Option Overload: Making Choices in Hard Times Tuesday, Oct 21 2008

Remember when we had limited choices in making a coffee order: black or with cream and sugar. Regular or decaf. No so much any more. Now we can order ‘nonfat-decaf-iced-vanilla lattes-with-half-the-pumps’ at Starbucks and choose from 1,500 different drawer pulls for the kitchen cabinets at The Home Depot. Amazon.com gives every town a virtual bookstore with over 2 million titles, while Netflix promises 35,000 different movies on DVD. Choice is everywhere, liberating to some but to others a new source of stress. It has been said that the US culture is like Teflon: nothing sticks with us.

 

Our spiritual lives are not exempt from this option overload. We have to decide which Bible version to use, which outreach effort to support, which class to attend at church, and so much more. There is nothing wrong with having choices. We all want the freedom to choose and make things fit our lives. But, spirituality is most often characterized by learning to live more with less. As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of God we should progressively be able to find peace and satisfaction with the most basic things in life. As we mature in faith and wisdom we should not be as “high maintenance” as when we were children. This is the simple way. This is the way of Zen. It is the way of maturity. And, it is the way of Jesus the Master.

 

So, what is sticking with you? Are you learning about God, about yourself, about the world in which we live. These are critical times. We are witnessing dramatic financial change that may in fact signal the end of American life as we have known it. This is not all bad. But mark my words, this won’t be easy! During these critical times the kind of choices we make will determine, to a great degree, how we emerge from this time of transition and change.

 

Don’t resist change. Forms change all the time. For those of us who believe church is still worth doing, we know that the way church used to be is long gone. The emphasis on conformity (creeds, clothing, music, worship style, etc.) does not address the spiritual hunger of our age. But be careful. Just having lots of choices may be more of a distraction than a solution. While the “skin” of the church is changing, be persistent to look for the essence of the Spirit which is at the core of the Church: The Body of Christ. That essence is changeless. Models of church may vary over time and place, and they are ultimately not that important. It is not the design of the church, but what goes into it that matters. Don’t “get married” to any one particular model of how to do church. Renounce fear, especially the fear of change and of the unknown. The Lord has planted us here and now for life and work in this place, among the people we are called to serve. Fear not!

 

Jesus ministered to three categories of people. First, there was the multitude. These folks came out to see what all the uproar was about. Some liked what they saw and heard and wanted more. They become followers or disciples. Out of that group of disciples came a leadership core known as apostles. Apostolic leaders produced “fruit” in their lives (New Testament speak for external evidence of internal; change). It was quite simple. No fruit; no apostle. Apostles paid the price (sometimes with their lives) and were the ‘virus carriers’ of a new and exciting faith movement. If we are to be apostolic we must face our fears and get out among the people we hope to serve. We have choices today. The most important choice is the one to follow Christ, to be a disciples and not just another curious onlooker in a crowd. Let the Truth of the liberating Gospel of Jesus stick with you. Don’t let it roll off. May it infect us, convert us, heal us, and set us free.

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Simple Church Conference in Kansas City Saturday, Oct 18 2008

Floyd McClung, Ernie Sumrall, Brian Sanders

Last week I was blessed to attend the missions conference hosted by All Nations at the Heartland Church in Kansas City. The conference featured Floyd McClung– author, pastor, missionary, friend. Floyd is a rare and precious soul, and a true servant of the Lord. Floyd has a passion for planting simple churches. We heard wonderful stories of how God is using the simple church movement in China, Africa, and the US.

Many thanks to those whose generosity made it possible for me to attend this awesome event: Brian Sanders, Max & Joan Adkins, Glena Sumrall, and Marsha & Bob Cargill. I am so amazed and encouraged by the love of Jesus that flows through you all.

Worship was led during the conference by Jon Shirley and a fine group of Christian musicians. Check out Jon’s music on MySpace. The time at the conference seemed to fly by as the Spirit of God was thick and the healing energy of Christ was evident in the room. There was a good balance between presentations from individual speakers, praise & worship, and small group work, and free discussion and sharing of ideas. I’m sure that many of us, myself included, went to the conference to “take notes” and learn new things about how to do the work of God in a creative church setting. Well, we certainly got that and then some! During the week it became increasingly obvious to me that I was there primarily to be loved, healed, and affirmed by God. I know that sounds like so-much cliche ‘church speak’ but that is not the case. This was a real, profound, and enriching time with the Lord. For that I am so very thankful.

