Malachi 3-4:4
In the 80's and 90's of the 20th century, Connie and I often spoke to youth together. She has this profile of characters, which she can call up from within at the drop of a dime. Very meaningful and fitting for modernizing the points of Scripture. Very much a home run in speaking to the youth of the day. In fact, the inner child of most adults would come to life, when she spoke. Her characters became hits for our evangelizing discourse.
Her characters are designed to reach into the heart and soul of the hearers. She would bring them forth to drive home the point of my homily on Scripture or some times prepare the way for my sermon. We decided who was to prepare the way through praying together, and trusting the spiritual response in both of us. Interesting how God intervened, in that, after time in prayer we would be on one accord as to who should prepare the way, and who would bring the point to the cross.
In most instances, she would point out the discouraging, disappointing, and damaging matters of growing up in changing times. Issues of molestation, parental abuse, peer pressure, etc. While I sought to issue a call to come to Jesus, who has been waiting for you to come as you are. We both viewed our purpose as being the same: "PREPARING THE WAY" for a life with Christ.
A few years ago, I decided that we would not tag team again. It was not a call from God or our praying together, but a decision of my own to encourage the full expression of the validity of our mission. There was no justification in it. It was more of a Nike - "Just Do It!", then a God - "Come to Jesus!" "Then where," as you should ask, "is the validity of the mission in that decision?"
The validity of the Christian mission is not to be found in such human decision. It should always be known by the decision that God made, and we should follow every step of the way. It is the decision that men and women, boys and girls, are to be made disciples of Christ, and baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Salvation is about coming to Christ. Salvation has nothing to do with having our way, because God is not Burger King, but Jesus is the Prince of peace. Our mission? No, it is the Christian mission that guides the moments in existential proclamation of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever.
My decision has not stopped the power of hope in the characters given Connie, and shall not hinder the faith-sharing within me. We march forth as Christian soldiers not by my order. No, no. We press on toward the mark of the higher calling, because we have always done it for one reason alone - we are "preparing the way" for coming to Jesus Christ, the only Savior.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, here we are, save us! Amen.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Redemptive Love
Read: Exodus 12-14
"A Day of Hope" is a health community project in ministry from the faith community perspective, and a project in prevention and awareness from the medical community perspective. A day is set annually by members of the Building Bridges, Building Knowledge, and Building Health (BBKH) Coalition to hold a massive health fair in East Harlem. It is a day of redemptive love!
The annual event is purposed for addressing health disparities among people of African and Latino ethnicity in the United States of America. It is documented that these ethnic groups have been disadvantaged in prevention and treatment of particular maladies, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc. Equal treatment in light of ethnicity is a social reality that requires 21st century priority in health care and pastoral care. New York City is a multicultural magnet for the world, and it is necessary that we redeem the people who have been neglected and abused in our health care services. People with all backgrounds: race, religion, age, sexual orientation, class, immigration status, veterans and others with disabilities are in need of equality in care giving. What shall we do?
Children of Israel, we discover in the book of Exodus, were redeemed by the power of love. They were liberated from Egypt and brought through the Red Sea, because agreements were fulfilled in spite of difficulties. The illnesses and natural disasters that rocked Egypt passed over the people of faith, so that they were led beyond the sea of challenge to become a covenant people of God. Today, we are challenged to cross the sea of ethnicity into a wilderness of family diversities. Our current Moses, such as Tiger Woods, President Barrack Obama, etc., bring a pleasant uniting force of compassion for their respective professions and people of the world. Such love is redemptive. It is not to be known by sources of discrimination, but positive associations.
The positive associaitions in BBKH are producing acts of kindness that may be duplicated around the world. We are starting in "our own backyard" as to free ourselves from discrimination and prejudice behaviors by the power of redemptive love. You are invited to join in this movement of redemption. For more information, call Yvonne Hartnett at 212-289-6157.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant us freedom from discrimination and heal all people. Amen.
"A Day of Hope" is a health community project in ministry from the faith community perspective, and a project in prevention and awareness from the medical community perspective. A day is set annually by members of the Building Bridges, Building Knowledge, and Building Health (BBKH) Coalition to hold a massive health fair in East Harlem. It is a day of redemptive love!
