Author: John Thomas Frazier

My Faith Pondering

May 10: Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf Prophetic Witness, 1760

Readings for Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf: Psalm 101:1-4 Nehemiah 12:27-31a, 43 2 Thessalonians 2:13–3:5 John 16:16-22

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2: 16)

Zinzendorf was a Count of the Holy Roman Empire who always had more interest in religious matters than in affairs of court.  Following studies at the pietist center of Halle, he developed his own “theology of the heart,” which placed great emphasis on a close personal relationship with the suffering Savior. This “heart religion” was not just inner emotion, however, but was to result in a life totally devoted to the Savior. “All of life becomes a liturgy,” said Zinzendorf, and even the most mundane task can be an act of worship.”  (Taken from The Great Cloud of Witnesses: for May 10)

I like the “All of life becomes a liturgy,” part.  It’s not the first time I’ve heard this thought. As I am a member of a liturgical church, I understand liturgy as a way of doing worship.  Worship then, is paying devotion to God. So we can dedicate each and every act we do to God.  That will surely make me think more deeply about what I’m doing.  I mean if I am dedicating my deed to God, I want it to be Godly: right?  All Glory be to God.

My Fitness Pondering

I practice yoga.  I find its meditational components a bonding between faith and fitness.  Some of the positions require some degree of strength.  The crow position is one such position.  One has to balance on the hands while balancing head and feet on either side with knees just outside the elbows as if the wings of a crow.  I can’t hold the position long but during the position I am so thankful that I can get into the position and hold it if only for a few seconds.  Thank you Jesus.  All glory be to God.

My Music Pondering

Often while playing my guitar I drift into a blues melody.  I find it so comforting.  The continuous rhythm makes my foot pat and my torso sway a little.  I love all kinds of music.  And whether it’s jazz, country, folk, or church, all glory be to God.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

My Faith Pondering

Readings for Gregory of Nazianzus: 9 May    Psalm 19:7–14Wisdom 7:7-12John 8:25-32

 “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8: 31-32)

“Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, loved God, the art of letters, and the human race—in that order. He was born about 330 in Nazianzus in Cappadocia (now Turkey), the son of a local bishop. He studied rhetoric in Athens with his friend Basil of Caesarea, and Julian, later to be the apostate emperor.”  (Taken from The Great Cloud of Witnesses: May 9)

This Gregory is a man after my own heart. I think he really did continue in the word of Jesus and the truth did make him free.  However, he loved his privacy and prayer time. This was problematic for the theologian. I remember doing a paper on Gregory of Nazianzus in seminary about God creating something from nothing. I also like the priority he had of “God, art and humanity.”

“In 361, against his will, Gregory was ordained presbyter, and settled down to live an austere, priestly life. He was not to have peace for long. Basil, in his fight against the Arian Emperor Valens, compelled Gregory to become Bishop of Sasima. (Taken from The Great Cloud of Witnesses: May 9)

Gregory did not want to be a priest or a bishop but this was God’s plan and so, it happened.  Gregory was who he was because that’s what was needed where, and when, he was.  How about you?  Are you who God wants you to be? I hope I am.

My Fitness Pondering

Working out every day and watching what I eat (haven’t missed my mouth yet), I hope to lose weight and trim down. I’ll be 71 this month and feel pretty good. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not about dieting towards a goal but rather a life style shift to eating smaller portions and only when hungry.  Also, perhaps I should not eat after say 5: pm.  What do you think, I mean about yourself?

My Music Pondering

I’ve been working on Amazing Grace with my guitar.  It’s recognizable. So I play the melody first and then the chords.  I like singing while playing the cords.  I played the church piano today.  It’s different than my Yamaha keyboard.  The piano requires more finger pressure. I do feel I can express myself better on the full piano better than the electric keyboard. It’s all good.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Ponder Notice: I am, from this point forward, going to add to my pondering fitness and music to my faith pondering blog.  It is all pondering to me so it will still be simply, One Who Ponders.

My Faith Pondering

Readings for Julian Dame Julian of Norwich . 1417  May 8

Psalm 27:1-9 Hebrews 10:19-24  John 4:23-26

From John

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

“Even in her lifetime, she [Julian Dame Julian of Norwich] was famed as a mystic and spiritual counselor and was frequently visited by clergymen and lay persons, including the famous mystic Margery Kempe.  Kempe says of Julian: “This anchoress was expert in knowledge of our Lord and could give good counsel. (The Great Cloud of Witnesses: May 8)

It is the All Spiritual God who brings into creation those things that we can see and touch. Julian too knew about the spirit and truth of God and found a place where she could be alone with her prayers and pondering.  Her life of dedicated prayer worked like a magnet attracting other people of God to her for God’s guidance. How is your prayer life?  Who are you attracting?

