Luke 11:1-4 He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.”
I'm convinced that it is not the precise words of the prayer that Jesus was teaching but rather those sorts of areas that should be in our hearts and minds when we come before God. I find I can take even just one of the phrases and find enough substance to pray for quite some time. Our father hallowed be your Name, for instance. It can take an extraordinary amount of time to do justice to honoring God's Name. God's name is his character and his attributes. Often we gloss over honoring who God is. We focus on what we need or what our friends need without building our trust in God by honoring who he is. We can lack the trust to obey what God knows is best for us.
I don't think Jesus picked these few phrases by happenstance. I don't think Jesus did very much just by happenstance. I think we were meant to be disciplined in our lives about each of those phrases. What could be more important than to at least which some regularity take time for deep reflection on this sacred prayer. So often it is just a rote activity without thought or depth.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Quality Time
Luke 9:18-20 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”
Here I am. I've been praying alone for some time now. I'm a morning person and this praying alone part has never been a problem for me. When I was the priest in Whitman MA I used to play golf in Brockton every weekday morning on my cheep clergy membership. I would tee off at 3:30 AM in late June when the days are long. I pray on the golf course mort of the time when I play real early and alone. I'm keenly aware of God in the quiet mist and beauty of an early morning golf course. It was no wonder no one would play with me, well once ,y nephew Will joined me and once my friend Bob. Bob then said if I wanted to play with him it would need to be at least an hour later. That hour worked for me because I could be home showered and at work by 8 AM after playing eighteen holes. I'm such an internal person that I can play golf with my body and that is secondary to the internal presence of my conversation with God. In the gospel Jesus although with his disciples spends quiet time in prayer by himself. I'm pretty sure the disciples would have then copied their mentor. The group would have been in a time of quiet individual prayer when Jesus asked that question, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter speaks first for the group as usual and says, "The Messiah of God." I think the clarity of his answer comes from the prayer time they were having. That quiet reflective time before God sheds light on so much. For me the clarity i find during the day is proportional to the quality of my prayer time with God. Although I usually start the day with prayer, I must admit that in different situations my prayer time can become displaced in the day. It doesn't matter where or when it happens my clarity is proportional to the quality of my prayer time with God. I hear people concerned about quality time with their spouse or with their family and I do think those things are important, but I hope you already see that to have the best quality time with them, you need quality time with God.
Here I am. I've been praying alone for some time now. I'm a morning person and this praying alone part has never been a problem for me. When I was the priest in Whitman MA I used to play golf in Brockton every weekday morning on my cheep clergy membership. I would tee off at 3:30 AM in late June when the days are long. I pray on the golf course mort of the time when I play real early and alone. I'm keenly aware of God in the quiet mist and beauty of an early morning golf course. It was no wonder no one would play with me, well once ,y nephew Will joined me and once my friend Bob. Bob then said if I wanted to play with him it would need to be at least an hour later. That hour worked for me because I could be home showered and at work by 8 AM after playing eighteen holes. I'm such an internal person that I can play golf with my body and that is secondary to the internal presence of my conversation with God. In the gospel Jesus although with his disciples spends quiet time in prayer by himself. I'm pretty sure the disciples would have then copied their mentor. The group would have been in a time of quiet individual prayer when Jesus asked that question, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter speaks first for the group as usual and says, "The Messiah of God." I think the clarity of his answer comes from the prayer time they were having. That quiet reflective time before God sheds light on so much. For me the clarity i find during the day is proportional to the quality of my prayer time with God. Although I usually start the day with prayer, I must admit that in different situations my prayer time can become displaced in the day. It doesn't matter where or when it happens my clarity is proportional to the quality of my prayer time with God. I hear people concerned about quality time with their spouse or with their family and I do think those things are important, but I hope you already see that to have the best quality time with them, you need quality time with God.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Not A Tree
Matthew 13:31-32 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
If faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain what can a full grown faith accomplish. I never could imagine wanting to tell a mountain to go from here to there. What in the world would I want that for unless the mountain was a mountain of fried clams or something. But I can see lots of things that a mature faith could accomplish. In Ephesiams as elsewhere Paul talks about our growing into the fullness of faith, and that we would no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. When I came to a real faith I thought I had made it. I couldn't imagine anything better. I look from this point in my life and see it was just the mustard seed or maybe not even that. I look back and I see that what I saw as maturity still left me tossed to and fro at times by the push and pull of the forces in the world. Now looking at my place in the scheme of things or thinking about the future I don't claim maturity just progress. I've come to realize that my view of mature faith will evolve as I mature. All I can and should do is trust that, although I could still be just a twig in God's eyes, I will move toward being the mustard tree in the gospel. We don't wait to start accomplishing things for God until we are fully mature as we can't even assess when that might be. We use our faith at whatever level of maturity we have achieved to use that faith for the growth of the kingdom.
If faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain what can a full grown faith accomplish. I never could imagine wanting to tell a mountain to go from here to there. What in the world would I want that for unless the mountain was a mountain of fried clams or something. But I can see lots of things that a mature faith could accomplish. In Ephesiams as elsewhere Paul talks about our growing into the fullness of faith, and that we would no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. When I came to a real faith I thought I had made it. I couldn't imagine anything better. I look from this point in my life and see it was just the mustard seed or maybe not even that. I look back and I see that what I saw as maturity still left me tossed to and fro at times by the push and pull of the forces in the world. Now looking at my place in the scheme of things or thinking about the future I don't claim maturity just progress. I've come to realize that my view of mature faith will evolve as I mature. All I can and should do is trust that, although I could still be just a twig in God's eyes, I will move toward being the mustard tree in the gospel. We don't wait to start accomplishing things for God until we are fully mature as we can't even assess when that might be. We use our faith at whatever level of maturity we have achieved to use that faith for the growth of the kingdom.
My Main Mentor
Luke 9:10 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida.
I can imagine how the twelve felt as they were returning with the stories of all that God had done before their very eyes. He had used them do many powerful thing, things with at least some similarities to the things Jesus was doing. The gospels say that Jesus went from place to place proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was at hand and healed the sick and cast out demons. Those were the instructions given to the twelve when the were sent. The twelve must have been flying with excitement at what had happened. In one gospel account of this same occurrence it said they came back rejoicing and jesus told them not to rejoice because of all that had happened but because their names were written in the book of life. Jesus pulled them aside to listen and to mentor them. I'm sure he was working to focus them on some important realities. It would have been easy for them to get all puffed up and think that they were just the greatest thing (I'd say since sliced bread but they didn't have sliced bread yet). They probably had that look what I can do attitude which is such an easy trap to fall into when serving God. Jesus was saying calm down let's put this in it's proper perspective before it gets out of hand. God did these things not you and you can't take the credit. At the same time that he want to reduce their pride he wanted them to continue to be channels of God's power. That's the important balance. If we get puffed up and lose our humility God can't keep working through us because the glory would be misplaced so with something to check our pride we lose effectiveness and quit. What happens then is God's work ceases to be accomplished until we put ourselves back in our proper relationship to God.
I've seen what God can accomplish through very human vessels. At times it has even been through me, and I have to say that, especially early in my journey, I rejoiced in my power and for a time lost it. I try to daily answer three questions in my life, "Who is God?", the source of all power. "Who am I?", A channel of that power., and "Who are you?", God's desired destination for the power he let's me use today. Those are pieces of my answers to those basic but complex questions. Jesu continues to want me and all his disciples to go away with him to a solitary place where he can listen to us and mentor us. His desire is to affirm us and correct us, to listen to where we've been and to guide us to where we're going, and to make sure our names are forever written in the book of life.
I can imagine how the twelve felt as they were returning with the stories of all that God had done before their very eyes. He had used them do many powerful thing, things with at least some similarities to the things Jesus was doing. The gospels say that Jesus went from place to place proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was at hand and healed the sick and cast out demons. Those were the instructions given to the twelve when the were sent. The twelve must have been flying with excitement at what had happened. In one gospel account of this same occurrence it said they came back rejoicing and jesus told them not to rejoice because of all that had happened but because their names were written in the book of life. Jesus pulled them aside to listen and to mentor them. I'm sure he was working to focus them on some important realities. It would have been easy for them to get all puffed up and think that they were just the greatest thing (I'd say since sliced bread but they didn't have sliced bread yet). They probably had that look what I can do attitude which is such an easy trap to fall into when serving God. Jesus was saying calm down let's put this in it's proper perspective before it gets out of hand. God did these things not you and you can't take the credit. At the same time that he want to reduce their pride he wanted them to continue to be channels of God's power. That's the important balance. If we get puffed up and lose our humility God can't keep working through us because the glory would be misplaced so with something to check our pride we lose effectiveness and quit. What happens then is God's work ceases to be accomplished until we put ourselves back in our proper relationship to God.
I've seen what God can accomplish through very human vessels. At times it has even been through me, and I have to say that, especially early in my journey, I rejoiced in my power and for a time lost it. I try to daily answer three questions in my life, "Who is God?", the source of all power. "Who am I?", A channel of that power., and "Who are you?", God's desired destination for the power he let's me use today. Those are pieces of my answers to those basic but complex questions. Jesu continues to want me and all his disciples to go away with him to a solitary place where he can listen to us and mentor us. His desire is to affirm us and correct us, to listen to where we've been and to guide us to where we're going, and to make sure our names are forever written in the book of life.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Outcast
Luke 8:43-44 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.
One of the classic books is "The Scarlet Letter" which was about public humiliation for women with moral lapses. If a woman became pregnant when unmarried for example they would have to sew a scarlet letter on their clothing to tell the town of their sinfulness. The woman in the gospel passage would have been in a similar situation just because of a physical ailment. Declared unclean she would be an untouchable in her society and forbidden to be among clean people. Having done all she could to be cured and return to a normal life with family and friends she had been an outcast for twelve years. When I taught school I would watch kids be treated mildly, in comparison, like outcasts and see the devastated effects it would have even for a day or two. I can't imagine living in a situation where I am outcast from society for even a short time let alone twelve years. She could be punished and persecuted even for coming into the midst of that crowd and bumping into people but she chanced it just to touch the fringe of Jesus garment as he passed. What desperation she must have felt. Just a touch, just a touch, Lord heal me, she must have thought. The reputation of Jesus must have so huge and well known that she was willing to risk anything just for a touch, just to possibly be restored to family, friends, and normal life.