The annual event is purposed for addressing health disparities among people of African and Latino ethnicity in the United States of America. It is documented that these ethnic groups have been disadvantaged in prevention and treatment of particular maladies, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc. Equal treatment in light of ethnicity is a social reality that requires 21st century priority in health care and pastoral care. New York City is a multicultural magnet for the world, and it is necessary that we redeem the people who have been neglected and abused in our health care services. People with all backgrounds: race, religion, age, sexual orientation, class, immigration status, veterans and others with disabilities are in need of equality in care giving. What shall we do?
Children of Israel, we discover in the book of Exodus, were redeemed by the power of love. They were liberated from Egypt and brought through the Red Sea, because agreements were fulfilled in spite of difficulties. The illnesses and natural disasters that rocked Egypt passed over the people of faith, so that they were led beyond the sea of challenge to become a covenant people of God. Today, we are challenged to cross the sea of ethnicity into a wilderness of family diversities. Our current Moses, such as Tiger Woods, President Barrack Obama, etc., bring a pleasant uniting force of compassion for their respective professions and people of the world. Such love is redemptive. It is not to be known by sources of discrimination, but positive associations.
The positive associaitions in BBKH are producing acts of kindness that may be duplicated around the world. We are starting in "our own backyard" as to free ourselves from discrimination and prejudice behaviors by the power of redemptive love. You are invited to join in this movement of redemption. For more information, call Yvonne Hartnett at 212-289-6157.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant us freedom from discrimination and heal all people. Amen.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
"Eye: 'I'"
Read Acts 8:30-31
On a "Community Walk", we stopped to enter one of our local historical tourist promotion companies. Inside they have on the wall, the world shortest poem written by Muhammad Ali, the famous United States of America former heavyweight champion of boxing. Ali authored: "Me:We". How profound? I was reminded of our visit, when I asked my assistant to interpret my poem titled "Eye" with only a one word content - "I". I warned that it was based on my existential philosophical anxiety with the here and now.
Before I take you into the turning of my philosophical into the theological by my assistant, imagine the anxiety of Phillip going into a village of people hated by the Jews and proclaiming the good news of Christ. What about the eunuch of Ethiopia, seeing Phillip running to over take his chariot as he was reading from the book of Isaiah? As you catch a glimpse into their thoughts, are you not really into your thoughts, faced with similar circumstances? In the making of all interpretations is comes down to what the "I" thinks.
Now, I wrote my assistant: "Here is my philosophy of this week found in the content of my poem titled Eye: 'I'. ... you as hearer of my existential anxiety decipher my depth of meaning." Three hours later the response came: "It sounds like Ali's 'Me:We.' But, 'Eye: I' makes me think of our 'third eye', being the spirit/soul truly being and seeing who we are."
So on point. I went on to give the original thought that led to "Eye." Check it out, then tell me what you see in the eye of your mind. "Interesting," I went on to write, "dynamic. You just rewrote or wrote a new version, because my content was only 'I', but I named it 'Eye,' in that the original meaning has to do with 'all ever seen' in a person, called I. Therefore, the me of each of us is examined. Yes, you are right, its the human eyes and the eye of the soul looking at 'I.'" Continuing I wrote: "I like that you recalled Ali's 'Me:We.'" Wonder what that brother of Islam was thinking?
Think, what is the "I" discovered in your mirror, and in your soul? I hear the eunuch, and understand the "I" seeking guidance. How can "I" understand, unless someone guides me. At birth from the warmth of Mother's cradle, I was blind to the understanding of what I was seeing until she taught me from her lap the meanings of our ethnicity and eternity. My parents guided me to the Holy Spirit by way of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the "All Seeing Eye" that abides within me, as "I" abide in God. There it is. "I" seeks to know and express who I am.
Thus, in essence, "I" is the great "I AM." Let those who have the "Eye" to see, seek the understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pray! This is written to encourage you to come to know who you are through prayer. That you may discover God in the discovery of you. In this life, may we surrender freedom of will to the guidance of God. I pray, we will.
Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant us the wisdom we seek. Amen.
On a "Community Walk", we stopped to enter one of our local historical tourist promotion companies. Inside they have on the wall, the world shortest poem written by Muhammad Ali, the famous United States of America former heavyweight champion of boxing. Ali authored: "Me:We". How profound? I was reminded of our visit, when I asked my assistant to interpret my poem titled "Eye" with only a one word content - "I". I warned that it was based on my existential philosophical anxiety with the here and now.
