Waking up and being awake in Christ

Today I was attending the L3 training which is loving, learning and leading. The focus on the spiritual formation was becoming alive in Christ. If we are not willing to come alive in Christ than we are likely not going to be effective disciples. The following was one of the scriptures that we used.
Ephesians 5 (The Message)
Ephesians 5
Wake Up from Your Sleep 1-2Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
3-4Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.
5You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
6-7Don't let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don't even hang around people like that.
8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
11-16Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light!So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!
17Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
18-20Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
In particular for me the part of waking up from my sleep, climbing out of my coffin, watching my step, using my head and making the most of every chance I have for these are desperate times.
There was something about hearing this and realizing that today this is so true not only for me but also for the church. Church is not about using religion and people to meet our needs. It is not about being so caught up in our own personal idolatry that we close ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is not about being so stuck in one's way especially of doing things a certain way and at a certain time that we don't take time to understand what God wants.
In other words it is not about me or you it is about God. It is about finding ways that we can invite others to experience God. Even if it means a willingness to be flexible in how that is done.
God open our hearts that we can come alive in you. Pull us out of our own inflexibility so that we can reach others in new and exciting ways. Help us be faithful in Your desire to make disciples of Jesus Christ who will transform the world.

Covenant

Tonight in a meeting we used a reading from the devotional book "Disciples."  It was based on the following scriptures.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (New Living Translation)

True and False Prophets

 15 Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lordyour God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai.^[a] You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’

 17 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right. 18 I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. 19 I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf. 20 But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’

What the writer had to say was about covenant especially a covenant between God and ourselves.  That in this covenant relationship there is a commitment on both parties which agrees to mutual care and faithfulness.  The question that the writer asked was how do we know God's Will.  He went on to say that we need to listen carefully to the revealed word of God and carefully build our lives on the word.

As I heard this and as I prepared for the Wednesday service, I realized that what I wanted to talk about based on the book "One Month to Live," was discussing loving completely.  One image that the authors used was the cross.  I expanded on that and I see that as the basis of the covenant relationship.  Look at the empty cross and imagine that the vertical beam is the love that God has for us and the love we give to God.  The horizontal beam is the love that we are to show to one another. When we are able to love in such a way we are living the covenant.  We need to once again listen and live that love.

Proverbs 27

One of the ways I try to spend time in the word is by listening to two pod casts from DailyAudioBible.com. The one is going through the bible in one year and the other is the daily proverb. As there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, each day covers one of the proverbs. Today being the 27th I listened to Proverbs 27.
Several of the verses speak to the value of friends who will be honest. I have a bible called the "Inspirational Bible" that is edited by Max Lucado. Regarding Proverb 27, he states that we can benefit from a close friend in our Christian life. Find a friend who will share your deepest concerns. Share together over lunch and commit to helping one another. He further states that wise friends facilitate growth. We should strive to be a wise friend and help others to grow. I found as I was reading this how important it is to have a group of friends who will be honest with one another. I am blessed that I have friends who are wise and willing to "correct me openly than to have love and not show it (Prov. 27.5)" The proverb also warns about making more of ourselves than what we are. Paul reminds us not to think to highly of ourselves. One blessing of friendship can be keeping me honest.
Another verse is "As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other (v. 17)" As I prepare for our Wednesday service based on "One Month to Live", the topic is loving completely. Friendship can be that type of love if we would take the time and spend the time to be with our friends. Is there someone that you need to call or go see today or tomorrow? Now is the time to do so. For in the doing, we become blessed.

Monday night reflection

I cannot believe how quickly time seems to get away from you if one does not pay attention and make a commitment to doing what one knows they need to do.  It is not so much that time gets away from one as it is, at least for me, how I choose to waste time.  There are times that I need to remind myself of what is valuable and what is not.  My prayer is to spend time in a more faithful fashion than just to sit in the easy chair numbing myself on television.

I wanted to write about something that came up in our bible study tonight.  We are studying scriptures from Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.  One of the days readings dealt with what do we place our trust in.  In our discussion, we looked at the idea that without trust in God do any of us truly have a sense of security?  One of the members of the group mentioned a quote that went something like we can spend time pushing God away and spend the rest of our lives trying to find something to replace God with.

What we discussed in the section from Ezekiel on the shepherds paired the justice of the shepherds who were to care for their flock and instead misused their power and God caring for His flock and leading them to safety and security.  The point of the author of the book was that often we try to place our sense of security into military might, home security systems, acquiring wealth and possessions, rather than trusting in God to be our foundation.  I have always felt that in our nation where there is so much opportunity, so much abundance, and so much freedom why is there so much anxiety and depression that is prevalent?  Why do people hoard what they have?  We seem to be a nation that is consumed with making sure that I am OK even to the point of not caring for others.  I know that is a generalization and that there are many people who do care about what is happening to others in our nation and throughout the world.  At the same time, it is difficult to have that much trust in God as we are human.

As I have time to reflect on this, my prayer is that we can turn to God realizing that in that trust we can find security even in difficult times.

Flexibility of the heart

I was listening to dailyaudiobible.com podcast for Friday 17th.  This was the reading the bible in one year podcast.  I had missed listening to it and was catching up on my way home from the clergy conference.  Brian was talking about Matthew 12:1-15.  He was reading from The Message and there is a verse that Jesus says, "There is far more at stake here than religion.  If you had any idea what this scripture meant--'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'--you wouldn't be nitpicking like this."

