Recovery Benefits...

Read Proverbs 23:29-25

"Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks." (Proverbs 23:29-30)
Uncle Jesse was my ace. Alcoholism took him to an early death, in my opinion. The decease did not defeat our relationship, because he nor I would allow it. Our love for each other was greater than any smooth tasting wine he would partake, and was always rekindled by the "new wine" Christ gave us both to digest. In a real sense, my educational strives through high education were motivated by Uncle Jesse.  He stopped by my room at South Carolina State College (University) during my first month as a freshman in 1973 to tell me: "Go straight through your four years, and be the first male among us to do so. Follow the example of your Aunt Ghussan not the males in our family and earned your doctoral degree. So that for your Uncle Jesse. Then, he fell asleep on my bed, while I studied for my psychology class.

We faced challenges through the years. However, Uncle Jesse would come stay with my family for a brief period of time through all of my educational experiences, and before he died I earned the degree as he desired. I never told him that my speciality as a marriage and family therapist is in the treatment of alcoholic families. Somehow that was important information for him to know. What was important to him was that "we made it." He summoned me to visit him on his last days of life to tell me: "Thank you, we made it. I am going to die this time. Don't try to pray me back to life. But you know that I am proud of you. You go on and live for us. We made it."

Kathleen Sebelius, The Secretary of Health and Human Services, annually promotes the National Recovery Month (Recovery Month). During September millions of individuals and families, who have been through or is currently in treatment with recovery services for substance use and mental disorders, she notes, celebrate recovery "for themselves or a loved one."
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through its Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services presents a toolkit to clergy and providers to help millions of our citizens with "facts and audience-specific information" concerning tools and educational material on substance use and mental disorders. More information may be found at http://www.recoverymonth.gov/.
Important to Clergy and Providers for Racial Healthcare Equality are the facts given on uninsured citizens in the United States of America. SAMHSA reports that "approximately 22 percent of adults with substance use and/or mental disorders in 2009 were uninsured. Fortunately, with the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, coverage will expand to approximately 32 million citizens in the USA who were not previously insured." CPRHE seeks support for the administration of President Barack Obama because of acts of equity. The current administration in the office of the Presidency "emphasizes that all" citizens in the United States of America ought to "have the opportunity to access provisions within the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act (MHPAEA), aimed to improve physical and emotional health while ensuring people will receive the care they need at a more reasonable cost.."
While CPHRE is not a political party or advocate for a political party, members are firm on supporting governance that act on behalf of prevention, treatment, and recovery, especially in making the same affordable for people of the USA. Recent efforts to "Save the Office of the Presidency" launched by CPHRE has to do with encouraging respectful communication to the person leading our nation from within The White House, and calling on Congressional leaders to commit to bipartisan changes that will improve health and well-being of people in the United States of America.
Members of CPHRE and all interested should take serious the clarion call of Kathleen Sebelius: "Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone," and be educated about prevention, treatment and recovery, because "people in recovery live a healthy, full and productive life." Yes, we can work together and transform our society, which is suffering the ills of mental and emotive disorders. Health care in the United States of America is not only a concern for medical ethics, it is a concern for social ethics.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and save our souls. And, Lord, for me, tell Uncle Jesse that he will be too close to you for me to find when I get to heaven, because I want measure up to be as near to your throne as he. But, by your grace may I, too, make there as we made it here. Amen.

Non-violent Attack On Terror

Read Psalm 10

A non-violent attack on terror should not be aimed at any particular group or organization. Aiming to destruct Al-Qaeda or Taliban for who they are would be an exercise against the essential strength of a true non-violent movement. The essentiality of a non-violent movement is lost when organizations or groups are targeted as the enemy and not respected as people in a good creation. The question to be asked when human beings attack human beings with violence is: "What in hell do we want?"
When human beings lose regard for human life it is the death of love. Such death to love may lead to violent responses to discord. Violence is hell on earth. It hurts and too often mutilates due to the death of loving regard for human life. Violence has it strongest influence on the human condition at times of counter-violence. Fighting violence with violence is not ending violence though it may win a transactional battle. Violence cannot win a war on terror, even when it brings temporary disarmament. To end terror there has to be an end to violence. The use of any kind of force against an individual or group has to cease, in order for terror to become non-existent. What should be the Christian response to terrorism?
Followers of the teachings of Jesus should obey the command to love (Matthew 22:37-40). Love taught by Jesus is a radical act in a world dominated by acts of violence, especially violence sanctioned and given justification in response to diversity. The Church as the body of Christ in the world should respond to terror with ethical concern.
Therefore, let us establish or rekindle a social ethic in the world, which promotes and upholds a non-violent attack on terror. You are invited to read and pray through the Psalms daily. There are 150 Psalms and on September 11, 2011, ten years post the attack on the economic, military, and governance of the United States of America by terrorists, a movement was founded to read and pray for Divine intervention to end terror in the world. It is a social ethics movement of intention - a conscious decision to will the end of terrorism as a means in global holy war. The belief is that reading and praying on one accord for 150 days (September 11th - February 7th) will receive a positive response from God to hear and heal the land. The cycle should be repeated so as to establish and maintain peace in the world.
It is not an exercise in futility. Rather, a non-violent social ethics movement against terrorism is in essence the validity of the Christian mission. The self revelation of God and conversations with God are the ways and means to bring unity in the midst of diversity. Reading Holy Scripture and praying may end violence as the means of confrontation in the world today. We need psychological, physical, economical, and social transformation in our nations. We need transformation now. Join this ease in effort movement for social transformation.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, ten will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, and grant us world peace. Let it begin within me. Amen.
Luonne Abram Rouse