My host family for the week was Steve & Ingrid Briody who are members at The Cambridge Church, an Anglican Mission parish in Overland Park, KS. The Cambridge Church is currently meeting in a public school building but is about to start construction on a new building. I was able to visit the site, help pitch a tent, and pray with brothers and sisters there for the new and expanding work of their parish.

Steve & Ingrid Briody - my host family for the week

 

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Preaching on the Streets of Ybor Saturday, Sep 6 2008

For weeks I have heard people in my circle talk about sharing our faith. “Don’t keep it to yourself… give it away!” So, what better place to share the faith than say – on the street at Ybor City.
Pronounced ‘EE-bore’ this is the old Latin quarter of Tampa which was once a thriving cigar center (they still roll a few) and now boasts a robust night life on the weekends.

To be honest, this was not my idea. My friend, Matt, preaches there on a regular basis. I knew he often went there alone and was more than likely ridiculed or ignored. And quite frankly, I felt a bit guilty about not being so bold myself. So I went. And I took my lovely fiancee Karen with me.

The first thing I noticed on the opposite corner from where Matt was sharing were three self-proclaimed atheists carrying large placards that read “JESUS IS NOT COMING.” The main event of the evening was hell-fire Christian preaching from one corner and angry atheist “equal time” rhetoric coming from the other. Occasionally someone would be greeted and given a gospel tract. The atheist gave out tracts as well. People would occasionally stop and talk on both sides of the street. The rhetoric heated up a couple of times. The Tampa PD tooks some long slow rolls down the street, keeping an eye on the action. I never saw anyone repent and come to the Lord. Or for that matter, no one reject God and take up atheism… at least right there on the spot!

I talked to a few people, did my part debating the atheists, and even handed out a few tracts. Likely, the most useful thing I did was to exchange a few words with a street person and expressed my concern when she toppled into a newspaper bin.

So what good is this preaching on the street? Is it doing any good? Can this really be called ministry? Surely, only time will tell whether the ‘implanted word’ (James 1:21-25) will sprout to new life. After we left I didn’t feel better for having summoned up the courage to be branded as a zealot on the street. In fact, I had a feeling like after I have had a argument with someone I really care for… somewhat diminished, depleted of energy, and trying to find a lesson in what just happened.

There must be a way to “take it to the streets” in a better, more positive, loving way. In future blog posts I will explore some of those ideas.

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A Prophet to the Nations: Ordination Sermon at COTR, Tampa, FL Sunday, Aug 17 2008

click here to see more pictures of the ordination

A Sermon on the Occasion of an Ordination: Joseph Wingo & James Kennaugh
August 16, 2008
Church of the Resurrection, Tampa, FL

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” –Jeremiah 1:4-10 

Three ways that God had made you ready for this day and will keep making you ready in the days to come: FORMATION, CONSECRATION, COMMISSION (APPOINTMENT)

Formation

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” Affirmation of a purposeful existence. We are not here by accident. Our God is the potter, we are the clay.

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak…” Learn to bring your doubts and fears before the Lord.

I can tell when a priest “retired” by looking at the books in his office.

Formation is ongoing. Let learning be a lifelong process.”

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.” –Galileo Galilei

Consecration

People imagine all sorts of things that clergy do or don’t do. One family in my parish asked me if I ever listened to any music other than organ music!

Aspiring to live a life of holiness does not mean to be weird or out of touch with the world, but rather to allow God to transform us more and more into the Image of Christ (Imago Dei).

Visitation this week with dear people of God…. Don’t let the facts lead you away from the Truth.

“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” –G.K. Chesterton

Be consecrated to God who alone makes you holy, and love the people you are called to serve.

• Love will keep you from being just one more denominational politician disguised as a preacher.
• Love will keep you from being a mere professional simply seeking advancement in a career, treating the people of God as stepping stones, building your own kingdom and calling it God’s.
• Love will drive you to study the text and preach well, not to impress but because you know your people need the word of God. Love will keep you out of the ivory tower and compel you out into the lives of your people to know them, to know their lives, their joys, and their struggles. How else will you pray for them, preach to them and oversee their souls?