My Fitness Pondering

My daily ritual is to do push-ups and bend and squats first thing every mourning, without exception.  Daily morning exercise is one of my “Milk Cows.”  You can’t buy a milk cow and plan a vacation.  This cow has to be milked EVERYDAY!  It’s a daily commitment.  Not very many people today want to commit to something that requires attention every day.  Of course they have no problem with eating and sleeping, both of which are self-serving.  And they are committed to these activities each and every day.  How about reading, study, exercise and prayer?  I have heard somewhere that a healthy body contributes to having a healthy mind.  I hope that’s true.

My Music Pondering

Learning to play “Praise to the Lord” on the piano has been a dedicated commitment for me. The piano and guitar are also two of my milk cows.  That means each and every day I can be found touching the notes and listening for mistakes.  I love it when I play something and it sounds right.  One of our Pianists at our parish told me that to be proficient I must practice every day.  Okay, that’s a milk cow if I ever heard one.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Daily Office Readings for 3^rd Week of Easter: Tuesday: Year 1

AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39Dan. 4:28-37; 1 John 4:7-21; Luke 4:31-37

“The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” (1 John 4:21)

My Pondering

We must learn to love God, God, the Creator and lover of our souls. Without God we would not exist.  And, while not everybody’s lives are lived out in the best possible way, we have what we have. Moreover, perhaps those of us who are doing well should do all we can to help the down trodden to live better.  All people should live happy, peaceful, and good lives.

Jesus reaffirms the Jewish Law that we should love God first with all that we are. (Deuteronomy 6) And to this, “Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.   And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37 – 40)

Even though we say it’s hard to love an unseen God we must ponder our God and try to love God in thankfulness and praise. It’s possible if not easy. And remember, “Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20) So true.

God made it easier for us to love God by coming to us as Jesus in order that we might have a human person to focus on. “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” (1John 4:9)

I believe we should strive to love others “through” Jesus.  In this way we see others through Jesus’ eyes.  To first look at others, and then try to bring Jesus in, is putting it backwards.  We must put God first even when looking at, or thinking of, others. And before we do that we must have a relationship with God ourselves. “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: again; “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” (1John 4:9)  Living through Jesus, we learn to love others in a much more meaningful and unconditional way.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Daily Office Readings for Monday 6 May 2019 3 Easter Year 1

AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15 Dan.4:19-27; 1 John 3:19-4:6; Luke 4:14-30

1 John

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  (1 John 4:1)

My Pondering

Ok, so I was unaware of the different spirits, especially evil ones. I suppose there are but I try to make myself familiar with the Holy One.   One of the ways I tell if the Spirit is from God is to see if there is a cost for me, either monetary or time or both.  Normally I can tell it is from God if it is inconvenient for me but serves a benefit for others.

Some examples of the Spirit of God working in me are made manifest in giving people time by listening to them vent or just explain what has happened to them.  I preach that fifteen minutes or fifteen days or even fifteen years are added to our lives that aren’t ours.  This added time was given to us for the benefit of others.

Sometimes if I find myself with a few extra dollars I feel I have been rewarded for something that maybe I have forgotten about and I justly deserve it.  And then someone in need will appear and I realize that God has given me “their” money.  This is no time to be stingy or self-serving.

There are so many biblical examples of God gifting people to do the work of giving the time that others need.  God made use of Moses, and the prophets who were called from positions of comfort to go and help others.  This power was not for them to be personably profitable but for them to carry messages of hope and freedom to people who needed it.

When Jesus sent out the twelve he gave them the power to “heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”  (Luke 10:9)  I like Luke’s version of the sent-out healing because Luke has the twelve even responding to those who do not welcome them.  “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’” (Luke 10:10-11)  So even if people refuse the help they are informed that the kingdom of God has in fact come near.

If I get messages of personal advantage or privilege without a clear path of how to use if for the benefit of others I am very suspicious of the origin that spirit. The goodness of God works with us to assist the needy and down trodden.  All we have to do is understand that God uses us to help us.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Eucharistic Readings for Sunday: 5 May 2019 Easter

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)Psalm 30Revelation 5:11-14John 21:1-19

John

 ^“A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” “He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (NRSV John 21:16-17)

 Volvió a preguntarle: —Simón, hijo de Juan, ¿me amas? Pedro le contestó:—Sí, Señor, tú sabes que te quiero.  Jesús le dijo: —Cuida de mis ovejas. ¹⁷ Por tercera vez le preguntó: —Simón, hijo de Juan, ¿me quieres? Pedro, triste porque le había preguntado por tercera vez si lo quería, le contestó: —Señor, tú lo sabes todo: tú sabes que te quiero. Jesús le dijo: —Cuida de mis ovejas. (Spanish NT: John 21:16-17)

