Tag Archives: Oneness

The Holy Spirit

Christmas
January 4, 2018

Scripture Reading: Acts 19:1-7
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

Most of us today have at least heard of the Holy Spirit, but I think the Spirit remains a mystery as a part of our life of faith. I worked with a woman who attributed something being a God-Thing to explain a right result for which there was no explanation. I picked up that language. I welcome the glimpses of the Spirit at work particularly when we have done our very best, and it just was not enough, but good came from it anyway.

We are called to do our very best as part of the Body of Christ in partnership with our advocate and counselor, the Holy Spirit. I am very thankful for the counseling; I need all the help I can get. Having a full-time advocate is a special blessing. We can all get down on ourselves at times. Advocates by definition speak in support of another. We envision our Advocate speaking to God on our behalf when we fall short of the glory of God. Advocates might also plant seeds of support in the hearts of our perceived enemies opening the door for reconciliation.

I recently watched the documentary The Sultan and the Saint on PBS that explores how Saint Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt risked it all to end the Crusades. I am sure much holy counseling and advocacy took place in that amazing encounter within the hearts and minds of both these uncommon people.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your constant presence with all your children. Make us each whole and make us all one. 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.

Generations

Christmas
December 31, 2017

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
   according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
   and for glory to your people Israel.’ –Luke 2:25-40

One of the challenges of our society is bringing the various generations together for not only the Common Good of various nations but also for the successful work of the Body of Christ. Differing influences in our lifetimes prepared us in a variety of ways to address issues. What one age group may see as normal another may identify as sin. If 20 years equals a generation, we now have five generations of adults vying for supremacy in our culture. Religious organizations are some of few that have a natural field for working out these differences. It is not easy.

Care of the earth is one of my congregation’s goals strongly supported particularly by millennials. When we switched from using Styrofoam cups to ceramic cups that had to be washed for our after-church coffee, one of our octogenarian was very upset. She informed me that getting away from washing dishes was important and she thought the Styrofoam kept the coffee hotter anyway. From that Sunday forward she brings her own Styrofoam cup each week. What was viewed as progress 50 years ago is now part of a new problem. This event happened a few years ago. We moved to biodegradable cups and now have gone full circle using a trash pickup company that recycles among many other things Styrofoam.

How do we communicate with one another sharing our fears and our goals? How do we bridge the gap between generations to mine wisdom while dispelling past realities that no longer exist? Simeon sets a great example for the mature generations. He was a future thinker wanting to leave the world a better place as he rejoiced in the birth of a long-expected Savior.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to glean wisdom from others as we work o dispel fears. 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

Abba Father

Christmas
December 29, 2017

Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:4-7.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Several years ago at a Bible study, I said something to the effect that I like the image of God represented by the name Abba since learning the name was a term of endearment perhaps spoken by a small child like our Daddy. I was quickly and strongly corrected by another woman in the group who assured me it did not mean Daddy that the Almighty  God should not be considered in such a familiar way. The whole group was silent for a moment. I certainly had no intentions of arguing with her she has a right to her opinion just as I was stating mine. The leader finally moved on to the next topic of discussion.

I am neither a Hebrew or Greek linguist so I cannot say how far afield I was from what Abba means. I could make the case that for a baby, parents are pretty omnipotent. It is still my opinion that the image of God as a parent, not just my parent but everybody’s parent, is an important theological imperative particularly in our world today.

We seem to have past the phase of sibling rivalry and are a society of some groups who truly believe they have exclusive rights to God as God’s only heirs. Do all of us fall into that pattern at one time or another? How can we learn to live together as the loving Family of God?

Prayer: Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Abba enfold us in your loving arms until we are empowered by your love to open our hearts to all your children. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright od1989, 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.

Powered by the Spirit

Advent 
December 24, 2017

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38

Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. –Luke 1:34-38

Mary mirrors most of us in her response to the angel’s message. Our assignments may differ markedly, but her response is most likely similar to ours: How can this be since I am so young, so old, so tongue-tied like Moses, or not a trained soldier like Gideon called to lead an army? Do we have the courage to say Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word?

Each of us and all of us, created with unique skills and talents, are needed for God’s Kingdom coming to fruition. I worked at a large city teaching hospital some time ago where highly skilled surgeons performed many surgeries each day. The success of their work was dependent on the dedication of the crews that cleaned the operating theaters before and after each procedure to assure a safe and sterile environment. All members of any team must be fully committed to their duties as all other members are. All members of any team also must be willing to stretch their skills and talents when working for excellence in outcomes.

