Time To Enjoy The Results

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

At Sunday afternoon's study group we watched a short video which showed how the travel conditions for Mary and Joseph might have been as they journeyed between Nazareth and Bethlehem. The host of the video took us onto the road that the couple might have traveled. The path went through olive tree orchards, next to bubbling streams, and through dry and arid lands. There were parts of the road that were flat and easy to travel and parts that went through deep valleys and over steep hillsides. The host commented that on parts of the journey they would have been part of a great caravan and on other parts they would have been alone.

The story we were told brought to mind how my personal journey is extremely similar. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes not so much. Sometimes I travel with many and sometimes with nobody. But, just as Mary and Joseph trusted in God and focused on God's purpose for them, So have I learned to trust.

One of the topics the video touched on was how Joseph and Mary sacrificed a lot of themselves to find a way to fulfill God's purpose. The host eventually lead the conversation into sacrificing ourselves for others, especially at Christmas time. He pointed out that there was a church congregation he knew of that gave a matching gift to the church on Christmas Eve based on how much they spent on gifts for their family. If they spent $500 on gifts, they gave $500 to the church. The church would then donate the money to one local cause, such as a homeless shelter, and one international cause, such as building wells in Africa.


Our group picked up on that theme and discussed different ways we could sacrifice some of ourselves, not just during Christmas, but as often as we can. We recognized that there are many times when we forget to harvest what we plant, or don't take the opportunity to speak up instead of being silent. A lot of the time we feed the hungry only during the holidays, or donate our old clothes to simply get a tax break, or close our eyes as we see social injustice happen right before our eyes.

As Christians I think we're called to know what to do and when to do it; through and with the guidance of God.

With the new year upon us maybe we, too, could start to build that trust in God to know the right time to do the things which will eventually bring goodness into the world - even if it's just one life at a time. Joseph and Mary had that trust, and when it was time they got to enjoy the results of the work they were given: raising the infant Christ to become a strong, young man.

Let's find a way for all people to eat, drink, and enjoy the results of their hard work.

And Then There Was Light, Again

John 1:1-14

I was in a conversation about the theologies (yes, plural) which helped to shape the Bible. The conversation soon centered around a Jewish belief I was told about in seminary that when the light which was created in Genesis 1 is the life force that runs through and connects all things. It is more than luminescence, it is the one thing which all of creation shares; the spirit of the one God which all of creation is a part of. This is why light is the very first thing we are told is created; nothing could have been created without God first giving it life.

I've been told that the Jewish people believe that somehow the light had become shattered and all living things became separated, but that within each living creature shines a sliver of that light. Thus it is the goal of Judaism to reconnect the light which shines within all of creation in the way which God intended the light to be connected - within, through, and a part of all of creation.

When I was enlightened (sorry) by this story I held an all too different view of the bible and how I would now approach its stories. For me, the understanding that we were created to be one people, unified by the life-force of God, pretty much formed my personal theology. It has become the words I talk about as often as I can and the way I choose to live my life. Christianity, to me, is to follow the teachings of Jesus and find a way, just as he tried, to bring people together through the unconditional love and acceptance of God's shining light.

So, on the day when Jesus was born, when God said to the world, "Here is the light which will shine forth in this time of darkness and oppression and find a way to bring all people together." I take to heart all which that involves. Not just the shepherds gathering or the angels singing or the shining star, but the sacrifices made by God, Mary, and Joseph. You see, God gave us God's only child in the hopes that humanity would see in him the shining life force meant for all, all, people. Mary's life was uprooted, as was Joseph's, in their decision to have this illegitimate child, and to raise him as their own, regardless of what others say or think about them, or do to them.

Christmas is that time when I not only completely accept the Christ-child into my life, but also a time when I move closer to being Christ-like in spreading the good news of a God who loves us all, and does so because of our diversities. God put God's son into the loving care of 2 people who weren't rich, or powerful, or important. Mary and Joseph did not have any plans to advance an agenda of any kind. They simply promised to take care of one another and the child which they were entrusted with as best as they could and to bring each other through any difficulties that would come their way.

Such is the promise we accept at Christmas time. To love one another by embracing our diversities, and to do the utmost best we can to take care of one another regardless of the situation or sacrifices we have to make for ourselves.

But, How?

Luke 1:26-38

Today was the last day of school for this year. The end of the first semester is now official and the beginning of our winter break begins.

YAY!

It was an interesting day, which came at the end of an interesting week. Our high school has a finals week, much like a college would. We schedule only a few classes each day - 2 or 3 - and the kids can go home once they're done with their testing. This leaves a lot of time for any students to catch up with work they might be missing or redo work that is sub-par in order to bring their grades up. It also gives the teachers time to correct the piles of work that have been building up over the past few weeks.

I have to be honest and say we had fewer students who took advantage of this extra time to get themselves out of the bottom tier of grades than I would have liked to see. However, we also had students who didn't take advantage of the time given who, if they had come in, could have come through with a passing grade. Those who did make the effort were rewarded.

One of the students who did come in brought himself out of an F grade and into a D. I know, it's not much to cheer about, but given how much work this student had to do and how much determination it took to get him there, I have to say it was amazing. So much so, that when we were verifying grades today the teacher actually cheered out loud when that D was announced.

Sort of how I think Mary cried out, "But how can this happen?" to the angel who visited her. I think that her exclamation/question is at once wonder and awe that she, of all the women in Jerusalem, would be the one chosen to carry the Christ-child. I also believe that it's because of her dedication and perseverance that God chose her in the first place.

We, too, are chosen by God to show that same diligence and determination to develop the gifts he has given us. Our task, and I'm not only talking about Christians, but all of humanity, is to be caretakers of those gifts and to develop them in such a way as so when it's time, when God sends us out to do the work, we are ready. We are ready to make the lives of those around better.

Advent has been that journey for me. It's been a time of discerning what path God is showing me to prepare my gifts for and to know that I am the one whom is being sent to shine the love of God for everyone around me. It has truly been a time to open myself up more completely to let the love of God pour out so that through it hope, peace, and joy can be found.

Houseless, And Liking It That Way

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

I find today's passage very interesting, especially after recent conversations with our youth group in church.

We've been discussing how to prepare the way for the coming of Christ into our lives and the lives of those around us. It's been an interesting journey, with the outcome of our conversations so far recognizing that to bring the things which would spread hope, joy, and peace we sometimes have to step outside our comfort zone.

Take for instance this example: one of the suggestions we had was to bond with those who may not have anyone to spend the holidays with. It was suggested that we partner with groups like Meals On Wheels to not only deliver food to the home-bound, but to also spend a few moments with them to let them know people care. Doing such a thing would mean that we would have to sacrifice our time and energy which might otherwise be spent with family or friends during this time of year.

But, you know, living outside his comfort zone, and enjoying it there, is exactly what God shows us by his own actions.

