www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
February 28th
John 1: 43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, 'Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!' Nathanael asked him, 'Where did you come to know me?' Jesus answered, 'I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.' Nathanael replied, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered, 'Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.' And he said to him, 'Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'
It is interesting to note that we only know of Nathanael from a mere half dozen references in John's gospel. He appears nowhere else in the New Testament. Likewise, the character of Philip is drawn in far greater detail here than in any other gospel. Even so, their story can be so meaningful for us today. Whereas in yesterday's reading Simon and another disciple were directed to Jesus by John, in this account it is Jesus himself who specifically chooses first Nathanael, then Philip to be among his followers.
Now if some itinerant teacher came up to say he was choosing you, chances are you'd back away quickly. Or else the guy would need to have a pretty fast sales pitch. But finding themselves in the radiant presence of the Christ, they didn't back off, resist, or put up a struggle. Their hearts must have been open to the sublime spirituality and intense compassion which they felt in the man Jesus.
This kind of meekness or submission is far and away more dynamic than the ordinary definition of the term. Through meekness and receptivity to the Christ spirit we can open ourselves up, be renewed, regenerated, uplifted, and in possession of a more divine consciousness.
Discerning yet another of the divine qualities to live out in our lives, we can continue on in our individual Lenten journeys.
Meditation: O God, we wait for Your loving kindness by day and for the harmony of Your words to uplift us each night. (Ps. 42) tr
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lenten devotional 2-27-09
www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
Here is your daily Lenten meditation devotion. If you find it inspirational, we hope you will pass it along to your family and friends.
February 27th
John 1:35-42
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated Anointed ). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas' (which is translated Peter).
It seems that we often try to find our own ways for bringing Christliness into our lives, while at other times we may have the way pointed out for us. In today's reading Jesus' first two followers were directed to him by John the Baptist.
To follow Jesus so wholeheartedly must have been a tremendous act of faith for them. How many of us could make such an instantaneous decision? Yet, nearly every one of us pursues many things through faith, whether that faith be simple or complex, as perhaps a moment of merely trusting in the divine presence, or else through longer periods when things may not be running so smoothly.
The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "Hitch your wagon to a star," implying that we can indeed link up with a force superior to our individual resources. For us to renew our commitment to a faith-based empowerment will in so many ways inspire and vitalize our Lenten journey, bringing us closer to our own day of resurrection. tr
Here is your daily Lenten meditation devotion. If you find it inspirational, we hope you will pass it along to your family and friends.
February 27th
John 1:35-42
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated Anointed ). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas' (which is translated Peter).
It seems that we often try to find our own ways for bringing Christliness into our lives, while at other times we may have the way pointed out for us. In today's reading Jesus' first two followers were directed to him by John the Baptist.
To follow Jesus so wholeheartedly must have been a tremendous act of faith for them. How many of us could make such an instantaneous decision? Yet, nearly every one of us pursues many things through faith, whether that faith be simple or complex, as perhaps a moment of merely trusting in the divine presence, or else through longer periods when things may not be running so smoothly.
The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "Hitch your wagon to a star," implying that we can indeed link up with a force superior to our individual resources. For us to renew our commitment to a faith-based empowerment will in so many ways inspire and vitalize our Lenten journey, bringing us closer to our own day of resurrection. tr
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
February 26, 2009 Daily Lenten Meditation
www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
February 26, 2009
Daily Lenten Meditation
Dear Friend,
Here is your daily Lenten meditation devotion. If you find it inspirational, we hope you will pass it along to your family and friends.
________________________________
February 26th
John 1:29-34
The next day [John] saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, 'Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me." I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.' And John testified, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.
The author of John's gospel -- writing many years after Jesus' life on earth -- had what we today might call a retro-vision: In many ways he saw the larger context of the Master's life and what its significance was for the early Christians. In this passage he saw Jesus not as a militant Messiah but rather as a lamb -- the Lamb of God. This term "lamb" in Jewish theology was closely associated with ritual sacrifice.
Of course, we don't make sacrificial offerings any longer, but as discussed yesterday, we do seek for fresh and renewed meanings through these scriptural accounts. John goes on to see the Spirit as a dove descending upon the Christ. What could that mean for us today on our Lenten journey to embrace the life of Christ?
