Integrity: What do you stand for? - As good as your word

 

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

James 3:1-12

DAILY BYTE

In entrusting to us the gift of language and the ability to create meaning through our words - which after all is one of the distinguishing features of what it means to be human - God was taking an immense risk. Indeed, he was instilling in us the same fundamental capacity through which he created the heavens and the earth. If that seems overstated, consider for a moment what can be created or destroyed in young children, for example, simply through what their parents tell them. Or how our inner dialogue so dramatically determines the shape of our outward experience. This is why motivational speakers and life-coaches focus so heavily on the importance of speaking positive messages all the time, as our words do have a certain self-actualising quality about them.

As we think this week about what it means to live lives of integrity, and what it is that we stand for, so we have to pay careful attention to the words that come out of our mouths.
Hear what James has to say about this:

A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything – or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue – it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on.
(James 3:5-10, The Message)

Christ listens with attentive interest to the words that come out of our mouths. Our words are a great litmus test as to the state of our inner life, for as Jesus said, “...out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34), and on another occasion, “...the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.” (Matthew 15:18).

What does he hear when he listens to you? A constant barrage of criticism and complaint? An endless stream of moaning and groaning? How often would he be saddened by the little tidbits of juicy gossip you help to spread? Or the subtle “re-arrangements of the truth” that are designed to make you look better? And how often would he delight in what he hears, and say a rousing “Amen to that!”?

What does it mean for you to be a person who is as good as your word?

Questions for reflection:

1. What would those nearest to you - those with whom you live and work - say about the words that come out of your mouth? Are you someone who is as good as your word?
2. How often and easily do you speak words of encouragement to others? Spend some time thinking about people you know who could really benefit from a sincere word of encouragement (which includes pretty much everyone). Write their names down and the specific things about them that you can affirm, celebrate and encourage. Now commit yourself to doing so before the week is over.

PRAYER

(As was the case yesterday, our prayer today is taken from a contemporary worship song by Tim Hughes. If you know the tune, sing it today as often as you can as your prayer for the day.)

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart
Bless your name, bless your name, Jesus
And the deeds of the day, and the truth in my way
Speak of you, speak of you, Jesus

For this is what I’m glad to do
It’s time to live a life of love that pleases you
And I will give my all to you
Surrender everything I have and follow you
I’ll follow you

Integrity: What do you stand for? - Standing for justice - Part 2

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Matthew 21:12-17

DAILY BYTE

Today we look at a second way in which we are all called to join the fight against evil and to stand for justice. Yesterday we spoke about the importance of our own personal conduct in reducing the burden of injustice that others have to bear in this world. As important as our personal conduct is in this regard, it’s not enough.

This is because it is in the nature of evil to insinuate itself into the systems and structures of our world, perpetuating the cycle of injustice. When this happens, personal transformation alone is not enough - the compromised systems and structures themselves need to be redeemed.

By way of illustration, consider this hypothetical scenario. A wealthy business owner was biased against women, and discriminated against them in his business. This was clearly evident in that the women who worked there were paid significantly less than their male counterparts. [Sadly, this is still all too common.] But then this business owner went to church one Sunday and was deeply convicted of the error of his ways and the injustice that he was perpetuating. He asked for God’s forgiveness for his unjust behaviour. It was like a conversion for him, and he resolved to put things right as soon as he could. But the following morning on his way to work, he had a car crash and landed up in a coma. While he lay in his hospital bed, he did so as someone who personally had been transformed, healed of his prejudice against women. But while he lay in his hospital bed, the women in his business continued to be paid an unjust wage!

That hypothetical scenario makes a telling point - when systems become unjust, it’s not enough to change the individuals within that system, the system itself must change, otherwise the injustice will continue.

This is part of the work of doing justice, to which we all are called. To recognise the structural and institutional dimensions of sin, and to challenge and redeem the fallen systems that otherwise continue doing our sinning for us.

This is exactly what Jesus was doing when he entered the Temple and drove out all who were buying and selling there. His focus was not, in fact, on the individuals who were operating there, even if some of them were corrupt. That wasn’t the point of his courageous action. Jesus was doing something far more radical than that - he was challenging the entire Temple sacrificial system that had been reduced to an equation of buying and selling. As if God’s grace and forgiveness were commodities that could be bought.

Jesus was quite clear - the entire system had to change! This is what we also are required to do as those called by God to be doers of justice in the world.

Questions for reflection:

1. Think of some experience that you have had, maybe from your childhood, where a system was grossly unfair. What exactly happened? Were you a victim or a beneficiary of the injustice? How did that make you feel? Try to capture the experience in as much detail as you can.
2. What are the systems of injustice within your world that you have particularly noticed? What specifically can you do to name the injustice, expose it, and start the process of its redemption?

Choosing New Paths:

1. Write to one CEO each month this year. Affirm or critique the ethics of their company. (You will need to do a little research first.)
2. Attend a ratepayers / community forum meeting. Think about the questions that Jesus would ask. Then courageously ask those questions.
3. Spend the morning at the outpatients ward at a state-owned hospital. Speak to the people who are waiting there. Allow yourself to feel the disparity in health care that is available to the rich and the poor of this land.

PRAYER (These words are taken from a contemporary worship song by Tim Hughes.)

God of justice, Saviour to all. Came to rescue the weak and the poor. Chose to serve and not be served. Jesus, you have called us. Freely we’ve received, now freely we will give. We must go, live to feed the hungry. Stand beside the broken. We must go. Stepping forward, keep us from just singing. Move us into action. We must go.

Integrity: What do you stand for? - Standing for justice - Part 1

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Acts 5:27-42

DAILY BYTE

We are often lulled into the mistaken idea that the fight against evil is a great and grandiose struggle that is waged on a stage far beyond our reach and influence. And while there is certainly an element of truth in the cosmic proportions of evil and the fight against it, it is a dangerous distortion to see this struggle as being limited to that sphere alone. The truth is that everyday, in little and not so little ways, the powers of evil raise their heads in our midst. Everyday, the bitter seeds of injustice are being sown. The question that arises for us in the midst of this is this, ‘What are we going to do about it?’

All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men and women to do nothing.

It was Edmund Burke who first coined this phrase, or something very similar, way back in the 1700’s. His words still ring true with a contemporary relevance today. They challenge the defence barrier that we so easily construct that the struggle against evil is beyond us. It is not! If we see little injustices in the world around us and refuse to do anything to challenge them, we are truly giving the powers of evil a foothold in our midst. As the people of God, we are called to make a difference - and by God’s grace, we can!

There are two ways in which we are all called to join the struggle against evil and to stand for justice:

The first concerns our own personal choices, conduct and convictions. Are we adding to the burden of injustice in the world, or lightening that load? Think of some of the following examples of areas where our personal conduct can either increase or diminish the burden of injustice that others bear:

• Do you pay your domestic worker a just wage? (There IS a world of difference between paying ‘the going rate’ and paying someone a wage that they can actually live on.)
• How fair and reasonable are you in your attitude towards & treatment of workers beneath you?
• How quick are you to speak up in defence of the voiceless when they are being misrepresented or maligned by others?
• In what ways do you discriminate against people on the basis of their race, gender, age, language, sexual orientation, nationality, education or socio-economic station in life?
• How conscious are you about the impact that your consumer choices have on the earth and on the poor?

