Tag Archives: Justice

What is Good?

Jesus’ Ministry
February 11, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10

Thus says the Lord:
Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
   and make mere flesh their strength,
   whose hearts turn away from the Lord.
They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
   and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
   in an uninhabited salt land. –Jeremiah 17:5-6

Jeremiah does not paint an attractive picture of life without the Lord. If hunger and drought and disease is all we know we may not recognize relief when it comes. I saw a poignant scene on TV recently. A starving child from Yemen in the arms of a relief worker trying to feed the child a tube full of nutrients designed to alleviate starvation. The little one shut his mouth tightly and pushed it away because every time he had swallowed it earlier it made him vomit. His stomach had not functioned properly for so long it did not react appropriately when fed.

Of course, Jeremiah is addressing adults who have chosen to stray from the Lord and in the final verse of this scripture he writes,
I the Lord test the mind
   and search the heart,
to give to all according to their ways,
   according to the fruit of their doings.

What did the child in the relief workers arms do to deserve not knowing what was good for him? All of us stand guilty when we do not take care of the little ones as Jesus said in Matthew 18:6 ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Doing justice means going the extra mile for those who never learned of God’s good.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we have blinders on regarding the needs of others who may have no knowledge of your love including being loved in real terms such as food and health care. 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.

 

Catching Nothing

Jesus’ Ministry
February 9, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. –Luke 5:1-7

I spend a lot of time catching nothing. Much of my retirement efforts, as was much of my work-related efforts, are devoted to seeking justice. The work is often met with skepticism and reluctance. I realized some time ago that I see the world differently than most people. I blame that on my mother whom I dubbed the words first true egalitarian. She was very practical and hard-working and strong in her faith commitment to serving those in need. I guess I must credit my father with seeing the bigger picture perhaps even his grandmother. I never met her, but he described her as being a visionary. I wish I had known her. She led a hard life and still could dream of better things to come.

Peter and his fellow fishermen had no doubt worked all night and caught nothing. Yet he was able to put his skepticism and reluctance aside and follow in faith this man called Jesus and eventually to devote his entire being to bring about Jesus’ vision for the world.  We too are called to step out in faith even when we sense we are catching nothing. We have no idea what God can create from what we perceive as nothing.

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
when Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me*.

Prayer: Lord, when we are discouraged help us feel your presence. Help us understand that you created the Earth out of chaos and can make a kingdom of love out of our best effort for which we do not see results. Amen.

*First verse of His Eye is on the Sparrow by   Civilla D. Martin, see at https://hymnary.org/text/why_should_i_feel_discouraged

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.

Let’s Go

Jesus’ Ministry
February 8, 2019

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe. –1 Corinthians 15:2-11

It is important for followers of Christ to tell our stories. Recently, I have been working with several people in my church on a particularly challenging issue. You know those problem/solution episodes that seem to move one step forward and two steps back. One of the people trying to make a difference shared her written list of answered prayers related to the issue. Her sharing her observation was encouraging and inspiring.

I stumbled on to the connection of Acts 1 with Acts 2 some years ago and now suggest to people caught in a spiritual funk that they read these two chapters together. Acts 1 is the report of a church board meeting. The Disciples had finally recovered enough from their shock/grief to realize they have a mission to complete. They added some new leaders to replace ones that were lost and set out to fulfill their mission when suddenly chapter 2 happens. It was so astounding we even assigned it a name we call it Pentecost giving an ancient holiday new life. It reports the coming of the Holy Spirit. When I read these two chapters together, I wondered, was God patiently waiting to say, “OK it is time, let’s go” for the Disciples to indicate their readiness to take up Christ’s mission?

Is it time for us to step out in faith and spread God’s love to the ends of the Earth?

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, here we are albeit with drooping hands and weak knees* but we are ready to join with you and say, “Let’s go”.

*Derived from Hebrews 12:12

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

 

Hearing and Answering our Calls

Jesus’ Ministry
February 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’ –Isaiah 6:6-8

In grade school I remember the teacher announcing some fun task and asking for volunteers and most of the students immediately started raising and waving their hands high so they would be picked. I do not get that same sense as I read Isaiah’s description of his communion with God reported above. He is a community of one being asked to volunteer for what seems an impossible task. It reminds me more of the time I was called by the state office of the agency for which I worked and was asked if I would be willing to transfer to another city to take a very challenging job. I said I would need a little time to think about it and the caller said, “We need to know in an hour.” I called back within the hour saying I would take the job and was thanked and told my ID badge for the new job was at the state office. I could pick it up the next morning on my way to the new assignment. My choice in the matter was apparently a foregone conclusion. It was nice to be asked. I think Isaiah knew he had been preparing for his calling for most of his life. In theory he could have said no but in his heart of hearts, in his commitment to a loving God wanting the best for God’s wayward children, Isaiah’s only answer could be, ‘Here am I; send me!’.

