Advent 3 - December 13, 2011

Text: Revelation 3:14-22 (see below)

Are you a lukewarm Christian? With the institutional church being pushed farther and farther to the margins of society, fewer people attending worship, and now two generations that have no church connection whatsoever, perhaps it is time for the Christians in America to be challenged once again by the words of the author of the Book of Revelation.

The Church in Laodicea was neither hot nor cold. Apparently, the community had become lukewarm about their faith and their witness to what they believed. Like a weak cup of tea, the congregation was not hot enough to invigorate new life, not cold enough to refresh itself and others. The Lord was not pleased with the situation and in very strong language prepares them for what is to come: “I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Lukewarm Christians, what do they look like? What do they do? At a website SimplyMissional.com, Chris Marlow, out of Raleigh, North Carolina, offers some classic examples. I have listed below an edited portion of some of Chris’ seventeen point inventory.

·  Lukewarm people attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go.

·  Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so.

·  Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

·  Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.

·  Lukewarm people gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.

·  Lukewarm people love God, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; its only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.

·  Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love for others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is a little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached.

·  Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give.

·  Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.

·  Lukewarm people are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them sacrificing and risking for God.

Sound like anybody you know? Yeah, come to think about it, it sounds like me!

Does it sound like you?

Fortunately, for us and the congregation in Laodicea, there is Good News to be heard this day and every day. Jesus said: ‘Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.’

This is probably the most quoted verse of the Book of Revelation and it should be. The verb tense is very important to our understanding and our faith journey. Jesus stand knocking at the door now (present tense). If you and I have ears to hear and will lay aside our ‘lukewarmness’ to get up and answer the door, Jesus will come and have fellowship with us today – not tomorrow – not in some distant future – but right now! Awesome!!

If any of those bullet points mentioned above are indicative of the life you are currently living, and you desire to make a change in your life, listen for the knocking that is taking place at the door to your heart. Welcome Jesus in and be transformed by his love, grace and mercy.

Love One Another – Brian

Eight days left to Saint Thomas’ Day

Close to Worship

Richard Cabot

Whenever beauty overwhelms us, whenever wonder silences our chattering hopes and worries, we are close to worship.

Source: What Men Live By

Revelation 3:14-22

‘And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation:

‘I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.” You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’

Advent 3 - December 12, 2011

Text:  Revelation 3:7-13 (see below)

The lessons for today deal with the end times. We humans seem to have a fascination about such things. Harold Camping of Family Radio, for example, predicted that the world would end on May 12 of last year based on a mathematical scheme he had created to interpret prophecies hidden in the Bible. The media seized on the story and it became national news. When that date passed, Camping stated that he had miscalculated the correct time and moved his proposed rendezvous with the Almighty to October 21, 2011. When that day also elapsed without incident, Camping apologized and retired from ministry.

The Mayan Calendar has been interpreted by some to say that the end of the world will occur on December 21, 2012. Was it a ploy offered by a Hollywood studio that was promoting the release of their picture “2012” or based on actual fact? And how could a civilization that flourished between 300-900 CE have chosen such an exact date so far off in the future? I was impressed by a Mayan scholar interviewed on NPR about the subject who simply stated that when the Mayan calendar came to end, it “started over again.”

There is way too much time spent on trying to determine the end of all time. By doing so, we waste one of the most precious gifts that we have been given: today. This day is the only thing that truly matters. I cannot go back and change anything that happened yesterday or the day before. I have no control over tomorrow or what lies in store for me. This day is the only moment that I have to do something great for God and to offer charity to my neighbor.

What can you and I do today that will improve the overall life of our community, our family, our world? Let’s concentrate on those opportunities and leave the end of time to the Creator of all things.

Love One Another - Brian

There are nine days left before Saint Thomas' Day.

