Monthly Archives: October 2016

Do Not Fear

rock-that-is-higher-than-iLiving in the Spirit
October 31, 2016

Scripture Reading: Haggai 2:1-9

Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear. –Haggai 2:3-5

Democracy is messy. Trying to negotiate agreement on best practices is difficult. Change is hard. We live in a challenging world, and as members of that world, we choose to function within a system of governance that requires our full participation. It gets uglier at some times than at other. In history, we read of the scandals of Tammany Hall in the 1780’s recurring in the 1920’s and muckraking of the 1890’s. Not having experienced them, they are not as real to us as the current political situations. They were probably just as bad.

The week before the general election in the USA is a good time to be reminded that we serve an awesome God who abides among us. God created this earth out of chaos and can surely rescue us from our self-created calamity if we abide in God. Being in a relationship with God does require self-introspection. Some, perhaps much, of our fretting and fears comes from our clinging to things of this world that have little or no relevance in God’s Kingdom. Parsing out what is of God and discerning what kind of nation we want to be is important . Not forcing our beliefs on others but letting God’s plan for our lives direct our way of being are reflected in our actions as citizens.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse me of all that inhibits my living your love in all that I do including my role as a citizen of this nation. 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 Different Perspective

housing_readinessLiving in the Spirit
September 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1-10

So [Zacchaeus] hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’ –Luke 19:6-10

Feeling loved and respected changes a person’s perspective. The way of Jesus depends on that premise. Zacchaeus’ life changed because he felt accepted.

A new way of dealing with the homeless has evolved over the past few years that is making a major positive difference. Called housing first, the program transitions a homeless person from living on the street to having a small apartment or house provisioned with the basics of furniture, dishes, etc. Once in their new home, participants are surrounded by whatever help they might need to become self-sufficient and self-supportive. Many have some untreated mental illness including addictions of all kinds. Others lack basic skills to work. Some have such bad teeth that no one would hire them to work with the public. Others do not have the appropriate clothing for work. This is the Jesus way. Love first followed by help. These programs are amazingly successful compared to previous attempts to reduce homelessness.

It is ironic to think that some who are wealthy and have the world at their command like Zacchaeus are in great need of this love first approach also. We do well to remember that a wealthy slave trader wrote Amazing Grace*.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see*.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to love first. Amen.

First verse of Amazing Grace, words by John Newton see at http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Amazing_Grace/

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.

Living Justly

paydayloansignLiving in the Spirit
October 29, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ –Luke 19:1-7

Who is on our top ten list of sinners with whom we do not choose to associate? We, of course, like to think that we do not judge and isolate others, but we do. In our world, we might be more apt to fawn after a rich person than to shun them. Who would be the equivalent of a tax-collector type today? Perhaps a member of the mob or a gang would fit the bill as people whose riches were from ill-gotten gain. Would it be the owners of payday loan companies who charge exorbitant rates or the thieves who rob the local convenience store? Our country is extremely divided. A part of that division centers in our perception of who is good and who is bad. Some consider charging the highest price the market will bear for a life-saving prescription as a good business; some think it is no different than the thief at the convenience store.

How will we ever succeed at transitioning to a world ruled by God’s love, if we are unwilling to relate to all our neighbors the same? How can we be a conduit for justice unless we seek equal treatment for all? CEO’s in this country get a golden parachute worth millions of dollars when caught in bad business practices that cheat many people out of their livelihood while the kid who robs a convenience store gets five years in prison. Where is the justice in that?

God calls God’s followers to be conduits of justice. During this election year, we have an opportunity to work toward justice as a part of our civic duty by voting for issues that support restorative justice. More importantly, we are called to emulate Jesus by befriending all who are out of sync with God’s justice helping them like Jesus helped Zacchaeus to heed God’s call to live justly.

Prayer: Lord, plant in our hearts both the desire to live justly and a will to do justice. 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.

Worthy of God’s Call

new-bedford-low-voter-turnout-354x216Living in the Spirit
October 28, 2016

Scripture Reading:
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4; 11-12

To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. –2 Thessalonian 1:11-12

What does it mean to be made worthy of Jesus’ call? The word translated worthy means matching value to actual substance*. The meaning seems to suggest that we are considered valuable to God no matter what. Do our contributions to the development of God’s kingdom amount to the value granted us?

We might illustrate being made worthy by comparing the success of any nation particularly one that claims to be a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people with the actual substance provided by its populace. While we wring our hands and lament the failures of our government, few look in the mirror and try to determine what role we have played in its shortcomings. In the last major election in Oklahoma only 33% of registered voters voted, which does not include those eligible to vote who were not registered. Having a government work productively at meeting its goal to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence (sic), promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity** requires all its valuable citizens to contribute to its success. It further requires us to figure out how to do that as one nation. At times, it seems we are more dedicated to destroying it.

Think about that same idea in the furtherance of God’s kingdom. God expects all of us to match the value we are to the substance we contribute to God’s vision of loving God and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Perhaps rather than trying to force our faith on others through civil law, we should consider modeling inclusion and acceptance of the value of all God’s children in our work for God’s Kingdom as an example of how oneness can work.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, make us worthy of your call. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/515.htm
**http://constitutionus.com/

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.

