Category Archives: Uncategorized

Picking Leaders

Living in the Spirit
October 18, 2018

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
‘You are my Son,
   today I have begotten you’;
as he says also in another place,
‘You are a priest forever,
   according to the order of Melchizedek.’ –Hebrews 5:1-6

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.“*

Referring to the scripture above we might ask what is in a title? Christ as High Priest is an example to emulate as is Melchizedek. Other High Priests are not considered good role models**. The same could be said for the title “politician” in our times. Politician is not a derisive title. Having served many years as a politician does not mean one is corrupt. Listening to the adds on TV during this campaign season we are fed a negative opinion of politicians. Abraham Lincoln was a stealthy politician holding the USA together when it was nearly severed. Franklin Roosevelt too was a seasoned politician guiding our country out of the depression and World War II. They neither were perfect but they both dedicated their lives to the Common Good and moved our country forward despite its dire situations. Both men in very real ways gave their lives for our country. Lincoln was assassinated, and Roosevelt finally wore himself out.

Titles do not define people; people give credence to titles. Christ set a high standard for all who serve in the ministry he began with his life, death, and resurrection. Just as we desire that all who follow Christ add value to the coming of God’s Kingdom, we want all our political leaders to add value to the governance of our cities, counties, states, and nation. Christ is a reflection of God who sent him unto us to be our High Priest. Are our political leaders a reflection of us, since we are the ones who select them?

Prayers: Lord, guide our discernment as we select leaders for our country in our upcoming election?

*From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) by William Shakespeare
**See Jeremiah 5:31 or Hosea 5:1

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.

Finding Common Ground

Living in the Spirit
October 10, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 22:1-15

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
   Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
   and by night, but find no rest.

Yet you are holy,
   enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
   they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved;
   in you they trusted, and were not put to shame. –Psalm 22:1-5

We look very much like our ancestors in faith described by the Hebrew prophets. They were split into sides each thinking they had the corner on God. Jesus understood this when he said ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. (Matthew 12:25)

People who claim to be Christ followers need to seek the things on which we can agree and work diligently to bring those things to full fruition and let the issues that divide us lay fallow for a while. Land left fallow is allowed the opportunity to regenerate its nurturing properties. I firmly believe that many of the divisive issues would disappear if we simply did what Jesus encourage us to do in Matthew 25:

  • Feed the hungry
  • Provide safe water for the thirsty
  • Clothe the naked
  • Care for the sick
  • Restore the prisoner
  • Welcome the stranger

Prayer:
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love,
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
We are many textures, we are many colors,
Each one diff’rent from the others.
But we are entwined with one another
In one great tapestry….

 Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love,
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
We are diff’rent instruments, playing our own melodies,
Each one tuning to a diff’rent key.
But we are all playing in har-mon-y
In one great symphony

 Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love,
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
A moment ago, still we did not know
Our unity, only diversity.
Now the Christ in me greets the Christ in thee
In one great family* Amen.

* Music & Lyrics by Rosemary Crow Copyright 1979

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.

Sexual Assault

Living in the Spirit
October 5, 2018

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

 ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
   or mortals, that you care for them?
You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;
   you have crowned them with glory and honor,
subjecting all things under their feet.’

 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,
‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
   in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ –Hebrews 2:6b-8, 10-12

Sexual assault and its ramifications are currently in every news report. Of course, sexual assault is not about sex. It is about lust for power and fulfilling some primal need to gain power through violence. It is about trying to prove oneself by meeting some unwritten code that threads through our society. It is the opposite of understanding that all people are created in the image of God and thus each person is a person of worth deserving the respect and dignity that comes with being a child of God. Such respect and dignity including the right of everyone to control the sanctity of their own bodies should be encoded into the character of every child by the time they reach kindergarten. That clearly has not been the outcome in child rearing and education in our culture today.

I heard comments several times this week all from males, that we are ruining people’s lives, primarily the lives of male perpetrators, by bringing up sexual assault issues from their distant pasts. I also heard many testimonies from victims of how their lives were ruined by sexual assault. As a strong supporter of restorative justice, I do not want anyone’s life ruined. The best way to prevent that from happening is to work intentionally toward removing the cultural norms from our society that encourage lust for power fulfilled through violence and measures of self-worth that denigrate. Such changes must start at birth and continue throughout life.