The Anointed Savior

Read: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

After more than 2000 years, He is still the "Anointed Savior" - Jesus. The Harper's Bible Dictionary states: "The name 'Jesus' is derived from a Hebrew word that means 'savior' (see Matthew 1:21) and the title 'Christ' (Hebrew., 'messiah') means 'anointed,' and refers to one commissioned by God for a special task." Praise the Lord!
At the age of 56, there is much different in my life, still one truth remains constant - I am saved. I have been delivered from existential and eschatological danger. I am not alone. Believers in the acts of Jesus as the Christ, Son of God, who by death and resurrection redeemed sinful humanity are saved. Physical, emotional, social, and spiritual salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ is ours.
Parental teachings in the tenants of Christian faith planted the hunger and thirst within my soul. I desired to understand the vision received early one morning in Columbia, SC. I recall being 8 or 9 years of age. Close to my 9th birthday in June of 1964 is would have been shortly before or after, I saw the appearance of three ancient persons. All three in royal attire of different colors: (white, crimson, and bronze). Each smiled as they dangled before my eyes. I was so afraid that fear soon ran from me then they disappeared. Three years later I delivered my first sermon on Easter Sunrise morning: "Puzzled People"

People are puzzled about Jesus, until they get to know Him. I accepted Jesus as our savior at the age of five on the lap of my Mother as she taught faith to me. The visitation in 1964 gave an assurance of the supernatural leaving a hunger and thirst to know and experience more. Through the years I have come to appreciate the actions, relationships, and teachings of Jesus, a historic human being. The supernatural confirmed the faith taught relative to there being a reality beyond myself understanding, which I need not fear. However, study of the Bible is so enriching as to the person of Jesus that had I not seen what I saw, I still hope my faith would be sealed by the experience of sacrificial love and righteousness in the Biblical text. Jesus is awesome!

Jesus could have chosen the influential aristocrats during his days on earth, and surely in my existence there are elitists that look at me as dreg. Still he chose men and women from low dust of the earth and gave them spiritual sight beyond that of the wealthy and intellectual. In fact, John MacArthur in Twelve Ordinary Men reminds his readers of the fact that Jesus was regarded as "an interloper and intruder", because "Christ disdained religious elitism. ... He looked away from the religious elite and chose instead simple men of faith who were, by every earthly standard commonplace."

The Anointed Savior calls common people to repentance, radical humility, compassion, mercy, self denial, honesty, purity, and avoidance of harm especially through violence. Disciples of Jesus are to deliver service to the poor and outcast, while rejecting a legalistic understanding of the will of God. (Harper's Bible Dictionary) The purpose of this for us, here and now, in my view has to do with a return to Christology. What should existence look like given the Parousia has occurred? What have been and are the sayings of Jesus?
My faith is in Christ, the Crucified, the Resurrected, the Blessed Redeemer; who by mere Existence remains "God's power for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). Do you believe this? Over 2000 years later, and He is here.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, save our souls. Amen

Dream The Idealist

Ecclesiates 5:7

I am not a dreamer. Though some times I see the past and glimpse possibilities of the future as I sleep deeply. In reality I am the idealist believing visions' possibilities. It is with intentional intentionality that I soak in a mentality of hope.

Hoping for the essentials of divine will, my life is given to search for truth as understood through the Seed of Faith. I believe in creation with a sincerity of heart striving to fulfill the purpose for being. To grasp the purity of peace with justice and righteousness would quench the thirst and hunger within.

I believe in the Source that has brought us to unity in the midst of diversity. Still we are blind and cannot see that we are one. Why? We are so into looking at differences that we never look at one another differently as to see beyond our likeness to discover our sameness. We are the same.