Before I take you into the turning of my philosophical into the theological by my assistant, imagine the anxiety of Phillip going into a village of people hated by the Jews and proclaiming the good news of Christ. What about the eunuch of Ethiopia, seeing Phillip running to over take his chariot as he was reading from the book of Isaiah? As you catch a glimpse into their thoughts, are you not really into your thoughts, faced with similar circumstances? In the making of all interpretations is comes down to what the "I" thinks.
Now, I wrote my assistant: "Here is my philosophy of this week found in the content of my poem titled Eye: 'I'. ... you as hearer of my existential anxiety decipher my depth of meaning." Three hours later the response came: "It sounds like Ali's 'Me:We.' But, 'Eye: I' makes me think of our 'third eye', being the spirit/soul truly being and seeing who we are."
So on point. I went on to give the original thought that led to "Eye." Check it out, then tell me what you see in the eye of your mind. "Interesting," I went on to write, "dynamic. You just rewrote or wrote a new version, because my content was only 'I', but I named it 'Eye,' in that the original meaning has to do with 'all ever seen' in a person, called I. Therefore, the me of each of us is examined. Yes, you are right, its the human eyes and the eye of the soul looking at 'I.'" Continuing I wrote: "I like that you recalled Ali's 'Me:We.'" Wonder what that brother of Islam was thinking?
Think, what is the "I" discovered in your mirror, and in your soul? I hear the eunuch, and understand the "I" seeking guidance. How can "I" understand, unless someone guides me. At birth from the warmth of Mother's cradle, I was blind to the understanding of what I was seeing until she taught me from her lap the meanings of our ethnicity and eternity. My parents guided me to the Holy Spirit by way of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the "All Seeing Eye" that abides within me, as "I" abide in God. There it is. "I" seeks to know and express who I am.
Thus, in essence, "I" is the great "I AM." Let those who have the "Eye" to see, seek the understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pray! This is written to encourage you to come to know who you are through prayer. That you may discover God in the discovery of you. In this life, may we surrender freedom of will to the guidance of God. I pray, we will.
Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant us the wisdom we seek. Amen.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Intentional Peace Movement
Read: Colossians 1:9-14
John Wesley is said to be the founder of a Movement for the people called Methodists in search of the Scriptural way of salvation and a life of holiness. As a member of the holy club, he studied in the tradition of piety, so as to find inner peace and divine grace. He lead a movement for peace in the world by the grace of God through Christian Perfection.
In America, they have too often been identified in a negative light as the "Moonies." Why? Because they follow the vision given to the founder of the Unification Movement, Sun Myung Moon, who at the age of sixteen was said to have heard from Jesus that he had been chosen to fulfill the special mission of establishing God's Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Led by Moon the Unificationists have a movement for world peace through the Divine Principle of Holy Marriages in God-centered families.
Another controversial project in ministry is that of Dr. Hans Kung of Chicago, a Swiss Catholic priest, theologian, and prolific author, who has been President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic. I wrote Professor Kung in 1991 seeking permission, which he granted, to use his work on a new world ethic as I found and developed a new congregation within the United Methodist denomination. An intentional start of a racially inclusive congregation for the purpose of racial reconciliation. Professor Kung leads a movement of peace through the new world ethic establishing unity in the midst of diversity.
The calling on my life for a ministry of reconciliation came at the age of five while in Hartsville, SC, and again at the age of 12 in Bowman, SC, then finally at the age of sixteen in Kingstree, SC. However, beyond the personal is the reality of the urgency of now in our lives to lift high the cross of the 2nd Adam - Jesus Christ, and recall the fall of the 1st Adam, so that we can impact the world with the need to join the intentional peace movement. It is a movement for the establishment and maintenance of world peace, in accordance with the will of God. It is not new with my calling or your calling or the works of Hans Kung or Sun Myung Moon or John Wesley. With every paradigm shift worth following is the core esentiality of the will of God.
What is the willl of God for your life? Discover it and you may abide in the intentional peace movement. Ignore it and we may never know peace with justice.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and grant us peace. Amen
John Wesley is said to be the founder of a Movement for the people called Methodists in search of the Scriptural way of salvation and a life of holiness. As a member of the holy club, he studied in the tradition of piety, so as to find inner peace and divine grace. He lead a movement for peace in the world by the grace of God through Christian Perfection.