Tomorrow, we’ll look at a second way in which we are called to stand for justice

Question for reflection:

The scripture passage for today is Acts 5:27-42. It tells the story of the apostles standing before the Sanhedrin bearing courageous witness to the injustice of Christ’s death. It also relates how one of the members of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee and teacher of the law called Gamaliel stood up and spoke in the apostles’ defence, probably saving them from being put to death

Mull on this story a long while. It may seem a million miles removed from your life, but think about some situation in your life that this story speaks into. What might it be saying

Choosing New Paths:

• If you have even the slightest twinge of conscience that you might be exploiting somebody economically, sit down today and start working out a plan whereby that can change. Find someone you can trust (a minister, small group leader, close friend perhaps) whom you can tell, who can help to hold you accountable in a non-judgemental but serious way.
• Much has been said about the ecological crises facing the earth, and the ways in which we contribute towards that. But still, many people do not really take to heart the responsibility that they share in this most serious concern of our time. They fail to see that this is a justice issue that is influenced by their own choices, conduct and convictions.
  
  Take a moment to consider whether you would really want the evil of ecological injustice to flourish because you did nothing. Consider the following practical action steps:
• Ask yourself how informed you are really of what is going on, and what it would take for you to become informed.
• Pick one action that you can commit to that will become the seed for the flowering of greater ecological justice in your life. Now commit to it!
• For example, decide that you will not buy another plastic grocery packet. If you go to the supermarket and you’ve forgotten to take bags along, leave the groceries. This will only need to happen once to convince yourself that you mean business with this resolve! The significance of little victories like these is that they become ramparts of justice within us from which greater sorties for justice can be launched.

 PRAYER


God of justice, when you made the world you declared that it was very good. Your intention for life on this planet is for it to be full and free. And so it really matters to you when life is diminished, compromised or exploited in any way. Change our hearts that these things might matter to us too, that we might become more and more the kind of people who will stand courageously for what is right, and who will join the struggle against injustice in every form. Amen.

Integrity: What do you stand for? - The witness of integrity

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Acts 7:51-60

DAILY BYTE
In the early hours of March1, 1943, an Austrian peasant by the name of Franz Jagerstätter said goodbye to his wife and home and set off by foot for the neighboring town. On a hill on the outskirts of St Radegund, he turned one last time to take in the village of his birth, the parish church where he had served as a groundsman, and the fields where he had laboured as a farmer. A neighbour called out to him in the customary greeting, “Go with God, Franz,” to which Franz answered somewhat ominously, “You’ll see no more of me.”

The next day he turned himself in at the registration centre in the neighbouring town, where he had been ordered to report for military service in Hitler’s army. After stating his refusal to serve, he was arrested and imprisoned. He was later tried before a military court in Berlin and sentenced to death. On August 9, 1943, he was executed as an ‘enemy of the state.’

To the villagers of St Radegund, Jagerstätter’s death was a sad embarrassment. But no one was surprised by his stand. It was well known that he had undergone a profound religious conversion sometime after his marriage. Once known as something of a village ruffian, he returned with zeal to the faith of his upbringing. He became known as a man of honesty and high principle, devoted to his family and the practice of his faith. In normal times these characteristics would not have distinguished him from his neighbours, much less hastened his death. But these were not normal times.

With the rise of the Nazis in the 1930’s Jagerstätter was outspoken against what he was convinced was a gathering tide of evil. He was the only person in his village to vote against Austria being annexed into ‘Greater Germany.’ He let it be known that whatever happened, he would never serve in Hitler’s army.

The moment of decision came for him when he received his conscription orders in 1943. Before taking his fateful stand Franz sought the counsel of his parish priest and local bishop. They joined his wife, family and neighbours in trying to shake his dangerous resolution. Franz considered every argument, from the appeal to his responsibilities as a husband and the father of three daughters, to his duties to the Fatherland and his obligation to leave political judgements to those in higher authority. But no one could persuade Franz to change his conviction that any form of service in Hitler’s army would involve recognition of the Nazi cause. This, he was convinced, would be a violation of the gospel principles by which he sought to live his life.

While in prison Franz continued to hear appeals from the prison chaplain, his attorney, and even the military officers before whom he was tried, urging him to renounce his conscience and save his life. But Franz was convinced that there were things more important than his physical life, which he could not prolong at the cost of his integrity.

At the time, Franz Jagerstätter’s death seemed fruitless, achieving very little or nothing at all. And yet, the witness of his courageous stand for conscience sake has become an example that continues to illuminate the path of the generations that follow him.
(Source: All Saints by Robert Ellsberg.)

Questions for reflection:

1. How does Franz Jagerstätter’s story make you feel? (Inspired? Angry? Disbelieving? Grateful? Challenged? Ashamed? Regretful? Other feelings?)
2. While it’s unlikely that any of us will ever have to face the kind of choice that Franz Jagerstätter faced, with the life or death consequences that it brought, what are the issues that you would hope to stand firm on in a similar way?

PRAYER

We thank you, O God, for the courageous example of people like Franz Jagerstätter. Thank you for the inspiration that we find in lives lived with deep integrity. As we think about the things that really matter to us, may your convictions and principles increasingly become ours. And may our resolute commitment to live lives of integrity be a compelling witness to others. Amen

Stretched out upon my prison bed,
I stare at the empty wall.
Outside a summer morning,
regardless of me, goes rejoicing in the country.
Brother, while the long night waits,
until our day dawns, we shall hold our ground!
(Excerpt from one of the prison poems of the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was also imprisoned and executed by the Nazi regime.)

Hunger: What are you taking in? - What do you choose to eat?

 

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

John 6:53-58

DAILY BYTE

What have you eaten so far today? Was it satisfying? Think for a few minutes about your favorite foods. I would say pasta, real dairy chocolate ice cream, fresh vegetables and fruit (except for radishes and red apples), a really good, juicy hamburger, maybe throw in some fresh, salty chips. In other words, foods that for me bring comfort, health, memories of past good mealtimes, and fulfillment of a sweet tooth craving now and then. Foods that satisfy a physical hunger and also bring joy!

However, I often don’t eat my favorite foods. Often, in fact, I eat very little that is truly satisfying and very little that fills the deepest needs of my body for nourishment. I usually eat what is convenient... Am I alone in this? But our relationship with God is usually not - convenient, and it turns out that the scriptures and the tradition of the church create a vital link between our physical eating habits and our spiritual nourishment.

The Lenten journey, especially, calls us to reevaluate our relationship with food through the practice of fasting. If you have not yet considered Lenten fasting, pray today about whether, or not, you might stop participating in a particular activity (eg. watching TV or playing video games) or stop eating a particular food, if you are physically able. Fasting is clearly not just about eliminating certain foods from your diet. But there is a reason why fasting from food is emphasized. There is no question that our physical hunger reminds us of a deeper hunger.

