Author Archives: WOJ@deborahsdescendants.com

Fear Not

Advent

November 28, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Luke 21:25-36

‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ –Luke 21:34-36

God created a well-planned interdependent world where the gold standard for wellbeing is shalom— peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. Searching for a life outside of shalom is the road to destruction. Yet, that is precisely what many in our world are hellbent to do. Our failure to care enough for each other to be vaccinated quickly for COVID resulted in a more potent variant called Delta. Another variant, perhaps worse than Delta, called Omicron, has recently appeared in South Africa and maybe the worst one yet. Third-world countries have had the least opportunity to take preventative measures. The variants spread rapidly, and this latest one will be in our nations soon. People across the world are angry. They are tired of socially distancing, wearing masks, and getting shots. They want their pre-COVID lives back.

Jesus meant it when he said loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves* are the two most important commandments. He also increased our neighborhood to include the whole world**.  We hold our future in our hands. We can follow the way of Jesus working to restore wholeness across all lands while growing in love for the vast diversity God gifted to us in varied cultures, or we can follow the path of destruction.

Prayer: Lord, the divine admonition to “Fear not” is recorded in the Bible 365 times; help us remember it each morning as we face a new day and grant us the strength to strive for shalom without fear. Amen.

*Matthew 22: 35-40

**Matthew 28:18-20

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.

Experiencing Fury

Advent

November 27, 2021

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36

Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. –Luke 21:29-33

I am a fan of PBS News Hour and on Thanksgiving Day it was a welcome reprieve since most other news had been replaced by football. I happen to enjoy a good football game, so I am not being critical just thankful for its inclusion as an option. Two of the segments presented particularly caught my attention. One was Why cultural and political divides in the U.S. seem to be getting worse. The other was How broken faith in American institutions is creating a ‘rising sense of fury’*. I have observed and been concerned about both issues for some time. I was particularly impressed by the statement that these phenomena do not occur overnight. They build for years before being fully manifested. One of the guests described how the cultural change that resulted in the Civil War matured over 30 years.

There is nothing new in these studies and observations. Just ask Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, Jeremiah, and the other prophets as Israel, like waves on the ocean, flowing in and out of cultural debacles, eventually resulting in exile. Humans do not want to hear what does not address their immediate desires.  Greed overcomes common sense. For example, this morning, I heard news stories about new and innovative ways to buy what we really cannot afford for Christmas this year. One way was what I would call after the purchase layaway payments.

Rectifying the cultural and political divides must start with examining what part we may be contributing to the problem. In the 1960s, when I graduated from college, one of the rewards was an onslaught of preapproved credit cards. I received gas, store, and general credit cards in the mail with a congratulations card for finishing school. All one had to do was sign and return the invitation. One night when I was paying the minimum amount due on all those bills at 18% interest, I realized I was wasting a lot of money. It took me over a year to pay them all off, but I did. I limited myself to one card that required total payment each month. Most of my friends were on the same credit merry-go-round that grows into most of society living beyond their means, and that results in trying to find anyone else to blame but ourselves.

I just gave one example of the build-up to fury. What I see in our culture today is people needing to be better than others to feel they are of worth. I do not know from where that comes, but it is not true and such measures of self-worth result in all kinds of divides that destroy our world.

Prayer: Lord, lead us in examining ourselves and enable us to be repairers of the breach**we find. Amen.

*To view them go to https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-cultural-and-political-divides-in-the-u-s-seem-to-be-getting-worse  and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-broken-faith-in-american-institutions-is-creating-a-rising-sense-of-fury

**See Isaiah 58:12

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.

Who Cares?

Advent

November 26, 2021

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

I am sick and tired of the news each morning reporting the same story—the report of who and where someone was shot, stabbed, or run down by a car and often killed during the night. As followers of Christ, we are called to be his conduit to increase and abound in love for one another and for all. How do we turn the violence around and focus that energy on building good, productive lives for all our citizens? Why is violence becoming the primary option in relationships? Why are so many people so hopeless that their lives become meaningless? Why do the rest of us say, who cares?

The Oklahoma City jail, now called a detention center, was recently condemned for use. The city is now planning to build a new facility. I pray we adjust our criminal justice system first. Many people in that facility are awaiting trial, sometimes for months, because they could not make bail. Often those same people lose their jobs, and just being in jail may stigmatize them from future employment. In addition, such detention could result in families being evicted even though the one being held has never been convicted of anything.  There must be a better way.

Prayer: Lord, help us find ways to do justice justly. 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.

