onewhoponders

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the second week of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 37:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 37:19 to 42;

Amos 9:1 to 10; Revelation 2:8 to 17; Matthew 23:13 to 26:

‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,so that the outside also may become clean.” (Matthew 23:25 – 26)

In this session of warnings Jesus tells those of us, who will listen, that if we clean the inside of our selves the outside will become clean as well.

What makes itself manifest on the outside, particularly in behavior and actions, starts in the heart and mind of the person.  As I occasionally conduct pre-marital counseling, I have the engaged couple raise many questions about the other.  I don’t want to know the results that they come up with (unless of course the wedding is off).  I just want to know that they have addressed certain issues. So I have them to have conversations around money and what it means; around education; around concerns of faith (particularly if they are of different faith backgrounds); around children (natural or adopted). I have them discuss concerns of sex and intimacy; and lately I ask about social media and each other’s friends in general.  Sometimes I think I’m unconsciously trying to get them to rethink getting married at all.

The reality is, I am trying to get them to see what’s inside of the other. Is the other’s cup clean on the inside? Is your cup clean on the inside?  This question goes further than just marriage proposals.  We need to ponder these questions with all whom we hold close, family, business, Church, fraternity, sorority or whatever. We need to take it home and ask ourselves these types of questions.  But there is hope.  Our Lord Jesus says that if we clean the inside of our cup the outside will become clean as well.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Week 2 of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 38; Evening,  Psalm 119:25 to 48;

Amos 8:1 to 14; Revelation 1:17 to 2:7; Matthew 23:1 to 12

“All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

After pondering on these words of Matthew for a while I get the sense that exaltation is the goal for both, it’s just two different routes to being exalted. While we are kind of led to the latter, that is, to humble ourselves now in order to be exalted later (in the next life), it seems to me that we are being humble for the reward of being exalted.  That doesn’t work for me. 

I think if I train myself to really get into, and be comfortable with humility, I will never want or desire exaltation for myself.  I’ve always told my congregation that being humble can be a fleeting thing.  Once you boast about your humility, it’s gone. 

I have had lapses in humility.  I played guitar with another guitarist and when he was thanked for coming and playing and I was not, I brought it to the attention of the group that I was there also. Shame on me.  It was after that incident that I coined the phrase “the humility of invisibility.”  Unfortunately humility was not my comfort zone. But I want it to be.  So I have put into practice the words of C.S. Lewis who said, “Humility is not so much about thinking less of yourself, but rather, thinking of yourself less.”

So now I ponder about all the times I was not seen or remembered, while at the same time I was very present, at various events. I am learning to enjoy “the humility of invisibility,” not so that I might be exalted later, but just for the inherent quiet and unassuming nature of it. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 2^nd Week of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening,  Psalms 36 and 39;
Amos 7:10 to 17; Revelation 1:9 to 16; Matthew 22:34 to 46:

“Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” (Amos 7: 14 and 15)

Amos reminds me of me. He was a blue collar preacher. He was dedicated to a life of sycamore trees and sheep.  He was probably poor even by that day’s standard of wealth. But like John the Baptist and others, he was an empty cup that God could use, even though it required him to traverse to Israel.

I retired from the Marine Corps and followed my then priest’s instruction to inquire if God has a call on my life. God did. And I am so thankful. While Amos was a dresser of sycamore trees and a herdsman, I was an aircraft maintenance manager for East coast Marine war planes, fixed and rotor wing. I was, and am, so blue collar, like Amos. But God has made use of my emptiness.

 As you read this blog, please understand, God is not done with you. It matters not if you are blue collar, a business professional, or health care professional like Luke from whom we have a Gospel report; if you are open to God and not full of yourself, God wants to partner with you for holy work. There is plenty of work yet to be done. It is the Lord’s Work; and therefore, it is holy work. Are you in? Thank You Lord Jesus.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the Second Week of Advent: Year 2

Morning,  Psalm 25; Evening, Psalms 9 and 15;

Amos 7:1 to 9; Revelation 1:1 to 8; Matthew 22:23 to 33:

“This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb-line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘See, I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel;
I will never again pass them by.” (Amos 7:7 – 8)

This plumb-line that the lord is setting in the midst of us is the perfect upright angle with which we are to judge our own moral character.  A friend of mine once said to a congregation that it was hard for him to achieve something he has not seen.  But once he as seen someone do, and be, the better person, then, he too could aim for that, knowing it is possible.

