Tag Archives: Oneness

Fearful Futures

safe_in_his_presence-297520-300x300Epiphany
January 4, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

But now thus says the Lord,
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you. –Isaiah 43:1-2

Some animal made a great effort to get into the attic of my house following an ice storm that left long icicles hanging from all the eaves. The animals walk across my roof sounded like the giants from the storybooks of my childhood. It was definitely not my routine visiting squirrels. It made the weirdest loud high-pitched screeching sound. It was dark outside and I could not see anything from my enclosed porch and trust me when I say, I did not venture out the door of my safe harbor to determine what the source of the noise was. My neighbor said he had heard the animal too and had seen recently a possum and a raccoon in the neighborhood, but I doubt it was either of those animal. My guess was a large feral cat.

While I sat in the comfort of my warm house protected from not only wandering animals but also ice and other elements, it struck me how frightening it must be on the run as a refugee. My church purchases blankets each year through Church World Services that literally may be the only shelter some of these people have.

In our scripture today, Isaiah is writing for Israelite refugees reminding them of God’s presence in all aspects of life even floods and fires. As I write this some of the worst flooding in recorded history is occurring in Missouri. Wildfires have plagued the western part of our country for months. We all need to be reminded of God’s abiding presence in meeting life’s challenges, but just as importantly we need to remember that we are God’s partners in bringing comfort to those escaping danger from whatever its source.

Prayer: We thank you God for your abiding presence in all that we face ourselves and ask for your strength and support as we venture forth to be present with others with fearful futures. 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 Power of Christ

we-are-one-body-in-christ-3-728Christmas
January 2, 2016

 Scripture Reading: John 1:(1-9), 10-18

[The Word] was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. –John 1:10-13

John was written with the feel of hindsight. I don’t really know when I learned that the book of John was probably not written until the last decade of the first century, but John has always seemed a retrospective to me. Indeed, the other gospels included in the canonical Bible were all written several years after the events they discuss. I also read a somewhat speculative commentary some years ago that suggested the gospel of John might have been written by the John Mark who wrote the earliest gospel. Now that is an interesting set of bookends. While these two gospels appear to have different sources, the idea does recognize how differently we may experience the world when we are younger and when we are older. The Jesus of John has been transformed into the abstract Christ, the logos. Yet in some of the stories he seems more human, nearer than the teacher of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. As one who perceives that all people are children of God, what is this power that we require to fulfill such a legacy? My Sunday school class has an ongoing dialogue regarding what the scripture I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) means. It is a hard saying. Whose definition of the way, and the truth and the life is to be applied? The meaning interpretations differ greatly among Christ’s proclaimed followers. Is the Judeo-Christian representation of the One we call Messiah or Christ, this being’s only manifestation? What was meant when Jesus said: I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:16)? Was he opening the doors to bring in the gentiles or was he saying he is active and engaged in other religions? Is it single-natured or diverse? Is that heresy or is that omnipotence at work?

While I think such discussion is vital to our authenticity in Christ, I also accept that Christ is shaping us as we move and have our being and that is the power we need to humbly recognize and welcome fully into our lives as we love our way closer to God.

Prayer: Lord, continue your work of nurturing us in wholeness so that we may through the power of your spirit become one in you whether in our diversity or our sameness. 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.

Freed to Love

goal3_smChristmas
January 1, 2016

 Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. –Ephesians 1:8b-14

A self-descriptive phrase I use often is I do not do money. Never ask me to serve as treasurer of anything. I am most thankful that I worked in a system for 35 years that provided a defined benefit retirement plan because I would not have handled a defined contribution plan well. I think I am responsible with money or at least I have set it up with my bank that all my bills are paid on time and in the right amounts. I don’t like debt so I mostly avoid it probably more because I don’t like to deal with money than because I think it is a wise economic strategy. The retirement system has allowed me the luxury of investing my retirement years exactly as I chose.

So too is what our scripture today describes as our relationship with God. Enrolled in the defined benefit plan of God’s grace, we are each freed to work toward the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God on earth without restraint. Whatever talents or skills God has instilled in us can be returned to God’s service in full measure. Not only are we freed to be fully engaged in working God’s plan, we have been provided an advocate a counselor to guide us on the journey.

A New Year has begun. Let us celebrate the gift of God’s love and grace by becoming fully vested in God’s plan.