I believe the core of you is the core of me, and the core of me is the core of you. It is at the core that we come to know that our dreams are foolish words causing us to think in different spheres, when we exist in one sphere - the universe. I believe in the universality of oneness. One people with one love moving by the power of one core Being.

Oh that I know the Being, because you know the Being, and the Being is with us. We are one in the One, who is the Only Wise God, our Creator. To know God is to know you and love you. There is no true way of loving me, when I do not love you. It is not in vanity that we exist, and our pride strings the blinders around our eyes, so that we fail to see our true selves. So blind are we as to be into me, when it should be about us not them or me. It is we being expressed in us, so that nothing about me is more than the things about you. What I have done has been us, and what I shall do will be you and me as to be we. Oh yes, because "We are, I am."

World peace, inward and outward, begins here and now with us. Stop procrastinating, and get on board.  It is not your fun and games that makes the turning of the world. Those things keep to yourself as your recreational time. Bring to the world what is uniting with no sign of envying, only appreciation of being in the spirit of One. Thank the One, who has rekindled you not to boast, but to have the strength of unity. Fool no more be into yourself, be in harmony with the Seed of Faith, which bonds us like glue into Self.

Dream the Idealist? Forget that...and live the ideal individual of Being.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and seed us so that we know. Amen

No Charge!

John 17

The Upper Room Living Prayer Center provides a remote prayer ministry, which United Methodist Church Huntington Cold Spring Harbor is a blessed participant. There is no charge to participate in the ministry, and there is no charge for your prayers and no charge for requesting prayer and no charge to having your prayers answered. There is simply no charge to you.

Intercessory prayer is provided by persons, who care for the essentials of human beings. Volunteers are trained through the ministry and local churches provide financial gifts to cover the overhead expense of using telephone lines. Yes, you may phone in to speak with a volunteer concerning your prayer request or leave a message requesting prayer, then receive an intercessory prayer through the prayer line during the 24/7 period of existence. Barring trouble with the telephone lines, the intercessory prayer ministry is operative for you to call 1-800-251-2468. For more information and updates on the entire ministry, please visit the website www.upperroom.org/prayer.

The voice was weakened by age or illness. Still it was a voice, so familiar. A voice that had been heard almost everyday from June 22, 1955 until April 15, 2002. When I walked into Mother's room on April 13, 2002, she perked into an amazing expression of love and joy having her baby for a final family member visit. When asked of her desire, she only requested: "To see His (Jesus) face." I prayed that she would be able to see the face of our Lord. A face she had spoken of so many times through the forty six years I was blessed to hear her voice. I cannot recall the cost of the hospital bill for the care Mother received. She had been in and out for nearly two years attempting to survive an illness that had defeated her mother and father, and was to have carried her away in 2000. She fought the good fight at the urging of her sons for a little more time. She gave all the time allowed and I soaked in every moment I could. Mother, unlike many seniors, was well covered in medical benefits. The expenses to her care left no financial strain on the family, so there was no charge post her life on earth. No charge for the prayer, no charge for the care, and no charge for the time. Simply, no charge to me.

Some times the ways of men and women in relation to prayer has an expense. One of the sites advertising on blog sites, including this one invites you to share prayer requests. I went through the Ad one day, just because I like to examine what is being advertised on the site. I started out providing information on myself, which I did not have issue with though you only are asked for first names in your request to the Upper Room Living Prayer Center. Then, they asked for contact information, I thought: "Oh, why not, a Christian ministry that prayers with me may contact me." Okay, the next phrase had a line of questions pop up one after the answer giving to the previous. Oh my, there it was in question #4: How much are you willing to ... $9 or $15, etc.  I smiled, clicked out of the site and said: "No charge!"

The intent of the use of the funds is not known to me. We may be assured that the witness of the faithful is trustworthy, and we just have a difference in the manner of the request for funding a valid prayer ministry. After all, they are praying.  As for me, it came across as though there was a required donation in order to have the prayer offered and answered. The sense of a charge factor threw me into a place of retreat. It ended my longing to ask, seek, and knock through the ministry. I felt that there was a cost for prayer.

The cost for the prayer of Christ, the cost of a praying Mother, and the cost for prayer one for the other in this house has no charge. Donations for the prayer ministry are not to be sent in or given as payment for a charge. There is no free will offering collected in this house for the prayer ministry. Monies given are out of sincerity of heart for the sake of providing the ministry to others, not a bribe to God or reward to prayer participants, are utilized for the prayer ministry as one of numerous ministries in the local church. Mercy, Lord, mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and thank you for paying the cost and leaving us with no charge. Amen.

