In his book, The Optimism Bias, Tali Sharot cites several scientific studies that seem to indicate that the human brain is hard-wired for hope. Without it, we might all still be living in caves without heat or light from the discovery of fire! It's hope that allows us to take chances, risks and challenges. And i'ts hope that restores us after catastrophes.
Many people interviewed immediately after the 9/11 tragedy told of events one way, and years later told them very differently. Many had found a "silver lining" coming out of the horrors of that day. All of them had re-written history in softer language because our optimistic hopeful minds will not hold onto the raw carnage of that day.
There have been many reactions to the events of last week in Aurora, Colorado. Some have asked, "Why?" Some question how a good God could let this horror happen. That's another whole article for next week. I would suggest that one reaction we as Christians could offer is hope. Hope that we can work to build a better future. Hope that we can learn from these mistakes and poor choices and help these disturbed individuals before they pick up a gun. Hope that we can build a world without the need of guns. Hope that we can teach the way of Christ to all humankind - the way of faith, HOPE, and love.
One strain seems to run through all of the individuals perpetrating these crimes - hopelessness. Terrorists claim to be fighting hopeless poverty and inequality among their people. The shooters at Columbine, Virginia Tech and Aurora all shared a sense of hopelessness.
Jesus Christ came to earth to give us hope - hope of life, both an abundant life here and eternal life in the heavens. He was all about LIFE, and he conquered death.
In 1 Corinthians 13:7 Paul tells us, "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." One of the most important components in offering hope to others is to love them. We cannot preach the gospel with words to someone who is suffering. Their ears cannot hear. We need to preach with kindness, with empathy, with help and with hope. As their suffering eases, we begin to preach with our presence. Then, when God's time is right, we can share His word. It's like preparing the soil before planting.
Right now, we offer prayers. We offer encouragement. We offer sympathy. We may be angry, but that is not what needs to be shared. They have enough of that already. We may be outraged, confused, scared, and any number of other emotions. We share those with family and friends and spiritual advisors. But with our brothers and sisters who are suffering...we our share hope, until theirs returns again.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Living God's Way: The least of these
Living God's Way: The least of these: Matthew 25:37-40 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you som...
The least of these
Matthew 25:37-40
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’"
It was SO hot! I was working hard to finish up early so I could steal away to the Pleasant Grove Camp Meeting in progress this week. In fact, I was gathering up my things to leave when she knocked on the back door. My secretary offered to "deal with her" but I waved her in.
She was soaked in sweat. She was shaking and fidgety. She only asked for food. I didn't get the usual sob story. She didn't tell me about her sad circumstances, her children going hungry, nothing. Just politely asked for some food for herself and her children for that night. I had to pull the story out of her.
And what a story it was! Three weeks earlier her mother had died, leaving her literally homeless. She and her two children had wandered from place to place, from Lancaster to Waxhaw, depending on the kindness (or not so kindness) of anyone who would let them stay for a short time. The last so-called friend had "borrowed" her EBT card and used it to throw a party! Her children were at a church camp and were finally safe and cared for. We made calls. She made calls. The shelter doesn't take people with children. Finally, she spoke with an agency that would take her in. With all her belongings in two laundry baskets, we set off to her new life. Nervous and shaking from the effects of a week without her insulin, she cried on and off all the way there. We prayed together many times that day. When it came time for me to go, the agency assured me that she would be well cared for.
Finally on my way to camp meeting, I put her out of my mind. The preacher was awesome, and gave a time to lift up any prayer concerns, and again she came to mind. Though, I didn't go down front, I felt a tug to do so. I just prayed for her where I was. When I got home, I had a message from our daycare director that she was trying to reach me and it was URGENT. I called the agency she was housed with and they couldn't put me in touch with her. They assured me that she would be in touch with me.
The next morning I was late getting into the office, but she was there within minutes after I arrived. She was a different person! She smiled from ear to ear! She had been approved for special housing, but had not received the mailings because she had no address. Crisis Assistance stood ready to help her get the power on. If we hadn't taken her to see the social worker at the agency, they never would have found her!
Now she is settling into her new apartment with her children. She still needs a job and child care, etc, but at least she is not on the street anymore. I have many times thought that my ministry is unfruitful; that I plant seeds that others will harvest; that I leave work every day never seeing the glory of the Lord revealed in what I do. I now know it's because I was doing all the doing. When I went off-schedule and just went wherever the Lord led, I got to watch a miracle. I was just the transportation and telecommunications - HE was the source. God IS still in the miracle business - if only we will yield to His will and follow where He leads.
