Tag Archives: Loving Like Jesus

Purified and Refined

Advent

November 30, 2021

Scripture Reading: Malachi 3:1-4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

Refiner’s fire and fullers’ soap are purifying agents. Metal removed from the earth is melted, and any non-metallic particles are removed, increasing the metal’s strength.  The COVID pandemic has had many negative impacts, but it also seems to have made people reconsider what is important to them as they consider the life they have left to live. Malachi is suggesting that we apply this concept to our states of being.  Recently I moved a chest in my bedroom because I noticed a small book caught between it and the wall. It is Parker J. Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation. I have read and appreciated other books by Palmer but had no idea where this one came from or how I got it. It was published in 2000 about the time I struggled with feelings that the work I had been doing was morphing into something that at least missed my life goals. I do not remember reading the book, and it looks brand new.  I eventually chose to take early retirement in 2004 and pursue the Commissioned Ministry program available in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I served as an Associate at a church for seven years, then retired a second time to devote my time to advocacy.

I am reading the Palmer book slowly and thoughtfully as I once again need to be purified from a pessimistic viewpoint that our society is beyond salvaging. My metal needs to be refined and strengthened.

When I found the book, the first line of an old hymn ran through my mind, reminding me that we serve an all-powerful God who can and will use us in many ways if we open our hearts to God’s service. So finding the book was well-timed.

God moves in a mysterious way,
    His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
    And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs,
    And works His sovereign will*.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen my feeble arms and weak knees, enabling me to serve you more nearly**. Amen.

*First two verses of Conflict: Light Shining out of Darkness. By William Cowper. See at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Moves_in_a_Mysterious_Way

**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.

Fear Not

Advent

November 28, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Luke 21:25-36

‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ –Luke 21:34-36

God created a well-planned interdependent world where the gold standard for wellbeing is shalom— peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. Searching for a life outside of shalom is the road to destruction. Yet, that is precisely what many in our world are hellbent to do. Our failure to care enough for each other to be vaccinated quickly for COVID resulted in a more potent variant called Delta. Another variant, perhaps worse than Delta, called Omicron, has recently appeared in South Africa and maybe the worst one yet. Third-world countries have had the least opportunity to take preventative measures. The variants spread rapidly, and this latest one will be in our nations soon. People across the world are angry. They are tired of socially distancing, wearing masks, and getting shots. They want their pre-COVID lives back.

Jesus meant it when he said loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves* are the two most important commandments. He also increased our neighborhood to include the whole world**.  We hold our future in our hands. We can follow the way of Jesus working to restore wholeness across all lands while growing in love for the vast diversity God gifted to us in varied cultures, or we can follow the path of destruction.

Prayer: Lord, the divine admonition to “Fear not” is recorded in the Bible 365 times; help us remember it each morning as we face a new day and grant us the strength to strive for shalom without fear. Amen.

*Matthew 22: 35-40

**Matthew 28:18-20

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.

Experiencing Fury

Advent

November 27, 2021

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36

Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. –Luke 21:29-33

I am a fan of PBS News Hour and on Thanksgiving Day it was a welcome reprieve since most other news had been replaced by football. I happen to enjoy a good football game, so I am not being critical just thankful for its inclusion as an option. Two of the segments presented particularly caught my attention. One was Why cultural and political divides in the U.S. seem to be getting worse. The other was How broken faith in American institutions is creating a ‘rising sense of fury’*. I have observed and been concerned about both issues for some time. I was particularly impressed by the statement that these phenomena do not occur overnight. They build for years before being fully manifested. One of the guests described how the cultural change that resulted in the Civil War matured over 30 years.

There is nothing new in these studies and observations. Just ask Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, Jeremiah, and the other prophets as Israel, like waves on the ocean, flowing in and out of cultural debacles, eventually resulting in exile. Humans do not want to hear what does not address their immediate desires.  Greed overcomes common sense. For example, this morning, I heard news stories about new and innovative ways to buy what we really cannot afford for Christmas this year. One way was what I would call after the purchase layaway payments.

