Tag Archives: Oneness

Caring Hearts

CaringHeartsLogoa-180x160Lent
February 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:28-43

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

As disciples of Christ, what are we called to do or be? I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not. I do not like to fail and I do not like to be assigned impossible tasks. Casting out a demon, healing a sick person, I consider to be beyond my grade level. I have cared for the sick, really enjoyed being a nurse’s aid in high school and college. I have worked with abused and neglected children and adults, and the mentally ill. I remember once being called to the local hospital where a 15 year-old had been brought by his parents. He had attempted to commit suicide and was at one moment saying he was possessed by the devil and the next saying that he was Jesus Christ. I sat with him through the night primarily to alert others that he might try to hurt himself again. I cannot tell you a time I have prayed more for insight or courage or whatever it would take to help him, including praying for intercession for him. Because of experiences like that, I do not believe Luke is describing Jesus requiring us to do the impossible in this scripture, I think Jesus is calling us to care.

This week as Pope Francis was touring Mexico he was greeting people along the way, specifically greeting and, I think, trying to bless a young man in a wheel chair when arms reached over the young man’s head grasping at the pontiff pulling him toward the crowd. I understand from the TV report that he said in Spanish “Do not be so selfish”.

It is amazing the miracles that have occurred over time in our society because enough people cared and enough people sought answers to the problems that perplexes our world. I was one of the test children when the first polio vaccine was administered. I got the saline solution so when the vaccine proved to be effective, I had to get all those shots again. That was hard to explain to a six-year-old. Selfishness, greed, hunger for power are epidemic today. God is still calling us, to care for one another.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our selfish ways, infuse us with caring hearts. Amen.

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

Help us Accept Each Other

ZikaLent
February 20, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:28-43

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

 There are many stories of Jesus’ healing people. Children, like the boy described here, may have been outcast in their communities because many believed that such illness, or all illness for that matter, were caused by evil spirits that had taken over the person. This child apparently had epilepsy, which probably is still fraught with society’s judgment even though we now have a clearer picture of causes and much better treatments.

Currently we are seeing an increase in babies born with microcephaly, a birth defect that results in a small head as its main identifier but includes other challenges. Its cause has been traced to a mosquito bite carrying a virus the mother experienced during pregnancy. She may never have had any symptoms. Yet the children will live with the stigma of a small head forever.

Jesus loved them all no questions asked. He is a tough model to emulate unless we can let go of all those fears and prejudgments that cause us to identify people as something lesser than we are. All of us suffer from some traits deemed to be imperfection by someone. Jesus calls us to see each persons as a child of God made perfect by God’s love that is our goal for life also.

Help us accept each other As Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother, Each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us And bring us to believe
We are ourselves accepted And meant to love and live.*

Prayer: God erase the fears and prejudices from our hearts and minds that cause us to be unwelcoming to anyone. Let your love for all be ours in our times of weakness. Amen.

First verse of hymn Help Us Accept Each Other words by Fred Kaan see at http://www.hymnary.org/text/help_us_accept_each_other

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

Open-my-EyesLent
February 9, 2016

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. –Philippians 3:20-4:1

Following the Christ, the Promised One of God, is our chosen task right now, every minute of every day. While we seek to walk in his way, we are actively being reformed and transformed in ways small and great. It is interesting to look back, say five years ago, and recollect the subtle changes in our ways. Take a few minutes to seek with God’s help how you are different today than you were then.

The United States is in the midst of a mighty population shift already present in most of our major cities but coming to small towns and rural areas too. For the first time in our history the number of persons of color is surpassing the number of persons who identify as being white. That demographic is forcing those of us who are white to recognize whiteness as having a culture of its own. When one lives in the culture that dominates a space of land, whether by sheer numbers or by power as in South Africa that culture is accepted or at least acknowledged as being the culture that all others must accommodate. It is not necessarily either good or bad, it can be either, or just neutral. It exists and it is very hard to see and it is thus even harder to change when it needs to change. It became glaringly obvious recently when the Academy Awards had few if any persons of color winning anything even when some of the best movies of the year included persons of color in all aspects of their making.

Our acknowledging our need for help in making this journey to equality in diversity is the first step in being reformed and transformed. Our placing that acknowledgement before God enlists God’s help.

Prayer:
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
   Spirit Divine*! Amen.

*First verse and chorus of hymn Open my Eyes words by Clara H. Scott. See at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/807

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

Applying the Way of the Lord

directionLent
February 17, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 27

Teach me your way, O Lord,
   and lead me on a level path
   because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
   for false witnesses have risen against me,
   and they are breathing out violence.