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’"
It was SO hot! I was working hard to finish up early so I could steal away to the Pleasant Grove Camp Meeting in progress this week. In fact, I was gathering up my things to leave when she knocked on the back door. My secretary offered to "deal with her" but I waved her in.
She was soaked in sweat. She was shaking and fidgety. She only asked for food. I didn't get the usual sob story. She didn't tell me about her sad circumstances, her children going hungry, nothing. Just politely asked for some food for herself and her children for that night. I had to pull the story out of her.
And what a story it was! Three weeks earlier her mother had died, leaving her literally homeless. She and her two children had wandered from place to place, from Lancaster to Waxhaw, depending on the kindness (or not so kindness) of anyone who would let them stay for a short time. The last so-called friend had "borrowed" her EBT card and used it to throw a party! Her children were at a church camp and were finally safe and cared for. We made calls. She made calls. The shelter doesn't take people with children. Finally, she spoke with an agency that would take her in. With all her belongings in two laundry baskets, we set off to her new life. Nervous and shaking from the effects of a week without her insulin, she cried on and off all the way there. We prayed together many times that day. When it came time for me to go, the agency assured me that she would be well cared for.
Finally on my way to camp meeting, I put her out of my mind. The preacher was awesome, and gave a time to lift up any prayer concerns, and again she came to mind. Though, I didn't go down front, I felt a tug to do so. I just prayed for her where I was. When I got home, I had a message from our daycare director that she was trying to reach me and it was URGENT. I called the agency she was housed with and they couldn't put me in touch with her. They assured me that she would be in touch with me.
The next morning I was late getting into the office, but she was there within minutes after I arrived. She was a different person! She smiled from ear to ear! She had been approved for special housing, but had not received the mailings because she had no address. Crisis Assistance stood ready to help her get the power on. If we hadn't taken her to see the social worker at the agency, they never would have found her!
Now she is settling into her new apartment with her children. She still needs a job and child care, etc, but at least she is not on the street anymore. I have many times thought that my ministry is unfruitful; that I plant seeds that others will harvest; that I leave work every day never seeing the glory of the Lord revealed in what I do. I now know it's because I was doing all the doing. When I went off-schedule and just went wherever the Lord led, I got to watch a miracle. I was just the transportation and telecommunications - HE was the source. God IS still in the miracle business - if only we will yield to His will and follow where He leads.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Happy Birthday
Today is my little sister's birthday. She was born on Friday the thirteenth, and spent most of her life terrorizing her big sister just to prove it. anyone else have the type of little sister that had to do everything you did, go everywhere you went, etc, ? And the type of parents that would constantly remind you, "Well, she IS your only sister."
Most of my life I saw her as an annoyance at best, a brat most of the time, and spawn of Satan at worst. As we grew older, we went our separate ways. I was the professional woman, married with kids, juggling it all and busy all the time. She was a homemaker and unable to have children. We had so little in common. We drifted apart.
Then she got sick. Really sick. And I saw her so vulnerable lying there in the hospital, with her pastor praying over her as she went into surgery, and suddenly that obnoxious little brat became precious to me. Instead of focusing on all the bratty things she'd done all these years, I remembered all the things we'd been through together, and the good memories flooded over me.
Many church members do that to each other. They only see the bad things that have happened in each others' lives through the years. They hold grudges. And they grow apart in the body of Christ. They're great at coming together around a crisis, but otherwise they don't have time for each other. The people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth wouldn't listen to him because they knew his parents and siblings (Mark 6:1-6.) They Threatened to throw him off a cliff rather than listen to what he had to say! Sometimes we ignore the treasures right before us!
Today, I thank God I'm celebrating my sister's 49th birthday! It's a miracle she's still with me. And I pray for many more years to get to know her better and love her more. I also pray for the Body of Christ to grow in its love for all its members that the love might overflow onto a hungry and hurting world.
Most of my life I saw her as an annoyance at best, a brat most of the time, and spawn of Satan at worst. As we grew older, we went our separate ways. I was the professional woman, married with kids, juggling it all and busy all the time. She was a homemaker and unable to have children. We had so little in common. We drifted apart.
Then she got sick. Really sick. And I saw her so vulnerable lying there in the hospital, with her pastor praying over her as she went into surgery, and suddenly that obnoxious little brat became precious to me. Instead of focusing on all the bratty things she'd done all these years, I remembered all the things we'd been through together, and the good memories flooded over me.
Many church members do that to each other. They only see the bad things that have happened in each others' lives through the years. They hold grudges. And they grow apart in the body of Christ. They're great at coming together around a crisis, but otherwise they don't have time for each other. The people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth wouldn't listen to him because they knew his parents and siblings (Mark 6:1-6.) They Threatened to throw him off a cliff rather than listen to what he had to say! Sometimes we ignore the treasures right before us!