Looking beyond the old ritual significance, could we say that with the lamb quality of gentleness we can foster compassion -- true caring and nurture in our own lives and in our communities; that through the tenderness of the lamb we can cultivate practical and continuing affection towards friends, partners, spouses - and to ourselves; and that
February 26, 2009
Daily Lenten Meditation
Dear Friend,
Here is your daily Lenten meditation devotion. If you find it inspirational, we hope you will pass it along to your family and friends.
________________________________
February 26th
John 1:29-34
The next day [John] saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, 'Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me." I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.' And John testified, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.
The author of John's gospel -- writing many years after Jesus' life on earth -- had what we today might call a retro-vision: In many ways he saw the larger context of the Master's life and what its significance was for the early Christians. In this passage he saw Jesus not as a militant Messiah but rather as a lamb -- the Lamb of God. This term "lamb" in Jewish theology was closely associated with ritual sacrifice.
Of course, we don't make sacrificial offerings any longer, but as discussed yesterday, we do seek for fresh and renewed meanings through these scriptural accounts. John goes on to see the Spirit as a dove descending upon the Christ. What could that mean for us today on our Lenten journey to embrace the life of Christ?
Looking beyond the old ritual significance, could we say that with the lamb quality of gentleness we can foster compassion -- true caring and nurture in our own lives and in our communities; that through the tenderness of the lamb we can cultivate practical and continuing affection towards friends, partners, spouses - and to ourselves; and that
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ash Wednesday Deviotional 2-25-09
www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
Ash Wednesday, February 25th
Luke 18:9-14
[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'
Today's observance of Ash Wednesday throughout most of the western Christian world marks not only the beginning of the Lenten season but also reminds us of traditions which may go back even centuries before the Christian era. The ashes placed in the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the faithful have long symbolized to believers the spirit of repentance or confession -- even of mourning. And it is these sacrificial elements which many people even today associate with the 40-day period of Lent, from now until Easter - the Day of Resurrection.
And for nearly two thousand years many pilgrims in Jerusalem have themselves walked the very route which Jesus followed on his last day -- the via Dolorosa (the way of suffering) -- as their way of embracing the life of Christ. But while the old traditions may suffice in some quarters, the thought-realm of humankind continues to demand freshness and renewal in its quest for a more active or engaged spirituality.
Today's reading may be a case in point: The Pharisee and the tax collector had quite opposite views on gaining their own spiritual redemption: For the one, self-righteousness and judgmental indifference; for the other, an attitude of honest self-appraisal, or authenticity as we might call it. Perhaps then the decision for each one of us is how to truly embrace the life of Christ in our own Lenten journey; how to increase our level of spirituality, our ascending up to a greater Christlikeness. Pointless theological repetitions may have been OK for the Phrarisee, but not for us.
Then how about the example of the true humility and honesty of the tax-collector -- his active, living demonstration of the true qualities of his heavenly Parent? And what a way for us to begin our own Lenten period of spiritual growth and renewal. True humility and honesty, or authenticity, expressed to those around us for the next forty days -- and beyond! (More on this in tomorrow's devotional reading.)
Meditation: Creator, open my eyes so that I might see the many wonders which come to us each day from Your loving law! (Ps. 119) tr
Ash Wednesday, February 25th
Luke 18:9-14
[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'
Today's observance of Ash Wednesday throughout most of the western Christian world marks not only the beginning of the Lenten season but also reminds us of traditions which may go back even centuries before the Christian era. The ashes placed in the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the faithful have long symbolized to believers the spirit of repentance or confession -- even of mourning. And it is these sacrificial elements which many people even today associate with the 40-day period of Lent, from now until Easter - the Day of Resurrection.
And for nearly two thousand years many pilgrims in Jerusalem have themselves walked the very route which Jesus followed on his last day -- the via Dolorosa (the way of suffering) -- as their way of embracing the life of Christ. But while the old traditions may suffice in some quarters, the thought-realm of humankind continues to demand freshness and renewal in its quest for a more active or engaged spirituality.
Today's reading may be a case in point: The Pharisee and the tax collector had quite opposite views on gaining their own spiritual redemption: For the one, self-righteousness and judgmental indifference; for the other, an attitude of honest self-appraisal, or authenticity as we might call it. Perhaps then the decision for each one of us is how to truly embrace the life of Christ in our own Lenten journey; how to increase our level of spirituality, our ascending up to a greater Christlikeness. Pointless theological repetitions may have been OK for the Phrarisee, but not for us.
Then how about the example of the true humility and honesty of the tax-collector -- his active, living demonstration of the true qualities of his heavenly Parent? And what a way for us to begin our own Lenten period of spiritual growth and renewal. True humility and honesty, or authenticity, expressed to those around us for the next forty days -- and beyond! (More on this in tomorrow's devotional reading.)
