Tag Archives: Love

Eager Finishers

finish-what-youve-started-titleLiving in the Spirit
June 25, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. –2 Corinthians 8:9-12

I am a good starter but once things are running well I am ready to move on to something else. I have learned to accept this as part of my personality. Thanks to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), I discovered that I am described as a builder. I need to always work with those wonderfully dedicated souls who like to maintain. Paul had apparently encountered some of my type in Corinth. They apparently had a great idea, initiated it, but did not finish. It appears related to providing care for the poor. It sounds like the Corinthians had experienced an economic downturn and had struck their great idea from the agenda. He is essentially telling them to rework their budget accordingly, but not to give up on that for which they were most eager.

Building the Kingdom of God is a major project where we often take one step forward and two steps back before we experience breakthroughs edging us a little closer to what Jesus envisions.  The events of recent days are proof only that we are still not finished. Whether it is refugees streaming from Syria or Africa, innocent people shot in a church, homes destroyed by nature, or intrinsic bigotry, we must gather the resources that we have continuing our journey toward the final rule of Love.

Prayer: Persistent Lover, foster your eagerness in all of us both builders and maintainers toward your vision of Shalom. 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 Synergy of Love

gods-love-cs-lewis-550x320Living in the Spirit
June 24, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 130

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
   more than those who watch for the morning,
   more than those who watch for the morning. –Psalm 130:5-6

The families of the victims of the recent mass killing were apparently well practiced in waiting for the Lord for at the accused killer’s bond hearing several of them spoke, for example: “I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you,” a daughter of Ethel Lance said. “And have mercy on your soul. You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people but God forgives you, and I forgive you.”* Such an immediate response could have only come from much time committed in being in communion with God. It illustrates well the presence of the grace of God in Mrs. Lance’s life and that of her daughter. What a wonderful testimony to honor a mother!

It is extremely challenging to develop the practice of waiting on the Lord letting God guide and direct us as we respond to the issues of daily life. It is, however, a habit of the heart worth pursuing. Paul uses the example of athletes. In order to play a game, run a race, or perform a gymnastic routine, one has to be in really good shape, which comes from daily routines of practice. The patterns of their sport are so encoded in their brains that their reactions are automatic.

We live in a world where hitting back, road rage reactions, bullying, and put downs seem to be what is encoded in our brains. It is these little habits of discord that lead to general societal dysfunction. Evil can create synergy where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Christ calls us to build our lives around God’s love reflected in our love. The whole world will benefit from loves synergy.

Prayer: Lord, help us develop as spiritual athletes, exercising our loving until it is our well-honed automatic response to everything. Amen.

 *http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/charleston-church-shooting-main/
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.

 

Oppression’s Anonym

Not oppressedLiving in the Spirit
June 21, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:35-41

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ –Mark 4:38-41

What are some anonyms for the word oppressed? The unabridged dictionary doesn’t list any. It seems to me that most of the problems among the peoples of God is a lack of understanding regarding what it means not to be oppressed. While some have lived in oppression for generations and know that way of being as their norm, most of us are fairly quick to recognize when we are being set apart for mistreatment and most of us are just as quick to react to it.

It is very difficult for people who have been in prison for years to adapt to freedom. Many return to a life of crime because that was what they knew before prison and they do not know how to be free. Restorative justice works to assist such prisoners in realizing their full potential in positive pursuits.

What about those of us who have lived in relative abundance for generations? Does freedom from oppression mean living our lives in laissez faire, a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course? If it feels good do it. The history of the Israelites indicate that was exactly what they envisioned. Such an attitude kept them on the roller coaster of feast and famine until they lost everything and were overcome by their own failure to take care of business. The resulting greed and misuse of power is what leads to oppression. The abundant life of which Jesus spoke was meant for all. Why are we afraid to live in such abundance when we serve a God who loves and takes care of all of us?

It seems to me, a large part of Jesus’ ministry was dedicated to defining the anonym of oppression as being freed to choose to love ourselves and one another and to take responsibility for ourselves and one another. If there is anyone in the world oppressed God is still working to end the oppression and expects us to be working toward that same end.

Prayer: Lord, heal our fears of not being whole if everyone else is also whole. 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.