I often say that my life has been touched by Jesus. I was thinking the other day why I don't say that I have flooded with Jesus or immersed in Jesus, or something compelling like that, and I think it is because I feel like I would be overwhelmed with more than a touch. Creeping in the crowd I want to sneak up and get a touch that will make my life normal only to find in the touch the extraordinary. Again ad again I have been touched by that power that went out from Jesus, not like an every request granted magic, but an I am working for your best grace. Sometimes I wish the touch worked every time, some things would be different if all wishes were granted, but I trust Jesus touch is always working for my long term good. I'll keep seeking his touch and trusting him for all the blessings I find today, but also because I know I don't want to be the outcast at the most important moment that's for sure.
One of the classic books is "The Scarlet Letter" which was about public humiliation for women with moral lapses. If a woman became pregnant when unmarried for example they would have to sew a scarlet letter on their clothing to tell the town of their sinfulness. The woman in the gospel passage would have been in a similar situation just because of a physical ailment. Declared unclean she would be an untouchable in her society and forbidden to be among clean people. Having done all she could to be cured and return to a normal life with family and friends she had been an outcast for twelve years. When I taught school I would watch kids be treated mildly, in comparison, like outcasts and see the devastated effects it would have even for a day or two. I can't imagine living in a situation where I am outcast from society for even a short time let alone twelve years. She could be punished and persecuted even for coming into the midst of that crowd and bumping into people but she chanced it just to touch the fringe of Jesus garment as he passed. What desperation she must have felt. Just a touch, just a touch, Lord heal me, she must have thought. The reputation of Jesus must have so huge and well known that she was willing to risk anything just for a touch, just to possibly be restored to family, friends, and normal life.
I often say that my life has been touched by Jesus. I was thinking the other day why I don't say that I have flooded with Jesus or immersed in Jesus, or something compelling like that, and I think it is because I feel like I would be overwhelmed with more than a touch. Creeping in the crowd I want to sneak up and get a touch that will make my life normal only to find in the touch the extraordinary. Again ad again I have been touched by that power that went out from Jesus, not like an every request granted magic, but an I am working for your best grace. Sometimes I wish the touch worked every time, some things would be different if all wishes were granted, but I trust Jesus touch is always working for my long term good. I'll keep seeking his touch and trusting him for all the blessings I find today, but also because I know I don't want to be the outcast at the most important moment that's for sure.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Confounded
Luke 8:35-37 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear.
We so want to be able to explain everything. I think it is more difficult to observe what confounds us and accept that we will never be able to explain it all. My background is science and as a scientist I know we have figured out many things. In some cases each time we've made a discovery we have exposed even more complicated and confounding realities. Instead of finding answers we have found more questions. Those who want to think highly of their human intelligence puff up the little we know and the insignificant that we can explain in order to elevate their prideful view of the world. They sit at the pinnacle of creation and nothing exists that could understand more than they do. Others run into things they can't understand and wish they never experienced it at all. I have watched people witness an instantaneous spiritual healing and seen them shiver in fear standing in the presence of the mysterious unknown. Their response is then to avoid an situations like that because they can't face the unknowable. Some people face death that way and live in fear of life and fear of death. In the gospel those who witnessed the man rescued from demons asked Jesus to leave their town. What they observed made them fearful of the power that was in their presence.
It takes courage to seek more and more understanding of our world and I applaud scientists who strive to find more answers to more questions, progress has come through the hearts and minds of those with such courage. On the other hand I wish they all had the courage to admit that they will never understand the complexities of our world and be willing to stand in the presence of the mysterious unknowable who does.
We so want to be able to explain everything. I think it is more difficult to observe what confounds us and accept that we will never be able to explain it all. My background is science and as a scientist I know we have figured out many things. In some cases each time we've made a discovery we have exposed even more complicated and confounding realities. Instead of finding answers we have found more questions. Those who want to think highly of their human intelligence puff up the little we know and the insignificant that we can explain in order to elevate their prideful view of the world. They sit at the pinnacle of creation and nothing exists that could understand more than they do. Others run into things they can't understand and wish they never experienced it at all. I have watched people witness an instantaneous spiritual healing and seen them shiver in fear standing in the presence of the mysterious unknown. Their response is then to avoid an situations like that because they can't face the unknowable. Some people face death that way and live in fear of life and fear of death. In the gospel those who witnessed the man rescued from demons asked Jesus to leave their town. What they observed made them fearful of the power that was in their presence.
It takes courage to seek more and more understanding of our world and I applaud scientists who strive to find more answers to more questions, progress has come through the hearts and minds of those with such courage. On the other hand I wish they all had the courage to admit that they will never understand the complexities of our world and be willing to stand in the presence of the mysterious unknowable who does.
