Author Archives: WOJ@deborahsdescendants.com

Angel Unaware

Eastertide

May 20, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:12-17
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. God knows who God’s children are. We were not given the job of that discernment. Thus, we are called to love ourselves and all others. Hebrews 13:2 says it this way: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. The Vatican amplified this idea with the Angels Unawares sculpture by Timothy Schmalz installed in St. Peter’s Square on September 29, 2019, the 105th World Migrant and Refugee Day.

Dale Evans’ book Angel Unaware taught me about welcoming all people as children of God. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers were movie and TV stars who had a baby they named Robin. Robin was born with Downs Syndrome. Rather than sending her to a home for children with special needs, they chose to raise her at home and ended up changing the way all children with disabilities are welcomed. Robin died when she was two years old, and Dale Evans poured her grief into the writing of this book. She wrote it from Robin’s perspective, looking down from heaven telling God about how she had completed her mission of love. That love continues to be shared here in Oklahoma City at the Dale Rogers Training Center.

Paul reminds us in this scripture that God is the final judge, and our job is to follow God’s example of loving one another until love rules the world. Loving-kindness can restore people to wholeness, and sharing it usually grows our ability to love.

Prayer: Lord, teach us the truth of Robin, whose short sojourn in life spread love throughout our land. Please help us to do the same. 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.

God’s Strength

Eastertide

May 19, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
   worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
   the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.

May the Lord give strength to his people!
   May the Lord bless his people with peace! —Psalm 29:1-2.10-11

I have heard children of very prominent people say that he was just Dad or she was just Mom, and that was great to them, but they for a long time did not realize who Dad or Mom was to the world or the impact either of them had. I think it is good to have that deep relationship with God. I will always consider Jesus as my friend who was with me starting in childhood. Thus, it may be hard for some of us to realize the fuller nature of God.

The word strength is mentioned in this Psalm related to God and as the Lord gives it to God’s people. God always seems to think of us as what? Family? Community? No, but in the totality of people. We quickly get the idea of family and soon develop an understanding of community. Why is it so hard for us to welcome the breadth of God’s people? Including all humans, all made in God’s image.

We humans seem to need to define who God’s people are. Some limit God to their specific faith system. Others delegate human connection to God by the color of their skin or nationality or political view, or any other attributes that set them apart as uniquely God’s people. God seems to recognize all people as God’s people, even those who do not return the relationship. God indeed wants to have a connection with all, but God wants us each to make that decision by choice. That is the essence of love, enjoying the absolute best for someone with no strings attached and rejoicing if they respond. Claiming to love God is the easy part. God expects us to love one another no matter what. Our loving one another is our best way to show God we love God. We should not let that scare us. God gives the strength to do just that.

Prayer: Glory to God in the highest who blesses us with peace.  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.

Dry Bones

Eastertide

May 18, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’—Ezekiel 37:1-14

This allegory of the dry bones fits our world today. As we hear and watch bombs flying from Israel and Palestine at each other, we wonder how many real bones will be lifeless soon. Ezekiel does not address arming up for battle to retake land. He is dealing more with keeping our part of the covenant with God to serve God only and to welcome the Spirit of God as our guide. I am amazed how quickly we humans can move from God’s promise of abundance and love to greed and lust for power. We do not acknowledge a measurable quantity of enough. Worse yet, we do not care how many bones we leave on the field as we claw our way over them to gain more than enough. When the author of the 23rd Psalm declares that my cup overflows, he talks about God’s love and protection from all types of enemies not having more material wealth than needed.

We need a moral revival to get our priorities straight. Coming out of a pandemic is a good time to assess our lives and how we live them, considering all people and their needs. We have learned a heavy lesson that all God’s children are needed for societies to thrive. It is a sad commentary when there are not enough people to bury the dead. Many of us were retired or able to work from home and missed the contagion all around. At the same time, clerks risk their lives selling the necessities to maintain our wellbeing, as did health care workers, janitors, and bus drivers, many of whom do not earn a living wage.

Prayer: Lord, do not let us breathe a sigh of relief as this pandemic seems to be lifting. Help us remember the lessons we learned about the challenges of those who work hard for not enough income. 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

Eastertide

May 17, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
“In the last days it will be, God declares,
   and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
   and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
   in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
     and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
   and signs on the earth below,
     blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
   and the moon to blood,
     before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” –Acts 2:14-21

The Holy Spirit is a mysterious messenger and guide in our lives. Our ability to interact with the Spirit enables our work toward building a homeland for all people ruled by love. As a young child, one of our neighbors invited my family to a revival meeting at their Pentecostal church. We slipped into seats toward the back of the church, and by the time the first few songs had been sung, I was under the pew watching the service from between my parents’ legs. I had never experienced anything like that. I remember it but I do not think it left any lasting impact on me. My Mom explained that people worshipped God in different ways.