Σίμων  Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου. ¹⁷ λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Σίμων Ἰωάννου, φιλεῖς με; ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Φιλεῖς με; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, πάντα σὺ οἶδας, σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου. (Greek NT:John 21:16-17)

My Pondering

As can be seen from the above, there is significant difference between the English wording; and the Spanish and Greek wording.  In English the word “love” is used by Jesus and Peter all three times.  But in Spanish, Jesus uses the word “amas”(love) the first and second time and Peter uses“quieres”(want).  On the third time Jesus uses the word “quieres.” So likewise in the Greek NT, Jesus asks with the word ἀγαπᾷς (Agape, sacrificial love) the first two times while Peter answers with  “φιλεῖς” (Philos-like) but Jesus asks the third time, meeting Peter where he is, with the word “φιλεῖς.”

This shows how much can be lost in English. There are levels of affection that are not always properly expressed in English. (Eros – Philos – Agape – different Greek expressions of love) This is so important given that Jesus is the “Word” of God in human form. Like Peter, we too are not able to meet Jesus where Jesus meets us. So Jesus changes the language to make it easier for us. This is why Peter was hurt, not so much because it was the third time, but rather, because of the realization that he is not able to return the level of love that Jesus has for him. Neither are we.  Jesus more than just wants us or to likes us. Jesus loves us, sacrificially and unconditionally, (agape tu), loves you, sacrificially, and unconditionally.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr. –

Readings for Martyrs of the Reformation Era

2 Corinthians 4.5–12Psalm 87John 12.20–26

“For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.”  (2 Corinthians 4:11)

The Roman Catholic Church commemorates the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales on this date: men and women who were executed for treason between1535 and 1679 for their allegiance to the Catholic Church. In recent years, the Church of England has shared this commemoration, broadening it to all of the English saints and martyrs of the Reformation era. This commemoration remembers not only Anglican martyrs like Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicholas Ridley, who died for their adherence to the Church of England, but those Catholics who were killed by Anglicans – along with all other Christians who were persecuted by their fellow Christians for their beliefs, most notably the Anabaptists and the Quakers. (from Lesser Feasts & Fasts 2018)

My Pondering

This is a new addition to the Lesser Feast and Fasts.  But I think a much needed one.  Our beloved Episcopal Church has made, and will probably continue to make, mistakes.  We have had U.S. Confederate Priests who owned slaves.  Our church has been on the wrong side of “respecting the dignity of every human being” many times.  I believe however, we are getting better.  We are not perfect yet and may never be but we are trying.

As the Roman Catholic Church commemorates the wrongful death of forty men and women and our English Church also includes Roman Catholic English saints and martyrs of the Reformation we are getting better.  It was so painful for me to read about an Amish – Mennonite person who turned back after being chased to help an English sheriff out of quick sand only to be arrested by that same sheriff and eventually burned at the stake.  That’s wrong on all Christian levels.

I have told the story of Absalom Jones, first African American Episcopal priest.  He was invited to join Richard Allen in the formation of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.  But he didn’t.  He stuck with this church, the Episcopal Church.  You can’t make something better by leaving it.  Good people must stay in their neighborhoods to make it good and better.  Good people must stay in their work places to make it good and better.  The same holds true for our houses of worship, good people must stay in their church to make it good and better.

I recommend that you read the whole section of the 2 Corinthians 4: 5 – 12. It really applies to our Church as it dies to the old, sad and sinful ways and is born again, over and over into the life of Christ. Or as St Paul says, “For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.”  (2 Corinthians 4:11)

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Readings for Athanasius of Alexandria 373

Psalm 71:1-81 John 5:1-5Matthew 10:22-32

Matthew

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” (Matthew 10: 26)

My Pondering

I read much about Athanasius while attending seminary.  He fought vigorously for his belief in Jesus the Incarnate Word being of the same substance as God the Creator.  Five times he went into exile for his personal safety because of his beliefs.  Athanasius was very persuasive at the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 wherein we have our Nicene Creed today.

There is some confusion among my sources about which day we remember him.  Since I missed him for the second of May I am remembering him today, the third of May.

