Simple Healing

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. (2 Kings 5:9-14 NIV)

I love this story about Naaman. In a nutshell, Naaman (a non-Jew) had some kind of skin disease and sent a servent to Elisha (whom he had heard was a great prophet) to see if Elisha would heal him. Elisha said "Fine. Tell your master to wash in the Jordan and he will be healed."

Now the Jordan was a small, dirty little river that all the "common" people used and a great man like Naaman thought he was above all that. Besides, it was way too easy. Shouldn't his healing be difficult and maybe even expensive? Shouldn't there be drama? Shouldn't there be sacrifice? Naaman was angry that this Jewish prophet should take his affliction so lightly. But Naaman's servant convinced him to at least try it, since it was so easy, and of course... it worked.

Sometimes we pray for answers for our afflictions and we get immediate and simple answers, but we don't hear because we really can't believe that our BIG problem can be solved so simply. Don't we need thousands of dollars of therapy? Don't we need expensive pills and maybe surgery? Don't we need the sky to light up with a huge miracle made just for us?

Sometimes the answer is too simple for us to see. Or maybe we don't want a simple answer. We want to think our problem is deeper... more profound than it is for other people with the same problem.

The first step is to pray about your problems and afflictions. Don't just say you've prayed about it. Really do it. Set some special time aside to pray just about your problem. Then, make sure a lot of that time you set aside for prayer is for listening. Don't skip this step! You wouldn't go to a doctor, tell him all your symptoms and then get up and leave before the doctor diagnoses or treats you, would you? Give God time to speak. Also, leave your heart open to those things you might not want to hear. Is God sending you in a whole new direction in your life? Is he saying that your healing is as simple as giving up something you don't really want to give up? Maybe God just wants you to let go of your pride.

The answer might very well be difficult... that's often how we grow. But it might also be as simple as washing in the Jordan. We won't know unless we take time to listen to God with open hearts.

Father,
Help us to listen. Help us to be willing to do whatever it takes to be healed, even if it humbles us. Amen.

Joys: teaching Cecelia how to jump rope; an interview for Kevin today; Tracy's excitement over wedding plans

God's Image

They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him. (Mark 12:16, 17 NIV)

This scripture is often used politcally as proof that Jesus wants us to pay taxes. Now I have no problem with paying taxes, though like everyone else I wish our money was spent more wisely. Taxing, done fairly, is good. But I don't think Jesus was really talking about taxes at all.

What Jesus was trying to tell his questioners - or should I say "inquisitors" - was that he is NOT about politics and he doesn't want to get into political arguements. He isn't concerned with the bits of precious metal with some human's picture on it. Jesus told the people that since it has Caesar's image imprinted on it, it probably belongs to Caesar, so go ahead and give it to him. It has no real value and Jesus and his followers need not be concerned about it. But if it will enable them to continue to freely follow Jesus, then by all means, give Caesar what is Caesar's.

More importantly, Jesus was getting at what is God's. What has God's image imprinted on it? Not some intrinsically worthless pieces of metal. No. God's image is imprinted on our hearts and souls. God's image is stamped on us. And that's what he wants... us. Each of us individually. Whatever else is claimed from us, give it as we ought, but God gets the only thing of any real value.

So in this very divisive political climate as we argue about who should pay how much in taxes just remember that if everyone was really and truly giving to God what is God's much of our tax money wouldn't be needed, because the hungry, homeless, sick, strangers and imprisoned would be taken much better care of by our own hands than they are with our present tax revenues.

You are imprinted with the image of God. Give yourself to him and let Caesar have his worthless coins.

Father,
Help us not to drag your name into the muckraking of self-interested politics. I pray for our country and our political leaders that they may truly love mercy and do justice and find your imprint on their hearts. Amen

Joys: A Cecelia day!; two more interviews for Kevin this week and both in Charlotte!; summer fruit and fresh mixed berries

Much More to Say

"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you." (John 16:12-15 NIV)

I think these are among the most important words Jesus ever said. If we ever get to believing that the Bible is the very last word, we only need to reread this passage. Jesus himself said that he couldn't tell us everything during his earthly life. Some of it, he said, we just weren't ready for. And that is why he sent the Holy Spirit... so that God could keep right on speaking and telling us things as we are ready to accept them into our hearts.