The Unexpected Expectation

Luke 2:41-52

"Someone is at the door," he said to himself. It was after midnight, when the ringing of the bell would not cease. The pastor was relaxing, when the unexpected visitor came. Surprisingly it was young Master Bayfield, a middle school youth member of the local church.

"Pastor," the youth said, "may I stay with you? I can't take it anymore. My grandmother treats me as the one always wrong, because I am the oldest. It is not my fault, when they (his younger brother and two sisters) are the one pushing things up. When I try to get them to stop, I get blamed. It is not fair. Just not fair."  Returning the young man safely to the residence of his grandmother, after speaking with all concern during the night, proper pastoral intervention was concluded. This is not about the Bayfield struggle. It about the Bayfield and other young people knowing they can turn to the church for safe sanctuary.

Many children are missing safe and secure places to stay. Abuse in homes, kidnapping, molestation and acts of discord often give rise to youth running away from home by existing windows, back doors, etc.  Kids are hanging out in the middle of the night for the thrill of sex or abusive use of alcoholic beverages or other drugs. The signs posting missing children remind us that even one child missing from a safe place to stay is one too many. What shall we do, when the unexpected comes home to us?

Everyone should find the place of worship in the midst of grief. A comforting place of peace and blessed assurance is most valuable when troubles and burdens overload.

The church may be a safe sanctuary. Bayfield heard his pastor say in church: "I expect you to find your way to church, if you ever need safe sanctuary. No one should abuse or inappropriately touch you or cause you alarm. If I am not at the church when you come, here is my cell number. And remember, I live next door." It should forever be a blessed unexpected expectation for our children and youth to come to church for safety, security and sanctuary. What a difference safe sanctuary makes in life. Here is to wishing all missing persons could be found in church.

Jesus was missing for three days before his parents found him in the temple. His response to them indicated that the expectation should have been to find him in the temple. Among the reasons to have our children and youth in church should be about safety in life, not just life beyond death. This is about the expectancies of life, here and now. Parents and others responsible for raising children in today's society are encouraged to consider the church as a safe sanctuary. The local church is where relationship can be established, so as to expect our children to run to the church when safety needed and sanctuary is desired.

The unexpected expectation should become a blessed expectation, when we teach our children to pray for the guidance of God and stay in touch with the people of God. Word of abuse being administered by some pastors and priest has damaged and marred the church being a place for our children to run to in time of trouble. Be assured that responsible persons have countered abusive ways of clergy. Commitment has been made to protecting persons coming to clergy for support and protecting clergy from people coming to abuse. Responsible people are insuring that the church remains a safe sanctuary, so that you may expect a safe place amidst the unexpected occurrences in life.

 

Lord Jesus Christ. Son of God, have mercy and grant us a place of safety. Amen.

Making High Decisions

1 Peter 4:8
Having never used illegal drugs, the benefit is void to a mentality of sobriety. The recent death of Gil-Scott Heron, friend to a beloved; brought to mind the “high” (a mindset) lived in days gone by, so rapid. Days at the (old) Columbia High School (CHS), which was located amid downtown Columbia, South Carolina were mixed with acts removing innocence in “streetology 101” (the study of street life) and developmental academics required in histories, sciences, languages, etc. What a wonderful measure of being human moving from "destructive segregation" to "constructive integration" (Martin Luther King, Jr. labeled the period of change). Living high on the fact of settling disputes inside the school building in opposition to fighting in the streets. After numerous attempts to stop belt buckle fights on and off school buses, calm came through assimilation and association ending the 60s moving into the 70s with sincerity of heart - love.

Seeking to live in harmony, the students of the 60s and 70s formed a human relations council at CHS, so as to learn of and from the other. The violence ended with some intervention from non-violent students and rule enforcement from the teachers and administrators. The goal was to get along and obtain intelligence that could not be ignored regardless of race, creed, or color. Churches, like the Washington Street United Methodist Church across from CHS, were silent participants (it seemed) helping to bring change. Never really considered the value the churches had on the entire process of secular school integration, because many upheld segregated worship.

Indeed, it was the "intentionality" (existentialism) of men and women of faith, not the mind blown decisions of drug abusers that lifted us higher than imaginable during those days of struggle. Still the contributions of some inebriate geniuses should not be discounted. They spoke truth into the light of reality, while escaping some scenes of ignorance. It was more than the preaching of a father preacher that taught messages of love. It was the words of brothers and friends (females and males) that paved the way on the rough roads toward sincere hospitality. Individual choices brought more than correct expressions; they brought down minds too high on drugs to meet the totality of needs in the world. It was and is time to escape decisions to be high, in order to make high decisions. High decisions made in the fulfillment of physical, social, and psychological human needs have to do with choosing not to conform to a drug culture of meaningless control substances, so as to maintain the ability to understand and influence positive change.