I was struck by this as during the clergy session we spent a great deal of time talking about how can we unbind the gospel to share with those around us.  I was particularly struck by how often we become of the mindset that if we do what we have always done we will grow and attract others.  Jesus in talking the Pharisees pointed out to them that just doing rituals or traditions for the sake of tradition will not bring people closer to God.  Rather it can be a turn off especially in the changes that have occurred since WWII.  What is important and certainly what I believe is important is the flexibility of the heart.

I am reminded that the Igniting Ministry motto has been "Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Minds."  If we are going to live to our purpose to make disciple of Jesus Christ to transform the world, we need to live this motto.  This is exactly what Jesus is talking about to those who worship tradition rather than God.  Those who listen to rituals instead of the Holy Spirit.  Who insist that their way is the only way and everyone must conform to what they think.

As we begin this new year, my prayer is that we adopt more of a flexible heart, be of a more open mind to diversity and be willing to open our selves to those around us.  It is not important to always keep doing the things that we have always done just because that is the way we have done it.

Random thoughts on a Wednesday

I have just returned from our second day of the clergy conference.  We have had a dynamic speaker on church leadership talk to us about the changing culture of church.   Gil Rendell is a well known consultant and walked us through some interesting insights into the issues that our churches are facing today.  I have found that it has helped me understand some of the ways that different people react to change and the perceived threat of change.  I hope to share some of these with a few of our leaders to start a conversation with them about their views and to help began a process that will guide us in our ministry.

As I was listening to Gil and to examine some of the talk about church and ways of addressing how we can be more effective in our ministries, I came across a quote from Rich Warren.  He said, "The church is a body not a business; an organism not an organization."  The struggle I believe the church is facing how do we learn from what organizational leaders can teach us and remain faithful to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Rendell points out that with the radical changes that have occurred since World War II that the church is now facing some of the concerns that are so evident in our society.  We have become a church of preferential choices rather than a cohesive group identity.  Pastors who are effective in leadership go from providing and persuading answers to facing questions that arise and helping others begin the process of discussing those questions.  There was a lot more discussed and I will be bringing that back to our leadership in the church.

At the same time as I was reading the devotion in "Disciplines," the scripture came from Mark 1:17-18.  "Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, 'Come with me.  I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you.  I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass."  The Message.

We did discuss about how Jesus led and taught his disciples.  One of the many comments was that it was messy and there were many starts and stops along the way.  None of the disciples took a management course.  They did learn from conversations rather than problem solving techniques or surveys.  Gil also felt that there was a limited benefit to most surveys as it produces preferences rather than direction.  Interesting.  I feel that we have to make room to discern the Will of God in what we do.  The key is that we do what we discern and not spend time rehashing ideas and interactions.

So when some wants to know what I am doing, I think I will tell them I am going fishing.

President Obama

Having been on the road to go to our clergy conference, I was not able to watch the inauguration of our new president.  I was sorry that I was not able to hear first hand what he discussed.  My prayer is that he is somehow able to bring together in some fashion our country that has been polarized by political factions.  My fear is that some many people are looking at President Obama to magically right an economy that has been ransacked for many years.  We have had a history of not wanting to be accountable about what we have spent on pork projects from both sides of the aisle.  We have lived in a world that buy it now and pay later has become a mantra that is not only found in families but also in our government.  What is interesting you find that in both parties.  To believe that one man is going to somehow change the very culture of our system seems to me to be unrealistic.  At the same time, he has brought a fresh hope to government and maybe to our nation that may at least awaken us as citizens of this nation to be more accountable and to hold our representatives more accountable.

I believe that this moment in history portends great possibilities that even 20 years ago would never have happened.  So I put aside my cynical thoughts and do pray for President Obama to have the strength and the courage and the integrity to act on his vision.  Much like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., maybe there is a dream that God can instill in all of us to find the common ground to which we can all stand.  Not to tear down others which just let us avoid responsibility to build up.  So join me in praying not only for our president but also our leaders in congress, that the days of partisan politics and divisiveness just for the sake of being divisive is over.  That we can disagree but respect one another and work to the common good.  That is my prayer.  Amen or so be it.

Listening

Yesterday, following my service, I began to not feel well and that is why there was no blog entry yesterday.  I have also felt that I need to at times take a day away from blogging as a Sabbath.  So on Fridays I will be taking time off.  Also this week is the clergy conference for the Nebraska Annual Conference so it will be a challenge to continue to faithfully write.  I will be taking my laptop so that should not be a problem.

I was talking about 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and Psalm 139 yesterday and one of the questions was listening to the voice of God.  I know that in my life it can be difficult to know whether or not I am listening for God's direction and listening to my own desires.  I have come across a couple of things that I found helpful for me.  The first comes from a devotional, "Disciplines" done by the Upper Room.  We have given copies of this devotional for all of our committee chairs.  The devotion for today January 19 written by John Bardsley is based on Jonah 3:1-5, 10.

"God points to coming events through prophecy and by speaking directly to us.  Sometimes we don't hear the voice crying out to us.  Sometimes we listen to our more pressing needs.  We focus more on what we think our priorities are.

In the cartoon Non Sequiter [one of my favorite cartoons] a man stands on a street corner with a sign: 'The End is near!'  A man on the opposite corner also has a sign: 'The world ended and you're still in denial!'