In her book, Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline, Lauren Winner quotes a Rabbi mentor who once said, “When you are fasting...and you feel hungry, you are to remember that you are really hungry for God.” But we can choose if we want to receive that nourishment from God, or not. So, if you have chosen to set aside the tub of ice cream in the freezer for Lent and someone stands in front of you happily eating a chocolate ice cream cone, your mind might want to say - give me one, too! I wish I hadn’t given that up for Lent! But you can choose in that moment for your heart to say, thank you for reminding me I have chosen you and you have chosen me. I need you, God, and I trust you to provide.

When we experience the pangs of hunger, we also cannot help but become more mindful of those who do not choose hunger but have it forced upon them. And it is at the communion table that every kind of person, no matter how hungry or how satisfied physically and spiritually, meets together. God knew before the joke was ever made that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. When periods in my life have prevented me from receiving Holy Communion for weeks on end, I experience a physical craving. It is a craving that suggests that I am not just hungry for juice and bread, but I am hungry for community. I am hungry for connection. I am hungry for an opportunity to praise the “Lord God, King of the universe through our Lord Jesus Christ,” as it says in the liturgy, and to accept once again from God the sustaining, fulfilling gift of God’s presence within me. What do you choose to eat? Do you allow your food at mealtimes and at the altar to draw you more deeply into the fulfilling presence of Christ?

Questions for reflection:

1. Are you hungry? What are you hungry for? What are you currently chewing on in life? Does it satisfy?
2. What is your relationship with food? Do you see it as a gift, as a complexity, as a curse, etc.? How might God be calling you deeper into relationship through food?
3. What is your relationship with God through Holy Communion? Do you feel excluded from the table because of something you have done or not done?
4. Do you crave communion with God and with the community? How does eating the body and blood of Christ during Holy Communion alter your understanding of how you are called to be part of the body of Christ in the world?

PRAYER

Pray today the Prayer of Humble Access - the prayer, which traditionally is prayed immediately before members of the church share the bread and wine: Lord, we come to your table trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own. We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend. So feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your Son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Hunger: What are you taking in? - What do you choose to breathe in?

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Genesis 2:7

DAILY BYTE

Are you currently aware of your own breathing? Get in a comfortable position, set a timer, close your eyes if you like, and take at least one whole minute simply to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth slowly.

What do you notice? Are your senses heightened? What did you hear and smell? What did you sense about your body? We tend to think of breathing only as affecting our lungs, but in reality, our whole bodies breathe. The tension in our muscles is often held and released through breathing. Our different organs work in harmony to ensure that we have the supply of oxygen pumping through them that we need physically to live. But what if we could become more aware not just of the necessity of breathing but the gift of breath in our life.

Think of the times when you are most aware of your breath. I find that it’s usually when I’m struggling to catch it - whether because of illness, running and exercising hard, walking up stairs, when feeling surprised or anxious about something. In these moments, though, I think of difficulty breathing as something that is hindering my access to more vibrant life. Instead, could we choose to think of breathing as an opportunity with each breath for God to supply us with greater life?

Some of us, practically speaking, breathe toxins and artificial stimulants into our bodies through practices like smoking. Now may be a good time to consider what it means for your body and soul to be breathing in substances that hinder life instead of aiding God’s desire to extend and facilitate growth in life. But what other potentially life-hindering ideas about the world and yourself do you breathe in but fail ever to breathe out? The scripture for today from Genesis says that out of God’s breath, human beings receive breath. What fresh new breath - what wind of the Spirit might God want to make space for within you? In her book, Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, Marjorie Thompson suggests a particular form of prayer to help us purposefully choose the attitudes and issues that we breathe into our lives, discerning with God which thoughts are life-giving and which are constricting. She says:

Find a posture that allows you to be relaxed and alert. It helps to have your neck and spine aligned. Close your eyes and breathe deeply several times. Consciously release any muscle tension…. Breathe in peace. Breathe out tension. Relax your mind. If particular thoughts keep returning, gather them up and give them to God to hold for you during this time. You can take them back later if you want. Turn your attention to God’s presence. Let yourself be fully aware of the mystery of divine love that continually surrounds and upholds us. God is breathing life into you at each moment; take the gift. Let God’s presence fill your consciousness, and simply rest in this presence – just as you might with someone you love dearly and feel no need to speak to, just to be with.

Let yourself be like a child cradled in the lap of a wonderful parent or grandparent; or perhaps gently supported in an ocean of light; or enfolded in a peaceful warmth. Let yourself be held in God’s tender embrace; rest and soak up the love that holds you. Close your prayer by thanking God for any gifts received in this time.

Know that you can return to that place of breathing in God’s presence any time – at any moment of the day. If you pay attention, how might what you breathe in change the way you breathe out life on others?

Questions for reflection:

1. Are you breathing? (Let’s hope so….) But how is your breathing? What are you breathing in? What are you breathing out? Are you gasping for breath? Are you breathing evenly? What aspects of God do you need to breathe in? What aspects of life do you need to breathe out?
2. How might your whole life breathe the breath of God for others?

PRAYER

Try either to pray using the breathing prayer today and/or meditate on these words of the song, “Breath of God,” performed by the artists Shane Barnard & Shane Everett:

A life you cannot define, a purpose that’s benign / they need to see and believe, be led to the rugged tree / The one on which he cried not for his pain but for our debt, the very same tree that He conquered death / It was an unfair deal on the part of Christ - He got my sin, I got eternal life / Make me the breath of God, and I’ll show them the one that means the most to me / They’ll see the face of love, be touched by the very one that died upon that tree / Small talk is a better choice, a way to avoid your voice / I need to feel the dust on my knees and lead them to the tree / Will you follow me, lead them to the tree, can’t you just believe, will you take the knee for eternity? / Make me the breath of God…

Hunger: What are you taking in? - What do you choose to see?

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

1 John 3:1-3

DAILY BYTE

As you meditated yesterday on all that you hear, similar questions can be asked today - what are your eyes taking in when you don’t even notice? What do you choose to absorb through the television and movies that could either bring life and joy or take life and joy? When relaxing a few weeks ago, I rented a movie that was the silly, funny, and popular new release. I happily watched it, laughing my way through and enjoying harmless fun. Only later when watching this movie with a group of young people whom I was trying to teach values of respect, love, and non-violence did I realize how much derogatory language, violence, and lack of respect for peoples’ humanity existed throughout the film. When I watched it with eyes purposefully seeking out good and truth, I was horrified to find little. It seems that when we plop ourselves down in front of the television to “zone out,” we seldom notice what we’re actually watching and absorbing.

So if we want to start being more observant about what we actually see, how might we train our eyes to see more of Jesus in people and more of God in the world, focusing less on advertising and images that bring negativity and disrespect to people and God’s creation? Well, the answer is, again, in our choice. We often choose what we have to look at, and we can choose what we see in what we look at.

Most people have seen the optical illusion picture of the young woman and the old woman below.

Depending on how you choose to look at the drawing, you see one or the other, a young, pretty woman turned away from you or an old, weathered woman’s profile. Whether we see old or young, though, we can choose whether or not we want to see any beauty in the picture. We can choose whether or not we want to see Jesus in the other person’s face. We can choose if we want to look for beauty that God would like to see and show us.