Because of the insights that managed to be so verbally correct, blind sightedness could not play the tune of victory. Covered in divine love from headgear to footwear, fear of relating to humans from the diverse corners of the world vanished. Looking back over the naked reality of what was, in order to see the beauty coming into view beyond what is, the clarion call is to respectful living. Young men and women are to be urged away from dope mentality and pornographic displays on streets, buses, subways, etc. The intelligence of sacred purpose given individually and collectively has to be sealed in the minds of children and youth. In time, adolescent theories live into adult results paving highways for new ways of living.

Remembrance is high on Columbia’s gift of life, not the Colombian associated ill-fated drug culture. To market the positives of the 60s and 70s is a meaningful desirable. Desires, too, become meaningless without the acceptance of the masses. The task is to uncap bottled up agape, so that the ingredient can pour into minds, soak into hearts, and live within souls of people high on transformational love. Decision! Deciding not to be high, so as to make high decisions.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, and teach us to love as You have loved - people. Amen.

The Church In Need of Prayer

John 17:1-11

Bringing new life into a local church is a decision of two persons, you and God. Each  individual in communion with God has an opportunity to add life in a locality. What choice are you making?

Jesus made the choice of fulfilling the mission granted unto him by God. He taught and mentored disciples into the ways and means of doing and living in accordance to the will of God. When Jesus laid down this earthly life to glorify God through sacred sacrifice, He became glorified as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, cherished throughout eternity.

Prior to the glorification of Jesus Christ, prayers were made by our Lord, according to the Gospel of John the 17th chapter. In the totality of the chapter Jesus prays of himself, the disciples bought into earthly communion with him, and for all, who would become members of the Church throughout the ages. Yes, Jesus prayed for you and me. The Lord prayed for us.

The primary focus here is not on the particulars of Jesus praying for us, you and me. Rather, center on the authenticity and authority of Jesus praying. Jesus as an authentic being prayed that God would indeed accept the completion of his earthly mission of glorification. His purpose in being was to bring glory to God through a life of devotion to the task given to by God. Jesus knew the purpose of life and lived to the fulfillment of a purposed driven life. Then, lifted his eyes up to heaven and prayed: "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you..."

What a centering on purpose Jesus brought to living in humanity. Being true to self is one portion of living as authentic being. It is unfulfilled living, when your life is lived and sucked into world void of God, who has purposed your being and staying in the world. So, in addition to being true to an understood self, every authentic being in unfulfilled until brought to an inner comprehension of self in connection to God. Authenticity is being true to self from the root of being as well as the seed of being. In other words, we are more than flesh and blood of a mother and father, we are children of God rooted in the faith of Abraham, but more so grounded in the being of God. When we pray, we are in need of praying as children of God. Faith in God is the essential beginning of genuine authentic prayer. The Church is in need of prayer, genuine prayer. Do you believe God to be God, and Jesus the Christ, the Son of a living God?

Christians or non-Christians are not the issue here. The root is not in a faith limited by the descriptions and characterizations of human minds. At the root of praying for the church is not the name Christian, it is the name Jesus. Jesus is authentic being given the authority by God over all life, so-called Christian or non-Christian, so that all may come into eternal life as given by God. In other words, the Church is not in need of prayer to be an exclusive club decided on by votes of people in humanity. No, the Church is in need of prayer for all of humanity to come into genuine relation with God, who alone grants unto Jesus those that are to be eternally grafted and bonded eternally to God. People from various walks and understanding of life may come. They may come with the philosophy of Socrates on a life worth living. They may come with the theology of Islam on a life in submission. They may come with the training laws of Moses on a life in obedience. As for our house, we come in surrender, surrendering all to God through the teachings of Jesus, the Christ, Son of God and Savior of men and women in the world, who accept the glorification of God given to Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, and grant that we may dwell in you - Christ! Amen.

Life Management

Luke 16:1-13

The successful management of life requires responsible stewardship. The "dishonest steward" in the 16th chapter of Luke is an interesting story. Really, it is a powerful story giving mind to the desire for integrity. It is even more interesting to merge the essence of the story into the current experience of life in a multi-generational determined United States of America. Dishonesty in every culture is dishonesty, for sure. Dishonesty though in the USA is home for some of us. It is in the face mess lacking integrity within the national family jerking the sincere of heart. So, we, the people, hold each person accountable for the best and the worst.