 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
   in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
   be strong, and let your heart take courage;
   wait for the Lord! –Psalm 27:11-14

The wisdom of this scripture lies in its plea for the Lord to teach us his way. While studying scripture is important, how we apply it is what really matters. Paul realized this is his words in
1 Corinthians 13:1-13:

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

I believe if we just do two things, we fulfill our call from the Lord: Love God and Love One Another. Of course, it helps to have the stories of our ancestors in the faith telling us how they did or did not do this and yes, I value the teaching of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount to his parables. Yet they all condense to these two actions, loving God and loving one another.

How did Jesus love? He did not judge, he usually responded to people by asking “What do you want?” or “What do you need?”. He did not determine what was best for others, he helped them to see that for themselves. This was his way.

Prayer: Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path. Amen

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

God is Love

Lent
February 11, 2016

Scripture Reading: RomaLiveLoveALns 10:8b-13

because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ –Romans 9-13

The basic tenet of faith stated in today’s scripture was taught to me as a child. It is the doctrine, if you will, of the faith system in which I was raised. I actually believe it even today as an adult surrounded by so many people pushing for differing tests of Christianity including some in my own faith system. It basically says that Jesus Christ is the only one who truly knows who believes in him.

I also believe there is only one God whose name was not uttered by the Hebrews out of respect and is known by many names today. I have no problem with God having many names as there is only one word that can capture the whole essence of God: Love. It is not a name at all but an action.

While I enjoy a good theological discussion as much as anyone and truly enjoy studying the Bible and other writings about God, the true reflection of Jesus Christ is in how we live our lives through our love. We live in a complex world and, I think, we like to keep it complex so we can throw up our hands and say, “I give up” rather than simply loving one another, wanting the very best for another, and letting Jesus judge what that very best is.

Prayer: Lord, help us be lovers of one another not judges. Amen.

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

Worship Practices Differing

Sister%20Barbara%20Lum%203%20(1000x615)Epiphany
February 2, 2016

Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him. –Exodus 34:33-35

The wearing of veils in our day and time is a controversial issued tied up in our ability to accept differing religious and cultural practices. I was hospitalized around the age of five for a short time in our local hospital which at that time was operated by a Catholic order of nuns. I had never seen a nun before, at least not one clad in a habit from head to toe. I remember not knowing what to make of them. My mother explained that they were nurses and all nurses, like the ones in my doctor’s office, wore uniforms. These nurses just wore a different kind of uniform because of their faith. It is a rare sight to see a nun in a habit anymore.

When I worked for the state, I did job interviews to fill an economist vacancy in my division. Two of the applicants were Muslim. One presented in an attractive business suit with a colorful blouse and had no head covering, the other wore a black scarf and an all-black pant suit including a black blouse. This is emblematic of the world in which we now live where cultures and religions intersect in all facets of life.

The story about Moses’ worship practices as they continued following his descent from the mountain does not say whether he chose to continue to cover his face because he felt that was best for the Israelites or because it was meaningful to him personally and his relationship with God. I believe this scripture suggest the latter and I believe it gives us guidance on how we should respect the practices people of all religions follow as they honor God. What is meaningful for one may not be meaningful to me and what is meaningful to me may not have any significance for another.

Prayer: Lord may all your followers worship you in spirit and in truth as they feel compelled through their relationship with you and grant us the peace we need to love them for their love of you as demonstrated in their practices. Amen.

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

Throwing Jesus Over the Cliff

Cliffs in holy landEpiphany
January 31, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:21-30

And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. –Luke 4:24-30

“He doesn’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain” is a saying that I heard on occasion when I was a child. Of course I come from a state that must deal with drought at times and I have seen adults run into the rain with arms opened wide turning circles and throwing their heads back to catch the precious liquid in their mouths straight from the hands of God. Our common sense may not be the common sense of another living in other circumstances and may not even be right for anyone.

I have always thought of Jesus as a seer, one who takes in not only the evident, but also the realities of life not available to all or even most. He always seemed to see the potential in the people that he encountered even when they did not. He was well acquainted with what we call human nature. I can see him now looking down on Jerusalem when he said, How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37) yet he never quit trying. I don’t think he quit trying in Nazareth either, neither do I think he has given up on us.