As we all plunge deeply in the well of God’s love, we too are being asked to do small and large things that are needed to fulfill God’s vision of a kingdom where everyone has enough and that all can reach their full potential. Our call may be as simple as voting responsibly or recycling our trash or donating cans of food for the hungry. A few are called to be an Isaiah speaking justice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Others are called to support these justice seekers. How do we respond today?

Prayer: Lord, speak clearly to our hearts today so that we can get about the business of loving like 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.

Course Corrections

Jesus’ Ministry
February 4, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’ –Isiah 6:1-5

One of our greatest challenges in life is trying to view ourselves objectively. Jesus says in Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. How do we do that? How do we recognize our own faults? How did Isaiah know he was a man of unclean lips? What trash talk had he been doing? Was he doing it on purpose or was it so much a part of him he thought it was right? What is the litmus test for self-awareness?

Apparently, Isaiah in a moment of worship and meditation experienced a vision from God that opened his eyes to his imperfections. My guess is Isaiah was seeing all the corruption around him and felt the need to address it but knew in his heart he was as vulnerable to condemnation as others. Repentance is the first step to real change. I read a posting on social media recently that began with the words, “I was wrong.” One of the hardest phrases in the world to utter, it is one of the most vital phrases to speak, if justice is to be achieved. Isaiah was an advocate for God’s justice.

I think it was in 1980, the church I attend elected its first female elder. She had impeccable credentials and the perfect decorum to make it work. The next year two female deacons were elected and the next year I was elected as a deacon. After church the first Sunday I served communion in the role of a deacon, one of the older gentlemen in the church came up to me and said, “I wanted you to know that I was dead set against having women serve as elders and deacons. I now know I was wrong. I was pleased to see you serving today.” I was please to be the person to receive such a heartfelt confession, particularly from someone going against thousands of years of tradition. I am glad to say this seems so antiquated today as we have women and men serving in all roles of leadership and service in our church. The younger people probably do not know it was ever a big deal.

Change always starts with individuals and groups who willingly and often courageously take the time to examine their own behavior and measure it against God’s righteousness and justice until their way of being comes into alignment with God’s.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see ourselves as you see us, help us to see any course corrections needed, and give us the courage to make 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Build and Plant

Jesus’ Ministry
January 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’ –Jeremiah 1:9-10

My parents sold the farm and moved to town as they realize my Dad’s health was limiting his ability to work. They bought a nice small house in a residential area where houses were probably ten to fifteen feet apart. My Dad had never lived in such close quarters and was very uncomfortable with city living. He scouted around and found a place at the edge of town with a creek flowing across the road at the back of the house. It was on maybe a couple of acres of land. He bought it immediately. The only problem was it had not been lived in for years, was in horrible shape, and looked like a forest of weeds. They worked on it for a few months making it livable before they sold their other house and moved. If I remember correctly to start afresh, Dad mowed or cut down everything on the place except the trees. My mother, an avid gardener, knew every plant and how to care for them. She walked the mowed ground and discover various flowers and flowering bushes. Three of the trees were pecan trees. With the weeds removed the grass began to flourish. I will never forget my surprise when I drove up to visit them and seeing as I turn onto the long drive daffodils and irises lining the curve up to the garage. The beauty of the good earth was always there. It just was waiting for someone to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

As followers of Christ we are a part of a group called to do the same work to our nations and kingdoms. Find and nourish the good and beautiful, clean out whatever is holding it back, and create a world ruled by love rather than hate or fear or greed. What looks impossible to many is fertile land to others when their eyes have been opened by the hand of God.

Prayer: Lord, help us see the potential for good in our world and to work toward bringing it to 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.

Listen to the Children

Jesus’ Ministry
January 28, 2019

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me,
‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord.’ –Jeremiah 1:4-8

Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
   to silence the enemy and the avenger. –Psalm 8:2

I am letting others provide the words for this devotion today. I was impressed am still am by the tenacity of the Parkland Florida youth who declared no more school shootings and have continued to pursue peaceful means to end violence and hate. We do need to listen to the children.

They are crying out for peace around the world
They are telling us to stop the hurt and pain
Their smiles can melt the coldest heart
Their tears can pull your world apart
Why don’t we listen to the children

 Why can’t you see the world their eyes can see
There is no room for hate or jealousy
And color means nothing to them
To a child another is a friend
Why don’t we listen to the children

 Why don’t we listen, to what they try to say
Make a world of peace for them to live in
Take a leaf out of the book
They read to us each day
Why don’t we learn a lesson from the children

 So everyone around the word join hands
And spread the word of love across the land
Rejoice and live in harmony
And pray that peace at last will be
They need the help of you and me, our children 

They are crying out for peace around the world
They are telling us to stop the hurt and pain
Their smiles can melt the coldest heart
Their tears can pull your world apart
Why don’t we listen to the children*

Prayer: Lord, help us to give ear to the voices crying out to us to leave this world a better place than we found it in the name of your Son who listened to the children. Amen.