As we think of seeing the beauty in other people, in ourselves, and in situations that may seem completely ugly at first, we hear the scripture for today from 1 John:

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.

Within every single life there lives the love of God who has named us, as his children! And so when we look at the world, God wants us to see everyone and everything that way - as a creation that holds and is cared for by children of God! How different would our interactions be with others, if upon every meeting, our first thought were: this is a child of God. How differently would we see ourselves, if our first thought when we look in the mirror in the morning were: I am a child of God! With such glasses on, would we not want to choose less time looking at images that are pornographic and television and movies that are based on violence and fighting? Would we not want to spend more time looking into each others’ eyes, seeking the beauty in each individual and each intricate part of creation?

Questions for reflection:

1. What crossroads might you find yourself facing, as you decide what is important to look for and see in life? Do you need to stop looking at or watching any particular thing?
2. What do you see around you at the moment that is particularly beautiful? What do you see in your wider life at this time that is beautiful to God and to you? How might you dwell more on these things?
3. In his book, To Bless the Space Between Us, John O’Donohue includes a “Mirror of Questions” for the End of the Day. Ask yourself tonight, “Where did my eyes linger today?” “Where was I blind?” “What differences did I notice in those closest to me?” “Who saw me today?” “From the evidence - why was I given this day?”

PRAYER

Jesus, let my eyes linger on you. When I am unsure how to look at the world, give me eyes like yours. Amen.

Hunger: What are you taking in? - What do you choose to hear?

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 55:1-3

DAILY BYTE

As a child being taunted by a sibling, I was often told to respond, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” It may have been somewhat effective in getting the offender to cease temporarily, but the more I have learned to understand the power of words to create or to destroy, the more I have realized that the message behind that catchy phrase is inherently untrue. We are shaped by the words and messages we hear. While some things do appear to go “in one ear and out the other,” we are never fully conscious of how what we hear becomes implanted in who we are.

I go through phases of avid radio listening, during which I usually listen to the news, hear a little about the latest and greatest cultural events, and pick up on the lyrics of new popular songs, as I’m sure you may, as well. One clear day in my mind, however, I drove home a few young people from church, and as we chatted about life, all of a sudden, out of no where, I found myself singing absentmindedly, “I kissed a girl and I liked it...hope my boyfriend won’t mind it…”

...which you may know are some of the lyrics from the recently popular Katy Perry song, aptly titled, “I Kissed a Girl.”

The person sitting next to me looked at me with a smirk, and I blinked - realizing what had been coming out of my mouth. I had never tried to memorize that song! You might say - oh it’s just a catchy jingle - it doesn’t really matter that it slipped in there. You’re taking yourself too seriously. Even - hey - I like that song!

But it does matter. The language we hear shapes the language we speak, and the words we speak are just as loud as our actions when we interact with other people. Think about the number of times when just one word or phrase out of someone’s mouth has left your ears ringing and your heart either devastated or soaring. Jesus, himself, is called the Word. We follow the teachings of a “living Word” in the scriptures. Preaching professor, Dr. Richard Lischer, reminds us in his book, The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence, that “When God created the world he did so by calling it into existence and naming it.” God used words that we can hear to create everything! What we listen to matters.

The point is not that we should stop listening to all popular music. We do not need to become people who live in a bubble unaware of “unchristian” language and culture. The point is that we have the ability to choose what we listen to - what we take into our bodies and souls through our ears. When we fill our brains unintentionally or intentionally with words and ideas that ultimately do nothing to bring us and those around us greater joy, satisfaction, and wisdom, we are taking up valuable space in our minds and hearts.

We are taking up space that could be filled with beautiful words, poetry, ideas, and music that could bring vibrant colour, richness, and healing to ourselves and others. And not only are we taking up space, but we may be squeezing out and destroying the beauty and wisdom that God is trying to plant there. What stories and songs do you need to hear to sustain you and form you more beautifully into the person God wants you to be?

Questions for reflection:

1. To what and to whom have you been listening? Music? Radio? Other peoples’ voices? Make a list of the loudest voices, words, and messages you are hearing in your life right now.
2. Now make a list of some of the softest voices.
3. What do you hear that breaks down your understanding of self, clouds your understanding of God, and tears down others? What do you hear that is music to your ears, satisfying to your soul, challenging to your heart, and life-giving to others?

PRAYER
from “Open My Eyes, That I May See,” a hymn by Clara H. Scott

God, open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear; and while the wavenotes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear. May it be so. Amen.

Hunger: What are you taking in? - How do you choose to experience life?

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

John 10:10

DAILY BYTE

Some experiences in life are planned. We ponder over them. We create intricate schedules and attend to every last detail - the family vacation we’ve been looking forward to for over a year, the move to a new place to live, a long-awaited wedding, preparation for a new job. Once we know what’s on the horizon, we take the necessary steps to make sure that the experience we’re preparing for goes as smoothly as possible. We create the packing lists, file the paperwork, make the deposits, invite the guests, create the resumé, buy the proper wardrobe. We get excited about the changes that are afoot in our lives, and even if we’re a bit uneasy about what the future will bring, we thank God for joyful new paths! We do everything in our power to make sure that nothing unexpected throws our plan off course.

And yet, of course, while schedules run and plans unfold, life also comes at us quickly sometimes. Our plans can never cover all of the possible issues that inevitably pop up when we least expect them! We are thrown into experiences that jar us and disorient us. Although we know somewhere inside of us that we’re not in control of nature, other people, and every aspect of our own lives, we are blindsided by the unexpected, ironic, and often tragic twists of life - the hijacking we experience while on that carefully planned holiday, the infestation of roaches that has joined us in our new flat, the loss of a loved one a few days before a wedding, the mustard we spill on our new work clothes. Surprises range from the mundane to the horrifying, but each time we are surprised by the experience of life, we have a choice. How do we respond?

In the Gospel reading from yesterday, Jesus had been travelling from town to town, teaching and basically going about his day to day life, when suddenly in Matthew 14:13, he receives the news that his friend, the one who paved the way for his own ministry, has been beheaded. How do you carry on with life after such a shock? As we think of our own friends, can we imagine a more tragic fate? We know the emotional, sometimes even physical blow of a calamity like this in our lives. It can paralyze us. Perhaps the surprising turn of events is something that has happened to us, to a family member, a friend, or even just something that we read in the news. We experience the joy and shock of life through many types of connections, but regardless the way something touches us, we have a choice about how we will respond.

Will we take the bitterness and cynicism of such an experience into the deepest parts of ourselves? Will we let it live and grow there like a poison spreading, gradually taking over more of who we are? Will we spread that poison to others with whom we come into contact? Or, will we find a way to experience the grief - which is necessary and right - and still experience the call that the Gospel of John gives us to “have life and have it abundantly!”?

