Archive for the ‘Living’ Category

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Betrayed By a Friend

July 30, 2010

You were happily at play in elementary school when the teacher suddenly pulls you aside and accuses you of stealing something from someone’s book bag. You were nowhere near the bag. Turns out one of your best friends told the teacher that you were responsible.

Or, someone tells the police you had inappropriate contact with a young person. Turns out that person was someone you thought was a friend. And now you’re on trial for your life.

We hold the virtue of loyalty to one’s friends as a core belief. How would you react? Hurt? Vengeful?

Jesus hosted a dinner for his closest friends. These 13 men had spent the better part of three years together. Learning, sharing, caring for each other. This dinner was a deeply religious, sacred dinner. Not just a party. Then Jesus announces that one in the room would betray him–falsely accuse him of a crime to the authorities who would have the power to kill him. He seemed rather matter-of-fact about it. It shocked most. They never saw it coming.

Jesus said to Judas, “Do what you must do.” One way or another, Jesus was destined to die. Judas became the convenient path. But, things didn’t go as Judas imagined. We can figure that out because the story says he hanged himself. They did go the way Jesus imagined. He knew he would die and then be raised from death.

So, there’s betrayal. And there’s triumph. I’m not sure what the story says to us about dealing with betrayal ourselves. Other than being true to our mission in life, holding on to our integrity, and living with the consequences whatever they may be.

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You Better Have Figs

July 28, 2010

“I just know one thing, if the creator of the world comes to you and asks you for a fig, you’d better have some–lots of them.”

I’ve been meditating on the Gospel of Mark for the past several months. Getting toward the end, we came to the story (not parable) of Jesus cursing the fig tree. I sort of skipped over that part of the story and went to the explanation. Jesus’ closest friends were shocked to see him exhibit such impatience and pointed out that the fig tree he cursed the day before (May no one ever eat a fig from you again) was now dead all the way to the roots. And that happened overnight.

Driving to Chicago last night, I was listening to the weekend message from Willow Creek Community Church on my iPod. Pastor Wayne Cordeiro from Honolulu was speaking. He cited that passage as one of his examples. He said, I have studied that passage for years. Never could figure it out. Finally I just thought, “If the creator of the world asks you for figs, you’d better have figs.”

A little later in Mark’s story (Chapter 13), Jesus tells his followers to stay awake, be aware of what’s going on around them, be aware of God’s movement in the world and their lives. I bet he was thinking something along the lines of “When I’m gone and you’re the leaders, you’d better have been cultivating figs–and you’d better have plenty. Because you’ll need them. And God’s asking.”

Got any figs?

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Awesome Structures of Man

July 27, 2010

Humans have to build things. It’s in our nature. And long ago we learned how to build awesome structures. So big, so solid, so awesome that it would be unthinkable to suppose they would not last forever. These are usually great symbols of something. The Great Pyramids of Egypt still survive. But the World Trade Centers in New York, symbols of Western greed and immorality to some in the world, were destroyed.

“What large stones; what large buildings,” Jesus disciples said as they were leaving the Temple after his daylong battle of wits with the religious leaders of the day. The Temple was so awesome, so large, exuded so much power, the people from the “sticks” just couldn’t believe it. Sort of like people from Ohio fresh off the farm going to New York to see the large buildings.

Jesus says, don’t be taken in by these works of humans. Mark in Chapter 13 records the conversation. First Jesus says, look at all this, soon not one stone will be left on another. That shocked them. So, when they were alone in the garden, they asked him again. And he told them again that the Temple would be destroyed and pagan worship rites would occur on the site of the Holy of Holies. He said that there would be bad times for Jews in those days. And for his followers.

Within 50 years from this conversation, it all happened. The Temple was destroyed (and to this day it remains down). The big revolt of the Jews against Rome was put down at great loss of life. Think of Masada. Jesus’ closest followers were persecuted, jailed, many killed.

But Jesus said in another place that in his death and resurrection would be a new Temple. A new sacrifice for the atonement of sins. No need to buy animals for sacrifice.

And that’s where we are today. Still with the human urge to think how great are the works of our hands and brains. But what really matters is the person of Jesus who teaches us how to live with God. The Godly life endures. Physical things we build are only temporary–not things to worship, but to use.

