Tag Archives: Oneness

Finding Common Ground

Helen Keller QuoteEpiphany
January 24, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:14-21

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’—Luke 4:20-21

Jesus is quoted as saying in Luke 4:18-19 the essence of Isaiah’s message found in Isaiah 58:6 and 61:1-2. His statement above in a way echoes Isaiah 6:8, Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’ as Jesus publically accepts the role of being sent by God with a message of justice.

While we live in frustrating times where I have a stronger desire to turn off the news rather than listen to it, it is a time of potential paradigm shift. It is a time when justice is at a pivotal point. Like a rope pulling contest, we find ourselves in the muck of mud with slim on our feet and hands making it hard to hold onto the rope much less pull. Yet we who are dedicated to serving on the side of God’s justice must accept our call to pull that rope. I do believe God’s justice will eventually prevail. I also believe God is calling us to make that sooner than later.

Yet, the Body of Christ itself is fractured in our understanding of what God’s justice really is. I fear all of its members are sometimes being pulled into worshipping at the foot of the idol of being right rather than our true calling of being just. There are a few glimmers of hope. We seem to find common ground on feeding the hungry; ending sex trafficking, particularly of children; practicing restorative justice; keeping people healthy; and welcoming the stranger, especially migrants. These were certainly Jesus’ priorities. Perhaps we would be more productive, if we focused on those areas of agreement and practiced the ancient art of letting the land lay fallow for a while on those hot button issues that divide us. Land that is overused loses all its nutrients, allowing it to rest under God’s gracious sun and rain, returns it to a place that can grow good fruit.

Prayer: Lord, unite us in your service of justice while we await your nurturing love and guidance on those issues that divide 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.

Teamwork

not-a-dream-teamEpiphany
January 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 12:12-31a

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. –I Corinthians 12:27-31a

Watching basketball is really a lesson in shared talents. At least that is my excuse for watching every Thunder game and as many of the OU and OSU games, both women and men, that I can work into a busy schedule. In all instances I sometimes have to record them for playback at a more convenient time. Fully actualizing the diverse and complementary skills of a team’s players always makes for a better outcome whether on the basketball court or within the Body of Christ. Such fruition can only result when every participant values each and all of the others. It also requires us to each work hard at encouraging people to use their skills. Sometimes it is just easier to do something oneself than it is to engage another person to do the work that is needed, but is that the best for the long term? At times, I know it is, but most times it is better to spread the work based on skills and talents.

This lesson was never made more clear to me then when one of my co-workers was killed in a car accident early one morning. He was the only person on our staff who did a specific task, albeit a very crucial task in our office. I have never since been a part of any group where at least one other person was knowledgeable of every tasks required, backups existed for all documentation, and two keys stored in separate places were available for every lock.

While such practicality is enough reason to engage fully all members of a team, the real driving force is better outcomes resulting when all talents and skills are maximized.

Prayer: God who orders life, give make us whole enough to respect the skills and talents of each other and to celebrate the beauty of teamwork as much as we celebrate individual accomplishment. 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.

It Takes All Kinds

Our-VisionEpiphany
January 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 12:12-31a

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body…. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. –I Corinthians 12:14-15, 26

It takes all kinds to get work done. It has always been amazing to me how someone who knows very little about a problem can make an outsider’s observation about the problem and provide the insight necessary to solve it. For example, having supervised a few legal immigrants to the United States, I have observed that many of the current rules for immigration are totally unworkable really rendering the whole process a waste, in my humble opinion. I have wondered what would happen, if we used our sterling digital skills to speed the process and make it more accurate. I also wonder why immigrants coming here to work must have a sponsoring employer and a job before they can be processed. Why don’t we just have a system where potential immigrants looking for work submit the necessary paperwork, be fully vetted, and then given a limited time to enter the country and find work? Of course, I am an outsider looking in. From my vantage point, it seems there is a powerful force who likes the system just as it is where people who are in desperate need of work are willing to come here and work for less than would be required if they worked legally. This results in getting them here sort of legally and then opening the door for them to stay past their visa deadline putting the onus on the immigrant.

