Tag Archives: Oneness

A Player not Just a Fan

unconditional loveLent March 13, 2015

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 and [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. — Ephesians 2:1-10

We did nothing to deserve the love of God and there is nothing we can do to earn it. God is love. All people are God’s chosen people. The concept that God loves us unconditionally is very hard to grasp in a society that is dominated by competition. We were, however, not created for competition with each other, but to do good works together as the Body of Christ. I do not question that part of being made in the image of God is the desire to improve our skills, increase our productivity as individuals and in teams. It seems to me that the most outstanding athletes are the ones who constantly strive to beat their own best.

What I, at times, and others of us might find, if we really examine our lives, is that we are fans rather than players in the Kingdom of God. God calls us to be players. Those who take the field as members of the Body of Christ must be well schooled in the ways of Christ, must practice them at every opportunity, must find our niche and hone it to what Paul calls perfection.  We must be ready to participate at a moment’s notice whether we are on the first team or warming the bench. And we must enable all our fellow players to do the same thing. We are called to be one in Christ.

Our ability to be the best that we can be starts with our accepting the gift of grace that is the unconditional love of God. We need nothing more to make us each whole. Wholeness enables oneness.

Prayer: Draw us in the Spirit’s tether,  for when humbly in your name  two or three are met together,  you are in the midst of them.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  Touch we now your garment’s hem.* Amen.

 *First verse of hymn, Draw Us in the Spirits Tether by Percy Dearmer
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’s Love Never Ends

Christ proclaims to the dead in spiritLent
February 19, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. — 1 Peter 3:18-20

Commentators differ in opinion about what this scripture is saying. Some believe the Christ, after Jesus’ death, visited the spirits of those who died in the Great Flood and were subsequently imprisoned in the spirit. To them he proclaimed his message. Others think it refers to offering salvation to all spirits imprisoned in death. While it would be interesting to know precisely “who” the writer of 1 Peter was addressing here, I think it may be more important to recognize that it indicates God’s love never ends and God never stops trying to reach all of God’s children.

In all honesty, this scripture had meaning for the living of that day and for us today. For, I believe, we are fully capable of enshrouding our spirits in prisons right now that keep us from being whole and being one within the Body of Christ. Christ did not suffer just for us to transition to a glorious retirement center after our death. Christ suffered and died to free us to carry on his work in the world today. As the man, Jesus, he knew full well his limitations in space and time. His mission, which by the way he fulfilled beyond all imagination, was to plant the seeds of the Kingdom of God so that they might spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We are still sowers and reapers in that garden.

Lent is a great time for each of us to consider the shrouds that are holding us back from being whole and working with all the parts of the Body of Christ. Jesus never once said it would be easy. Oh, well, maybe he did: ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’(Matthew 11:28-30)

Prayer: Lord we thank you for suffering for us and for bringing us to God. Now, guide us as we share your yoke in ministry throughout the world. Amen.

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

 

Nobody Wins

God's planEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 12, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  — 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

 How did we get to the place where each group of Christ’s followers all think we have the inside scoop on God and we all disagree? While Kris Kristofferson’s words refer to a personal relationship, I think they apply here to the proclaimed members of the Body of Christ in the world today:

Anymore it doesn’t matter
 Who’s right or wrong
 We’ve been injuring each other
 For much too long

And it’s too late to try to save
 What might have been
 It’s over, nobody wins*

While I agree with the final diagnosis that nobody wins, I am not ready to give up, are you?

First, I think we need to consider that within the Body of Christ we are all winners. There is no competition when we are all loved by the very Source of life itself. Second, we need to recognize that none of us have been assigned the task of judging who is or is not “fit” for the Kingdom of God. Jesus sent us forth into the world to all people and Jesus Christ is the only one with the power to judge people. He has the capacity to look far deeper into our hearts and minds than any of us do. He even talked to church leaders about judging by outward appearances: You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. (Matthew 23:26)

I think we need to invest a lot more energy in finding what makes us one and a lot less energy in practicing what divides us.