Rectifying the cultural and political divides must start with examining what part we may be contributing to the problem. In the 1960s, when I graduated from college, one of the rewards was an onslaught of preapproved credit cards. I received gas, store, and general credit cards in the mail with a congratulations card for finishing school. All one had to do was sign and return the invitation. One night when I was paying the minimum amount due on all those bills at 18% interest, I realized I was wasting a lot of money. It took me over a year to pay them all off, but I did. I limited myself to one card that required total payment each month. Most of my friends were on the same credit merry-go-round that grows into most of society living beyond their means, and that results in trying to find anyone else to blame but ourselves.

I just gave one example of the build-up to fury. What I see in our culture today is people needing to be better than others to feel they are of worth. I do not know from where that comes, but it is not true and such measures of self-worth result in all kinds of divides that destroy our world.

Prayer: Lord, lead us in examining ourselves and enable us to be repairers of the breach**we find. Amen.

*To view them go to https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-cultural-and-political-divides-in-the-u-s-seem-to-be-getting-worse  and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-broken-faith-in-american-institutions-is-creating-a-rising-sense-of-fury

**See Isaiah 58:12

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.

Taking Joy in the Service of Others

Advent

November 25, 2021

Scripture Reading:
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

When Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, writers of the musical Oklahoma, wrote the line Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain, they clearly had direct knowledge of the weather in Oklahoma. I just returned from a graveside service in a cemetery on that plain where it was 60 degrees, and the winds were blowing 23 miles an hour with much higher gusts. The person whose life was being celebrated was a member of my church. Two women and one man I expected to see were there. They are always there when needed, quietly serving, hugging the family, sharing favorite memories, loving like Jesus. One shared with the daughter of the deceased that she received the call about her mother’s death just after the woman had finished baking the mother’s favorite bread; with no sugar, she could not have sugar. I walked to my car with the other woman I knew would be there, who said since she was out this way, she thought she would visit another lady from the church who lived in a nearby assisted living facility. That lady had just lost her brother. The behavior of these women is as much a part of their being as breath itself.

Indeed, how can we thank God enough for people like that in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of them?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for wonderful role models that model their lives after yours. 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.

Righteous and Righteousness

Advent

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

The Hebrew word tsedaqah* is the root word translated righteous in the first instance in the above scripture and means honesty, justice, and merits related to government.  In the second usage, the last word in the scripture means righteousness as vindicated, justification in controversy with enemies and troubles, deliverance, victory, prosperity as it relates to the Messianic king**.

There is a bit of the separation of temple and state in these usages. The lines of governance are somewhat murky in the history of Israel. Cultural norms, civil law, and God’s laws are comingled a little more readily in the Hebrew experience than in our world today. In the USA, persons of all faiths may vote their conscience, and thus civil laws may be impacted by religion. Although I fear our national god of wealth has more influence at the ballot box than the God of love, some choose to follow. Politicians do actively work to confound the issues for their gain. The Hyde amendment, when applied, does not allow federal money to be used to pay for abortions based solely on making an exception for those who identify abortion as a sin. I have wondered why there is not a Hyde Amendment outlawing the use of tax dollars to pay for executions. I know tons of people of faith who do not believe in the death penalty, including me. Also, I would much rather have my tax dollars pay to end the need for war, not pay for unjust wars.

The difficult question is how do we come to oneness on understanding the Lord’s righteousness related to dealing with enemies and troubles, deliverance from persecution, a victory of that which holds us back from serving God fully, and mainly what is prosperity as it relates to the Messianic king? Jeremiah longed for the Messiah, we call Christ, to show us the right way, the just way to live together in shalom. Therefore, Advent is an excellent time to reacquaint ourselves with the one named Jesus, who we know now as Jesus the Christ.

Prayer: Lord, bless us with a greater understanding of the one Jeremiah longed for as we once again wait for the arrival of the Christ child. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6666.htm

**https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Types of Love

Advent

November 22, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

An abundant life to the prophets is coupled with justice and righteousness, not wealth and power. Life as Jesus modeled it was one of loving and caring for others. Jesus also indicated that we could not love others unless we love ourselves. What does that mean? The word love is tossed about loosely in our culture. We often use the word love to describe what makes us happy. I just love that dress, song, ice cream. But what does loving oneself mean, and how do we apply that same behavior when dealing with others?