King David finally has some time to rest from everything that's been going on around him. After all, battles with neighboring rulers, settling the Hebrew people into a new land, and building a palace takes a lot out of a person. While he takes a moment to reflect on his life, David notices that while he lives in a mighty palace built of the finest wood available in their region, God lives in a tent.

"Well," says David, "that just won't do."


That night, the prophet Nathan, who is also a good friend to David, has a vision in which God says, "Tell that silly king I don't need a home, I'm quite comfortable where I am. In fact, tell him that instead of making me a fancy shmancy place to live I will make him the greatest leader of all time. While I'm at it I'll also make a really good place for the people to live. That'll show him who's boss."

Okay, maybe I paraphrased a little, but you get the message. God didn't need comforts, God only wanted to keep giving to David and the Hebrew people the things which would continue to bring them peace and joy. God only wanted to continue to bring to realization the hope of life abundant to his people. God's only mission was, and still is, to love so abundantly that we, his children, should never want for anything.

It's through God's example that we should learn to live for others, and not so much for ourselves. So, this holiday season (yes, I use holiday as an all-inclusive term for this time of year) stop for a moment to simply enjoy that which you already have, and as much as it is within you, step outside your comfort zone and give abundantly to someone else's life.

How Magnifying!

Luke 1:46b-55

On Tuesday our high school Academy held the first of our biannual mock interviews. It's where we bring in real people from the real world to hold actual job interviews for the juniors and seniors in our Academy. This first round of interviews is the culmination of an entire semester's work in preparing the students for everything from proper sitting posture to positive word choices to the best way to format a resume when it comes to finding a job and, most importantly, getting hired.

This year we utilized several different interviewers from organizations such as The Rotary Club and The Military. These interviewers go from campus to campus on our island during the school year and volunteer their time to help our youth improve their interviewing skills. When we gathered in the morning for coffee and donuts a few of the interviewers said to us how much they enjoy doing these interviews, but lately it would seem that the schools aren't doing a good job in preparing their kids.

That wasn't what they said to us as the day progressed.

Youth after youth sat across from these interviewers and did nothing except impress them. They told us about how our kids were mature, had solid plans for after high school, was open to any criticism, was dressed professionally, and put forth a positive attitude with both their presence and their answers.

I don't want to come across as bragging, but...I have to agree that our kids did very well; impressing even us, their teachers.



When we talked to a few of them about their experience they said they wanted to do good, that they wanted to represent themselves and the Academy in a positive light. They wanted people to see them in the positive light they knew they were. In the words from Mary in today's passage, "Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me."

Mary says this as part of her Magnificat, a sort of self-exaltation proclaiming that now she is revered as one of the great ones, even though she is still counted among the lowly. In other words, Mary has become an equal with all things, and she's done this because she has been blessed to bear the Christ-child.

Christians are asked to carry the Christ-child as well. We are to carry him within us, allowing him to grow until the day he is ready to be shown to the world. Meanwhile, we are asked to prepare ourselves and do the work necessary so that when the Christ we carry is revealed we, too, can be celebrated as one of the few who stand out in magnified light against the darkness of the world.

As teachers, we felt proud for our young men and women, just as I'm sure Mary felt proud for her son. And just as Jesus grew to be a strong man, ready to bring the news of God's love to the world in which he lived, I know those we prepare can and will do the same.

And This Little Piggie...

Psalm 126

One of my favorite childhood memories is playing "This Little Piggie" with just about anyone who would play. You know the game; someone grabs your big toe and says, "This little piggie went to market", then captures the toe next to your big one and says, "and this little piggie stayed home." The game would continue until the tiniest toe was gently pinched between two fingers and the words, "and this little piggie went wee, wee, wee all the way home." were squealed in playful teasing. At this point a grouping of fingertips would travel up your leg and land on your ribs, tickling you until you couldn't help burst into hysterical laughter.

At least that's how I remember it.

I also remember the pure joy I felt when the wee, wee, wee's were finally squealed because I knew a good tickling was soon to follow. However, what I honestly remember most is the look on the face of the person reciting the travels of the 5 little piggies and their anticipation of finally being able to squeal and tickle; bringing the joyful sound of a child's laughter into the room.

Such joy. Such simple joy.

This week in Advent we celebrate that feeling of joy. The joy promised to us by God that when we finally learn to live as God intended - in harmony as one people, under one love - we will fully understand. Like our Psalmist says today, "When the Lord changed Zion’s circumstances for the better, it was like we had been dreaming. Our mouths were suddenly filled with laughter; our tongues were filled with joyful shouts.

When a life lived with the love of God finally comes to realization, We will know such joy.

Sent Forth

Isaiah 61:1-11

We had a good discussion with the youth of our church this past Sunday about what we could do to help others get ready for Christmas. We talked about what Advent meant (the preparation to receive the love of God through Jesus Christ) and how we could bring Christmas to others.

We shared about how the things we do for Christmas today - decorating, gathering with family, bonding with people, preparing food, giving gifts - were probably the same thing people did to prepare or celebrate for a big event in Jesus' time as well. Then we took a look at how we could do these same things for people who just don't have the opportunities or for whom the holidays bring too much personal sadness.

Lots of ideas came from that discussion. We suggested looking for one of those Angel Tree outlets where we could select people or families who are asking for gifts of necessities at this time of year (as opposed to toys or more personal items). There's also Toys for Tots, Operation Christmas Child, and most likely a local program (in Hawaii we have the Laulima Drive) near you where you can do the same.

We suggested going to an elder care home and helping decorate the common area for Christmas, or doing something similar at a shelter for the homeless. We suggested serving a meal with one of the many organizations who do such things, such as Meals on Wheels, or The Salvation Army. We even suggested Christmas caroling for the street people.

I have to admit that my heart became filled with joy as these young people thought of different ways they could go out to prepare the way which would allow the Spirit of God to live among and within others. Such is the joy our world seeks. Such is the joy we can accomplish. All we need to do is allow ourselves to shine bright with the love of God in order for the lights around us, which may have gone out, to be re-lit and brightly gather together as one.

We, too, are called to go forth and bring God's joy to the world.

Gift Returns

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

One of the least favorite things for me while I was working in retail sales was the gift return. I would begrudgingly approach customers as they walked into the store, holding one of our store-logo bags with that obvious look of "I'm really not happy with what's in my hand."

These returns would make me less happy whenever it took place after the holiday season. How I got paid was two-fold, with a decent salary enhanced through commissions, so every return of one of the products I sold literally took away money from my bank account. Since we normally made good sales during the days leading up to Christmas, I could usually count on the first paycheck of the new year to be a good one, but not if there were a lot of returns.

These returns would not only hurt me financially but also put a nick in my ego. I honestly worked hard to ensure the purchase my customers made were exactly what they wanted. Unfortunately, however, there were just some purchases that weren't meant to happen.