We don’t all have the same level of good judgment at the same time. But I believe the ability to make better and better decisions is an evolving skill.  I believe patience with our understanding helps us to be better decision makers.  We must first want to do the right thing; the right thing has to be more important than “my” thing.  Getting even is not the right thing and it is against the Lord’s plumb-line; it clearly shows us to be off kilter.  Also, we should not try to make ourselves look good by pointing out the faults of others.  It would be better to point out how we have challenges that we are aware of and are working on, than to point to the short comings of others. 

Our Lord Jesus is the perfect Plumb-line.  We can’t be Him but we can continue to work towards perfection. In trying to perfect our character we become that plumb-line for someone else to emulate. Remember however, we are not doing it to be copied (even though that would make the world a better place).  We are working towards that never ending road to perfection from which we will not regress or return from. We will just keep comparing ourselves to His Perfection, that Plumb-line, that some may not know even exist.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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

The Gospel Reading for the Second Sunday of Advent: Year B

 Mark 1:1-8

“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” (Mark 1: 4 and 5)

In our Mark reading there are three points made. We have the notification of the coming of Jesus, we have the repentance of sins with baptism, and we have preparing the way for the arrival of Jesus.

In February of 2018 I was baptized in the River Jordan.  We were all Christian clergy.  I can remember that when it came to be my time to be among the baptizing ministers, there were more clergy in my line than the others and so my line was the longest line.  When I inquired as to why, the response was, that these clergy folk wanted to be able to say that they were baptized in the River Jordan by “John.” 

While I truly believe in one baptism for the remission of sins, This ceremonial baptism in Israel was something I couldn’t pass up.  I enjoyed walking the Holy Land.  But more important was re-living the life that our Lord Jesus experienced.  The God in man who had no sin, was baptized for the remission of sins, our sins. We are so blessed because of Him.  He has planted in us the seed of redemption and will soon come again to harvest his vineyard.

John lived on the fringes of the gathered communities. He was not swayed by money or human power or authority. He dressed rough and ate wilderness food. He was an empty cup made available to God for God to fill, as we should be today.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Saturday following the 1^st Sunday of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1 to 7; Evening,  Psalms 110:1 to 5 and Psalms 116 and 117;
Amos 5:18 to 27; Jude 17 to 25; Matthew 22:15 to 22:

“It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads toeternal life:” (Jude 19 to 21).

I believe every human being has the Spirit of God in them, but many do not rely on it.  I think this is what Jude means when he talks about worldly people devoid of the Spirit. He goes on the say that such worldly people cause division among us. And to this I add laziness and blaming others for all the bad that happens to us is easy and infectious and makes us feel that we are not responsible for the way we are, how we feel, or what we say and do.

Jude continues, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith.”  Having and relying on our faith is so important.  With our faith we strive to see our Lord Jesus in all people. The good knowledge we have is that we can, and should, look for our Lord Jesus even in people who do not profess Christianity as well as those who do. See if you can discover a Christ-like quality in a non Church-person or someone who is of a faith other than Christianity, or even no professed faith at all.  If you do see a loving Jesus quality in such a person you can always say (to yourself) “That’s awfully Jesus of you.”  Just don’t say it out loud.  Remember it is you who are looking for our Lord Jesus in the other, not them.  I’m thinking they have him and don’t know it. So let your faith be the search for our Lord Jesus in others regardless of what they may, or may not, believe.

Finally, Jude says to “pray in the Holy Spirit.”  Remember that when you pray you are responding to God who is already praying, you are not initiating the prayer.  God has already done that.  All any of us has to do is just relax and let the Holy Spirit pray through us.  “Oh what a relief it is.”

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the First Sunday of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 16, and 17; Evening, Psalm 22;
Amos 5:1 to17; Jude 1 to 16; Matthew  22:1 to 14:

“All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, upon those who are noble among the people.” (Psalm 16:2)

We need to appreciate good people more.  It seems all the news goes to the negative folk in our communities; to the mass shooters, the crooked politicians, and today, the smash and grabbers.