 

• Love will compel you to watch over their souls and not be content with simply filling a pulpit.

Martin Luther opposed all the assembled powers of his day because he would not bear to see his people deceived by the indulgence hawkers.

William Tyndale went to the flames because love for their people drove them to give them the Word in their own language. It is said that his last words, from the stake, were “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”

Commission / Appointment

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth…” Validity v. Efficacy. As Anglicans we love to argue over who is valid. Who is a real Anglican and who isn’t. There is a prominent website that lists all of the wannabe Anglican groups that are not really in the communion. I was more than a bit surprised to find us (AMiA) listed there as a “poser” group that isn’t really Anglican.

However… and this is the important part… You can be ‘official’ but still be worthless.Validity (being official) does mean you are efficacious (actually doing anything worthwhile). I assure you that when you walk out of here today you will be valid. Whether you are efficacious is up to you.

Strive to be efficacious. In the end that is much more important.

“…over nations and over kingdoms…” We are in the midst of rapid cultural change. The values of the world are being seen for what they are: short-term pleasure, long-term misery, fear, disillusionment, and dread.

Simon Farisani, South African Lutheran Dean and Pastor… NY Times reported – He was detained without trial for four lengthy periods since 1977 in Venda, one of the tribal homelands that South Africa has declared ”independent” but that no other country recognizes. During his first three detentions Dean Farisani was brutally tortured: hung upside down, given electric shocks, beaten. He suffered two heart attacks. Protests by Amnesty Inter-national and others helped win his release.

In an interview with he said…I would rather fail temporarily in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.

The persistent vision, witness, and proclamation of faithful people in South Africa changed the world. We need you two to be world changers, to change yourselves, change your world, and then build a fire under us to call us to change!

Learn and don’t forget the power of proclamation. Don’t discount the power of your words, whether in the pulpit or on the street, wherever you may be.

The Charge (from Old French chargier… load, burden… responsibility. 1568 – the word is used as “rush in and attack.”

• Joey taught me… Beer is food, that’s why they sell it in grocery stores.

 

• Make sure the wireless mic is off before you go to the bathroom.

 

• Remember the difference between church organists and terrorists… you can negotiate with some terrorists.

 

• Try to regularly work with your hands, learn with your mind, and love with your souls.

 

• Comfort the afflicted. Afflict the comfortable.

 

• Never confuse defending tradition with resistance to change.

 

• You want to be a winner? Pray – Digest the Scriptures – Look to the Lord of Life

Joseph and James…. (2 Timothy 4) I charge you both, here in the presence of God, and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming (is here) when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Let God who made you, who redeems you, and who loves you continue to form you and make of you what he wills.

Be consecrated and made holy to the Lord. And let the love of God be the compass of your lives.

Remember that you have appointed, called out, sent forth and equipped to change the world!

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The Sign of the Cross Saturday, Sep 15 2007

Words often fail where symbolism succeeds, while taken together they frequently make spiritual things more fully grasped. At the center of Christianity are symbols and words that speak to the very essence of what it means to be human. For this reason these symbols and words will persist, even though the glory days of ‘Christendom’ are gone and the church no longer is the purveyor of civil religion.

The most powerful and persistent symbol of Christianity is the cross. It is the universal representation of the ordeal of Jesus and identifying mark of his followers. The cross is the place of cosmic connection. It is the intersection of several dimensions; the meeting place of heaven and earth.

The cross speaks of the union of heaven and earth, spirit and matter. It is a cosmic axis, the cross represents the human form with arms outstretched. The four cardinal points of the cross can be connected the four directions: north, south, east, and west; the four seasons of the yearly cycle; the four elements (fire, water, air, and earth).

As an archetype, the cross stems from the deepest collective levels of the human psyche.It points to a kind of significance that is truly transcendental: because the intersection of its two lines, the cross is a coordinate – used to represent the location of the point in the plane or space. It is a universal symbol of human existence, here and now.

As true as all those aspects of the cross may be, as Christians we see the cross on an intimate spiritual level. It is much more than a memorial. If Jesus had been a human being only, then the cross would be a reminder of a horrible, unjust, untimely death of someone we loved. But that is but one aspect of the cross. The cross is the decisive turning point for humanity. It is the “before and after” point for all of spiritual time.