Prayer: Lord help us rest so completely in your love that we are enabled only to love our fellow brothers and sisters around the world for whom your love is complete. Amen.

*Taken from Kris Kristofferson, Nobody Wins see full song lyrics at http://www.metrolyrics.com/nobody-wins-lyrics-kris-kristofferson.html
 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

Answering the Call

Called as disciplesEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 19, 2015

 Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.  — Jonah 3:1-5

 Jonah is everyone. How would you have liked getting an assignment like Jonah did? God asked Jonah to go into one of the wickedest cities around and convict them of their wanton ways. I don’t know about you but Tarshish might have been looking pretty good to me about that time as it did to Jonah. After a few days in the belly of a whale, Jonah saw the error of his way and gave it all he had to turn the people of Nineveh around. God apparently knew what God was doing in the first place.

We really do not know what we are capable of doing until we are put to the test. Many ordinary folk just like you and me have done some extraordinary things when God put them in the right place at the right time and they responded well. Margaret Mead probably said it best, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Every time I hear that quote I think of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

Our world is in great need of many such small groups making differences in a wide variety of areas. You can pretty much take your pick. Our economic system is upside down, our criminal justice system is overcrowded and understaffed, our education system is failing too many children, our ecosystems are growing more and more unsustainable, terror is an everyday item on our evening news, refugees stream out of war-torn lands, and disease is rampant in some parts of the world. The list is endless. Yet, we, too, are disciples of Jesus called to love as he loved. Called to bring wholeness, oneness, and justice to a fragmented world. What part is God calling each of us to do?

Prayer: Lord, prepare me well for what you are calling me to do and give me the courage to follow the path you set before me. 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.

How Do We Judge Others?

Come and SeeEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 17, 2015

 Scripture Reading: John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’  — John 1:43-46

 How do we judge others? Does it matter to us from where they come? Do we size them up by the clothing they wear, the car they drive, the friends they keep? Is it important how much money they make, property they own, or influence they may have? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

When I was in high school and college I worked summers at a local chain restaurant. All the waitresses had been instructed to be sure and ask all customers if they wanted a piece of our freshly baked pies. One day I was assigned to work the counter. A man in his late sixties probably, dressed in khakis and a plaid shirt sat down at the counter and said, “I just want a cup of coffee.” As I poured the coffee I asked, “Don’t you want a piece of pie to go with that.” “He said what do you have?” I rattled off a list of all the pies baked that day and he order a piece of pecan pie. He drank his coffee, left me a nice tip, and left the pecan pie untouched. I found out later that he owned the chain and routinely liked to drop in unannounced to check on the service.

One of the greatest challenges God has placed before God’s people is recognizing the worth of every one of God’s children. Not only recognizing but working to assure that each person’s contribution to the Kingdom of God is actualized fully.  This lesson is taught by the example, of Jesus, a son of questionable birth, born to a carpenter, raised in a small unimportant village. He is the Christ, our Savior, Son of God.

Prayer: Lord teach me to respect all your children. Guide me as I work with others with whom I am in synch and with those who see the world differently than I do. Like good music unite us as one, in harmony and in dissonance, as we work together for the realization of your Kingdom here on earth.

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.

 

Legacy

God with UsChristmas
December 25, 2014

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. — Luke 2:39-40

Of course, as with all births, Jesus’ birth was a beginning. It was the start of God come to earth. We struggle for words to describe this event and all that followed. We assign descriptive names to the baby attempting to understand the wonder of it all—Son of God, Prince of Peace, God with Us. And then we return to our regular routines of life just as Mary and Joseph did changed in ways we do not fully understand. Somehow we have been saved to make a difference. In my feeble attempt to grasp this reality, I distill this process of God with Us as striving for Wholeness, Oneness, and Justice. At least that is the perception I have of what Jesus did in his earthly ministry and what he calls those who chose to follow him to continue to do today and into the future. It is a circular process not linear. Wholeness leads to Oneness and Oneness leads to Justice and Justice in turn leads to Wholeness.

I have been struck throughout these days leading up to Christmas by the ads for a few movies being released here at the end of the year that speak to wholeness, oneness, and justice that may be worth our watching. I have not seen any of them, yet, but I hope to see them and thought you might want to also.