We need to show appreciation for the godly that are in the land, those who are courteous in the store and in traffic. We need to take a moment to award those who, while they do not agree with the majority on an issue, will behave as if the opposing view was their own.

We need to give thanks for good parents, and for good fathers who raise children who may not be biologically theirs, and care for their mothers.  This is what Joseph, the human father of Jesus, did. And yet, we have no words from him, just faithful behavior.

There are plenty of people who are trying every day to do what is right in the world. Let’s reach out and compliment the goodness of people who go unnoticed. They bring harmony to our communities and are standing right beside us as we witness those who do wrong and get all kinds of attention. If we honored those among us who live godly lives, perhaps more people would be inclined to be the same, that is, the godly people God is making them to be.  Let’s do this, this weekend as we enter our Sabbath time together.

“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

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the First Sunday of Advent; Year 2

Morning, Psalm 18:1-20; Evening, Psalm 18:21-50;
Amos 4:6-13; 2^nd Peter 3:11-18; Matthew 21:33-46

“Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures;” (2^nd Peter 3: 14 to 16).

Not that we will ever achieve being without spot or blemish, we should still strive to be found at peace. I have found that being patient in all things is a key step in being at peace. The writer in this passage considers the patience of the Lord as salvation. I think so also.

I often thought Peter and Paul were Christian adversaries. But here we have Peter uplifting “our beloved Paul” and asking us to look deeper into his letters to find real divine meaning and wisdom as it had been given to Paul.  Further, he says, let us not twist Paul’s words to our own destruction as many do with all scripture.

I believe that it is with patience and the search for love in all things that we will find peace, that peace which surpasses all understanding.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palistine and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Sunday of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:1-24; Evening,  Psalms 12, 13 and 14:
Amos 3:12-4:5; 2 Peter 3:1-10; Matthew 21:23-32

“For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:32)

Perhaps the biggest hindrance to human spiritual growth is our refusal to change our minds. Like the chief priests and the elders of the Temple, we too, even after we see some less thought of people learning and living into righteousness, we stubbornly hold on to what we falsely believed to be true.  We hold on to false teachings because we see changing our minds as weakness. But I submit that it takes real strength to grab false teachings and push them aside.

We need to live a life of life-long-learning.  And, when we learn something new, follow the new path in our behavior and actions.

Today our Church remembers St. Nicholas of Myra; Santa Claus.  “Nicholas was a native of the western part of what is now Asiatic Turkey. He became Bishop of Myra in the fourth century, and there are many stories of his love for God and for his neighbor:” taken from St. Nicholas of Myra (satucket.com).  As Christians who believe in eternal life, Santa Claus still lives! Thank You Lord Jesus. This means we can be honest with our children and adults when we say “I believe in Santa Claus.” Santa Lives!

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the First Sunday of Advent: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 5 and  6; Evening,  Psalms 10 and 11;
Amos 3:1 to 11; 2^nd Peter 1:12-21; Matthew 21:12-22

“Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation.” (Psalm 5:1)

The words of this Psalm caught my attention because of the word “meditation.”  I have often considered meditation to be prayer. And, as I write these words early each morning I ponder even deeper about the Holy Presence of God in our human lives.

Before this Psalm drifts off into correcting bad people, it mentions other thoughts of mine. “Hearken to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I make my prayer to you;” (Psalm 5:2).  God’s ears hears tears. When we cry to God for help, God hears us. And the Psalmist uses the word prayer this time instead of meditation. This is my life early in the morning. “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; early in the morning I make my appeal and watch for you;” (Psalm 5:3).  None of us knows what the night will bring, I invite you to start the practice of some kind of morning thankfulness to God.

In Second Peter for today it is written; “First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God;” (2^nd Peter 1:20 and 21). For me, this means our meditations or prayers are comingled with the Holy Spirit of God. Let us glean from God’s Blessings and pass them on to others.

Finally, we have from the Gospel according to Matthew a word on the power of faith,  “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive; (Matthew 21:22). So, let our meditation be always faith-based.

Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.

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