So, when our Psalmist makes the case that God has made changes in the lives of the Hebrew people in times past, changes that brought about forgiveness and the ability to move forward with productive lives, then pleads for the leaders of the Jewish communities to not allow them to return to their foolish ways I know exactly how he feels.

The Psalmist understands that what God had done is very difficult work. He understands that the Hebrew people haven't been as faithful as they should have been and as a result their lives have been torn apart. As a result our Psalmist begs God to show the people of his day the same mercies; to once again bring forgiveness and prosperity to their lives.

God has worked hard to ensure we are given the gifts we need to make the choices which will in some way make our lives and the lives of those around us better. It would really be a shame to return those gifts.

Getting Comfortable

Isaiah 40:1-11

I hadn't realized until this moment that it has been 4 weeks since my last post. That's been 4 weeks of my not being able to express myself in response to my daily devotions. I'll have to be honest and say that I haven't been completely faithful in my devotions either, and maybe that's why I haven't been regular in my writings.

Just before setting fingertips to my keyboard today I asked myself, "Why has it been so long?" No one answer came forward - I was busy, I've been tired, I had other things to do, I've had no energy. The truth, if I take an honest look at it, is simply because I allowed other things to fill the space I usually spend with my God.

This is something I consistently teach to my students in church. "Always make time for God, Find the time necessary to be with God so you can work on your relationship with God." And yet, I had somehow allowed my time with God to slip away.

With the exception of this weekend (including the Thanksgiving holiday), my recent days have seemed scattered and awkward at best. I would say it was somewhat of a progression over the past month and, yes, I will say that it's because I've allowed myself to become disconnected from my God. You see, spending 30-45 minutes each day reading, praying, and writing brings to me a certain peace, especially after a full day of work.

One could say that for the past 4 weeks I've allowed my path to become bumpy and traveling an uneven path such as that has brought me discomfort.


A few weeks ago one of the high school students told me about her attempted, albeit extremely unsuccessful, overdose. I had been worried about her, watching her for any changes in her demeanor that might show a hint at whether she would get to that point again. I always asked how her day was going and she always said it was ok, but showed no interest in talking any further.

Today she came to sit with me to talk. We didn't talk about anything deep, mostly about her work, school projects, a little about family. She told jokes and smiled and it was good to see her back to her normal self. There was a pause in the conversation where she simply looked at me and I took that look to mean it was time to ask the question. "How are you doing?"

She replied, "Much better than a few weeks ago." I followed up with, "I know you don't really believe these things, but I'm praying for you every day." She smiled and gave me a friendly punch to the shoulder.

That simple 5-minute visit reminded me that sometimes on our journeys we lose contact with the things that are important to us. Sometimes we have to go astray in order to know we're going astray. It's in the moments when our paths are at their unevenest that we take the steps necessary to rediscover the straight, smooth paths on which we belong.

It's also in those moments I find myself longing to be with my God so that my hand can be held and my spirit calmed.

I've missed you, God.

Cross-over Crossings

Joshua 3:7-17

The stories told in the Hebrew Bible about the history of the Hebrew people can be downright amazing.

In today's story we have a nation, not a group of people or a few tribes but an entire nation, who are traveling into a new land where they will prosper and grow. They travel with the laws as given to Moses by God in what's come to be known as the Ark of the Covenant, which leads them on all of their journeys as a reminder that God is always with them. The problem is that in order to get to their new land, the nation of people need to cross a river that is swollen to overflowing proportions.

Not a problem for God, though. Joshua, who now leads the Hebrew people after the death of Moses, has a meeting with God who tells him to simply tell the leaders of the journey (those carrying the Ark) to dip their toes into the river and all will be taken care of. The Hebrew people reach the Jordan River and Joshua and his band of Ark-carriers, with God's help, stop an overflowing river in its tracks and create a gap wide enough for an entire nation to pass through.

There's the lesson. With God's leadership all things can be overcome.

When we learn to read the bible as it's meant to be - a collection of stories that talk about how God is at work in and through the lives of people - we can see better what the lessons really are. Did God stop an overflowing river? Maybe, maybe not. Did an entire nation of people travel across the dry riverbed into a new land? Maybe, maybe not?

Did the trust and faith in God's leadership help a nation survive even the most seemingly dangerous journey? Absolutely. When we put that same faith and trust into following what God is trying to lead us into, we too can overcome great obstacles; we too can stop an overflowing river in its tracks. And really, that's what the writers and recorders of the history of the Hebrew people want to carry on as their legacy - that when we allow our relationships to grow into having that same high level of faith and trust, we too can overcome the obstacles in our lives, no matter how big they might be.

A Clean Shower For All

Revelation 7:9-17

Last week I had an opportunity to speak with one of the students at my high school. She was just passing by, looking for one of her teachers, when she saw I was sitting in an empty classroom. She walked into our class, which is built to fit 100 students, and looked around just before saying, "Mister, you're all alone." and sitting down to have a talk with me.

We talked about volleyball, as she's on the team. We also talked about her family and her boyfriend. She asked about my family as well, and I told her about my wife and son. It was a good conversation, helping us to get to know each other beyond the basic student/teacher classroom relationship.

While in conversation about what we do on the weekends she mentioned that she goes to church every Sunday. I told her I do too, expanding on how I work with teens and young adults at our church. Her eyes opened a little, a small smile on her face as she said, "I can totally see you as a youth pastor.", which made me smile.

As we talked more about church and family and friends she told me how she knew of a lot of her friends who used to go to church and how it seems that now most of her friends are more about being noticed then being friends. I asked her what she meant and she said that a lot of the girls she grew up with in elementary and middle school are different now, and she doesn't know how to react to them.

I still wasn't really clear what she meant, so I asked for an example. She proceeded to tell me about a girl she knew since the first grade. They were good friends growing up, living only a few blocks from one another. They did everything together, including going to church. Then they got to high school and this friend of hers changed. She started wearing revealing clothes and hanging out with senior boys as well as doing other things to make herself look older and more "appealing" to older boys.

My new-found friend found herself in a predicament: in order to remain friends she felt as though she had to become just like her, and she was unwilling to just that. But, she told me, she really wanted to get her friend back. I told her that sometimes people change because they don't believe in themselves; their self-esteem is very low. Mix into this a deep need to belong in some kind of group as well as the search for an identity by people at her friend's age, and sometimes those close to us seem to be different than the ones we knew at a younger age, when deep inside they are really the same

What she might try, I told her, is to reach out to her friend and let her know that she still cares about her, and misses hanging out and talking. "Let your friend know you still love her, regardless of the recent decisions she's making." I told her.

Today, as I once again sat in an empty classroom, my new-found friend walked by and joined me for some conversation. She told me she did what I said and it made her friend cry. She continued to tell me that her friend explained that she thought she had lost all her friends because of how she was dressing and acting and she didn't know what to do. I simply smiled and said, "Isn't it a great feeling to be in a friendship where unconditional love, the kind of love God gives us, is what the friendship is based on?" She smiled and I could see a tear form in her eye. I told her she was the best friend her friend could have.

