Faith Venture

Closest To God

October 17, 2022

Humans often ask impossible questions of God. The questions often are a variation on the theme of just where is God, anyway.

Where was God when the tragedy occurred? Where was God when I needed support and care and strength?

I used to ask how will God get me out of this mess I’ve gotten myself into.

If we keep our awareness antennae focused, we discover later that God was there all along. God doesn’t prevent tragedy from occurring. Well, sometimes I think maybe he does. But many writers have told stories about discovering God at work in the midst of doubt, despair, fear, worry.

God was closest to us in those moments. We often don’t realize the support we get until later reflection reveals God and our friends were there all along.

Maybe we spend hours in meditation, contemplation, and prayer hoping to be close to God. Maybe we don’t realize the presence surrounds us ready to pounce when most needed.

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Treating With Sensitivity and Humanity

October 14, 2022

I just finished “binge reading” Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse series of novels. Set in Oxford, England, Detective Chief Inspector Morse solves murders in his unique style assisted by loyal partner Detective Sergeant Lewis and boss Chief Superintendent Strange. The thirteen novels culminate in a moving finale.

Dexter drew the final resolution of both the murder case and the series with a series of scenes that handled the complex relationships with such sensitivity and humanity that I had to pause and reflect for quite a while.

What would happen, I wondered, if we stepped back and took a longer view at relationships both near and far and brought sensitivity and humanity to the reflection?

We sometimes (often?) judge motivations and actions quickly. Perhaps there is more to the story? Perhaps they weren’t out to get you? Perhaps they were protecting someone else? Yes, some people are devious. But most? Most just act the best they can at the time. We should consider them with sensitivity and humanity, and yes, even love.

And if you are a fan of murder mysteries, you cannot go far wrong by reading Dexter. His writing captures the scene and mood, and keeps you guessing along with Morse.

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Gratitude For What We Have

October 13, 2022

Some of us live in the future of want. It is a land of dissatisfaction. What we have is not good enough. We need more…stuff; better…things.

If we have no gratitude for what we have been given, how shall we know to have gratitude for that which we will receive in the future?

“My son says I’m in good shape for a man 73 years old,” said Bob in the fitness center to me yesterday. I replied, “Yes, my health may not be perfect, but I’m grateful for what I have.”

I try to live in the land of today. Grateful for what I have. If something good comes to me tomorrow, I’ll be grateful for that.

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It Begins In The Heart

October 12, 2022

Whatever else happened, Jesus was most interested in the contents of the heart. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What you value is related to the status of your heart.

Jesus valued people. You can tell from each of his interactions with people–even his enemies.

Some seek peace. Yet they exhibit anger and bitterness.

Some seek justice. Yet they exhibit bias and anger toward one group while saying they want justice for another. Justice is justice, no matter which clothes it is wearing.

What values color your heart? What do you say? James taught us that how we speak reflects the status of our heart. He also taught that what we do reveals the status of our heart.

Maybe we need a daily check-up?

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Who Made You God?

October 11, 2022

Said the big adult man soccer player to the somewhat smaller referee pointing to the parking lot. As I was dismissing a player from game, he waved a fist in front of my face (I knew him well, I was only slightly intimidated), “Who made you God?”

Erich Fromm published a book in 1966, “You Shall Be As Gods” taking a phrase from the Hebrew scriptures.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb writing a book of aphorisms called The Bed of Procrustes, says, “Religion isn’t so much about telling man that there is one God as about preventing man from thinking he is God.”

How many people have you met who seem to think they are God? Or, at least they have a special message spoken only to them from God?

When I begin to think that I am that special, eventually I will realize I am on that I-am-like-God path. And it is time to practice humility. To answer Denny in the first paragraph, “No one made me God. I am not God.”

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Avoid Advice

October 10, 2022

I’m reading a book of aphorisms from Nassim Nicholas Taleb called The Bed of Procrustes. (A link for those who need a refresher on the old Greek story of a bandit called Procrustes–the stretcher.)

It is as difficult to avoid bugging others with advice on how to exercise and other health matters as it is to stick to an exercise schedule.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Does this same idea apply to meditation, prayer, repentance?

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Do The Next Right Thing

October 7, 2022

Sometimes we sit at our desk or stand in the middle of the room having just completed a task. We feel lost. What should we do? Where is our task list?

There is a phrase I’ve heard many times. It helps me focus when I’m either at a loss of what’s next or when there are so many pressures that I’m overwhelmed.

Do the next right thing.

This combines the command to do something with the moral imperative to do the right thing.

Now, our mind can operate to focus our attention.

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Measured By Actions, Not Results

October 6, 2022

Epic heroes in ancient and not-so-ancient stories were measured by their actions, not by their results.

Jesus, likewise, measured a person by actions done with a right heart.

Do we measure a church leader by the size of his or her congregation?

Do you feel bad because you only reached a few thousand people rather than millions on TikTok?

Perhaps reaching out to help a young mother juggling coffee, an infant, and bags held more worth than all the Instagram fans you might accumulate.

When you pause to evaluate your day before bed tonight, think of what you did today, not wins and losses.

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Values

October 5, 2022

You are on your way to the local coffee house. A brother or sister of the human family is along the way. Obviously hurting. You stop to chat. “I believe Jesus can heal you,” you say. “If you believe the way I believe, you’ll be OK.”

What if Jesus were passing that person?

He would stop whatever he was doing wherever he was going. Stop. Look at the person. Deeply. In the eyes. Into the soul. “What do you want?” he’d ask. Then he’d do it.

Reflect upon the people that he had this interaction with. Remember, he was a Jewish rabbi (teacher). He was culturally bound to interact with Jewish people primarily. Seldom or never with outsiders.

Yet, Jesus listened, acted for, and valued

A Syro-Phoenician woman (2 strikes, woman and outsider)
A Roman army officer (not only an outsider, but also a hated oppressor)
Many people with skin diseases whom he actually touched
A Jewish woman with a disorder that caused her to be unclean who touched him

He cared, loved, wept, was moved by all these people who were hurting.

Whom did he not care for? Pompous religious people who thought they had all the answers.

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Kindness

October 4, 2022

In ancient times, the Temple was the place where God was present.

The Apostle Paul taught us that our heart is now the Temple where God is present.

We are to treat that Temple with reverence, taking care of its well being.

Jesus taught us that we should love one another—do to others as we hope they do to us.

The essence of that command in our daily life is kindness.

Show that God is within; be kind.

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