Category Archives: Uncategorized

Seeds of Love

Kingdom of God

July 1, 2019

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favour with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, ‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the king of Aram said, ‘Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.’ –2 Kings 5:1-5

I am impressed. A slave, a child, a kidnapped child recognizing her owner’s problem and suggested that the prophet who is in Samaria could cure him of leprosy and he should go see him. Many, perhaps even most of the children we are holding at the border, in cramped unsanitary conditions are Christians. My prayer is that they, too, have the faith this young slave girl had so they can see past that which is harmful to them and let God be the source of their self-worth as God was for this young girl.

We, too, need to remember who we serve and let the love God flow through us so that we can work for justice whenever we are entangle in injustice whether willingly or by our silence. We live in a country that claims to be of the people by the people for the people. Our government should reflect our values. When we do not see that happening, we have a responsibility to work to bring our governmental outcomes in sync with those values. And, yes, that is hard because we are a diverse population representing many religions and those with no religion at all. Jesus Christ called us to be one and we cannot even do that within the population that claims him as their Savior.

We must lean into the guidance of the Holy Spirit and prayerfully consider if our values are in sync with God’s. That will prepare us to open avenue of dialogue with all God’s children and that means everyone to search for Common Ground for the Common Good. Even the smallest action of oneness can be the seed that can spread the love of God throughout the earth.

Prayer: Lord, we are lost in a desert of desolation and do not see those seeds we need to plant. Help us find those seeds of love and plant them and nourish them into full fruition. 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.

Love Beyond Crisis

Eastertide

June 3, 2019

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. –Acts 2:1-6

I see tornados and floods in everything I read right now as Oklahoma and much of the rest of the Great Plains and the Midwest are dealing daily with devastating weather. I heard almost the same words come from a teenager being interviewed on the news recently as was used to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit. I cannot repeat and exact quote but to the best of my recollection he said, “I heard strong wind and the house shook and it was picked up and turned around until it was plopped on the ground and exploded with stuff falling all over us.” It was a mobile home and everything in it was destroyed but the family came out relatively unscathed. Their lives will never be the same. First, they instantly received the message that life is precious and not something to be taken for granted. Second, material things no longer mean as much to them as they did before the storm. Third, they got a second chance at life and they need to make the most of it.

Reading this scripture and hearing the news report almost simultaneously, made me wonder whether the disciples and others present understand the arrival of the Holy Spirit as a good or bad at that moment. It certainly was a life-changing event.

There were definitely English and Spanish speaking people involved in the tornado. Because it hit a motel it is possible that there were people who spoke other languages involved. It did not matter because all persons involved, and all the First Responders immediately spoke the same “language” required to search for and save survivors. They did a good job. It was an EF-3 tornado, very destructive, and there were only two people killed and 29 people injured. It could have been so much worse.

Speaking the common language of love does not require words. It is the essential element in our becoming one.

Prayer: Lord, empower us to speak the common language of love all the time not just in crisis. 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.

Christ’s Time is Now

Eastertide

May 31, 2019

Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

The one who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. –Revelation 22:20-21

The Greek word, tachu*, translated soon in the scripture above means without unnecessary delay; used of God’s promptness characterizing how He has ordered all physical scenes of life to happen on His perfect timetable without unnecessary “delay” (Rev 1:1, 22:6).

I think it is important to consider this broader definition because something that was classified as coming “soon” 2,000 years ago may have lost its immediacy resulting in its impact potency getting lost in the ennui of human nature. We are living in a technological/communication revolution that drives us to be impatient when we must wait for anything. We have people of faith trying to entice the second coming by supporting wars in the Middle East. We have other people of faith who see no relevance at all in the return of Christ.

What I discern from the gospels is that Jesus challenged his Disciples to convert the world into a place where loving God and loving one another is the driving force of all things. I interpret that to mean that while we are very diverse, we want the very best for all people in the space in which live.  When that goal is met, God will be present with us in all aspects of our lives. We will be one. I love the imagery of the vine and the branches as a wonderful illustration of the oneness to which Jesus calls us.

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. –John 15:1-4a

There is no wait time in our quest for the coming of this oneness, if we overcome our ennui, emptiness of spirit, and set about living in Christ’s oneness and love.

Prayer:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper rev’rence, praise**. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5035.htm
^^First verse of Dear Lord and Father of mankind by John G. Whittier see at https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Dear_Lord_and_Father_of_Mankind/

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 and Works

Eastertide

May 30, 2019

Scripture Reading: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

‘See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work.
‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.’
The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. —Revelation 22:12, 16-17

The older I get the more I realize I want the Bible to say what I want it to say. I was raised by the world’s greatest egalitarian, my mother, who instilled within me early that there was no one on this earth I was better than and there was no one better than me. God loves all God’s children at the same level as individuals. The surgeon who removed the tumor is no more important to the success of the surgery than the staff who sanitized the operating room. And then I read Revelation 22:22 where Jesus promises to repay according to everyone’s work. Faith and Works have challenged each other for centuries in Christian thought and practice. I think the truth lies in their interdependence.