The Greek language identifies at least four words to describe what English melds together into the word love. C. S. Lewis describes these in his book The Four Loves as Affection (storge), Friendship (philia), Romantic (eros), Charity (agape).

The most familiar type of love, affection, may stand alone but often complements each of the other three. It’s the familiarity of “the people with whom you are thrown together in the family, the college, the mess, the ship, the religious house,” says Lewis*.

Lewis describes Friendship as the love dismissed. “Friendship must be about something,” Lewis says, “even if it were only an enthusiasm for dominoes or white mice. Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow-travelers.”

Romantic love is challenged by passion and, while significant in itself, can be considered lost if passion is not always present.

Charity is our chief aim, the unconditional love of the Father given to us through his Son. Affection, Friendship, and romantic love are each the training ground for charity to grow. . . we are made to love, and we are in want of it. As the parable says, if we play it safe, we are not living out the Gospel, but burying the coin in the safe ground.

God calls us to radical love, which may mean one ends up on a cross, but it always means that God is the author of life, which is written in the language of love and nothing is greater than God’s love. So we might want to identify the areas we have affection for ourselves–never dismiss friendships, letting romantic love blossom with and without passion, and cherishing the charity of God loving us no matter what. Once we accept these attributes, we need to share them with one another and all others.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to loving ourselves so we can love one another. Amen.

All descriptors of the four loves are taken from https://www.cslewis.com/four-types-of-love/

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.

Called to Do Justice

Living in the Spirit

November 20, 2021

Scripture Reading:

John 18:33-37

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’

Politics and faith are strange bedfellows. Pilate’s only concern regarded any threat Jesus might have on Pilate’s power. If the Jews stayed in their place, contributed to the Roman economy, and did not make waves, Pilate did not care what they believed. The Jews were able to enforce their religious laws up to the point of execution. Rome reserved the right to render final punishment. Thus, the Sanhedrin brought Jesus before Pilate, who weighed his options based on what was in it for him. So goes governance today.

Our society seems to have moved closer to “what is in it for me or mine” values rather than what is just. Libraries of books have been written discussing varying ideas about why Jesus was crucified. I, however, have not seen many delving into how his crucifixion focuses a bright light on justice or the lack of justice being one of the major impediments to the wellbeing of all. I am a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who strives to be a wholeness movement in a fragmented world*.  We are better at it at some times than other times, but the calling stands. I think this idea recognizes that being followers of Christ means taking responsibility for how our world functions. I fear we long for a god with a magic wand who will solve all our problems and the world’s problems by a simple wave of that wand. From the beginning of time, God gave us the choice of wholeness or fragmentation, righteousness or self-righteousness with the expectation that our doing justice leads to wholeness.

The Disciples, in shock, no doubt, stumbled around for several weeks after the resurrection until, as Acts 1 describes, they realized the needed to get their act together. Thus, they held a board meeting, elected a replacement for Judas, and said, “OK God, what do we do next.” Immediately, Acts 2 described the arrival of the Holy Spirit. I envision Jesus saying, “It is about time. Let’s go.” With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, those twelve people, along with many converts, change the world. We are called to follow their example.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to do justice as your followers. Amen.

*https://disciples.org/our-identity/our-mission-vision-and-confession/

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.

Due to COVID

Living in the Spirit

November 16, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18)

The Lord swore to David a sure oath
   from which he will not turn back:
‘One of the sons of your body
   I will set on your throne.
If your sons keep my covenant
   and my decrees that I shall teach them,
their sons also, for evermore,
   shall sit on your throne.’

For the Lord has chosen Zion;
   he has desired it for his habitation:
‘This is my resting-place forever;
   here I will reside, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless its provisions;
   I will satisfy its poor with bread.
Its priests I will clothe with salvation,
   and its faithful will shout for joy.
There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David;
   I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.
His enemies I will clothe with disgrace,
   but on him, his crown will gleam.’ –Psalm 132:11-18

The rich history of God’s people carefully carried forward in scripture is a blessing to all who read it. The stories carefully blend God’s personal relationship with each of God’s children while encompassing the oneness God desires for all creation, from loving our near neighbors to those found at the ends of the earth. Most Christians see the above scripture as foretelling the coming of Christ, God with us. The One who sees clearly by the light of God’s lamp and thus is the One we can follow without fear. His light guides us.

