...and do not make your heritage a mockery...
- From Joel 2
The sample from Scripture, today, says it all. It's almost like nothing else is needed.
But these blogs are a desired starting point for conversation. If something jumps out at me . . . a concept that people would usually just pass over . . . well, those are the ones I want to escalate.
When it gets around to a culture, or a nation, or a legacy . . . or a heritage . . . being mocked; well, that can't be good.
I think of the system in which I grew up; a system in which, despite whatever happened between us and other peoples, we did not mock them. Our official practice was always to respect other cultures.
But when the other cultures begin to mock us.... Mockery is just not a good thing. It's never good. Mockery is so bad, that it even brings down the status of the mockers.
Children mock. Hypocrites mock. People without a sound logical footing, mock.
Intelligent, wise, loving people do not mock.
Mockery is a very bad thing. In some ways, it's worse than being conquered. A conqueror can still treat the vanquished culture as having value.
In America today, two bitter sides mock the other.
One side, though, joins our adversaries in mocking our own culture.
People mock their own culture, their nation, their flag, their community, their neighbors, their family . . . their flesh and blood.
And in so doing, they mock themselves.
There's a song by The Imperials: Something's Wrong With the World.
Look at the way people mock each other, and how they mock the very idea of honor and freedom.
Something's wrong, Exhibit A.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Monday, February 12, 2018
Secret
... your Father who sees in secret ...
- From Matthew 6
There's so much to unpack in these few verses from Matthew 6. It's the famous passage about doing your good works secretly. Don't make a show of your piety.
I thought about making a connection to Lincoln's Birthday, which is today. His professions of faith, and good deeds were done with a humble spirit.
And then I thought about emphasizing the word "hypocrite," which is overused in our times. It seems that only hypocrites, themselves, ever accuse others of hypocrisy.
But recently I have been studying a mental health condition called "IPD," or "Immature Personality Disorder." It is a concept, and phenomenon, and problem, that may very well overtake society's current obsession with rooting out narcissists.
A narcissist and a bully are often the same. But it is a single person. And single persons can be taken down.
But IPD has taken over an entire group of people. Children lack power, of themselves. But when they gang up, they increase their power many times over. And when children are in adult bodies, they wield the weapon of "ganging up" quite effectively.
The traits of hypocrites line up tellingly, in the traits present in IPD:
- From Matthew 6
There's so much to unpack in these few verses from Matthew 6. It's the famous passage about doing your good works secretly. Don't make a show of your piety.
I thought about making a connection to Lincoln's Birthday, which is today. His professions of faith, and good deeds were done with a humble spirit.
And then I thought about emphasizing the word "hypocrite," which is overused in our times. It seems that only hypocrites, themselves, ever accuse others of hypocrisy.
But recently I have been studying a mental health condition called "IPD," or "Immature Personality Disorder." It is a concept, and phenomenon, and problem, that may very well overtake society's current obsession with rooting out narcissists.
A narcissist and a bully are often the same. But it is a single person. And single persons can be taken down.
But IPD has taken over an entire group of people. Children lack power, of themselves. But when they gang up, they increase their power many times over. And when children are in adult bodies, they wield the weapon of "ganging up" quite effectively.
The traits of hypocrites line up tellingly, in the traits present in IPD:
- Drawing attention to themselves. "Notice me!!"
- Making a show of their faith or good deeds
- Exaggerating how much they sacrifice for others
- Materialism - - - wanting and taking things for themselves
Of course, we all must watch ourselves, so that we do not do any of these things. If we're all being faithful servants (see the blog post entitled "Slave") then there will be no need for those with IPD to draw attention to themselves. In reality, you can't blame them . . . they don't think anybody's listening to them!
But it's the people that are well cared-for; that do make a good living, that do have respect in the community . . . when they exhibit IPD traits, that's when it's bad.
And worst yet . . . it's the people that really don't do much to care for others: they don't give much to charity, they don't express kindness to strangers on the street, they don't visit their aging relatives, they don't let others have different viewpoints . . . yet they signal their own virtue by way of bumper stickers and getting their photo taken at the latest protest, or march.