Taking Joy in the Service of Others

Advent

November 25, 2021

Scripture Reading:
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

When Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, writers of the musical Oklahoma, wrote the line Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain, they clearly had direct knowledge of the weather in Oklahoma. I just returned from a graveside service in a cemetery on that plain where it was 60 degrees, and the winds were blowing 23 miles an hour with much higher gusts. The person whose life was being celebrated was a member of my church. Two women and one man I expected to see were there. They are always there when needed, quietly serving, hugging the family, sharing favorite memories, loving like Jesus. One shared with the daughter of the deceased that she received the call about her mother’s death just after the woman had finished baking the mother’s favorite bread; with no sugar, she could not have sugar. I walked to my car with the other woman I knew would be there, who said since she was out this way, she thought she would visit another lady from the church who lived in a nearby assisted living facility. That lady had just lost her brother. The behavior of these women is as much a part of their being as breath itself.

Indeed, how can we thank God enough for people like that in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of them?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for wonderful role models that model their lives after yours. 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.

Humility

Advent

November 24, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 25:1-10

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
   teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all day long.

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

Good and upright is the Lord;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. –Psalm 25:4-10

Humble: having a low opinion of one’s own importance or merits; modest or meek in spirit, manner, or appearance: not proud or haughty*.

The proud or haughty cannot be taught anything. Their opinions or values are their truth, whether it aligns with reality or not. Often their truths seep into our culture and are accepted as norms. God’s ways are not the ways of the proud or haughty. As I observed people, I discerned that one of the worst messages parents or others relay to children is that they are better than anybody else. Most children, deep in their hearts, know that is not true. They may be good at some things, but they see others whose skills are better than theirs in other areas. The results are far-reaching. Some who have been given that message become bullies, some develop inferior complexes, and some kill people in what they perceive as self-defense, not because their lives are in danger, but their self-image is threatened. Such minors should not be imprisoned, but they need help rather than being given licenses to kill or enable copycats.

People are created in the image of God, determined not by looks but by how they love. Therefore, we cannot follow the paths of the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness until we take off the garments of privilege.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). Amen.

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

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.

Righteous and Righteousness

Advent

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

The Hebrew word tsedaqah* is the root word translated righteous in the first instance in the above scripture and means honesty, justice, and merits related to government.  In the second usage, the last word in the scripture means righteousness as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity as it relates to the Messianic king**.

There is a bit of the separation of temple and state in these usages. The lines of governance are somewhat murky in the history of Israel. Cultural norms, civil law, and God’s laws are comingled a little more readily in the Hebrew experience than in our world today. In the USA, persons of all faiths may vote their conscience, and thus civil laws may be impacted by religion. Although I fear our national god of wealth has more influence at the ballot box than the God of love, some choose to follow. Politicians do actively work to confound the issues for their gain. The Hyde amendment, when applied, does not allow federal money to be used to pay for abortions based solely on making an exception for those who identify abortion as a sin. I have wondered why there is not a Hyde Amendment outlawing the use of tax dollars to pay for executions. I know tons of people of faith who do not believe in the death penalty, including me. Also, I would much rather have my tax dollars pay to end the need for war, not pay for unjust wars.

The difficult question is how do we come to oneness on understanding the Lord’s righteousness related to dealing with enemies and troubles, deliverance from persecution, a victory of that which holds us back from serving God fully, and mainly what is prosperity as it relates to the Messianic king? Jeremiah longed for the Messiah, we call Christ, to show us the right way, the just way to live together in shalom. Therefore, Advent is an excellent time to reacquaint ourselves with the one named Jesus, who we know now as Jesus the Christ.

Prayer: Lord, bless us with a greater understanding of the one Jeremiah longed for as we once again wait for the arrival of the Christ child. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6666.htm

**https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.htm

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.

Types of Love

Advent

November 22, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

An abundant life to the prophets is coupled with justice and righteousness, not wealth and power. Life as Jesus modeled it was one of loving and caring for others. Jesus also indicated that we could not love others unless we love ourselves. What does that mean? The word love is tossed about loosely in our culture. We often use the word love to describe what makes us happy. I just love that dress, song, ice cream. But what does loving oneself mean, and how do we apply that same behavior when dealing with others?

The Greek language identifies at least four words to describe what English melds together into the word love. C. S. Lewis describes these in his book The Four Loves as Affection (storge), Friendship (philia), Romantic (eros), Charity (agape).

The most familiar type of love, affection, may stand alone but often complements each of the other three. It’s the familiarity of “the people with whom you are thrown together in the family, the college, the mess, the ship, the religious house,” says Lewis*.