“Athanasius wrote voluminously: biblical interpretation, theological exposition, sermons, and letters. His treatise, On the Incarnation of the Word of God, is a still widely read classic. In it, he writes, “The Savior of us all, the Word of God, in his great love took to himself a body and moved as Man among men, meeting their senses, so to speak, half way. He became himself an object for the senses, so that those who were seeking God in sensible things might apprehend the Father through the works which he, the Word of God, did in the body. Human and human-minded as men were, therefore, to whichever side they looked in the sensible world, they found themselves taught the truth.”” (Great Cloud of Witnesses for May 2)

While the Prologue to the Gospel of John is not the supporting Gospel for remembering St. Athanasius I think it fits so perfectly.  John’s Gospel opens with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.” (John 1:1-3)  I think these words influenced Athanasius in his understanding of who Jesus is as Jesus is the Incarnation of the Creator.  It works for me too.

So how does what we believe, about who Jesus is, affect how we walk our faith life?  For me, seeing the Creating Word of God taking on human flesh and sharing everything that we go through makes us special within God’s created world.  We are so special that the Creator stepped inside the Creator’s creation to model for us how we should live within creation.  We are to let the earth feed us with its nutrients and we should care for the earth as God’s prized possession. And we should care for one another as Jesus modeled this for us regardless of the nationality or belief of the other. And when people feel differently about how we believe we must remember Matthew’s words, “have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” (Matthew 10: 26)

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Daily Office Readings for Week of 2 of Easter; Thursday Year 1

AM Psalm 18:1-20; PM Psalm 18:21-50 Dan. 2:31-49; 1 John 2:18-29; Luke 3:1-14

Luke

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler^* of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler^* of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler^* of Abilene, ²during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:1-2)

My Pondering

It is in reading this opening of the third chapter of the Gospel of Luke that we learn about what God values. We have the human hierarchy of the Roman Emperor, the regional governor for the Emperor, the puppet king of Galilee, and his brother serving in a nepotistic position as ruler of two minor areas, and yet another self-serving ruler in charge of yet another area.  All of these political positions are in place while the spiritual charge was left to two who cared more about their high priestly family status than the needs of the people.

While all of these men reigned in their respective domains, the Word of God goes to a man who has emptied himself of all self-indulgence and human status: this is John the Baptizer, living in the wilderness. There is a lesson here for all of us.

If we are already full of ourselves, there is no room for God.  I have heard somewhere that a full cup has no value.  It has no value until it is emptied.  An empty cup can be filled and therefore has value as a cup – a cup with potential. 

We are the same way.  If we are full of ourselves or the world, or even the church as it stands apart from Jesus, we are worthless as an instrument for God.  Anything God tries to pour into us just rolls off the top.

All of the great ones from Saul of Tarsus to Mother Teresa of Calcutta and others, are who they are, because they emptied themselves of worldly priorities and self serving goals. God needs to make use of you too.  But first you must give up devoting yourself to choices that lead to nowhere.

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.

Eucharistic: Readings for Saints Philip and James  1 May
Psalm 119:33-40; Isaiah 30:18-21; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; John 14:6-14

John

“Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?”  (John 14:8-9)

My Pondering

I feel so bad for Philip.  His experience is one of public ridicule.  Poor guy, he only wanted clarification, maybe.  I think I feel so bad for Philip because I see myself in him.  I am notorious for asking questions of which, I should have known the answer.  And like Philip, I also consider myself somewhat of a dot connector of people.

Philip is the one who goes to get Nathanael and introduces him to Jesus. (John 1:45)  Philip also connects some Greeks to Jesus by way of Andrew. (John 12: 20 – 22)   So Philip is one who brings people to Jesus.  Seems like there ought to be some kind of Order named after him, one whose primary purpose is to bring people to Jesus.

JAMES THE LESS: James the son of Alphaeus (Alpheus) appears on lists of the Twelve Apostles (usually in the ninth place), but is never mentioned otherwise. He is called James the Less, or James Minor, or James the Younger. (See M 10:3; P 3:18; L 6:15; A 1:13)  (James Kiefer)

Philip is mentioned a fair amount and James, this particular James, not mentioned at all outside of being one of the twelve.  But both walked with Jesus.  I have learned to not value only what was written.  There is much that goes on in all of our lives that is never recorded in human journals.  God however, knows what we are doing and the good we have done and continue to do. 

Yes, we may sometimes ask the wrong questions or do something that was a mistake.  But an old boss of mine who selected me for advancement told me that the only ones who never make mistakes are the ones who never do anything.  He appreciated my attempts at trying to do something for the good of our mission.  While not everything turned out great he could always count on me to attempt some type of improvement.

We are recorded where it counts. Whether we turn out to be more like Philip or James, we are members, non-the-less, of the body of Christ.  Our good, written and unwritten, deeds are the building blocks for our home in heaven.  How much material have you sent up for the heavenly builders?

Let us hear what the Spirit is saying through and to the people of the Creating Word and then let us “Ponder anew what the Almighty is doing.”  John Thomas Frazier Sr.