Fast forward to the 1970s, when the charismatic movement was popular, I was invited to a house meeting where people shared their experiences with the Holy Spirit. I was encouraged to kindle my relationship with the Spirit. I thanked the friend who had invited me but did not attend again.

Even though these corporate experiences did not appeal to me, I wanted to understand this third part of my relationship with God. I am a monotheist and recognize God’s omnipotence. I adopted Jesus Christ quickly as my role model and teacher. And I finally came to realize that this mysterious messenger and guide had always been with me and would always be. The Holy Spirit, for me, is more akin to Elijah’s still small voice or Jacob’s wrestling match on his return trip home. Now I recognize that those two understandings differ significantly. Thus, I have concluded that the Holy Spirit molds its responses to my needs. The Holy Spirit knows when I need to be consoled and when I need to be stirred into action, thus following its guidance is an ultimate act of faith.

Prayer:
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me. Amen*.

First verse of Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me, by Daniel Iverson, see at https://hymnary.org/text/spirit_of_the_living_god_fall_iverson

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.

Truth and Consequences

Eastertide

May 16, 2021

Scripture Reading: John 17:6-19
‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

I find myself wondering whether what I write is understood the way I mean it. I have learned the hard way that I should never respond to a social media post with a correction of a statement someone had made, even one I considered a neutral issues, that was not the way the authors perceived them. I appreciate someone calling my attention to a typo or a wrong fact. I am learning the hard way that in our society today, truth is flexible. What does Jesus mean when he prays Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

To sanctify means to make holy. That tells me that we must delve deeply into the word of God, asking God’s guidance in understanding. It also means we must take truth seriously and live with mercy in our hearts.  

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare,
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh and love and lift,
I would look up, and laugh and love and lift.

Prayer: Lord, guide me as I try to communicate what I perceive as truth that others do not. Help all your followers as we dialogue about your word, listen and learn, and share as we try to discern the source of differences on our way to truth. Amen.

Hymn I Would Be True by H. A. Walter see at https://hymnary.org/text/i_would_be_true_for_there_are_those

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.

Whose Testimony Do We Follow?

Eastertide

May 14, 2021

Scripture Reading:

1 John 5:9-13
If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Much chatter in our lives makes the discernment of what is of God and what is not hard. We fall prey to being manipulated by someone else’s ideology rather than identifying God’s truth. Messages are honed to target our areas of vulnerability. One word or image hits us like a tiny shock wave designed to enhance our support of or discredit a product, an issue, or a candidate. Some persons have very successfully adopted this form of communication in selling their understanding of God’s message. How do we discern the testimony of God?

One of the most powerful messages we receive is that we are not good enough. Whether we are told we need whiter teeth or a bigger house or more money, we are constantly barraged by media offering ways to improve. The problem that results from being persuaded that we are not good enough is that humans tend to compare ourselves with others so that if we think we are better than someone else, that somehow raises our good-enough status. In our heart of hearts, where God’s testimony rest, we know that is not true, and we think less of ourselves for it. God’s testimony at creation was that God looked on humankind and called it good, which is true today as much as it was on the first day.

Humans tend to cluster in groups of like-mindednesses. The strength of one’s group enhances the power of influence. Whole societies develop based on similarities of human testimony. Such groups choose to integrate their testimonies for the betterment of all or battle for dominance, with one group pressing its testimony on others. As I write this, the Israelis and the Palestinians are bombarding each other toward determining authority.

God’s testimony in Jesus Christ is that we are to share our witness to the world wrapped in God’s love and the love of one another.

Prayer: Lord, as we are called to be witnesses of your love, instill in us the wisdom to live your love in ways that open doors of understanding and pathways to peace. 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.

Calling God a Liar

Eastertide

May 13, 2021

Scripture Reading:
1 John 5:9-13
If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

When did truth become only that which is advantageous to me personally or to my chosen people? When did truth become clay to be strategically molded to selfish desires? Why would we ever have the audacity to make God a liar? Yet, we do it all the time when we do not live in God’s ways that were specifically designed to protect our wellbeing as God’s children.

Truth is on trial in the USA. Someone forwarded me a social media post recently that was headed The Fact. I read through the paragraph, which contained very few comments that met the definition of being a fact. It was a listing of the author’s opinions on various issues, which she certainly had the right to express. She ended the piece by saying something to the effect that if the reader cannot accept The Fact that she professed they needed to move to another country. We live in a world that if lies are repeated enough, people start to think they are true. In his book The Emperor’s New Clothing, Hans Christian Andersen taught me that when I was a child. I hope his work is still being read. It would be a good book for parents to share with their children. Here is the plot as summarized by Wikipedia:

Two swindlers arrive at the capital city of an emperor who spends lavishly on clothing at the expense of state matters. Posing as weavers, they offer to supply him with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are stupid or incompetent. The emperor hires them, and they set up looms and go to work. A succession of officials, and then the emperor himself, visit them to check their progress. Each sees that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool. Finally, the weavers report that the emperor’s suit is finished. They mime-dressing him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city. The townsfolk uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize that everyone has been fooled. Although startled, the emperor continues the procession, walking more proudly than ever*.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we identify lesser gods to follow that are not in our best interest or the best interest of all those we are called to love. Amen.