*Listen To The Children Lyrics by Isla Grant see at https://genius.com/Isla-grant-listen-to-the-children-lyrics

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.

Restoring Wholeness

Jesus’ Ministry
January 22, 2019

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ –Nehemiah 8:9-10

Our people are our most valuable resource. This fact dawned on me some time ago when I was listening to politicians and others talk about saving what they deemed our most valuable resources which in Oklahoma can be designated as oil and natural gas, wind, cattle, wheat, and so on but I never heard anyone recognize that our people are our most valuable resource and are ultimately responsible for reaping the potential of all these other resources.

It makes a difference. When something is valued it is protected and nourished toward the goal of productive investment of its potential. We do not treat people in that manner. We punish them for not working to our expectations, we punish them for getting sick, we punish them for crimes. We do not work to restore them to wholeness like we do oil and gas, wind, cattle, and wheat when problems arise that reduce their output. Why is that?

Nehemiah says something very interesting in the above scripture in the sentence Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared. He is saying nurture those who do not provide for their own needs.  Surely some of the exiles returning to Jerusalem had given up and did not know how to start over. Is Nehemiah’s words a call to restore people to wholeness who have lost their way?

Malnourished children do not learn well. Sick people do not work well. People without quality routine health care seek emergency room help as a last resort raising the cost of health care for everyone. Removing people who commit non-violent crimes from society for years and mixing them with violent people with little if any services to reclaim their potential is a formula for increasing criminal behavior. Failure to address mental health issues fosters dependence rather than independence.

Early intervention to identify problems and appropriate quality education for every child is primary in helping children reach their full potential. Health care for all including mental health coverage provides for a ready and able work force. Restorative criminal justice holds people accountable for their behavior by refocusing them on how to make the most out of their skills and talents.

Prayer: Lord, show us ways we can restore wholeness to the broken people of our world. 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.

Sing an Old Song

Jesus’ Ministry
January 16, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 36:5-10

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
   All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
   and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
   in your light we see light.  –Psalm 36:7-9

I loved to sing the song Under His Wings* when I was a child; I guess I needed its message. It is no longer in our hymn books. I do not see any theological problems with it. Perhaps the use of male pronouns for God is problematic but that could be altered.  Maybe the tune is too hokey for the modern generations. When I searched for the words of the song, I found another by the title Your Wings by Lauren Daigle that was written recently and carries the same sentiment. I hope it is appealing because the message is ageless and very necessary in times like these when hate and divisiveness are tearing us apart in support of lust for power and ultimately greed.

I have read that chaos reigned during Andrew Jackson’s presidency and spilled over into Civil War in the 1860’s. I lived through the protests of the 1960’s. Government discord and corruption are not new; they brought down the mighty nations of Israel and Rome. Knowing that we have God’s love protecting us does not mean we hide from the evil that besets us. It provides the shelter we need to empower us to work even harder for the realization of the Kingdom of God in our world today.

There is another song I regret has been removed from hymn books, God is Working His Purpose Out**.  It was most likely removed because the music is slow and methodical and gets old after one verse much less five. The music fits the theme. We live in a world with a need for instant gratification and have loss the faith and trust in God’s good time. I am a basketball fan. A most often heard comment by Rookies is that they are being more consistent because the game has slowed down for them. Perhaps it is not that God’s time is slow, its that we have not acclimated to it.

Under His wings I am safely abiding;
  Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me;
  He has redeemed me, and I am His child. 

Under His wings, under His wings,
  Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
    Safely abide forever.*

Prayer: Lord, grant us the critical patience we need to further your work of love efficiently and effectively in whatever chaos we may find ourselves. Amen.

*First verse and chorus of Under His Wings by William Orcutt Cushing https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/565
**See at https://hymnary.org/text/god_is_working_his_purpose_out

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

Righteous Path

Jesus’ Ministry
January 14, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
   and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
   and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
   and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
   that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
   and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. –Isaiah 62:1-3

I cannot imagine what it felt like to the people of Israel who at one point were a successful and thriving nation and then they became exiles, living in a strange place being ruled by outside forces.  Much of the poetry of the Hebrew prophets are targeted at dealing with the exile and its aftermath. The Lord has not forsaken; Jerusalem shall return.

These poets also analyze how this all happened, how the people turned to other gods, practiced greed, and did not follow in the ways God set before them.  It is a cycle that has repeated in every powerful nation who outgrew their values and perceived of themselves as deserving of more and better, forgetting the responsibilities of caring for one another.

Throughout it all God remained loyal to those who turned away from God. To realign with God, we must turn around once we see we are on the wrong path and pay attention to the instructions as we are redirected by God to the right path.

We live in trying times marked by what seem to be irreconcilable differences. Whatever happens over the next few months in our nation, we need to face it from God’s righteous way not based on our definition of the way but fully tuning in to God’s justice and God’s mercy.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we stray from your righteousness. In your mercy guide us to a right understanding of how to restructure ourselves and our world into a dwelling place ruled by your 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.