Lewis describes Friendship as the love dismissed. “Friendship must be about something,” Lewis says, “even if it were only an enthusiasm for dominoes or white mice. Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow-travelers.”

Romantic love is challenged by passion and, while significant in itself, can be considered lost if passion is not always present.

Charity is our chief aim, the unconditional love of the Father given to us through his Son. Affection, Friendship, and romantic love are each the training ground for charity to grow. . . we are made to love, and we are in want of it. As the parable says, if we play it safe, we are not living out the Gospel, but burying the coin in the safe ground.

God calls us to radical love, which may mean one ends up on a cross, but it always means that God is the author of life, which is written in the language of love and nothing is greater than God’s love. So we might want to identify the areas we have affection for ourselves–never dismiss friendships, letting romantic love blossom with and without passion, and cherishing the charity of God loving us no matter what. Once we accept these attributes, we need to share them with one another and all others.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to loving ourselves so we can love one another. Amen.

All descriptors of the four loves are taken from https://www.cslewis.com/four-types-of-love/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Higher Ground

Living in the Spirit

November 21, 2021

Scripture Reading:

John 18:33-37

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ 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.’

Our challenge from Jesus following his death and resurrection was to actualize a kingdom ruled by love for all people. We are called to a partnership with the Holy to plant our efforts, our feet on higher ground, see the bigger picture of justice and mercy, and work to make it real for all people.

The hymn Higher Ground expresses this well:

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground*.”

The hymn is most liked based on Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord;
   he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
   out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
   making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
   and put their trust in the Lord.

Prayer: “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” Amen.

*First verse of hymn Higher Ground written by Johnson Oatman Jr. see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/396

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.

Called to Do Justice

Living in the Spirit

November 20, 2021

Scripture Reading:

John 18:33-37

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ 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.’

Politics and faith are strange bedfellows. Pilate’s only concern regarded any threat Jesus might have on Pilate’s power. If the Jews stayed in their place, contributed to the Roman economy, and did not make waves, Pilate did not care what they believed. The Jews were able to enforce their religious laws up to the point of execution. Rome reserved the right to render final punishment. Thus, the Sanhedrin brought Jesus before Pilate, who weighed his options based on what was in it for him. So goes governance today.

Our society seems to have moved closer to “what is in it for me or mine” values rather than what is just. Libraries of books have been written discussing varying ideas about why Jesus was crucified. I, however, have not seen many delving into how his crucifixion focuses a bright light on justice or the lack of justice being one of the major impediments to the wellbeing of all. I am a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who strives to be a wholeness movement in a fragmented world*.  We are better at it at some times than other times, but the calling stands. I think this idea recognizes that being followers of Christ means taking responsibility for how our world functions. I fear we long for a god with a magic wand who will solve all our problems and the world’s problems by a simple wave of that wand. From the beginning of time, God gave us the choice of wholeness or fragmentation, righteousness or self-righteousness with the expectation that our doing justice leads to wholeness.

The Disciples, in shock, no doubt, stumbled around for several weeks after the resurrection until, as Acts 1 describes, they realized the needed to get their act together. Thus, they held a board meeting, elected a replacement for Judas, and said, “OK God, what do we do next.” Immediately, Acts 2 described the arrival of the Holy Spirit. I envision Jesus saying, “It is about time. Let’s go.” With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, those twelve people, along with many converts, change the world. We are called to follow their example.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to do justice as your followers. Amen.

*https://disciples.org/our-identity/our-mission-vision-and-confession/

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.

Jesus as Judge

Living in the Spirit

November 19, 2021

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds;
   every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
   and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

As I write this, I do not know whether Julius Darius Jones is alive or dead. He is scheduled to be executed at 4:00 pm this afternoon. There is much doubt regarding his guilt for the crime for which he was convicted. I wondered why a carjacking gone wrong resulted in a charge of first-degree murder anyway. However, District Attorney Robert Macy was well known for death penalty prosecutions. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency, but the Oklahoma Governor has the final say. He has been silent to this point. Julius Jones is black; the victim is white. I wondered what the results had been if the race of those involved had been unknown or if a white man had been accused of the same crime.

I understand that all involved will face final judgment by the one who freed us from our sins by his blood, one who was not guilty but was executed anyway.

Prayer: Lord, no matter what the results of this horrible reality are, let it be the stimulus to end the use of the death penalty in Oklahoma in recognition that final judgment does not lay in human hands. 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.