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Following the Law

July 23, 2010

You are driving. Ack, there’s a policeman ahead. Am I driving too fast? Am I properly in my lane? Did I just signal the lane change? Is there some other law that I’ve forgotten that I probably broke?

Same feelings of guilt and anxiety can occur in church. Ack, there’s the pastor coming. Did I give to the offering last week? Did I say something to someone that will come back at me? Did I do something wrong? Shoot, I missed two services last month.

Moses received 10 commandments from God. Before he died, he turned the 10 into many more. By the time of Jesus, generations of religious leaders continued to add to the 10. They needed lots of laws to “explain” the 10. A whole profession grew up–the scribes–to record and interpret all these laws. Pretty much like our courts and lawyers. But these were religious laws–all meant to show you how to get right with God.

Then Jesus came. He taught that the scribes and Pharisees used the laws to put a burden on people. These laws actually came between people and God–and put the scribes in a position of power over people.

So, in the Temple during Jesus’ last week, he and the scribes and religious leaders engaged in verbal sparring over theology. Finally one scribe asks, “What is the greatest commandment?” What is the one thing you should do above all else?

Jesus replies with the “shema”–“The first is, ‘Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The scribe replied that Jesus was right. Jesus replied that the scribe was not far from the kingdom of God with his understanding.

Jesus says, when you’re feeling burdened, overwhelmed, anxious about meeting the obligations of the church, remember there are two basic things you need to do and the rest will take care of themselves. And remember, love is an action verb. It’s not an emotion. You love God by studying, communicating and witnessing. You love others by doing things to help them. If you are doing this, then there is nothing to worry about regarding your being right with God.

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Just be one

July 22, 2010

Ever go to a meeting where there are endless arguments and discussions about what the committee should be, or what it should do? Ever get bored? Wish everyone would just get off their “backsides” and get on with the work?

OK, this guy isn’t a Christian writer, but Marcus Aurelius was on target with this thought, “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be; just be one.”

I once had a boss who said, “Everyone knows who the good teachers are.” Quantifiable? Not particularly. Explainable in a few words? Not really. But by the quality of the person, truly everyone just knows. By the way, he was an engineer. They are typically fact driven people. But if you just go forth to “be one,” people will know. You will know. God will know.

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Learning or Living

July 21, 2010

The United States is not unique in world history in placing its youth in a competitive atmosphere in learning. We’ve just tried (with mixed results) to extend it to all youth, not just those in either privileged classes or who show interest and potential for learning. So, after 13 years of constant comparison with our peers relative to learning, we are guided to think that learning (intellectual development) is the highest goal of life.

True, you do need to know certain things. To be completely ignorant is not a path to God. However, Thomas a Kempis rightly says, “Indeed, it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God.”

I’ve been studying Mark for the past several months. I much prefer the Gospels to Paul’s letters. Paul is so culturally bound and focused on how to organize the new movement that he is often hard to understand. Jesus, on the other hand, although enigmatic at times, points us to how to live.

Learning  is easy compared to living a holy life minute by minute. It’s not only what you know but what you do with it.

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Gentle or forceful

July 19, 2010

Can you be both gentle and forceful? Sounds like a paradox. Nineteenth Century European philosophers picked up on two things from contemporary Christian churches. First an attitude–Jesus was meek and Christians should emulate him as sheep. Second was politics–European Christian churches sided with wealth (to keep the donations coming) while telling the poor to be satisfied in the afterlife. These attitudes influenced both Marx and Nietzsche with awful consequences.

There is no way to read the Gospels without coming to the conclusion that Jesus had a forceful personality. He had “backbone” as they’d say in the country. Mark’s description of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem does not paint a picture of a quiet, gentle, feminine man. Jesus clears the temple of commerce (his only physical act of violence recorded). He stands up to the leaders of his faith and his country with deft verbal sparring–including telling a story that is a thinly veiled condemnation of them (the vineyard owner and the tenants). He leads his followers into unknown territory. And he faces death with grace and courage. Obviously philosophers and theologians of the time were mistaken.

Jesus also could deal gently and tenderly with people who were afflicted with demons and disabilities. His typical personality was gentle, but his forceful personality kept him focused on his mission.

