Tag Archives: Oneness

Divided We Fail

Ordinary Times

January 19, 2023

Scripture Reading:

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? –1 Corinthians 1:10-13

I have lived through these battles on various church related issues. The most outrageous one I remember was when I was a child. The board of my church determined that the chairs at the communion table were getting rickety and needed to be replaced. A committee was appointed, and they chose to purchase upholstered chairs instead of strictly chairs made of wood and the fight began. Scriptures were exchanged supporting all sides opinions. Some families left the church over this incident. I must admit it was a great learning experience for me as a child teaching me an important lesson regarding the hard work needed to be one in Christ.

Our faith groups inability to find oneness spills over into our government. The greatest challenge in our world today is seeking the Common Good. I wonder sometimes if there is such a thing. I just heard a report on a news program that there is a crisis across the US regarding how to feed our public-school children. Public education is the foundation of any democracy. Everyone learns better when they are not hungry. Approximately 50% of public school students in Oklahoma are eligible for free lunch (2023) * They are not the problem. The problem is our poverty rate is so out of date that the families whose incomes exceed the levels used to determine eligibility for these programs cannot afford them. Why are we not including funding the feeding all the children in public school? They are our future, and we want them all to be the very best adults they can be.

The idols of greed, lust for power, and bigotry blind us to what is right, what is just regarding our faith experiences and our search for the Common Good.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get so caught up in being right, we become wrong. Amen.

*https://www.publicschoolreview.com/free-lunch-stats/oklahoma

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.

Grace and Peace

Ordinary Time

January 12, 2023

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Corinthians 1:1-3

The Greek word, charis*, translated as grace, is preeminently used of the Lord’s favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people. Grace is a very appropriate greeting in a letter reminding the recipient of God’s loving presence and blessing. The Greek word, eiréné**, translated here as peace, describes a sense of wholeness—when all essential parts are joined together.

I must confess that definition of peace surprised this introvert who, on occasion, longs for time alone and considers that to be peaceful. I had to remind myself that much of my alone time is tied to trying to discern wholeness in our fragmented world***. As a retiree who now devotes by choice time to advocacy work, I identify more with the phrase peace, peace, when there is no peace, which is found in Jeremiah 6:14 as well as Jeremiah 8:11. and in Ezekiel 13:10 and 16. However, we all must remember that wholeness, when all essential parts are joined together, is the goal or should be the goal of all advocacy. The greatest challenge in advocacy when a perceived wrong is trying to be corrected, is that first we understand that God is the final authority regarding justice and righteousness, I do not get to define it. In most instances, the people who are supporting their version of the issue believe as deeply as I do that the justice and righteousness they desire is of God.

Getting into I can out-scripture you fights never work. What worked for Jesus was listening to the stories of the ones he was trying to help. Walking beside them and helping even his very human disciples to recognize righteousness in their interactions. Sometimes when we are working to make systemic changes with all its paperwork and give and take, we probably need to seek peace among those we are trying to serve. We might even want to take someone with us from the other side of the issue and try to understand why we see the situation and solutions so differently. Who knows we might find common grounds for the Common Good.

Prayer: Lord, help us understand ourselves as we try to understand others. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5485.htm**https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

***Taken from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) identity statement, We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one Body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us. – Disciples of Christ Identity Statement

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.

Judging the Nations

Christmastide

January 1, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 25:31-46
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

For me, the above scripture is the most important scripture in the Bible. (Micah 6:8 is a close second) They both offer concrete ideals for our personal relationships with others. Reread the first part again. It is not just instruction to individuals; it is how whole nations will be judged. I fear at times, we are more invested in our personal salvation than in the salvation of all God’s children in every nation as we live into God’s goal of a single kingdom blending all people in a world ruled by love.

Let us dedicate 2023 to wanting the very best for all God’s people and nations and remembering that all people were created in God’s image with the understanding that what is the very best for us personally is not necessarily the best for others. God created diverse people for a reason, and we must respect that.

