17: Brothers, take me as your example, and take note of those who are walking after the example we have given.
18: For there are those, of whom I have given you word before, and do so now with sorrow, who are haters of the cross of Christ;
19: Whose end is destruction, whose god is the stomach, and whose glory is in their shame, whose minds are fixed on the things of the earth. (Phil. 4 17-19)
St Paul is the speaker in this piece. But he wants us to follow his example and act as Jesus did. Jesus chased the money lenders from the temple. But he praised the woman searching for her lost coin. Jesus saved the adulterous woman. He talked with the children and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus washed his followers feet and was anointed with costly perfume by another. He spoke to his friends and his foes and anyone who cared to listen. Jesus cooked fish on the beach for his friends. He rarely stood on ceremony but he participated in the worship services of his community.
Those Paul warns us of can come in many walks of life. In every community there are the ones who don't see further than their own pocketbook or comfort. We should avoid that trap and look to Jesus's life and actions for inspiration.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sat- A Holy People
18: And the Lord has made it clear this day that you are a special people to him, as he gave you his word; and that you are to keep all his orders; Deut. 26
This ancient bargain sits sort of uncomfortably with me. How does it affect me that a group of nomads in the desserts of the Middle East picked a bunch of rules to follow saying that a power told them to.
On the other hand, I suppose it could point up the perspective that we do not do things only as individuals but as groups of people. It's almost impossible to do some things in isolation.
Friends and colleagues keep us on track at the best of times or lead us into ways that are not so good at other times. We do judge people by the company they keep.
This ancient bargain sits sort of uncomfortably with me. How does it affect me that a group of nomads in the desserts of the Middle East picked a bunch of rules to follow saying that a power told them to.
On the other hand, I suppose it could point up the perspective that we do not do things only as individuals but as groups of people. It's almost impossible to do some things in isolation.
Friends and colleagues keep us on track at the best of times or lead us into ways that are not so good at other times. We do judge people by the company they keep.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday - What He asks of us
23: If then you are making an offering at the altar and there it comes to your mind that your brother has something against you,
24: While your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering.
To my mind this passage says that it is more important to live in harmony with other people (by extension the natural world) than to follow the forms of organized religion. Most of us no longer bring birds and goats to be slaughtered and burned at an alter. But others of us still participate in formal religious activities. These lines stand as a notice to us that outward forms without inner peace are of limited use.
24: While your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering.
To my mind this passage says that it is more important to live in harmony with other people (by extension the natural world) than to follow the forms of organized religion. Most of us no longer bring birds and goats to be slaughtered and burned at an alter. But others of us still participate in formal religious activities. These lines stand as a notice to us that outward forms without inner peace are of limited use.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday -Our Model
7: Make a request, and it will be answered; what you are searching for you will get; give the sign, and the door will be open to you:
Matthew today, pointing out that all we need to do is ask for the things we need. It is ironic but how many times have we been all mixed up because we didn't ask for what we needed. Directions, recipes, guidance. I've been there and seen others go there too.
I will try, in the future, to ask, just ask for what I need.
Matthew today, pointing out that all we need to do is ask for the things we need. It is ironic but how many times have we been all mixed up because we didn't ask for what we needed. Directions, recipes, guidance. I've been there and seen others go there too.
I will try, in the future, to ask, just ask for what I need.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wed. - Comfort
1: Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin.
2: Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
Todays scripture is the whole 51st Psalm. The first 2 lines set the tone. It's hard to admit that your own actions and thoughts can be wrongheaded. After all we know how we got to them and how justified they are. When I take a step back and look at things more objectively I can see how what I do or say or don't do can be making other peoples lives harder. Or even less joyful. No matter how hard I try though I still need forgiveness for what I can't manage. It reminds me of Zenos paradox. Each time you get half way to the goal but you never reach it because you only get half of the remaining distance each step. Forgiveness fills the last half.
2: Let all my wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil.