We make the sign of the cross. We do this in corportate worship and in personal private prayer. With the Sign, we send a visible sign to the world and follow the advice of St. Ephrem of Syria (died A.D. 373):

Mark all your actions with the sign of the life-giving Cross. Do not go out from the door of your house till you have signed yourself with the Cross. Do not neglect that sign whether in eating or drinking or going to sleep, or in the home or going on a journey. There is no habit to be compared with it. Let it be a protecting wall round all your conduct, and teach it to your children that they may earnestly learn the custom.

As you make the sign of the cross, do so with the intention of making these connections to:

God. When we reach up in faith, with hope and trust, we are reaching for God. Like an infant child reaching up with assurance that mom or dad will be there, so we reach out of our selves toward God. The first movement is up toward God, to a higher consciousness, to the source of life and the fount of eternal love. The starting place of the cross is to accept all the love and life that God wants to share with us.

Self. In the spiritual life we must see to our own needs. Unless we first bind our wounds, we cannot be a healer for others. We can only give away what we first possess. No one wants to hear a preacher or teacher words of wisdom unless they have first realized the truth of those words for themselves. To make the second point of the cross is to go deep, to reach into the depths of our human lives and to there understand our own needs, hopes, and desires. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We simply cannot hope to love and help others if we have not learned to love and help ourselves. There may be fairies, there may be elves, but God helps those who help themselves.

Others. The first arm of the cross is to reach out in compassion to others. One of the best tools for spiritual growth is service. Most of us have no quarrel with this aspect of the cross. In fact, we sometimes start here, with outreach, when first we need to be converted ourselves. But having had our awareness raised, let us not bypass this clear and obvious mandate of what it means to walk in the way of the cross. Love one another. Break bread together. Make disciples. Preach the Good News of salvation to the brokenhearted. These are not good suggestions. They are the fruit we are to bear for the sake of Christ.

World. The best known verse in the Bible is probably John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…” God loved the world so much that he made the decision to forever become part of it. The incarnation of Jesus means that God is married to creation for all eternity. If God loved the world so much that he sent Jesus to redeem it, then it follows that disciples of Jesus should have a great respect for the world. Not just for the people who live on the planet, for the animals that enrich our lives, for the plant kingdom that gives us oxygen to breathe, and for the oceans and rivers that sustain make life possible.

The Bridgettine Nuns (founded 1370 by St. Birgitta of Sweden to give praise and honor to God) in their Myroure of our Ladye write of the mystical reasons for the practice of making the sign of the cross, and how it summarizes the Incarnation, the Passion, and the Ascension of Jesus:

And then ye bless you with the sygne of the holy crosse, to chase away the fiend with all his deceytes. For, as Chrysostome sayth, wherever the fiends see the signe of the crosse, they flye away, dreading it as a staffe that they are beaten withall. And in thys blessinge ye beginne with youre hande at the hedde downwarde, and then to the lefte side and byleve that our Lord Jesu Christe came down from the head, that is from the Father into erthe by his holy Incarnation, and from the erthe into the left syde, that is hell, by his bitter Passion, and from thence into his Father’s righte syde by his glorious Ascension.

Words often fail where symbolism succeeds, while taken together they frequently make spiritual things more fully grasped. May our words and deeds be more than symbolic, may they unite heaven with earth, and bring human hopes and dreams into alignment with the ways and wonders of the risen Christ.

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Choices and Consequences Saturday, Sep 8 2007

The Sunday Lectionary Meditation
September 9, 2007
Lectionary Proper 18, Year C

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Moses said to all Israel the words which the Lord commanded him, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

We all have choices. Every day we are faced with a myriad of decisions. Choices carry consequences. Little choices add up to big consequence. Choices have a ripple effect through our lives. Don’t just hear this as a dire warning (eat that one candy bar and there goes your waist line), but as an invitation to do good. You cannot know the power of one blessing, one prayer, or one act of generous kindness. Choices are a matter of the heart. The choices we make reflect the priorities we have set for ourselves. Choices speak to what is going on inside with the ‘inner self.’ Our society likes to promote the idea that we have an unlimited amount of personalized choices (cell phone covers, online avatars, sandwich combinations, colors to paint the house, time of flight departures, etc.). We like the idea of having lots of choices, but the words of Moses cut the options way down. There really is just one choice: do we follow the ways of God or not? The more we follow the ways of God the more life we find. The more we reject the ways of God the more life gets confusing and out of balance.

