Monthly Archives: June 2016

Testing Our Own Work

I Was HungryLiving in the Spirit
June 30, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 6:1-16

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. –Galatians 6:1-5

As a social worker, I have crossed paths with just about every nature of human being, including child and elder abusers. In one year at a children’s hospital, I worked with eight instances of people who killed their children, too many to count who had rendered lifelong physical and mental disabilities on their children, and others who just walked away from children who desperately needed their love. Funny but when one gets caught up in just saving lives and creating some sense of hope and love in horrible situations, one does not have time to exact judgement on the perpetrators. As incompetent as a parent may seem, their children need to understand the parents’ limitations so they do not turn the fault for their situations on themselves. This requires caregivers to see the brokenness in such parents and work to break the cycle of the abuse that results. In most of these abuse cases the perpetrators faced civil judgement. Many went to prison. While that may have been necessary to protect the children from further harm, it just provided another mirror of despair by which to perceive themselves.

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement 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? (Matthew 7:1-3)

The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son (John 5:22)*

I take great solace in Jesus’ words regarding judgement, because it frees me and you not to waste our time and energy on something that is out of our hands anyway. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is an attempt to help them refocus their work more on inventorying and addressing their own shortcomings so they can be better prepared to be the means of Christ’s love to a whole world of people in desperate need of it.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I feel the need to supplant your role as judge. Help me rather to examine myself to identify my own shortcomings, and heal my soul so that I may serve your more nearly. Amen.

*See also Matthew 25:31-46

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.

Resilience

resilience-378-225Living in the Spirit
June 29, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 30

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
   and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment;
   his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning. –Psalm 30

God calls us to be a resilient people. We have been created to be springy—capable of bouncing back from mistakes we have made, trouble we are experiencing, grief, and other setbacks of life. This is what the last phrase in our scripture today is describing. We, followers of Christ take further assurance in this regard when we read in John 16:33 that he said, I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

This is all predicated on our capacity to love like Jesus loved. When he quotes Leviticus 19:18, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, he is saying we must each come to terms with our own self-worth before we can recognize the self-worth of others. I believe a lot of the discrimination that exists in this world is a direct result of our inability to love ourselves. In order to feel good about ourselves we must place ourselves in a status that is better than some others. Such reaction causes discord and discontent in the world and we waste a lot more time and energy excluding people than we would if we included them. There are enough problems in the world without creating them for ourselves. One of the things the research shows is that high self-esteem can make people more resilient, make them keep on plugging after initially failing at something*.

It may seem paradoxical but the humility we are called to as God’s people is reflective of our self-esteem.

Prayer: Lord make us whole so that we may truly love like you. Amen.

*Frank Stephenson, Muse, February 2005 see at http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/resilient

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.

Welcome the Stranger

refugees joseph mary JesusLiving in the Spirit
June 28, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14

But his servants approached and said to him, ‘Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, “Wash, and be clean”?’ So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. –2 Kings 5:13-14

The changes needed to correct immigration issues and provide for better security are not difficult. They should have been made a long time ago. It is clear that making the necessary changes would negatively impact the bottom lines for those who benefit from immigrants not being granted legal status. TV detective shows, often use the phrase “follow the money.” It applies to immigration reform as well.

When jobs are filled by immigrants at a lower pay with no benefits that could have been filled by a USA citizen, it undercuts our economy and contributes to poverty. This only happens when the immigrants doing these jobs do not have legal papers for if they had legal papers their employers would be required to meet the same salary and benefit requirements of a citizen. There are, however, jobs in our economy for which we do not have enough citizen workers to fill. Those jobs can be identified. There are people living in other counties willing to do these jobs. These people need to be vetted at the highest security level and those that pass be given a time-limited visa to travel to the US, apply for the jobs, and if they are hired, be granted a work visa, which could be time-limited and renewable based on the type job. The process now in place to make this happen is unnecessarily complex and fraught with all kinds of procedural delays (unless the immigrant is a star athlete from another country). If someone is hired in this process, and chooses to pursue long term residency they should have the opportunity to do that also. The legal costs of obtaining a green card is prohibitive for many people.

Immigrations for reasons other than work, like marriage or bringing family members to join others in the USA or providing asylum to refugees need also to be streamlined and all immigration processes need to be updated significantly for secure digital record keeping and accuracy. The uncoordinated and slow system we have now probably contributes to lessened security.