This passage in Revelation reminds me that when we're in the presence of a loving God, we can't help but to have our "robes" cleansed. We can't help but to shed the things which we wear to define us, but aren't really who we are. It also reminds me that this cleansing of our outer self, if that's what we can call it, is for all people from all nations - all. The love of God is not exclusive, nor does it make judgement as to who receives that love.

I look forward to the next conversation with my new-found friend and to hear about how much closer her and her childhood friend had grown together once again.

It's All Good

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Today was report-card day in our school. It's a day all the students look forward to, even if for the most part they know what their individual grades are. This being the first report card of the year also brings with it a kind of mixed review with those who have great grades wondering if they can keep up the pace for the rest of the year, and those who have less than acceptable grades wondering what they need to do to do better.

Being directly involved with some of our kids I know where they stand as far as grades are concerned. I can tell by the look on some of their faces that they feel badly about what they've done so far. Those who feel comfortable with me come to let me know how they feel, and I console or congratulate them the best I can. However, I feel being honest with them at this point in the year works best; so I get honest.

I tell those who are doing well to keep up the good work, and when it seems like things are getting difficult, remember that there are many people who want them to succeed. I warn them there will be times when they want to quit, when it all gets overwhelming, and those are the moments to know, without a doubt, we are all here to get them through it.

With those students who didn't fare well I have really one thing to say: "We tried to tell you what you needed to do in order to pass." I tell them the things we guided them towards, the things which we suggested, the things which we said were the keys to succeed in the classroom are the things they really should have done in the last quarter. But, and I emphasize the "but", going forward we want them to know that the choices they make have to better and, also emphasizing the "and", going forward they need to understand that we are all here to help them succeed.

Sometimes in our life we forget that there are people who tried to help us, people who told us that the path we're on may not be the best one for our life's journey. It's only when we feel as though our lives are on a downward spiral that we seek these people out. maybe we do so to see if they still can help, maybe we do so because we want to know if they will gloat. Whatever the reason, we seek them out because somewhere deep inside we know they were right, and we hope they are still willing to get us through the darkness.

Paul answered God's call to tell people what he absolutely knew was the truth. Paul tried to help people understand that it's through the unity of all people under one love that together, together, we help each other find the peaceful joy Jesus Christ came to show us. That's a good message to share.

Sounds Familiar

Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a bible scholar. The fact is that I really don't memorize bible versus, nor can I tell you exactly where to find certain stories in respect to their places within our bible. I know the stories well enough, but ask me where one can find the story of Noah's Ark, or the recapture of the Ark of the Covenant and I wouldn't be able to.

I also couldn't recite with any sort of accuracy where Jesus said the things he did. For instance I know he said to turn the other cheek and I know that statement is part of the Sermon on the Mount, but ask me for book and verses and I'm at a total loss.

Of course I continue to read my bible and do my daily devotions as well as my daily prayers. And, with a continued focus on my relationship with God through those practices, I'm sure my bible knowledge will become like Jesus' knowledge of the scriptures of his day.

Today's passage is a prime example of what I'm striving for. We all know the story of the "Greatest Commandment". (I actually cheated and looked ahead at this week's lectionary readings and that particular story is the Gospel reading from Matthew for this week.) We are told by Jesus that the greatest commandments are to love God with everything we are and to love one another as we love our self. Great words - I use them as the basis for most of my teachings with youth, especially the love yourself part.

However, and here's where my bible knowledge (or lack thereof) comes in, I had no idea those exact same words are written in Leviticus. In fact, the Leviticus passage from today goes a step further and tells us how to love one another in the same way we love ourselves. Put basically, we are asked to treat everyone the same, regardless of socio-economic status or hierarchical standings. We are also asked to speak out against injustice while at the same time not hold grudges towards others.

In other words, love one another as we love ourselves. Jesus' exact words, spoken in a different time, by a different people, for different reasons. However, words which rang true in Jesus' time as much as they ring true today.

The challenge from Jesus for those who would listen to him, as well as from the priests and scribes who wrote Leviticus, holds true for us today. When we find someone in need, provide. When we find someone being oppressed, help free them. When there is division with those around us, seek reconciliation through understanding. Do so without regard to how we might be repaid and do so regardless of who we are doing it for.

Okay, back to my bible.

Honorable Mention

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Reading today's passage reminded me of saying my bedtime prayers as a child. My brother and I prayed the standard children's prayer for Christians of our era. You might know it.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. 

The prayer was always followed by these words: God bless mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, uncles and aunts, friends, cousins, and even pets. Of course, the generic pronouns were replaced with actual names.

I wonder if that prayer is still recited by children in today's culture.

I will admit that as a child the first part, the part that rhymes, always made me feel uneasy. I would ask myself, "Where will "the Lord" keep my soul while I sleep? Will I get it back? Am I actually anticipating death tonight? Where will "the Lord" take my soul?" Frightening thoughts for a young child of 6 or 8.

The second part of that prayer, however, always brought me comfort and joy. The knowledge, insofar as a child can be knowledgeable of these things, that the names I've mentioned to God would be blessed made me somehow feel responsible for the care-taking of those close to me. The people who I place into God's care would be blessed, they would have good things happen to them, and that thought made me feel at peace with things around me.

Fast-forward 40-odd years and I take a look at my current prayer practices. While I no longer ask that my soul be anywhere except with me, I still be sure to include people in my prayers who I think could benefit from a blessing. My aging parents, my brother and his family, my wife, my son, my wife's sisters and nieces and nephews and brothers, coworkers, church family members, friends both close and distant, the youth I work with both in church and in the high school, the church staff I work with, and the list goes on.

The fact is that while I have all these people I pray for, I don't always pray for them by name. That prayer would last a very long time and at my age I would probably fall asleep going through that list. Instead, I name those who come to my heart first, then when I feel as though I've covered most of those with whom I really want God to focus on, I include everyone else with the generic term, "And for all those on my heart and not named."

Prayer is a very powerful thing. I believe that with all my heart and soul. Somehow when the words "I'll pray for you" or "Do you mind if I pray for/with you?" are spoken there's a calmness which can be felt, regardless of what the situation is. Prayer is a way to let people know you care, while at the same time taking action to show how much you care.

Prayer, especially intentional prayer, is another way we can show our love.

Why All The Noise?

Psalm 96:1-13

Some days the high school kids I work with can be funny while at the same time touch my heart. Today was one of those days.

Because of a change up in our math department, one of the classes I help out in has been a mish-mash of substitutes. While most of the substitute teachers are pretty cool, none of them have continued the lessons the original teacher began. Instead they've been asked to do math worksheets that honestly fall outside the intended curriculum for their math level.