When Jesus receives the tragic curveball of news about John, he responds by withdrawing from people to a deserted place (Matthew 14:13). We don’t know what he was doing when he was alone, but it seems he was hungry for a response from God. Perhaps he was crying, perhaps shouting at God, perhaps asking God to help him understand why things are the way they are and how he is supposed to move forward. Perhaps Jesus tells God about what he has experienced, how he feels, and then asks God to teach him how to hold on to the feelings and learning that will bring greater life and set aside the issues that might fester.

We see in the scripture that the result of his time drawing aside, processing what had happened was that he was able to return and face crowds of other people not with bitterness- but with compassion. When faced with the surprisingly foolish, grotesque, and destructive power of humanity, Jesus chooses to draw even closer to human beings, allowing his own suffering somehow to relate to their experiences of need and hurt. When “life happens,” how might you emulate Jesus’ response?

Questions for reflection

1. What surprises have arisen in the midst of your plans - either joyful or upsetting? Draw aside to a quiet place. What aspects of the experience might God help you to take in and make a part of yourself? What do you need to let go of?
2. Write down what you hope to take away from the experience you’ve had that will lead both you and others around you to have a more abundant life.

PRAYER

Jesus, teach me to plan my life according to your hopes and dreams. And when surprises and shocks arise on the path, teach me to draw aside. Show me what to take in and how to let go so that through my life experience, I may have deeper compassion for the experiences of others. Amen.

Identity: Who are you? - The Sacrament of Baptism

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Matthew 3:13 - 4:11

DAILY BYTE

As we conclude this week’s devotions, today (and every Friday through this Lenten series) we will be looking at a sacrament of the church that relates to the overall theme of the week. This week we’ve been exploring the theme of identity, as we’ve asked the question ‘Who are we?’ A sacrament of the church that speaks most powerfully into this theme is the sacrament of baptism.

But first, what exactly is meant by the term ‘sacrament’? A sacrament has been defined in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.” The term refers to a rite or ritual of the church in which God is uniquely active, doing God’s work of healing and transformation in the lives of those who participate in the sacrament, and through them in the life of the entire world. The outward and visible sign - for instance, water (in baptism) and bread & wine (in communion) - points to the deeper reality of God’s grace at work.

In the tradition of the church, baptism has always been a sacrament of incorporation and belonging, through which the person who is being baptised is welcomed into the family of God which is the church. Baptism is God’s work. In baptism God is declaring boldly and publicly, “This is my beloved child who belongs within my family!”

It’s important to remember that the sacrament of baptism is a sacred mystery. Which doesn’t mean that it cannot be understood, but rather that it cannot ever be fully understood, for there are endless layers upon layers of meaning within baptism. We see this in the varied theological convictions and practices of different churches when it comes to baptism.

Some churches (like the Baptist Church and most of the so-called Pentecostal Churches) only practice what they call believers’ baptism. For these churches, the personal element of a confession of faith in Christ is an essential requirement for someone to be incorporated into the family of God. And so, such churches will only baptise believers, which typically means adults who are able to confess their faith in Christ.

Other churches (like the Methodist Church & other mainline Protestant churches, the Catholic Church and Orthodox Church) have a different approach which allows us to baptise infants as well as adults. For these churches, baptism is understood as an act of God’s prevenient grace - that is, God’s grace that takes the initiative in reaching out to us long before we are even aware of God. And so, when an infant is baptised, which has no conscious understanding of what is going on, it is a beautiful sign of the unconditional love of God that takes the initiative in reaching out to us, declaring that even this little child is fully a part of God’s family. It is this experience of unconditional welcome, embrace & acceptance within God’s family that gives the child the best chance of growing into a personal, saving faith in Christ.

As a church minister, it’s one of my special joys and privileges to baptise little children and adults. Every time it happens the drama of the gospel is re-enacted, and it’s a reminder to all of us that our deepest and truest identity lies in God. Baptism is a beautiful reminder that we are indeed the beloved children of God.

Our Scripture reading today from Matthew 3 - 4, relates the story of Jesus’ baptism, and his subsequent temptation in the wilderness. It’s highly significant that in his baptism, Jesus’ essential identity as the beloved Son of God was affirmed; and it was this very point that was attacked in his subsequent temptation by the devil. For in the wilderness the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God…” Jesus resisted the temptations to try to prove his sonship, instead choosing to trust that what God had affirmed about him in his baptism was indeed true. What an example to us, to trust our essential identity as well.

What a gift that baptism is one of the sacraments of the church - a visible reminder to us all of our deepest identity as the beloved children of God.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. Do you know the story of your own baptism? (When it happened, where, who was the minister, etc.) if you were baptised as a child, and your parents are still alive, ask them to tell you the story.
2. In what ways do you think the practice of infant baptism reflects the good news of the gospel?

PRAYER

God of unconditional, embracing love. Thank you that long before we were even aware of you, you were already reaching out to us in love, declaring that we are your beloved children and that we belong to you. Thank you that in the sacrament of baptism, we see a visible demonstration of this deep and abiding truth. Help us to rest in that knowledge of our belovedness, and to steadfastly cling to it, especially in the face of the many deceptive voices that tempt us to doubt this great truth. Amen.

Identity: Who are you? - Marriage & Singleness

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 7:1-9, 32-35

DAILY BYTE

There can be little doubt that one of the ways in which our identity continues to be defined in our contemporary culture is through the primary love relationships that we may or may not be in. Our ‘marital status’ - whether we are single, married, divorced or widowed - is a key determinant for how people relate to us, and indeed, how we think of ourselves.

One of the great gifts of marriage is the intimate union that it offers, where spouses can experience a profound interweaving of the deepest parts of who they are. Such union changes those who are married, and rightly and wonderfully so! But there’s also a danger inherent in such union - the danger that your very identity becomes exclusively wrapped up in your partner. This is NOT what God intends for the liberating bonds of marital love.

In Kahil Gibran’s famous poem on marriage, we read these challenging words:

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow

When we allow our identity to be completely defined by our human relationships we can easily become diminished as a result. And then, when a partner is lost, either through the sadness of death or divorce, people can often find themselves utterly at sea, unsure of who they are, strangers within their own skin! Thankfully, by the grace of God, even the anguish of bereavement or the tragedy of divorce can become a seed of new life and the exciting discovery of a new sense of self.

Which brings us to those who are single - either through choice or circumstance. Singleness is often denigrated in our secular society as a lesser way of being - and yes, the church, to its shame, has often contributed to this warped view. But the scriptures remind us that singleness is a legitimate and godly way of being in the world through which we can be fully human and fully alive. Indeed, the Apostle Paul seems to express a preference for singleness over marriage, and holds up celibacy as a cherished gift to the church. Certainly, over the ages there have been countless examples of those whose singleness has been an essential part of their radical witness and single-minded devotion to God. (After all, when we think of Mother Teresa, we don’t say pityingly, “If only she had met her husband, then her life would have been complete!”)

The key, of course, for all of us - whether single or married - is knowing to whom we ultimately belong. And that is the God of love, the only One in whom our identity can ultimately be defined. For the deepest truth about us is that we have been created in love, by love, for love. This is the essence of who we are that needs to be embraced and lived if we are to become fully alive.