This text (Luke 16:1-13)  is not essentially about dishonesty. The focus is on accountability and hospitality. In order to find a place of acceptance, when held accountable, the dishonest steward offered forgiveness of portions of debt to persons, who might be hospitable in his time of need. The owner complimented the forgiveness of the dishonest steward as a reward for reconciling the system in view of needed friendship. Forgiveness of debts, forgiveness of dishonesty, forgiveness of brokenness, forgiveness of...

During the management of life, business, family, etc... mistakes are made. Changes are made that yield both positives and negatives. Face it, leadership and positions may be change for better or worst. Still there abides the need for life management. Changes are inevitable, and the pain of change at times seems unbearable. Forgiveness is needed, even necessary to moving toward reconciliation or restoration. People seek reconciliation of relationships and restoration of support systems as breath provides opportunity in life.

We are people living to love and living to be loved. One who loves money, however, more than human lives will neglect the poor for self social standing. Too often, love is proclaimed, but unclaimed. Fulfillment of the ethical claims of the law may keep one out of jail, fulfillment of the ethical claim to love may keep one out of hell, at least on earth. Interesting how money buys friendship, but cannot buy us love. Love, true love, is not for sale. Pure and unlimited love is unconditional and given through the ages and wind of time from the heart, beyond understanding.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on sinners, and guide our living. Amen

Sincere Worship & Ministry in 2011

Romans 12:1-21

Where may Your mercy be acknowledged before human beings? Where may the Truth be told regarding your abundant grace? Worship has to do with living together with You, O God. In the Spirit of Truth, praise and prayer is lifted humbly before You. Personal steps are made toward You in the midst of corporate and private worship. In awe of You! Yes, in awe of you is the leap of faith made into the opportunity for transformation.

Christian worship is intentional and direct adoration of Your mighty work in the world. Humbly bowing before Your throne, there is no shame in admiring the people, places, and things of creation. You alone continuously work for the good of humanity, when humanity works in existential isolation. Bring us into the sincerity of heart, so that in the midst of storms and tribulations, we sing the songs of constant love. Forever and ever, we know Your love will be delivered.

Inspire us to love as You love. Unite us in the genuine and sincere ministry, which glorifies You. Behold, we come with diversity of gifts and graces, determined to render the totality of our being unto You. True worship is living with You, true ministry in serving with You. Handle us, so that we may handle the matters of life free to love wholeheartedly.

Bring us unto sincere worship and ministry in 2011. Issue Your appeal through men and women, who have sincerity of heart, O God, and we shall return to You, here and now.

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy, save our souls. Amen.

Into the Promise Land

Numbers 26:53

O God, is the divine will for the good of creation? The desire to know the divine will is growing. People needing to belong are in search of the promised land. Children of God desire a place. The longing is for a place of peace. Where is the place of comfort and joy? Is there a place on earth for the sincere of heart? Where is the place of sovereignty? Where is the place of the Holy Spirit? The questions are for the Creator of existence, who alone has the answers. Yes, these questions are humbly submitted, because human beings having courage to be desire a place of serenity.

In the stillness of being, You are invited to guide the thoughts and desires of Your creation. Objects of creation occupy the place where You are forever present. On earth, there is no place unoccupied by some thing or someone. Life is lived in Your place of promise. It is a place for those who are obedient to Your divine will. The will of The Divine is the work of creation. Soak Your Spirit of Truth into everything that everything may soak in You. Jesus is the Truth, and Your will was made known to Him. Bring forth Your awareness, make your purposes known. Attune the desires of human beings to Your divine will, so that we may step into the promise land.

Into the Promise Land, may the new generation discover Your Peace landing within the hearts of men and women. We have been searching for the promised land, when the land of promise is where You desire to abide within us. You have given us paradise within, but we continue to search for it somewhere out there. Come, Dear God, into the Promise Land and abide with us. Our minds, hearts, and souls belong to You, who longs for a place to land in us.

Take us into the Promise Land, and land now within...

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, and grant unto us the divine will for "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) Amen.

Agape: God's Endless Love

Read: 1 John 4:8,16


Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) wrote in the Middle Ages an epic poem titled Commedia (The Divine Comedy). His poem concludes with an understanding of Agape in Paradiso (paradise). "What is agape?" Smiles of sincere delight flourish, when the question is asked? Speaking of agape has become second nature. It is speaking of the only eternal love known through experience.



Agape is the eternal love. Endless is the love, which circumstance nor situation controls or determines its existence. Existing because life exist is a meaningful way of speaking on the ultimate nature of agape. Loving those who exist as they are and shall become is what agape holds over the descriptions of love in solely human attachments. Agape is a divine attachment. In the classic written by Dante, readers come to witness the movement in existence from Hell to Purgatory toward the hope of reaching Paradise. Paradise can only exist in relation to being in right companionship.



