Letting God into our boring bits

a verse or two

“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Letting God into our boring bits.

You might have heard me say in the past that faith can be spelt RISK – suggesting if we remain comfortable in our own lives taking no risks, we won’t need God in our lives (life is pretty cruisy in NZ). The implication is we need to take risks in life – to step off the cliff so to speak – so our faith builds up. I’m having second thoughts on this idea. 

Perhaps it would be better for us to let God into our everyday normal lives, into all we do including the boring bits. Yep, including the boring stuff that we think God would not be interested in. Where we think the action is so mundane and straightforward no faith in God is required for that part of our life. I say this because if we practice the presence of God with us at all times, if we could be aware of God’s friendship with us in normal everyday life; then, when the mud hits the fan we would be aware of God still being with us in that particular difficult time.

It would be natural to talk to him, and not some “freaking out” time of uncertainty, hoping like crazy God..."might listen....but...I'm not really sure".

If we learn to be aware of God’s presence in the normal, it will be normal for God’s presence to be with us in the un-normal. Then we could pass the test and receive the crown.

God Bless, Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: A quote by Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) 

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."

Letting God into our boring bits

a verse or two

“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Letting God into our boring bits.

You might have heard me say in the past that faith can be spelt RISK – suggesting if we remain comfortable in our own lives taking no risks, we won’t need God in our lives (life is pretty cruisy in NZ). The implication is we need to take risks in life – to step off the cliff so to speak – so our faith builds up. I’m having second thoughts on this idea. 

Perhaps it would be better for us to let God into our everyday normal lives, into all we do including the boring bits. Yep, including the boring stuff that we think God would not be interested in. Where we think the action is so mundane and straightforward no faith in God is required for that part of our life. I say this because if we practice the presence of God with us at all times, if we could be aware of God’s friendship with us in normal everyday life; then, when the mud hits the fan we would be aware of God still being with us in that particular difficult time.

It would be natural to talk to him, and not some “freaking out” time of uncertainty, hoping like crazy God..."might listen....but...I'm not really sure".

If we learn to be aware of God’s presence in the normal, it will be normal for God’s presence to be with us in the un-normal. Then we could pass the test and receive the crown.

God Bless, Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: A quote by Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) 

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."

What we value vs. what we do:

a verse or two

“For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.” James 1:11

Spiritual Walk and Musings: What we value vs. what we do:

With yet another massive earthquake, once again the images cause sober thought and reflection on what our priorities are in life. One of the spiritual disciplines of Lent is to ponder our mortality – from dust we were formed and to dust we will return. Here is a little exercise.

Imagine we are told that a meteor was going to hit NZ and that a percentage of us are “all doomed, Captain Mannering”. Part of the shock of facing our mortality would cause us to evaluate what is most important to us. So, as a spiritual exercise, why not spend time in honest reflection pondering the things you currently do, day in and day out and ponder their value in the light of our mortality. That “to dust we will return”.

First think about what things you value the most. What is valuable to you? If you were on a deserted island – what would you want to have with you? Write these values down.

Next ponder the things you are currently putting energy into, the things that take up your time – write them down.

Now cross reference what you value most in life and what you spend your time on. I know for me there are some things I do, that in the scheme of things are not as valuable as the amount of time and energy I put into them.

To Ponder and Pray: Wise with our time. 

Dear Lord, help us to be wise with our time, 
help us to put you – our relationship with you – on top of the list.
And help us to put time into those whom we love;
     help us to pray for them; 
     help us to care for them; 
     help us to love them. Amen.

Selfless Apology

a verse or two

“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” John 17:11

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Selfless Apology

Haven't the media had fun with all the apologies this week. Woods, Toyota, our own government ministers just to name a few – sorry I can't remember the other names. When it is said so much the words “I'm sorry” start to lose significance. The spin doctors overloaded rhetoric causes doubt as to the genuineness, therefore begging the question if the apologies were for healing of the victim and the hurt done to them or the offenders tarnished reputation. Is it selfish or selfless apology? 

One of the more intriguing media comments this week was someone quoting John Wayne as having said “never say you're sorry.........it's a sign of weakness”. Did Jesus ever say sorry? I did a quick search for the word “sorry” on computerised Bible concordance. It seems the words never came from Jesus' lips. Jesus didn't apologise for being missing at the temple for 4 days when he was a child and he never said sorry when he cleared out the money changers. 

Think to Jesus' prayer for the disciples on the night of his betrayal (John chapter 17). If there was a time to apologise, it would have been this last night before his death. He didn't pray “guys I mucked up here and there...” Instead Jesus washed his disciples feet when they should have washed his, he forgave his betrayer, and offered a positive love filled prayer that was filled with hope for the disciples future. 