There is nothing more vital in our world today than moving toward a Kingdom ruled by love. When we are the one expected to take a courageous role in building that Kingdom, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will be with us each step of the way. When we are called to clear the way for the courageous work the Spirit is with us also.

Prayer: Lord, lead me to do your work whatever you are calling me to do. Help me accept the Spirits guidance in all that I do. 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.

Unending Kingdom

Advent
December 23, 2017

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ –Luke 1:26-33

My adult, Sunday school class, is studying C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrow guided by Heidi Haverkamp’s book Advent in Narnia: Reflections for the Season. A group of mostly retired people still can learn a lot from a book designed for youth. Luke rather nicely sums up Lewis’ theme in one phrase, and of his kingdom, there will be no end. Of course, many twist and turns in the plot are required to help us all understand that point.

The book of John addresses this same idea in the words of Jesus to his disciples who are trying to wrap their heads around his pending death. In John 16:31-33, Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming. Indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 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!’

Many events of 2017 did not leave us hopeful as we faced huge hurricanes, mass shootings, world unrest, terrorist attacks, and deadly fires just to name a few. The Advent season is designed to help us ponder the darkness about us as we yearn for the light of Christ. The time is near at hand when we understand once again that God has our backs always has and always will have. This truth is something we can take for granted and it is the good news that we must never take for granted but must share with all the world so that we may all be one in the love of God.

Prayer: Holy One, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus the Christ to dwell among us and to show us the way to your Oneness. 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.

This Land is God’s

Advent
December 19, 2017

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. –2 Samuel 7:10-16

I like the American Indian concept of the land that the land including animals and vegetation are available for our use but not to be owned by anyone. This tenet was a major cultural difference from the viewpoint of the European explorers who first settled in what they called the New World. To the American Indian, the European name for the indigenous people here, the earth and all that it includes was as old as time. I think God’s words to Nathan speak more closely to the American Indian sense of the world than the European sense. Indeed, in the Hebrew tradition, God made the world for the benefit of the humans God also created. 2 Samuel attests to the ongoing nature of that arrangement.

Now I do not take this scripture to mean that the only place we can feel close to God is in a tent or a house or a great temple. God is present to us everywhere. Our energies are not to be vested in structures but our love for God and others. I do think God wants all people to be able to live at peace in a warm and safe place and that is the promise he extends in this scripture. We were given the assignment by God to take good care of the earth, which we sometimes seem to forget.

With this background, it is heartbreaking to see the offspring of Abraham fighting regarding who owns Jerusalem and some followers of Christ egging it on in the hopes of hastening Armageddon. God sets the standards for the use of God’s land. I do not believe humans can manipulate God into doing their will and I know God’s greatest joy flows from the love we have for God and one another not who wins battles over ownership of any part of what God provides for us.

Prayer: Lord, enable us to be good stewards of your earth. Groom us in the art of sharing and help us appreciate the diversity of ways we each can show our love for you and each other. 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

One in Christ

Advent
December 14, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
–1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

In the current craze of what is called fake news, we are challenged to test everything. Paul advised us to test everything in the first century. I do that all the time in my genealogy work. I read the probate of one of my 4th great grandfathers dated in December 1859. When I visited his gravesite, I noted his birthdate was July 15, 1860. I seriously doubt that the county probated his estate before he died. My guess is the headstone was placed several months after the death, and the engraver etched in the current year. That is not so much fake news, I doubt that anyone was trying to sway my thinking one way or the other, but it was wrong information.

My first supervisor with the then Department of Public Welfare once advised me that I needed to add the phrase, in my opinion, before or after I made a statement because in my conversational style I was so sure of myself, I sounded like I was quoting from the Bible. She was right because I always think I am right until objectively proven wrong. Had I visited the cemetery before the probate records I would have sworn my 4th great grandfather’s birthdate was July 15, 1860, which I now am just as sure is wrong.

I doubt I am as sure of myself as Paul was and it possibly took him three years to work out the challenge to his faith he encountered on that road to Damascus. He went from persecuting Christians as a devout Jew to being the leading missionary for Christ. It is hard to change particularly long-held concepts, but I take great hope in the example of Paul that we can change when the availability of new or different and compelling information becomes available.

Our world is in cultural chaos directly related to long-held beliefs about white privilege, the place of women in society, and sexual identity. Division results tearing the Body of Christ asunder. I believe people with other motives fuel the flame of this divisiveness to their ends, not God’s. A house divided against itself cannot stand. (See Matthew 12:22-28) Christ called us to oneness, and I believe that oneness is essential to the welcoming of the Kingdom of God. In my opinion, the first step to moving toward that oneness is truly accepting that God created all people in God’s image, and we must find ways to see the image of God in everyone and love them as the children of God they are.