When God speaks we get a reality check. Jonah did.  God told Jonah to carry God's message of destruction to Ninevah:  Jonah ran away.  He met up with a big fist, and God saved him by having the fish spit Jonah on the beach.  When God spoke to Jonah the second time, Jonah obeyed!  He went to the corrupt city of Ninevah and told them what God had said: 'Forty days more and Ninevah shall be overthrown.'

That's when Jonah got even a bigger surprise.  Ninevah responded to God's words by repenting and believing in God!  God had intended Ninevah's destruction.  God hadn't planned for Ninevah's repentance.  But God changed God's mind"

There is more to this than just this devotion.  Jonah did not want to go to Ninevah the capital of Assyria the enemy of Israel.  He was called to preach this destruction to the very people who enslaved his people.  No wonder he might have had some doubts about whether or not this was the voice of God.  On top of that even when God changed His mind, Jonah was pouting that Ninevah was not destroyed.

Listening to God will challenge all of our assumptions about what is right  When we are comfortable in our daily lives and begin to take things for granted, we may be in danger of thinking only of our own needs.  So when God intrudes in our lives, we may react like many of the prophets and Jonah even the disciples with disbelief.  We need to take care to not be swayed by those who preach a easy road but reflect on whether or not we are willing to be called by God which can radically change our lives.

Known by God

Tomorrow I will be preaching on two texts 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18. As I have had to time to reflect there have been many occasions this week to spend time on the very first verse of the Psalm. "O Lord, you have searched me and known me." Wow God has searched me and knows me. Without going into the sermon proper, what an awesome thought that God even takes time to know me. In one of the resources that I use stated, "The psalmist insists that whether we are aware of God or not, we are known completely by God to whom, as the Book of Common Prayer puts it, 'all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid." (Feasting on the Word, 248.)
To be known so completely can at one time be comforting and also somewhat scary. For God know me completely warts and all. He knows not only the good parts which I present outwardly but also the inner thoughts, feelings, and acts. Knowing all of this God still wants to know me not just for only good but wants me completely. And though as I strive for perfection, I am aware that God continues to work within me and surrounds me. When you pair this up with Samuel hearing the voice of God, I realize that God wants me to come to Him and to listen to where he wants me to go. Even though I am not preaching from the Gospel this week we could look at Nathaniel's call. The question is what needs to happen to us to hear God speak knowing that God knows us and calls to us?

live passionately

Last night we began to reflect on what would we do if we had only one month to live. The resource that we are using comes from the book One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook. I would encourage you to read a copy. Last night we focused on living our lives passionately and with purpose. The scriptures were from John 15:1-5, 2 Timothy 1:7, and Matthew 25:14-30.
There were other quotes about living our life in a meaningful way. The first was from an anonymous source, "Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." Too often we put off living based on our worries, anxieties, and what the book calls the someday syndrome. I have heard so often people in the last days of their lives express regret for the things that they had not done and wanted to do. This does not encourage recklessness but is a reminder that sometimes if we wait for the right time, it never comes. This is especially true for relationships. Don't put off to tomorrow letting people know that you care for them. If there has been estrangement, don't let that continue. I have never known anyone who has gone to their time of going home to God regret the time that they spent with loved ones.
Another way of living passionately is to find ways of being fruitful in what we do. It is important to remember that we are able to accomplish much in our lives when we take time to center our lives in Christ. If we want to make a difference in our life and the lives of others we take the talents God has given us and use them. Both the gospel of John and Matthew speak of this. It also means the willingness to risk greatness. Not to let our fears be the determining factor of how we live. Know that God will empower us in the choices that we make and be willing to face the unknown with confidence in the Lord.
Another way of living is to listen to our dreams. There have been many times that I have heard and I have discounted dreams. Part of this is honoring what the Spirit says to you. Some dreams may be more than what we can do now but at least acknowledge your dreams. Write your dreams down and pray about them. Is this what God wants from you. Part of honoring dreams also is a way of honoring yourself. Taking care of ourselves is vital to effective living. If we are unwilling to treat our physical body as a temple to the Lord and care for ourselves, we will be unable to care for others or even to love God. One of the quotes I used came from the book on the standard Airline Safety Announcements regarding oxygen masks. We are to put on ours first so that we can help others.
Howard Thurman also stated about living, "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have become alive." The time is now. The kingdom is now. God is now. And when we do something realize that there are no mistakes only learning. Thomas Edison when trying to invent the light bulb stated, "I have not failed. I've just found ten thousand ways that don't work." Come alive, center in Christ, know that God will empower us, and let us live today, right now.

Trust

I have a better appreciation of the adage in trusting in the Lord. Sometimes it is easy to take things for granted and not pay attention to what is happening. Lately my wife and I have been praying about where we are in many areas of our life. I feel that in most areas we are doing well but there are a couple of concerns that we are now turning over to the Lord. As we have done that and as we talk to knowledgeable people we are gaining advice as to how to address these issues.
Part of my focusing on scripture especially with the group of men that I meet with, we are studying Proverbs. One of the proverbs that I studied today comes from chapter 15:22.
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. TNIV"
Sometimes I get in the mindset that somehow I need to resolve all the problems myself and not look to seeking wisdom from others. Even though I know how idiotic that is there is still some of that stubbornness. Thank God that He comes to hit me upside the head once in awhile. When I surrender, I find that I have great relief and better understanding. Plans fail also with the lack of vision and willingness to face the reality of situations no matter what those situations might be. Also in Chapter 15 there are a number of Proverbs that speak of discipline and employing discipline in our lives. We are can benefit from remembering the spiritual disciplines that help strengthen our lives and provide for us.
So may God guide you in whatever you are facing and seek out the help of others. That is why it is important to be part of a community.

