onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:145 to 176; Evening,  Psalms 128, 129 and 130;
Proverbs  6:1 to 19; 1^st John 5:1 to 12; John 11:45 to 54:

“My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor, if you have bound yourself to another,
you are snared by the utterance of your lips, caught by the words of your mouth.” (Proverbs 6:1 and 2)

After some years of regret, I have learned to be quiet when commitment time comes.  Too often I have pledged to do something without checking my calendar only to find that I have already agreed to something else at that same time.  I have snared myself by the utterance of my lips.

Sometimes it is not a matter of dates. It is a matter of change of heart or what I believe. This can range from political beliefs, religious beliefs and even personal relationships and the drifting apart that takes place as we evolve.

With early commitments should we ignore our new understandings only to keep words said in ignorance or immaturity?  I think not.  However, why should anyone bother to listen to us if we show a history of not keeping our word. There comes a time when we each must evaluate our path and first be loyal to ourselves and the trajectory of God’s call on our lives. We must commit an unbreakable pledge to God that will never, never, never be broken.  But this first begins with a commitment to always, always, always believe in God.  It is only then that we will reduce being snared by the utterance of our lips.

Some broken commitments can be a simple mistake of time allocation.  However some broken commitments come about as we mature in Christ and our place and responsibility in community. We must be open to being taught by the Holy One in order to not being snared by our lips.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 121, 122, 123; Evening,  Psalms 124, 125, 126;
Proverbs 4:1 to 27; 1^st John 4:7 to 21; John 11:30 to 44:

“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. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”  (1^st John 4: 20 and 21)

I am aware that our television news programs only lets us see the negative actions between people because for some reason we viewers have shown an appetite for the nastiness we do.  This is very sad. Every day we can see where people are being mean to others whom they not only see, but see them as some kind of enemy.  Too many of us don’t even consider looking at others through the lens of compassion. Love for others does not seem to be an option that we could select if we wanted to.

Most of these same people will declare some kind of belief in God. But God is love, pure love. How then do we acknowledge our belief in God and then push hate towards folks we see in our travels throughout the day?  We need to make up our minds about what we really believe. We either believe in the love of God and the love God wants us to have for each other, or we don’t. To not love others is a proclamation of not believing in God. “Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”  Let’s lose our appetite for evil actions and create a desire to see compassion. It could change the broadcast networks and what they let us see daily. “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them;” (1^st John 4:16)

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the Seventh Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening,  Psalm 106:19 to 48;
Proverbs  3:11 to 20; 1^st John 3:18 to 4:6; John 11:17 to 29;

“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^st John 4:1)

This reading from John the Evangelist suggests that there are “competing” spirits out there trying to be the lead in our lives. This is scary stuff. He goes on to say that the Spirit of God is the one that confesses Jesus Christ as come in the flesh and that if it does not it is not from God.

I have other ways of believing a spirit or idea is from God. In yesterday’s Daily Office Reading from Mark we read, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many;” (Mark 10:45).  The Spirit of Jesus then is one of serving.

If there are competing spirits vying for control of how I live my life then I truly want to listen to the One calling me to live a life of service to those in need.  So my test for a spirit to be from God is whether or not it is asking me to do something that is inconvenient, costly, but brings good to persons outside of myself. If the answer to these questions is yes, then I believe such a Spirit is from God. Self-serving inclinations are not from God in Christ Jesus.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for the Seventh Sunday of Epiphany

Genesis 45:3 to11 and 15; Psalm 37:1 to12 and 41to 42;

1^st Corinthians 15:35-38 and 42-50;  Luke 6:27-38

 “Jesus said, “I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

If we listen closely we will understand that Jesus is not speaking to everybody.  He is only talking to those of us who will “listen.”  And to listen in this context means to follow the inherent instruction.  The instruction is to love everybody which includes those you have issues with.

All of us know full well we can have issues even with our own family members as well as people we work with. Jesus makes it easy for our relationships to not be about us losing. We must have in the mind of our heart, the words, “Let Love Lead” or (LLL). Love, Paul says, does not insist on its own way (1^st Corinthians 13).  In this way we don’t have to struggle with what response (or God forbid, retaliation) to do.  We just LLL. (the Triple L) , or 3L.

Emotions are going to happen. We are human.  And we sometimes say things like,  “I hate you”  or “I wish you were never born.” We often use words that describe what we felt at the time, only to regret them later.  So let’s see; how about words like frustration or disappointment to describe the temporary nature of our ever-changing emotions?  When anger tries to kick in, deny it, do not make room in your heart for it.  Say no to anger but instead go into your vocabulary closet and pick out something more suitable, more Jesus-like to wear. Outfits like the dark suits of frustration or disappointment will work nicely for such occasions. Dump the anger suit in the dumpster.