Before he accended, Jesus did not tell Peter it was okay to eat unkosher foods. The Holy Spirit made that clear to him in a vision. Jesus did not tell Paul that circumsision was no longer necessary. Paul figured that out with the help of the Holy Spirit. These were tremendous changes for the faithful of that time period. They were not made lightly or easily. I can only imagine the arguing and name-calling that most likely went on... much like when our own churches make difficult changes today.

When our churches face these difficult changes it is the right thing to do to go to scripture for help, but scripture is not always the final word. If Peter and Paul had been limited to their own scripture, we would not be eating bacon today... and evangelism would be a much more difficult task, especially with men!

I believe the Bible lives and breathes God's word. Anything that lives and breathes changes. Obviously the words themselves don't change, but our own perception of what those words mean can change a lot. When we are reading the Bible for spiritual guidance it is so important to pray as we read. If we just spout off isolated verses in order to back up what we already believe, we are not giving the Holy Spirit the opportunity to teach us or change our hearts.

God is still speaking. Listen to him.

Father,
Keep our hearts open the the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit even as we read from your inspired word. Amen.

Joys: beautiful breezy sunshine this morning; so many sample books downloaded to Kindle... where to start?; inspiring photos... check this out: http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity

Living in the Future

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Pastor Chad has really been looking forward to his vacation at the beach. He's been talking about it for the last couple of weeks at work and a couple of times I playfully reminded him that "you're not at the beach yet, so get back to work!" I know, though, that I am just as bad before a fun vacation. It's all I want to talk about and at least a week before, I am already there in my mind. It's the the same for many of us.

Living ahead into our vacation is fun. But we also do it with the not so fun things in our lives. It's called "worry." We hear rumors of layoffs at work and we immediately live in the future of "how will I pay my bills" and "where will I find a new job." We feel a new ache or pain and even before we see a doctor we are living in the future of chemo treatments or surgery.

I guess none of us are immune to this kind of living in the future either. Some of us are bigger worriers than others, but we all to it to one extent or another even though we know it gets us nowhere. A little living in the future is wise. It causes us to have a savings account for emergencies. It makes us go to the doctor. But living in the future to the extent that we can no longer enjoy today saps all the joy right out of our lives. There is always a possibility that tomorrow could hold some challenges, so if we are living in tomorrow, we are always going to be worried... and joyless. Even the anticipation of a fun vacation can be marred with worry about safe travel or our home being robbed while we are away.

Be wise with your planning, but tackle the challenges and troubles as they come. Don't ruin the joy that is yours today by worrying about something that may or may not happen tomorrow.

But if you are planning a fun vacation in the near futher, go ahead and live in that future just a little bit... as long as you get your work done too!

Father,
Many people are headed out for vacations in the next few months. Give them safe travel and fun recreation so that they may be recharged for their normal work and school routines. Amen.

Joys: bridal showers; needed rain; vacations past and future

Which Road

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.         

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference -Robert Frost (The Road Not Taken).

I went for my weekly hike at South Mountain yesterday. This is my third one since missing about 6-8 weeks due to ... well... life. It's been a struggle to get back to where I was and the last two weeks I did the shorter, 3-mile loop. At the top of that loop, there is a fork in the road. I can decide to begin the descent which is just over a mile. Or I can choose the other trail which goes up quite steeply for another mile and then comes back down for 3 miles... 6 miles in all.

Before my 6-week absense I had worked my way up to the 6 mile loop and was determined that yesterday would be my day. I got to the fork and made my decision. Up I went. The hike up was a challenge, but no more than I thought. Surprisingly it was the 3 miles down that wore me slap out! I had forgotten how long that trail was and I thought it would never end. My feet hurt. I was tired and hot and it wasn't nearly as fun as it was in March and April in the gorgeous spring weather.

But by the time I got home and put my feet up, I was feeling pretty happy with myself. Purposely choosing the long, hard trail was a difficult decision to make. But I did it, and the next time I at least won't be surprised by how long it takes me. It was a choice between doing what I was used to or what would help me grow. It was a choice between doing what I knew I could or stretching myself to see what I might be able to do.

Yes... of course this relates perfectly to our spiritual lives. We so often fail to stretch ourselves to see what we are really capable of doing. And in doing so we miss out on so much. We see what everybody else sees and learn what everybody else learns, but we don't experience new things within us and in the world around us. We don't take that road less travelled to see what might be new and exciting, even if it is hard and discouraging at times.

