Author Archives: WOJ@deborahsdescendants.com

Being Church

Ordinary Time

February 20, 2023

Scripture Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Yet even now, says the Lord,
   return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
   rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
   for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
   and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
   and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain-offering and a drink-offering
   for the Lord, your God? –Joel 2:12-14

We really need to examine ourselves before we can make a difference in the lives of others. Jesus put it this way:

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. –Matthew 7:5

I was raised in the church and did not know anything other than going to church on Sunday. When I was a young adult on my own, I started attending a church that was apparently amid a major meltdown. I watched and listened to the bickering and thought, look at these hypocrites, until one Sunday, I was struck by the recognition that the only person I knew for sure was a hypocrite sitting in that church that morning was me. I decided to take a vacation from church for a while. Some Sundays, I just slept in; on other Sundays, I visited various churches to see where I might fit. At times I went to brunch with friends who did not attend church.  I did this for a few months until I got my head on straight, realizing that I had as much responsibility as being the church at any congregation as anyone else in attendance. At the next church, I walked into, I felt at home and became very active while I lived in that area.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for putting up with my taking long paths to find your truths. 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.

Spiritual Disciplines

Ordinary Time

February 19, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’

Jesus seemed to be preparing his closest disciples for what was to come next in his ministry, specifically his death, and resurrection. He planted seeds in their memories so that when they grieved their loss, flashes of those discussions returned to help them assimilate how they would turn such pain and despair into actions that literally changed the entire world, which Christ-followers are still striving to implement today as we work to build the Beloved Community.

Two thousand years later, where do we disciples obtain those spiritual seeds to store in our inner beings that are ready when we need them the most to fortify our work in attaining Christ’s vision? Practicing the spiritual disciplines is a primary source of such nourishment. There are many sources to help guide us in developing spiritual disciplines. I found Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster most helpful. They are not new. I learned much from reviewing The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, written in the 1500s.  The actual actions we adopt for our spiritual disciplines are not as important as our dedication to following a consistent pattern of communion with God and self-examination. We must resist the temptation to hone God in our image rather than working diligently to serve God from the aspects of the image of God in which all people are created.  

Prayer: Lord, help each of us find the best way to stay in close communion with you and live our lives as you equipped us to do in your image. 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.

Listening and Hearing

Ordinary Time

February 18, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’

Let us consider this phrase from the above scripture.  ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’

The Greek word for listen is 191 akoúō – properly, to hear (listen); (figuratively) to hear God’s voice which prompts Him to birth faith within (cf. Ro 10:17)

Romans 10:17—So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

Also, the word for hear has an additional meaning, 189 akoḗ – properly, hearing; used of inner (spiritual) hearing that goes with receiving faith from God (Ro 10:17), i.e. spiritual hearing

And discerning God’s voice; Galatians 3:2,5—The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

And finally, Jesus said, Matthew 13:14: With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

We will never be able to understand fully others we are called to love if we do not take the time to listen to the voice of God’s Son, the Beloved, and learn from his Word.

Prayer: Lord, help invest more time in listening with understanding in our communication with you and with one another. 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.

Holy Spirit

Ordinary Time

February 17, 2023

Scripture Reading:

2 Peter 1:16-21

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. –2 Peter 1:19-21

How do we discern when we are following our interpretation of scripture rather than its spirit-led intent when we want it to say what we want it to say? I hear people rationalizing ways of being that are in direct opposition to my understanding of scripture. Indeed, I have read scripture that I wondered how Jesus would interpret and how I apply it to my way of being. That requires me to invest more in understanding the workings of the Holy Spirit.

I remember, as a preschooler going with my family to a revival meeting to which our Pentecostal neighbor had invited us. I had never experienced people in church speaking in tongues and throwing themselves on the floor. I spent most of the service under the pew hiding behind my parent’s legs; they let me stay there. We did not return for the remainder of the revival. My older brother and sister did not have the same fearful experience I did. Back at home, my mother explained that people have a lot of different ways of worshipping God, but I fear that experience tainted my exploration of the Holy Spirit.