Our Greatest Gift from God

Thomas Keating

On the spiritual journey, there is usually someone in our family, business or community whom we cannot endure, someone who has a genius for bringing out the worst in us. No matter what we do, we cannot seem to improve the relationship. They have not done anything to cause it. God simply uses them to reflect back to us what our problem is. Thus the person who gives us the most trouble may be our greatest gift from God.

Source: Invitation to Love

Revelation 3:7-13

‘And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: 'I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

"Sleigh Ride" in 7/8 time!

Advent 3 - Sunday, December 11, 2011

Today is the Sabbath – Go and worship God at your home church or a church of your choosing.

Love One Another - Brian

The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Advent 2 - Feast of Thomas Merton - December 10, 2011

Text: Colossians 2:2-10 (see below)

Today the Church pauses to give thanks for the life of Thomas Merton who was a monk, poet and prolific spiritual writer. He was born in France, educated at Cambridge University in England and Columbia University in New York City. Following his education he taught English for two years at St. Bonaventure before entering the Trappist monastery of Gethsemani near Louisville, Kentucky. There he joined his fellow brothers in a strict rule that called the community to four hours of daily corporate prayer, time for private prayer and contemplation, study, manual labor, and when they were not worshipping God, complete silence.

His writings are spiritual classics and if you have not read them, you should. Works like: Seven Storey Mountain; Seeds of Contemplation; Thoughts in Solitude (my personal favorite); and Life and Holiness. In his work, No Man Is an Island, Merton offers a quote on the arts that I have always admired: “Music and art and poetry attune the soul to God because they induce a kind of contact with the Creator and Ruler of the Universe." After his death in 1968, collections of his writings were published. Another quote of Merton’s that we would do well to reflect upon states: "War represents a vice that mankind would like to get rid of but which it cannot do without. Man is like an alcoholic who knows that drink will destroy him but who always has a reason for drinking. So with war."

Yesterday, as I read the lesson from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Church at Colossae, one phrase jumped out at me and I reflected on it for most of the day: “overflowing in thanksgiving.” It constantly amazes me that Paul, who writes this letter from his prison cell, is full of hope and joy. The Letter to the Colossians is centered on the Good News of Jesus Christ and Paul will not allow his physical setting nor the fact that the end of his earthly life is near to diminish his joy in the Lord and his ability to give thanks.

What are you thankful for today? When was the last time you stopped to give thanks for the blessings in your life? The Native American leader of the Shawnee, Tecumseh, who was born outside of Dayton, Ohio  in 1768, said: “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.”

A recent study found that people who practice gratitude were more alert, healthier, slept better, more optimistic, enthusiastic, able to handle stress more effectively, and made extensive progress  towards personal goals than those persons who did not practice such a discipline (University of Miami, “Attitude of Gratitude” website). While researching for this reflection, I found on Amazon.com over 2400 books on the subject of living a life of gratitude. You would think we humans would get the message.

Today is the only day we have. So here is what I am grateful for:

Time to be with my family and friends who love me and support me.

The medical staff at Akron City Hospital who are ministering to a very dear friend of mine.

My camera and its ability to catch amazing moments in life and to bring joy to the persons involved.

Snow! We had our first real snowfall this week and it was beautiful.

Curiosity – and the willingness to explore what is behind the next corner in life.

The opera and what new revelations I might discover today during the broadcast of Gounod’s “Faust”.

What is on your list? Share them with me and my readers by clicking on the Comment link below. I gratefully look forward to reading them.

Love One Another - Brian

There are eleven days to Saint Thomas' Day.

Give Up Being the Center

Simone Weil

We live in a world of unreality and dreams. To give up our imaginary position as the center, to renounce it, not only intellectually but in the imaginative part of our soul, that means to awaken to what is real and eternal, to see the true light and hear the true silence.... To empty ourselves of our false divinity, to deny ourselves, to give up being the center of the world in imagination, to discern that all points in the world are equally centers and the true center is outside the world, this is to consent.... Such consent is love. 

Source: Waiting for God

Colossians 2:2-10

I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe,  and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.