Prayer: Lord, guide us on our journey toward the fulfillment of your vision for all people. 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.

Keep on Singing

sing-a-new-song_21228669Christmas
December 29, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14

They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
   and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
   and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
   and they shall never languish again. –Jeremiah 31:12

It seems like I have had this cold forever. It robbed me of voice at a time when I love to sing, the Advent/Christmas season. I actually, unusually, chose not to attend the Christmas Eve service because my coughing might have over shadowed the service. I, of course, could still listen to music, but it is not the same as singing and singing alone is not the same as singing with a group.

Following in the way of Jesus is not a spectator activity whether we are worshipping God or serving others. We are called to be on the playing field or court when called, and to be on the bench ready to go at all times when we are not in play. I have heard or read a lot about the difference in whether a sport’s team wins or loses. It is not so much about the game plan as it is about the energy and the consistency of the energy the players invest in the game. The truth applies to all of life and especially to our life in Christ whose game plan is solid and worthy of our trust.

So let us all go forth today to take care of the business of being in Christ for he is with us to sustain us and to never languish in his work.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won*.

Prayer: Lord, keep your song in our hearts and energize us to sing your love through how we live our lives. Amen.

From the first verse of Lift every voice and sing words by James W. Johnson see at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/i/liftevry.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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Redemption

Christs-redemptionChristmas
December 28, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
   and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
   and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.’
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
   and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. –Jeremiah 31:10-11

Now what? We, too once again with the advent of Christmas, have been amply reminded who we are, by whose we are. God came and dwelt among us, experience humanness first hand, shared in joy and in sorrow, and remained steadfast in a vision of justice and mercy for all. And we, who have chosen to follow this One who was human and dwelt among us, have been called to make such a vision real.

Redemption does not count, if we fail to claim its prize, but we must understand what that prize is. I routinely shop at a chain drugstore that offers good service and reasonable prices. I even accepted a card that makes me eligible for special discounts and I faithfully let them scan it with each purchase. I am often given literally what seems to be yards of these discounts in my payment receipts each time I check out. I almost never use them. They are often for things I do not use or need, and frankly it is just too much trouble to clip them and remember to use them at the appropriate time. As far as I am concerned the issuance of these coupons is a waste of both of our time and money. I would prefer that they just lower the price on the goods I am buying.

We were not given redemption by God to waste it. God saved us for a purpose: God’s purpose. I believe the heart of that purpose is to establish a world where justice and love rule. God’s redemption is not enticements to keep us in the fold. Accepting God’s redemption is our call to introduce the world to God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, help us to love each other as you love 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.

God with Us Part 2

Body of ChristChristmas
December 26, 2015

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-52

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. –Luke 2:41-44

To say that the change from mangers and shepherds and wise men and all to a self-assertive preteen in one liturgical Sunday is abrupt is a gross understatement. But so goes the role of parenting. There are few paradigms shifts of life as monumental as the birth of a child, particularly the first. Ask any parents, even those who have longed and carefully planned for the child.

It is the ultimate challenge of changing the center of one’s life to someone other than self. This tiny, fragile infant is totally dependent upon it caretakers, usually parents, to help it grow and develop in wisdom and truth.

It is the supreme commitment of continuing the species, claiming a place and role in the future of the world.

It is the consummate act of dedicating oneself to the goal of living in a world controlled by love.

Becoming a parent in most instances is the easiest job in the world to get and the hardest to do. In so many ways it mirrors the call of Christ, whose yoke is easy, but whose vision requires our everything.

Prayer: God of Love, whether we come to you with eyes wide open, by accident, or confused and unsure, meld us together as one to be your Body in the establishment of your Kingdom in this 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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

God with Us

Let all mortal fleshChristmas
December 25, 2015

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. –Colossians 3:15-17

Years ago when I first moved to Oklahoma City and started attended a much larger church in membership as well as structure than I had ever been in before, I marveled at the beauty of music, I had never sung before. At one of the first Christmas Eve services I attended we sang the hymn, Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. I have since thought it captures this day the best.

 Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
set your minds on things eternal,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descended,
come our homage to command*.

There is indeed a song in the air in the presence and welcoming of Emmanuel, God with us. We sing because we are happy; we sing because we are sad, angry, remorseful, full of hope and hopeless. We sing because we are God’s people within whom God planted music deeply in our souls. The music is a love song: “Chose to come with me and whatever we face, we face together.” Whatever song needs to be sung is always sung together whether in sorrow or hope, dissonance or harmony.