The math class is one that's somewhere between Algebra 1 and Geometry. It's called Modeling the World with Math. It takes every day things, such as looking at a 6-foot ladder leaning against a wall, measuring how far away from the wall the base of the ladder is, then using formulas to guess the measurement of the sides and angles of the triangle the ladder forms. It's a fun class.

For the last few weeks, however, it's been worksheet after worksheet of theorems, formulas, polygonal calculations, and the like. Not so much fun.

Today was a special day in that class. We had a sub who I don't think knew math. I say this because she looked up how to calculate the area of a circle on her smart phone as what she was teaching us didn't match with the answers the students were getting. It was a frustrating class for some, while others tried their best to help the sub along.

The class pulled together, those sitting next to frustrated students calming them down, and those who knew the answers doing their best to not insult the sub. It was truly a special place to be. As one can imagine, with all the talking, and helping, and frustrations the class got louder and louder. The teacher began to lose control, and I did what I rarely do and stepped in to settle them down. I decided not to shout over the class, rather I went table to table asking everyone to give me their attention.

The class quieted and I began a conversation about how I thought they all did great in helping one another in a time of difficulty. Then I asked them why they they got so loud. One boy raised his hand and said, "Because, mister, we're just happy we figured it out." The rest of the class laughed, as did I and the substitute teacher.

I want to think that's what our Psalmist is talking about today. A time when we all come together, under the one love of one God, every one freed from the bondage of oppression, every one held in the same regard as the next. A time when nobody is better or worse than their friend or neighbor. A time when we can all sing a new song on the earth because a justice  which treats all people fairly has rightly come to the earth!

A time when we all help each other through the difficulties of life so we can all live in joy and peace.

Be Unstoppable

Isaiah 45:1-7

Today was the 1st day of the 2nd quarter of the school year. It's usually a day when all the students who didn't do well in the 1st quarter tell themselves they're going to do better. Those who normally come to class tardy come on time. Those who normally don't pay attention or take notes find themselves with open notebooks and pens writing what the teacher says. It's a day when students who know they have to change their habits find the internal drive to do so.

I'm not going to be cynical and say what these students do usually lasts for a week at the most, as it's not that easy to change habits. I will be positive and say that what I saw today is the beginning of a new era for those who take their newborn attitudes seriously. It's a great chance to start over with new goals which can lead to better outcomes. I have personally seen many students take this chance at a new beginning and soar to the top of their class.

Such is what the people of Israel hoped for after being freed from Babylonian captivity and having the temple at Jerusalem rebuilt by King Cyrus.

There are many stories told about people reaching high goals after having their lives seemingly fall apart. People who have been through physical, mental, and spiritual blocks in their lives have all found a way to break through the darkness and spark a light which eventually brightens everyone and everything around them.

If you find yourself muddling through life, remember that there really is a God who walks beside you. When the time is right, when you're ready to move forward to shine your light, that God will "level mountains, shatter bronze doors, and cut through iron bars" to help you move forward - just as God promised to do for Cyrus.

But, I Was Invited

Matthew 22:1-14

I have to admit I had a difficult time with today's devotion. As many of you know, my belief is that all people - all people - are invited into the open arms of an unconditionally loving God. So, as I read today's passage I had to ask myself, "But if all are invited, why was one thrown out?"

The high school I work at is a "project-based" school. That simply means we put more emphasis in group and individual projects as a way to gauge and assess the student's learning than other schools. This is not to say we don't give exams and homework, it only means that projects are a different form of those exams and a culmination of homework. For instance, we are studying hotel operations this semester and something the students might have to do is create a brochure and ad campaign which "sells" rooms at their hotels.

The only problem, if we can call it that, is when someone in the group decides to take full credit for the work of the group without being a full participant in the work of the group. There will most often be someone like that, someone who joins a particular group because he/she knows that the group will do well and be too timid to say anything about she/he not participating.

A couple of years ago we discovered the best way to "flush" these people out. We simply ask the group to rate the individuals within the group on a few areas, one of which is group participation. What we discovered was that those who had someone in their group who was there only to bask in the glory without contributing to the success, were grateful to have a way to say they didn't think it was fair. As that year went on, the teachers gave permission to groups to come to them with any issues regarding the participation of any of their members and ask that the person who was not participating be asked to leave the group.

It worked. By the end of the school year everyone understood that if you join a group you must participate fully in that group's endeavors in order to share in its successes. Our wedding guest from today's passage is an example of that same thinking.

When the story of Jesus as told in the book of Matthew was written, the people of Jerusalem were in turmoil. It is widely believed that Matthew was written after the destruction of the temple in 70 CE and during a time when those who believed that Jesus was the true Messiah, "Christians", were being blamed for that destruction and persecuted for their beliefs. The Pharisees began to tighten their grip on the Jewish people, admonishing any who would not hold a strict adherence to their laws.

It had become a time when one was either a part of the in crowd, or they were thrown out of society. And yet, here we are told a story of when the king invites all those who are of the in crowd to a feast and nobody shows up. In response the king has all of them killed and invites the out crowd to join him at the table, which they do.

Here's where it gets complicated. The people who are now attending the banquet are the poor, destitute, outcasts of society. They would not have proper wedding attire as required by the rules of their day. And yet, this one guest is isolated for not dressing in the rightful way. Let's assume, then, that somehow everyone else is dressed properly, and they have become so because of the generosity of the king and the work of his servants. That would mean that this one guest either felt he didn't need to participate or flatly refused to.

He was there simply to be able to take the credit for being there.

God calls us to be a people who stand up for those who can't stand for themselves. God calls us to be the voice of the voiceless. So when God calls us to the feast and invites us to be at the table, we are expected to be full participants of the feast and not simply be there to say we were there.

Imagine a world where all do their part to improve the lives of those around them. Imagine a world where love and acceptance replaced greed and division. Imagine a world where all people participated to the best of their abilities, with the gifts God has given them, to bring joy and peace to all of creation.

Let's do our part and participate.

Focus

Philippians 4:1-9

I know I've mentioned the passing of our constant companion and friend of 15 years before. Our cat, Muffin, was truly a blessing to our home and is still missed by both my wife and me. We could always count on her snuggling up to us on cold nights or giving us a laugh with her frisky cat energy. Although the times we grieve are fewer, we do miss her dearly at times.

We still have 2 more pets; another cat whose name is Poindexter, and a dog whose name is Mocha. We love them very much and spend as much time with them as possible. They are old as well, with Mocha being around 12 and Poindexter about 13. Soon it will be time for them to pass on as well. Sometimes it makes our heart ache when we watch how difficult it is for them to walk, or not be able to jump as high as they used to. But we tend not to focus on those things.

Instead we focus on being with them in the present moment. We laugh when our dog gets so excited she slides around the floor when she tries to run, we welcome Poindexter when it seems he needs a little extra love and comes between us for cuddles, and we watch them as they take naps, knowing we are truly blessed to have them in our lives.

