Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Image of the Invisible God

Jesus image of invisible GodLiving in the Spirit
July 14, 2016

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-28

 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. –Colossians 1:15-20

I heard an interview with Alton Sterling’s son, Cameron, this morning. Alton Sterling was the man killed by police recently in Louisiana. Cameron was talking about breaking down in tears while his mother was interviewed. He said that when he placed his arm around his mother to comfort her, he felt another’s arm on top of his. When he looked, he saw no one and realized that it was his father’s unseen arm. Knowing that his dad would be with him in spirit, if not physically, was an amazing revelation. His tears expressed gratitude for the love that surpasses physical life. This teenager expressed empathy for the children of the slain police in Dallas, and he begged that we all just try to get along. This young man knows the love of Christ, the image of the invisible God, Paul describes in our scripture today.

We need to invest some time and energy in reconnecting with this Christ. Spend some time with him on the mountain reacquainting ourselves with the beatitudes. (Matthew 5). Hear his call to discipleship again by the sea of Galilee. Renew our commitment to leave our comfort zones and work to make the whole world a comfort zone of love for all one neighbor at a time.

We need to learn for a teenager with a broken heart.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get so caught up in the busyness of our lives that we forget who we serve and why we serve you. Renew our faith, O, Lord. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A Living Wage

nickeled and dimedLiving in the Spirit
July 10, 2016

Scripture Reading: Amos 8:1-12

Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
   and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
saying, ‘When will the new moon be over
   so that we may sell grain;
and the Sabbath,
   so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
   and practice deceit with false balances,
buying the poor for silver
   and the needy for a pair of sandals,
   and selling the sweepings of the wheat.’ –Amos 8:4-6

Oklahoma has had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation for a while. Even in a major oil and gas economic downturn, our unemployment rate has only risen to about the national average.The problem for Oklahoma is not unemployment; it is underemployment. The median income in Oklahoma (half the population earns more than this amount and half less than the amount) is $46,235. The living wage for a family of four in Oklahoma with both parents working is $56,950*. Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times writer, chose to evaluate extreme poverty in Tulsa this year rather than traveling to a third world country, and he was stunned by the similarities to the problems he found.

Much of the underemployment results from low wages, an inadequately supported education system, and the inertia of those benefiting from the underemployment that causes them to ignore the reality of much of the state’s population living with inadequate earned incomes. The number with inadequate incomes also includes the elderly and persons with disabilities living on Social Security payments that are below the real cost of living.

Amos is speaking of us and to us in our scripture today. When did wealth become our god? Just as Israel did, we will pay a heavy price for the greed that is the norm today. While some reading this may be underemployed, we the people who can vote have a say in who makes the decisions about these issues.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for not investing the time and energy needed to find a way for all to earn enough to have adequate food, clothing, shelter, and other basic life needs. Let your love be our catalyst for assuring the well-being of all our neighbors. Amen.

*See at http://www.living wage.mit.edu
**http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/opinion/sunday/why-i-was-wrong-about-welfare-reform.html.)

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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Do This and You will Live

Let justice rollLiving in the Spirit
July 9, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-37

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.* ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’
–Luke 10:25-28

If you read these daily devotions regularly, I am sure you have discerned that there are primarily three scriptures that inform the bases of my faith:

  • Micah 6:8b, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
  • Psalm 51:10-12, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.*
  • Any form of Love God and love your neighbor as yourself, including our scripture today.

This week in the USA we have once again experienced two questionable police shootings of black men and the killing of five police officers with the wounding of seven others who were providing protection for peaceful protesters to vent their frustration resulting from the earlier police shootings. Throughout the year, we have had irresponsible people and media exploiting our fears of the other to their financial or political benefit fueling the flames of divisiveness. Why are any of us surprised that innocent lives are being lost in the name of greed and power?

We are each responsible for our own behavior. We are each responsible for the well-being of all. Words matter. Actions matter. Love works when it is applied.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit*. Make us whole, make us one, and let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24). 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

God’s Integrity Measure

solidLiving in the Spirit
July 4, 2016

Scripture Reading: Amos 7:7-17

This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb-line.’ Then the Lord said,
‘See, I am setting a plumb-line
   in the midst of my people Israel;
   I will never again pass them by;
   the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
   and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
   and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’ –Amos 7:7-9

After two warnings God lets down a plumb line and finds the nation of Israel sorely lacking integrity, like children’s bocks stacked in such a way that a slight wind would blow them over. While Amos may have had some concerns about the actual structural integrity of Israel’s fortifications, he is definitely talking about the people’s being in alignment with God’s will. They weren’t.

