonah 4:2-3) Jonah thought God made Jonah look bad.

In Deuteronomy 32:25 the Lord is quoted as saying: Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; because the day of their calamity is at hand, their doom comes swiftly. And Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-3 ‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?

I don’t believe God has a ranking of God’s followers, which is best left to sports. We too should celebrate when anyone turns around and finds his or her path to wholeness. Our celebration in such situations is a reflection of our own wholeness in God.

Prayer: O God who Relents, open my heart to rejoice in those who have found a better way and let their example be a stepping stone toward my growing relationship with 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.

 

Answering the Call

Called as disciplesEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 19, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.  — Jonah 3:1-5

 Jonah is everyone. How would you have liked getting an assignment like Jonah did? God asked Jonah to go into one of the wickedest cities around and convict them of their wanton ways. I don’t know about you but Tarshish might have been looking pretty good to me about that time as it did to Jonah. After a few days in the belly of a whale, Jonah saw the error of his way and gave it all he had to turn the people of Nineveh around. God apparently knew what God was doing in the first place.

We really do not know what we are capable of doing until we are put to the test. Many ordinary folk just like you and me have done some extraordinary things when God put them in the right place at the right time and they responded well. Margaret Mead probably said it best, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Every time I hear that quote I think of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

Our world is in great need of many such small groups making differences in a wide variety of areas. You can pretty much take your pick. Our economic system is upside down, our criminal justice system is overcrowded and understaffed, our education system is failing too many children, our ecosystems are growing more and more unsustainable, terror is an everyday item on our evening news, refugees stream out of war-torn lands, and disease is rampant in some parts of the world. The list is endless. Yet, we, too, are disciples of Jesus called to love as he loved. Called to bring wholeness, oneness, and justice to a fragmented world. What part is God calling each of us to do?

Prayer: Lord, prepare me well for what you are calling me to do and give me the courage to follow the path you set before me. 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.

Transparent to God

Follow meEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 18, 2015

 Scripture Reading: John 1:43-51

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’
— John 1:47-51

 What does it mean to you to comprehend that God knows everything about you? Psalm 139:1-6 describes this phenomenon:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.

 I have what I think is a very strange reaction to the idea that I am transparent to God. I find it very freeing. All that time I invest in trying to be someone I am not is not wasted on God. All the time I invest in running from who I really am is also not wasted on God. Standing before God I am me, warts and all, and it is at that moment that my warts can be honed down and my gifts can be manifested and fulfilled. Of course, that is not just true for me, I believe, it is true for all of God’s children.

I think our scripture today describes Nathanael’s moment of transparency with God. It changed his life forever and his fulfilling his gifts is one of the reasons we know about God today.

Prayer: Lord, as painful as it sometimes can be, I welcome the transparency of our relationship and ask that you strengthen my confidence when you call me to use a gift with which I am not yet comfortable and that you ease my grief when I must give up habits of my heart that are not a part of whom you created me 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

How Do We Judge Others?

Come and SeeEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 17, 2015

 Scripture Reading: John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’  — John 1:43-46

 How do we judge others? Does it matter to us from where they come? Do we size them up by the clothing they wear, the car they drive, the friends they keep? Is it important how much money they make, property they own, or influence they may have? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

When I was in high school and college I worked summers at a local chain restaurant. All the waitresses had been instructed to be sure and ask all customers if they wanted a piece of our freshly baked pies. One day I was assigned to work the counter. A man in his late sixties probably, dressed in khakis and a plaid shirt sat down at the counter and said, “I just want a cup of coffee.” As I poured the coffee I asked, “Don’t you want a piece of pie to go with that.” “He said what do you have?” I rattled off a list of all the pies baked that day and he order a piece of pecan pie. He drank his coffee, left me a nice tip, and left the pecan pie untouched. I found out later that he owned the chain and routinely liked to drop in unannounced to check on the service.

