Tag Archives: Shalom

Fear Not

Advent

November 28, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Luke 21:25-36

‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ –Luke 21:34-36

God created a well-planned interdependent world where the gold standard for wellbeing is shalom— peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. Searching for a life outside of shalom is the road to destruction. Yet, that is precisely what many in our world are hellbent to do. Our failure to care enough for each other to be vaccinated quickly for COVID resulted in a more potent variant called Delta. Another variant, perhaps worse than Delta, called Omicron, has recently appeared in South Africa and maybe the worst one yet. Third-world countries have had the least opportunity to take preventative measures. The variants spread rapidly, and this latest one will be in our nations soon. People across the world are angry. They are tired of socially distancing, wearing masks, and getting shots. They want their pre-COVID lives back.

Jesus meant it when he said loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves* are the two most important commandments. He also increased our neighborhood to include the whole world**.  We hold our future in our hands. We can follow the way of Jesus working to restore wholeness across all lands while growing in love for the vast diversity God gifted to us in varied cultures, or we can follow the path of destruction.

Prayer: Lord, the divine admonition to “Fear not” is recorded in the Bible 365 times; help us remember it each morning as we face a new day and grant us the strength to strive for shalom without fear. Amen.

*Matthew 22: 35-40

**Matthew 28:18-20

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

Seeking Shalom

Living in the Spirit

July 7, 2020

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
   it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
   and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out in joy,
   and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
   shall burst into song,
   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
   instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
   for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Sharing one’s thoughts in either the spoken or written word makes one vulnerable. Ecclesiastes 11:1 tells us to Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back. I can read this in a couple of ways. If I say or write something, I own it. It, however, also means that we must invest ourselves if we want to shape a quality world in which to live. The challenge is to discern what a quality world for all of the world’s populations is? Whether we like it or not, that requires us to live in community striving for oneness.

Oneness does not mean sameness. Oneness recognizes that each of us is unique and has special skills and talents that need to be developed entirely in inclusiveness with others.  When we perfect oneness we shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace.

 The last few lines of the above scripture set forth the conclusions of our efforts of working together rather than being divisive. Do we want to live among thorns and briers or cypress and myrtle? Are we planting seeds of love for God and love for one another, or are we filling the world with weeds of division and discords because we are worshiping the lesser god of self-righteousness?

Prayer: Creator of all, forgive us when we fail to see the importance of sharing your love to all and working together to fulfill your vision of a world driven by shalom. Amen.

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

Called to God’s Shalom

Living in the Spirit

June 25, 2020

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 28:5-9
Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord; and the prophet Jeremiah said, ‘Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.’

Listen to the prophets who speak of peace, for they are indeed sent by the Lord. Note that the questionable prophets from ancient times are the ones who prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. The Amos’s and the Hosea’s accosted their own people with bringing destruction on themselves. The Israelites failure to follow God’s ways did lead to their exile. False prophets divide and conquer; God’s prophets seek peace. False prophets only care about themselves; God’s people care about all God’s creation.

Watching the political antics of our day could be entertaining in a slap-stick sort of way if it were not so dangerous. Caught off guard, we are drawn to inertia in stopping the damage being done. Followers of God cannot let that happen. God can and will provide the light we need to find our way to God’s Shalom—wholeness and peace.

Prayer: Lord, grant us your peace that we may be peace in a chaotic 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Shalom

Lent

March 18, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

I do not know at what point in self-isolation I will grow weary of it. I, however, now am experiencing a sense of peace. My calendar had been too full for too long and my nerves had begun to fray. I do not over schedule on purpose. Projecting out activities and responsibilities into the future, I am careful to arrange events and appointments in an orderly coordinated fashion incorporating a little me time. The routines of life are not the challenge. The challenge is all those other must dos’ that crop up with regularity—a funeral with reception here a seriously ill relative there. Amid all my doings, I discovered my new computer, on which I am very dependent, has some weird idiosyncrasies. I cannot tell if it is the computer or the software or the interface between them that is at fault or the user. Having to dedicate two hours to figuring out how to print a document that should have taken two minutes is frustrating. I now include thanksgiving for the Geek Squad in my prayers.