We are so afraid of "bad" feelings... of pain, discouragement, depression, grief, anger. But God gives us these emotions for a reason. They do good work inside of us. The trick is not to be consumed by them. Used well, these emotions work in us for good. They drive us into introspection, helping us examine our lives and ourselves. Introspection can motivate us to make necessary changes.

The next fork in the road that you come to in life, ask yourself if you want life as usual, or if you want to kick it into high gear and really experience more in life... even if it means some hard work and difficult times.

Father,
You have so much more in mind for us than "same ol', same ol'" every day. Help us to choose the road less travelled a little more often. Amen.

Joys: a hard but good hike; a Cecelia day today; relaxing pedis for tired feet

Grace - Cheap or Costly?

What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:15-18

BibleGateway recently offered a 40-day devotional on the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  If you don't know, Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian during the time of Hitler.  He was imprisoned and eventually executed for his part in the resistance and attempted assassination of Hitler.  Bonhoeffer wrote many great theological books, one of them the now classic, "Discipleship."  I've been a big fan of his work and greatly respect his theology, so when I saw this devotional offered, I knew it would be right up my alley.

If you have ever heard the phrase "cheap grace,"  it comes from Bonhoeffer.  "Cheap grace," according to Bonhoeffer is

preaching forgiveness without repentance; it is baptism without the discipline of community; it is the Lord's Supper without confession of sin; it is absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.

I agree!  And I think a lot of us... especially we Lutherans who love to promote and focus on grace more than any other aspect of God... dabble in cheap grace now and then, or even more than we are willing to admit.  God's grace is supposed to change us and if it doesn't, we are sitting in the shallow end of the ocean of grace and only experiencing cheap grace.

But just because the grace might be cheap, it doesn't make it any less real.  You can choose between two restaurants... McDonalds or Ruths Chris.  You WILL be fed at both, but at McDonald's you get what you pay for.  Now I don't think cheap grace will get you any less of God's love, but at the same time, we won't experience God's love the same way.  We won't get the same kind of spiritual growth or the same level of abundant life that God so wants for each one of us.

Will we still go to heaven with cheap grace?  Sure!  But if we stay in the shallow end of the grace ocean, we will never experience the overflowing, abundant, drowning in grace that will change our lives forever.  Cheap grace is fine if you are satisfied with the least God has for you in this world.  But if you want it all, go after that Costly Grace.  Take your forgiveness WITH repentance and your baptism WITH the discipline of community.  Take Communion WITH confession and experience the ocean of grace that comes with true discipleship, the cross and the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.

Father,
Forgive us for being satisfied with cheap grace and guide us and lead us and encourage us to go after the costly grace for which your Son died.  Amen.

Joys:  summer fruit; getting an early start on my hiking today; praying friends  

The Battle

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV)

A story attributed to the Cherokees:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about the battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between the two 'wolves' inside us all.

"One is called Evil. It is anger, jealousy, envy, greed arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, superiority and ego.

"The other is called Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee replied simply, "The one you feed."

Good story. And we know it's true. But couldn't we also say the same of our "inner" and "outer" selves? It seems to me that most of us spend an absurd amount of time feeding our outer selves. This consists of all the things we create to make the image we want others to see: clothes, hairstyle, make-up, surgically altered bodies. But there is more to our "image" than just the bodily stuff. There is also: the car we drive, the house we live in, the vacations we take, our toys, our bank accounts, etc.

We KNOW we feed our outer selves... often to the point of gluttony. How well do we feed the inner person? And WHAT do we feed it? Are we feeding it a constant stream of popular media from t.v., internet, newspapers, magazines, movies and radio? This is all junk food. Junk food in moderation won't hurt, but if it is our whole diet, it will kill our inner selves.

We need to feed that inner person on whole foods like worship and prayer. By reading good things like the Bible and good books on living the spiritual life. We need to feed the inner self with helping others and working for justice.

Which is winning in the battle of inner and outer self in you? What can you change to tip the balance a little more in favor of the inner self? Make one smaall change. When you see what a big difference it makes to your inner self, you will be encouraged to change more.

Lord,
Forgive us for getting so caught up in what the world expects of us that we forget what you desire for us... all the better things of life. Help us to make one small change today. Amen.

Joys: seeing a familiar and missed face at church yesterday; beautiful Carolina weather; on-line chats with Richard

Basic Holiness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV)

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. (Galatians 5:22, 23 MSG)

Ok... if you skipped over reading the scripture references, go back and read them now. I'll wait...