One of the greatest challenges God has placed before God’s people is recognizing the worth of every one of God’s children. Not only recognizing but working to assure that each person’s contribution to the Kingdom of God is actualized fully.  This lesson is taught by the example, of Jesus, a son of questionable birth, born to a carpenter, raised in a small unimportant village. He is the Christ, our Savior, Son of God.

Prayer: Lord teach me to respect all your children. Guide me as I work with others with whom I am in synch and with those who see the world differently than I do. Like good music unite us as one, in harmony and in dissonance, as we work together for the realization of your Kingdom here on earth.

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.

 

One with the Lord

Gifts of the spiritEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 16, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’ But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. —1 Corinthians 6:16-20

I just finished reading Soul Keeping by John Ortberg. He envisions a representation of us humans as being a series of circles. The center most circle is the Will. It is surrounded by the circle of the Mind, than the circle of the Body, and finally the circle that holds it all together, the Soul. While I am still playing with this example in my own thoughts, it makes sense. I, however, don’t think most of us function as if the Soul were the primary circle in our lives. For some the Will would be the outer boundary of who we are and the Soul would be the inner most core.

The Soul is that part of are being that is our very essence, who we really are. How we treat each segment of our being is important to all the other segments. When our Will runs amuck our Minds, Bodies, and Souls are impacted and so it goes with each part.

Paul is perhaps suggesting in our scripture today that the Soul is the part of us that relates most closely to God. It is the home of the Holy Spirit. We need to take good care of it as we need to take good care our Bodies and Minds. If we take good care of all three our Wills might become a source of strength for our total being rather than an enemy battling for supremacy. It is something to think about.

Prayer: Lord, we pray that in whatever construct we perceive ourselves in relationship to you that your will is our will and our souls are one with 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.

Turning Around

Jesus healsEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 15, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!  — 1 Corinthians 6:12-15

 I have had osteoarthritis in most of my major joints since I was 24. I had the bad kind of strep that went untreated—just thought it was a bad cold—until I went to work one morning and could not pick up my pen to write. There were red streaks running up the back of my hands and my arms. I got in to see my doctor immediately, had blood tests, was put on a steroid, and later told I had rheumatoid arthritis for which I was treated. (I have since been told I probably never had it in the first place so I don’t really know what I had). Six months later I had no sign of rheumatoid arthritis but had osteoarthritis at one level or another in all my major joints. My left knee was impacted the worst. Fast forward to 2008, my left knee was replaced with a stainless steel implant.

I was at normal weight when I was 24, but by the time my knee was replaced I was morbidly obese and grossly out of shape.  It struck me recently that my health history is a great example of how sin enters our lives and gradually wears away our souls, very much like arthritis attacks joints and bone. I now weigh about the same thing I weighed when I was 24 and am probably in a lot better shape thanks to God and a very good personal trainer. The catalyst for this happening was the excision of that rotten knee, but the transition happened with a lot of support from people who know the human body and from investment of myself in the process to become as whole physically as I could become.

In our scripture today Paul, I think, is using physical examples to help us understand spiritual realities. Don’t get me wrong, I think Paul wants us to live lives where we respect ourselves and others in our relationships, but he is also saying that that starts and continues with being one with God through Jesus Christ. Such a relationship takes the catalyst of turning around from whatever is keeping us separate from God, but also requires our total commitment toward making that relationship work. It takes even more dedication to practice spiritual disciplines of prayer and worship and service and more, than it took for me to exercise and eat right toward gaining better health.

Prayer: God of our bodies, minds and souls, enable us to achieve wholeness in whatever aspects of our lives we are lacking and in our resulting wholeness help us to live fully in your loving service. 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.

Merciful Justice

hateEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 14, 2015

 

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18

O that you would kill the wicked, O God,
   and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—
those who speak of you maliciously,
   and lift themselves up against you for evil!
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
   And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with perfect hatred;
   I count them my enemies.  — Psalm 139:19-22

Psalm 139 is one of my favorites. It reminds me of God’s vigilance for each and all of God’s children including me. It makes me feel good until I get to verses 19-22 quoted above. Why did the author have to stick those verses into my meditation?