Goodness happens in giant ways, in the small moments. Moments so small . . . that only God can see them.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Slave
...we proclaim ... ourselves as your slaves ...
- From 2 Corinthians 4
In the middle of a passage about light, and other very positive things, we see this reference to Paul, the writer. He is writing about himself. But when he talks about himself, it is not in an arrogant, or narcissistic way (sorry to use an overused word).
Or it it?
Paul seems quite proud of himself, describing himself as a "slave." He even goes so far as to call the assertion, a proclamation. As in, something formal, or official. He is shouting from the rooftops, and confirming it by way of a notarized, legal document, that he is a slave to others . . .and this is how he seals his admission that he is in a class of person that, by the 21st Century would be characterized as the most debased and humble appointment.
This is what being in the "light" means to Paul.
We move into Lent later this week. It is a season within the church calendar, where self is denied and material possessions de-emphasized.
I look around me, and find few people that are true servants to others. Much less, people that would aspire to it, and admit it. Even if we applied the tithing rule - - - 10% of your time spent as a servant, we would expect to see much more in the way of servanthood, than we see day to day.
We can't describe people in politics as servants. There is too much power acquisition when it comes to politics. Business people can't be servants. If they aren't maximizing profits, they do not survive. People in academia are not servants. There is too much of their own personal agenda informing their practices. Doctors? Lawyers? It's too likely they chose their careers because of the money they could make, to be considered "servants."
Sometimes, a retired person adopts a lifestyle similar to servant-hood. But they had to wait until their retirement funds were secured.
This is too much vague wording, so far. So what am I really saying? Let me suggest a few things.
- From 2 Corinthians 4
In the middle of a passage about light, and other very positive things, we see this reference to Paul, the writer. He is writing about himself. But when he talks about himself, it is not in an arrogant, or narcissistic way (sorry to use an overused word).
Or it it?
Paul seems quite proud of himself, describing himself as a "slave." He even goes so far as to call the assertion, a proclamation. As in, something formal, or official. He is shouting from the rooftops, and confirming it by way of a notarized, legal document, that he is a slave to others . . .and this is how he seals his admission that he is in a class of person that, by the 21st Century would be characterized as the most debased and humble appointment.
This is what being in the "light" means to Paul.
We move into Lent later this week. It is a season within the church calendar, where self is denied and material possessions de-emphasized.
I look around me, and find few people that are true servants to others. Much less, people that would aspire to it, and admit it. Even if we applied the tithing rule - - - 10% of your time spent as a servant, we would expect to see much more in the way of servanthood, than we see day to day.
We can't describe people in politics as servants. There is too much power acquisition when it comes to politics. Business people can't be servants. If they aren't maximizing profits, they do not survive. People in academia are not servants. There is too much of their own personal agenda informing their practices. Doctors? Lawyers? It's too likely they chose their careers because of the money they could make, to be considered "servants."
Sometimes, a retired person adopts a lifestyle similar to servant-hood. But they had to wait until their retirement funds were secured.
This is too much vague wording, so far. So what am I really saying? Let me suggest a few things.
- A true tithe. A real 10% of income, to go directly to charitable work that directly impacts people with real needs.
- Stop maligning people that choose careers that serve.
- 10% of your time: 2.4 hours per day, in servant activities. That would be, like, give up your entire Saturday.
So . . . it would be a very hard to thing to do. Do you see how only 10% of one's money and/or time, would make a huge difference?
And can you see how godly light would follow such a person around?
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Now
... from the rising of the sun to its setting.
- From Psalm 50
What an excellent description of the meaning of "forever."
We all want forever. Even the saddest of all people, hopes there is a forever. Because if time could just continue, without ending, there would have to be a point where my sadness ends. Or, if I knew I would never die, maybe that alone would take away my pain.
Suicide is an extreme act, to hasten the coming of Forever. It is within the human heart and spirit, to believe life goes on beyond death. So I'll just get there now, and skip past the inconvenience of several dozen years of life on earth.