I have been surprised to find lexicon-driven scriptures regarding the coming of Christ before Advent. Maybe I have not been paying attention in the past. Perhaps, due to COVID, we are all anxious for good news. I grow weary of that phrase “due to COVID.” We are now being told COViD will most likely become endemic, with us forever ranked in severity somewhere between the common cold and the flu, adding another annual booster shot. Evil, too, is endemic, never going away and always being in the way to distract us from fulfilling God’s vision for all. We build up antibodies to evil by maintaining a close, loving relationship with God.  We reduce the impact of evil in our world by spreading the good news of God’s love and grace provided through Jesus Christ.

Prayer: O Come, O Come Emanual and ransom the whole 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.

Politics and Justice

Living in the Spirit

November 15, 2021

Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 23:2-7

The spirit of the Lord speaks through me,
   his word is upon my tongue.
The God of Israel has spoken,
   the Rock of Israel has said to me:
One who rules over people justly,
   ruling in the fear of God,
is like the light of morning,
   like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
   gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

Is not my house like this with God?
   For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
   ordered in all things and secure.
Will he not cause to prosper
   all my help and my desire?
But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away;
   for they cannot be picked up with the hand;
to touch them one uses an iron bar
   or the shaft of a spear.
   And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot. –2 Samuel 23:2-7

Politics has crossed the line into jurisprudence– practical wisdom about the law. In Oklahoma last week, we legally executed a man for murder who was possibly mentally ill.  According to witnesses, he suffered numerous convulsions after he was administered the first drug and vomited twice while tethered to a gurney with arms outstretched. A federal court hearing is scheduled in February to determine once again whether Oklahoma’s method of execution is cruel and unusual punishment. Thirty men were on death row when this hearing was called who would be impacted by it. They were each required to choose the method of execution they would prefer, to be a party in the case. The man executed last week said making such a choice would be the equivalent of suicide, and his faith forbids suicide. Thus, he was removed from the case and immediately moved into execution protocols. This week our Governor will decide whether to execute a man for which there is compelling evidence that he did not commit the crime for which he was given the death penalty. Will the Governor decide based on the facts of the case or the point that 61% of Oklahoma’s support the death penalty?

David is the identified author of the above scripture, written at the end of his reign as king. Thus, the advice comes from an experienced politician. Yes, politics exist in a monarchy. David’s sage observation is to be a successful leader; one must do justice. Sometimes leaders need to be teachers also. They need to share with their constituents the broader picture of issues they may not know or understand.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, open our hearts and minds to considering all aspects of justice and as we strive to do what is right as citizens of a nation and state where justice is defined by people we elect. 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.

Loving God by Loving Each Other

Living in the Spirit

November 12, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. –Hebrews 10:11-14.

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds

The Greek word translated as “provoke” in the above scripture is paroksysmós – a provocation which literally jabs (cuts) someone so they “must” respond*. I am not into jabbing or cutting anyone, but I do not understand how people who claim to worship the same God can have such markedly different understandings of God’s will for God’s people. There are many aspects of faith we could debate, but the Hebrew Bible and the teachings of Jesus are very clear we are all called to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Yet, we are being split asunder, one from the other, by the divide and conquer methods of evil in almost every aspect of life. Our actions are driving people away from churches and, I fear, from God. I wonder if the author of Hebrews was facing the same challenges within a hundred years of Jesus’s sojourn on earth. How fickle we can be.

Everything we do or say needs to be influenced by our love of God, everything. Charles Wesley may have said it best:

Help us to help each other, Lord,
each other’s cross to bear;
let each his friendly aid afford,
and feel another’s care.

Up into thee, our living head,
let us in all things grow,
and by thy sacrifice be led
the fruits of love to show.

Touched by the lodestone of thy love
let all our hearts agree;
and ever towards each other move,
and ever move towards thee.

This is the bond of perfectness,
thy spotless charity.
O let us still, we pray, possess
the mind that was in thee**.

Prayer: Father, forgive us, for we do not know what we are doing***.  Turn us around and teach us how to love each other and, in so doing, demonstrate our love for you. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/3948.htm

**See at https://hymnary.org/text/help_us_to_help_each_other_lord

***Taken from Luke 23:34

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.