Living Cloud of Witnesses

befunky_love-like-jesus-bible-quoteLiving in the Spirit
October 27, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4; 11-12

We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. –2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

I sat down with several women from my church recently and said and meant, “What a wonderful crowd of witnesses!” To which one replied, “I’m not dead yet!” I think that rather proved my point as she is obviously a Bible student. The reference was to Hebrews 12:1 referring to all the saints who had died and paved the way for our service today. I think the writer of 2 Thessalonians, using Paul’s standard salutation in our scripture today, would agree that we also should equally praise those actively serving God in real time and that they too are a great crowd of witnesses.

Everyday Christians go about the business of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, helping the sick, and welcoming the stranger as a normal part of their lives. Most Sunday mornings, I see a 90+-year-old man drop a sack of canned goods in the cart at the entrance of our church for distribution at a food closet with whom we partner. Every Thursday volunteers cook and deliver with love mobile meals to 30 or so homebound elderly and disabled people. The school for which we have been providing mittens, gloves, and hats each year let us know they have enough from last year to meet their needs. This year we will be targeting our donations toward gloves and hats for the homeless at a local shelter that we already help with steel-toed boots to enable their participants to work. Join with me in being thankful for these acts of love engrained in these witnesses’ faith DNA.

Prayer: Lord, when we as your followers each do our part in your service, all have an opportunity to experience your abundant life. Thank you for the gift of 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.

Brutal Honesty

lordtrustLiving in the Spirit
October 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:137-144 

You are righteous, O Lord,
   and your judgements are right.
You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
   and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me
   because my foes forget your words. –Psalm 119:137-139

The Psalms are brutally honest, putting words to thoughts we probably would deny ever thinking, but there they are in print. A brazen assumption exists in this scripture. The author thinks he remembers God’s words better than the people who are against him remember them. He may well have been right. Ever felt that way? There is much division in our faith world today. Feeling anger at differing interpretations of our common faith is not unusual. Have we ever been like Saul so sure of our theology, which we consider as the theology, we want to persecute others who followed a different understanding only finding out later that we were wrong? I remember some years ago a dear Christian man in my church spoke strongly against admitting women to the diaconate. The measure passed. I was a member of the second class of females elected deacons. Following the first worship in which I served communion, he came to me, took my hand in his, patted the top of that hand with his other hand, and with tears in his eyes said, “I was wrong voting against women being deacons.”

The Psalms record conversations between their writers and God. I believe that is the correct place to be brutally honest. Having opened our hearts to God including any shame-filled thoughts, egotistical bluster, or pain at seeing another who seems to be missing the mark, we are freed by God to make a wiser decision about how to deal with the issue at hand. On those occasions when we are the ones who miss the mark, God will guide us back to his way, when we continue to keep the lines of communication opened to God.

Prayer: God of poets, you have blessed us with examples of one-on-one relationships with you in your gifts of the Psalms. Let the be a guide to our spiritual development. 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.

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.

 

Trouble We Got Some

guide-meLiving in the Spirit
October 24, 2016

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

The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
   and you will not listen?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’
   and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing
   and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
   strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack
   and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
   therefore judgement comes forth perverted. –Habakkuk 1:1-4

I am a glutton for punishment. I record the Sunday morning news shows and usually view them beginning with lunch. I ask myself a similar question regarding the news to the one raised by Habakkuk in our scripture today. Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Why is what seems so clear to me totally obscure to others? Is common ground possible? Why does everybody saying the same stale words addressing the same less important issues attract my attention? Surely God, does not expect me to do anything about this mess?

I believe our political system is a very accurate reflection of our general population, including me, although I hate to face it. I further believe that our political system will not improve until and unless we get our lives in order. In a few years, the issues that divide us will seem as antiquated as our reading in Paul’s writings about eating meat offered to idols or whether gentile men must be circumcised. These two issues were dividing the church in the first century and had the members not agreed to disagree on them and move on to following Christ’s concern of feeding the hungry, Christ’s kingdom vision might never have survived and we would be the poorer for it.

People of faith must heed the call of our brokenness and become diligent in modeling Christ’s message so that the whole world can learn his lessons of love and inclusion.

Prayer: Lord, I see the trouble, help me make my contribution to ending it in your way, your truth, as exemplified in your 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.

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.

Diversity vs. Division

diversity2Living in the Spirit
October 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” –Luke 18:9-12

There is no place for God when we are full of ourselves. Paradoxically being full of ourselves leaves us empty. There seems to be a lot of empty souls these days. Is the church, the called Body of Christ, missing the mark on bringing wholeness to a broken world? Have we gotten so caught up in being right that we are wronging the ones we are commissioned to serve? Is the Pharisee’s need to exclaim his righteousness merely a cry for help in filling his emptiness?

If nothing else comes out of our divisive election cycle this year, the church’s need to model oneness must be recognized and reignited. Diversity and divisiveness do not share the same meaning. I can never fully understand you, and you can never fully understand me. As we encounter the full spectrum of humanity throughout our universe, we can choose to be blessed by learning and growing together through our differences or we can curse ourselves to flounder in emptiness through isolation, bigotry, and privilege. Make no mistake it is a choice.

I strongly encourage everyone to vote on November 8. Prayerfully study the candidates and issues and express your sense of what is best for attaining the Common Good at all levels of our governments. On November 9, dedicate yourself first to praying for the Body of Christ being a conduit for oneness in a diverse world. Second work with all your heart to make oneness a reality. If you want, you can start praying today for the Oneness of God and never stop until we attain it with God’s help.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole make us one. 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.