Tag Archives: Oneness

Correcting our Ways

Living in the Spirit
October 11, 2018

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. –Hebrew 4:12-13

Many, at least in the USA, are living in a steady state of denial. The stock market is rising, and unemployment is low, so all musts be well, right? But all is not well. Our national debt is growing. I heard on the news this morning that scientist estimate that climate change will be unredeemable (my word not theirs) in ten years if we do not start immediately to curtail its development. While unemployment may be low, more and more people are not earning a living wage. The middle class is shrinking as are its values of fairness, hard work, and self-actualization. I grow weary of the daily reports of children and youth shooting each other or assaulting one another. The attitude that all is fair if one can get away with it is prevalent. How many young frat boys are going to drink themselves to death before that attitude loses its allure? Bullying is almost normal behavior any more.

Of course, it is not just children and youth caught in this cycle. They have some excellent role models for inappropriate behavior among adults caught in road rage or our leaders setting terrible examples. I thought about contacting my local TV station and asking them not to broadcast such inappropriate behavior until the 10:00 pm news so children would be less likely to be influenced by it.

God is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart and does. God is holding each of us responsible for our actions particularly those that denigrate others and particularly those that set bad examples for children.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fail to love one another as you would have us do. Prick our consciences with that double-edged sword each time we step away from your righteousness until we correct our ways. 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.

Finding Common Ground

Living in the Spirit
October 10, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 22:1-15

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
   Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
   and by night, but find no rest.

Yet you are holy,
   enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
   they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved;
   in you they trusted, and were not put to shame. –Psalm 22:1-5

We look very much like our ancestors in faith described by the Hebrew prophets. They were split into sides each thinking they had the corner on God. Jesus understood this when he said ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. (Matthew 12:25)

People who claim to be Christ followers need to seek the things on which we can agree and work diligently to bring those things to full fruition and let the issues that divide us lay fallow for a while. Land left fallow is allowed the opportunity to regenerate its nurturing properties. I firmly believe that many of the divisive issues would disappear if we simply did what Jesus encourage us to do in Matthew 25:

  • Feed the hungry
  • Provide safe water for the thirsty
  • Clothe the naked
  • Care for the sick
  • Restore the prisoner
  • Welcome the stranger

Prayer:
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love,
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
We are many textures, we are many colors,
Each one diff’rent from the others.
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.
We are diff’rent instruments, playing our own melodies,
Each one tuning to a diff’rent key.
But we are all playing in har-mon-y
In one great symphony

 Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together in unity and love,
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, together in love.
A moment ago, still we did not know
Our unity, only diversity.
Now the Christ in me greets the Christ in thee
In one great family* Amen.

* Music & Lyrics by Rosemary Crow Copyright 1979

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.

Tragedy

Living in the Spirit
October 8, 2018

Scripture Reading: Job 23:1-9, 16-17

Then Job answered:
‘Today also my complaint is bitter;
   his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
O that I knew where I might find him,
   that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him,
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me,
   and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
   No; but he would give heed to me.
There an upright person could reason with him,
   and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. –Job 23:1-9

The news is full this morning of news related to a limousine wreck in New York State where 20 people were killed most related to one another, most young adults just started in life. Job knew how that felt as he lost all his children. I am sure he had many long conversations with God crying out “Why” giving all his well thought out arguments for why none of the losses should have fallen on him. We can feel his palpable confusion, pain, and grief when we read this scripture. We can apply those same responses to the family and friends lost in the vehicle accident. Bad intersection, perhaps no seat belts or ones not being used, no airbags, perhaps a history of poor vehicle maintenance, all these things will be pursued but the people are gone.

We live in a complex world where tragedies abound, and we learn of them because our communications systems alert us immediately from across the earth. Where is God in all of this? God, our Creator, grieved with Job and grieves with each of us as one would expect the ultimate parent of all peoples everywhere would. Parents exist to prepare their children to become adults in a challenging world, where they are free to make decisions regarding their lives. God through the Holy Spirit is active an engaged with each of us an all of us collectively to guide an sustain us, if we reach out and accept the help offered. We are tasked to work in oneness toward supporting each other as we grow in wisdom and in truth. In those times when we cannot comprehend the enormity of events, our faith in the God of Love is what holds us together as we try to piece together our lives.

Prayer: Lord, let your love flow through all those dealing with unbelievable loss from wrecks to hurricanes to earthquakes. Instill in each of us the ability to share our love with those experiencing loss as we endeavor to be one in Christ. 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.