So was Jesus weak? No. Jesus didn't need to apologise because he was selfless, because he had compassion for people, loved people and because he and the Father were one. Perhaps if we can be one with the Father and each other, our need for apologies will instead turn to offerings of forgiveness. If we can learn the art of selflessness, the initial hurt won't happen in the first place. And, if the big players on the world stage learn to live selflessly, the hurt they cause won't happen either. 

God Bless,
Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: A Selfless Prayer—the Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. 
Where there is hatred let me sow peace;
where there is injury let me sow forgiveness;
where there is doubt let me sow faith;
where there is despair let me give hope;
where there is darkness let me give light;
where there is sadness let me give joy.
0 Lord, grant that I may
not try to be comforted, but to comfort,
not try to be understood but to understand,
not try to be loved but to love.
Because it is in giving that we receive,
it is in forgiving that we are forgiven,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

choose well

A verse or two

"Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.”  Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Choose well.

Having the Vanuatu students stay with us was insightful at times as I think we overloaded them with choice. Their mouth dropped with amazement when walking into a huge sport store. Walking around the supermarket they were stunned with the variety and choice – but also astute enough to say how expensive many of the items were and it would be better to choose the simple things.

A reading I came across this week included Moses speaking on behalf of God offering the people a choice; life and prosperity or death and doom. They would receive life and prosperity if they loved God and obey his commandments and death and doom if they turned their hearts away from him. It was simple and not complicated. What is interesting many of the commandments for them to follow included some of the most ethical care for the needy and environmentally sensitive legislation ever set out for any nation. It is not like God’s guidance was a kill joy. Today we all know too much rich food creates a problem – simple unprocessed food works out healthier – and we have the freedom to choose.

This is the first Sunday of Lent; a kind of heads-up to prepare for Easter in six weeks time. Another reading I came across this week reminded me of the coming Easter weekend; “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22) May Christ’s actions which dealt to the Old Testament law giving us freedom of choice, inspire us to choose well.

God Bless,
Jon

To Ponder and Pray: Lenten thought.

“[Jesus said to his disciples] “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” ” (Luke 9:23)

Are you giving up anything this Lent? As it brings slight discomfort may we never forget the cost paid for us by Christ?

an upside down kingdom

a verse or two

“Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” Matthew 4:10 

Spiritual Walk and Musings: The Kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom.

This week at Presbytery the moderator explored Jesus’ temptations in the desert. How after forty days of fasting and being alone the devil then temped him. What is interesting is each time Jesus responded, he gave a kingdom of God like answer. 

Jesus was staving and he was tempted to turn stones into bread, his ministry could be simply a popular social worker by satisfying the physical needs of the crowd. Yet we live by more than bread alone and hence the Kingdom of God is wider than social work.

Jesus was taken high on the temple, he could have put on display a great miracle by being saved when falling down. Hence he could have wowed the crowds proving to be a famous wonder miracle worker. Yet Jesus didn't limit the Kingdom of God to only supernatural things or by giving himself credit. The kingdom of God includes humility, restraint, common sense and trust in God's ways – Jesus was supernaturally natural and naturally supernatural. 

Finally Satan tempted Jesus with rule over the world – Jesus was tempted as to which way to follow. God's way or Satan's way – do the ends justify the means? Power and authority verses the way of the servant. Jesus chose the way of the servant. The kingdom of God chooses the way of the servant – it is completely back to front and upside down to the world's way of seeing things.

To Ponder and Pray: A servant prayer.

“Speak Lord, for your servant hears. Grant me ears to hear, eyes to see, a will to obey, a heart to love. Then declare what you will, reveal what you will, command what you will, demand what you will.”

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894

Ddifferent Compartments

A Verse or two

[Jesus] told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.' Matthew 13:33 (NRSV)

Spiritual Walk and Musings: different compartments 

Our lives seem to have many different compartments. Some of these compartments we freely let God into and other aspects we keep God out wanting self to rein. But for bread to be as it should be – the yeast needs to work throughout the whole loaf. And so it fits that for us to be as we should be, we need to allow God permission to rein in all the compartments of our lives. And then, as a few grains of yeast work their way through an entire batch of dough, slowly transforming it, changing it, so we allow our faith in God to permeate our whole lives. Letting God change the way we live, how we shop, the way we prioritise, the way we treat our enemies, how we treat our loved ones, how we treat ourselves, the way we think about the whole world (including our attitudes towards places like Haiti – both pre and post earthquake) and so on and so on.

Let us all allow the kingdom of God to flow through every part of our lives – public, private, work and play.

God Bless
Jon.

To Ponder and Pray: Some stories to ponder on:

This week why not spend time reading some of Jesus’ words on what the Kingdom of God is like:

The Mustard Seed Mt 13:31-32
The Yeast Mt 13: 33
The Hidden Treasure Mt 13:44  
The Pearl Mt 13: 45-46
The Dragnet Mt 13:47-50
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant MT 18:23-35
The Labourers in the Vineyard Mt 20:1-16