God and Guns!

This morning I was rudely awakened to those words proclaimed loudly by none other than Hank Williams Jr. from a snippet that was broadcast on the radio from a recent Republican rally/concert held in Fayetteville.

Hard to believe that those words would be used together as a proclamation...what has this country come to? I was disturbed all day by this announcement, even more so by the cheers of the crowd that followed it. Is this the teaching of our God and our Saviour? How can this statement be reconciled with Biblical teaching?

Have we really become a nation that equates gun ownership as a "God" ordained right? Have we removed ourselves that far from the core of God's instructions? How can someone claim to be a Christian and also proclaim a love for guns? I really struggle with this.

Here is an interesting quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower, from a speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, April 16, 1953 (and remembering that this man was a decorated WWII General as well as our 34th President):

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed...This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is a humanity hanging from a cross of iron."

I believe President Eisenhower would roll over in his grave if he knew that statements praising "God and Guns" were the rallying cry of a Republican gathering.

Each election season, the rhetoric becomes more and more divisive, the distinctions between the two parties more and more oppositional, the choices less obvious and the poor and the downtrodden lost in the struggle for power. I sometimes feel that as a country we have completely lost direction and instead keep spinning around the same circles, the same issues, the same frustrations. Because we are so focused on our side "winning", nothing gets accomplished except more polarization. We are now hanging dummies in effigy, physically damaging ourselves to make a story, plotting giant assassinations, sending viral emails full of half truths or lies without any consideration of the damage we are doing not only to those we oppose, but also to ourselves. Each time we reduce ourselves to the spreading of lies, gossip or half truths, we are hurting our own consciousness. How can we stop the madness???

Throughout the Bible, the chosen people of God have been set apart, not part of the culture they resided in. From the early Hebrews, the sons of Abraham to the first Christians in the Acts 2 church, we followers of God have been separate from societies ways, often subjected to hardship, slavery, persecution or execution. Perhaps the culture that surrounded them was no different than we are facing in this country. So how do I set myself apart from the madness? How do I continue my pilgrims journey of faith, follow my hearts desire and God's directive to help the poor, the orphan and the widow?

How's Your Vision?

It has always amazed me that my husband and I will be driving down the road and he will suddenly point to the side of the road and say "Did you see that deer", or he will recognize a friend driving in a car going the other way, or he will comment on something the passengers are doing in a car up the road as we start to pass it by. I have never been able to see these things. When I am riding or driving in a car I am consciously focused on the driving, but subconsciously I am always "pinging" my sensory radar for feelings or emotions, how the music on the radio makes me feel, mentally checking off my "to do" list, thinking about my destination and what my plans are when I get there. My husband and I have two completely different ways of taking a journey. If we were to use a Myers Briggs evaluation, he is definitely and "S" and I am a "N" in the perception department. While he derives his environmental awareness from sight and the reality around him, I am much more aware of the feelings of the people we are with or the tone or emotions that fill a room.

When we go on vacation it is the same thing. Dan is intently focused on seeing all we can of the sights of the city we are visting. Each day will have significant time set aside to visit and explore all the different landmarks. I on the other hand want to talk to the people we meet and get to know more about their culture, what their days are like, what their interests are. When we return from our travels and share our memories with others, sometimes it seems like we were on separate vacations!!

I guess these different ways to be attentive in life also will affect our ability to "see" God in our presence here on earth. A Sensory person will "see" God in all his majesty in the beautiful sunsets, magnificent vistas, beautiful blosseming flowers, or a rainbow after a storm. An Intuitive person on the other hand will "see" God in emotions and behaviors, in reactions and moods, in patterns and coincidences. Neither type of sight is better or more relevant than the other, they are just different. The most important point is that whichever way we are wired, we are called to take time to develop our vision. We need to check our sight regularly to make sure it is operating properly.