Ricky Nelson
I know the title seems a bit odd but I'm going to kind of summarize what I've been up to lately. I was riding in the car the other day and I could not get the song "Traveling Man" out of my head. My car has been running perfectly but I wouldn't blame it for turning around and complaining that it is tired. I have so far gone from MB to Athens GA to LaCrosse WI to Cleveland OH to Wrentham MA to Troy ME to Taunton MA, whew. It has been a whirlwind of travel for two weeks, but I have seen my grandadult graduate from college and really enjoyed the time with my other GA grandadult and the rest of the family. I visited my brother in Sun Prairie WI on my way east and saw his new home. I visited some family and friends in MA that will always be an important piece of my life before heading to Maine to be with my son and his family. My youngest grandadult graduates high school soon and I love that when I return home he will be with me. He is going to live with me and attend Horry Georgetown Technical for a couple of years. I had rain everyday or part of everyday from leaving GA May 12th until yesterday May 25th, but I have managed to play golf quite a few days even though I did get wet on some of them. It is so wet the ball won't bounce and the grass is growing so fast they can't keep up with it, so golf has been different than in MB but I've had some very good rounds anyway in the hill country. Tomorrow I'm on the 4 hour road back to Maine again and will be helping to care for my three year old great grandson on Saturday. So I'll probably be whistling some old Ricky Nelson again as I too am a traveling man, without the breaking hearts in every town bit. Whose heart could be broken by an old timer like me?
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Journey With Jesus
Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God.The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
In this day and age we talk about the singers, actors, politicians, and athletes that travel with their entourage. Some athletes have brought high school and college friends along for the ride as they travel their road to fame and fortune. Sometimes it has helped their friends escape poverty and at other times it has dragged the athlete back into poverty or worse trouble. My son had his college summer travelling with a girl and following the Grateful Dead from one place to another, and he was not alone, I have since met many who followed that path as well. It seems funny to think that Jesus travelled with his entourage, so to speak. The scene of the last supper is a memorable scene cast in oil and canvas forever, but we believe as many as one hundred people were present at that passover. Most of them were people that Jesus had touched in one way or another. They followed him on the road.
Jesus touched me too, many times in many ways that healed restored equipped and moved me along my journey with him. It's hard to say if Jesus would call the anger that suddenly came out of me a demon or not, but I knew it left at the hand of Jesus and changed me forever. It's not that I can't get angry now, it is that my anger is normal now. I control it, it does not control me. You know I can see myself sometimes following Jesus, like those biblical characters. My journey is different and yet the same. I continue to learn from him, and be renewed by him, and be inspired by him to bring a difference to other people's lives. I hope I invite or motivate others to join the entourage, and journey with Jesus. What an exciting and joyful journey it has been.
In this day and age we talk about the singers, actors, politicians, and athletes that travel with their entourage. Some athletes have brought high school and college friends along for the ride as they travel their road to fame and fortune. Sometimes it has helped their friends escape poverty and at other times it has dragged the athlete back into poverty or worse trouble. My son had his college summer travelling with a girl and following the Grateful Dead from one place to another, and he was not alone, I have since met many who followed that path as well. It seems funny to think that Jesus travelled with his entourage, so to speak. The scene of the last supper is a memorable scene cast in oil and canvas forever, but we believe as many as one hundred people were present at that passover. Most of them were people that Jesus had touched in one way or another. They followed him on the road.
Jesus touched me too, many times in many ways that healed restored equipped and moved me along my journey with him. It's hard to say if Jesus would call the anger that suddenly came out of me a demon or not, but I knew it left at the hand of Jesus and changed me forever. It's not that I can't get angry now, it is that my anger is normal now. I control it, it does not control me. You know I can see myself sometimes following Jesus, like those biblical characters. My journey is different and yet the same. I continue to learn from him, and be renewed by him, and be inspired by him to bring a difference to other people's lives. I hope I invite or motivate others to join the entourage, and journey with Jesus. What an exciting and joyful journey it has been.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Huge Debt
Luke 7:40-43 Jesus spoke up and said to him,“Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him,“You have judged rightly.”
Jesus in this passage implies that we love him in proportion to the debt we owed. In spiritual terms that is the quantity of the sin we need or needed forgiven. I do know many people who don't love him because they don't know or believe that he died to pay the debt for their sins. Now I don't want people to run out and sin, sin, sin, so they can love Jesus more. On the other hand it is easier to humble yourself and seek the grace Jesus offers so freely, when we recognize our sinful nature and our deep need for his forgiveness. Being one of the ones who strayed far from the straight and narrow, it was perhaps easier for me to see my need, and at the same time experience the huge change in my life when I was forgiven, that profound relief, that did create a powerful love for him.
So how do good people get to that place of seeing their need for Jesus? Having not been their myself I don't know the answer. I think we all need to love God with all our heart, not part of it, and if having been so far from him, like the one who owed much, was a help than I'm thankful, but I want everyone to know the wonderful transformation that comes with such forgiveness. Isn't any debt that can keep us at arms length from God a great (large) debt? Is it a problem that you can't see yourself in such need because you compare yourself to the really bad folk and can't accept that your need is as great as theirs? Let's face it we all have such huge debt compared to the one who came to bring us home.