Philemon 1-20

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love– and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother– especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.

Given my interest in the small group ministry of our parish and my work with the emerging church I love the fact this little letter is addressed to a house church! Paul prays that the sharing of their faith might be effective. What a great thing for which to pray. It is not enough to simply have faith, like one might have a savings account, or a stamp collection. But what good is our faith if it is not having an effect on our lives and on others. Any faith worth having is worth sharing. There is no concept in the early (house) church of spirituality in isolation, but rather spirituality in community. The subject of slavery is a prominent theme in this short book. There is a temptation for us to fly over this subject quickly, after all, we are free and enlightened people. Slavery is a thing on the ancient past. Right? While the kind of slavery we saw in Amazing Grace is thankfully a thing of the past, people are still very much in bondage. Most people in the world today have precious little compared to our way of life. We all know about the horrors in Darfur, Iraq, and Palestine. But even in our own hemisphere many people live in fear, hunger, and oppression. The murder rate in Brazil, for instance, is five times that of the US. Consider this bit of information from the ONE Campaign (www.one.org)… “1.8 million children will die from dehydration in 2007 due to diarrhea. In many cases, all it would take is a handful of sugar, a bottle of clean water, and a pinch of salt to re-hydrate these children and save their lives. But something else is missing: the political will to make it happen.” We do not have to accept conditions such as this. We can make a decision today to make our faith effective, and to live – not in isolation – but in community.

Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”

If we are initiated with the basic idea of choices and consequences in the first lesson, the Gospel lesson “ups the ante” to the extreme! How easy it is to read this Gospel like medieval scholars: this is addressed to monks, friars, priests, and nuns. Surely this cannot be for ordinary folks like me and you!? So, do you see any so called “professional religious” among the followers of Jesus. No. This radical call to kingdom living is for anyone who has ears to hear. In classical oriental style Jesus “afflicts the comfortable” with a saving message. The story begins with ‘large crowds’ traveling with Jesus. I’m sure that after this sermon that the crowd thinned out a bit. How different is the style and content of Jesus’ teaching that what we would likely encounter from a leader today? What person with a large following would offer such a difficult statement. I’m sure that if Jesus would have used a focus group or political consultant they would have advised him to say something quite different from “hate your family… join the disciples” mantra. To seek God via the way of Jesus is no easy enterprise. To choose this path is to forsake all others. This is the way of self-denial and self-sacrifice. But in the end it is the way of self-knowing and God-realization. The cost of discipleship is great, but the value is beyond calculation.

Would you like to help contribute to The Sunday Lectionary Meditation? Here’s how… Read the lessons for an upcoming Sunday (http://www.io.com/~kellywp/index.html). Be sure to select the BCP option. Email Fr. Ernie with your thoughts on any given Sunday passage. Bless you!

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The Renunciation of Fear Saturday, Aug 11 2007

A constant theme in both the daily and Sunday Scripture lessons of late has been that of fear, more specifically, its seductive powers and our need to renounce it. The first words out of the mouth of God to Abram are, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus talks to his friends and students in the same way, “Do not be afraid.” Afraid of what? There is a saying in the Army: If you can remain calm while everything around you is going to hell, you have obviously misunderstood the gravity of the situation.

All around us the world is literally going to hell. The “gospel of the culture” keeps on preaching gratification and success, and the fruit of that path becomes foreclosure and recession. The Gospel of Jesus keeps on preaching too. To what does this gospel call us today? It calls us to renounce fear and get prepared.

This is hurricane season in Florida. We are cautioned once again to be ready in the event of a storm. One of the ways we can be prepared is to have a hurricane survival kit. In this kit we should have several essential items: important papers, first aid supplies, and some food and water.

This is also post-Pentecost season. We live in the “season” of the Church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. In fact, we are well beyond the Apostolic Age and the age of Christendom.

