Author Archives: WOJ@deborahsdescendants.com

Sharing Christ

Living in the Spirit

October 13, 2022

Scripture Reading:

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, and equipped for every good work. –2 Timothy 3:14-17

From whom did you learn it? Paul wrote this probably with himself in mind, but in 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul lifts up Timothy’s mother and grandmother,

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.

We all have someone in our lives who have left their imprint on our souls. I often describe my mother as the world’s greatest egalitarian. I occasionally see that trait in myself and my siblings. My dad gave me the joy of music in celebrating the love of God.

Beyond family, my faith life has been touched by pastors and Sunday school teachers. I was recently reminded of the teachings of two of my professors as I read their obituaries. Dr. Robert Simpson introduced me to finding faith in literature, and Dr. Joe Jones reminded this justice nut of the need to consider the forces of principalities and powers.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NRSV)

What we all must consider is how we are modeling Christ for the next generations.

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Refrain:
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.

2 Tell the sweet story of Christ and his love,
Tell of his pow’r to forgive;
Others will trust him if only you prove
True, ev’ry moment you live.

Prayer: Lord, make us a blessing for someone today. Amen.

First and second verses and the refrain of Make Me A Blessing by Ira B. Wilson see at https://hymnary.org/text/out_in_the_highways_and_byways_of_life

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.

Opening our Hearts to God’s Lov

October 12, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
   from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
   who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
   he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
   the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
   he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time on and forevermore.

We are wise to seek higher ground. We need to lift our eyes to the hills. We can easily get mired in the everyday rush of life but particularly when we have no control over what is going on about us. I awoke to the news this morning that Ukraine had been hit by a barrage of missiles from Russia.  All week I watched videos of hurricane victims trying to make sense of the fact that they can no longer recognize their neighborhoods. These people certainly need to lean heavily on God. Most of us, however, get bogged down in the pesky interruptions in our lives. They seem to add up until their heaviness holds us back from being the person God has created us to be. Spending time with God is the best way to let those burdens fall from our being and lift us to a better perspective.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to routinely lift our eyes to higher ground from time to time as a part of our everyday 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Growing into Faith

Living in the Spirit

October 11, 2022

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:22-31
The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip.

We are always the child of our parents, but at some point, in our lives, we must transition to being fully responsible for our actions and decision. We call it adulthood. It is not defined by age but by that point in time when we step out and take responsibility for who we are and what we do. It is also when we personally commit ourselves to God. Jacob came lately to that point. His story describes a person who was full of himself. He stole his brother’s birthright and cheated his father-in-law out of sheep. I do not know what he had in mind when he decided to return to his original home. It may have been to continue his conman habits, but as he traveled home, he had an encounter with God that turned him around refocusing his skills and talents on following God putting all those misplaced skills to better use.

Self-examination needs to be a part of our lives. Are we investing our skills and talents to fulfill our calling of creating the beloved community, the Kingdom of God in this world today? Sometimes such self-examination may result in our, too, wrestling with God until we understand our role in that calling.

Prayer: Lord, grace us with finding our role in the development of the beloved community and dedicating ourselves to its fulfillment. 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.

Turning To a Better Way

Living in the Spirit

October 10, 2022

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-34
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. In those days they shall no longer say:
‘The parents have eaten sour grapes
   and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

In so many ways like the people of Israel, we have lost our way, and we are paying for it dearly through the outcomes of our children. Indeed, we have eaten sour grapes set our children’s teeth on edge. A law was past this year requiring school systems that have ID cards for their children to include the help number for suicide prevention on the card because we are experiencing so much suicide among our youth. The time is now for us to turn this mess around. We can return to the Lord and live in the light of his covenant of love. Love is not severe rules and harsh judgments of others. It is the love that says do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Matthew 7:12) and Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29) God is always pulling with us.

Prayer: Lord, renew in us a right spirit*. Amen.

*From Psalm 51:10

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.

How do we judge others?

Living in the Spirit

October 9, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’

Jesus weaves many lessons into simple stories. Here he deals with racism while ostensibly addressing the need to thank God for God’s blessings. We humans do not like to be confronted directly with our prejudices. We all have them, and we all do not recognize them as judging people by some preconceived idea of who they are. Have you ever wondered why we seem to have such easy access to Canada and they to us, but have the need to build walls between the USA and Mexico? Racism is a relatively new concept, with 19th-century origins perhaps evolving from the aftermaths of the Civil War. What we classify as racism in the Bible was more like tribalism not based on skin color or other physical traits. Bigotry by any other name is just as discriminatory.

In this scripture, Jesus demonstrated that he judged people as Martin Luther King stated: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts and minds to see people for who they are not some preconceived notion handed down to us through history. 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.

Borders

Living in the Spirit

October 8, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’

My first thought when I read this scripture was that there is no region between Samaria and Galilee. And, yes, I agree that is a strange thing to get hung up on when reading the Bible. Not wanting to depend on my memory I pulled up a map and, indeed, much of Samaria and Galilee share a border. On the eastern boundary, however, there is an area between Samaria and Galilee which is an extension of the Decapolis that consisted of several Hellenistic cities*. Samaritans and Jews had a long history of disagreement and avoided each other as much as possible. Jesus did not avoid anyone. He wandered not only through Sumara but also through the Hellenistic cities of the Decapolis. He modeled for us that there are no borders in the Kingdom of God.