I seem to move through attentiveness phases myself. There are times that I can daily grasp Gods presence almost as though I could touch him. As I sit in my morning devotion time I become amazed at how randomly selected scripture will just speak to a specific life issue I am dealing with (I just LOVE when that happens!). Then at other times, it is almost as though I am wearing blinders and can't seem to discern God's presence anywhere. Usually this happens when I am extremely caught up in activities, I begin to neglect my morning time because my schedule won't allow and I drift a little from my relationship. It is funny how that hole in my life will sometimes take a while to make itself known.

During the past year, I have been increasingly aware that I need to work on quiet, meditative times to increase my personal attentiveness. And for some reason, the urgency I am feeling towards this is increasing. This is a very frightening concept for me. Taking many hours to be completely alone with God. I am not sure what to do with myself during this silent retreat...I am a people person - putting me alone for extended periods of time with no distractions, no phone, no TV, no computer - well, that's just not something I am comfortable with. But I have been hearing this call in my heart (good thing I am not a Sensory person - or God would have to send me an official invitation, or write it in the sky, or maybe send a burning bush just to get my attention), and I am looking into the options for a day of meditation...just me and the Lord.

Another Puzzle Piece in Place!

I believe I have found another piece in my puzzle of the Middle Class Paradox...

While concluding the study of Psalms of Ascent the next to last Psalm (133) sings of unity. How wonderful it is when brothers are united and live together in harmony.

So - I have been reflecting on our current events and how the past several years have sort of squeezed the middle class, pushing more folks down instead of up in their social mobility. Likewise, the very recent financial events are forcing us to really take stock in our personal priorities as we must shed our abundance (lighten our load) for survival. I have to believe that there is a grand design in all of this - so I am carefully pondering on the greater possible picture.
We have some clear choices here as individuals while we go through these personal inventories. If we are in the middle class, do we continue to separate ourselves, defining the distinctions that classify us as "middle" rather than "low" income level? Or perhaps, we can unite with those who are suffering even more, and learn from each other. Obviously, the middle income group has weakness in a Godly relationship (or at least on external dependence on a greater being than ourselves), and the low income group has weakness in aquiring the basic needs for survival.

I can't help but wonder if the current world events are God's way of forcing us to blend together in harmony. But, can we answer His request? Can we live in harmony understanding the benefits that can be mutually derived from shared life perspectives that ultimately increase our relationship and understanding of God's great design? Or, will we continue to try to isolate ourselves in fear and selfishness, afraid to release control and determined to project our place in the social continuum? It is a shame if we let this opportunity to grow relationally and purposefully together to pass us by.

Today - God sent these scriptures to me and I believe He was helping me with puzzle pieces:

Micah 6:8
But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

Matthew 25:35-40
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.'
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

I would say that God is pretty obvious in shining a light for our way...if we want to follow HIS way!

Middle Class Paradox

Have you ever worked hard on a puzzle, all the pieces are quickly coming together, and you can even start to see the picture, but you just can't seem to find the rest of the pieces to finish it? That is sort of how I am feeling tonight.

In the past 36 hours I have received pieces of this puzzle in various ways. It began with a reading of scripture in church yesterday from The Message:

1 John 2: 15:17
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

When I heard the words "The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out" I literally gasped out loud. This scripture seemed so prescient of our current world events! Wanting is on its way out...and with global magnitude.

Then I went to the Class Matters workshop last evening. It was very eye-opening to understand the motiviations and mindsets of the different socioeconomic classes. The different perspectives between those in generational poverty and those in the middle class are very interesting. When viewed through the lens of 1 John 2, I feel that I have just started to put the edge on my puzzle picture.

You see, in the middle class, our value is measured by our achievements. We measure this by our career achievements, financial achievements, education achievements and most of all our posessions. We have so much stuff that self-storage is Big Business these days!! We can't even fit all our posessions in our homes. And once again the scripture hits home..."Love of the world squeezes out love of the Father". Our posessions become our gods - and we become so immersed in this self absorbed life style that we forget about the One who has provided all. In fact we really have difficulty "scheduling" him on our calendars.