As we enter the Lenten season, I plan to delve into a better understanding of the Holy Spirit. I would encourage others to join me. It is challenging. Just now, I decided to quote one of my favorite choruses. When I Googled it to copy it here, I got the version printed below, which is not the same as the one I learned as a child. The fifth line l learned is worded Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. On Google, the first entry was a ten-verse hymn.

Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me. *

Perhaps what I need to develop is faith and trust in God, who knows me completely and will communicate with me as the person I am.

Prayer: Lord, Spirit of the living God, Fall Afresh on me. Amen.

*The chorus Spirit of the Living God by Daniel Iverson. See at https://hymnary.org/text/spirit_of_the_living_god_fall_iverson#Author__st__1_

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.

What is Truth

Ordinary Time

February 16, 2023

Scripture Reading:

2 Peter 1:16-21

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. –2 Peter 1:16-18

How do we describe the indescribable? How do we convey the magnitude in our lives of God’s gift of God’s Son to open wider the door of God’s blessings and love? No cleverly devised myths but eyewitness accounts were passed down to us, and each of them conveys a different description based on the witness’s needs at the time and Jesus’s response to those needs.  Thomas wanted proof; Peter wanted to take action. Martha wanted help cooking dinner for Jesus, but her sister, Mary, just wanted to sit at his feet and take in every word he spoke. The centurion asked him to heal his servant, but as a person of power, he readily recognized one with greater power and understood Jesus just needed to say the word, and his servant would be healed.

We live in a world of cleverly devised false accounts and half-truths, posing to be the truth. We waded in such grime throughout the 2022 election cycle and barely got the chance to observe Christmas before it started again targeted at the next election cycle. Jesus tells us in John 8:31-32, Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ Later, Pilate recognized the weak nature of politics in the following discourse with Jesus at Jesus’s trial before Pilate,

Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:36-38)

We continue to search for truth today, and finding it demands our close communion with God as we strive to be in the world but not of the world so that we can share the love of God freely with all the people of the world, all of whom are made in the image of God.

Prayer: Open our hearts and minds to your truth and your way of living. 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.

Working Toward the Common Good

Ordinary Time

February 15, 2023

Scripture Reading: Psalm 2
Why do the nations conspire,
   and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
   and the rulers take counsel together,
   against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
‘Let us burst their bonds asunder,
   and cast their cords from us.’

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
   the Lord has them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
   and terrify them in his fury, saying,
‘I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.’

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
   today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
   and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
   and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
   be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
   with trembling kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
   for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

This was an interesting scripture to read in the beginning days of the Oklahoma Legislature’s 2023 Session. It always starts with many bills designed more to get legislators’ names in the news about hot-button issues rather than the difficult task of seeking common ground to provide the Common Good. Once the dust has settled, those 3,000 or so introduced bills will be culled down to a few hundred that each can make a major difference in our lives. I invite you to join me in praying for our elected officials as they move through this process.

Prayer: Lord, guide your people in working toward the Beloved Community as we participate in our civic duties working toward governance that provides for the Good of All.  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.

Patience

February 14, 2023

Scripture Reading: Exodus 24:12-18
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.’

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

I have repeatedly said patience is a fruit of the spirit I lack*. This is one of the instances I prefer the King James translation, which rather than using the word patience, calls it long-suffering**.

I finally realized that the word is fruit, singular, not fruits, plural. The fruit of the spirit is a package deal. Moses had to have possessed much patience to stay up on that mountain for so long. He did wait, and he received the laws of God and carefully retained the instructions for how to use them. Surely, he was consoled by the other parts of the Spirit’s presence. At the end of this sojourn with God, he carries the tablets with the commandments etched on them down the mountain when he discovered the Israelites worshiping a golden calf idol. They did not have the patience to wait for his return. He dashed the tablets to the ground and broke them; then, he destroyed the idol. His patience had run out.

As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. —Exodus 32:19-20

The laws were recovered and built into our understanding and worship of God to this day. We also learned that there is a time and place for patience and a time to express anger if appropriate.

Prayer: Lord, help us to maintain our connection with your Spirit so that we can correctly identify when it is time to be patient and a time to express anger ruled by the boundaries of love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Amen.

*Galatians 5:22-23–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.