Today, I thank God I'm celebrating my sister's 49th birthday! It's a miracle she's still with me. And I pray for many more years to get to know her better and love her more. I also pray for the Body of Christ to grow in its love for all its members that the love might overflow onto a hungry and hurting world.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
What is the 4th For?
Through the magic of Facebook and Blogger and the gift of a day off, I was able to read a friend's blog yesterday entitled "Jesus and July 4." It was really interesting, convicting and downright disturbing! You can read it here: http://revjameshowell.blogspot.com/2010/07/jesus-and-july-4.html. Rev. Dr. Howell raises some issues that I hadn't paid much attention to. He obviously reads more than I do, or at least read different things. For example, I didn't realize it was wrong to wear the flag. I studied how to handle it appropriately when I was a scout leader, but I never knew I was being disrespectful if I wore it! Personally, I always thought it was a little much for me so I never did, but I always thought "to each his own" and didn't give it a second thought. WOW! I wonder how many other ways we are ignorant of our own patriotism?
So I started reading. I found some great stuff. None of it called for a change in behavior as much as James' article, but many things I read both inspired and challenged me.
My favorite ex-president, Jimmy Carter, wrote a book that I highly recommend, called Our Endangered Values. I did some fishing about his views on patriotism, and found a quote from 1980 that was both wise and prophetic: "It is good to know that our nation's defenses against a conventional attack are impregnable, and an imperative that America remain vigilant against threats from terrorists. But as is the case with a human being, admirable characteristics of a nation are not defined by size and physical prowess. What are some of the other attributes of a superpower? Once again, they might very well mirror those of a person. These would include a demonstrable commitment to truth, justice, peace, freedom, humility, human rights, generosity, and the upholding of other moral values.
We live in a time of transition, ... During the period we may be tempted to abandon some of the time-honored principles and commitments which have been proven during the difficult times of past generations. We must never yield to this temptation. Our American values are not luxuries, but necessities— not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself."
39th President James Earl Carter, Jr., Farewell Address 1980
Do our actions on July 4th show forth our American values? Or do they show the world an American orgy of drunkenness and immorality, me-first and selfishness, one-up-manship in our parades and competition in our displays? As our neighbors to the north of us suffered in the heat without power and air conditioning, did we pause to pray, or offer a cold drink, or give up a holiday to go and give aid? When and where do we display our American values to the world? Do our children even know what July 4 is all about?
“We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth, peace, security, liberty, our family, our friends, our home. . .But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.”
Calvin Coolidge
What do we hold dear? Is there anything dear enough to say with Nathan Hale "I regret that I have only one life to give" or with Patrick Henry "Give me liberty or give me death!" Do we love enough, as Christ did, to lay our life down for another? What do we hold dear? Our country? Our children? Our family? Our faith? Our Fourth of July?
So I started reading. I found some great stuff. None of it called for a change in behavior as much as James' article, but many things I read both inspired and challenged me.
My favorite ex-president, Jimmy Carter, wrote a book that I highly recommend, called Our Endangered Values. I did some fishing about his views on patriotism, and found a quote from 1980 that was both wise and prophetic: "It is good to know that our nation's defenses against a conventional attack are impregnable, and an imperative that America remain vigilant against threats from terrorists. But as is the case with a human being, admirable characteristics of a nation are not defined by size and physical prowess. What are some of the other attributes of a superpower? Once again, they might very well mirror those of a person. These would include a demonstrable commitment to truth, justice, peace, freedom, humility, human rights, generosity, and the upholding of other moral values.
We live in a time of transition, ... During the period we may be tempted to abandon some of the time-honored principles and commitments which have been proven during the difficult times of past generations. We must never yield to this temptation. Our American values are not luxuries, but necessities— not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself."
39th President James Earl Carter, Jr., Farewell Address 1980
Do our actions on July 4th show forth our American values? Or do they show the world an American orgy of drunkenness and immorality, me-first and selfishness, one-up-manship in our parades and competition in our displays? As our neighbors to the north of us suffered in the heat without power and air conditioning, did we pause to pray, or offer a cold drink, or give up a holiday to go and give aid? When and where do we display our American values to the world? Do our children even know what July 4 is all about?
“We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth, peace, security, liberty, our family, our friends, our home. . .But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.”
Calvin Coolidge
What do we hold dear? Is there anything dear enough to say with Nathan Hale "I regret that I have only one life to give" or with Patrick Henry "Give me liberty or give me death!" Do we love enough, as Christ did, to lay our life down for another? What do we hold dear? Our country? Our children? Our family? Our faith? Our Fourth of July?
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