But "the rising of the sun to its setting" is talking about here . . . and now. It is referring to the passing of our days, the continuous routine of our daily grind. And since the sun is always rising, and always setting, somewhere on earth, the illustration in today's Psalm is talking about what Eternity is really about.
Unending Now. This present moment, continuing forever.
There is no time in eternity. But eternity is best understood as whatever we are experiencing in this moment, but without a sense that the clock is ticking.
Real Eternity is something we can grasp. It really is Eternal Life!
If you take your own life . . . you are not hastening anything. You are skipping something very important: your own life. And that is what makes suicide an even greater tragedy, yet.
If we didn't yearn for eternal life, we could never bear even a simple sadness, or setback. Eternal Life is the very essence of hope.
It's just got to get better.
And it will.
You will enjoy The Best Day Ever . . . over and over again. And that seems, to me, way more appealing than all the other descriptions of eternity.
- From Psalm 50
What an excellent description of the meaning of "forever."
We all want forever. Even the saddest of all people, hopes there is a forever. Because if time could just continue, without ending, there would have to be a point where my sadness ends. Or, if I knew I would never die, maybe that alone would take away my pain.
Suicide is an extreme act, to hasten the coming of Forever. It is within the human heart and spirit, to believe life goes on beyond death. So I'll just get there now, and skip past the inconvenience of several dozen years of life on earth.
But "the rising of the sun to its setting" is talking about here . . . and now. It is referring to the passing of our days, the continuous routine of our daily grind. And since the sun is always rising, and always setting, somewhere on earth, the illustration in today's Psalm is talking about what Eternity is really about.
Unending Now. This present moment, continuing forever.
There is no time in eternity. But eternity is best understood as whatever we are experiencing in this moment, but without a sense that the clock is ticking.
Real Eternity is something we can grasp. It really is Eternal Life!
If you take your own life . . . you are not hastening anything. You are skipping something very important: your own life. And that is what makes suicide an even greater tragedy, yet.
If we didn't yearn for eternal life, we could never bear even a simple sadness, or setback. Eternal Life is the very essence of hope.
It's just got to get better.
And it will.
You will enjoy The Best Day Ever . . . over and over again. And that seems, to me, way more appealing than all the other descriptions of eternity.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Ascensions
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind . . .
- From 2 Kings 2
Going back to yesterday's reflection, this is one point in the life of Elijah, that God may have taken him up, and then planted back down into the timeline, onto the Mount of Transfiguration and the meeting with Jesus and Moses.
Elijah's ascension was similar to that of Christ. The exceptions are, that Elijah required a vehicle, a flaming chariot, whereas Christ just ascended, without help. Also, Elijah's ascension had a lot of buildup. He had traveled from Bethel, to Jericho, to the Jordan River, each time picking up another handful of prophets and probably a growing mass of people. The ascension of Elijah was a spectacle, a major event not unlike a 21st Century community annual summer festival.
Elijah's sidekick, Elishah, was well-prepared to take over.
But Jesus' ascension came suddenly. Despite all of His preparations and advice to the Apostles, they still seemed surprised by it. He was with them only. Just a dozen men off at some remote area.
But I like to think that Elijah's ascension had one other key point - - - he was on his way to a meeting with Moses and Jesus.
And immediately after that meeting, Jesus would begin His journey, amidst a growing throng of people. Elijah's journey started in Bethel, and ended at the Jordan River. Jesus' journey began at Bethelehem, was launched in earnest in his baptism in the Jordan River, and ended in Jerusalem.
Elijah's ministry began quietly and ended among a lot of fanfare.
Jesus' ministry exploded into international fame (Rome had heard about Him), but ended quietly, with a few friends.
Elijah ascended in a flaming paroxysm.
Jesus ascended in a gentle flurry of overwhelming quiet.
- From 2 Kings 2
Going back to yesterday's reflection, this is one point in the life of Elijah, that God may have taken him up, and then planted back down into the timeline, onto the Mount of Transfiguration and the meeting with Jesus and Moses.