I often thought as I listened to the evening news in recent years in the USA, how I could have save my time keeping up with daily events because a simple reading of the book of Amos would have told me all I needed to know. Israel suffered from an epidemic of greed and privilege much as we do today. What is important in our society is how much money we can take in no matter who we have to step on or over to get it. The end of the story for Israel was not good. They were taken into bondage and lost everything.

I do not understand this so much as punishment but the absolute outcome of wasting the abundance that comes from being in synch with God. It is not abundance measured by the stock market but fullness of a life centered in love.

Prayer: Lord forgive us for trading your abundant life for the lesser things in life that may appear to have integrity by can never be a trustworthy foundation for wholeness. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Welcome the Stranger

refugees joseph mary JesusLiving in the Spirit
June 28, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14

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. –2 Kings 5:13-14

The changes needed to correct immigration issues and provide for better security are not difficult. They should have been made a long time ago. It is clear that making the necessary changes would negatively impact the bottom lines for those who benefit from immigrants not being granted legal status. TV detective shows, often use the phrase “follow the money.” It applies to immigration reform as well.

When jobs are filled by immigrants at a lower pay with no benefits that could have been filled by a USA citizen, it undercuts our economy and contributes to poverty. This only happens when the immigrants doing these jobs do not have legal papers for if they had legal papers their employers would be required to meet the same salary and benefit requirements of a citizen. There are, however, jobs in our economy for which we do not have enough citizen workers to fill. Those jobs can be identified. There are people living in other counties willing to do these jobs. These people need to be vetted at the highest security level and those that pass be given a time-limited visa to travel to the US, apply for the jobs, and if they are hired, be granted a work visa, which could be time-limited and renewable based on the type job. The process now in place to make this happen is unnecessarily complex and fraught with all kinds of procedural delays (unless the immigrant is a star athlete from another country). If someone is hired in this process, and chooses to pursue long term residency they should have the opportunity to do that also. The legal costs of obtaining a green card is prohibitive for many people.

Immigrations for reasons other than work, like marriage or bringing family members to join others in the USA or providing asylum to refugees need also to be streamlined and all immigration processes need to be updated significantly for secure digital record keeping and accuracy. The uncoordinated and slow system we have now probably contributes to lessened security.

What does this have to do with our faith practices? We are called to welcome the stranger throughout the Bible. Welcoming the stranger represents a worldview that demands interaction with all of God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to welcome the stranger and share your love with them. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

A New Reality

In him we liveLiving in the Spirit
June 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:51-62

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ –Luke 9:57-62

If we read this scripture carefully, we soon experience the realization that Jesus is attesting to being homeless. It brings to mind Blanche*’s statement in Streetcar Named Desire, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Blanche was a character who skirted on the edge of reality until the end of the play when she loses all connection to reality. The play is a depressing commentary on our society and how we treat each other.

Jesus is challenging those who seek him to understand that he is the source of a new reality. It is a challenge to each of us to consider to what we conform our lives. He is not saying we should all live on the streets and hope someone feeds us once in a while. Nor is he saying it is bad to take care of aging parents or to be hospitable to our families. I think he is saying we need to prioritize our lives and live intentionally into those prioritizations. Jesus Christ is the beginning and end of our priorities and by coming into synch with him, we can know the reality of a life lead by love as the song goes not just for some but for everyone**.

Prayer: Lord, make us whole as individuals, as your followers, and as citizens of the world. Amen.

*Blanche is a character from the play, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

**From the song, What the world need now is love by Burt Bacharach and Hal David see at http://www.bacharachonline.com/bacharach_lyrics_chords/whattheworldneeds.html

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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Informed Common Good

Common GoodLiving in the Spirit
June 25, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:51-62

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ –Luke 9:57-62

When is it the right time to say “No More”? Members of the federal House of Representatives staged a sit-in this week in Congress based on the message that something needs to be done about the mass shootings that are happening across our land. They are demanding a vote on bills to control the sale of guns. And yes, it was and is a totally political action. We live in a democracy, which is a political form of governance and relies on the people to elect representatives. We do not have a monarch who inherits his or her role nor do we have a dictator who holds governance by force. Many are questioning now whether we actually do have a democracy, since we seem to be moving closer and closer to an oligarchy where leader ship is controlled by a small group of people, in our case the people with enough money to by “our” representatives.

The responsibility a democratic form of governance places on each of its citizens is great. It is not easy to determine what is the best way to meet the Common Good. We generally want things that are best for ourselves. The Common Good demands that we see what is best for ourselves through a broader scope. Is it better for me to have criminals rehabilitated rather than having them stored together in crowded, unhealthy conditions that just breeds more crime? Is it better for businesses to have a well education workforce from which to make hires? Is it better for me to pay taxes to keep roads in good repair rather than making expensive repairs to the suspension system on my car? Is it better for me to live in a world where disease and contagion are held to a minimum?