* Wikipedia’s plot summary of the The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen see at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Clothes

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.

Loving Self, Loving Others

Eastertide

May 12, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 1
Happy are those
   who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
   or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
   and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
   planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
   and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so,
   but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Lord is our judge and the judge of everyone*. None of us receive that assignment.  Our job is to love God with all our hearts, strength, souls, and minds, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves**.  God instilled in us the ability to do our job when we were made in God’s image***, the image of the One who is love. God was magnanimous (devoid of meanness) enough to desire that we choose to love by giving us free will. Love is not love unless it is freely given.

When I read the first part of Psalm 1, I was uplifted to be reminded that even amid evil, God is with us, loves us, and provides for our wellbeing. As I read the end of the second verse where it says the way of the wicked will perish, I realized it does not say the wicked will die, but their evil ways will be destroyed. If the evil ways are gone, the wicked are no longer wicked.

In our world today, we seem to have a pandemic of hate for those who do not view the world exactly as we do, which plays out as being self-righteous rather than the righteousness of God. The sad thing is that self-righteousness is often an expression of feelings of inferiority. At times we humans need to establish our self-worth by downgrading the worth of others.  All humans are made in the image of God. None of us need to establish that we are better than anyone else. God is great enough to love every one of us just as we are as we strive with God’s guidance to fulfill God’s dreams established at our creation. God can and will help us shed any wickedness we might have picked up along the way if we seek God’s help.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, forgive us when we do not love ourselves enough to understand what it means to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Help us see clearly when the questioning of our worth fogs our relationships.  Amen.

*John 5:22
**See Luke 10:27
***See Genesis 1:27

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.

Voting

Eastertide

May 11, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

The right to vote and control of who can vote is all over the news right now. Voting is essential for a democracy to be a democracy. We should never take it lightly. In 2020, I voted for the first time by mail because of COVID, and I must say I was a better-informed voter.

I could not miss the significant candidates and questions. They were constantly on my TV and in my mailbox. I had not paid much attention to the two men running for county sheriff or reviewing the city charter changes. It was not hard to do. I checked the sheriff candidates’ credentials and studied the charter changes. Had I stood in line for and hours or more in the June heat, having not done my homework, I would have grabbed my ballet completed the easy parts, and most likely skipped voting for a new sheriff or expressing my opinion on the city charter issues.

I did a study a few years ago about voting participation and discovered that less than half of registered voters in Oklahoma voted most years. This count did not include those who were eligible to vote but did not register. The result was that none of our elected officials won by a majority of legal voters. Truth is political parties, and people supporting specific issues only what the people to vote who will select their candidate or cause.

We, the people, must control voting. I think everyone should be required to register to vote at the age of eighteen, just like we require people to register for the draft. I also think Australia may be on to something. In Australia, if one does not vote and does not provide a good reason for failing to vote, they pay a fine. That is a little scary to consider. We might have to improve the quality of our education system so young people learn the responsibility they have as citizens.

People of faith have another consideration. We must consider our moral obligations as a citizen and do our part in assuring that our elected officials consider what is right and wrong for their constituents when making decisions, not what is best for their party or their wealthy donors or their personal wealth.

Prayer: God of Justice, help us strive for righteousness and justice in meeting our obligations as citizens. Amen.

Working Together

Eastertide

May 10, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.‘

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

The Disciples must have understood that Jesus selected 12 of them for a reason. Thus, after Judas’ death, the 11 remaining determined that they needed to choose someone to fill Judas’ spot. Having worked in administrative positions for years, I know the outcomes of being one person short, particularly when saving money resulted in routinely being understaffed. In most work environments, each person has particular skills crucial to the smooth completion of the work. For example, Paul describes the various gifts of the Spirit among Christians in 1 Corinthians 12. The understanding is that we all possess such gifts, and it is essential that we use them for the glory of God and the fulfillment of God’s vision of a Kingdom ruled by love.

Our job is to discern the role we are to play in that process, hone the skills we must use to the best of our ability, and work in sync with others as they share their gifts. That sentence was so easy to write but often so hard to actualize. Working with others also takes special skills. Working together as God’s servants requires us to connect regularly with the Spirit to mold us together in oneness.

Prayer:
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love*. Amen.

Chorus from the song Weave by Rosemary Crow. See it at http://awe.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=10306

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.