Beyond prevention, perpetrators must acknowledge their past and present actions that caused harm to others and work not only to make amends for them but to clear the ideas that reinforced the behaviors from their way of being. Victims must seek help as needed to return to becoming the person they were created to be.

Prayer: Lord, I sometimes wonder why we humans work so hard at building our own set of values by which to measure our success when you provide a framework for loving that includes all we need to succeed. Clean our mental an spiritual filters so we can be filled with your ways. 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.

Faith Integrity

Living in the Spirit
October 2, 2018

Scripture Reading: Job 1:1, 2:1-10

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.

  Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips. –Job 2:9-10

I followed a dear friend out of church yesterday as he shuffled dragging uncooperative Parkinson’s afflicted feet behind a walker. I had just consulted him about an issue with my house and received his wise, expert recommendations.  We were leaving a dinner where I had arrived late finding the closest vacant chair. It was fortuitous for me to find a seat next to my friend as I had been intending to call him for advice about my house issue and just never thought of it when I could call. I did not think of that, however, as I joined the table of these friends. They were sharing a conversation about sports. They also were nearly finished eating as I began my lunch. While I ate, I observed the comradery of people who were comfortable with each other and who respected the insights and joy at favored teams winning games along with concern about the USA not doing well at the Rider Cup. There is much more to life than loathsome sores or Parkinson’s ravages. Loving one’s neighbor includes loving them in the good times and through the bad.

The Integrity to Be Friends
By John Tiong Chunghoo

put two stones
as close to each other
as you can.

 put two men too,
close to each other.

 what’s the similarity? 

if both do not have
the integrity to
really understand
each other for the
common good,
two million years
from now they
would still be as good
as – mere stones.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the integrity to really understand each other 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.

Journeying With

Living in the Spirit
September 28, 2018

Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. –James 5:19-20

I am a fan of Father Brown the TV show on PBS. While a good murder mystery is entertaining, I am more impressed with his interactions with his fellow human beings. He accepts everyone where they are, just as they are and journeys with them as they strive to reach their full potential. He does hold people’s feet to the fire; they need to face the facts of what they are doing or have done whether it is related to the case at hand or not. He is quick to assure them that God is forgiving if they confess and repent although they still may face the consequences of their actions. In that case, he will be there with them fulfilling the charge to visit those in prison. It is rare but on occasion, he runs into what I would call pure evil and he mourns souls caught in evil’s tangles unwilling to ask God to extract them from its clenches.

The problem in following the guidance of the above scripture is that it places us in the predicament of assuming that truth as we perceive it is The Truth applicable to everyone. It takes only a few minutes in an ecumenical setting to discern that committed Christ followers differ on what The Truth is. Jesus solves this issue by prescribing how we are to act rather than creating rules for us to follow. We are to love, clean and simple and that means we journey with each other allowing the power of love to offer course correction if needed through our abiding presence and representations of God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse us of all judgment so we can be the conduit of your love others who feel estranged from you. 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.

Singing Songs of Praise

Living in the Spirit
September 27, 2018

Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. –James 5:13-18

I do agree that people who are cheerful should sing songs of praise and I think people who suffer should sing and those who are sick should at least listen to music. William Congreve may have said it best:
Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak*.

David played the harp to calm King Saul’s anxiety. Paul led by example when his and Silas’ singing in prison spread hope throughout and beyond its walls while buoying their soul’s**.

Stress is a part of life. Building in meaningful music breaks into each day can lift our spirits and re-energize us. Try it. I like to listen to It is Well with My Soul while stretching. Trying walking to Siyahamba***, you will get a good workout for your body as well as your spirit.

Prayer: Lord, help me sing to you a new song. Amen.

*Take from The Mourning Bride by William Congreve.

**See 1 Samuel 16:14-23 and Acts 16:16-40
***See words in both English and African at http://www.mariafidelis.camden.sch.uk/_files/Words%20for%20Choir%20Songs/siyahamba1.pdf
Need to learn the tune? There are several on YouTube, for example, try https://www.google.com/search?ei=8hepW9S7FYSJ0gKkzqfYAQ&q=siyahamba+lyrics&oq=seyhamba&gs_l=psy-ab.1.1.0i13l10.1017443.1034868..1041918…1.0..0.145.2381.0j20……0….1..gws-wiz…….0j0i71j35i39j0i13i30j0i13i5i30j0i131j0i67j0i131i67j0i20i264j0i10j0i30j0i10i30.3C2ZvToSRsU

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.