Those of us who long for the full fruition of the Kingdom of God have an even higher calling to a broad brushed approach to the Common Good. Our love of God and love of our neighbor as ourselves must also inform our civic responsibilities. The time is now, circumstances for our action will never be perfect or we would not be worrying about the issues in the first place.

Prayer: Lord, write on each of our hearts your will for the Common Good and give us the courage to seek it with all our being. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

The Common Good Revisited

scrooge_pic07Living in the Spirit
June 23, 2016

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. –Galatians 5:1, 13-15

Free to be…you and me* was released as a song 44 years ago to help children internalize self-worth regardless of race or gender. It was Christ’s message over 2000 years ago and it still is today. Our world works really hard at trying to fasten us separately in chains of hate and fear, and of needing to feel better than another to establish our own worth. We try very hard to convert freedom into privilege. I think that is part of what Paul is trying to get at in our scripture today.

While we can be offended by the outrageous things being said and done in our current political climate, I have been trying to listen through the rhetoric and hear from where such venom is coming. I sense a great deal of fear of what is not known. What does the future hold? What does a terrorist really look like? Are we really as innocent of the forces that are working to create terrorism? If we are not, what can we do about it now?

Economically many find their security slowly but surely slipping away. The middle class shrinks as salaries are stagnant and long-term retirement benefits become a dream not a promise. Yet many seem to be thriving financially; seem to have money for anything they want whether they need it or not. And no one seems to want to pay for the infrastructure to keep our country going: education, roads, bridges. A friend gripping about having to pay taxes responded to me when I replied, “but we need education, roads etc.” saying, “The government is supposed to pay for that.” It appears that we the people have given up our responsibility of providing for the Common Good handing it over to the lobbyist and other power brokers.

Our first primary will be held next week here in Oklahoma. If you are from another state, make sure you know when your elections are scheduled. One step toward loving your neighbor as you love yourself is to carefully consider the candidates and make your vote count for the Common Good.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in all aspects of our lives even as we fulfill our civic responsibilities. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Be…_You_and_Me

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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Comfort Zones

CircleLiving in the Spirit
June 12, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 7:36-8:3

Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’ –Luke 7:43-50

I am a horrible card-sender. I currently have two get well cards and a birthday card for the same good friend, not yet sent. I mean well, but apparently not well enough to act. It is not because I did not have a good example. I had the very best example. My mother’s final ministry after she was ninety, primarily consisted of prayer for others and sending cards and notes of encouragement.

What I understand from our scripture today is the woman being condemned was very good at doing the little things that demonstrate compassion and love. I do not think the scripture is suggesting that one must sin greatly to have a closer relationship with God. I think it is saying that perhaps one who has knowledge of their separation from God has a greater appreciation for grace and knows how much a simple act of love can mean when love has not been otherwise forthcoming.

Some of us are experiencing much needed internal conflict dealing with the whole idea that we might be privileged in some way. We think our place in the world, in culture, and in class distinctions is normal and we do not get what this fuss of equality is all about. God is stirring our consciousness to see the world from the vantage point of others upon whom our status of privilege is stacked. It is not an even pyramid. If it were, I think it might be easier to see. There are varying combinations of race and class, gender and race, class and gender and other categories that can be rated in hierarchies of privilege. It is incumbent upon each of us to gain knowledge about how our comfort zones may be separating us from God and let our lives reflect what we have learned.

Prayer: Lord, broaden our awareness of the world about us and enable that widening circle to be reflected in our 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Pick Your Fights

and eye for an eyeLiving in the Spirit
June 8, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 5:1-8

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
   will enter your house,
I will bow down towards your holy temple
   in awe of you.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
   because of my enemies;
   make your way straight before me. –Psalm 5:7-8

One of the greatest challenges in life is avoiding being goaded into being unrighteous when one is constantly bombarded with discrimination and oppression. What is it said about bullies? They rarely get caught. The one who gets caught is the one that finally swings back at them. How does one practice turning the other cheek while working toward justice in our world today?

I have never been a boxing fan, yet I have come to hold high regard for Mohamad Ali, whose life is being celebrated this week following his death. He was one of those people who could maintain their own self-worth in all humility, even have fun with it. Accepting one’s innate self-worth as a child of God is hard enough for most of us. Doing that while walking humbly with our God is even harder. Yet it is exactly what we are called to do.

I believe this can only be done by keeping our eye on the end result and not getting caught up in the chaos life routinely throws in our path. Let it go, walk away, pick your fights are all necessary reactions toward attaining a just world. Investing the time with God necessary to find our straight way enables our steadfastness.

Prayer: Lord, set your plan so firmly in our hearts and minds that we are enabled to keep our focus in our journey toward justice. 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.