While holding no condemnation of eros, the human attachment of love, Dante is guided by Virgil, his mentoring pagan poet. Virgil removes the blocks of fear and trembling as to allow Dante to experience the emotional as well as other aspects of human love. Virgil, however, is not able to guide Dante into Paradise with the limited edition of love - eros. Dante writes of having been guided by Beatrice Portinari, who is an incarnation of God's love into Paradise.



Accepting the experience of Dante inspires a reflection of the personal journey of "Self." Self in relation to being is the thought. Being oneself is not an option in existence or non-existence, knowing and being true to one's Self may be the challenge. With or without others and the environment as known in human existence "The Self" is still "The Self" that exists, here and there. The reality of forever existing though not always existing as human being is indeed paradoxical. Yet, eternal life is the gift of the Source of existence, which is the greatest love - agape.



At the end of many of messages from the Pastor's Desk, may be found the word "Agape." The meaning has to do with sincere love. The love of faith in the promise of God for eternal life. The love of hope in the acts of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls. The love of love revealed in the power of the Holy Spirit. Through agape the Trinity is gradually made known to people of God in the world. Through agape isolated souls come to the realization of never being alone. Through agape the painful lessons of going through the "Inferno" are not only purifying in the "Chamber" of humanity, but become a source of perfecting beings, so as to reach a state of "Christian Perfection."



Now then, when you see Agape, pause and give thanks to God for the everlasting love that saves us from eternal death and grants us eternal life. Grace, grace: God's mercy and love in the making of the sufficiency of grace on the journey of life. Life is a journey begun in the human chambers through an experience of eros, but transitions through time into the experience of agape: ending the journey in love on earth into an eternal life of love. Some things are priceless, I am so glad that the love of God is endless.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us and grant us a fresh reception of your love. Amen.


Luonne Abram Rouse

The Ministry of John, Son of Zechariah

Read: Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:1-18, Luke 1:1-22

The ministry of John, the son of Zechariah, who is called the Baptist has not been of great interest through the years. He is recognized, even now, in terms of his relevance to Jesus. In the Galilean section of the New Testament recorded in the synoptic gospels accounts read: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God. In those days, the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Calaphas, the word of God came to John the Baptist, son of Zechariah in the wilderness of Judea, and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'
John the baptizer, wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins."
John preaching repentance "said therefore to the multitudes, including the Pharisees and Sadducees, that came out to be baptized by him:

• 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father"; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.'"

A special multitude inquired: "What then shall we do?" John preached to them answering: "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence of by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered them all and preached: "After me comes he who is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down, untie and carry. I baptize you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.

But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod has done, added this to them all, that he shut up John in prison.

In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee. Now, when all the people were baptized and when Jesus came, John would have prevented him saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented and Jesus was baptized, and when he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him; and lo, a voice came from heaven, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Interesting, the impossibility of being like Jesus draws us to be like the Lord. Disinterested in John, the son of Zechariah, yet the task of preparing the way for salvation remains the mission possible to repenting sinners, such as I.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on our souls, and save us from the burning fires of hell. Amen

Living The Righteous Life

This one is for United Methodists of Huntington Cold Spring Harbor, and those living for the sake of righteousness.

And seeing the multitude, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek,for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heave, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

Spiritual Champions live toward "Christian perfection." John Wesley, who is most noted as the founder of Methodism, visualized as a mark of being Christian the willingness and ability of humans to perfect the love of God in response to the love of God, expressedly seen in the self giving love of Jesus. Christian live to love God with their total being and to love others with the desire for others to love them.

There can be no greater calling than for men and women to live out the nature of love as experienced in the characteristic of the nature of God. It is a righteous love. Compassionate in the sense of caring and sharing with others empathic ears and pure hearts. It is the love desirable by people of God throughout the world. And, most assuredly, is it the kind of love called for among Christians, who have come to be United Methodists in Huntington Cold Spring Harbor. Spiritual champions are "living the righteous life." What are the ways and means of living the righteous life in Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor, New York, and beyond?

Deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus, which are theologically known as "The Beatitudes",the daily deportment of the people called Methodists should be grounded in "righteousness of faith" having to do with a right relationship with God. Through a right relationship with God people of faith merge into human righteousness, which is living right with one another not to earn favor or merit or even "brownie points" with God, but for the sake of doing right.