Did you notice that they were both the same passage but from different translations? I just LOVE how it was translated in The Message! It brings a whole new light to a very familiar passage.

In a world that loves pointing out sin in other people and especially in other groups of people, I loved the part that says, "We develop... a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people." Whatever happened to assuming good about others? Whatever happened to believing that even when things go wrong, the other's intentions were good? Whatever happened to believing that everyone is a child of God?

Remember that saying... "God don't make no junk?" It's true. We are all... every one of us... holy. The word "holy" means "set aside for God's purposes." And aren't each and every one of us set aside for God's purposes? YES! So how can we point our fingers? How can we say THAT person is evil? How can we call what God calls holy, unholy? How dare we? If sin is the basis for calling another unholy, then we are all to be called unholy and again... we call God a liar.

And from the same passage... "...not needing to force our way in life." That takes a huge load off my shoulders! I can just work on being who God intends me to be, directing my energies wisely and my fruitful holiness will work itself from the inside, out. Awesome!

Father,
Thank you for all the different translations and paraphrasings of your Word that give us new insight. Keep us curious and active in our spiritual study. Amen.

Joys: Wonderful surprises that ofen come from "The Message"; a good hike yesterday; sunshine

Conflict

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
"'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— (Matthew 10:34, 35 NIV)

What a strange thing for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to say! But is it really? Jesus came to save the world and change the world. Few changes are made peacefully. We resist change so fervently that is often only conflict that can force it.

If we all agreed on everything, this country would still be paying taxes to England... without representation. If we all agreed on everything, we would still be buying and selling people in the slave market. If we all agreed on everything, women would still remain barefoot and pregnant, spending her time cookin' supper while she waited for her man to come home! What changed all of these things? Conflict.

Conflict MAKES us think about what we believe and what side to choose. And that is what Jesus wants us to do. He does not want us to blindly follow the status quo. He wants us to think... to use our brains... to study his teachings so that we discover what he was really all about and then to choose and fight for what we believe in in order to keep this world changing for the better.

This world is headed for a great change... politically, economically and spiritually. All of these arenas are full of conflict right now. The world is ripe for change. We need to find the heart of Jesus in these conflicts and figure out where he would stand so that we can stand with him.

Finding the heart of Jesus will probably require a great conflict within our own hearts and minds. We may have to give up ideologies and suppositions that we have been taught since the cradle. We may have to change ourselves and our own hearts and minds before we can be a part of the world's change.

Conflict is hard. I have always run from it whenever I can. It sometimes even makes me physically ill. But conflict is necessary and it is time to face it and deal with it and make something positive come of it.

Lord Jesus,
It would be nice if like we used to say in the 60's and 70's "we could just all get along." It would be nice, but it would be unproductive and even undesireable. Help us to find your heart in all the conflict in this world today and stand with you. Amen.

Joys: finding time to read; beautiful and meaningful song lyrics; a hike today!

Losing Your Monkey

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1 NIV)

On Sunday I helped Shelli with our Summer One Room Schoolhouse Sunday School. We had about a dozen kids from preschool to 6th grade and it was a lot of fun. They will be studying the 23rd Psalm this summer and the topic for that Sunday was "Problems." Shelli began by asking the kids what some of their problems were. Most of the answers were what you'd expect... losing something, a loved one being sick, bullying, etc. But this was Cecelia's problem: "When you are sleeping and you lose your monkey because he falls off the bed and you wake up and you can't find him so you look on the floor and then reach your arm down to get him but you fall off the bed and get a boo-boo and then you cry." Sounds like she's been there on more than one occasion, doesn't it? Being that she often spends the night with me, I can attest to the fact that it happens fairly frequently.

Some of our problems are pretty straight-forward. Losing a job; sick spouse; work bullies. And as Shelli advised the children on Sunday, we can give these problems to God. Not that we never worry about them or don't try to do what we can to fix them, but they are pretty simple to put into words in a prayer and ask for God to help or show us what to do or just comfort us through it.

But some problems are so complicated we don't even know what to ask for. We go through the same routine time after time and always end up hurt, but we don't know where we took the wrong turn. We don't know what to do differently so it doesn't happen again.