Those are the kind of things we choose to focus on in our lives; the things which bring us peace, happiness, and keep hope alive. This is not to say that we live a life of only pure joy, but instead of focusing on the negative we look for ways to work through them so they don't rule our thoughts and actions.

Paul reminds us that sometimes things don't look good for us, that sometimes we have to get through the things which are dividing us from our relationships. He mentions the community coming together to help two of their own find an agreement between whatever might be coming between them. It would seem that in this passage, the beginning of his final greeting to the church in Philippi, Paul is asking the church community to be focused on the things which bring them joy and peace, not on the things which separate them from God, one another, or themselves.

Paul reminds us that when we focus on the things which our Christ Jesus focused on - unity through love and justice - we will find ways to get through the difficult times in our lives and into a place where the light will shine through the darkness.

Welcome To The Buffet

Isaiah 25:1-9

Last week I was fortunate enough to be in conversation with open-minded people. It was a delight to sit around a table to share a meal, share my stories, and share my faith with people who were willing to listen to different points-of-view about Christ and our responses to what we think the bible and our God calls us to be.

As is usually the case when people are allowed to share their stories in an open and safe (from judgement) environment, we all found our relationship with God, one another, and ourselves grow a little deeper. This is not to say there were questions about different aspects of the beliefs which were shared, but what was allowed was the opportunity to ask those questions in order to hear a different idea than ours and to possibly learn a little more about where our faith stands.

As we sat around the table I had an opportunity to share a story I may have shared here before. It was of a young lady in my high school whose grandmother had recently passed away. In her grieving she had approached the youth pastor of her church who had told her that it was too bad her grandmother was a Buddhist when she passed because now there was no chance of this young girl seeing her again in heaven.

In other words, she wasn't a Christian, so she wasn't going to heaven.

I don't have to tell you how much deeper the pain of this young girl went.

I had seen her in school a couple of days after this happened and it was obvious she had been crying for a very long time. I told her to follow me so we could talk. She told me what had happened over the weekend then asked me, with a look of desperation on her face, if it is
true she'll never see her grandmother again just because she was a Buddhist.

I told her as honestly as I could that I really didn't know. But, if it helps I could tell her what I believed. I told her that I don't think God would alienate anyone just because they were Buddhist and that heaven is for all people, regardless of who or what they were in this world. Her pain seemed to lessen as we talked about a God who is unconditionally all-accepting.

The question for us should be this: Does the God we believe in, the God we put all of our selves into, welcome all people to his table, or just some? If the answer is some, I think we have more work to do on this planet to help people see that alienating others based on race, religion, sexual identity, gender, or abilities only leads to division.

If the answer is all people, then you understand, and can actually vision, Isaiah's banquet on the hill.

Jonah And The Worm

Jonah 3:10-4:11

There's one question I ask children and adults which, almost 100% of the time, gets the same response of a look of confusion as well as a disbelief in my knowledge of bible stories: Do you know the story of Jonah and the worm?

We all know about the whale, but almost none of us know about the worm. We've all been told of how Jonah was a reluctant prophet, unwilling to speak on behalf of God to a people Jonah felt had no chance at forgiveness from God. We all know about how God made a storm come upon the sea as Jonah was travelling and how the ship's crew, fearing for their own lives, threw Jonah overboard to calm the storm. We all know of how a whale swallowed Jonah and spit him up on the shores of Nineveh to do God's bidding anyway.

But, a worm? What does a worm have to do with the story?

We have a student in our classes who stopped coming to school half-way through his freshman year. This year he's a senior, but with nowhere near enough credits to graduate. Most of the teachers don't know what to make of the situation because on the one hand he honestly doesn't have the skill-set to do the necessary work in order to pass their classes, but on the other hand he wants to try.

Some of the teachers have had an "I told you so" moment with this student, while others have simply chosen to ignore him. But, there are one or two of us who are willing to work with him, as long as he is willing to do the work himself. I will tell you that this young man is kind, gentle, and wants to do what is right. He knows he doesn't have the skills to succeed, but he also admits that that's why he's back in school.

As for myself, I have seen him try, and I have confidence he can learn what he needs to in order to be successful in life. But, I will also admit it took a lot for me to get outside of my comfort zone in order to take the time necessary to give this young man the attention he deserves.

If we are to understand the lesson of the story as told in Jonah, it isn't our duty to judge others, only our duty to work with them to somehow improve their lives, just as long as they are willing to do their part as well. Sometimes all we need is a worm to remove our comfort zone to realize where our heart truly is.

Love Knows No Bounds

Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13

I saw a video post yesterday which touched me deeply. It showed an elderly women laying on the ground, obviously unable to do more than lay there. She looked as though she was well into her 90's and had advanced Alzheimer.

Sitting next to her was her son, a man who seemed to be in his 60's. He had a bowl of something that looked like cream of wheat in his hands and was slowly feeding his mom, taking one spoonful at a time from the bowl to her mouth. She would open her mouth to take in the meal, absent-mindedly chew it, then swallow. At which time her son would give her another spoonful.

What's so great about this, you might be asking. See for yourself.

If you're not on Facebook, I apologize for your not being able to actually see this video. What the video shows is that the elder lady's son has no hands. He is sitting with his legs crossed, holding the bowl of porridge on his lap, and with the spoon firmly held between the stubs of his two wrists, he feeds his mother, one spoonful at a time - careful not to drip anything on her.

Now that's compassionate, merciful, patient, and faithful love.

The Guardians Of...

Psalm 119:33-40

Guard:  a state in which someone is carefully looking for possible danger, threats, problems, etc.

When was the last time you guarded something?

Protect, sure. Defend, more likely. But guard, I'm not sure.

To guard something means to be proactive as to how safe we keep something. Actions such as defend or protect usually mean that danger or harm to that which is important to us is imminent and in need of being kept secure. When something is guarded, it's done so at all times; whether or not danger is at hand.

When my son went to his first party as a teenager, my wife and I promised each other we wouldn't worry. He was with people we knew, the friend who came to pick him up was the son of a family friend, and we trusted our son completely. There wasn't anything to worry about.

My wife and I stayed up to watch TV and before you knew it we fell asleep on the couch. We heard our son come home and woke up, pretending to be asleep because we didn't want to be those parents who stayed up all night waiting for our kids to come home. It took all the will power I had not to snicker as he quietly sneaked by us to get to his bedroom, trying not to wake us up.

After he settled into his bedroom, my wife and I moved to our own bedroom, almost laughing as we too moved quietly so as to not wake him up. The next day she and I talked about what happened, and we both agreed that our actions were a way of being sure we would be available if our son needed us for anything. In a sense we were guarding him - keeping him in our thoughts and actions so that we would be at hand for whatever might happen.