Jesus in this passage implies that we love him in proportion to the debt we owed. In spiritual terms that is the quantity of the sin we need or needed forgiven. I do know many people who don't love him because they don't know or believe that he died to pay the debt for their sins. Now I don't want people to run out and sin, sin, sin, so they can love Jesus more. On the other hand it is easier to humble yourself and seek the grace Jesus offers so freely, when we recognize our sinful nature and our deep need for his forgiveness. Being one of the ones who strayed far from the straight and narrow, it was perhaps easier for me to see my need, and at the same time experience the huge change in my life when I was forgiven, that profound relief, that did create a powerful love for him.
So how do good people get to that place of seeing their need for Jesus? Having not been their myself I don't know the answer. I think we all need to love God with all our heart, not part of it, and if having been so far from him, like the one who owed much, was a help than I'm thankful, but I want everyone to know the wonderful transformation that comes with such forgiveness. Isn't any debt that can keep us at arms length from God a great (large) debt? Is it a problem that you can't see yourself in such need because you compare yourself to the really bad folk and can't accept that your need is as great as theirs? Let's face it we all have such huge debt compared to the one who came to bring us home.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Rule's The Rule
Luke 7:12 “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
The golden rule is possibly the most known saying in the world. It seems to pop up in almost any culture and even among those who claim no particular religion. I say claim, because disbelief is a belief, atheism is a religion and secularism is a religion, but they desire to be outside the freedom from religion statements and limit only our expression, but that's another day's discussion perhaps.
If I take this as I observe many people and their response to others I would have to conclude that if they were starving they would want to be left alone to starve, or if they were homeless they would want to be left alone to freeze under the stars. For most people this is applied to only the commandments they choose like don't steal from me and I won't steal from you, or don't murder me and I won't murder you. They covet and in fact collect what might save another's life and give it no thought, and the continue to desire to accumulate a disproportionate amount of the world's resources and give it no thought in light of the golden rule.
Let's reverse the view. The poor have nothing to steal so they say go ahead steal from and I'll steal from you, that's OK by the rule. They say go ahead and murder me, my life is nothing but sorrow and suffering anyway, and I'll feel free to murder you, that fits the rule doesn't it. I don't think that is what God wants for sure but you can see the issue. It is easy from the point of privilege to apply apply a rule as we see fit and to impose penalties on those who break through a legal system while the essence of the rule is neglected in our social order. We see how the Pharasees of old manipulated the law to their own advantage and neglected to poor. We need to be carful not to do the same.
I wish I had an answer as to how to accomplish a just society. I don't, but I will not give up trying to find a way that this Golden Rule will be golden for everyone.
The golden rule is possibly the most known saying in the world. It seems to pop up in almost any culture and even among those who claim no particular religion. I say claim, because disbelief is a belief, atheism is a religion and secularism is a religion, but they desire to be outside the freedom from religion statements and limit only our expression, but that's another day's discussion perhaps.
If I take this as I observe many people and their response to others I would have to conclude that if they were starving they would want to be left alone to starve, or if they were homeless they would want to be left alone to freeze under the stars. For most people this is applied to only the commandments they choose like don't steal from me and I won't steal from you, or don't murder me and I won't murder you. They covet and in fact collect what might save another's life and give it no thought, and the continue to desire to accumulate a disproportionate amount of the world's resources and give it no thought in light of the golden rule.
Let's reverse the view. The poor have nothing to steal so they say go ahead steal from and I'll steal from you, that's OK by the rule. They say go ahead and murder me, my life is nothing but sorrow and suffering anyway, and I'll feel free to murder you, that fits the rule doesn't it. I don't think that is what God wants for sure but you can see the issue. It is easy from the point of privilege to apply apply a rule as we see fit and to impose penalties on those who break through a legal system while the essence of the rule is neglected in our social order. We see how the Pharasees of old manipulated the law to their own advantage and neglected to poor. We need to be carful not to do the same.
I wish I had an answer as to how to accomplish a just society. I don't, but I will not give up trying to find a way that this Golden Rule will be golden for everyone.
Think Your Smarter Than God?
Luke 7:20-23 “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them,“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Just as John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask if he was the one, I think many people question if he is the one. I think many of those people hope for or expect a magic answer, you know if the rapture had happened last night it might have gotten some peoples attention who were asking that question. For the most part the answer they seem to be looking for has to do with what's in it for me. If you are the one help my bank account kind of proof they seek. Or it might be the let's make a deal type of proof they need, if you are real do this and I promise that. Sometimes they think they know what they really need, as if they are smarter than God. They put a toe in the water looking for exactly what they want and if it isn't instantly what they asked for they quit. I think God's greatest problem with us is that we area self-centered lot, dealing with an other centered God Look at what I am already doing says Jesus, is not that enough proof for you. In Romans St Paul writes, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; 21for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened." God look around you and you still need proof. Why? Because you love your own answers with impossibly small odds of ever being right in impossibly large numbers of circumstances, that the resulting combinations lead to impossibility, and yet to look to me in faith you'd have to give up your worship of yourself. That is the heart of the matter, you really only desire to worship your self-centered self.