Meditation: Creator, open my eyes so that I might see the many wonders which come to us each day from Your loving law! (Ps. 119) tr
Lenten Daily Devotional
http://www.hopeandhelpcenter.org/
Daily Lenten Meditation Introduction
Lent, the liturgical season that proceeds Easter, is the forty days, excluding Sundays before Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, February 25. Jesus, at the start of his ministry, was in the wilderness for forty days. The Jews, upon their Exodus from Egypt, were in the wilderness for forty years. Ashes are used in the Bible as a sign of repentance for our sins. Ash Wednesday is an acknowledgement of our sin and a sign of Christ's intervention to save us from sin's penalty of death. Lent is a time to reflect on the final days of Jesus' life and ministry among us. It is a time to think about what might need to be put to death within us. We look forward to Easter, a time of new life and new beginnings, though a time of quiet reflection and self-examination. It is our deepest hope that you will find some guiding touchstones among the emails that you will be receiving during this year's Lenten season.
MCCGSL thanks the following writers for sharing their Lenten meditations in this devotional:
Michael Desmond (md)
Kelly Durbin (kdd)
Valerie Jackson (vj)
Gina McAllister (gmc)
Tom Robertsen (tr)
Christine White (cw)
Ron White (rw)
Rev Sue Yarber (rsy)
A special thanks to Rev Bev Stephenson and Rev Carol Trissell for editing the meditations, to Dan Dowd and Lena Petty for putting the printed version together and to Danny Gladden for overseeing the electronic versions (WEB and email).
This devotional would not have happened without your efforts!
To subscribe to Daily Devotionals: congregationalcare@mccgsl.org
Daily Lenten Meditation Introduction
Lent, the liturgical season that proceeds Easter, is the forty days, excluding Sundays before Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, February 25. Jesus, at the start of his ministry, was in the wilderness for forty days. The Jews, upon their Exodus from Egypt, were in the wilderness for forty years. Ashes are used in the Bible as a sign of repentance for our sins. Ash Wednesday is an acknowledgement of our sin and a sign of Christ's intervention to save us from sin's penalty of death. Lent is a time to reflect on the final days of Jesus' life and ministry among us. It is a time to think about what might need to be put to death within us. We look forward to Easter, a time of new life and new beginnings, though a time of quiet reflection and self-examination. It is our deepest hope that you will find some guiding touchstones among the emails that you will be receiving during this year's Lenten season.
MCCGSL thanks the following writers for sharing their Lenten meditations in this devotional:
Michael Desmond (md)
Kelly Durbin (kdd)
Valerie Jackson (vj)
Gina McAllister (gmc)
Tom Robertsen (tr)
Christine White (cw)
Ron White (rw)
Rev Sue Yarber (rsy)
A special thanks to Rev Bev Stephenson and Rev Carol Trissell for editing the meditations, to Dan Dowd and Lena Petty for putting the printed version together and to Danny Gladden for overseeing the electronic versions (WEB and email).
This devotional would not have happened without your efforts!
To subscribe to Daily Devotionals: congregationalcare@mccgsl.org
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Meditation by Ron & Christine White
www.hopeandhelpcenter.org
Weekly Meditation
by Ron & Christine White
Mark 1:40-45
A person with leprosy came beseeching Jesus and, kneeling, said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus reached out and touched the person, and said, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy went away and the person was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged and sent away the one whom he had healed, saying, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded for a proof to the people." But the one who had been healed went out and began to talk freely about it and to spread the news so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town but was out in the country; and people came to Jesus from every quarter.
Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a bacterium. The most common external symptom is skin lesions. But, the disease is progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. The flesh literally rots away, leading to the death of the untreated victim. Little wonder, then, that in a day when no known treatment existed, the leper asked Christ to "make me clean." What does the phrase spoken by the leper, "make me clean," mean to you? To the man with leprosy, it meant healing from his physical affliction. Many of Jesus' religious counterparts believed that leprosy was a judgment from God of either the person's own sins or those of their parents'. Jesus consistently taught that physical ailments are not a punishment from God. Yet, he healed the leper with the words "be clean," and he wasn't referring to anything physical like dirt. Just as he did when he cast the demonic spirits out of the demoniac and put them in the swine, Jesus was addressing the spiritual component of the physical disease.