Wednesdays communion services

For those who might be interested in what we will be focusing on for the next three months on Wednesday evenings, I will give you the topics.  I hope to write in my blog a summary each Thursday talking about what we will have reflected on.

Starting this Wednesday will be a 4 part reflection based on the book One Month to Live: Thirty days to a No-Regrets Life by Kerry and Chris Shook.  I would recommend that you would read the book to further understand some of the principles that they talk about.  I will be elaborating on what they say with my own reflections.  The topics will be:

Jan. 14 Live Passionately

Jan 21 no service

Jan. 28 Love Completely

Feb. 04 no service

Feb. 11 Learn Humbly

Feb. 18 Leave Boldly

Following this series we will enter into Lent.  We will then look at 8 Life Lessons from the Beatitudes.

Feb. 25 Ash Wednesday

Mar. 04 Blessings of Poverty-poor of spirit

Mar. 11 Gifts in our grieving

Mar. 18 Power under God's control

Mar. 25 Satisfied with being unsatisfied

Apr. 01 Grace that acts

Apr. 08 Holy Week

Apr. 15 To will one thing

Apr. 22 Seeing the world needy and whole

Apr. 29 Action and reaction

Much of what we will be doing during this time comes from The Power of a Focused Heart by Mary Lou Redding.

Stand firm in faith

I was doing my homework for the bible study that we are doing on Mondays. We are using a study guide "Turn Toward Promise: The Prophets and Spiritual Renewal," by John Indermark. For today the scripture came from Isaiah 7:1-17. This was at a time that Judea was being threatened by the Northern kingdom, Israel and Syria. King Ahaz was caught with what was he going to do with this threat. Was Ahaz going to trust in God or form an alliance with the Assyrians? Isaiah came to try to convince him to trust God and not seek some military or political solution to the problem. Unfortunately, Ahaz form an alliance with Assyria which came back and subjugated the Southern kingdom.
The scripture that we are focusing on was Isaiah 7:13, "Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?"
The focus is what would ever weary God. The entire scripture would say to "live as though God makes no difference. Refuse to trust God in times of risk. Let fear dictate your choices." Isaiah tells Ahaz that there is an answer to this by standing firm in faith, remaining calm, do not let fear dictate and do not lose heart. When we allow ourselves to not care or listen to God, to allow fear to be our main concern, to lose heart and not remain faithful, it is then we weary God. Thankfully in this chapter and in these verses, Isaiah speaks of a young woman who will give birth to a son named Immanuel. Hope for us Christians lies in Jesus.
Indermark points out some questions to reflect on based on these scriptures. For we too face the same decisions that Ahaz faced in our lives. To what will we depend on. The questions are: What do you need to heed in your life, Where do you need quieting or calming, What fears do you need to release, What makes you faint of heart, and Where do you need to stand firm?
In today's culture and economical crisis, do we live by faith or by fear?
Here is the prayer that followed the daily study, "Forgive me, O God, when I have wearied you--by lack of trust, by emptiness of love. Renew me. Strengthen me. Encourage me. For I would trust, and I would love, in you. Amen."

Monday reflection

I must confess that the last couple of days I have been either so busy or maybe so distracted that I have not blogged daily. I am getting back on track. Sunday we spent time in church wondering about the vows that we take in baptism or confirmation and how have we lived to those vows. I had several people later talk to me about how important it was for them to remember the promises that we make to God and to each other. We celebrated our baptism by remembering our vows together.
What made this meaningful for me is that I grew up in a different denomination that United Methodist. My baptism occurred when I was 15 so I did not have parents take on those vows for me. While I believe in infant baptism as a perfect example of God's unmerited grace, there is something to be said about believer baptism. I also believe that the amount of water or the way we baptize has more to do with us than with God. It is God's grace that extends to us baptized or not. The act is just an outward sign of God's grace already existing in us.
This leads me to reflecting on one of the scriptures for next Sunday which is Psalm 139. In my devotion for today the verses come from Psalm 139:1, 4.
"Lord you have examined me and you know me...Even before I speak, you already know what I will say."
In my sermon Sunday, I talked about what grade would we give ourselves for what we have done regarding our promises. I also stated I wonder what grade would God give us. When I read this Psalm and these verses, I know that no where can I go that God is not already there and that God knows me completely. God has examined me. I cannot lie to God or try to make promises that I know that I will not keep. I don't even need to try to make a case for myself for God knows. I don't need to prove myself to God. The good news is that even though God knows all about us, God still extends mercy and love and grace.
My sermon title for next Sunday is We are known by God but do we know God? How would we do know God? I don't mean know what God thinks or the mind of God as that is not possible in our present state. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, I see but a blurred image but there will come a day when I will see clearly. I would ask readers to reflect on how do you know God and how has that changed your thinking and doing.
May God be with us all this day and this week.