Unbroken is the true story of a young athlete, Louis Zamperini, who excelled in the 1936 Olympics. By the time the 1940 Olympics should have been held, the world was too caught up in war in which Zamperini served as a pilot, went down in the ocean, survived several days afloat in the ocean, and finally was taken prisoner where for two years he withstood the torture of being a prisoner of war. He survived, returned home, and was able to forgive his tormentors. It is a story of Wholeness.

Selma is the story of the civil rights marches in 1965 in the USA that were the catalyst for the Voting Rights Act passed that same year. It tells of the commitment of primarily people of faith to end by non-violent means the racially driven oppressive laws limiting voting in some parts of the country. These events resonate with the power of Oneness when the children of God come together for the right reasons. Particularly for those of us called to be the Body of Christ following Jesus’ resurrection, Oneness is pivotal.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is the third and last movie depicting J.R. R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit. The book illustrates well the struggles between good and evil. Although it is fantasy; it is violent and of necessity requires us to wrestle with the place of war in our world, if there is a place for war. It is about Justice.

We as followers of Christ have choices to make about how we go about bringing Wholeness, Oneness, and Justice to fruition, although we cannot question that Wholeness, Oneness, and Justice are our legacy.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, truth divine,
 Dawn upon this soul of mine;
 Word of God and inward light
 Wake my spirit, clear my sight. 

Holy Spirit, love divine,
 Glow within this heart of mine;
 Kindle every high desire;
 Perish self in Thy pure fire. 

Holy Spirit, power divine
 Fill and nerve this will of mine;
 Grant that I may strongly live,
 Bravely bear, and nobly strive. 

Holy Spirit, peace divine,
 Still this restless heart of mine;
 Speak to calm this tossing sea,
 Stayed in Thy tranquility.* Amen.

*Words by Samuel Longfellow

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.

Turning the Table Around

God's kingdom

Matthew 6:33

Advent
December 16, 2014

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 for ever before me; your throne shall be established forever. — 2 Samuel 7:10-11, 16

The Kingdom promised to David in our scripture today is the same Kingdom promised to us all. The book of Matthew takes great pains in listing the genealogy of Jesus tying him, not only back to David, but all the way back to Abraham.

In our scripture today, the One God, Creator of All People, Ruler over the Universe turns the table on David who wanted to make a house for God, but God in response promises to make a house for David and all his heirs forever. And God is building that house through his Son, Jesus Christ, who was also a son of David. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16) Our legacy through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is to be a part of the Body of Christ in the world today continuing that building project as we are actively engaged in developing the Kingdom of God now, while awaiting the fulfillment of this promise.

In such a Kingdom God’s people will live in their own places so we strive to help the refugees while trying to return their homelands to places of safety; evildoers shall affect God’s people no more so we work to combat oppression and injustice wherever we find it; and God’s people will rest from all their enemies so we work to assure that all people have opportunities to be self-supporting and self-sustaining, earning a living wage and laboring in safe environments away from hunger, disease, and lack of hope.

Prayer: Creator of all, if we are so privileged to not see the oppression all around us, open our hearts to the needs of those being oppressed. If we are among those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, without clothing, sick, or in prison, give us the gifts of hope and perseverance. Make all of us whole and make all of us 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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Poverty

povertyLiving in the Spirit
November 20, 2014

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.— Ephesians 1:17-19

This part of our scripture for today seems to be a three point sermon in a prayer. Paul was good at that. He never missed an opportunity to teach about Christ. The three points he wants us to fully grasp are simple:

  1. We are called to hope
  2. We are assured a glorious inheritance along with all the other saints
  3. We serve One with immeasurable power

Paul seems to be speaking from experience as his faith had surely grown as he grew to know Jesus Christ more intimately.

I once heard a wise speaker note that the only difference between being poor and living in poverty was the absence of hope in the latter state. While we most often think of the words “poor” and “poverty” in relationship to economic status, they also apply to spiritual lives. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 5:3) speaks to the presence of hope in someone caught in situations that seem hopeless. One wonders if economic poverty results from succumbing to spiritual hopelessness.