Elijah's ascension was similar to that of Christ. The exceptions are, that Elijah required a vehicle, a flaming chariot, whereas Christ just ascended, without help. Also, Elijah's ascension had a lot of buildup. He had traveled from Bethel, to Jericho, to the Jordan River, each time picking up another handful of prophets and probably a growing mass of people. The ascension of Elijah was a spectacle, a major event not unlike a 21st Century community annual summer festival.
Elijah's sidekick, Elishah, was well-prepared to take over.
But Jesus' ascension came suddenly. Despite all of His preparations and advice to the Apostles, they still seemed surprised by it. He was with them only. Just a dozen men off at some remote area.
But I like to think that Elijah's ascension had one other key point - - - he was on his way to a meeting with Moses and Jesus.
And immediately after that meeting, Jesus would begin His journey, amidst a growing throng of people. Elijah's journey started in Bethel, and ended at the Jordan River. Jesus' journey began at Bethelehem, was launched in earnest in his baptism in the Jordan River, and ended in Jerusalem.
Elijah's ministry began quietly and ended among a lot of fanfare.
Jesus' ministry exploded into international fame (Rome had heard about Him), but ended quietly, with a few friends.
Elijah ascended in a flaming paroxysm.
Jesus ascended in a gentle flurry of overwhelming quiet.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Master of Time: The Transfiguration
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
- From Mark 9
There are some commonly-held views about what actually took place at the Transfiguration of Christ. But as with all of Scripture, there may always be some little point, or detail, that is overlooked, or perhaps veiled.
All of us together have only part of the whole. One of the reasons why unity is so eminently critical to humanity, is so that we can match the details that each of us hold, and with creativity, put together concepts, ideas, or facts, that seem incompatible. The outcome is Truth. Humanity fails to make true progress, because humanity is in love with partisanship, and denominationalism.
Let me share my little take (just one point of many) regarding the Transfiguration. It comes from years of studying some rare texts about all kinds of doctrine, combined with my reading of history and science, and a whole of discussions with people from all walks of life,. over decades.
And I am indebted, also, to the influence I received in the 1990s, from a variety of people, to strive for open-mindedness and embrace new ideas.
It goes like this:
How did Moses and Elijah get to the Mount of Transfiguration? What were they doing there? Was it just a vision, or dream? Was it really them? Were they resurrected for this purpose only, and then returned to the grave? How did the three Apostles know their identities?
I believe that God, Who occupies Eternity . . . a dimension without time. A concept and place that is the never ending Present - - - also could control time. He can mix and match it. He can move events and chronologies around the way we cut and paste parts of a document, or sort a column in a spreadsheet. And we're no more aware of this editing process, than the characters in the Harry Potter series are aware of J.K. Rowlings' thoughts.
The Transfiguration was a simple act of God placing Moses and Elijah in the timeline of Christ, at just the right time. For the Master of Time, it was easy.
And now the fun part becomes: studying the lives of Moses and Elijah . . . and trying to figure out at what point they were clutched away from that moment, to be placed into the cataclysmic moment with Christ.
As the two stood there, with Christ, imagine their thoughts, and comments, as they looked down at the frightened three Apostles, and considered the impact of this intersection of several different threads in the Gospel story.
- From Mark 9
There are some commonly-held views about what actually took place at the Transfiguration of Christ. But as with all of Scripture, there may always be some little point, or detail, that is overlooked, or perhaps veiled.
All of us together have only part of the whole. One of the reasons why unity is so eminently critical to humanity, is so that we can match the details that each of us hold, and with creativity, put together concepts, ideas, or facts, that seem incompatible. The outcome is Truth. Humanity fails to make true progress, because humanity is in love with partisanship, and denominationalism.
Let me share my little take (just one point of many) regarding the Transfiguration. It comes from years of studying some rare texts about all kinds of doctrine, combined with my reading of history and science, and a whole of discussions with people from all walks of life,. over decades.
And I am indebted, also, to the influence I received in the 1990s, from a variety of people, to strive for open-mindedness and embrace new ideas.