The problem of evil

I was talking with another pastor on Friday and one of the areas of discussion we focused on was not only baptism but the reason for baptism and the concept of evil and sin.  I had written what Barbara Taylor Brown talked about on her sermon of Jesus' baptism.  "Surely I am not one of them."  As I was talking with this other pastor I began to reflect what I had written for my credo at seminary about sin and evil.  The struggle that often occurs is sin and evil an individual choice or is there a power that is beyond ourselves regarding evil.  Actually I believe it is both an individual choice and that there is a systemic evil that is greater than the individual.  Whether or not one wants to personify this systemic evil as Satan or not is immaterial.  I believe we need to recognize that this evil exists and has power over us.  I wanted to share what I had written at seminary and comment on my continued beliefs.

The problem of sin

      Within this relational interaction, humankind often chooses to act in ways that do not speak to this moral directive to do God’s work in the world.  Instead, we seem to do things that directly oppose the creative work that God has done.  This turning away from God’s purposes is sin and evil.  Ted Peters describes evil as that which retards the becoming of being human.  “Instead of answering the call forward, we choose to fixate ourselves in an unchanging present. To choose fixation and partiality is to choose sin; and the result is evil.  Instead of becoming human, we find ourselves awash in unbecoming evil.”[i][ED1]   We turn away from God’s purposes out of our own fears and anxieties and in futile attempts to be in control.  These forces build upon one another leading us from individual relationship with God and into the development of systematic evil.

Evil is different than sin.  Shirley Guthrie discusses, “The evil we do to each other has three dimensions.  It is always rebelling against God and the order of God’s good creation.  It is always indifference or enmity toward our fellow human beings.  And it is always the self-destructive contradiction of what we ourselves were created to be.”[ii]  The power of evil is that we take upon ourselves a self importance that is destructive.  Guthrie states, “We do evil, but when we do we are trapped and controlled by evil.  It dwells in us yet somehow has an existence of its own outside us.”[iii][ED2]   Evil becomes more than turning away from God but involves us taking action against God and others.  James Poling defines evil, “Genuine evil is the abuse of power that destroys bodies and spirits; evil is produced by personal actions and intentions which are denied and dissociated by individuals; evil is organized by economic forces, institutions and ideologies, mystified by appeals to necessity and truth; evil is sanctioned by religion, masked by claims to virtue, love and justice.”[iv]  Poling suggests that evil is systemic and organized at every level of human life.[v]  Evil takes on a life of its own that is difficult to acknowledge and to address, as it is so systemic into the societal structure.  Religion and secular society have often fostered acceptance of evil through non-action to confront that which prevents God’s purposes. 

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[i] Peters, 162.  Peters examines several differing conditions that lead to sin which produces evil.  The first of these is anxiety, which is a prelude to sin.  We anticipate perils and try to do what we can to alleviate the feelings.  Individual survival becomes more important than communal wholeness.  The defending of that survival can come at the cost of destroying others. The second issue is unbelief.  We doubt the faithfulness of God and so we try to establish immortality through lusting for power and perfection.  Pride is yet another condition.  Placing ourselves higher than God, we develop a narcissistic center.  Peters discusses concupiscence as a condition, in which our desires cause us to pervert love leading to the consumption of someone else’s life-giving power.  Our ability to justify what we do helps eliminate blame for our actions.  We also use scapegoating that helps justify how we define good and evil.  Cruelty is taking the hatred that we feel to ourselves and projecting that onto the scapegoat.  The last condition is blasphemy.  This is the use of God’s name to justify scapegoating and the manipulation of symbols to profane the God of grace and for obtaining power from lesser spiritual forces. 163-173

[ii] Shirley Guthrie, Christian Doctrine, Revised ed. (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1994), 174.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] James Poling, Deliver Us from Evil (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996), 110.

[v] Ibid., 112.

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 [ED1]See endnote to elaborate on Peters.  Tillich looks at estrangement cause by unbelief, concupiscence, and hubris.  

 [ED2]Evil thus becomes more than individual action but also becomes a communal action.  Often based on issues of anxiety, power, and prestige.

As one can see evil is more than just our choice but becomes a communal or societal choice.  As a sociologist, society influences us more than we influence society.  What we began to discuss, is what if anything can we do to address systemic evil.  I believe the only way we can overcome not only our choice of sin but also to make a difference in the systemic evil of the world is our dependence on God.  In my credo, I continued with talking about how God has provided for us to be able to rise above evil and sin.

I would suggest thinking about where are you in your beliefs about sin and evil.  Is there a greater force that is influential in human affairs?  Do we tend to believe that if there is such a force that there is nothing we can do about it and therefore do no social justice.  I will quote myself, "Religion and secular society have often fostered acceptance of evil through non-action to confront that which prevents God’s purposes. "  I would hope that we do not foster the idea of not confronting evil and injustice wherever we meet it.

The River of Life

I have continued to work on my sermon for this Sunday which is the Baptism of our Lord.  As I have been reflecting, researching, and praying about where God is leading me, I came across two interesting thoughts.  The first came from the devotional that I have been using to journal with and the other from a book by Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest, titled "Home by Another Way."  First the scripture:

Acts 19.4 "Paul said, 'John preached a baptism of radical life-change so the people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus.'"  The Message.