The inheritance we are promised is the kingdom of heaven when we live with God as the center of our universe in a world where wholeness, oneness, and justice are the norms. Our call as Disciples of Christ is to work in partnership with him toward the realization of that kingdom with every breath we take. And while from time to time that seems very much a pipe dream and thus hopeless, we do indeed serve a risen Savior who empowers and guides us and whose power is mightier than all other powers.

Prayer: Lord of Hope and Power, feed our hope and undergird us with your strength as we serve as your partners in bringing wholeness, oneness, and justice into reality. 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.

Where are You Investing Your Talents?

Abundant lifeLiving in the Spirit
November 15, 2014

Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:14-30

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. — Matthew 25:14-18

Someone forwarded me the report of a study regarding the Top Ten Sources of Discouragement of Pastors and Church Staff* and it was very insightful. They make sense when we stop and think about them. The first is conflicts/complaining/murmuring. The second is lack of fruit and spiritual maturity in church members. The third is apathy. Our scripture today speaks of the last two so I have to assume they were problems with which Jesus had to deal. Society, in general in the USA at least, is suffering from an epidemic of apathy. We just had one of the lowest voter turnouts this country has ever experienced.

Jesus envisioned the Kingdom of God as being a place where all had a stake in its success. Where the contribution of each citizen is essential and where all citizens live not just adequately, but abundantly. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10b). Now, Jesus’ definition of abundance may be different from our definition for I fear that we sometimes limit living abundantly to material wealth. I think Jesus is talking about all aspects of life overflowing our expectations. More than financial wealth, we will each have more love, more kindness, and more justice. We will be whole and we will be one in the Kingdom of God.

I have always thought it interesting that the Greek word talenton that is a measure of weight for silver or gold and its sister Latin word talenta became our English word talent that is the abilities, powers, and gifts bestowed upon a man:  natural endowments**. As we contemplate the use of our gifts in service to God, we certainly need to consider how we share our material wealth but just as importantly we need to use our gifts in service and in love.

Prayer: Lord, we praise you for the abundance of life you poured out on us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Help us return your gifts in service to your Kingdom so that all can life in your abundance. Amen.

*www.thomrainer.com
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Talent

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.

 

Weave Us Together

Weave us togetherLiving in the Spirit
Light a Candle for Children
October 5, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:33-46

 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.— Matthew 21:43

 Tough talk, sounds like Isaiah warning the people of Judah that if they did not produce fruit, they would lose everything, and they did, for a time. Faith is not a verb in the English language. Perhaps by the time the English language was created, Christians had already moved from an active and engaged worshiping community to clusters of believers with similar but small nuances to what they believed that set them apart one from another. Perhaps it is time that we who call ourselves Christians today show the world that faith is really a verb and the product of our faithing is fruit.

There is nothing inherently wrong with formulating beliefs and discussing them with others. I think such discourse is useful. It becomes a stumbling block when our wrangling over beliefs results in our failing to be the One Body of Christ working toward the kingdom of God in our world today. We even fight wars over it.

The Hebrew Bible is filled with calls for justice and righteousness in our way of living with one another. Christ clearly made justice and righteousness centerpieces for his coming kingdom. Bearing the fruit of justice and righteousness would go a long way toward addressing all the problems that impact our children today. Let us faith together toward this reality.

Oklahoma Fact: third grade reading proficiency percentages by race: White 82.3%, Black 59.1%, American Indian 75.6%, Asian 91.1%, and 77.1%*

Prayer: We are many textures, we are many colors,
              Each one different from the other.
              But we are entwined in one another in one great tapestry –

            Weave, weave, weave us together,
             Weave us together in unity and love.
             Weave, weave, weave us together,
             Weave us together, together in love.** Amen.

* http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/8225-third-grade-reading-proficiency-by-race?loc=38&loct=2#detailed/2/any/false/36,868,867,133,38/107,133,10,172,4,3/16742

 **From Weave by Rosemary Crow, http://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=10306

 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.