Just as John sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask if he was the one, I think many people question if he is the one. I think many of those people hope for or expect a magic answer, you know if the rapture had happened last night it might have gotten some peoples attention who were asking that question. For the most part the answer they seem to be looking for has to do with what's in it for me. If you are the one help my bank account kind of proof they seek. Or it might be the let's make a deal type of proof they need, if you are real do this and I promise that. Sometimes they think they know what they really need, as if they are smarter than God. They put a toe in the water looking for exactly what they want and if it isn't instantly what they asked for they quit. I think God's greatest problem with us is that we area self-centered lot, dealing with an other centered God Look at what I am already doing says Jesus, is not that enough proof for you. In Romans St Paul writes, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; 21for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened." God look around you and you still need proof. Why? Because you love your own answers with impossibly small odds of ever being right in impossibly large numbers of circumstances, that the resulting combinations lead to impossibility, and yet to look to me in faith you'd have to give up your worship of yourself. That is the heart of the matter, you really only desire to worship your self-centered self.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Unworthy
Luke 7:6-9 “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
I know how the centurion felt. I was in a place in my life like that some years ago. I would not presume to go to Jesus and knew that I was not worthy for him to come under my roof. I didn't feel like I had authority over anything even myself so i couldn't say what the centurion sent as a message to Jesus. I struggled in that place for a long time, I wanted to have faith and accept Jesus in my life but I felt in my heart that he would reject me. I've come to the point that I feel lucky to have felt that unworthy, not that I want people to make the mistakes in life that caused me such feelings. I've come to believe that feeling unworthy is the perfect approach for coming to Jesus.
I know some people have trouble dealing with the fact that we can never really be worthy. I've talked with people who are busy comparing themselves with others and again and again concluding that they are the good people and deserve all the blessings the world can offer. They don't see that the only standard for comparison is Jesus himself. I don't know about you but when that's the standard I'm still unworthy.
I know how the centurion felt. I was in a place in my life like that some years ago. I would not presume to go to Jesus and knew that I was not worthy for him to come under my roof. I didn't feel like I had authority over anything even myself so i couldn't say what the centurion sent as a message to Jesus. I struggled in that place for a long time, I wanted to have faith and accept Jesus in my life but I felt in my heart that he would reject me. I've come to the point that I feel lucky to have felt that unworthy, not that I want people to make the mistakes in life that caused me such feelings. I've come to believe that feeling unworthy is the perfect approach for coming to Jesus.
I know some people have trouble dealing with the fact that we can never really be worthy. I've talked with people who are busy comparing themselves with others and again and again concluding that they are the good people and deserve all the blessings the world can offer. They don't see that the only standard for comparison is Jesus himself. I don't know about you but when that's the standard I'm still unworthy.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Reflection Not Refraction
Luke 6:41-42 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
Marsha used to say that we judge others by the outsides and ourselves by the insides. If the resulting judgement was jealousy she would say if you want the good part of their outsides remember you have to take their whole life. She was saying that we all judge both the apparent good in other people lives as well as the their bad. I've always said that judgement is bot bad in itself it is bad when we judge and then make ourselves God with our decision. It is when we judge the person as a result of judging a particular behavior, when God alone will judge the person.
One thing is sure our judgement in all cases is imperfect at best. In physics terms with gather information like refracted light. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a lens or prism. I think it is impossible for me to judge perfectly because the facts will be bent or distorted as I gather them through the lens of my perception. I can't help it. Some facts in the situation will be known to me and some will be hidden, some will appear different to me than to others because of my experiences, some will hit areas of my own denial perhaps, but in one way or another we will find refraction. A speck can look like a boulder through a certain lens.
Reflection has it's problems as well. By reflection I mean examination as with a mirror. It is looking at yourself, the light you send to the mirror is returned to your own eye and you see yourself. It is possible to have a curved mirror and the image might still be distorted, like the makeup mirror that makes the spot look larger or the carnival mirror that can make us look thinner of fatter. Ideally however the speck looks like a speck and the boulder looks like a boulder. I know the parable is log but I like boulder better myself. We can also have trouble with reflection if we examine ourselves by the wrong standards. Like the alcoholic who sits at the bar a few seats down from the homeless town drunk and think to himself I don't have a problem he's the alcoholic. Our standard is God's word not that of man. I think some people want to avoid reading the bible daily because they really don't want to know God's standard. You see this parable comes almost immediately after the love you enemies teaching of Jesus. Put in that light without refraction and we have a clear standard by which to judge our own reflection.
Marsha used to say that we judge others by the outsides and ourselves by the insides. If the resulting judgement was jealousy she would say if you want the good part of their outsides remember you have to take their whole life. She was saying that we all judge both the apparent good in other people lives as well as the their bad. I've always said that judgement is bot bad in itself it is bad when we judge and then make ourselves God with our decision. It is when we judge the person as a result of judging a particular behavior, when God alone will judge the person.
One thing is sure our judgement in all cases is imperfect at best. In physics terms with gather information like refracted light. Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through a lens or prism. I think it is impossible for me to judge perfectly because the facts will be bent or distorted as I gather them through the lens of my perception. I can't help it. Some facts in the situation will be known to me and some will be hidden, some will appear different to me than to others because of my experiences, some will hit areas of my own denial perhaps, but in one way or another we will find refraction. A speck can look like a boulder through a certain lens.