Our Children’s Futures

Living in the Spirit
October 7, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:2-16

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. –Mark 10:13-16

Everything we do today shapes the future for our children. Our history does not project a bright future for them. The rich are getting richer, the middle class is shrinking, and the poor are getting poorer. Our economy is driven by greed not based on productivity but in money transactions. War of some kind is a constant reality. Climate change is reshaping our coastlines, impacting weather trends, and threatening the very air we breathe. Violence of all types surrounds us. People are angry but cannot put their finger on why. We blame politicians some of whom feed the chaos.

As followers of Christ, we are called to pave the way toward a world ruled by love where all have enough, live in peace, live in a world with clean air and safe water, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves as interdependent children of a loving God. I do not know a time when our answering that call has been more important.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen us to live your love and share it from our front doors to the end of the 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.

Gender Norms

Living in the Spirit
October 6, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 10:2-16

Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ –Mark 10:2-9

We are in the movement of the evolution of gender and gender roles that has been progressing from the beginning of time. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them ‘Humankind’ when they were created. (Genesis 5:2) There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

I just saw on social media a listing of some of our presidents throughout history and their various affairs starting with George Washington. Most of those fell under the guise of boys will be boys and were only the source of titillating gossip until the evolution struck Bill Clinton directly in the 1990’s. Even then he was chastised not for his actions but for lying about it. The irony is his wife was roasted for forgiving him. Our culture has a funny way of selective reading regarding Biblical advice.

While it is uncomfortable for many as we ride out this sweeping change in cultural norms, the time has come for us

  • to gain a loving perspective on the roles of women and men
  • to understand the meaning of sex in a world where having children is for many a choice no longer an unpredictable outcome and
  • to consider the effect when power and gender and violence intersect

I think God created male and female as a positive necessity in a balanced and loving world, something to be cherished and protected not maligned and misused. As we rewrite the norms of gender and sexuality we need to keep that in mind.

Prayer: God of Love in all its forms, guide us to a new vision of sharing the intimate forms of our love for your glory. 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.

Faith Integrity

Living in the Spirit
October 2, 2018

Scripture Reading: Job 1:1, 2:1-10

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.

  Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips. –Job 2:9-10

I followed a dear friend out of church yesterday as he shuffled dragging uncooperative Parkinson’s afflicted feet behind a walker. I had just consulted him about an issue with my house and received his wise, expert recommendations.  We were leaving a dinner where I had arrived late finding the closest vacant chair. It was fortuitous for me to find a seat next to my friend as I had been intending to call him for advice about my house issue and just never thought of it when I could call. I did not think of that, however, as I joined the table of these friends. They were sharing a conversation about sports. They also were nearly finished eating as I began my lunch. While I ate, I observed the comradery of people who were comfortable with each other and who respected the insights and joy at favored teams winning games along with concern about the USA not doing well at the Rider Cup. There is much more to life than loathsome sores or Parkinson’s ravages. Loving one’s neighbor includes loving them in the good times and through the bad.

The Integrity to Be Friends
By John Tiong Chunghoo

put two stones
as close to each other
as you can.

 put two men too,
close to each other.

 what’s the similarity? 

if both do not have
the integrity to
really understand
each other for the
common good,
two million years
from now they
would still be as good
as – mere stones.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the integrity to really understand each other for the common good. 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.

Blameless and Upright

Living in the Spirit
October 1, 2018

Scripture Reading: Job 1:1, 2:1-10

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.’ –Job 1:1, 2:1-6

Satan, the name of the superhuman adversary of God*, is a leading character in the book of Job. Satan smugly claims that all humans have their price and even though Job has been blameless and upright so far, he surely has his limits. God allows Satan to put Job to the test. The scene is set, and the action begins.

From the beginning, humans have had the right to choose between good and evil. We have most likely always wondered if bad things happening to us are the results of bad things we have done. It is an age old question if God is love and God is thus good why do bad things happen to good people? In some instances, we know we are suffering very real consequences from our own actions. What of the Jobs of the world who are blameless and upright, why do bad things happen to them?

We readily quote Jesus as saying it rains on the just and the unjust but that does not help much. We need to look a little closer at the context. Here is the full scripture:

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45)

All people are God’s children and he loves them equally. He is instructing that all people are our neighbors and we are to love them as he does. I think he may also be saying that we need to work as one to prevent bad things from happening to anyone if it is at all possible.  I doubt the poor in Puerta Rico or the Carolina’s purposely live in homes more likely to be destroyed by hurricanes.