That said, I think he would enjoy our surprising him by demonstrating through our lives Christ Sense, letting Jesus know that we get his message as we try to live life to the fullest in his way not as we design it for our own purposes, but as he meant it in the first place. I think he might enjoy playing in the rain and splashing through puddles of water, but his wings are always there to protect us from the storms of life. We need to turn to him to discern what is healthy nurturing rain and what are storms from which we need shelter and stop trying to throw him off a cliff when his way is not necessarily our way.

Prayer: Lord, I can be really stubborn and self-centered at times. Forgive me when my attitudes get in the way of walking close to you. Heal my soul, make me whole. Amen.

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

Not What We Want to Hear

Make Crooked StraightEpiphany
January 30, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:21-30

Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” –Luke 4:21-23

Jesus was not sent by God to say what the people wanted to hear, he was not sent to bring fame to his fellow citizens, or take sides in their disagreements. Truth be told, he should not have needed to have been sent at all. Jesus was sent to make the crooked straight (Isaiah 45:2), to clean up the messes that seemed to be beyond the people’s control. We still long for a superhero to come and make everything the way we want it to be today. I think we would be as surprised or disappointed or angry as Jesus’ neighbors were, if he walked in the door right now. Jesus came to change the hearts of God’s people, to restore our souls.

Thank God for the gift of grace Jesus provided, for we still find ourselves unable to walk the walk even with a straight path to follow. We try to bend God’s way to our own conventions. It is time for us to open our hearts, minds, and souls to God and welcome God’s mercy. Until we each and all allow God’s love to rule our lives and our interactions we will continue to spiral downward as a society.

I believe the political fiasco in the USA today is a mirror reflection of the attitudes of the collective American population. We are getting exactly what we want. Until we deal with our own sins of greed and entitlement we will lose ground as a nation. A reading of the Bible book of Amos might be a good Lenten observance. I think it will sound familiar.

Prayer: Lord convict us of our sins, forgive us of our sins, and journey with us as we strive to follow the path you have set before 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Answer is Love

BrokenEpiphany
January 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’ –Jeremiah 1:9-10

Jeremiah felt called to turn the world upside-down in the process of making it upright. There are a lot of politicians wanting to do exactly that today. How do we know to whom we should listen? How do we know who speaks for God and who speaks for the other gods that strive to rule our land? Those other gods are being quite successful it seems.

There are no easy answers in a diverse society. Jeremiah got one thing right for sure. All of us have to change some for all of us to experience some level of life’s adequacies. Food, clothing, shelter plus, I think, hope and a sense of wellbeing, good health and a sense of making a contribution to the world are necessities.

Actually Jesus, some two-thousand years ago, gave us the simplest answer of all: love. For some reason we find it hard to implement. Love requires us to consider the needs of the other. It is hard to quiet the voice in our head that fills our subconscious’ filters with the debris that say, “If the other has enough, I won’t have.” Or “I am no one unless I have more than another.” The saddest thing is that God took care of all that need to covet when God created us. We were all made in God’s image unique. Worth is not measured on any scale but God’s.

Prayer: Lord, heal our souls, clean our clogged inner filters from years of distrust and fear, let your love so overwhelm us that we can do nothing other than love one another. Amen.

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

“I Am Only a Boy.”

god-faith-and-love-god-31725465-737-438Epiphany
January 25, 2016

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ –Jeremiah 1:4-8

“I cannot do that I am only a_______.” Everyone can probably think of one or two or more rationalizations to fill in the blank as Jeremiah did. Actually, “I am only a boy” is probably one of the more credible reasons to question whether a person is really the one to take God’s message to not just adults, but the leadership. Although I must admit, I thought it was very wise of people trying to understand the challenges the Oklahoma City schools face when they asked some of the students.

I do not know when it finally seeped into my brain, through my thick skull that I am the only person over which I have some control regarding getting something I want actually accomplished. I have had the privilege of supervising a lot of very competent staff over the many years I worked for the state and I may have given them assignments but their completing the work was the result of their personal integrity and dedication to the services we provided. It is a joy to work with those type people, sharing the work load, each doing the tasks at which he or she was most accomplished and more experienced people mentoring new people.

A quick survey of the Bible would tell us that God called a lot of people to do very important tasks who were not the people we might have picked, including the boy Jeremiah. It is interesting though that we are now reading about them, learning from their wisdom, and experience some 2500+ years later. Guess God knew what God was doing. We might want to pay a little more attention to what God is calling us to do.

Prayer: Lord give us the courage to answer your call and guide us in the tasks you have for 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.