Therefore, in "Living the Righteous Life", Christians are to recall the teachings of Jesus and live in accord with them. In our text is a primary teaching on the life and disposition of followers of Jesus:

1. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are seeking to be blessed spiritually and economically. The church should be a spiritual fitness center and economical development institution. Spiritual champions live to strengthen the weak in spirit with manna from the Spirit and human resources. In this kingdom, God reigns supreme over all the earth. Spiritual champions understand that for the minds to digest the spiritual, the stomach needs to digest solid food or the sounds of noise from the stomach may even drown out the sounds of music in worship.
2. Spiritual champions are sinners saved by grace. Having been saved by the grace of God, spiritual champions mentor persons, who are mournful and crying in brokenness as a result of personal sin. Certain pews in Methodist churches were once designated as the "mourners' bench", where persons seeking forgiveness would pray for the blessed assurance of salvation. Spiritual champions understand that there is more to life than personal holiness, because there are tears over social ills as well. In a real sense, Wesley had it right in saying there is no sure personal holiness without social holiness. The people of God seek not to possess God, but to be possess by God and led by the Spirit of God to transform society into a world of peace. The Methodist church should not have to designate pews for mourners now. All children of God for personal and social reasons should be crying for divine intervention in the midst of the world ethical crisis in any and all aspects of life.
3. Spiritual champions seek not to bring drama. Rather, as champions of spiritual being, people of God rejoice in loving others by not getting high on self love. Humility is a virtue all must strive for and uphold in living the righteous life.
4. Hungering and thirsting to do the things right in life, spiritual champions live to obtain mercy with purity of heart participating in the makings of peace throughout the world.

Living the righteous life is the goal of Spiritual champions against all adversity, including those who would persecute or seek the destruction of the Church as the body of Christ. In personal testimony, I have come to understand that life is not about me or my having life. For years I have had only a portion of the understanding, in that I understood having faith in God, but I lacked faith in God. Faith, righteous faith, is more than believing that God is, it is living because God is. I now live for the higher level of the calling to which I have been prepared to live. I seek His face in living the righteous life not that I earn the right to see Him, but because it is right living to see Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy of my sinful soul, and grant that I may see you and walk with you, and talk with you daily. Amen

Spiritual Fitness Center: Establishing and Maintaining

Read: Romans 12:4-6

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. (The Message)

Friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors, we are faced with a crisis in the United States referred to as health care. A new congressional season has started on every level of government in our nation. On the federal level a huge battle is set to be on the rise to attack the incomplete, some think incompetent, "universal health care reform" of the President Obama Administration. While it is no attack on the man, it is often taken to be because he represents welcomed change in human relations in the United States of America across racial lines. At the same time, however, he has not been able to pull off the hoped for change in political wars. He is surely a Democratic political leader in our democracy, when the majority had hoped for a transformative leader to bring union in the midst of diversity.

It is at times depressing and surely stressful for us. Even those in the school of psychological and theological studies, and practitioners of mental and familial health care find ourselves at odds with siblings and loved ones about the actions coming from the White House. Interesting, indeed, is how addressing health care can be so stressful that it adds to matters of disease in human bodies. We are in need of well being to fight off diseases hindering the best bodily functions. My brother, Bernard, rightfully issued a call for us to reach for heaven for we may at least land among the stars. Being "sea faring" men, we know President John F. Kennedy to have been correct...following the stars we will reach our destination. What is the concern? Too many are trapped in the valley of life - depression, anxiety, stress, etc. Our desire is for no one to be left behind as we soar through the skies.

In the valley of life, there are dry bones not of animals, they are human. On the average, it has been postulated by those of science, there are 206 bones in a human body. From the skull to the toe there is bone structure. In order for the bones to live there is need for muscles, a brain with various cerebral components, and other aspects of sinew into which may be given the breath of life. The reality of life is to be found within the structure of the body. In agreement with the Apostle Paul and others of faith, I believe the relevance of the Church today to be in the same structuring.

The purpose here is not to address all of the historical and theological positions on the Church as the Body of Christ or the Body of Christ as symbolic in the Church. No effort is given to support Catholicism in making the Church the "universal sacrament of salvation." The intent is to bring union in diversity by establishing and maintaining a spiritual fitness center in our local church in Huntington, New York. A place where people of God can come from any background and find unity in search for healthy spiritual living within the body given by God, which we call the Church, composed of various parts called human beings. In the Christian context, it is my ultimate pastoral desire to lead and witness the formation of spiritual fitness within the Body of Christ.

"Let us rejoice then and give thanks that we have become not only Christians, but Christ himself. Do you understand and grasp, brethren, God's grace toward us? Marvel and rejoice: we have become Christ. For if he is the head, we are the members; he and we together are the whole man.... the fullness of Christ then is the head and the members. But what does 'head and members' mean? Christ and the Church." (Saint Augustine)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and forgive our spiritual weaknesses and obesity, and grant us restoration through spiritual fitness in the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Luonne Abram Rouse, LMFT