Why are borders so important to us? Social scientists call it ethnocentricity, which means we are inclined to regard one’s own race or social group as the center of culture**.  As we interact with “the other” we often discover that they may have customs that are more practical or easier than ours and they may learn from some of our practices. We only hurt ourselves by bordering off “the others” who are our neighbors.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the worth in each person and culture we encounter. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decapolis

**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/ethnocentricity

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.

Either Or

Living in the Spirit

October 7, 2022

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. –2 Timothy 2:14-15

I have spent much of my life as a policy analyst “wrangling over words.” I remember once discussing with a federal partner a plan for a program we were implementing. The federal rule stated that the state could do this activity or that activity. We submitted our plan to do both. The federal person notified us that we had to pick one. I counter that if that was the case they needed to have said states could do either this activity or that activity and referred her to the unabridged dictionary for the meaning of the word “or.” Truth be told we were already doing both activities and wanted to get as many federal dollars for the program as we could. I failed except they did add the word “either” in the regulation. This was a good-natured discourse, but all are not.

How do we avoid wrangling that is divisive? I think the most important thing we must do when communicating with others is to practice the art of not only listening but also hearing what the other is saying. We must try to determine the cause of the difference of opinion. That is particularly important regarding discussions among people with different worldviews. Getting to know someone outside the parameters of the subject being discussed is very helpful. Opening ourselves to others so they can see us as a person rather than an enemy helps.

The idea this scripture suggests is that God is a third presence in any dialogue we might have. We should recognize God as a source of better understanding of another person, and we should never say anything to anyone without realizing we are saying it also to God.  

Prayer: Lord, guide us in our communications with others as we strive to develop the beloved community. 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.

Bring Us Together

Living in the Spirit

October 6, 2022

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself. –2 Timothy 2:8-13

I always have a problem with words like “elect.” They ring of privilege over others.  We are granted the freedom to choose to follow Jesus or not. I suppose that could be written elected to follow. Jesus, however, loves all of God’s children even those who do not choose to follow him. Jesus also saw the righteousness in people who did not proclaim to be his follower even though they lived his example. The phrase if we deny him, he will also deny us; may simply mean Jesus does not force himself upon anyone. It rings true to the instruction in Matthew 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

As we plow our way through our midterm elections, we may want to consider what “elect” means as we elect people to work together toward finding common ground for the Common Good which is their assignment. I fear we have lost track of that reality. Some do not want to work together in search of common ground, and it appears that some do not want the Common Good. Some have their own definition of what is Good that only includes those who agree with them. How we reshape our government during this election will have a lasting impact on our lives for many years. We need leadership that can walk away from the negative influences and bring our country together.

Prayer: Lord,  bring us together, Lord, bring us together in 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Fear

Living in the Spirit

October 5, 2022

Scripture Reading: Psalm 111
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
   in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
   studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work,
   and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
   the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
   he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
   in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
   all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established forever and ever,
   to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
   he has commanded his covenant forever.
   Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
   all those who practice it have a good understanding.
   His praise endures forever.

While visiting a museum at the University of Texas, I rounded a corner and found myself face to face with an enormous stone that had facial characteristics carved on it. I screamed and then looked around embarrassed to see if anyone heard or noticed me. It was a god from antiquities.  We would call it an idol. Just its size scared me. Thank goodness the museum was empty of other visitors in the area I was observing. I stood and studied it and wondered about the people who carved it and most likely worshipped it. A big solid rock is not something to fear. It would have taken a strong push to tip that rock over. Studying it, I wondered about how we perceive God. Fear can mean being in awe of something and that certainly applies to God. I liked the phrase in the above poem He provides food for those who fear him. I envisioned trying to entice a hurt animal to let me care for it by enticing it with a bit of food. And then I move to the closing lines and read The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Tying those two phrases together we realize that everything that entices us is not good for us, but God is always good for us. Discerning the difference between God’s love and the temptations of the world is indeed the beginning of wisdom.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the wisdom to discern the differences between knowing you more nearly and the enticements of the world that distract us. 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.

Intentional Harmony

Living in the Spirit

October 4, 2022

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, ‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, ‘Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.’

But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, ‘Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.’ 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. 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.

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.’

How many of our problems have simple solutions that we just do not want to do? From eating healthy food rather than junk to simply putting something in the trash can rather than letting trash stack up in all the wrong places. How does that idea apply to our faith lives? One of my study groups is reviewing the Ten Commandants, guidance for living that most of us have known since early childhood. How much do we practice it? Jesus took those words to higher ground with the Sermon on the Mount when he prescribed taking preventive measures, so we never have to deal with the thou shalt nots in the Ten Commandments. We are all called to be intentional about our lives in Christ.  For example,

‘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. (Matthew 5:21-22)

Prayer: Lord, help us become intentional in living our lives in concert with your plan for all live in harmony. 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.