Tag Archives: Kingdom of Love

Weave us Together

Epiphany

January 26, 2020

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-23

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. –Matthew 4:18-23

I believe that each person on this earth is a child of God gifted with talents and skills that, when melded together in positive integration will result in the actualization of the vision of God’s kingdom ruled by the love that Jesus proclaimed. Further, I believe that Jesus came to prepare us for the work necessary to enable each of God’s children to fulfill their potential as workers charge with building that kingdom ruled by love. I also believe that God granted us free will to chose whether we accept that calling or not. That gift of freedom, of necessity, opens the door to self-centered or group-centered ambitions that are not in keeping with God’s vision.  The ultimate end of selfism is greed or lust for power or other evils that contribute to negative outcomes for all of God’s children, including those who turned away from God’s abiding love.

Jesus valued diversity among his disciples. He chose fishermen and tax collectors, old and young, and while we have to read around a bit in the writings of a male-dominated culture to find it, even both women and men. The most well-known 12 were probably all Jews, but in their ministries, they fanned out throughout the world. The disciples’ writings and reports of their work tell us just how hard and messy it is to bring all together in a shared vision. Recently, in a discussion at a meeting of well-seasoned participants, we got into a discussion of the things we experienced regarding disagreements in churches and just shook our heads about things of little consequence that resulted in hurt feelings and even church breakups. We agreed that the issue of discussion was not the primary cause of the problem. The main problem was power plays that left others feeling left out or not respected.

Seeking wholeness through our relationship with God is the only way we can successfully be the Body of Christ in the world today. It is a constant activity in our lives asking God to filter out the diversions of the world and open our lives to the wonders of the power of God’s love.

Prayer:
We are many textures,
we are many colors,
Each one different from the other.
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*. Amen.

First verse and chorus from Weave us Together by Rosemary Crow see at http://ehymnbook.org/CMMS/hymnSong.php?id=pd16696

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.

Running the Race

Kingdom Building

October 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

I will stand at my watch-post,
   and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,
   and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
   make it plain on tablets,
   so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
   it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
   it will surely come, it will not delay.
Look at the proud!
   Their spirit is not right in them,
   but the righteous live by their faith. –Habakkuk 2:1-4

I like the imagery of writing plain enough on tablets that a runner may read the message as she or he races past God’s vision message. We run the good race of Jesus Christ with the fullness of our faith ancestors behind us giving us fodder to learn from their failures and successes while, we as Paul says, push on toward the goal for which God has called us*. We are in the midst of a marathon not running a sprint or sauntering along oblivious of the work that needs to be done to usher in God’s Kingdom of Love. Our work is in the here and now. We are our faith ancestors’ legacy and our faith descendants’ role models both sacred trusts.

Do we know our call? Have we identified the skills and talents with which God as endowed us to make our contribution to a better world? Are we honing those skills and talents? Are we using them as fully as possible? Can we say we are eagerly standing at our watch-post ready to act as needed?

I must confess I do not think I have ever contemplated how God would answer my complaints. I can tell you that my mother did not give much heed to complaints and thus I was raised to weigh any complaint I might make before I made it. She would hear my gripe quickly ascertain if it had any credence, adjust if indicated, and tell me to get back to work or play or study or whatever if my complaints were empty. Mom was one of the fairest people I have ever know so there was none of the “she got more than I did” in her home. I envision God with similar traits. I also have experienced burnout and know the need for God’s healing touch, not as serious, but like what Elijah felt when he ran away and was fed by ravens**.

‘

Prayer: Thank you for your ever-present love, your impatience when I need it and your healing nurture when I am spent. Amen.

 *See Philippians 4:13
**1 Kings 17:2-16

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.