Many of these immigrants are our brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ. Others might be drawn to the love of Christ or at least less put off by Christians, if they experienced the love of Christ. Immigrants are suffering and we need to suffer with them until we can all honor one another and rejoice together.

Prayer: God of All, make us one in the Spirit, one in the Body of Christ so we can better actualize your love throughout the earth. 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.

Words

lbb psalm 141 3 jpgEpiphany
January 2, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 19

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
   be acceptable to you,
   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. –Psalm 19:14

How often I have prayed these words but they never grow outdated or stale. Sometimes I couple them with Psalms 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Or James 1:26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.

Words are important, not only for the facts they may or may not communicate, but also for the damage they can do that sometimes can never be undone. I dashed off a quick email to someone just yesterday volunteering my help in doing some writing. When I just perchance reread it after sending it, I found wrong words that in this case made the sentences nonsense but in other cases could have changed the whole meaning of what was intended.

There are a lot of words floating around through our world today probably resulting from fear and frustration or perhaps hopelessness, but that are hurtful to some and incendiary for others. If ever we have needed this scripture and God’s abiding presence guiding our language it is now.

Words, too, can be healing and soothing, lessening fear and giving hope. Let us strive to salt our language with these words.

Prayer: Lord, you challenged us to be the salt of the earth. Help us season the world with our words derived from your 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Recovery After Repentance

EmilysQuotes_Com-mistake-choice-Steven-Denn-decisionEpiphany
January 19, 2016

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-10

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ –Nehemiah 8:9-10

Recovery after repentance, how does that work? Apparently it starts with fully putting our trust in God. Who would have thought? All our sack cloth and ashes, gnashing of teeth, and tears do not work. We may feel a need to do something symbolic to meet our own needs. With God repenting (turning around), grasping forgiveness, and taking the first steps on the right path is all God requires. The import act is trusting in God. I think it is really, really hard for we westerners to relinquish control in any situation to any entity. Perhaps it is just me, I am pretty stubborn. The paradox is that when we finally relinquish control to God, we get our lives back to pursue our purposes that God relishes and has woven into the fiber of God’s kingdom.

This stream runs throughout the Bible. Nathan confronts David of his sin, David repents and returns to his purpose, the prodigal son sees the error of his ways and returns home to the welcoming arms of his father. And in our scripture today the children of Israel, repent and celebrate not only their return to their land but their return to God.

The church needs to be very careful that it does not move away from God, define itself as righteousness, and visit its hypocrisy on others. I think Jesus meant it when he said, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. John 5:15

Prayer: Lord, nourish us and help us grow in your spirit and your truth that we show forth everyday as we live it in our lives. 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.

Gifts Differing

you-belong-serving-Christ-body-churchEpiphany
January 15, 2016

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. –1 Corinthians 12:4-11

God intentionally created diversity. One would think that would be the only rationale we need to encourage us, even drive us, to make it work. Diversity has often been described as one of the greatest assets of the USA, if not the greatest asset.

Our scripture today talks about the diversity of talents. Most of us, who have been in the work force since Myers Briggs Personality Types were identified, have been trained to recognize that the workforce needs all sixteen types to flourish with productivity. And yes, that can result in differences of opinion. The fruit of the combined labor comes when people take the time to learn from the viewpoint of the other, put them together, and produce a better outcome. Why can’t we do that, not only in church, but also in government? We seem to prefer to model ourselves after prize fighters who go to and from their designated corners getting more and more battered and bruised until someone lands a knockout blow. It might be good for boxing; it is counterproductive everywhere else.

I don’t know whether If by Rudyard Kipling remains required study in school. It should be. If you haven’t read it for a while or ever, do:

If you can keep your head when all about you
   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,…

Prayer: Lord, help us keep our collective heads and deal with the issues of our world. Amen.

*See If by Rudyard Kipling at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175772

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.