The 23rd Psalm was a blessing to my soul when I saw it was part of the lectionary for the week. It never ceases to amaze me how God’s words appear in my life at just the right time even when they were scheduled many, many years ago. While you may not be experiencing this same thanksgiving for a slow down indeed the Coronavirus may have put you in a spin cycle. Take even five minutes to inhale its gifts of shalom letting them seep deeply into your being granting you the peace that supports necessity if that is what you need or the peace of the opportunity to rest in the love a God before then next unexpected venture arises.

Prayer: In this moment of reprieve, restore our souls whether we are an overburdened health care worker or a family dealing with children home from school or an isolated elder person. Show us how we can support 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Working toward Shalom

Lent
April 2, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

I am about to do a new thing;
   now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
   and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honor me,
   the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness,
   rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
   the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise. –Isaiah 43:19-21

What is this new thing? Shalom is—completeness, soundness, welfare, peace. Shalom is the rejuvenating gift of God. Water is most important in the wilderness desert. Streams of living water represent love. Without water our bodies soon perish. Without love our souls would die. God promises water in the desert to nourish our bodies, and God’s eternal love to nourish every soul. The new thing is as old as God, making new everything it touches as it renews life.

Love requires a working relationship and is best served when all who love are whole—complete and sound individuals. Of course, we are all works in progress toward such wholeness and thus relationships are always works in progress. I wonder if God built that into us at creation knowing that humans are more respectful of that which we learn by experience. My guess is God puzzles over why some of us do not learn from experience or we only learn after multiple experiences of the same kind.

God did create us with brains and God expects us to use them. We were also blessed with free will so we are left to choose whether we will use our brains for good or evil. God even went the second mile with us by sending Jesus to serve as a role model giving us an example to help us avoid those repeated episodes of tripping over our own self-will even knowing that our actions will only lead to disaster.

Paul uses the example of athletes who work hard to stay in good shape so that at any given time they are ready to face with confidence the competition placed before them. Our souls require the stamina of the athlete gained from our continuous interaction with God through spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation, silence, service. Such spiritual wholeness prepares us for the temptations that might otherwise pull us off track.

Prayer: Thank you God for giving us the tools we need to attain wholeness. Amen.

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

Shalom in Eternity

Living in the Spirit
August 19, 2018

Scripture Reading: John 6:51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.’

I have a pragmatic bent tending to think what I am doing right now is where my attention needs to be focused; eternity will take care of itself. The promise of being a good slave now so one will get a reward in heaven seems to justify oppression in the name of God. I am also not enamored with the various lists of behaviors faith groups use to define who is in and who is out regarding heaven. Funny those lists most often do not include Jesus’ judgment list of feeding the poor, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, restoring the prisoner, and welcoming the stranger. I fear I am a bit jaded regarding the subject of eternal life.

That said, I take great comfort in the prospects of spending eternity near to the heart of God. Perhaps that is because I gain great comfort seeking the heart of God here and now and have experienced God’s Shalom when I need it most.

There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.*

 Prayer:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God* Amen.

*First verse of the Hymn Near to the Heart of God with the Prayer being the chorus of that same hymn by Cleland Boyd McAfee see at https://hymnary.org/text/there_is_a_place_of_quiet_rest

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

God Nurtures

Living in the Spirit
August 5, 2018

Scripture Reading: John 6:24-35

Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’

 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. –John 6:29-35

Nourished, we all long to be fully nourished. There is a difference between being nourished and eating. There is a difference in being nourished and having hunger sated. Empty calories over stimulate the feeling of hunger until we eat more empty calories. I think this is true of physical hunger. Is it also true of spiritual hunger? What are the empty calories we consume to feed our spiritual hunger like the corn syrup; trans fats; and artificial, colors, flavors, and sweeteners we crave? My guess is it is different for each of us just like food cravings are. I do not have a sweet tooth but give me salt and oil and I am in trouble. We each need to identify the things that prevent our souls from being well nourished and lay them before God to seek a better way.

I do have some understanding of what the true bread of spiritual life is. God’s abiding love and presence as conveyed through Jesus Christ nurtures each of us and feeds our spirit, even more, when it flows through us to others.

Guide me oh thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak but thou are Mighty. Bread of Heaven , Bread of Heaven
feed me till I want no more.
Bread of Heaven , Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more.
Bread of Heaven , Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more.*

Prayer: Bread of Life, feed me with your love until I want no more. Amen.