In America, they have too often been identified in a negative light as the "Moonies." Why? Because they follow the vision given to the founder of the Unification Movement, Sun Myung Moon, who at the age of sixteen was said to have heard from Jesus that he had been chosen to fulfill the special mission of establishing God's Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Led by Moon the Unificationists have a movement for world peace through the Divine Principle of Holy Marriages in God-centered families.
Another controversial project in ministry is that of Dr. Hans Kung of Chicago, a Swiss Catholic priest, theologian, and prolific author, who has been President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic. I wrote Professor Kung in 1991 seeking permission, which he granted, to use his work on a new world ethic as I found and developed a new congregation within the United Methodist denomination. An intentional start of a racially inclusive congregation for the purpose of racial reconciliation. Professor Kung leads a movement of peace through the new world ethic establishing unity in the midst of diversity.
The calling on my life for a ministry of reconciliation came at the age of five while in Hartsville, SC, and again at the age of 12 in Bowman, SC, then finally at the age of sixteen in Kingstree, SC. However, beyond the personal is the reality of the urgency of now in our lives to lift high the cross of the 2nd Adam - Jesus Christ, and recall the fall of the 1st Adam, so that we can impact the world with the need to join the intentional peace movement. It is a movement for the establishment and maintenance of world peace, in accordance with the will of God. It is not new with my calling or your calling or the works of Hans Kung or Sun Myung Moon or John Wesley. With every paradigm shift worth following is the core esentiality of the will of God.
What is the willl of God for your life? Discover it and you may abide in the intentional peace movement. Ignore it and we may never know peace with justice.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and grant us peace. Amen
Monday, April 13, 2009
In The Morning, When I Rise
Read Matthew 28:1-10
Early in the morning, when I would rise, I could smell the sausage, hear the bacon popping, count on honey-baked ham with scrambled eggs and buttermilk pancakes or biscuits covered in syrup being served with love. Mother's breakfast was a homecoming favorite. I enjoyed her cooking. It was food sopping good.
Early the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to dress the crucified body of Jesus within the tomb. Behold, what followed the disruption of the earth at the murder of Jesus was an angelic presentation of love. God had cooked up a homecoming feast for his favored. They rejoiced to see that Jesus had arose from the grave. Oh, what a morning, when the sun returned to shine. He lives!
Easter forever reminds me that as sure as death is to come, there is the joy of the resurrection. I have died to many things in life. At the point of death, I have thought there was no chance that such would ever be again. For example, the death of love in relationships. How many times have human beings found reality in the on again, off again love stories. We, too often, live soap opera lives. What's your story line?
In the end, when all comes to rest, and only one resurrection remains for me - give me Jesus. When my eyes roll back and life on earth cease to be, give me Jesus. When the sun refuse to shine for me, and night seems my eternity, give me Jesus. In the after life, may there be a morning light for me. In that morning, when I rise, give me Jesus. Why?
I have found Jesus here on earth to be more than a historical figure teaching and preaching. I found Jesus in a faith experience of blessed assurance. I lived the Jesus experience. My entire life has been given to the assurance that God blessed the world through the experience of Jesus. And, it has been worth my living to die from sin, in order to live again and again in the glory of salvation. So, when I come to die to rise for the final time, I want the entire salvation experience of Jesus.
Thus, in the morning, when I rise, give me what I know to be real and life sustaining. Give me Jesus!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we want you, now and forever. Amen
In the end, when all comes to rest, and only one resurrection remains for me - give me Jesus. When my eyes roll back and life on earth cease to be, give me Jesus. When the sun refuse to shine for me, and night seems my eternity, give me Jesus. In the after life, may there be a morning light for me. In that morning, when I rise, give me Jesus. Why?
I have found Jesus here on earth to be more than a historical figure teaching and preaching. I found Jesus in a faith experience of blessed assurance. I lived the Jesus experience. My entire life has been given to the assurance that God blessed the world through the experience of Jesus. And, it has been worth my living to die from sin, in order to live again and again in the glory of salvation. So, when I come to die to rise for the final time, I want the entire salvation experience of Jesus.
Thus, in the morning, when I rise, give me what I know to be real and life sustaining. Give me Jesus!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we want you, now and forever. Amen
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