As I was reading this, the very first thought I had was the idea that baptism led to radical life-change.  Sometimes I wonder if many of us think of baptism as something you just do to become a part of the body of Christ without really thinking about what it means to be baptized. What it means to make the vows that we do before God and one another.  This is where I am feeling the Spirit leading me for this Sunday.  As I was working on that, I came across a story from Barbara Brown Taylor from a sermon she titled, "The River of Life" which was in her book.  I want to share the first part of the sermon with you.

"I just finished a book called the The Patron Saint of Liars by a young author named Ann Patchett.  It is a story of Rose Clinton and her daughter Cecilia, who live at Saint Elizabeth's Home for Unwed Mothers in Habit Kentucky.  Rose is the cook and Cecilia is the darling of the place, petted and mothered by all the young women who will give their own babies up for adoption.  One May day when she was fifteen years old, Cecilia meets one of the new girls who has come to Saint Elizabeth's.  Her name is Lorraine.  She is skinny, with a head of red curls, and she is about to have a nervous breakdown while she waits to be interviewed by Mother Corinne, the nun in charge.  Cecilia decides to help her out by giving her some advice.

"The guy who got you pregnant," she tells Lorraine.  "Don't day he's dead.  Everybody does that.  It makes Mother Corinne crazy."

Lorraine sits on her hands, and is quiet for a minute. "I was going to say that," she says.  "So what do I tell her?"

"I don't know," Cecilia says.  "Tell her the truth.  Or tell her you don't remember."

"What did you tell her?"  Lorraine asks and Cecilia is speechless.  "I sat there, absolutely frozen," she wrote later.  "I felt like I had just been mistaken for some escaped mass murderer. I felt like I was going to be sick, but that would only have proved her assumptions.  No one had ever, ever mistaken me for one of them, not even as a joke.  The lobby felt small and airless.  I thought I was going to pass out. (32-33)"

Being mistaken for one of them.  Baptism is about that we are one of them.  We are sinners though it is often easier to sit around and judge them for their sins without treating our own sins that needed Jesus to forgive.  Whenever we feel so superior to someone else, I would recommend looking in a mirror and seeing the sinner staring back at you and me.  John the Baptist was surrounded by people like you and I seeking to become clean, to have hope, and to have a new beginning in the forgiveness of our sins.  Only Jesus offers us the river of life.  

Barbara Brown Taylor talks about this and ends the sermon with these words:

"All of us who have gone before them (into the baptismal waters of forgiveness of our sins) have done the same thing as those we see around us.  Whether we were carried in our mother's arms or arrived under our own steam, we got into the river of life with Jesus and all his flawed kin.  There is not a chance we will be mistaken for one of them.  Because we are them, thanks be to God, as they are us: Christ's own forever (36)."

Thank you God for your mercy, your love, and for your Son.  Wash us clean and help us remember that we are one in you.

Wednesday evening reflection

I just got through with my Wednesday evening service.  We have been focusing on the fruits of the Spirit and tonight was on self-discipline.  Rather appropriate for the first Wednesday of the new year.  The main scripture came from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.  I would invite readers to look it up.  Paul is talking about training like an athlete to run the race to claim the crown that is imperishable.  We talked about how that might be in our lives with the resolutions that we make as disciples.

I wanted to talk about another scripture that struck me.  We have a small men's group that meets on Saturdays at a local coffee shop.  As part of that we have been studying Proverbs, one chapter every day as there are 31 chapters.  I also listen to a podcast that is taking the Proverbs daily and a sister/mother podcast that is going through the Bible in one year.  I would recommend this site as one that informs and builds community and discipleship.  The website is www.dailyaudiobible.com   The verses that struck from January 6th are found in Proverbs 6:16-19.  I will be quoting from the Jewish Study Bible.

Six things the Lord hates; Seven are an abomination to Him:  A haughty bearing, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A mind that hatches evil plots, Feet quick to run to evil, A false witness testifying lies, And one who incites brothers and sisters to quarrel.

According to the notes on these verses the use of ascending numbers is often done for rhetorical purposes which would make the last the most serious offense.  I belong to a group of pastors that meets weekly and we share our celebrations and concerns with one another.  We also hold each other accountable to our calling.  We discussed the concerns that we had about what it means to be a leader within a church and ways that we can stay in the Spirit.  This proverb reminds me that I too am called not to do what the Lord hates.  The proverb goes on to suggest how to not do what the Lord hates.  From Proverbs 6:20-23, "My son, keep your father's commandment, do not forsake your mother's teaching.  Tie them over your heart always; bind them around your throat.  When you walk it will lead you; when you lie down it will watch over you; and when you are awake it will talk to you.  For the commandment is a lamp, the teaching is a light, and the way of life is the rebuke that disciplines."

When you are discouraged, remember the teaching of the scriptures, those who surround you that are supportive, and pray for God's guidance.  God will direct you to where you can receive solace and peace if you are willing to open to the Spirit.

May God be with you this day, strengthen you, guide you, lift you up, and bring to you God's love and mercy.

Baptismal vows

Today is Epiphany when the wise men journeyed seeking Jesus. This coming Sunday is a day when the church remembers the baptism of Jesus. As I was reflecting on this, I recalled my own decision to be baptized. In the United Methodist tradition, we encourage the baptism of infants and later they will take on their vows after confirmation. I grew up in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ whose tradition was a believers baptism of immersion. I was 15 when I completed my pastor's course and decided to be baptized. Rather than debate which form of baptism is best or at what age, I recall the promises that I made at that time. Promises similar as to what our confirmands when they decide to join the church. I believe that it is important to remember those promises we make and do what we can to uphold them.