Frustration and disappointment heal quickly and never leave the realm of love.  And please know that God has already gifted us with the capacity to love everybody.  If you can be frustrated or disappointed with certain people like family or friends, you can be frustrated or disappointed with anybody. If you can love certain people like family and friends, that you don’t always agree with, you can love all people.  Love is an inexhaustible resource not a scarcity that we will run out of. 

Are you listening to me right now? Remember, Jesus is only talking to those of us who are “listening.”  And his message is clear, Let Love Lead;  LLL.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the Sixth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 43, 108:1-6(7-13); Evening,  Psalm 33;

Genesis 35:1 to 20; 1 John 3:11 to 18; John 11:1 to 16:

“Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”’  (John 11: 13 – 16)

Finally, our Lord Jesus had to just come out and say it, “Lazarus is dead.”  The disciples were looking for any reason they could find to not go into Judea, an area they considered dangerous. Jesus however would not let fear determine his footsteps. And neither should we. Moreover, his friend Lazarus needed him. We too should not look for, or accept, any excuse as a way to avoid doing what is right.

Thomas shows his dedication to our Lord Jesus. “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  Thomas too often gets a less than honorable reputation.  He is called “Doubting Thomas.”  But there is no doubt about his loyalty to our Lord Jesus.   We tend to label people by the one perceived negative thing they do.  But here Thomas calls on his fellow disciples to stay the course.  Jesus is going in the way he came to go. When things do go bad for our Lord Jesus we will see that Thomas will not be behind a locked door in fear with the other ten disciples.  It will be a week later that he hears of our Lord Jesus rising from the grave.  Thomas is a fearless Christian as we all should be. Thomas is out in the midst of people going on with his life.

Loyalty to friends is demonstrated here as Jesus goes to raise Lazarus from the dead and Thomas is standing by Jesus even onto their possible deaths.  Friends are often our “chosen” family.  We are born to some, and we choose some.  My dad used to say to me that I am the company I keep.  He probably heard it from somewhere else but it rings so true.  Just as we need our friends when we are in trouble, so too, our friends need us when they are in trouble.  Friendship, like family, is priceless. Lazarus, as far as we know, was not a disciple. He was a friend of Jesus and Jesus did not abandon him even though he was dead four days.

As I write this the country of Ukraine is poised for an eminent Russian attack. I pray that diplomacy prevails.  But if it doesn’t, should we abandon Ukraine, or be with them? Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but is a friend of the U.S. Where is the courage and faithfulness of Thomas and our Lord Jesus in you?

Today I conduct a memorial service for a very dear friend of mine: Rest in Peace Mike.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the Sixth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32;  

Genesis 32:22 to 33:17; 1^st John 3:1 to 10; John 10:31 to 42:

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1^st John 3: 1)

Our Lord Jesus walked among us teaching us to behave like Children of God.  He adopted us as brothers and sisters in Himself and therefore heirs to the kingdom.  We are not like many in the world.  We, as believers are grafted into the family-hood of God.  That means we are different.  We do not repay evil for evil.  We treat others like we would have them treat us.

There are people who do not know this about the nature of God.  When they see the love we have they know not where it comes from and don’t understand what it means to be civil and decent and loving towards others.  It is God’s way but the reason the world does not know us is that it does not know the Ways of God.

 Our Lord Jesus goes on to say, “All who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters (1^st John 3:10).  I think the truth is that we are all from God but some of us have de-selected to be a part of God’s family because they have decided to worship the created rather than the Creator. To re-member as a part of the family of God our Lord Jesus says we are to do what is right and love our brothers and sisters. If we are to do what is right then it is implied that we already know the right thing to do. We have that “gut” feeling that tells us the right path.  That right path is not promised to be easy.  But it is right and good so to do.

Please be cautioned about two things: first, many of our brothers and sisters whom we are called to love are different than ourselves (race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, language, and political party).  Second, some of our brothers and sisters go out of their way to be difficult to love.  Love them anyway.  In many ways it’s like being in any regular family.  It is no wonder then that some families have the so-called “lost child.”  Perhaps these lost family members are preparing us for what God is asking us to do on a global stage, love them anyway.  This earth is our family home and we are all family, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.  Thank You Lord Jesus.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.  What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the Sixth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening,  Psalm 105:23 to 45;
Genesis 32:3 to 21; 1^st  John 2:18 to 29; John 10:19 to 30

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.  What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10: 27 to 30)

Our Lord Jesus tells them, and us, that He knows those of us who follow Him. He gives us eternal life and we will never perish. At our death, life for us will change, not end. This power that Jesus has comes from the Creator and is greater than anything else. However the words of Jesus that were  too much for them, and some of us, were the words, “The Father and I are one.”  These were fighting words, they picked up stones and wanted to stone him at that point.