What does this have to do with our faith practices? We are called to welcome the stranger throughout the Bible. Welcoming the stranger represents a worldview that demands interaction with all of God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to welcome the stranger and share your love with them. 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 Global Economy

Tacos-al-pastorLiving in the Spirit
June 27, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.’ But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, ‘I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?’ He turned and went away in a rage. –2 Kings 5:9-12

There it is again: privilege. It is hard to escape. It is to a degree natural. If we possess it, we certainly, usually do not recognize it as privilege. It is our norm. Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a man of authority, and was used to being treated as such. The act of dipping himself in the waters of a foreign land was against his dignity even if it resulted in his being cured of a horrific disease. There is a lot of that going around in our world today.

We are having trouble acclimating to a global economy. It is already here; it is not something we can stop and probably, if we think about it, do not want to stop. I like fajitas, falafel, and phoy. In the USA unless you are 100% Native American, your ancestors arrived from somewhere else. In all honesty if you are 100% Native American, your ancestors arrived from somewhere else. It was just a very long time ago. I have tracked at least some of my ancestry back to England, Ireland, France, and Germany. I also like fish and chips, Shepard’s Pie, eclairs, and Sauerbraten, perhaps not together.

We have been called to love all of God’s children and share God’s love with all of God’s family. A global economy should make that easier.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the opportunities in diverse cultures melding them together in Your Kingdom to come. 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 New Reality

In him we liveLiving in the Spirit
June 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:51-62

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ –Luke 9:57-62

If we read this scripture carefully, we soon experience the realization that Jesus is attesting to being homeless. It brings to mind Blanche*’s statement in Streetcar Named Desire, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Blanche was a character who skirted on the edge of reality until the end of the play when she loses all connection to reality. The play is a depressing commentary on our society and how we treat each other.

Jesus is challenging those who seek him to understand that he is the source of a new reality. It is a challenge to each of us to consider to what we conform our lives. He is not saying we should all live on the streets and hope someone feeds us once in a while. Nor is he saying it is bad to take care of aging parents or to be hospitable to our families. I think he is saying we need to prioritize our lives and live intentionally into those prioritizations. Jesus Christ is the beginning and end of our priorities and by coming into synch with him, we can know the reality of a life lead by love as the song goes not just for some but for everyone**.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole as individuals, as your followers, and as citizens of the world. Amen.

*Blanche is a character from the play, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

**From the song, What the world need now is love by Burt Bacharach and Hal David see at http://www.bacharachonline.com/bacharach_lyrics_chords/whattheworldneeds.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.

Informed Common Good

Common GoodLiving in the Spirit
June 25, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:51-62

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ –Luke 9:57-62

When is it the right time to say “No More”? Members of the federal House of Representatives staged a sit-in this week in Congress based on the message that something needs to be done about the mass shootings that are happening across our land. They are demanding a vote on bills to control the sale of guns. And yes, it was and is a totally political action. We live in a democracy, which is a political form of governance and relies on the people to elect representatives. We do not have a monarch who inherits his or her role nor do we have a dictator who holds governance by force. Many are questioning now whether we actually do have a democracy, since we seem to be moving closer and closer to an oligarchy where leader ship is controlled by a small group of people, in our case the people with enough money to by “our” representatives.

The responsibility a democratic form of governance places on each of its citizens is great. It is not easy to determine what is the best way to meet the Common Good. We generally want things that are best for ourselves. The Common Good demands that we see what is best for ourselves through a broader scope. Is it better for me to have criminals rehabilitated rather than having them stored together in crowded, unhealthy conditions that just breeds more crime? Is it better for businesses to have a well education workforce from which to make hires? Is it better for me to pay taxes to keep roads in good repair rather than making expensive repairs to the suspension system on my car? Is it better for me to live in a world where disease and contagion are held to a minimum?

Those of us who long for the full fruition of the Kingdom of God have an even higher calling to a broad brushed approach to the Common Good. Our love of God and love of our neighbor as ourselves must also inform our civic responsibilities. The time is now, circumstances for our action will never be perfect or we would not be worrying about the issues in the first place.

Prayer: Lord, write on each of our hearts your will for the Common Good and give us the courage to seek it with all our being. 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.

Fruit of the Spirit

Journeying-togetherLiving in the Spirit
June 24, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. –Galatians 5:16-25

The laundry lists of the don’ts of the Bible aren’t always what we want them to be, especially when they hit a little too close to home. We are much more comfortable being concerned about what a very few people might be doing that we would never do, and holding those actions up as examples of things that separate us from God and building God’s Kingdom. We sure do not want to hear about strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, or envy, each of which we are all probably guilty of practicing on any given day.

All of this laundry list from Paul include activities that involve walking down a wrong path, or worse yet, leading others down a wrong path. They are all apt to also result in hurting ourselves. God wants us to take care of ourselves and each other.