The scripture for today is from Mark 1:4, "John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. NRSV"

When I read this verse this morning, several thoughts went through my mind. The first was how have I lived to the promises that I made not only as a teenager but also as an adult when I joined the Methodist Church. For those who are not Methodists, the promises that every member makes is that they will faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by prayer, presence, gifts, service and witness. We are called to do all of these not just one or two but all five. In my reflections, I began to wonder if I were to be given a grade as to how faithfully I was doing all five what would I get. I would hope that I would get a passing grade if not an above average grade. I hope that I would be doing these promises not just because they are my priestly duties or obligations but are done out of my continuing joy of God.
I find it interesting that I would probably do very well on most of the promises and maybe can improve on a couple. One is witnessing beyond the sermon or bible study. And I mean witnessing like John the Baptist did calling people to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. I would guess that many of us would have some struggles in witnessing in that way. Yet, we are called to do so. We can do so through our willingness to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Regardless of one's religious background, what grade would you give yourself regarding being faithful in your participation of ministries of your church, temple, synagogue? What a wonder it would be if everyone would spend more time in prayer, more time in participating in their community of faith, more time to sharing the gifts that we have been blessed, more time in service to others, and to witness to all that God has done.

Monday of the new year

Today is the first Monday of 2009. There was research done about Mondays and how people perceived them in a more negative light than say Fridays. The actuality is that Mondays are no worse than any other day of the week. The perception often attaches meaning to the day. Actually that is true about a lot of situations. What we perceive about a certain situation, attaches some sort of feeling and thoughts about that whether positive or negative. I believe that not only our perceptions but also values and familiarity also influences us. Change is often so difficult to deal with because it involves leaving behind our comfort zone and facing something new even if that is going to be better. The new year represents ever cycle new possibilities and how often do we stay stuck with what we have always done even when we know we need to move on.
Jesus often pointed out that he came to do something new and despite healing, feeding, and teaching he met resistance wherever he went. To offer something new, an epiphany of sorts, will generate some resistance no matter how needed the change and how wonderful the change is.
The concern is do we allow the resistance to the new derail the change. And can we do this without judging others as well as ourselves. I believe that we can do both change and allow the resistance to change to inform what we do. To rise above the inertia of doing nothing deals with the verse for today.

Psalm 29.2 KJV "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

As we begin to grow and address change, I hope that I and everyone would remember that we are to give glory to the Lord. For me if I keep that in front of me, I can deal with my own resistance and the resistance of others. For it is only for the glory of God that I do what I do.

Let your light shine

I wanted to write down some of what spoke to me about this Epiphany Sunday. The scriptures came from Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12. As I talked about, I was moved by an epiphany that I had in reading the scriptures. The prophet spoke that we should arise and seek the light of the Lord which surrounds us. I would have loved to play Michael W. Smith's "New Hallelujah." The chorus of the song says, "Arise, let the church arise/ Let Love each to the other side/ Alive, come alive/ Let the song arise." I believe that 2009 is a time to arise and become committed to what God is calling us to. I feel that God is the God of now and calls to us now. God did not quit at creation, with the Israelites, with Jesus, He is present with us now. We are the light, whether reflected light or spirit led light, that will attract or detract from God.
I believe in small groups that build committed disciples. As I felt about the wise persons who sought the new creation that God radically proposed in Jesus, we too need to seek God's continued glory that surrounds us. We do that by studying scriptures, prayer, putting our faith in action, spending time with other committed disciples, celebrating and praising, and keeping open to whatever new creation that God leads us.
God believes in change and calls us to continue to grow as a disciple. We never stop growing. So as the prophet says, "Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, but God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness. Isa 60:1-4 The Message."
So wake up, seek God's bright glory, and shine.

Sabbath

I have to confess that this morning in the men's group we talked about discipline and commitment and accountability. The bible study we do on Monday's seemed to speak to that this week as well as what we are doing in our group which is to look at Proverbs and we spent time talking about Proverbs 1-3. As we discussed what it had to say there were two verses that spoke most to me. These were Proverb 1.7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and discipline. The other verses were 3.5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths smooth both of these from the Jewish Study Bible.
As I was preparing my sermon and finalizing that, I realized how true those statements are. Rather than just thinking about how I am going to do something, maybe I need to remember to trust that God knows what needs to be done and if I take the time to open myself up to His will things will go smoother. As you prepare for your time with God remember that God so loves you that he came to us. Have a great Sabbath.

Being a shepherd

Here I am writing on the second day of the New Year. This morning started off maybe not on such a good note. I had to weigh in at Weight Watchers and I knew that it was not going to be what I wanted and I was right. This past week with the children and grandchildren I was not consistent with my weight plan. No one to blame but myself. So today I am back on track and ready to go.
I received a sad note that one of the people that I had confirmed in Paxton mother passed away. She had been diagnosed with ALS when she was pregnant and was not expected to live for more than 4-5 years. Her daughter is 16 before she finally went home to the Lord. No matter how much one can know that our life is mortal and no matter knowing how ill someone is, one is never ready to let go. Knowing that this has happened to many people during this time of year I would ask that any who read this please take time to keep in prayer those who have had loved ones die. Ask that the light of the Lord be with them, surround them, comfort them. God hold them close that they can feel your touch and offer them solace for their grief.