Now my class also taught me that those in situational or generational poverty measure their worth in relationships. Relationships become their currency in life. The more relationships you have, the greater your chance for survival.

I have been really caught up in this fact that the poor understand the value of relationship. And here is where I have hit one of those spots in my puzzle where I have most of the pieces, but just can't find that one necessary piece to complete my puzzle.

The poor measure their value by relationships...
Jesus said "Blessed are the poor in spirit". This is the very first of the Beatitudes.
To begin relationship with Jesus, we must also become "poor" in our love for wordly goods, in our love of self and perhaps even in our financial standing. Because only when we are poor do we have the room for our complete love for the Father.

The poor value relationships because they are necessary for survival...
And her comes another little puzzle piece...this morning, my business associate shared this scripture that was read at his church yesterday:

Luke 12: 29-34
"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
"Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being

By joining Jesus in relationship we will "find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

And how about that tag line! "Get yourselves a bank that can't go bankrupt, a bank in heaven"
Does that not hit the target in these times of bank rescues and financial turbulance!!!!

I still feel I haven't hit the kernal of great truth that is lying there waiting for me in these scriptures, and am praying that God will reveal the rest of this puzzle picture to me. I anxiously await the next piece to be revealed!

Spine vs Rib

This week as we were studying our lesson on Psalm 133, I was captured by the idea of categorizing my faith beliefs into spine and rib issues.


Spine issues would be the backbone of my faith while rib issues do not involve matters that threaten to break the back. This is taking me some time to respond to. What are the true vertebrae and which aspects of my faith are more interpretive?


To me, the spine issues would be that there is one God who was the creator of all earth, he had one Son, Jesus who died for our sins and rose from the dead to bring us salvation. We receive salvation and grace from God through our belief in Jesus and one day will live in eternity in the presence of God. Spine issues - without them, our back is broken.


Rib issues are a little more sticky and difficult to capture. Ribs are connected to the spine, but branch outward to protect to soft organs of our body . Rib issues are the subtleties that separate us within our faith like baptizing by dunking or sprinkling, traditional hymns or contemporary rock and roll, speaking in tongues or silently meditating. Ribs are connected to the spine, and while they are not the primary support for the body, they do provide the casing that adds shape and dimension. Most importantly, the ribs provide the protection that allows the heartbeat to pulse regularly sending energy to the body.

In this political season, I am wondering if I can use this same process to break down the options presented by the candidates into spine or ribs. What issues are part of the spine of our country and which are rib issues? And how do I relate these to the backbone of my faith?

Fractals

Until I read "The Shack" I had never heard of fractals, or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention in High School math when we covered that subject. So needless to say, I was intrigued when this word fractal came up and I could not figure out why Sarayu (the Holy Spirit) would say that she loved them. So I have begun a discovery of fractals.

Here are some pictures of fractals:

And here is the definition of a fractal:

fractal:

A complex geometric pattern exhibiting self-similarity in that small details of its structure viewed at any scale repeat elements of the overall pattern. See more at chaos. Fractals are often associated with recursive operations on shapes or sets of numbers, in which the result of the operation is used as the input to the same operation, repeating the process indefinitely. The operations themselves are usually very simple, but the resulting shapes or sets are often dramatic and complex, with interesting properties

Now this is something I can have fun with! Imagine God sitting in heaven and using his unique perspective to create these glorious fractals - through nature AND through our human events. I love that fractals are within themselves very simple, but the end result is very dramatic and complex. Isn't that exactly what life is all about! We are all just part of a giant fractal. Each daily occurrence carefully pre-ordained to form part of an extremely complex planned final product. I sort of feel that I am on the very edge of understanding a universal truth.

Just this morning, while studying Psalm 132, and learning the messianic prophecy from verses 17-18, it hit me that in all of our history God has never changed. He has remained true to his promises, but he has used repeating patterns of human behaviour to create His ultimate design. Human history has been a giant fractal of interlocking events of similar design uniquely situated to create a design that has infinite (or eternal...) potential.