In today's Psalm, the psalmist says that if God will teach him what is expected to live an acceptable life that he will do everything he can to keep those teachings safe. The writer states that he will guard every part of those teachings
. Just as my wife and I did with our son, the psalmist will keep God's teaching as a living part of his mind, heart, and soul, being available at all times to protect the words God has given.

What do you guard?

If At All Possible...

Romans 12:9-21

One of my favorite songs is "Let There Be Peace On Earth". If you're not familiar with the words It begins with the line, Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. In my opinion, no truer words could be sung, especially in times of unrest.

The unrest I mentioned doesn't necessarily have to be the kind we've been seeing on the news; civil disobedience, genocide, war. Unrest can also describe how one is personally doing; not getting enough sleep, stresses of meeting deadlines, unhappy with the life choices made so far. Either way, unrest is exactly what it sounds like: not at rest.

Another way to say that one is not at rest is to say they're not at peace, either with themselves, people around them, or God. Peace is a funny thing. When asked how people define peace, the most common answer by far is "not at war." For some reason we've come to associate peace and war as two words dependent on each other. If we're at war we have no peace, if we have peace we're not at war.

However, peace is so much more than lack of battles with missiles and guns. Peace is that place where all things are in sync with one another, that place where one does not feel unsettled, rushed, out of place, emotionally or spiritually uncomfortable, or for any other reason out of place.

Peace is not an easy thing to achieve. It takes a consciousness, or active participation, as to what is going on around us and how our words and actions affect those things. If we're having a bad morning and treat others as though they're the reason it's bad, how do you think they're going to react? But, if we're having a bad morning and treat others with kindness, my guess is that you'll be calmer a lot sooner.

How we treat others and ourselves is in direct correlation to our
physical peacefulness. By the same token, how we treat God directly affects our spirit. Today, if at all possible, take a look at how much peace you have in your life, then take notice at how your own words and actions are directly responsible for that peace, or lack thereof.

Remember, in order to have peace in this world it has to begin with you.

Going Back Home

Jeremiah 15:15-21

Yesterday, while performing my duties as a hall monitor during lunch, I had a conversation about youth and young adults within the LGBT community. I was a little apprehensive at first, but as the conversation ensued I was glad I had it.

As a project for graduation, one of our high school seniors is going to start a Gay and Straight Alliance (GSA). It's a club in many high schools and colleges which invite people from the LGBT community to understand that there are straights who accept them without conditions.

I was talking about this idea with my hall monitor partner, forgetting that she was raised an evangelical Christian. She began by asking questions about why such a club is needed, to which I blabbed a few statistics: over 80% of teens who come out are bullied at school, 26% of teens who come out get kicked out of their homes, etc.

She had no idea there was an issue, but after thinking about it she recalled when her niece had told her family she was a lesbian their first reaction was anger caused by betrayal and they kicked her out of the house, causing her to live on the streets. My hall partner began recalling how her niece soon turned to prostitution and drugs, to which I told her that's the normal pattern for youth and young adults who end up on the streets.

I also reminded her that's what happens when we forget to accept people for who they are, instead of who we're told they need to be.

She thought for a while in silence, and continued the story about her niece, remembering that after a few months her parents went looking for her and brought her back home, where they apologized for not understanding and vowed to try harder to be accepting. Today her niece is living a successful life and is in a very happy relationship.

I hold firm to the belief that God does not "kick us out" for any reason. The God I believe in understands that sometimes we need to leave on our own to search for our personal truths. The good news is that God will always be there to hold us tightly in God's arms when we do decide to come home.

Doing The Right Thing

Psalm 26:1-8

On the way to church yesterday my wife and I had a conversation about what's going on in the world. It would seem that everywhere we look there is trouble. War, disease, man-made and natural disasters all seem to dominate the news media. My wife and I like to think and live as positively as possible, but sometimes that can become difficult when it seems the rest of the world is always in a negative place.

Our conversation began to focus on what we could do about the things which are in the world. At first we thought the problems to be so big that there wasn't possibly anything we could do. However, as we continued to talk I came to the realization that if we try to fix the problems of the world alone, they'll never get fixed.

There is a tendency to look at the things which are happening in the news and simply shake our heads and complain. Sometimes we offer our words of discontent and rarely act on them, choosing instead to believe our actions won't matter.

Sometimes.

As my wife and I came to agree on yesterday, if everyone does a little, greatness will be achieved.
The actions you take affect the actions of those around you, which in turn will affect the actions of those around them. A ripple effect of good actions has to begin somewhere, and as the song says, let it begin with you.

As today's Psalm remind us, we can find justice when we surround ourselves with goodness. When we begin to ensure the right things are done for the right reasons, and make living in such a way that can only make others want to live the same way, righteousness and justice is not far behind.

Have We Forgotten?

Isaiah 51:1-6

I came across an interesting reading this week. It's a sermon by Ellen Lippmann, a progressive Jewish Rabbi, which speaks about humanity's connection to God. The sermon title is called "The Thread That Binds Us" and starts out this way:

The rabbis of the Talmud are speaking. They say,
“There are 613 commandments given by God to Moses.
David came and reduced them to 11 principles.
Isaiah reduced them to 6 principles.
Micah came and reduced them to 3 principles.
Isaiah came again and reduced these to 2.
Amos came and reduced them to one.
Finally, the prophet Habbakuk came and based them all on one principle.”

Rabbi Lippmann goes on to explain that in this teaching the Jewish people are reminded that both tradition and progression live in harmony and that our place in humanity is to recognize that the people we are today is a direct correlation to the people who came before us.

This morning my wife and I were discussing a book review we saw in the newspaper. The book is based on the idea that World War 1 never happened. In the utopia which follows, several things are assumed: Adolf Hitler goes into the health food business, Vladimir Lenin comes to the United States and becomes a university professor, and Richard Nixon is an evangelical minister.

I must admit, I had a chuckle at the ideas represented by the author (Richard Ned Lebow - "Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lives"), but my wife took it seriously and said that if we follow this train of thought we can truly envision a better world today.

That's the problem, isn't it? Most of us are cynical and believe that if someone is bad they are bad, and nothing can change that fact. But, imagine if you can (and as I did) that war didn't exist, that there was absolutely no reason for people to "rule" over others. Imagine what kind of a world it would be if instead of money and power, love and justice guided our every thought.

Less we forget, the stories of history don't only teach us about domination, it also teaches us about peace. Mahatma Ghandi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King, Jr. are just a few of those people who lived for one purpose - to be the image of their God in whatever situation they were placed.

I think it's time we do the same.

We Need An Answer

Psalm 138

The mainstream news outlets are filled with the events happening in Ferguson, Missouri. For a little more than a week now there have been daily clashes between the police and the citizens of that town, mostly in reaction to the shooting of an unarmed young man by a police officer. The young man was black and the police officer is white, which only served to exasperate the situation.

Or seemingly so.

History teaches us many lessons, one of which is that sooner or later people who are oppressed will rise as one and fight for their freedom.