Like Floridians who have been warned over-and-over that the “Big One” is coming, we have been told over-and-ever that our Lord will come again for us. We should have a spiritual readiness kit as well. In that kit we should have some essential items:

Important Papers – Holy Scripture, devotional books, a prayer journal, and other material that keeps us inspired, informed, and equipped. The stories, lessons, history, and hope that is embedded in Holy Writ can slow but surely change us and deliver us from the power of darkness, replacing the demons of fear and doubt with the angels of love and peace.

First Aid – When life is tough and seems unfair we should turn to our “kit” that God has given us. First aid should include having a few trusted persons to whom we may turn. There is no suggestion that we try to keep a stiff upper lip and weather the storms of life alone. We need each other.

Food & Water – The most basic sacraments of the Church are baptism and holy communion. The water of baptism speaks to us of cleansing, of forgiveness, of renewal. We can come to the waters of baptism not just once in life, but over and over to be reminded of the eternal wellspring of life and love. The communion we share is food for the soul. The simple gifts of bread and wine remind us again and again that God is here to give us today our daily bread.

We should live somewhere between complacency and fear. We need an honest attitude about the limits and brevity of human life on the one hand, and the gift of eternal life on the other. We are called to do much more than to simply wait around for redemption.

As members of the baptized eucharistic community of Jesus we are called to be dressed and ready for action. We have been given a “spiritual readiness kit” to meet the challenges of daily life. Pray for the willingness and motivation to use the gifts that God has given us to accomplish the mission of the Church.

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The Essential Commandments of Jesus Sunday, Feb 18 2007

How many rules, ideas, and rituals have been attributed to Jesus? There are many traditions that are attributed to Jesus that are not from Jesus at all. How difficult we can make his humble and sincere approach to God. Jesus taught many important things. He healed the sick and raised the dead. And He did give specific directions and expectations to his followers. These directions are essential to living the life of the blessed that Jesus taught us.

The Summary of the Law

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22.34-40 (NRSV)

The Jewish theological tradition had erected laws around the law so as not to violate even the smallest commandment of God. As well intended as this was, the result was a tedious and impossible ideal. Jesus ‘cuts to the chase’ by correctly identifying our highest aspirations: to love God and to love others. These two must go together. To love only God is a distortion of what it means to be alive. We must acknowledge and adore the essence of our being (God) and the recognition of that Source will naturally lead to an expression of that awareness in love.

The Institution of the Eucharist

14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22.14-20 (NRSV)

The observance of the Passover Meal was (and is) one of the most significant ritual observances in Judaism. It recalled God’s great deliverance of the people of Israel out bondage in the land of Egypt, and the sparing of God’s people when the Angel of Death moved through the land (read the story of the first Passover in Exodus 12). Jesus took this holy meal of remembrance and wove its historical and spiritual significance into the life and mission of the Messiah. The ‘Last Supper’ of Jesus has long been a source of debate among Christians. Did Jesus institute a sacrament that is to find its continuity only by duly ordained ministers set aside by the apostles and their successors? Regardless of the theological reflections and opinions that surround these actions the conclusion is certain that Jesus presided over a meal in which giving thanks (eucharist) was central and Jesus himself tells his disciples to carry on this meal.

The Command to Love One Another

Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13.31-35 (NRSV)

It is curious that John omits any narrative of the Last Supper. Instead, he gives a different perspective on the essential spiritual teachings of Jesus. John tells us about Jesus washing the feet of his friends. This intimate action speaks of service and humility. It speaks of love. Jesus says that the ability to love will be a chief characteristic of His disciples. There is no separation here between ideas and actions. Jesus does not ask us to obtain a mental grasp of God, or to simply learn techniques for inner peace and quiet. Rather, he invites us to be transformed at the very core of our beings. Only such a depth of conversion will allow us to share the divine (unconditional) love that will identify us as a true follower of Jesus.

The Great Commission

Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28.18-20 (NRSV)

These verses are particular to Matthew’s gospel. They words encourage us to share the good news of God in Jesus with all we meet. How can we do anything else? We can only hope to keep what we have by giving it away. The best way to honor Jesus is to experience his forgiveness and love first hand, then eagerly seek to share that same forgiveness and love with others.