Being Whole

Living in the Spirit
September 16, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-38

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ –Mark 8:34-38

What is the price of selling one’s soul? Generally, adultery is related to being married and having a sexual relationship with someone who is not one’s spouse.  It also refers to religious infidelity, which is the practice of idolatry. Looking in all the wrong places for satisfaction in life is adultery through idolatry. Why do we reach out in every direction grabbing at anything searching for something to do what? Why do we feel such a void in our lives? Money, sex the accumulations of things, are lesser gods that never result in satisfaction.

So, what does Jesus mean in the scripture above when he says if we lose our lives for his sake we will save it? I wonder if it has to do with who we are created to be and unless we actualized who we are created to be we will never fully be us. A relationship with Jesus brings out the us in us.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
   for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
   my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
   my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. (Psalms 62:5-7)

Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation, so rich and free*. Amen.

*Words by Mr. and Mrs. Seth Sykes and Phil Laeger

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 Do You Say I Am?

Living in the Spirit
September 15, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:27-38

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. –Mark 8:27-30

Who do we say that Jesus is? I am what some call a cradle Christian I learned Jesus Loves Me when I was in the womb. From the beginning, Jesus was my friend. At some point, Jesus became my standard, my role model, perhaps my conscience. Perhaps that was my elementary introduction to the Holy Spirit.  The older I got that role morphed into Jesus being my guide and my life’s traveling companion. Please note that all these relationships are “me and Jesus”, one on one.

My sense of Jesus as one to many grew through my childhood also. I was a justice advocate in grade school. When I saw my sister being discriminated against in 4-H contests, I dropped out of 4-H in protest. As a child of the 60’s I was molded through the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Routinely bumping up against a glass ceiling throughout my career added credence to the need for justice for all.

I finally realized I too could answer the question “Who do you say that I am?” “You are the Messiah”, the chosen one, the promised one, come to set the world on its correct course and calling me and all of us to join with him in that quest.

Prayer: Messiah, join us together to maximize our efforts toward making a world ruled by love a reality. 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.

The Precepts of the Lord Are Right

Living in the Spirit
September 12, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect,
   reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
   making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
   enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
   enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
   and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
   even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
   and drippings of the honeycomb. –Psalm 19:7-10

I write this after reading in the morning paper the plans of our current federal administration to back the USA further out of Environmental Protection Agency safeguards and preventive measures designed to deal with the clear and present dangers that climate change is having on our world. Just before I read the newspaper I sent a Facebook message to a friend who lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina wishing him God’s protections as he evacuates his home in preparation for a level 4 hurricane bearing down on his community. He knows the drill; he had to evacuate last year and recover from hurricane damage. This storm is worse.

God’s laws are not just the 613 recorded in the Torah. God’s laws are embedded in every blade of grass and human heart. When we break God’s laws, we pay the consequences. The creation story tells us that we are to be stewards of the earth. Having dominion means having responsibility not license to destroy for greed.

Throughout history, climate change cycles have happened whether caused by humans or occurring naturally. We are charged with the responsibility of responding appropriately as God has endowed us with the wisdom to do.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fail to care for the earth which you graciously provided for our sustenance and enjoyment. Grant us the wisdom as we follow the course of our interrelation with our ecosystems to foster the greater good for the earth and all that is on it. 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.

Hearing God

Living in the Spirit
September 9, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:24-37

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’ –Mark 31-37

I learned recently that hearing loss can contribute to dementia symptoms. Hearing loss evolves with age and people withdraw more and more into themselves as they gradually begin to miss more and more of conversations perhaps being embarrassed to continually ask, “What did you say?” As people’s hearing changes over time some begin to talk softer as they may hear themselves louder than others hear them making it even more difficult for those with hearing loss to comprehend what is being said. I am a strong proponent of using good hearing devices if they are available for those with hearing losses. Background noise bothers me more than anything and that is a whole other problem.

Reading today’s scripture made me wonder if over time we experience spiritual deafness. Are we always attentive to the still small voice that speaks to our hearts and guides us on our faith journey? Is our own voices of anxiety, anger, fear, drowning out the Spirit’s voice? Am I allowing the background noise of the world to interfere with taking in Your truth?

Prayer: Lord, place your healing fingers in my soul’s ears and open them to hear your voice more clearly. 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.