Living Love

heart-of-love2Epiphany
January 14, 2016

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. –1Corinthians 12:1-3

Is Paul teaching tolerance here? Or perhaps, is he letting people know that they do not benefit from claiming a corner on the Jesus market? We no doubt in our world today need to be attentive to both messages. I must confess, I bristle a bit, when I hear things being proclaim in the name of Jesus that are totally alien to my faith. I, too, am sure that others have heard me say things that they consider to be heresy. How do we deal with faith elitism?

Mark 9:38-41 might give us some food for thought:

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, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

We are sent as messengers to love God and love one another. By living love we fulfill our role in the Kingdom of God. It is a hard assignment and it will take a lifetime to get it right. Living love all the time leaves us no time to judge others for their understanding of God.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen my ability to live love as you showed 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.

Enabled as Peacemakers

peace-in-handEpiphany
January 10, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ –Luke 21-22

The Dove has been a symbol of peace and love for centuries, not only in Christianity, but across religions. The Dove has been a symbol of the presence of God’s work among God’s people since the story of Noah. A dove was released when the rains had subsided. It returned to the Ark with an olive branch in its beak telling Noah that the waters had receded and he could leave the Ark. It later denoted the presence of God described as the Holy Spirit in the story of the Baptism of Jesus.

The presence of the Dove at Jesus’ baptism is significant as it foretells the role of this One chosen by God to bring love and peace into a world. His task was to bring about peace without the violence of the Pax Romana, the reality that Rome defined as peaceful.

This Roman view of peace is still prevalent in the world today. It is the peace that ISIS pledges, but it is not far removed from the responses desired by some in the world who wish to defeat, by any means necessary, the ISISes that have arisen throughout history.

The peace of Christ is achieved one commitment at a time. This too is symbolized in and through our baptisms. As we each strive for the wholeness of God initiated at baptism, we experience the oneness of God as we work for the peace of God that surpasses understanding. It is the only peace that can and will conquer the world.

Prayer: Grant us your peace O Lord, renew our baptismal commitment. Holy Spirit, continue enabling us as peacemakers. 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.

Come Holy Spirit

SpiritEpiphany
January 8, 2016

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:14-17

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The author of the book of Hebrews tells us, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) The Holy Spirit is a mystery yet it is so real one can be convicted of its presence. I do not know what happened in this visit with Peter and John and the Samaritans or even the events described at Pentecost. I do know that there exists a power that is also a comfort and a comfort that is also very powerful that can and does engulf our lives sometimes when we least expect it, but always when we most need it.

The Holy Spirit, Our Advocate, God’s promised Comforter is the ultimate gift of God’s love an extension of Emmanuel, God with Us, now and forever with each of us and with all of God’s children as we strive collectively to bring about the Kingdom of God in our world today. Yet we cower in fear at bullies and things that go bump in the night. At least I do. Perhaps it is time that we step forth into the mystery and trust God to lead us as we are called to lead others out of the wilderness of hate and fear and greed.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit Heavenly Dove and lead us forth into the promises of God’s abiding 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Together as One

negativityEpiphany
January 5, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

Do not fear, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
   and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
   and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.’—Isaiah 43:5-7

Most read Isaiah as promising the regeneration of the nation of Israel. I cannot help but recall the book of Genesis when I read this scripture where Isaiah speaks of everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. God apparently glories in diversity for God surely created it. Why do you suppose it is so hard for us to glory in diversity?

Created as totally unique individuals, it does not take us long to cluster into like kinds: males on one side females on the other; red and yellow, black and white; athletes, scholars; working class, wealthy; conservatives, liberals. Apparently the world is easier to understand when we cluster and then create hierarchies of those clusters although it actually gets more complicated, when individuals from various clusters mix together.

One of the traits that Jesus modeled for all to follow was recognizing the uniqueness in each person with whom his path crossed. O, he knew about clusters. Had apparently learned about some. The syrophoenician woman was originally not on his radar. Lepers may not have been either, at first. He had this amazing skill to look past his predilections and see the image of God in each person. This is a skill we each need to hone, if we long for oneness and justice in our world.

Prayer: God, show us the treasure you planted in each human being and let us treat it as the gift of your grace that it is. 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.