Seeds of Love

Parable of the seedLiving in the Spirit
June 13, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 4:26-34

He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’ –Mark 4:26-29

The insidious nature of evil is recognized. It creeps in slyly yet it can eventually overcome its prey in harmful, damaging, or destructive ways. In this parable Jesus describes the kingdom of God as guileless, which sounds terribly fragile, frail even. But then, of course, there is nothing stronger than love.

I grew up on a farm. My family was dependent on those planted seeds growing and producing food for our table and to feed our animals. Farming is a career steeped in faith. For five or so years Oklahoma has been plagued by drought. This spring crops were ruined by floods, but at the next time of planting the seeds will be sown to start the cycle again. Seeds are not planted out of cunning but out of perseverance. The lesson of the seed is one of faith but more importantly one of love.

The writer of the book of Hebrews put it this way: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3) These verses are followed by a short history of God among God’s people being faithful in love even when promised outcomes are not in their lifetime.

God’s people are called to plant seeds of love that do not harm and are not destructive but persevere throughout history to re-form the world into a place lacking evil.

Prayer: Lord, make us all sowers of the seeds of 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.

Love not Violence

love one anotherLiving in the Spirit
June 11, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.  –2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I am an NCIS fan. There is a scene in one of the shows following Ziva’s rescue from terrorists where Gibbs sits across the table and helps her deal with what had happened. She had been raised and trained as a contemporary Israeli warrior to kill before she got killed. Her whole perspective in life was geared for the fight. The experience of watching an innocent man murdered and her treatment by the terrorists had opened her eyes to the wrongness of the violence engrained in her very being from childhood. She sees no reason to continue living. Gibbs says something to the effect that that part of her did die out there. It no longer ruled her life.

In our scripture today Paul is saying the same thing to us. Christ offered his life as a sacrifice so that we could move the Kingdom of God forward, not through violence and hate, but through love. It is not an easy transition to make. Old habits die hard and we do pay the consequences of our own actions, but the way out of the mire of evil exists in Jesus Christ. 1 John says it better than I ever could:

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him…. 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. –1 John 4:7-9, 17-18

Prayer: Transform each of us so that all the little things in our lives are ruled by love until all of our whole lives are ruled by love and the whole world is 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Houses Divided

one-true-churchLiving in the Spirit
June 6, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 3:20-35 And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. –Mark 3:23-35

A lot of people consider Abraham Lincoln the source of the phrase, a house divided against itself cannot stand, but he was paraphrasing our scripture for today. I, too, borrowed it for the title of my book but made the word house plural, Houses Divided. I wrote about the fractures that exist among the houses of God in our land today. I believe it is a source of great grief for God who called us to oneness.

Unless we figure out how to be one we will never overcome the world’s madness. I believe oneness is impossible without wholeness within each of us and wholeness within each and among all the houses of faith. So much of the strife in the world is the result of competition for the souls of people. Jesus calls it Satan in our scripture today, I think of it as evil. It is like a parasite that drains the energy from its hosts eventually destroying it even while making it appear full of life.

Jesus’ message to us in his coming to us is that the only thing that can overcome such a destructive force is the love of God. We cannot legislate evil away and we cannot kill it. We can facilitate its demise by loving God and loving like Jesus loved. The final verse (33) in John 16 which proceeds Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17 where he calls us to be one, gives me great hope: I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

In Jesus Christ we have received the answer to the age-old mystery of what to do about evil, God’s love. We just need to live it.

Prayer: O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God; Hold us, who wait before Thee,Near to the heart of God.* Let your Spirit fill us and guide us in the ways that we are to live your love. Make us whole; make us one. Amen.

*Chorus from Near to the Heart of God by Cleland B. McAfee see at http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Near_to_the_Heart_of_God/
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.

Christ Pitching His Tent among Us

God loves worldLiving in the Spirit
May 30, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. –John 3:16

This may have been the first memory verse I learned. I use to love to sing it. I don’t know if children continue singing it today. The song I learned may not pass the Theologically Correct test, but here are the words, I still like them:

 For God so loved the World,
 He gave His only Son,
 To die on Calvary’s tree,
 From sin to set me free;
 Some day He’s coming back,
 What glory that will be!
 Wonderful His love to me.*

“Second Coming” was the phrase used in my childhood to name the phenomenon described in the Bible as Jesus’ return to earth at the end of ages. We use a classier word, eschatology, now. I, for one, think God intends for us to work toward God’s righteousness right here and right now and the end of time will take care of itself.