Ephesians 2:8–9 reads, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

So what do we make of the above scripture from Revelation on rewards based on work? It seems to be stating what we say today: Christ models for us that when someone does something good for another, we need to pay it forward. Jesus received his reward and he wants to share it with everyone and he wants to repay it according to everyone’s work. Now what does that mean? If we accept the pay it forward idea, when Jesus shares his reward with us, we are to share that gift with others and that gift is somehow tied to our vocation or avocation in life. We are gifted by Jesus in ways that encourage or enable the outcomes of our labor.

Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruits of the Spirit, which are among Christ’s gifts to us. They are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All are important in our building relationships with one another and with all others. Such gifts enable the oneness that is so very important to the actualization of the Kingdom of God. They are gifts of grace that embellish our works.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for compelling us to greater works still as our faith calls us to do all we can to be one with each other in a world ruled by love Amen.

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

Day by Day with God

Eastertide

May 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 97
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
   righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him,
   and consumes his adversaries on every side.

7 All worshippers of images are put to shame,
   those who make their boast in worthless idols;
   all gods bow down before him.
10 The Lord loves those who hate evil;
   he guards the lives of his faithful;
   he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light dawns for the righteous,
   and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
   and give thanks to his holy name!

I encourage you to read Psalm 97 in its totality. I have selected three grouping from it to highlight here.

Righteousness and justice are words most often related to God. The image of the righteous God being surrounded by thick darkness resonates with me as my locale is inundated with bad, dangerous weather. Flooding is occurring from ever stream and river. Tornado clusters crop up in bands that stretch for miles. All exacerbated by climate change. God’s world is ruled by righteousness and justice and with God present in our lives we are empowered to enable righteousness and justice across our lands for future generations.

When our lives are led by our love for God, we can set right priorities and let go of those things of the world that promise false hope and false love. Idols do not feel or think; they are driven by the evil that benefits from their enticement of us that enriches them at our expense.

Finally, we never ever are alone when we work for righteousness and justice. God is faithful.

Day by day, day by day,
O, dear Lord, three things I pray:
to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly,
follow thee more nearly, day by day*.

Prayer: God of Justice, grant us the strength to withstand the storms of evil, the faith to trust you first in all we do, and the will always to seek your presence. Amen.

*Day by Day attributed to Richard of Chichester see at https://hymnary.org/text/day_by_day_dear_lord

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.

Greed

Eastertide

May 27, 2019

Scripture Reading: Acts 16:16-34

One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.’ She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.

 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. –Acts 16:16-24

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Timothy 6:10)

The United States of America perhaps the whole world is suffering from an epidemic of greed. If we do not overcome it, rampant greed will lead to our demise. From aircraft builders who shortcut safety inspections to make more money to thousands of lobbyists* trying to buy our government’s support, we are impacted in negative ways everyday by greed. Most of us have a touch of greed ourselves. We, also, want to have our cake and eat it too.

The evilest ramification of greed is that it demands layers of worth among people. A slave-girl suffering from a mental illness is only worth what her unusual behavior nets her owner in profit. Being healed resulted in the diminishment of her value to such an extent that her owner filed charges against Paul and Silas for robbing him of his cash cow. We have no idea what being made whole cost her.

The slavery we deal with today involves human trafficking. Similar challenges lie in our immigration issues. I totally believe that we do not have good and fair immigration laws because many individuals and businesses benefit financially from a readily available group of undocumented aliens who are willing to work for less than American citizens because that is better than life in their country of origin.

Greed is sin and we as followers of Christ need to recognize it for what it is, repent when we are directly involved in greed, and demand justice when we see it manifested in the lives of others.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to any situation where we are overtly or covertly practicing greed, forgive us and guide us in ways to defeat it. Amen.

*There were 11,444 registered federal lobbyists in 2018; there are 535 members of Congress. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2018/01/drain-the-swamp-lobbyists-are-filling-it-up/

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 Norms Not Ours

Eastertide

May 26, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 5:1-9
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
Now that day was a sabbath.

The title listed for the above scripture in my Bible is Healing on the Sabbath. I think Healing when the Time is Right would be a more fitting title and would get at the heart of the issue, that John is trying to address. The author may be trying to illustrate that Jesus thought the strict observation of the Sabbath could be altered if necessary, to serve a greater purpose. I do not think God provided the guidance of the Commandment as a test to measure our worthiness. The Commandments do serve a purpose in providing common-sense rules to live in relationship with others including with God. It is those loving relationships that are important.

Does it bother you as much as it does me that the man has been ill for 38 years and seems to have had no one offering to help him into the pool? That may be the case, but it also may be the case that begging has become comfortable for him and he is not interested in changing his career. Jesus asked the crucial question, ‘Do you want to be made well?’  The man does not answer the question; he makes an excuse. Jesus healed him anyway.