Consider the parallel between a song to David and his glorious crown and his priests who are clothed in salvation and our own promise of salvation through Christ who wears the crown. There are many examples of these simple, self similar parts of a whole throughout the Old and New Testaments and even in our lives today.

Just like Sarayu - I love these fractals too!!

What's in a name?

Lately I have been very caught up in the specific names of God. Just before beginning the Stepping UP study, I was given a book "Praying the Names of God" as a gift. It is a wonderful book that I will soon be using as my personal morning devotion guide once this study is over. I love to learn names of God in the original Hebrew and then come to a better understanding of the scripture where they are used. As I start to learn each of these many different ways to refer to God, he becomes a living, breathing, multi-faceted, incomprehensible, wonder. A three letter word is just to small to define Him!

I have also been reading "The Shack" by WIlliam P. Young. For those of you who have not yet heard of this book, I strongly suggest you check this website: http://www.theshackbook.com . While there is some controversy surrounding this work of fiction from various Christian camps, I personally find it to be a glorious depiction of the relationship between each part of the Holy Trinity and an image of Grace and relationship that I can truly comprehend. The visual images that capture me remain long after I put the book down. It is a wonderful journey.

Because I have been on this "name thing" for a few weeks now, it really intrigued me that there are a few names in The Shack that refer to God. He is "Pappa",God, and Elousia. The name Elousia especially caught my attention and I went to my "Names of God" book to see if it was listed there. It wasn't - however last week my eyes did rest on this name for God: "El Roi" (pronounced El raw-EE) meaning "The God who sees me". I had to sit down and chew on this one for a while (and I am still chewing ;-) ! Once again, in troubled times, praying to "The God who sees me" is quite comforting.

This name for God was only used once in the entire scripture! I find that amazing. Only one time was God referred to as the one who sees us...it is the context that it was used that really touched my heart. In Genesis, when Hagar is in the desert sobbing over her circumstances - having been abused and mistreated in the desert by her master (Sarai) she was running away. She is feeling isolated and afraid. She is not sure what she can do. Here she is, pregnant with child, having fled the only means of support she had, in the middle of a desert, not sure how she will get her next meal, where she can go, who would take her in. She is so alone...then God shows up!!! Hagar calls Him "El Roi" the God who sees me. She is not alone any more!!!

Isn't it wonderful that we have this name for God to remember. No matter what my circumstances, no matter how isolated I feel, there is a God who sees me.

Now, since I have had time to really think of this - I took that name and repeated it several times, giving a different emphasis on each word. With El Roi, I am really praying to more than one name.

First there is the GOD who sees me. In this case, I am recognizing the supremacy of God, he is the ultimate, the one who I worship as "I am".

Second, there is the God who SEES me. Now I am relating to the God who knows and understands me - as no one else can. He really sees the inside of me that is held private from everyone else.

Finally, there is the God who sees ME. This is my personal God, the one that I can talk and relate to, tell my plans to, ask advise from, come to for help. He sees ME individually from the rest. And He will be there for ME, in all my circumstances.

How wonderful to have El Roi. I am captured by this name.

Then, I began to wonder - if I take such delight in God seeing ME, how much must it delight Him when I see Him!!! That is the mutuality of our relationship. It gives totally new meaning and purpose to my days. I want to delight Him the same way by recognizing when I catch a glimpse of Him. And the most wonderful thing about this is that the more I look - the more I can see Him!

Back to "The Shack"...as I have been coming to this realization, I came across a wonderful quote from this book. Not to take anything from the story (you really have to travel the journey of this book with no preconceptions), there is a quote from Jesus regarding our relationship with him:

"...I don't want to be the first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life - your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities - is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and out and back and forth, in an incredible dance of being."

I just absolutely love that image. God as the center of a mobile - spinning and moving all around me. With my eyes on the center, I can capture the colors and shapes of God moving in and out and all around me. Not just when I am reading scripture or praising in worship or serving in ministry - but in EVERYTHING.