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The Essential Teachings of the Lord’s Prayer Sunday, Feb 11 2007

A Meditation on Matthew 6.5-15

“Remember that the Lord’s Prayer covers the whole of the spiritual life. Condensed though the form is, it is nevertheless a complete manual for the development of the soul.” –Emmet Fox

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (KJV)

Prayer is the single most important spiritual tool we have been given. In prayer we find a connection to our inner most being, the depth of our consciousness, and a direct means by which to connect with God. Prayer is communion with God. We can engage in it anywhere, at any time, for any reason. The foundation of the Eucharist itself is prayer through which we enter into holy kyros time, embrace the sacred meal shared by Jesus himself, invoke the presence of the Holy Spirit, and offer ourselves to be healed and transformed by the efficacy of Christ’s mystical sacrifice. All of this is made possible by prayer.

Prayer is the language of spirituality. It is means by which our human minds are synchronized with the mind of Christ. It accelerates our consciousness of what is real and what is an illusion and allows us to participate in the creative presence of God. Prayer is more than asking for something. It is essentially an act of worship. Effective prayer moves well beyond supplication and into the affirmations of truth which are the keys by which the doors of the Kingdom of God are unlocked on earth.

The Lord’s Prayer is the most well known and widely used prayer known to humanity. It is the one essential prayer that Christians of all persuasions can use without rancor. It is also used in other spiritual settings (such as 12 Step groups) where the simplicity and beauty of this prayer is duly appreciated. The Lord’s Prayer can be used as a formal prayer and may also be seen as a complete outline of spiritual instruction. The version of the Lord’s Prayer above from the King James Version of the Bible is the closest to the popular way the Lord’s Prayer is often prayed aloud. It is essentially the same as the traditional version found in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. The prayer book version is used below as we consider the prayer phase-by-phrase:

Our Father – The use of the plural possessive is a statement of the universality of God. This is not my God or your God, but our God. This does not mean that all religions are equally valid as we hear in a post-Christian “New Age” society. There are many substitutes for the truth that sound good but are at odds with the witness of Holy Scripture. God’s grace is still there for the asking and God is the Source of all, whether we acknowledge Him or not. The God to whom Jesus addresses his prayer is the progenitor of all that is, the moving force of the cosmos, and the prime mover of all creation.

Which art in heaven – The advent of the computer age has revealed the existence of realities on more than one plane. We talk about the realm of data and information as “cyber space.” Our bodies occupy the physical world, sometimes called “meat space.” Physicists are suggesting that there may be many dimensions of reality (String Theory) that we have only begun to explore. The prayer of Jesus affirms that God is in heaven, i.e., is transcendent above ordinary time and space and as such cannot be limited to the constrains of this world dimension.

Hallowed be thy Name – The divine Name is holy. When God spoke to Moses He told him the sacred Name of God: “IAM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3.14). Hallowed means “holy, sanctified, blessed, consecrated.” It is a Name to be set apart for sacred invocation and not to be uttered profanely. It is the Name by which we are created, restored, and made whole.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven – This phase has the dual feeling of a petition as well as an affirmation. Jesus was no doubt expressing the tension between the “already” and the “not yet:” the truth has been revealed but it has not become the rule of life or the order of the day.

Give us this day our daily bread – One of the most important steps in living a spiritual life is the ability to live but one day a time. This may be simple but it is not easy! In fact, it is possible only by grace and giving the unruly will of the mind over to the care of God. Jesus teaches us to pray for the providence of today. This is reminiscent of the manna (Exodus 16) by which God fed the people of Israel in the wilderness. They were not to hoard more than was needed nor eat from yesterday’s gatherings. God provided for them on a daily basis and God provided for us in the same way.

And forgive us our trespasses (debts), as we forgive those who trespass against us (our debtors) – Forgiveness. This is the key to so much of life. In order to be healed we must forgive and be forgiven. God has forgiven us. Have we forgiven ourselves? How much energy do we expend on hanging on to hurts and disappointments that others have inflicted on us? The role of the victim does not work so well in living the victorious life of the spirit.

And lead us not into temptation – This may be the most difficult phase of the Lord’s Prayer. In what sense do we understand God to lead us into temptation? Is it fair to pray this phase “keep us away from that which is tempting”? The more develop the soul the greater the rewards, but alas – the greater the risks and dangers as well! Jesus knew the landscape of spiritual conflict and warfare. He knew that such times would come but should not be sought out. When the time of trial is present we have recourse to God alone for strength.