In concluding this reflection, listen to these insightful words of Shane Claiborne:

Our deepest longing is not for sex but for love. We can live without sex, but we cannot live without love. And there certainly are many folks who have a lot of sex but never find love, and others who may never have sex but who have found love and intimacy in the deepest core of their being. We are created to love and be loved. Marriage and biological family is a beautiful way to find love. But it is not the only place, and that is good news to the singles out there and to the many folks who do not find themselves attracted to the other gender. If our communities can create spaces where people can love and be loved as God has loved us, all the other stuff gets a little bit easier.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. In what ways have you perhaps ‘lost yourself’ within your current relationship? What can you do to start regaining a fuller sense of who you are?
2. If you’re married, how can you and your spouse be more aware, more including & more supportive of those whom you know who are single, widowed or divorced?
3. If you’re single, what can you do to better support others who are single, or married couples whom you know?

PRAYER

God of tenderness and intimate love. You have made us in love, by love and for love. Herein lies our deepest identity. Thank you. We also thank you for the gift of those who love us and whom we can love in turn, particularly those who hold a special place in our hearts. Free us to give ourselves in loving, life-giving ways to others, and help us to remember that whether we’re in a committed relationship or not, it’s the quality of our loving that determines how fully alive we are. Amen.

Identity: Who are you? - The True Self

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Colossians 3:1-17

DAILY BYTE

Yesterday we started speaking about the false self, that constructed, accumulated identity that we put on in order to operate in the world, but which doesn’t stem from the very deepest parts of who we truly are. We suggested yesterday that living out of the false self is an exhausting and agonising way to live, precisely because the false self is so very fragile and fickle - being dependent on very undependable things all around it to affirm its worth and sustain its existence. The false self is inherently insecure, constantly seeking affirmation and reassurance that it’s OK. It’s easily embarrassed, shamed, and quickly takes offence. It clings frantically to what it assumes it cannot live without, and is constantly afraid of losing that which it considers most dear.

If this, in any way describes you, there is good news. The good news is that this, in fact, is NOT you! Not the essential you! If these things describe your experience right now, it’s simply an indication that you’re living out of the false self, which means that there is the wonderful potential for you to experience a profound liberation. It’s the liberation of allowing who you truly are to shape the life that you’re living in the world.

Because the truth of all of us is that beyond our nationality, culture or race; beyond the work we do, the things we possess, the roles we play, the ideas we hold; beyond our achievements and triumphs, our failures and disasters - beyond all of this is something far more fundamental to who we truly are.

It’s that part of us that is simply able to be, utterly unselfconscious and yet at the same time fully aware of who we are in each present moment, accepting of all that is without any judgement, loving all that is without any clinging attachment, deeply secure in our belovedness, open to the gift of others as they are without any need to manipulate or control them, endlessly curious before the great mystery of life, wholly trusting in the goodness and grace of God to hold all things together in love, including us. This is what is meant by the true self, and far from being an impossible and unattainable dream, it is the most real thing about us. Jesus put it like this when he said, “The kingdom of God is within you!” (Luke 17:21).

Awakening to the true self, and beginning to live out of it more and more initiates the most liberating and transformative journey that we can ever undertake. This is one of the central tasks of the spiritual life, and part of God’s saving work within us.

Now I’m aware that many people may find this language of the true and false selves strange. Some might even want to dismiss this as ‘unChristian’ or ’unbiblical’. There really is no need for such concern. The language may be a little different, but the underlying truth is something that Paul, in particular, wrote about. Consider the following stunning passage:

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. (Colossians 3:3-4, The Message)

Paul then continues just a little further on in that chapter:

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. (Colossians 3:9-15, NIV)

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

Think of somebody you know who is ‘comfortable in their own skin’, who exudes a peaceful presence and is deeply accepting of others. (These are all tell-tale signs of someone living out of their true self.) What happens to you when you are with them? What lessons can you draw from them for your own life?

PRAYER

Dear Lord God. I want to live more and more out of my true self - wondrously made in your own image and likeness. I want my life to be a benediction, to be a healing reminder to others that you are a loving God. I want to be someone who brings out the best in others. On my own this is impossible. But with you all things are possible. Help me please. Amen.

Identity: Who are you? - The false self

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Psalm 139:1-18

DAILY BYTE

One of my mentors and fathers in the faith is a Franciscan priest by the name of Father Richard Rohr. He has spoken extensively of a concept that he terms ‘the false self’. What he describes, if I’ve understood him correctly, correlates to what other thinkers and spiritual guides from a wide range of traditions have spoken about using different terms: the illusory self, the narcissistic self, the ego, the shadow. The Apostle Paul spoke of “the flesh” to describe the same reality - though unfortunately we hear that term and think that Paul was referring to our physical / sexual selves, which was NOT his point at all.

Whichever term you may prefer, the false self refers to that part of who we are that gets constructed as we live in the world, through the cues we take from those around us, our own growing sense of who we perceive ourselves to be, and especially how we would like to be seen by others. This is an inevitable and even necessary part of growing up as a human being and living a functional life in the world.

The only problem with the false self is that it isn’t real - certainly not in the sense that it describes who we truly are. The false self quickly becomes identified with aspects of our lives that are incidental, not essential. Things like race, gender, nationality, possessions, education, profession, socio-economic position. The false self also becomes identified with the roles that we assume - spouse, parent, sibling, employee, etc - as well as our memories of the past, our opinions of the present, and the pictures of the future we hold on to. It is further shaped by our likes and dislikes, our opinions and convictions, our friends and acquaintances, and the knowledge and experience we’ve gained.

Many people assume that this is the bundle of stuff that makes them who they are. And so it comes as a strange and even disturbing thought to hear all of this referred to as the false self! “If this isn’t the essence of who I am, then who am I?” they cry. Which is a wonderful question to ask. For it forces us to take another look at all of these things that we thought were part of our deepest identity. And when we do that, we come to see that none of the things described above touch the core of who we are, and none of these things are in fact set in stone. Even ‘fixtures’ like race, gender and nationality are very blunt ways of categorising people that do not even begin to touch the complex nuances that make each person wholly and wondrously unique.

When we live out of the false self, assuming that this is all there is to us, we are at the constant mercy of the fickle ebb and flow of these ever-changing tides. Our sense of value and worth gets wrapped up in other people’s opinions of us, how successful we are at work, our popularity, how well-adjusted our children are, the state of our relationships or finances, our personal body image. This is an exhausting and agonising way to live.

Thankfully there is an alternative, which we will be talking about tomorrow!

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Answer the following questions as honestly and quickly as you can, without thinking too hard about the answers. We’ll be referring back to these tomorrow.

1. What are the things about you that are a source of embarrassment for you? 
2. What are you most afraid of losing? 
3. When last did you take serious offence at someone? What did they say or do?

PRAYER

Loving and gracious God. Thank you that you have searched me and you know me. Thank you that you know me better than I know myself, and yet you still love me. You love me with a limitless, inexhaustible love. Thank you that you will never give up on me. Thank you that you are committed to revealing to me things about myself that remain hidden from my own awareness. By your grace, lighten my eyes O God, that I might see myself more clearly. Help me to see beyond the limiting, defining categories that I have accepted for myself. Help me to see what you see - the beautiful person that I am, uniquely fashioned in your image and likeness. And help me to trust that my deepest identity is found in you. Amen.