Prayer: Lord, help us work toward our diverse oneness with you this year, starting with our nation. 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 the World’s Outcasts

Christmastide

December 31, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 25:31-46
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

This is probably one of the most ignored scriptures in the Bible, but it is Jesus’s final word to us in Matthew and may be the most important. I got very tired of people running for office who often begin and end their ad identifying as a Christian, but their ad was full of making fun of others and winning votes for their antics. Can you find one instance in the scriptures where Jesus ever made fun of anyone? He spent much of his time with the outcasts of his day, letting them know that God loves all the people God created.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we turn our back on your example to follow the world’s wisdom. Turn us around, recharge 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.

God Will Do a New Thing In Us

Advent

December 23, 2022

Scripture:

Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

For to which of the angels did God ever say,
‘You are my Son;
   today I have begotten you’?
Or again,
‘I will be his Father,
   and he will be my Son’?
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’
Of the angels he says,
‘He makes his angels winds,
   and his servants flames of fire.’
But of the Son he says,
‘Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever,
   and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
   with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.’
And,
‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
   and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain;
   they will all wear out like clothing;
like a cloak you will roll them up,
   and like clothing they will be changed.
But you are the same,
   and your years will never end.’ –Hebrews 1:5-12

As freezing Siberian weather descends on us, we continue to deny climate change occurring all around us whether of human origin or not. I read with trepidation these lines from the above scripture,

‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
   and the heavens are the work of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain;
   they will all wear out like clothing;
like a cloak you will roll them up,
   and like clothing they will be changed

I suppose it should not bother me since I accept that we humans perish and wear out. We still try to take care of ourselves and live as long and vital life as possible. Many of us have designated the donation of our organs to extend the life of others.  Caring for the earth is part of caring for ourselves.

The poet indicates that while the earth will wear out it will also be changed. My mother never, ever wasted anything. When our clothing wore out to the point it was no longer fit to wear, she carefully examined each garment and found the pieces of cloth that were not worn, clipped them out, and used them to make quilts

God created the earth and all that is on it including humans to flourish and care for one another. We should not take that responsibility lightly as we sojourn with God in the world we know today as we await our future with God.

Prayer: Creator God, open our hearts and mines to finding the ways in which we can care for your creation including each of us. Amen.

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

Grace and Peace

Advent

December 16, 2022

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My mother would have described my activities over the past few weeks as being like a chicken with its head cut off. Quiet a grizzly sight I can assure you but true. When a chicken, or turkey for that matter, is beheaded, the body runs in circles until it collapses. This is one of those bits of information that you probably did not want to know and is generally only learned by those of us who have had some relationship with a farm.

I seem to be caught in the framework of taking one step forward and two backward in various aspects of my life. These good and important activities must be coordinated among people with varying understandings of the situations being addressed trying to discern the best way to a successful conclusion. Studying the Myers-Briggs personality types was very helpful to me in trying to communicate well with people who did not perceive the world in the same way that I did.  The same is true of the VAK learning mode which divides people into three categories of learners: Visual learners – who absorb information by sight, Auditory learners – who absorb information by sound, and Kinesthetic learners – who absorb information by moving. I am very auditory and thus do not think to use pictures to illustrate something I am sharing. A handout or picture might be worth a thousand words I might say to get a point across.

I now have time to take a bit of an extended Sabbath. Paul’s statement at the close of the above scriptures was a wonderful opening to my rest and recuperation. I do not identify as a saint, but I feel set apart as one trying to serve God as were most of the people with whom I have been dealing. Thus, I appreciate all the grace and peace God can provide for me and all of God’s other saints trying to work together to implement God’s vision for all people.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the diversity of your saints who strive to serve you more nearly. 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.