The fruit of the Spirit does just the opposite of the don’ts. The fruit of the Spirit helps us build each other up which also builds each of us into better servants of God.

Prayer: Convict me when I get caught up in the things that separate me from you, turn me around and show me the way for me to walk the path of the Spirit. 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 Common Good Revisited

scrooge_pic07Living in the Spirit
June 23, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. –Galatians 5:1, 13-15

Free to be…you and me* was released as a song 44 years ago to help children internalize self-worth regardless of race or gender. It was Christ’s message over 2000 years ago and it still is today. Our world works really hard at trying to fasten us separately in chains of hate and fear, and of needing to feel better than another to establish our own worth. We try very hard to convert freedom into privilege. I think that is part of what Paul is trying to get at in our scripture today.

While we can be offended by the outrageous things being said and done in our current political climate, I have been trying to listen through the rhetoric and hear from where such venom is coming. I sense a great deal of fear of what is not known. What does the future hold? What does a terrorist really look like? Are we really as innocent of the forces that are working to create terrorism? If we are not, what can we do about it now?

Economically many find their security slowly but surely slipping away. The middle class shrinks as salaries are stagnant and long-term retirement benefits become a dream not a promise. Yet many seem to be thriving financially; seem to have money for anything they want whether they need it or not. And no one seems to want to pay for the infrastructure to keep our country going: education, roads, bridges. A friend gripping about having to pay taxes responded to me when I replied, “but we need education, roads etc.” saying, “The government is supposed to pay for that.” It appears that we the people have given up our responsibility of providing for the Common Good handing it over to the lobbyist and other power brokers.

Our first primary will be held next week here in Oklahoma. If you are from another state, make sure you know when your elections are scheduled. One step toward loving your neighbor as you love yourself is to carefully consider the candidates and make your vote count for the Common Good.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in all aspects of our lives even as we fulfill our civic responsibilities. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Be…_You_and_Me

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.

Lead Me, Lord

YMCALiving in the Spirit
June 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20

Your way was through the sea,
   your path, through the mighty waters;
   yet your footprints were unseen.
You led your people like a flock
   by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
—Psalm 77:19-20

We are called to follow Christ’s way which is God’s way and apparently according to this Psalm it is a path through the sea. A raging sea is dangerous; a placid sea provides life nurturing peace. The sea is very akin to life with both challenges and joys.

When I read this scripture for today, I flashed back to the conversation I had with the first orthopedic surgeon that examined my sick and damaged knees. I was walking four miles a day for exercise at the time and he said that had to stop. He recommended swimming, noting that I could do more work with less effort because the water supported me. So I switched to swimming every morning before I went to work. At the Y where I swam, the lanes were marked by a wide stripe the length of the pool with a cross on the wall at either end. I do not think the Y had painted the pool to support my daily meditation, but it did. My 30-minute swim always targeted at those crosses prepared me for my day. I continued that for several years until April 19, 1995 when the Oklahoma City bombing, not only destroyed the federal building, but also my Y, just two hours after I had completed my laps for that day. God was and is continuing to be ever present with the people of this city and all those impacted by the bombing and, yes, we once again have a new and improved downtown Y with crosses at the end of each lap.

We live in troubling times and we need to hold tightly to the assurance that following God’s way is our best hope for an abundant life of love. God’s love supports us in everything we encounter in life as we follow God’s path.

Prayer:
Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,
Make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord, only,
that makest me dwell in safety*. Amen.

*Lead Me, Lord words based on Psalms 5:8; 4:8, Music by Samuel S. Wesley.

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.

Passing the Mantle

Elijah being nurtured by GodLiving in the Spirit
June 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. –2 Kings 2:9-14

Much of our lives is spent preparing the next generation to continue the work set before us as children of God. I watch the children run down the aisles of the church as they come to the steps of the chancel for the children’s sermon. They are full of energy and comfortable with the recognition that this is their time this is there place.

I also recall sitting next to my mother as she lay in bed in the waning days of her life. We had wonderful conversations, ones I still cherish. Mom and I never worked well together. My sister and she could. Early on, Mom and I realized that more got done, if we sort of went our separate ways. I now think that may have been because we were so much alike and also because I am left handed. But while we could not weed gardens or pick peas without discord, we shared many common concerns about the world and could probe them with great discussions. I am my mother’s daughter, just as Elisha was Elijah son in the service of God.

We are failing our children by being unwilling to provide them with education tailored to their needs, the gifts of the knowledge we possess and the curiosity to explore new things, and the foundation they need to make this world all God intended it to be.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to provide a positive education for all your children in all aspects of life. 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.