I don't know much about the town of Ferguson, all I know is that for the people of that town to be as persistent as they are in their quest for justice, a terrible injustice must have been done. I also know that one such incident would not be enough to cause the scenes I've been seeing, but rather a series of events led them to be in the place they are.

I don't want to debate whether or not one side is correct or not in the actions they are taking. What I do want to focus on is how we might move forward from here.

There seems to be one thing the people of Ferguson want before they stop rioting - justice. They have said over and over that they want the police officer who shot the young man to be arrested and processed in the same way anyone else would be if they were in the same situation. Then, they want answers; they want to know what happened and they want to know in a the most transparent way possible.

It would seem that only after there are some answers, instead of excuses and non-information, peace will come.

Today's psalmist reminds us that sometimes our souls need answers in order to feel peace. Our lives can be filled with things that clutter our ability to feel joy, and sometimes those same things can block our ability to feel love from others, ourselves, or from God.

Maybe things aren't as extreme in our lives as they are in Ferguson. Maybe the things which cause our own unrest are as simple as a misunderstanding with our best friend or a life-partner who doesn't seem to be caring enough. Whatever the issue, though, if it's enough of a problem to keep us away from peace, it's enough of a problem to keep us away from God.

Call out to God, just as the people in Ferguson are calling out to their leaders. Let people know you're in need of answers, and don't stop until you find them. Then, when you get your answers, do your best to find understanding - an understanding of how your lives have gotten to where they are and how you can move forward from there.

Never Rejected

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

One of the people I work with mentioned to me yesterday that this "thing" with Robin Williams is really bothering her. I knew what she meant, but I asked any, "What thing?"

Her reply was nervous, saying words like, "You know, the thing. The thing that happened the other day. The thing. You know."

She couldn't say the words, so I said it. "Are you talking about his suicide, or his issue with depression?" She was silent for a while before quietly saying, "His depression."

As I mentioned the other day, depression for most people leads them to a place where they truly, deeply believe that they have nothing to offer and nobody cares. Taking the final step towards making the decision to take their own lives isn't much of a stretch when they get to that point.

So, what can we (those who care) do when we find ourselves in front of someone with depression? The truth is, most times you won't know when you're in front of someone who is suffering with depression. They might look sad, maybe distracted or disconnected, but we won't necessarily know they are depressed.

My answer is to do what Paul is trying to remind the churches at Rome to do: remind everyone you know that they are never alone.

You don't always have to use words to do this. Sometimes just sitting with someone in silence is as loud a reminder about shared love as is a tight hug and strong words. Sometimes sending someone a message just to say "hi" is as strong as a a well-thought out card with words written inside. Sometimes telling a relative or a friend to tell someone you said hello can speak louder than if you told that person yourself.

The important thing to remember is to do these things all the time with everyone. We will never know if someone is depressed, but we will know when our love is appreciated. Nobody walks the paths of their life's journey alone. Nobody.

What The World Needs Is More Philos

Genesis 45:1-15

As I write this the news of Robin William's apparent suicide is still reeling through all news sources. Social media, mainstream media, web media, everyone from Huffington Post to the Onion to Twitter to Facebook directly pushed the news to every known outlet that the person I consider to be the most brilliant comedian to walk this earth had most likely taken his own life.

Many were surprised to hear that he had been battling with severe depression. After all, how can someone who brings so much happiness and joy through laughter be depressed?

One of his better-known quotes states,

"I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone."

In and of itself, this quote probably gave us the keenest insight into the life-force of this wonderful man.

Unfortunately, many, if not all, people who suffer from depression feel the same way. Depression is a disease in which people suffer from 2 things: the idea that they have nothing to contribute to life, and the belief they are alone in that struggle. In other words, they believe they have nothing to give, and nobody cares.

In my 16 years of intentional ministry I've met more than my share of people from all ages and walks of life who find themselves in such a place. When I'm entrusted with being in conversation with them, I do my best to reassure them that they are always loved and there is always a reason to go on in life. I also do my best to assure them that they are surrounded by loving friends and family members who want to be a part of their lives - all they have to do is let their friends and family in.

Of course, that's sometimes easier said than done.

People need to know they're loved. When was the last time you told someone you loved them without it having to be a special occasion? When was the last time you told someone you love them just because it was something you wanted to say? When was the last time you told someone you loved them, and really meant it?

Love, the kind that comes from being in a close relationship, the kind that comes from a deep friendship, the kind that comes from sharing family ties, is what every person longs for. It's time we do our part and let those in our lives know they are never alone and they are always loved.

One Can Never Have Enough

Psalm 133

I'm not sure if I shared this with you yet: we lost our pet cat a little more than 2 months ago. She was 15 years old and suffering from kidney failure as well as anemia. We tried to save her, but unfortunately her symptoms were too advanced so we put her to sleep. It was a very difficult decision for our family to make, but it's one we made together.

As you might imagine, losing a pet after 15 years of constant companionship can put a strain on the family. We have 2 other pets, a dog and another cat, but Muffin was special to us as she was the first pet we chose as a couple.

last night my wife felt the loss of our Muffin and she had a difficult time falling asleep. She has a stuffed bear that actually smells like Muffin as well as has "fur" just like our lost pet, so she hugged it to find some comfort. I knew my wife was hurting and so I reached out to also hug the stuffed animal, trying to offer what little comfort I could for my wife. Eventually we fell asleep, and this morning my wife was in a much better mood.

Love is a funny thing. It comes in all shapes and sizes, conforming to one's needs as necessary. Sometimes it is poured out, filling us to until we're overflowing with it and sometimes dribbling into us slowly, filling us as needed. One thing is for sure, though - love never leaves us empty.

Hey, Buddy, Got A Dollar?

Isaiah 55:1-5

During a workshop I attended this past summer, the topic of how we know what is important to an organization. We were told not to watch commercials on TV or listen to the words on the radio. We were also reminded not to only look at the words and actions of the leaders or representatives of the organization.  What we were told was to look at how that organization spends its money.

Where their money is, we were told, is where their heart is.

The speaker went on to give us just one example. Last year the United States spent 4% of its budget on education, while it spent 21% of its budget on military defense. Seems a little lopsided to me.

This kind of financial decision-making also makes its way into our society. I know of families whose parents drive expensive SUVs and wear nice jewelry, making sure their kids wear $150 pair of shoes and $50 tshirts, while at the same time their kids don't have any money for lunch or come to school with basic school supplies. It seems we've become a people where how we look to others is more important than what we can do for others, or ourselves.

Please don't take me the wrong way. I'm all for consumerism, it's the basis for our economy. All I'm trying to say is that we might want to prioritize how we spend that money. Our kids need a good education and they need to be able to eat a healthy meal during the school day to keep their energy up. In the same way, there are people in our society who need things so as to simply have a basic living; such as housing, clothes, and medical assistance.

I mean, why should we spend our money on the things that really don't matter.