Prayer: Lord, make us good neighbors to all your children. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7854.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.

Sharing Christ

Living in the Spirit

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:38-50

John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. –Mark 9:38-41

How do we discern Christ-followers in our world today when stances and actions are being taken in the name of Christ that are totally foreign to me and I am sure my stances and actions seem foreign to others? Perhaps the better question is do we have a role in discerning who is a Christ follower?

The Parable of the Sower* offers insight. I think we usually read this parable with our focus on what happens to the one who receives the seed but what does it say to the ones who sow the seeds? To sow seeds among the brambles of life that are choking the spiritual life from people we must serve among the brambles, rocks, and thorn while digging our roots deeper into the richness of the love of God that enables us to enable others.

Jesus states in the scripture above that we are not to judge the credibility of others who share his message that is his job and he deals with all who call on his name including us. I think we have a two-fold mission one to work continuously to strengthen our relationships with God and to work with all our might to attain the oneness to which Jesus calls all his followers. In many instances that may mean setting aside the sticky-wicket issues about which we see no avenues to oneness while actively seeking and building on those paths of love on which we all can travel.

Prayer: Lord, help us find common ground on which we can share your love in your name so that our actions as your followers do not drive others away from your life-giving nurture into wastelands of the world. Amen.

*Matthew 13

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.

Mutual Understanding

Living in the Spirit
September 30, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:38-50

‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

  ‘For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’ –Mark 9:42-50

I like salt, always have. I fix what I call an omelet in the microwave using egg whites with a little salt and pepper added. It is good, but I have learned to stir the mixture well after adding both the salt and pepper because the consistency of the egg whites tends to hold those ingredients in one place unless I stir the concoction well. On occasion, I have failed to do that resulting in my getting a mouth full of pure salt (or pepper) which is not good. The one bite makes me sick while the rest of the omelet is rendered bland.

Discerning how to deal with children and adults on their life journeys, but particularly their faith journeys, is a challenge. I fear we drive people away from faith when we come on too strong and we make faith meaningless if water it down too much. What we do with one person probably will not work with another. Agape love, God love, requires our investing enough in another to know when they need us to be with them and in what way our presence will help the most.

One of the issues that is most perplexing is dealing with people who approach the faith community to obtain something needed or wanted that may not relate to a relationship with God and may not be the best means of addressing long-range solutions to improve their ongoing issues. How do we address immediate needs: food, housing, clothing, while trying to stabilize their situation? How do we seek to want the best for another without assuming that our vision for them is the correct path for them to take? How do we get beyond their saying what they think we want to hear and communicate on a level of mutual understanding?

As we travel deeper and further into our own faith development, we must learn to lean heavily on the guidance of the spirit and trust that whatever we do can be a conduit to loving relationships eventually in the full actualization of the Kingdom of Gods. When we make mistakes, we must learn from them. When we find something that works, we must give God the praise for it.

Prayer: God who is Love, strengthen our ability to attain mutual understanding with others. 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.

Journeying With

Living in the Spirit
September 28, 2018

Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. –James 5:19-20

I am a fan of Father Brown the TV show on PBS. While a good murder mystery is entertaining, I am more impressed with his interactions with his fellow human beings. He accepts everyone where they are, just as they are and journeys with them as they strive to reach their full potential. He does hold people’s feet to the fire; they need to face the facts of what they are doing or have done whether it is related to the case at hand or not. He is quick to assure them that God is forgiving if they confess and repent although they still may face the consequences of their actions. In that case, he will be there with them fulfilling the charge to visit those in prison. It is rare but on occasion, he runs into what I would call pure evil and he mourns souls caught in evil’s tangles unwilling to ask God to extract them from its clenches.

The problem in following the guidance of the above scripture is that it places us in the predicament of assuming that truth as we perceive it is The Truth applicable to everyone. It takes only a few minutes in an ecumenical setting to discern that committed Christ followers differ on what The Truth is. Jesus solves this issue by prescribing how we are to act rather than creating rules for us to follow. We are to love, clean and simple and that means we journey with each other allowing the power of love to offer course correction if needed through our abiding presence and representations of God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse us of all judgment so we can be the conduit of your love others who feel estranged from you. Amen.

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