The great thing is that we really don't have to explain our problem to God. He knows what it is and nothing is too complicated for him. No matter how messed up our life seems, we can just take it to God and ask him to fix it. Sometimes our problem keeps repeating itself because we don't really want to change. The answer to Cecelia's problem might be to stop sleeping with her monkey... but that's probably not going to happen soon. She's not ready to change.

But when we are truly tired of falling down in the middle of the night and we are ready to open our hearts to real change, we will finally listen to what Godd has been trying to tell us. It might mean we must change careers or move to a new city or learn new eating and exercise habits or go back to school or sell our house.

We can't follow God when we are not willing to take the road he is trying to guide us down. And we can't say that God didn't answer our prayer if we simply didn't accept the answer. Take your probleems to God no matter how complicated they are, but be willing to follow where he leads... even if it means you have to change something.

Father,
You always have our best interests at heart, but we are so slow to give up what is familiar, even if it is hurting us. Help us to let go and let You. Amen.

Joys: a very quiet aand prouctive day at work yesterday; a rainy day to get caught up with housework; children

Family

Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:31-35 NIV)

I read a devotion the other day written by a pastor who said that he really didn't like his church spoken of as "family" because it has a negative impact on visitors and guests who are obviously "not part of this family."

Yep.. I've visited churches like that before and I feel sorry for this pastor that he is part of one of "those" churches. But his experience does not always hold true.

I have visited friends where the second you walk in their door, you ARE family... and you feel it. Some people are just so good at welcoming their guests and visitors and making them feel comfortable and at home that there is never that "guest" feeling in their homes. I've also visited people where I have felt every bit the outsider no matter how many times I have visited or how long I have stayed.

The Church... the WHOLE Church is a family by definition. We can no more NOT be a family than we can not call the spouse and children we live with our family. Thereefore, we must make certain that we are one of those families that make visitors and guests feel immediately like family.

I think we do a pretty good job of that at Holy Cross, but perhaps we could do an even better job of it. What can YOU do to make any of our recent visitors feel like family? Maybe just finding out their names would be a good start... or invite them to come to Sunday school with you. If they are about the same age, invite their kids to sit with your kids in worship. Invite them into your ministry or social group... that's a very important one. When your guest helps with the household work, you know they feel at home!

Yes, those that worship together every week are a church family... but we are not a closed family; we are part of a larger family that is spread out around the world and each time a member of the larger family walks in we need to give them a welcoming hug and toss them a dish towel. And even those that may not have been a member of the greater church and may just be curious will benefit from this kind of whole-hearted welcome.

Father,
We are ALL your children. Help us to welcome one anotheer as brothers and sisters and moms and dads and sons and daughters to everyone who walks through our doors. Amen.

Joys: fun weekend with Cecelia; seeing Kevin around the house a little more often; getting some needed rain this week

Our Words

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (James 3:9, 10 NIV)

Each time we open our mouth today we will have a choice as to what comes out of it.... praise or cursing; building up or tearing down; positivity or negativity; admiration or gossip; love or hate. What we must remember is that whatever we choose will live on beyond that moment and even beyond today.

Words are like that proverbial stone thrown into the pool of water. Ripples are created with our words. They touch those that hear them in ways that are impossible for us to predict. We can predict that positive words will affect positively and negative words negatively, but we can't know how far the ripples will reach.

When we are caught up in a group of positive excited people, we can't help but "catch" that same energy. The same is true when we are around a group of whining, complaining, hateful people. We find ourselves complaining about everything and everyone we dislike as well. That proves that we can have an effect on our own environment by the words we choose today.

Let your words be kind, positive and uplifting today and as you get into your bed tonight you will realize that you had a kind, positive and uplifting day today... and probably those who you spent your day with will have had a kind, positive and uplifting day as well as the others that those people have touched. Imagine if we were kind, positive and uplifting each and every day in each and every one of our environments. We might change the world eventually!

Father,
Make us more aware of those times when we use our tongues to curse rather than praise. Help us to change the world simply by our choice of words. Amen.

Joys: Time with family; a good interview for Kevin and more calls from other companies interested in interviewing him; chocolate covered strawberries

How Long?

My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long? (Psalm 6:3 NIV)

The Psalms are wonderful. They are poetry. They are prayers. They cover the human experience of emotions...joy to grief; faith to doubt; love to hate; seriousness to humor. There is something for everyone, no matter what is going on in their lives. But all of these Psalms... even the ones that seem to be written by someone who is overcome with grief and depression still point to God and to the hope that comes from our faith in God.

