Musings

A soul defining art
I touch, smell, taste, hear, see
As I seek to open my heart

Spanning the depth of joy and the height of depression
Scribble, mumble, dab, chip, stir
My soul seeks expression

Expression of the true soul; God’s gift
Hope overcomes despair; Light trumps darkness
My spirit lifts

What Sunday Might Say to Wednesday

Sunday we preach on the story where Jesus turned water into wine; what would we say to the people in Haiti who think some good water would be fine. Jesus’ mother Mary called him out; we have opportunity to show the world what our Christian commitment is all about. Jesus informed her his time was not yet; the time has come to call out the Christ as needs will be met. Mary said, “Do whatever he tells you to do;” the people of Christ will give to the Haitians and help their faith in humankind renew. Because of Jesus’ miracle the host of the party saved face; now pray Jesus will share with the Haitian people his grace. Let us go with Jesus to that same wedding feast as we give unto these; the least.

Sharing Prayer

How should I pray as I bow before the Lord God today? Should I pray for the lost on life’s path that they may escape consequences wrath. Perhaps a prayer for those who lack something to eat as the morning, evening, and night they greet. Always one should pray for peace that the wars in the world will cease. Maybe I could pray like one of mine friends “awash with gratitude” for vocation, family, shelter, and food. For the better part of my career I prayed for the physically ill that with God’s healing power they would be filled. Dare I pray for the schizophrenic or depressed that God their illness would address. Can one pray only for their home land or should we pray for the world to be blessed by God’s hand. Well I suppose there are a myriad of questions about prayer so I will strive to pray for all things and people with whom the experience of life I share.

"Who do We Reject Next?"

Corinthians 12:3-7 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

“Jesus is Lord” is not a phrase meant to exclude but rather include. It comes forth from God’s spirit present in the soul and marks one as a part of God’s fold. Well now there are many who utter this phrase and believe that Jesus their soul saves. Yet they are rejected out of hand by other Christians that do not understand. Perhaps it is time to listen again to Paul as he writes in this letter so that our “holy” vision can be made better. When we the witness of one reject then we tend their souls to neglect. When we seek to make our gatherings “pure” then our failure to proclaim the gospel becomes sure. Stop a moment to listen and see; God’s spirit works in those we do not understand as well as it works in you and me.

God on Cold Days

Days now have been a bit cold as a warm blanket unfolds. Did you thank God today for your home where you can be warm and not chilled to the bone? God has blessed you and me and can the wonder of it all we really see. How much more do we really need before God’s command to care for others we heed? Life has to become more than “just business” for us as we turn our future over to the loving God we trust.

God Enthroned, Imagine that...

Psalm 29:11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Have you ever noticed how people try to protect God; I find this practice very odd. God, it seems to me, protects us as God preserves our spirits beyond our bodies return to dust. Some spend great sums of money to get us to protect God in the voting booth; I must really protest at such bending and breaking of truth. The devil uses such notions our soul to trick; you really want to trust spiritual truths to politics. Such politics seem to support a religion of more and a holy blessing on war. The good book says God is our strength and power; now is the time to return to God; this very hour. When we return to God we will find peace and our great inner fears will cease.

For Those Who Seek Perfection

Psalm 72:10-14 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

The King, the Lord Christ, calls for community that includes all; he calls us to help one another lest we fall. He calls for help when a person is poor and in need; forgive us Lord for we have so qualified “need” that your call we no longer willingly heed. Those who have no help the Christ would deliver; many less vocal types who need help hide in fear and shiver. Forgive us Lord for many times our community only includes the blonde, blue-eyed, and the slim; not the unlovely because it requires much to include them. God forgive us when we hold to our power of plenty while there is less and less help for the many. We fight over how to protect your “book” while at the world’s oppression and violence we refuse to look. Send the powerful hand of King Jesus to reorder our souls as we learn to share our gold. God, in our midst, create a community that includes all of us as in King Jesus we put our trust.

“When the saying on our coins is written in our hearts a new community will come to be.”