It goes like this:
How did Moses and Elijah get to the Mount of Transfiguration? What were they doing there? Was it just a vision, or dream? Was it really them? Were they resurrected for this purpose only, and then returned to the grave? How did the three Apostles know their identities?
I believe that God, Who occupies Eternity . . . a dimension without time. A concept and place that is the never ending Present - - - also could control time. He can mix and match it. He can move events and chronologies around the way we cut and paste parts of a document, or sort a column in a spreadsheet. And we're no more aware of this editing process, than the characters in the Harry Potter series are aware of J.K. Rowlings' thoughts.
The Transfiguration was a simple act of God placing Moses and Elijah in the timeline of Christ, at just the right time. For the Master of Time, it was easy.
And now the fun part becomes: studying the lives of Moses and Elijah . . . and trying to figure out at what point they were clutched away from that moment, to be placed into the cataclysmic moment with Christ.
As the two stood there, with Christ, imagine their thoughts, and comments, as they looked down at the frightened three Apostles, and considered the impact of this intersection of several different threads in the Gospel story.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Veil
Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- From 2 Corinthians 4
There are probably a number of logical reasons why some people turn away from eternal life. Today's reading opens with one such reason:
They can't help it.
It all starts with stubbornness, willfulness, self-centeredness, self-love, instant gratification, desire for material or sensual pleasures.
And we all start out with these traits. No . . . babies do not come into the world pure. They enter life with a hyper-focus on themselves. They have to . . . if they didn't, we might not care for them as we should. We have to learn not to be selfish (or hateful, or racist, or misogynist, etc.) One reason we have babies is so that as adults, maybe then, we can learn to put others ahead of ourselves. And that just prepares us to care for our elders.
Evil people are basically people that never grew up, to an extreme.
But it all starts there. God begins reaching out to us, from the very beginning. But if we keep resisting Him, it's like we are training ourselves to be very good at closing our minds, for turning away from the long-term. God requires us to see ourselves as part of the bigger picture. We must think of others ahead of ourselves. That's what God teaches us.
But if we keep pushing back, God gets to the point of, "Well, okay . . . then I will harden your heart, Myself." It's a last-ditch effort to get us to listen.
The Gospel is veiled, because God has placed a veil over it, for those that simply will not listen to Him, after years of trying. It makes sense, too . . . we don't want people whose faith is weak, and that hate God, to understand everything about eternity. I think history has shown what happens when people people have too much knowledge.
Despite our past, and all of the mistakes we make every day . . . if we yearn for eternal life, and to be found acceptable to God, that may be all the reassurance we need, that we are in good hand, for the long haul.
- From 2 Corinthians 4
There are probably a number of logical reasons why some people turn away from eternal life. Today's reading opens with one such reason:
They can't help it.
It all starts with stubbornness, willfulness, self-centeredness, self-love, instant gratification, desire for material or sensual pleasures.
And we all start out with these traits. No . . . babies do not come into the world pure. They enter life with a hyper-focus on themselves. They have to . . . if they didn't, we might not care for them as we should. We have to learn not to be selfish (or hateful, or racist, or misogynist, etc.) One reason we have babies is so that as adults, maybe then, we can learn to put others ahead of ourselves. And that just prepares us to care for our elders.
Evil people are basically people that never grew up, to an extreme.
But it all starts there. God begins reaching out to us, from the very beginning. But if we keep resisting Him, it's like we are training ourselves to be very good at closing our minds, for turning away from the long-term. God requires us to see ourselves as part of the bigger picture. We must think of others ahead of ourselves. That's what God teaches us.
But if we keep pushing back, God gets to the point of, "Well, okay . . . then I will harden your heart, Myself." It's a last-ditch effort to get us to listen.
The Gospel is veiled, because God has placed a veil over it, for those that simply will not listen to Him, after years of trying. It makes sense, too . . . we don't want people whose faith is weak, and that hate God, to understand everything about eternity. I think history has shown what happens when people people have too much knowledge.
Despite our past, and all of the mistakes we make every day . . . if we yearn for eternal life, and to be found acceptable to God, that may be all the reassurance we need, that we are in good hand, for the long haul.
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