It is too easy for us to follow well defined rules and not live our love of God, ourselves, or our neighbors. It is easy for us to see not wanting to change our norms in a poor beggar, but we all suffer from the desire to invest ourselves in activities that we can check off and feel comfortable about doing.  What do we accomplished when we are not helping the man because we self-righteously obeyed a rule? Jesus is challenging his followers to accept responsibility for the irresponsible attitudes and actions that can be the byproducts of our ridge application of rules. Racism comes to mind and any of the isms where we perceive ourselves as better than another or that, after years of practicing an ism, it becomes accepted as a normal value.

Prayer: Lord, guide us to separating the norms of our lives we create from the way you modeled life for us. Amen.

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

Trust God

Eastertide

May 25, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 14:22b-29
‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

“Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.” ― Saint Ignatius of Loyola

This quote attributed to St Ignatius has been stated in varying fashions by many faith leaders. I choose his because he uses the word trust. Trust is the verb of faith. Trusting that everything ultimately depends on God is a freeing experience. We are not perfect; we all make mistakes and yet we followers of Christ are entrusted with the most important mission ever assigned: to share the love of God throughout the world and thus create a world ruled by love.

I once heard a lecture regarding childhood development that I think applies here. I am sorry I no longer remember the occasion much less the speaker. She said we do not send children out in a front yard surrounded by streets busy with traffic, leave them alone, and expect them to do the right thing if they throw their ball into the street. We do want our children to explore and develop their minds, bodies, social skills, and spiritual life. To do that we most likely will first place them in a fenced yard with hazards removed and various safe toys and plants and sand boxes to explore as we may play with them or watch as they alone or with their peers discover new and wonderous things. The environment we create for a child is like the trust we place in God to love and protect us as we strive to love God, love ourselves, and love each other. Like a toddler we may fall, even scrape a knee, but our loving Parent is always there to give us comfort and forgiveness while guiding us to try again.

I do not think we can make anyone follow Christ or to live their lives as we interpret is the “correct” way to follow Christ. We certainly cannot legislate our evangelism. We can love them, accept them as they are, and journey with them as they become the persons God created them to be. Christ got the assignment to judge who among us love him and follow him. Our assignment is to introduce Christ to those who may not know him and to love the way he loves.

Prayer: Lord, we have an awesome assignment and sometimes it is hard for us to let you be God and we be your followers. Forgive us and strengthen us to trust you fully. 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.

A Cup of Tea

Eastertide

May 24, 2019

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. –Revelation 22:1-5

I must confess, I have thought the Kingdom of God would be actualized when Christ’s followers had finally spread God’s love to the ends of the earth. The phrase in the above scripture and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations leads me to believe that there will be more work to do even after Christ is pitching his tent with us. When I think of leaves healing, I think of tea. Now for me tea primarily has two dimensions. One is sipping a good cup of tea, I particularly like Rooibos, in comfy clothing with great music playing in the background after a hard day of productive work just enjoying the peace and the rest. The other dimension is sitting in a small tea shop or other restaurant that serves tea and catching up with a friend. For me God is often a welcomed guest in both instances.

There is a lot of healing needed among the nations today. When I visited Turkey a few years ago the tour I was on arranged a lunch for all on the tour in a small town with a few of us going to various homes. Turkey is a great place for tea. Shared hospitality is healing. We could use a lot more of these type experiences.

Prayer: Lord, be present with us as we search for ways to heal the nations and to heal our nation from within. 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.

Thy Kingdom Come

Eastertide

May 23, 2019

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

And in the spirit, he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. –Revelation 21:10, 22-27

I visited northern Sweden during the summer equinox and experienced a day with virtually no night. I must admit it was a little eerie. We, of course, stayed up until after midnight to witness the event. The locals went to bed and pulled down shades. Humans must have their rest. If there is no night is there no need for rest in eternity? The writer of Revelation, attributed to a man named John, is attempting to describe that which is indescribable, and he does a good job of making us think out of the box as we contemplate the possible nature of the Kingdom of God.

We have a taste of the glory of God being with us in the now as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13:12, For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

As people called to live in the now as citizens of the Kingdom of God, we might take some clues from the scripture above which talks about what we bring into the Kingdom with us and how we live differently than we might live in the world. The language used to describe these realities is ancient and thus requires us to consider their meaning for today. My guess is that would result in much discussion and many theological perspectives. In the final analysis, my fall back is Jesus’ instruction that we are to love God, placing God first in our lives, a part of which is loving ourselves as God created us in honor of God, and  ultimately loving all of God’s other children as much as we love ourselves. Thus, we only must study the way Jesus loved and follow his model of loving.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for our ancestors in faith who were visionaries of the way your world eventually is melded successfully with the world. Help us to see you more clearly as our role model in the now of your Kingdom coming. 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.