Prayer: Lord, forever keep your song in our hearts. Amen.

*First verse of Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. See at http://www.hymnary.org/text/let_all_mortal_flesh_keep_silence

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.

Bearing with One Another

Anchor-Christmas-Pageant-2010-049-CopyAdvent
December 24, 2015

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-17

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. –Colossians 3:12-14

I have been “bearing” with myself for the past three or four weeks. I prefer the words “putting up with” myself. The Greek word used in this scripture anechó means to endure, bear with, have patience with, suffer*. There is some kind of virus, one of the common cold type, going around that last for four to six weeks off and on and I got it. The holiday season is not a good time to have any kind of a cold much less one that just drags on. I had my family party last weekend. With that major event concluded, I now must deal primarily with myself and I am not good company.

Recognizing that fact, made me realize how important Paul’s advice in his letter to the Colossians is. We really do not know what any other person may be dealing with at any point in time. Paul is saying when we are working together as the Body of Christ we need to cut each other a little slack and we surely do not need to project our own problems onto others.

Our children’s Christmas program at the church this year was about as flawless as any children’s Christmas program could be and was very well done. My table of friends watching this could not help recalling the fight of the lambs that occurred several years ago where two preschoolers had a rather strenuous disagreement on where they each were to stand as they played their roles as the lambs by the manger. We had a good laugh about it, recognized what great teens they had become and wondering where they are now as adults. What we consider as disasters at the time rarely are and they may become fodder for legends to come.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the gift of forbearance with each other and even with ourselves as we work together toward your purposes. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/430.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 American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Called to Be One

One in ChristjpgAdvent
December 23, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 148

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
   princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
   old and young together!  

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
   for his name alone is exalted;
   his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
  praise for all his faithful,
   for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 148:11-14

Jesus called us to be one (John 17:21) when he walked on earth but that was not the first call. The ancients understood God’s desire that we all be one as is illustrated in Psalm 148. Yet today even those who claim to be the Body of Christ in the world are broken, separated by dogma and beliefs, arguments about who is right or wrong, as if what we believe about God is God. Our ancestors believed the world was flat until they discovered it was not.

God created us to be sentient beings capable of reasoning and discussing. No one enjoys a deep discussion of meaning more than I do, but the fear of God is truly only the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). We think we know a lot about health care and, indeed, we know a whole lot more now than was knew even fifty years ago. Yet we have only begun to mine the depth and breadth of health care much less the knowledge of God.

The one truth that seems to have stood the test of time is that God in love calls us to be one and when we act as one we have a much better understanding of the what and the who of God who is love and is the very source of love.

Prayer:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
   praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
   praise him, all his host!  

Praise him, sun and moon;
   praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
   and you waters above the heavens!  

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
   for he commanded and they were created.
He established them for ever and ever;
   he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Amen. Psalm 148:1-6

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.

Mentored to Serve

maryandelizabeth2Advent
December 18, 2015

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Those of us who have read The Red Tent* from the reading gained better insight into the importance of mentorship among women in the tradition of Abraham’s descendants. People with shared life experiences can help all of us through the valleys of the unknown. I think we “modern” women lost some of that along the way and then perhaps, as often happens, regained it with a great flourish.

Pregnant-too-soon Mary seeks out her elder cousin for help in making sense of the events of Mary’s pregnancy. I have always wondered if word of Elizabeth’s late-life pregnancy had reached Nazareth by the time Mary decided to garner Elizabeth’s wisdom. Don’t know that it mattered in her decision, but the older woman’s unexpected pregnancy might have provided comfort to young Mary whose life had also forever been changed by her impending parenthood.

I wonder how willing I am to have my whole life totally turned around in service to God. On the other hand, how willing am I to invest myself in doing the mundane everyday chores of service to God? Do I like Brother John** approach each pot of coffee I make, lesson I prepare, chairs and tables I set up as if God’s Kingdom depended on it? Do you?

Prayer: Lord, prepare me for whatever service you need me to do. Place mentors in my path when I need their knowledge. Place willingness in my heart when I need to make just one more pot of coffee. Amen.

*The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. St. Martin’s Press, 2014

**Read more about John of the Cross at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_the_Cross

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.