Reflection has it's problems as well. By reflection I mean examination as with a mirror. It is looking at yourself, the light you send to the mirror is returned to your own eye and you see yourself. It is possible to have a curved mirror and the image might still be distorted, like the makeup mirror that makes the spot look larger or the carnival mirror that can make us look thinner of fatter. Ideally however the speck looks like a speck and the boulder looks like a boulder. I know the parable is log but I like boulder better myself. We can also have trouble with reflection if we examine ourselves by the wrong standards. Like the alcoholic who sits at the bar a few seats down from the homeless town drunk and think to himself I don't have a problem he's the alcoholic. Our standard is God's word not that of man. I think some people want to avoid reading the bible daily because they really don't want to know God's standard. You see this parable comes almost immediately after the love you enemies teaching of Jesus. Put in that light without refraction and we have a clear standard by which to judge our own reflection.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Ready or Not
Luke 6:17-19 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
We find again and again that Jesus was attracting large crowds of people many of them seeking something from him. They came to be healed or to watch people be healed, or to see a demon come out, or perhaps a miracle. They had heard about this Jesus and they were curious and some even knew they were needy. As I read the accounts of Jesus ministry, it is clear to me that they did not come to him to become believers and most did not become believers. Jesus healed them anyway or he fed them anyway but most went home having either received something from him or having observed a good show. You see I too can come to Jesus looking for something and at times receive a healing or some other dramatic benefit from being in his presence and still not be ready to receive his free gift of salvation. Sometimes I think even the church is full of people like that, they come seeking something or wanting a good show and they go home with some small trinket or happy because of the good feeling in the good show, or some even grumbling that the show was bad this week, but few are open enough to leave with the treasure. My church, as do many churches, has a core statement about our mission, it is "Transforming lives with the resurrected power of Jesus Christ". We know that we have no ability in ourselves to accomplish that mission, but we pray that when people come they will find the treasure not the trinket. We are sent to prepare people to find the treasure not the trinket. Like those who came to see Jesus however, the question is are you ready or not?
We find again and again that Jesus was attracting large crowds of people many of them seeking something from him. They came to be healed or to watch people be healed, or to see a demon come out, or perhaps a miracle. They had heard about this Jesus and they were curious and some even knew they were needy. As I read the accounts of Jesus ministry, it is clear to me that they did not come to him to become believers and most did not become believers. Jesus healed them anyway or he fed them anyway but most went home having either received something from him or having observed a good show. You see I too can come to Jesus looking for something and at times receive a healing or some other dramatic benefit from being in his presence and still not be ready to receive his free gift of salvation. Sometimes I think even the church is full of people like that, they come seeking something or wanting a good show and they go home with some small trinket or happy because of the good feeling in the good show, or some even grumbling that the show was bad this week, but few are open enough to leave with the treasure. My church, as do many churches, has a core statement about our mission, it is "Transforming lives with the resurrected power of Jesus Christ". We know that we have no ability in ourselves to accomplish that mission, but we pray that when people come they will find the treasure not the trinket. We are sent to prepare people to find the treasure not the trinket. Like those who came to see Jesus however, the question is are you ready or not?
Sent
Luke 6:12-16 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Once again Jesus is found alone in prayer, and it was another example where Jesus is represented as praying all night. It is sometimes difficult to sacrifice busy time for quiet time but it is much easier to listen for God's voice when you have little or no distractions. I can imagine Jesus just under the stars with no village noise or even ambient light to take away his attention from the Father, just the glory of the heavens. Some important insights must have come to him in the forty days in the wilderness or these other numerous times alone listening for that guiding voice, and on this occasion it was to set aside some of his followers to be the first apostles. After they were selected they were sent to the villages and places ahead of Jesus to introduce people to the message and power of Jesus so that when Jesus arrived later they would be even more open to receive him. You most likely know that the word apostle means one to be sent. Jesus later sent out the seventy two and a pattern can be seen that disciples become apostles to be sent.
We are all meant to be apostles in that sense. It is not that we are called to be missionaries to a foreign land or far away place, but we are all sent. The Mormon church sends all their young people out for two years. I don't know how or why two years but I think the dramatic activity of being sent is important to their faith development. I think we are all sent for our whole life to introduce people to the message and power of Jesus so that when he arrives they are even more open to receive him. You see even today my coming will not save them, but I can help open the way for the Jesus the Savior. In my life as an apostle among my friends, neighbors, co-workers and others, I win some and I lose some and most of them I will never know if I won or lost, that's not my job. I am only to try to make people even more open to receive Jesus when he comes. You too are sent you know it was the pattern set by Jesus himself.
Once again Jesus is found alone in prayer, and it was another example where Jesus is represented as praying all night. It is sometimes difficult to sacrifice busy time for quiet time but it is much easier to listen for God's voice when you have little or no distractions. I can imagine Jesus just under the stars with no village noise or even ambient light to take away his attention from the Father, just the glory of the heavens. Some important insights must have come to him in the forty days in the wilderness or these other numerous times alone listening for that guiding voice, and on this occasion it was to set aside some of his followers to be the first apostles. After they were selected they were sent to the villages and places ahead of Jesus to introduce people to the message and power of Jesus so that when Jesus arrived later they would be even more open to receive him. You most likely know that the word apostle means one to be sent. Jesus later sent out the seventy two and a pattern can be seen that disciples become apostles to be sent.