Peace, Peace

Advent

December 8, 2022

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The second Sunday in Advent is celebrated as Peace Sunday. I am writing this on December 7, a day that does live in infamy. The day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The day the US officially became a part of World War II. Jesus came to bring us peace, but we must be willing to give up those things over which we war to have peace. Greed and the lust for power are two of the most hideous causes of war. Jeremiah addressed it in his day as described in the following scripture:

For from the least to the greatest of them,
   everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
   everyone deals falsely.
They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,
   saying, ‘Peace, peace’,
   when there is no peace.
They acted shamefully, they committed abomination;
   yet they were not ashamed,
   they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
   at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,
says the Lord. –Jeremiah 6:13-15

Our world seems to be itching for discord. An actual war exists in Ukraine as Russia wants to take that country over. An insurrection at our own Capitol on January 6 reared its ugly head here in the US. And now some group has destroyed the electrical systems in North Carolina, leaving thousands of people without heat and lights.

What triggers people’s need to address life’s challenges through violence? Where has their peace gone? How do we mend the brokenness in our society, our world?

During this season, we celebrate the Prince of Peace. We need to do more than celebrate but adapt to the Lord’s rule of love and welcome others to do the same.

Prayer: Lord, let your light shine through those who love you so that others can know your peace that passes understanding. 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.

We are Called to Love not Judge

Advent

December 6, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 7:10-16

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

The challenge is how we discern what is evil and what is good. Evil works very hard at looking harmless, looking preferable. We as a people seem to spend a lot more time judging others for the evil we see in them than removing the log from our own eyes. (See Matthew 7:5) In most instances, what we perceive as evil in others is a sign they may need or love, not our condemnation. ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ ( See John 8:7) We might want to read (or read again) C. S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters when we find ourselves judging others’ sins rather than examining ourselves for getting caught up in the evil of self-righteousness.

A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle*.

Prayer:  Lord, guide us as we struggle through life’s temptations and grant us the will to walk well with others who struggle too. Amen.

*First and second verses of the hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/886

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.

Growing in Love

Advent

December 3, 2022

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight.” ’
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ –Matthew 3:1-6, 11-12

John the Baptist is saying that all need repentance. We, indeed, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) The one who is coming demands more. He demands that we learn to live together and care for each other as we grow in wisdom and truth.

Humans stumble through progress. Sometimes we take two steps back and one step forward. Repentance can lead to self-righteousness rather than a quest for justice.  We are drawn to measuring our worth by needing to be better than others. The only person we are challenged to improve is ourselves. By interacting, however, we may learn from others as they learn from us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for coming to us in human form as a role model in sharing God’s 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.

The Name of All Names

Advent

The Jesus Wept Statue at the Oklahoma City Memorial

December 2, 2022

Scripture Reading: Romans 15:4-13

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
   and sing praises to your name’;
and again he says,
‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’;
and again,
‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
   and let all the peoples praise him’;
and again Isaiah says,
‘The root of Jesse shall come,
   the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.’

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:7-13

Antisemitism has been increasingly raising its ugly head in the US.  Synagogues and Temples have been sites of bombings and mass shootings. The quote included in the above scripture is from Psalm 69, which is described as a Prayer for Deliverance from Persecution.

God is God; however, we name God. The English word god comes from the Old English god, which itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic *ǥuđán. Its cognates in other Germanic languages include guþ, gudis (both Gothic), guð (Old Norse), god (Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old Dutch), and got (Old High German)*.

Jews refer to God as YHWH, a name too sacred to speak. The scriptures also refer to God as Adonai or Elohim. This naming somehow was Latinized as Jehovah. The Spanish word for God is Dios. The Muslim word for God is Allah. Christians speak of Jesus as God Incarnate, fully divine, fully human. Many Native American people refer to God as the Great Spirit.

After the Oklahoma City bombing, a pastor (I am sorry, I do not remember who) said the first one to weep was God. I think that is true of all such acts of violence against any of God’s people, particularly, when the violence stems from persons who profess to act in the name of God.

Prayer: Forgive us, Holy One, when we name you as our excuse for violence. Heal us from searching for self-worth in all the wrong places. Help us understand that our worth was implanted in our creation as were all humans when we were made in your image. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_(word)#:~:text=The%20English%20word%20god%20comes,got%20(Old%20High%20German).

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.