Identity: Who are you? - The Menagerie Within

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Matthew 22:1-10

DAILY BYTE

The first theme that we’ll be exploring in this Lenten Discipleship Course is Identity. And the simple question we’ll be asking to unpack it is, ‘Who are you?’ Because at various points in our lives we all experience a crisis of identity, where the old answers to the question, ‘Who are you?’ seem utterly inadequate. These are truly Crossroads moments, holding rich potential for us to choose new paths of deeper faithfulness and devotion to Christ.

So who are you? How do you usually answer that question? By giving your name? By describing what you do? How adequate an answer is that? Does it do justice to the rich complexity that is you?

In Matthew 22:1-10 we read the parable of the wedding banquet. A king prepared a wedding banquet for his son, but the invited guests refused to come, and ended up being destroyed as a result. Then the king sent his servants out into the streets to invite to the banquet anyone they could find, both the good and the bad. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Like all of Jesus’ parables, this one defies easy explanation. One interpretation is that all the guests, those initially invited as well as those gathered from the street corners, represent different parts of who we are as individuals. It conveys the good news that every part of us is invited to share in the feast of the kingdom. Those parts of us that refuse the invitation, that refuse to be included, do so at their peril.

Recently I saw a fascinating art exhibition at the Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town. It was a collaborative effort between a sculptor, Dylan Lewis; a poet, Ian McCallum; and an architect, Enrico Daffonchio. The exhibition was entitled ‘Untamed’, and explored the wild nature within us and around us, as well as the struggle to integrate this wildness into our self-definition of who we are as human beings. The sculptures depicted human figures “clothed” with animal attributes, blurring the boundaries between the human and animal realms. They were housed in a specially designed pavilion that blurred the boundaries between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, the natural world blending with contemporary design.

At the entrance to the exhibition are these words by Ian McCallum:
Whose permission are we waiting for to enter that ‘uncertain ground’
where the voice of our wild history can be heard? How long is it going to take to acknowledge that there is indeed a menagerie within each of us...a wolf, a hyena, a lion...a wild man and a wild woman!

As I wandered through the exhibition I was invited to acknowledge that there are indeed wild and untamed parts of me that are part of the rich complexity of my personhood.

But wondrously, all of these parts are invited to the gracious wedding banquet of God. How tragic when this invitation to be included and accepted and redeemed is ignored or rejected, even by one of the parts within me. That day I realized again that the question, “Who are you?” is not a simple one for any of us to answer. Yet it is an essential question for us to explore as fully as we can, because knowing and accepting the depth and breadth of our personhood will mean a richer participation in, and contribution to, the great Kingdom banquet of God.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. List as many words as you can that describe who you are.
2. Now add to this list words that describe what you long to be.
3. Think of an experience you’ve had when a wild impulse suddenly arose from within and caught you by surprise. How do you feel about that experience? What might it be saying about who you are?

PRAYER

Welcoming God, you accept us as we are, and embrace every part of us. Thank you that at your banqueting table, everyone has a place and everything belongs. Help us to see ourselves through your compassionate, non-judgemental eyes, so that even the wild and wayward parts of us would their place at your feast of grace. Amen.

Lent - Persevering in Prayer

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Luke 18:1-8

DAILY BYTE

Whatever else this Lenten programme may mean for you, our greatest hope in offering it is that it will encourage you to persevere in prayer, that yours might become a thoroughly prayer-saturated life. This, more than anything else, is what can help us choose the paths that Jesus chose, as we seek to follow him.

There is a great deal that has been written on the subject of prayer over the ages, and with good reason. For prayer is one of the great mysteries of the spiritual life. To say that prayer is a mystery does not mean that prayer cannot be understood, but rather that it cannot be boxed within any one particular understanding. There are endless layers upon layers of meaning and insight that can be discovered when you plunge into the great adventure of the life of prayer.

Some people find this overwhelming, and even intimidating. And so they run away from prayer completely, or else turn to prayer only erratically and occasionally when caught up in some crisis. Faced with the wide expanse of this mighty ocean, they are hesitant even to get their feet wet in the waves of God’s prayerful presence that break continually upon the shore of their lives. Certainly, the thought of venturing beyond the shallows as a consistent pattern for their daily lives is something that they never even consider.

This is a great pity, because God is constantly calling out to us, longing for us to venture more boldly into the great mystery of prayer, where we can encounter God in ways that we never dreamed possible, find healing and wholeness for our brokenness and new direction and purpose for our lives.

This Lenten programme is a wonderful opportunity for us to respond to God’s invitation to encounter Him more profoundly in the life of prayer. As we seek to do that, the one quality that will help us more than any other is perseverance. According to the teaching of Jesus, our perseverance is perhaps the greatest requirement if we are to make progress in prayer.

Intuitively we know this to be true. People who say that prayer has failed them are those who have stopped praying. Have you ever heard anyone who has persevered in prayer say that prayer has failed them?

To illustrate this truth Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow and the callous judge (Luke 18:1-8). In the end, justice was served, not because of the judge’s sense of integrity but because of the widow’s perseverance in pleading her cause. Jesus uses the judge not as a point of comparison, but as a point of contrast with God. If a callous judge finally hears the cries of a poor widow, how much more will our loving heavenly Father hear the prayers of those who call to him, and respond quickly with justice and mercy.

Herein lies the secret of the importance of persevering in prayer. We persevere not in order to wear God down, but rather to keep us in that place of open expectation to recognise and receive all that God longs to do for us.

Phillips Brooks said it best when he said:

Prayer is not the overcoming of God’s reluctance.
Prayer is taking hold of God’s willingness!

So be encouraged as you commit yourself to persevering in prayer, especially in this season of Lent, and may you be wondrously surprised by the graciousness and generosity of God who longs to bless you abundantly.

Choosing New Paths

What commitments are you willing to make as you embark on this Lenten discipleship programme? (For example: committing yourself to a dedicated time of prayer each day, worshipping every Sunday, following this guide every day, giving up something for Lent, praying each day for someone or some need that weighs heavily on your heart, etc.) Write these commitments down, and refer to them often over the coming weeks.

PRAYER

“Yes, Lord, I will try to pray, even when I am afraid to face you and myself, even when I keep falling asleep or feel as though I am going around in circles, even when it seems that nothing is happening. Yes, Lord, I will pray - not only with others, not only supported by the rhythms of corporate worship, but also alone with you. I will try not to be afraid. Lord, give me courage and strength. Help me to see myself in the light of your mercy and choose you. Amen” (Henri Nouwen)

Becoming Purposeful - Part 5

Focus Scripture

Matthew 28 : 16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Daily Byte

The call to make disciples is sometimes seen as a quest for some kind of global Christian empire. Teaching people to obey Jesus’ commands is sometimes thought of as coercing them to become part of the Church. But, what if Jesus had something else in mind? If love was the heart of Jesus’ message, perhaps the idea was for us to love people so much that they would want to know the God they saw in us. Maybe the only thing we need to teach is love - and that by example, rather than in words or doctrines. There is no question, though, that following Christ is not a personal, private affair. Following Christ leads us out into the world in a very public, very connected, way.