In a bit of fancy, it cross my mind recently Christ may be waiting to return because we are so far from getting it right we would not be able to handle his full presence living among us. Pure love would not fit comfortably in our five or seven point plan for success. Perhaps world calamities, wars, and rumors of wars must die from lack of the nourishment of hate, greed, and hunger for power before we will be able to welcome Christ as an event of glory. It is something to think about.

Prayer: God of Grace and God of Glory on thy people pour thy power** so that right here and right now we may work toward your righteousness. Amen.

*Words by Frances Townsend see at http://www.smallchurchmusic3.com/Lyrics/D02/S02343.php
**First line of hymn God of Grace and God of Glory words by Harry E Fosdick see at: http://www.hymnary.org/text/god_of_grace_and_god_of_glory
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.

Running on Love

spirit-of-pentecostLiving in the Spirit
May 27, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
   worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
   the God of glory thunders,
   the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
   the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. –Psalm 29:1-4 

I have a voice that carries well. So did both my mother and dad, not my sister and brother so much.  It is a good gift when one needs to get someone’s attention; it is not a good gift if one is trying to whisper. We hear often about the still small voice of God, but our Psalmist today wants us to give God our attention.

I suppose this scripture is included in the lectionary for Pentecost because God took great pains on that day to get everyone’s attention. Rushing winds and tongues of fire were used on that day, and people being enabled to speak in languages they previously did not know. Such and experience would have left a lasting impression on me. Although if it were to happen today, we would probably have seen it as just one more bit of technology at work.

Our scripture today is telling us to never, ever take God for granted or write God off because we have got a handle on this world. The truth, in regard to a world running on love, is that we have barely scratched the surface.

Prayer: Speak to us, Lord, in whatever way is needed to get our attention about making love the thing that fuels this 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Them Bones

Them bonesEastertide
May 22, 2015

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ –Ezekiel 37:1-6

Many years ago I participated in a Bible study based on the story of the raising of Lazarus. I have long sense lost the study material, but the study itself was truly burned into my being. It address the question of whether we were, for all intents and purposes, dead like Lazarus rotting in his tomb and just going through the motions of living.

The people of Israel living in exile were, by and large, just going through the motions of living. I imagine that is what it must be like for all the refugees scattered about the world today. People fleeing Iraq and Syria, people on boats stuck in the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia trying to escape from terrorist. Some hope must still exist among them though for they are people fueled at least by the will to live.

What about you and me? Those of us who live and move and have our being in the midst of plenty, in relative security, seem to be going through the motions of living also. Why?

Ezekiel’s well-known vision is designed to foster hope. The spirit of God is still moving in the world, unseen, but actively engaged in reconnecting the people of God with purpose and a future. There is more to life then obtaining the latest electronic gadget or acquiring the latest thing in fashion, cars, or homes. Being loved and loving are the key ingredients to joy and self-worth.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to love you and love others to the extent that our love is mirrored in the ways of the peoples of the earth. 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.

 

Joy in God’s World

JoyEastertide
May 17, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 17:6-19

I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them…. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. –John 9-10, 13

Jesus speaks a special word about those who stayed with him in spite of their doubts and limited understanding about who he really was. I get the sense they knew he was exceptional. Some openly testified to his identity as Messiah, but I am not sure what that really meant was fully apprehended. I seriously doubt, if I could have grasp it fully had I been one of the first disciples.

This was a special moment because I also sense that Jesus’ deep concern was on behalf of the world. He was a person of broad vision. A seer who clearly took in reality but knew totally the possibilities of the world into which he was thrusting his disciples with the challenge of turning those possibilities into reality.

The world, the people in it, and their interactions functioning within the parameters of God’s kingdom of love was apparently Jesus’ greatest source of joy and he wanted that for all his disciples, too. Still does.

Prayer:
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!* Amen.

*First verse of Joyful, Joyful, we adore Thee, words by Henry van Dyke see at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/o/joyful.htm

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.