The verse for today comes from Jeremiah 31:10, "Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; proclaim it in distant coast lands. 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'"

Today the image of a shepherd watching over their flock may be anachronistic to most of us. Today in the place of free range ranching we have barb wire, feed lots, and even corrals that keep the livestock confined and often keep the predators out. The idea of the shepherd sleeping outside near his or her flock is unusual. Though ranchers are concerned about protecting their animals so that they can grow and develop. Yet, in scripture the use of the image of shepherds is a common image. One where the shepherd is present near the animals to care and protect them.
I want to share a more modern image. When I was in seminary in Kansas City, I spent Mondays doing volunteer work at Broadway Christian Church in the downtown area. Where the church was located, there were a number of people homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, and many who were one pay check away from being homeless. The church had started a Micah Project where they would offer a meal for anyone who wanted one, counseling to help with ending domestic violence or to end their life as a prostitute, had a clothes pantry for families, and offer support in whatever the workers could do. What was unique about the program was that it was not a soup line, but the people would come and sit at tables and be waited on. For the two years that I was involved in the program there never was any serious problems with violence though the number of murders in that area was high.
I remember on one of the first few nights that I was there, a man came in for a meal. He was about 6 and half feet tall and weighed probably 250. His hair was unkempt, his clothes were filthy, his body smelled from cigarettes and alcohol. For many he would be frightening to even speak to let alone sit beside. I ended up sitting beside him and had the opportunity to get to know him. I found out from him and from others who knew him that he lived on the street and that he was trying to stop his use of alcohol. The first night that I met him, he asked if he could take a plate of food with him. Normally we could not allow that because of the health department. What we did was make a sandwich and brown bag so that it was wrapped. It was winter and the temperature outside was to be below 20. I asked him what he was going to do with the food and he told me that he was aware of a new person, young who was living on the streets. He had tried to get the young man to come to the church but he refused. This young man had no coat, no blanket, and no food. He had taken his blanket and gave it to the young man and had given him his coat so that he wouldn't freeze. He felt that since he had lived on the street for such a long period of time, he had an obligation to help those who were not able to care for themselves. So he was going to give the person food, warmth, and what little shelter there could be on the streets. Needless to say before he left, we got him a new coat and a new blanket. He was moved that we would care to do this when we did not even have to take the time or effort.
There was something about him that still guides me today. He was a modern shepherd caring for those who were vulnerable. He also told me that when someone dies on the street, one will never hear about it. There is no obituary, often no service, the body is taken to some "potters field" with no one but the others on the street to mourn over them. We made it a point to remember those who had died on the streets of Kansas City and to conduct a memorial service for them.
Who are your shepherds? And who are you shepherding?

Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a very happy New Year and blessings for 2009. Nancy and I just got back from spending time with a group of special people celebrating this day. The food was excellent, the games fun, but most of all the company was outstanding. I enjoy greatly time spent laughing and enjoying the day with people that we have come to know and to care for.
Nancy and I did not watch the ball come down in NYC. Though I was awakened by the fireworks that started early. Those times of staying up late seem to be passing me by. I did manage to sleep in some this morning before we headed off. I have a group of men from the church that I meet with and we enjoy getting together and sharing with one another. They and the people in the Monday night bible study tend to help me stay the course and to continue to be accountable. From them and my pastor covenant group, I find a source of support for my continued spiritual growth. One of the reasons that I believe so strongly in small groups. It is with a close group one can become more intimate and be more spiritually mature. It is out of that I have committed to writing here daily sharing the bible verse of the day.

Today the bible verse comes from John 1:14-15 "And the Word became flesh and lived among us...John testified to him and cried out, 'This was he of whom I said, He comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'"

What struck me about this particular passage was John stated that Jesus, who is the Word become flesh, ranks ahead of himself. John was aware that his purpose was to testify about the coming of God's Kingdom into this world. He was aware that he was not the bringer of that kingdom but just the messenger. Today we are the messengers of that kingdom but are not the ones who bring it about. Only God can bring about His kingdom.
Yet, I don't know about you but there are times that I hear about people who might believe that it is what they do that influences the kingdom not what Jesus did. An example is that when I am around other pastors, I hear them speak of the great things that they have done in growing their particular churches. For some of the pastors, I know well enough that I realize they don't mean to take the credit. Though there are others who I wonder about. Sometimes I get the feeling that they feel that it is their work and theirs alone that makes things happen. Maybe one of the reasons that I am sensitive to this is that I can also get caught up in the idea that what happens is the result of my efforts and not give credit to God. I believe that when growth happens, when the kingdom can be glimpsed, is when God blesses the work that we are doing. The adage that there is a God and I am not Him. At best I can be like John the Baptist and proclaim that there is one greater than myself or greater that anyone else that I testify to.
In your life, remember that you and I are the messengers. To what are we testifying? Is it about myself and my opinions or is it about the Kingdom of God? Rick Warren as well as others states that it is not about me or about you, it is about God and Jesus. This new year let it be a time that we can lift up God in ourselves, our families, our church, and our communities. Knowing that the light of God surrounds us.