The second step, even if it is a baby step, is to find the things on which we can agree.  We then work together toward attaining them with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength letting the issues on which we may never agree lay fallow until we have completed the work on the things we hold in common. Such action requires us to leave the thorny issues that plague us to God. They are draining us of energy better spent on say addressing the needs of the least of these.

Prayer: God of Justice and Mercy, open our eyes to see your image in everyone, open our hearts to love each person as your child. Open our minds to recognize the step we need to be taking to actualize your Kingdom in this world as we invest our energies in doing your will as one. 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

Being the Body of Christ

Advent
December 9, 2017

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
   “Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight” ’, –Mark 1:1-3

Surely we are wandering in a wilderness today. Caught in a bramble bush full of the thorns of the world, we cannot seem to find the truth. My theology professor, quoting Ephesians 6:12*, referred to such a state of being as dealing with the principalities and powers of the world that only God can defeat. Greed and lust for power are among the tools of these principalities and powers as is divisiveness. The church, the designated Body of Christ in the world today, must with God’s guidance and power do all it can to defeat such threats while spreading the love of God among all of God’s children, a challenge of Holy proportions.

Surely we can find something on which we all agree and begin there to develop a cohesive approach toward creating a world where love rules. I always fall back on the list of things Jesus described in Matthew 25 that include dealing with hunger-poverty in general, health issues, strangers, and people in prison or better yet keeping people out of prison. Jesus seemed to concentrate his efforts on those realities; perhaps we should too.

If we can take the higher ground and stop competing with each other for the “we know God better than you do award,” we can fulfill our calling. We might even learn to enjoy working together,  wouldn’t that make God’s day!

Prayer: Holy One, break down the barriers we build and others erect in our way so that we can be the productive representation of you in our world today. Amen.

*Ephesians 6:12
KJV: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

NRSV: For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

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.

 

Practicing Patience

Advent
December 7, 2017

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. –2 Peter 3:8-10

Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 depending on which translation you use: patience (NRSV), forbearance (NIV), longsuffering (KJV). I must confess I rather identify with the King James’ longsuffering because my patience does not come naturally but is most often forced on me by things out of my control. Over the years, I learned, however, that patience is a good thing to have.

An older friend born in Germany shared that for the longest time as he learned English he translated the English words spoken to him into German in his head to understand them, making his response time somewhat slow. Even after being in the USA for 40 years, he still occasionally did that. Patience is rather like that, at first when it is intentional. We must practice patience to make it meaningful when it does not come naturally to us until it does.

C. S. Lewis in his book Four Loves describes a pesky neighbor who drove him crazy with some of her idiosyncrasies. His first reaction was to avoid her if at all possible. In so doing he was struck wondering how his behavior fit with God’s command to love his neighbor as he loved himself. Since he could not make himself love her, he decided the next best thing was to treat her as if he did and so he began treated her as he did other neighbors he loved. One day after an encounter with her, he realized that he had truly learned to love her as God calls us to love one another. Intentionally practicing patience works.

Prayer:  Lord, shower those of us for whom patience is a quest with your spirit enabling our ability to grow in patience. 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.

Love in Common

Advent
December 6, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 65:1-2, 8-13

Praise is due to you,
   O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
   O you who answer prayer!

To you all flesh shall come.
 Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. –Psalm 65:1-2, 8

I believe that each person has a unique relationship with God and that we cluster together to serve God based on our similarities. I jokingly say, but it is true, I was born to be in a congregationally governed congregation because of my independent spirit. I have friends who are much at home in hierarchically governed churches. Some understand the Bible from a more literal sense; others glean more from its allegorical views. Is there no wonder there are more than 900 denominations? Is God not able to love each and all and to be present when any two or more gather together in God’s name (Matthew 18:20)? How else would it be possible for God to welcome all flesh that comes to God? All are called to love God and to love one another demonstrating that love can take many forms.

What about our Abrahamic relatives in faith? The Psalmist talks about all flesh coming to God not a select few. We share much good with our Jewish and Islamic cousins in faith. I was deeply disturbed by the recent release of a Twitter post of a man designated as a Muslim slamming a statue of Mary to the ground breaking it. While such an act offends Christians, it also offends Muslim. Did you know Islam venerates both Mary and Jesus? The Quran* mentions Mary more than the Bible. Whoever produced the Twitter video did not do their homework.

When all people work first toward the things upon which they can agree, we will all take a step closer to the love God envisions. When we center on our differences, our link to God suffers.

Prayer: God of Might and Miracles, make us whole, make us one. Amen.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_in_Islam

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.