Abiding Presence

Kingdom Building

September 19, 2019

Scripture Reading:
1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. –1 Timothy 2:1-4

We can work as hard as we possibly can to model our lives like Jesus being good people who do justice and show mercy. We can engage in communion with God to guide our actions and our behavior and work to walk humbly with God.  These actions grow our faith, nurture our hope, and expand our love. These steps, however, are preparation for the next giant step, joining in Christ’s call to create a world ruled by love. For it will take all the faith, hope, and love that we can muster to make that change happen.

Thus, the author of Timothy urges us to pray for all leaders and kings, whether we like them or not and trust me when Timothy was written there were more disliked than liked for good reason. We must understand that God’s gift of free will includes everyone and sometimes our prayers collide with the desires of others. Somehow amid such conflicting ideas, God is still God and engages with all of us in seeking a world ruled by love. That is God’s ultimate desire, I believe, and God can support multiple ways of making it happen. Our prayers for those leaders whether we think they are great, mediocre, or awful are important, if for no other reason than to help us keep [our] heads while all about us are losing theirs and blaming it on [us]* while God continues to work toward that vision.

Our faith and trust in God as we partner with God in seeking that vision is key to our salvation amid chaos and the salvation of all who will come to know God’s love.

Prayer: God who is love, the breadth and depth of which is beyond our understanding, thank you for your abiding presence and amazing patience. Amen.

*Taken from If for Boys by Rudyard Kipling. See at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if–

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.

Perfect Love Castes Out Fear

Kingdom Building

July 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Hosea 11:1-11

When Israel was a child, I loved him,
   and out of Egypt I called my son.
The more I called them,
   the more they went from me;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals,
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
   I took them up in my arms;
   but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
   with bands of love.
I was to them like those
   who lift infants to their cheeks.
   I bent down to them and fed them. –Hosea 11:1-4

Hosea describes well God as parent. There is a point in all children’s lives when they break away from their parents allowing them to become the person God created them to be. At this time, they often test what they have learned from their parents and make the decision to retain what they had gleaned or let it go. Most do some of both. Humans are not perfect, and no parent is perfect. Even though parents and children share the same DNA, all are uniquely made. God’s love is perfect, yet God gives us the choice to follow God or not.

So why do we choose to follow the ways of the world as Hosea describes in our scripture today? The history of God’s relationship with humans is marked by ebbs and flows of being rescued by God when things go bad followed by humans pulling away from God when things are going well. Why are we willing to settle for the lesser gods of greed and power? Do we fear living in a kingdom ruled by love? Can we even imagine what that might be like? Or do we imagine God’s kingdom being a place where we must give up our individuality and everyone is alike? What does it mean to be made in the image of God while each person remains a unique being? Can we imagine a kingdom ruled by love being a greater source of all that is good than anything we have ever known?

I John 4 attempts to add insight to these questions: God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. (16b-19)

Prayer: God of Love, help us internalize the reality that perfect love casts out fear. 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 with Me

Living in the Spirit
September 11, 2017

Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:19-31

The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. –Exodus 14:19-20

There are times in all our lives when we are forced to rely on God totally. When the Israelites left Egypt was one such time.  The angel led them out and then the pillar of cloud moved behind them to protect them from the Egyptian Army. Saint Patrick wrote the following prayer that is an apt description of the faithfulness of God.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

What we need to understand is this is true all the time not just when we are at a breaking point. In fact, we would many times avoid reaching our wit’s end, if we walked in faith with God continuously. God is not only an emergency call center. God wants us to live and move and have our being so that our lives are led by peace and love, being cognizant of how our actions impact our world and all that is in it.

Prayer: Lord, make us mindful of dialogue with you in every moment of our lives. Help us to Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) 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 Tapestry of Love

Living in the Spirit
July 14, 2017

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:1-11

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.                                                                                                                                                  –Romans 8:1-5

What does it mean to be in Christ Jesus? I think to explore this question; we must delve into why God sent Jesus in the first place.  Was Jesus sent for humans to interact more closely with God? Was Jesus sent as a model of humanness demonstrating our potential to create a world ruled by love? Was he sent to lay out a plan to attain such a world, if we learned to work together and share our diverse gifts becoming one? Paul talks about being a part of the Body of Christ. Is this what it means to be in Christ Jesus?