The word hate or hatred is defined by Merriam Webster as a general attitude of prejudiced hostility :  group animosity.* I suppose the author of this Psalm wanted us to each remember that even with the attentiveness of God to our care and guidance we are still capable of hatred. It probably starts with hating those parts of ourselves that we know are not a part of God’s plan. Our hatred can then blossom into exaggerated surveillance of others to see where they too may be missing the mark. We may search out likeminded disciples to coalesce our hatreds and even give them the credence of community so that what we hate together becomes a self-defined righteousness. When our cup runs over with self-righteousness, there is little if any room left for God’s justice and righteousness.

I for one do not believe we can ever hate the sin but not the sinner. God calls us to all inclusive love that Merriam Webster defines as unselfish and benevolent concern for the good of others**. All of us stand in need of the healing of our souls at one time or another and the balm for that healing is always love, God’s love and our love for each other.

Prayer: Lord, overcome us with your merciful love so that we can live and model your merciful justice. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/hatred
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/love

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.

 

Hush, hush, somebody’s callin’ my name

Water running to the seaEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 13, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)
The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’  — 1 Samuel 3:6-10

There is a traditional African American hymn that captures well the plight of the young Samuel to whom the Lord had not yet been revealed.

Hush, hush, somebody’s callin’ my name,
Hush, hush, somebody’s callin’ my name,
Hush, hush, somebody’s callin’ my name,
Oh my Lord Oh my Lord what shall I do,
What shall I do?

 There comes a point in each of our lives when we hear the invitation and it is our choice how to respond, but we never do it alone. One of the most remarkable aspects of creation to me is our interdependence. I envision it as a giant 3D operational puzzle where, when every piece is in its proper place, it runs as smoothly and accurately as the water flows to the sea. Of course, in our not yet perfected world even water has a tough time making it to the sea, but it never stops trying. Sometimes it carves out new paths over more welcoming land circumventing whatever is standing in its way.

Samuel was like that new land. He was someone, who when the Lord was made known to him, listened and responded. Jesus too was a new way toward God’s great kingdom and he passed the job to his disciples leaving them and us with the power of the Advocate. The synergy of this oneness with the guidance of the Holy Spirit is unstoppable. The tasks now is in our hands.

Prayer: Lord, make us path clearers not stumbling blocks. You have given us ears to hear, help us now to listen for your call. 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.

Listening for God

Hearing GodEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 12, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. — 1 Samuel 3:1-5

Whether we read this scripture literally or metaphorically, it is ominous in nature. In the second chapter of 1 Samuel we read of an oracle confronting Eli about his work and more particularly the lack of commitment of his sons. God was going to pass the torch to someone else who would be God’s prophet for the people that someone was Samuel. The first verse begs the question: was the word of the Lord rare or were people not listening for it? Apparently the priestly functions were continuing as hollow acts of habit. Samuel, no doubt by Eli’s instruction, was tending the lamp of God even before he knew who God was. The lamp was to remain lit until the sun rose. On this morning a new and different dawn was coming. God will not let God’s people go without God’s light.

The birth and dedication of Samuel to God is mirrored in the birth of Jesus, another chosen one conceived to spread even a greater light into the darkness that was overcoming the world. Similar challenges faced Samuel and then Jesus and they still face us today. We humans, children of God though we are, do not handle prosperity well. We have a long, long history of begging for God in the bad times and not being aware of God in what we consider to be the good times.

The abundant life that Jesus described most likely included all having enough to eat and other basic needs met not more than enough. God’s abundance is having more than enough love for God and each other.

Prayer: Lord help us to carefully consider what is enough, and let us work toward assuring that the basic needs of all are being met. More importantly, open our ears and our eyes to hear your word and see your visions as we work to make them real in our world today experienced in the depth of your 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.