Actually, emulating Jesus as the pioneer of our faith (as the writer of Hebrews puts it) guides us through life. A person living with-God bears the spiritual fruit of gentleness. But when adversity or adversaries arise, the strength and force of Jesus helps us stay on course.

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When you are stressed

July 16, 2010

How do you react when you’re stressed? I tend to get snippy with people. Some people probably withdraw. Some react with anger. Did you ever think of it? The first step to controlling yourself is learning how you react in situations. Next you learn to watch yourself and see when you are doing it.

Jesus had to be stressed. His ministry had finally brought him to Jerusalem. He knew that ahead of him were confrontations with religious authorities, trials and death. As a youth, he had been trained by these authorities. Somewhere along the way as a young man, he saw God’s true wishes. He came to oppose the religious establishment.

At any rate, he had made his first entry into Jerusalem and checked things out. Then he was going to a small town outside the city for the night. He saw a fig tree in leaf. It shouldn’t have been–it wasn’t fig season. Who knows. Maybe he felt a sudden hunger for figs and maybe thought that God had provided. Whatever, he saw the tree and went over to it. But it had no fruit. He was stressed, now he was disappointed. He reacted probably like we would have. He cursed the tree–“may you never bear fruit.”

The next day on the way back to Jerusalem, his companions noticed that that fig tree was dying. They pointed it out to Jesus. He always used incidents as teaching opportunities. So, he didn’t explain why he did it. He just said that we, too, could do things if we pray. We could cause mountains to move if we should but pray to God.

Then there is an added paragraph. Seems like a non sequitur. First forgive others, then seek forgiveness, then with a clear conscience you can pray.

Seems like a long explanation from being stressed. But recognizing your situation, clearing your conscience so you have nothing between you and God, then going into conversation with God takes you into a new state of being. You overcome the stress–or whatever else in concerning you–and you can re-establish your direct link to God and find peace.

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Overcoming Distraction

July 13, 2010

This could probably be the topic of a book. Maybe I’ll do it. But I wrote yesterday about how people get worried and distracted by many things. Jesus said, focus on the one thing.

Today this quote was sent to me:

Constant attention wears the active mind,

Blots out our pow’rs, and leaves a blank behind.”

— Charles Churchill: 18th century English poet

Sometimes, we need to just “chill.” Did you ever just sit on the patio and take in the beauty of a garden? Watch the birds? Let your mind drift to nothing?

Or, do you have your TV on constantly tuned either to Fox or MSNBC? Or even other channels? Especially the first two are designed to manipulate you into an emotional frenzy. They want to keep your attention permanently on the screen so that they can serve up more ads.

Take care what you put in your mind. Take care that you have intellectual control of your emotions and spiritual control of your intellect. I have tuned ALL TV news out of my awareness. I am so much more at peace. Focus on Jesus instead. That is far healthier.

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Worried and distracted by many things

July 12, 2010

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”

These words of Jesus to Martha were meant to change her attitude–that is, the relationship of her life with the direction it should be headed, much like the attitude of an aircraft is its relationship to the direction of travel. She needed first to achieve calm. Unless you can put worry behind you, you will never be able to focus on the “one thing.” Worry has the power to change your attitude. Likewise, distraction–the opposite of focus. Just as almost everything you worry about is beyond your control, so is much distraction. We think about this or that. We think about things we need to do. We think about things other people should or need to do.

The foundation to my spiritual and intellectual growth was built from the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 60s. While I still maintain the values of equal rights and peace, I never really was a “True Believer” as the philosopher Eric Hoffer might say. The single-minded fanaticism of many of my contemporaries seemed to me to come at a loss of perspective of spiritual life. Therefore, many hated the “Serenity Prayer” attributed to theologian Reinhold Niebuhr which asks God to grant the serenity to know that some things can’t be changed. This is a continual problem with some people–exacerbated, I might add, by the way “news” is presented on TV–where they are “worried and distracted by many things.”

There is only one thing–God. What matters is your relationship with Him. You cannot worry about other people, or tell other people what to do (well, you can, but what good does it ever do?). You can witness about how your life with God has brought you the fruits of the spirit.

Are you focused on the “one thing?” Or are you worried and distracted?

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