The question I have is this: cannot God do anything, great or small? Cannot God make God’s self any creature in God’s own creation, including a human?  I think the only difference between Christians and the faith traditions outside of Christianity is that while all faith traditions believe God can do such a thing, we Christians believe God has already done such a thing in our Lord Jesus. Our real differences are not, “can” God, but rather, “did” God?

Therefore, God in Christ Jesus the human, models for us what a godly life is like. We only have to follow Jesus to be known by Him, and by extension, by God.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 101, and 109; Evening, Psalm 119:121 to 144;

Genesis 31:25 to 50; 1st John 2:12 to 17; John 10:1 to 18:

“And the world and [and the desire for it] are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.” (1John 2:17)

We have an opportunity, and indeed an invitation, to adjust ourselves to being happy while doing the will of God.  Everything else that we do has an expiration date.  It is not a matter of “if.”  The end of our days is a matter of “when.”  My brother still remembers, with sadness, the day I told him that one day he will die.  He told me that recently, even though it has been more than sixty years ago.  I’m not sure that as a child that I even knew what I was talking about. 

Now what good is it to live forever while at the same time not liking the life you live?  But if we learn to appreciate doing the will of God to the point that we look forward to every opportunity to do it again, we are happily living forever.

Remember, it is at the intersection of what you love to do, and what the community needs, that is the joy you will have, and it is also the will of God. Each of us are here for a reason, a divine reason.  A personal goal for each of us should be to ponder about what our niche in this life is.  What is it that we really enjoy doing? Rule nothing out!  Even if it sounds silly, that very silliness may just be what you get to enjoy for all eternity.  Some will say “I can’t think of anything that I would want to do for all eternity.”  To which I would respond, “You haven’t found “it” yet.”

This world is passing away.  But we, as believers, have a chance to be with an eternal Presence that welcomes us, and the gifts that we are blessed with, into an eternal household. 

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 6^th Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 97 and 99; Evening, Psalm 94;

Genesis 31:1 to 24; 1^st  John 2:1 to 11; John 9:18 to 41:

“The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.” (John 9:30)

After the interrogation of the man who was given his sight by our Lord Jesus, and his parents also, the newly sighted man stands up to the “Temple Elders” (I think a better term than “the Jews”).  He has contempt for the Temple Elders and sarcastically asked them if they too wanted to become disciples of Jesus. If we don’t know where a person comes from then, if we are smart, we will leave open the possibility that maybe perhaps he or she could actually be from God.  We should identify the tree by its fruit.

These so-called educated men argue with the man who was given his sight but he catches them off guard when he says, “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind” (John 9:32).  But even this does not move them to admit they were in error. 

Finally the newly sighted man stumbles into Jesus after being thrown out of the Temple.  Jesus lets him know that he is speaking to our Lord Jesus and the man worships him.  I can’t begin to know what it must be like to have never seen anything and then be given sight. Wow!  But perhaps it’s not too different from living under false doctrine for all of one’s life and then be given real sight about who God is and what God wants of us. Again, Wow!

“Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind” (John 9:39).  This is a way of saying that our Lord Jesus will open our eyes to what is real but if we choose to not see it, so be it.  “Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.” (John 9:40 – 41)  Therefore, we cannot see wrong-doing and pretend not to see it. Once we know, we can’t un-know.   If we see it we must acknowledge it and respond to it in godly ways.  Anything less and we fall into that judgment that our Lord Jesus spoke of. So, may the hearer heed.

Personal note: It’s good to be back.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalm  146; Evening,  Psalms 85 and 86;
Genesis 27:30 to 45; Romans 12:9 to 21; John 8:21 to 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 and 32).

The reality is that we can change the word “Jews,” to “those” who believed in him. Because all of us who believe in our Lord Jesus and continue in His word are truly His disciples. The person of Jesus was more than just another human being. He was, and is, God almighty. He came among us to model what it means to live out our lives as God’s loving creation. To follow in Jesus’ word means to love God back and to love each other. It ain’t easy folks.

To know the truth is to know about the reality of God among us in Spirit and truth. When we move beyond just believing, to knowing, we live differently. We don’t succumb to small temporal things and ideas. As we come to know the truth about God among us, we are free to live eternally even now in this life where our earthly death will not hold us, but is overcome by our Lord Jesus who has defeated death for us.

This is the last blog for about four days. I am going to Memphis to be with family during our difficult days suffering the death of two of my grandsons. I plan to resume on Tuesday, February 15^th.  Blessings.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John