But deliver us from evil – Be not deceived, there is real evil in this world. Most people have no problem agreeing with this statement, but many academics and professional theologians have taught that a doctrine of evil, Satan, and the demonic world is superstition and folk tales. Jesus taught that evil was real, that is was powerful, and the human beings could be caught in its grip. The only antidote to evil is the Good that is God. The Lord is our strength and our salvation. The Lord is our mighty deliverer from Satan and all spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God.

For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen. – This phase is called the “doxology” portion of the prayer and is treated as optional by many. Some Christian liturgies omit it. It has long been loved and used by Anglicans and Eastern Orthodox Christians. It summarizes the preceding petitions and affirmations and gives all praise and glory to God and God alone.

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The Healing Actions of Jesus: Taking Infirmities and Bearing Diseases Saturday, Feb 10 2007

The ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ may be seen in a three-fold work of teaching, preaching, and healing. As important as teaching and preaching were, it was healing that seems to be at the very core of what Jesus was about. More than any other great spiritual or religious Master, Jesus was concerned with the health and well-being of men and women he met. There are many references to healing in the life and work of Jesus. Nearly one-fifth of the canonical gospels are occupied by the healings of Jesus. Of all the miraculous activities attributed to him, healings are by far and away the most numerous. Forty-one distinct instances of both physical and mental healings are documented in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. There are seventy-two accounts in all, some of which summarize healing events of a large number of people. Being healed of sickness was seen as one of the prophetic signs of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God (Isaiah 33.24). The following three examples of healing from Matthew 8 give us a glimpse of Jesus the Divine Healer.

Cleansing of a Leper (Matthew 8.1-4)
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them (KJV).

As soon as Jesus came down from the mountain he was met by this man in need of healing. After a mountain top experience comes a most difficult challenge for Jesus. This is a good lesson in spiritual warfare. A profound experience of affirmation is often followed by an equally intense challenge. Another way to look at this is that in order to meet the most difficult challenges of life we must take time to seek the higher plane. This was no routine or ordinary healing occasion. Leprosy was (and is) a most difficult disease. It can take as long as 20 years to manifest after a person has been infected. It is curable, but only treatment in its earliest stages prevents disability. The leper was an “untouchable” of society. The fact that Jesus was willing to touch this person shows that he was more interested in the humanity of the suffering one rather than in distancing himself because of a social taboo. The healing of the leper was not only to offer this man the grace and mercy of God, but to reveal Jesus as the divinely anointed Messiah of God.

Healing of the Centurion’s Servant (Matthew 8.5-13)
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour (KJV).

The Centurion (Roman army officer in charge of 100 men) and his servant were non-Jewish aliens who were political outsiders. They were intruders who represented the oppression of God’s people by an occupying force. Jesus looked beyond superficial political differences and saw human beings made by God, loved by God, and waiting to be healed by God. The words of the Centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof…” have found their way into the hearts of devoted Christians for generations. This prayer is often used in preparation for the reception of holy communion. What was so profound about this man’s statement of faith? The Centurion recognized his own brokenness and the ability of a Higher Power to intervene.

Healings at Peter’s House (Matthew 8.14-17)
And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses (KJV).

Jesus placed a healing hand on Peter’s mother-in-law and the fever left her. This healing appears to have occurred rather quickly, possibly because she wasn’t severely ill or because the spiritual conditions for Jesus to work were optimal. The care extended to this woman by Jesus reminds those of us in ministry not to forget to care for those closest to us. Too often the demands of ministry are such that family and friends become sacrificed to the demands of ministerial life. Later that night there were many brought to Jesus for healing. Some were ill with various and sundry ailments, while others were oppressed by demonic forces. Spiritual healing raises lots of questions to the scientifically trained mind, but what then of demonic deliverance? The gospel writers simple assume the presence of evil forces in the world and the belief that such forces can infect human being, making them sick. In all cases Jesus used “the word” to heal and deliver. The detailed of his particular techniques and methodology are not given here. And maybe the most important statement in this section: (Jesus) himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. Jesus was much more than a detached clinical practitioner. More than addressing the presenting symptoms of human misery, Jesus got to the root of the problem by taking our sin, sickness, and brokenness to the cross of Calvary. His atoning death and victorious resurrection provided the ultimate healing for body, mind, and soul.

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