**( https://biblehub.com/greek/3115.htm) Greek translation: 3115 makrothymía (from 3117 /makrós, “long” and 2372 /thymós, “passion, anger”) – properly, long-passion, i.e. waiting sufficient time before expressing anger. This avoids the premature use of force (retribution) that rises out of improper anger (a personal reaction).

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.

Providing for the Common Good

Ordinary Time

February 13, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Exodus 24:12-18
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.’

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Tracking bills in the state legislature and Congress over the years has become my advocation. It was part of my job when I worked, but now it is part of my advocacy work. God created the world out of chaos. We, the people, are challenged to follow God’s example by establishing laws and rules to maintain a peaceful and just world. Many of our laws are based on those ancient laws, from though shalt not kill to ensuring our food is safe to eat. Some of the Commandments involve our relationship with God. Others spell out issues of providing for the Common Good for everyone. Some are broad in nature, others very specific, and all are open to our interpretation.

Governments are created to provide for the Common Good. King David, as a monarch, was charged with caring for widows and orphans. He also oversaw a powerful army. Americans, through their constitution, established a representative democracy where the people are ultimately responsible for finding common ground for the Common Good.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in our discernment of what the Common Good is and help us hold our representatives accountable for providing the Common Good. 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.

Enabling “Yes” and “No”

Ordinary Time

February 12, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 5:21-37

‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one. –Matthew 5:33-37

I have been called to jury duty twice. The first time I was never selected to serve and spent most of my time reading books or visiting with other people who had been summoned by not called. That was a long time ago; the process has been streamlined. In my second experience, shortly after checking in, I was assigned to a civil trial. I do not remember the details, but I wondered why it even came to court. The issues of concern seemed very clear. We, twelve jurors, listened to both sides present their cases, got the instructions on how we were to proceed, and withdrew to the jury room. The first order of busy was to poll the jury to see where we stood on the contested issue. All twelve jurors agreed on how the case should be handled. I do not know how often that happens, but the required paperwork was completed, and we returned to the courtroom. The verdict was read, and the judge thanked us for our service, ending my second jury duty involvement. It took me more time to drive back and forth to the courthouse than to serve on the jury.

The truth is rarely the cause of conflict; agreeing on what is true gets complicated. I love that God gave us a plumbline on which to discern what is true, what is of God, and what is not.

‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ’(Matthew 22:36-40)

If something is not of love, it is not of God, no matter how hard we try to twist and turn events to fit our definition of what is right.

Jesus, quite intentionally, I think, gives us examples of how we try so hard to get around those commandments. The Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25-37), for example, and the experience with the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-27). We must consider issues by clearing away the cultural and worldly cobwebs that dim our understanding and apply God’s plumbline of love to discern God’s righteousness enabling us to say with a clean heart “yes” or “no.”

Prayer: Lord, help us remember that the truth will set us free from the controls of the world when we seek it with all our hearts. 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.

Communicating with Others

Ordinary Time

February 11, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 5:21-37

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. –Matthew 5:21-37

I have been working on a document,” How to Talk to a Legislator,” and I realized that there is no difference in how we talk to a legislator as there is to talk to anyone. First, we must recognize who and what they are. We speak differently to a child than to an adult, to a person who is hard of hearing, and to someone whose expertise is different from ours.  

Anger has its place; Jesus ran the moneychangers out of the Temple area with a whip (John 2:15). In most discussions, anger can be more destructive than helpful in discourse. Our messages are better received when we tell our story succinctly and personally. My niece is pregnant, and the hospital in her hometown has told her there will be no room for her to deliver her baby when it is due. The next closest hospital is 30 miles away. In fact, I know people who must travel over 100 miles to find a hospital for any service. We, the people, through our legislative process, really need to address the lack of health care in rural areas to provide for the Common Good.

Our discourse as a people has turned raw. We do not listen or hear what is trying to be shared. Too often, we lack the understanding and care about what another is trying to communicate, which can end up in violence and even murder.

Prayer: Open our hearts to hearing and understanding the needs of people. Help us express our own needs to be better understood, and help us to strive for common ground to provide for the Common Good. 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.