*First verse of Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah by William Williams see at https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Guide_Me_O_Thou_Great_Jehovah/

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

Shalom

Living in the Spirit
September 26, 2017

Scripture Reading Exodus 17:1-7

So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’ –Exodus 17:4-7

Systems theory talks about the need for systems to move toward a steady state, a place, figuratively speaking, where people know what to expect. Poverty is an entrenched steady state because those caught in it are well acquainted with its challenges even if the results are not good for them or their futures. Moving from a bad steady state to a good steady state whether it be poverty or leaving slavery in Egypt can be daunting. The Israelites knew where to find water in Egypt. They knew the right words to say to their masters to avoid punishment. They knew the boundaries of their steady state.

Chaos and confusion results when moving from one steady state to another. New leaders must arise. A whole new culture must develop. The Israelites wandered in that wilderness for 40 years before they got their act together and crossed into what we call the promise land. One or two generations of people passed away as they struggled to find a new way of living.

God and God’s servant’s Moses was their only steady state, and God never left them even when they quarreled and tested God. This story was retained through history to assure us of the same support and nurture.

Progress toward the Kingdom of God demands a constant movement from our current steady state to a better one defined by God. Adapting to God’s ways shortens our time in the wilderness. Helping others know the love of God and its power to make all whole unites us and makes our work more productive.

Prayer: Lord, we live in a world caught in power struggles and divisiveness. Show us how to sidestep these diversions and make lasting progress toward a steady state of your well-being and peace, Shalom. Amen..

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

War and Rumors of War

shalomLiving in the Spirit
November 15, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 13:1-8

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. –Mark 13:3-8

I went to bed yesterday night with the news that Paris had suffered at least six terrorist attacks with many deaths and injuries. The news this morning was filled with more details. We live wars and rumors of wars every day it seems. When will we learn that power through violence just breeds more violence and that the only way to shalom is through shalom.

This scripture resonates in my ears as I heard it over and over in my childhood as the dispensational second coming was as much in vogue than as it is now. Perhaps because I was a child and saw things as a child raised with a Jesus who loved the little children, all of them, I have never been able to accept violence as a means of conquering evil. Kicking dogs for misbehavior just made them meaner, responding violently to someone punching you in the face most likely meant you were the one going to get caught and thus punished, probably with a spanking.

This experience was fed further when as an adult I worked with abusive parents. As much as one might want to hate them for what they had done to their child, looking deep into their eyes, it was not hard to see the hurt driving the harm they did.

We as followers of Christ are called to love the evil out of the world. Granted sometimes that requires that some be incarcerated to protect others and perhaps themselves, but that does not change our mission. On the world stage, while we must be diligent to protect the innocent, we also must work to rectify whatever lies at the heart of the evil that erupts into wars and rumors of war.

Prayer: God of Mercy and Justice, surround our leaders who must deal with terrorism with your abiding presence and wisdom for the facing of this hour and engage each of us as citizens to work toward peace through justice. 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.

 

Justice and Shalom

Sins of the fathersLiving in the Spirit June 4, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—‘I believed, and so I spoke’—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. –2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Are we speaking out for what we believe or are we holding our tongues in the name of shalom? It is not an easy question. We are called to shalom; we are called to do justice. How do we do justice in the spirit of shalom? It is my understanding that the word shalom, translated into English often as peace, has a richer meaning of wellbeing for all. Isn’t that what justice is also? Why then does working toward justice often lead to discord?

The need to work toward justice means some injustice exists, and injustice is insidious. The Hebrew bible talks about the sins of ancestors being passed forward to the third or fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18) Both of my great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War. One fought for the North, one for the South. The one on the South owned house slaves. We are not accountable for our ancestors’ sins, but we do bear the consequences of them. My mother, the granddaughter of the Confederate, served as a community developer for the Methodist church in the Appalachians during the depression working with both black and white communities, segregated, of course, at that time. The consequences of others in the cadre of Civil War descendant carry the animosity of their ancestors to this day. It is a choice. God calls us to choose justice.

My Confederate great-grandfather was a dedicated Christian. He believed he was doing the right thing. We are no doubt doing things today our descendants will be cleaning up for generations to come. Part of doing justice is considering the long-term consequences of our own attitudes and actions. Part of doing justice is seeking wholeness by carefully laying before God those things that drive us today and letting God love away the residue in our beings that denies justice to ourselves and others.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

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.