Psalm 6 is one of those psalms that appeals to us when we are hurting greatly. But one great line points to hope: "How long, Lord, how long?" It reminds us that no matter what we are going through that "this too shall pass." There was a beginning and there will be an end. Asking the question of God reminds us that He is in control. We remember some of the other psalms that tell us that though we grieve now, we will dance in the morning. We may not know when we will get to dance again, but our Father does, and we can take comfort in that.

Father,
For all those in this world who are asking "how long?" a pray for your comfort and help and healing. Give them and end to their grief or suffering. Amen.

Joys: have my precious Cecelia here; a lazy morning (feels like Saturday); Yummy new (and healthy!) breakfast recipes

Handling It

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

I've recently "liked" a FaceBook page called "The God Article." They post a lot of very thought-provoking things and a lot of great discussion follows in the comments. Lately they have been posting common platitudes many well-meaning Christians use to "comfort" those in crisis. None are biblical, and all are bad theology. I may talk about many of them in coming blogs, but today, I want to talk about my least favorite non-biblical, bad theology platitude: "God doesn't give us more than we can handle."

Have you ever been told that? Was your first reaction, "Well, I sure wish God didn't have such a high opinion of me!" Here are some reasons NOT to use this phrase:

1. Many people have gotten more than they can handle. People commit suicide because they can't handle what they "got." People have nervous breakdowns because they can't handle what they "got." People die everyday... sounds like they couldn't "handle" whatever it was that made them die.

2. This platitude supposes that God does terrible things to us just so we can "handle" it. Does God kill our children, or throw us into poverty or make our spouses leave us? I don't think so.

3. It also hints that we are on our own as we try to "handle" life. I think this saying would work better if it said, "There is nothing that can happen to us that we can't get through with the help of God and our friends and family"... if we ask for and allow them to help.

I was not always a Christian in the truest sense of the word. Back then there was a loneliness that I carried with me whether or not I was with people. I could not have handled a huge tragedy back then... by myself. Since embracing my faith, I have lost that loneliness. Even when I am alone I am not really alone and I always sense that God is with me and never really feel lonely anymore. I know that if something terrible happens, I don't have to handle it by myself. God will grieve with me and strengthen me and help me to cope. And my family, friends and Christian community will be there as "Jesus with skin."

It's hard to know what to say to someone going through a really bad time. But instead of platitudes that tend to be hurtful and bewildering, try just being there to listen.

Father,
Be with each person today who is going through something they just can't handle on their own. Open their hearts to hear your offer of help. Open their mouths to ask for help from their friends, family and community. If we are their community, open our eyes to their needs and our ears to their cry. Amen.

Joys: plans to go hiking... I've been away from it for a few weeks; doing a birthday party with friends at a nursing home tonight; having a sleep-over with Cecelia tonight

Apples and Oranges

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:3-6 NIV)

I really enjoy Trinity Sunday. Every year a pastor has to come up with a way to explain the Trinity to lay people! Most of them at least admit that they themselves don't fully understand it. And that is because it cannot be understood in earthly terms because it is a heavenly concept. Jesus once got frustrated with the Pharisees when they tried to put earthly rules to the afterlife. Jesus told them they couldn't do that. He pretty much said it was like comparing apples to oranges... heaven is that different.

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:29, 30 NIV)

We can't fully understand how if Jesus is God, how could he pray to God? It is really confusing for our brains. But this isn't something for our brains; it is for our hearts. It is something that makes more sense there. And every time a pastor explains the Trinity with a new example or new story, it takes better form in our hearts.

I loved how Pastor Chad did it yesterday. He brought us all into the story. He made us see that we are ALL part of the ONE. That really resonated within my heart. Perhaps we are on earth to learn how to be part of the One. Perhaps that is why relationships are so important. Perhaps that is why learning the joy of serving others is so important. Perhaps that is why making less of ourselves and more of others is so important. Perhaps that is why Christian fellowship and worshiping TOGETHER is so important. Perhaps that is why we are told we can't be Christian by ourselves. We need each other so we can learn to be ONE here on earth so that we can be truly ONE when we leave it.

It is very hard to explain in words, because we need our brains to explain in words. But our hearts can capture it and maybe our hearts can encourage us to live it.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Make us one as you are One. Help us to see that our job is to pull together rather than push apart. Amen.

Joys: beautiful weather this weekend; phone calls from Richard; the aroma of my morning coffee