We don't hear much about the disease of leprosy any more. Yet, I believe that I suffer from a different kind of leprosy, a leprosy of the spirit. For me, whenever I carry around shame, my spirit is infected with a progressive disease. For you see, leprosy of the spirit is also progressive. If left untreated, it can lead to broken relationships, anxiety, deceitfulness and despair. What is the recommended treatment for leprosy of the spirit? In Psalm 32, the companion verse for this Sunday's Gospel reading, David speaks of the blessing that comes to those who declare their shame to God with complete honesty and transparency, and who trust in God's ability to make them whole. To those who come in faith and implore God to "make me clean," God replies with a resounding blessing: "I will! Be clean!" David says it far better than I could ever hope to paraphrase:
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the person to whom God imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of the summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgression to God;
then you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all who are godly
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of great waters
shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me,
you preserve me from trouble;
you encompass me with deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you
the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not keep with you.
Many are the pangs of the wicked;
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in God.
Be glad in God, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
Weekly Meditation
by Ron & Christine White
Mark 1:40-45
A person with leprosy came beseeching Jesus and, kneeling, said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus reached out and touched the person, and said, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy went away and the person was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged and sent away the one whom he had healed, saying, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded for a proof to the people." But the one who had been healed went out and began to talk freely about it and to spread the news so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town but was out in the country; and people came to Jesus from every quarter.
Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a bacterium. The most common external symptom is skin lesions. But, the disease is progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. The flesh literally rots away, leading to the death of the untreated victim. Little wonder, then, that in a day when no known treatment existed, the leper asked Christ to "make me clean." What does the phrase spoken by the leper, "make me clean," mean to you? To the man with leprosy, it meant healing from his physical affliction. Many of Jesus' religious counterparts believed that leprosy was a judgment from God of either the person's own sins or those of their parents'. Jesus consistently taught that physical ailments are not a punishment from God. Yet, he healed the leper with the words "be clean," and he wasn't referring to anything physical like dirt. Just as he did when he cast the demonic spirits out of the demoniac and put them in the swine, Jesus was addressing the spiritual component of the physical disease.
We don't hear much about the disease of leprosy any more. Yet, I believe that I suffer from a different kind of leprosy, a leprosy of the spirit. For me, whenever I carry around shame, my spirit is infected with a progressive disease. For you see, leprosy of the spirit is also progressive. If left untreated, it can lead to broken relationships, anxiety, deceitfulness and despair. What is the recommended treatment for leprosy of the spirit? In Psalm 32, the companion verse for this Sunday's Gospel reading, David speaks of the blessing that comes to those who declare their shame to God with complete honesty and transparency, and who trust in God's ability to make them whole. To those who come in faith and implore God to "make me clean," God replies with a resounding blessing: "I will! Be clean!" David says it far better than I could ever hope to paraphrase:
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the person to whom God imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I declared not my sin, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of the summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, "I will confess my transgression to God;
then you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all who are godly
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of great waters
shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me,
you preserve me from trouble;
you encompass me with deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you
the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not keep with you.
Many are the pangs of the wicked;
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in God.
Be glad in God, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Change Cycle Series
(click to view full size)www.HopeandHelpCenter.org
Stage 1 – Loss to Safety
In Stage 1 you admit to yourself that regardless of whether or not you perceive the change to be good or 'bad" there will be a sense of loss of what "was."
Stage 2 – Doubt to Reality
In this stage, you doubt the facts, doubt your doubts and struggle to find information about the change that you believe is valid. Resentment, skepticism and blame cloud your thinking.
Stage 3 – Discomfort to Motivation
You will recognize Stage 3 by the discomfort it brings. The change and all it means has now become clear and starts to settle in. Frustration and lethargy rule until possibility takes over.
The Danger Zone
The Danger Zone represents the pivotal place where you make the choice either to move on to Stage 4 and discover the possibilities the change has presented or to choose fear and return to Stage 1.
Stage 4 – Discovery to Perspective
Stage 4 represents the "light at the end of the tunnel." Perspective, anticipation, and a willingness to make decisions give a new sense of control and hope. You are optimistic about a good outcome because you have choices.
Stage 5 - Understanding
In Stage 5, you understand the change and are more confident, think pragmatically, and your behavior is much more productive. Good thing.
Stage 6 - Integration
By this time, you have regained your ability and willingness to be flexible. You have insight into the ramifications, consequences and rewards of the change -- past, present, and future.
More info at: http://www.changecycle.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)