Todays scripture is the whole 51st Psalm. The first 2 lines set the tone. It's hard to admit that your own actions and thoughts can be wrongheaded. After all we know how we got to them and how justified they are. When I take a step back and look at things more objectively I can see how what I do or say or don't do can be making other peoples lives harder. Or even less joyful. No matter how hard I try though I still need forgiveness for what I can't manage. It reminds me of Zenos paradox. Each time you get half way to the goal but you never reach it because you only get half of the remaining distance each step. Forgiveness fills the last half.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tues- the Spirit Speaks
11: Give us this day our daily bread.
Possibly MY most prayed passage of the Bible. I guess it's sort of crass but with a day to day income it's very applicable. So far this prayer has been answered very generously.
It is part of the 'Our Father' passage in Matthew.
When it comes to directions for living a holy life that prayer says most of it if not all.
We get forgiven in the measure that we forgive, always a challenge.
We hope to evade bad actions by avoiding evil circumstances.
We pray that God's will be effective here on earth.
Of course what IS God's will is not defined and is described in wildly different ways by different people. We come back to the forgiveness factor. We pray that God does not hold our mistakes against us. In preparation for that we do not hold other people's mistakes against them. That there will be mistakes and even deliberate errors is a given. What we do about them and think about them is a choice.
Possibly MY most prayed passage of the Bible. I guess it's sort of crass but with a day to day income it's very applicable. So far this prayer has been answered very generously.
It is part of the 'Our Father' passage in Matthew.
When it comes to directions for living a holy life that prayer says most of it if not all.
We get forgiven in the measure that we forgive, always a challenge.
We hope to evade bad actions by avoiding evil circumstances.
We pray that God's will be effective here on earth.
Of course what IS God's will is not defined and is described in wildly different ways by different people. We come back to the forgiveness factor. We pray that God does not hold our mistakes against us. In preparation for that we do not hold other people's mistakes against them. That there will be mistakes and even deliberate errors is a given. What we do about them and think about them is a choice.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday
16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Inspired knowledge. You know it's true but since no one else has told you and there is no big authority to back you up it's difficult to convince any one else.
How can we tell which of our ideas, especially the odd ones, are correct? The 'loony bins' of the world are full of people who are/were sure that they had the truth of something. Sometimes they are correct. When? How do you tell? Simon Peter had his truth confirmed for him and was put in charge of the whole ball of wax. Do we rely on his successors? How much?
I'm afraid I have too many questions this morning.
17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Inspired knowledge. You know it's true but since no one else has told you and there is no big authority to back you up it's difficult to convince any one else.
How can we tell which of our ideas, especially the odd ones, are correct? The 'loony bins' of the world are full of people who are/were sure that they had the truth of something. Sometimes they are correct. When? How do you tell? Simon Peter had his truth confirmed for him and was put in charge of the whole ball of wax. Do we rely on his successors? How much?
I'm afraid I have too many questions this morning.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Lenten Journey Step One
This year I'm trying something new for Lent. Every year I try to 'tune up' my spritiual life in the with the Lent season. Usually with very small results. This year I plan to take the daily scripture readings published by some wing (feather) of the RC Church and make some sort of comment on them daily in this blog. I think that if I make it a personal rule to do this before I play any POGO games on a day I might succeed.
So here goes day 1 Romans 10:8-13
The value of words, saying them hearing them maybe even reading or writing them. "If you confess with your mouth your faith in Jesus's resserection you will be saved." What power from the spoken word. Being saved is such a big worry. Here is one way to stop that worry. Maybe it even works.
Words are sufficiently powerful that I plan to watch out for what I say.
So here goes day 1 Romans 10:8-13
The value of words, saying them hearing them maybe even reading or writing them. "If you confess with your mouth your faith in Jesus's resserection you will be saved." What power from the spoken word. Being saved is such a big worry. Here is one way to stop that worry. Maybe it even works.
Words are sufficiently powerful that I plan to watch out for what I say.
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