We are all meant to be apostles in that sense. It is not that we are called to be missionaries to a foreign land or far away place, but we are all sent. The Mormon church sends all their young people out for two years. I don't know how or why two years but I think the dramatic activity of being sent is important to their faith development. I think we are all sent for our whole life to introduce people to the message and power of Jesus so that when he arrives they are even more open to receive him. You see even today my coming will not save them, but I can help open the way for the Jesus the Savior. In my life as an apostle among my friends, neighbors, co-workers and others, I win some and I lose some and most of them I will never know if I won or lost, that's not my job. I am only to try to make people even more open to receive Jesus when he comes. You too are sent you know it was the pattern set by Jesus himself.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Harm or Good
Luke 6:6-11 On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” After looking around at all of them, he said to him,“Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Jesus was a man who observed the sabbath. He kept the sabbath holy. I was on the road on Sunday for ten hours on my trip east. I must say I did not go to a church service or a church building, I was driving. I thought about pulling off the road at about ten o'clock and find a church any church and worship with God's people, but I kept on going. I could hear the Pharisee in me judging that I did not keep sabbath, but the more I thought and prayed about it that day and the next I realized that I did keep the day holy. I do think people need to be connected to God's people and that a good church helps us stay centered in God better than a solitary faith. I won't and don't make a practice of missing church. Even if I was not a priest church would be a central part of my life. I did keep the sabbath holy though. I did not fill the day withe trivial or mundane but with prayer and reflection upon God's place in my life and family, friends and church.
Jesus was even in church when he got in trouble. You know you can even be in church and not keep the sabbath holy. The Pharisees seemed to make a regular practice of it. Jesus saw through the rules and regulations to the heart of the matter. Is it lawful to do good or to do harm? Isn't holiness measured in our obedience to God in doing good every day? Isn't an unholy life filled with deeds which harm others or hold them in one kind of bondage or another? So I say, please find a good church and please go to church, but most important and in addition please keep your whole life, not just the sabbath, holy.
Jesus was a man who observed the sabbath. He kept the sabbath holy. I was on the road on Sunday for ten hours on my trip east. I must say I did not go to a church service or a church building, I was driving. I thought about pulling off the road at about ten o'clock and find a church any church and worship with God's people, but I kept on going. I could hear the Pharisee in me judging that I did not keep sabbath, but the more I thought and prayed about it that day and the next I realized that I did keep the day holy. I do think people need to be connected to God's people and that a good church helps us stay centered in God better than a solitary faith. I won't and don't make a practice of missing church. Even if I was not a priest church would be a central part of my life. I did keep the sabbath holy though. I did not fill the day withe trivial or mundane but with prayer and reflection upon God's place in my life and family, friends and church.
Jesus was even in church when he got in trouble. You know you can even be in church and not keep the sabbath holy. The Pharisees seemed to make a regular practice of it. Jesus saw through the rules and regulations to the heart of the matter. Is it lawful to do good or to do harm? Isn't holiness measured in our obedience to God in doing good every day? Isn't an unholy life filled with deeds which harm others or hold them in one kind of bondage or another? So I say, please find a good church and please go to church, but most important and in addition please keep your whole life, not just the sabbath, holy.
Nurture or Pain
Matthew 7:15-18 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
I'll admit it, I have an obsession with the fruit of the spirit. I have relished seeing those traits increase in my life as I have grown deeper into my faith. I want people to see those things when they look at my life not because I am so good or so great but rather because of what God has done and is doing. Left to my own devices I would have the same old internal state the I lived with for so many years. A world filled with anxiety and the need to protect myself from others. I really didn't have the ability to give or receive love in what I now know is the most meaningful way. I even had to protect myself from Marsha who was closest to me of all. Notice it is the inward ravenous wolves which Jesus identifies. The external is so easy to fake and disguise. The true fruit develops in our heart and in our soul and although they are internal and God produced, they are noticeable. Jesus says you will know them by their fruit. He clearly knows that good fruit in a person is visible to others and can influence the development of good fruit in others. I pray every day for the fruit of the spirit to hang ripe on my vine or drooping from my branches, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. Those bring nurture, the bad fruit brings pain.
I'll admit it, I have an obsession with the fruit of the spirit. I have relished seeing those traits increase in my life as I have grown deeper into my faith. I want people to see those things when they look at my life not because I am so good or so great but rather because of what God has done and is doing. Left to my own devices I would have the same old internal state the I lived with for so many years. A world filled with anxiety and the need to protect myself from others. I really didn't have the ability to give or receive love in what I now know is the most meaningful way. I even had to protect myself from Marsha who was closest to me of all. Notice it is the inward ravenous wolves which Jesus identifies. The external is so easy to fake and disguise. The true fruit develops in our heart and in our soul and although they are internal and God produced, they are noticeable. Jesus says you will know them by their fruit. He clearly knows that good fruit in a person is visible to others and can influence the development of good fruit in others. I pray every day for the fruit of the spirit to hang ripe on my vine or drooping from my branches, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control. Those bring nurture, the bad fruit brings pain.
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