What is freeing about being in Christ Jesus? Having purpose is freeing. Knowing what we are and whose we are give us the courage to pursue the vision set before us without fear and with the full assurance that we have our Creator’s support. Living free of condemnation opens doors to exploration and development. A life filled with learning from our mistakes as well as our successes is crucial for progress.

Two thousand years ago Jesus charged us with feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, restoring people to wholeness in both health and behavior, and welcoming the stranger. God’s Kingdom when fulfilled is a place of abundance where all have food and clothing, all experience wholeness, and all are welcomed. We have come a long way; we have a long way to go. We are promised the freedom to make such a world as we work together as one toward God’s righteousness.

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

*Weave by Rosemary Crow, 1979, Chalice Hymnal page 495, Copyright Chalice Press 1995, St. Louis, Missouri

Who is This?

Lent
Palm Sunday
April 9, 2017

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 21:1-11

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
   Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’ –Matthew 21:6-11

As we enter Holy Week, who are we looking for? The people who celebrated Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem apparently hoped in him what they saw in King David. David was first and foremost a military leader, a general with great success. He grew from that roll into a great King setting the stage for the nation of Israel to prosper in peace. Peace than as now coexisted with war for battles continued even after David became king.

What was it then that the people saw in Jesus making them relate him to King David? He was not a soldier but a traveling Rabbi. He emboldened loving not only neighbors but even enemies. He taught ways of being that were mutually beneficial. He fed the hungry and healed the sick. He restored wholeness and encouraged oneness among his followers. He championed distributive justice in God’s Kingdom of love. He called on followers to become coworkers with him in actualizing this Kingdom ruled by God’s love. David was a dedicated lover of God and the spirit of God rested with him. While those spreading their cloaks before Jesus may not have fully understood who he was, they surely saw that he was a man of God too, identifying him as the prophet. It would take the events that happened later in the week to solidify who he was.

In ancient Israel as well as first century Jerusalem, the people hungered for righteousness and longed for a savior to make it a reality. The peace that David’s military prowess provided was gone one generation after his death. Jesus taught a new way of being and trained his disciples to spread it throughout the world. The rule of God’s love through Jesus Christ is designed to last not only through generations but through eternity.

Prayer: Lord, journey with us during this Holy Week. Broaden our understanding of your way, your truth, and your life. Embolden our loving all your children. 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.

Houses Divided

Lent
March 20, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.’ Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. –1 Samuel 16:1-5

How does a group recover from leadership mistakes? 1 Samuel 9:1 seems to indicate that Saul’s credentials for being king were that he was tall and handsome. Granted that was written with hindsight, but it speaks to the panic running through the Hebrews regarding all their neighbors having kings when they did not. Find a king, any king, and all will be well. Of course, it was not. The paradigm shift being experienced in the Middle East at that time required far more skills than Saul possessed.

Good leaders rise to the top when people have a common vision worth pursuing. Jesus noted in Mark 3:25, if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Abraham Lincoln took that scripture to heart when he strived to keep the United States together during the Civil War. Defining commonly held values is important. Turning those values into a vision and goals creates the framework for progress. Working together to make the vision a reality should follow.  Treating all sides with respect matters too.

A lot of innocent people were hurt as Saul blundered through being king. Eventually his own son was killed. A lot more were negatively impacted as David led the way to peace through bloody war.

Many reading this follow a risen Savior, Jesus Christ. His vision of creating a Kingdom of Love stretching to the ends of the earth is still very real. We need to get about the business of identifying the things we can and do agree on, and work with all are hearts to implement them, while letting the things that divide us lie fallow. When we fully love God, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we may be surprised by how easily those thorny issues that separate us now, melt away.

Prayer: Lord forgive us for getting so caught up in the world that we forget your purpose for us. Guide us to find the work you have already laid out for us and strengthen us to do it with all 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.