El Roi - The God who sees me. Oh God, I pray that I delight you when I see you too!

The eyes of the LORD

How appropriate that my Psalm this week is Psalm 33. With all the turmoil in our national economy, especially the local concerns relative to the Wachovia sale, here is what God gives us as a comfort and an instruction...

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine

On a very personal level, I am just beginning to absorb this concept. It has always been a struggle for me to have faith that my circumstances are all within God's greater plan. I have suffered the fear and humility of living below what had been my normal standards. As a high school senior, my father lost his job and our family had to drastically change our life-style. I never completely recognized the sacrifices my parents made to allow me to still attend college. But they were not willing to give up the dream of their first child being educated beyond their own achievements. Then through our marriage, my husband and I have twice suffered the pain of "downsizing" our life and re-prioritizing our budget. But, I must say that each subsequent time this happens to me, I become more and more able to put my faith and trust in God to deliver me through these life situations. I guess He still has much to teach me in this area, because I am still living at the address "Just enough to get by street" and it does not appear that I will be moving soon!

I am ashamed to admit that as I have been watching all these Wall Street "emergencies" and the more local Wachovia sell-out, a thought that surfaced was that at least this time it didn't very directly affect me. I actually was viewing the events as a spectator on the sidelines. How selfish of me - but in all honesty it was my very first reaction. Fortunately, this mindset didn't have opportunity to settle in. Very quickly (but of course not soon enough) I began to think of all my good friends who were affected. Then of course I began to dwell on the "ripple effect" and how this economic catastrophe would impact our entire country. It is mind boggling to even try to grasp the domino effect of this financial crisis. It will touch not only every American, but the global ramifications will be enormous. Too much for my small brain to grasp!!

So what can I do - what can we all do? Some of the answer comes from the next verses in Psalm 33, and more comes from our lesson in Psalm 127.

We wait in hope for the LORD

he is our help and our shield.

I love the imagery of the Lord as our shield - the first defense for the warrior. The shield stands out front and prevents the arrows from piercing us. So I must put the Lord out there in front of me, He is first (not me...). In my priorities, worship of Him must be number one in how I cope.

Then the second step comes from our lesson of Psalm 127. Once again, the image of the warrior, only this time it is concentrating on His weapons.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

As we learned through our lesson, sons are not necessarily our blood relatives. As members of a faith community, we have brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers who are not related by our own blood, but rather by the blood of Christ. We have our fellow brothers and sisters as our arrows of defense. "Blessed is the man(woman) whose quiver is full of them". I can't help but lean towards the vision of the first church, the Acts 2 community. Each person giving all they have for the benefit of the greater good.

So how do I drill this down to my personal actions? Well, as always happens, Beth Moore has a way of sending out instructions that are extremely timely to my personal experience. It never ceases to amaze me that each time I specifically listen to a lesson or work through my homework on something that had been video-taped or written months or years ago, it speaks to me in this very moment of my life. Here are the instructions I received in our video lesson:

"The remedy for self absorption is to give something away"

This time in our American culture it is necessary for us to have generous grace and generous giving. It is time for us to review our lifestyle of overabundance and give spontaneous freewill offerings as a tribute to God for his temporal bounties. I must take a personal inventory of my household and give to those who are without.

"After every Passover comes a Pentecost" - after every death comes a harvest.

Perhaps this time in American culture is our own Passover time. It will be a purging time for us as a society, to evaluate our cultural and personal priorities and lifestyles. We can only pray that there will be a Pentecost or "Feast of Weeks" where we will experience a great harvest. I must plant my seeds of fear and doubt into the hard soil, maybe even water them with my tears. But I can do all this with the knowledge that one day, when the timing is perfect, there will be a harvest and until then, God's shield WILL be over me in all life circumstances, and I have arrows of fellowship friends in my quiver. There is no better vision to carry us through than the concluding scripture of Psalm 33:

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD

even as we put our hope in you.