In what ways have you tried to lead other people to faith in Jesus? How has this worked for you? What do you think a disciple of Jesus is like? How would it be best to invite people to become disciples, do you think? If you were all anyone knew of Jesus, what do you think they would believe about him? How can you allow worship to lead you into deeper discipleship? And how can you carry your worship with you into your ‘public’ life?

Pray As You Go

Sometimes I wish I could keep my faith to myself, Jesus;
that I could be free of the pressure
of people watching me to see how I follow you.
Sometimes I wish you hadn’t called me to be part of your work;
I don’t want to be a ‘Bible-puncher’,
I don’t want to sound like I’m judging those who find it hard to believe.
But, you ask me to share my faith, Jesus;
to help people to know you and love you;
not by ‘preaching’ or judging,
not by proving them wrong,
or threatening them with hell,
but by allowing your love and grace,
your wisdom and welcome,
to be experienced through me.
Help me to be a disciple-maker, Jesus
in a way that is worthy of you.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com

Lent

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:1-11

DAILY BYTE

Yesterday we reflected on the meaning of Ash Wednesday. Today we reflect on the meaning of Lent as a whole.

The season of Lent originates from the early days of the Church as a time to prepare for Easter. It is seen as a time of introspection, spiritual discipline, fasting and repentance (i.e. an active turning away from sin). The season begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the great celebration of Easter Sunday - a period of 40 days, not counting Sundays. The 40 days of Lent remind us of the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting, grappling with his purpose here on earth and facing the temptations of the devil.

The reason why Sundays are not counted in the 40 days is because Sunday, as the day of resurrection, has always been seen by the church as a feast day. This does not mean that the seven Sundays in Lent are not an important part of this season. Far from it! They are like exclamation marks that remind us, in the midst of our fasting and penitence, of the hope of resurrection and the promised feast of new life that is in Christ.

Lent provides opportunity for people to take ‘spiritual’ stock of their lives as they consider their purpose here on earth and how they are fulfilling it. It’s also a chance to be drawn more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, which becomes the interpretive lens through which all things are viewed.

Giving up something for Lent
Traditionally, people have given up something for Lent (which is really a form of fasting) as a way of being continually reminded to pray, and as a sign of their desire to be filled and nourished by God and not by the superficial things of this world.

The list of things that people could give up as part of their Lenten discipline is virtually endless. It could include things like chocolate, sugar in your tea or coffee, junk food, fizzy drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, TV, red meat, speeding, shopping for anything other than essential foodstuffs, movies, wearing make-up or designer-clothing, browsing the internet, computer games, or even some of your sleep.

When choosing something to give up for Lent it is helpful to choose something that will be difficult to let go of, which will frequently remind you of your intention to trust God. Remember, that the point is not to try to prove how disciplined you are, but to reveal how attached you are to superficial things and your deep need for God’s help and grace.

But observing Lent is not just about ‘giving up’ something. It’s also about ‘taking on’ certain commitments – such as prayer, bible reading and acts of service towards others. The commitments to following this daily devotional guide, and getting involved with the other elements of this Crossroads Lenten programme are good examples of this.

this may sound a little overwhelming. A little intense. A little daunting. Certainly, making a meaningful Lenten journey is not for the fainthearted – it requires discipline, commitment and perseverance. But be encouraged and reassured – you are not alone! There are others eager to make this journey also, and God’s own Spirit is promised to come to our aid. So go for it! It promises to be a Crossroads moment of deeper discipleship and faithfulness in following Jesus.

Questions for reflection
1. What are some of the feelings inside of you right now as you think about stepping out on this Lenten quest? What are you most afraid of?

2. Spend some time thinking about what you should give up this Lent. Ask the Spirit to stir within you and point you to what would be most beneficial. Write down any thoughts that come to mind.

PRAYER

Loving God, I want to embrace this Lenten season as the gift that it is from you. But I am also afraid that it will expose my weaknesses, reveal my addictions, highlight my lack of discipline and unmask the poverty of my faith. Help me to see that these ‘humiliations’ are in fact the stepping stones to trusting you more fully. Hold my hand, O God, as I begin this quest with you. Amen.

Becoming Purposeful - Part 4

Focus Scripture

Matthew 5 : 13-16

‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Daily Byte

Salt, giving the world flavour, and light, giving the world colour. Two simple things that make a huge difference to our lives. This is what we - as individuals and as Church - are called to be. God’s mission is not about making the entire world the same - bland and tasteless. Nor is it about making the world black and white. Rather, it is about bringing out the rich and varied tastes, the hues and textures, in people and places and creatures. If the world is not a more flavourful, colourful, vibrant place because of us, we have misunderstood our mission!

What are your favourite flavours and colours? Now imagine that they were taken out of your world. How would that feel? Have there been times when your faith has done that to your life or to others around you? Now imagine what a faith that adds colour and flavour to the world looks like. Wouldn’t you love your faith to embody that more? How can your own personal worship be more colourful and flavourful? And how can you allow worship to teach you to be salt and light in your world?

Pray As You Go

If not for light, the world would be dark and monochrome;
no colour, no texture, no art, no beauty.
If not for salt, the world would be bland and depressing;
no joy in eating, no exciting flavours,
nourishment for the body perhaps,
but not for the soul.
How two such small things
can make such a big difference!

I long to be light and salt, Jesus;
to bring joy and beauty,
richness and vibrancy to the world.
Won’t you teach me, Jesus,
to use your words,
to embrace your attitudes,
to imitate your actions,
so that I can be a joy-bringer,
and a life-bringer to my world.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com

ASH WEDNESDAY

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

Genesis 3:1-19

DAILY BYTE

“You are dust and to dust you will return.
Turn from your sin and return to Christ.”

These are the words that are traditionally spoken to people in the Ash Wednesday service when the sign of the cross is marked in ash on their foreheads. The words and the ashes remind us of two sobering facts that are true for every single one of us:
We are all mortal and are going to die someday.
We are all sinners in need of repentance.

If we think about it for a moment, this is radically counter-cultural, for two reasons. Firstly, the secular culture in which we all live has lost the language of mortality. Death is a taboo subject in our culture, best not talked about. Even for those clearly approaching death, either through terminal illness or old-age, it is still seldom spoken about honestly and frankly. Instead, every effort is made to ignore the fact of our mortality and to deny, for as long as possible, the approaching reality of death that comes to meet us all.

Secondly, the words and symbols of Ash Wednesday are radically counter-cultural in that we have also lost the language of sin. To speak of sin these days seems very old-fashioned and out of date, even in church!

And so to be told: “You are dust and to dust you will return. Turn from your sin and return to Christ” sounds a little strange, and maybe a bit harsh, to our modern ears.

But the gift of Ash Wednesday , and the entire season of Lent, is that it gives us the opportunity to face the truth of who we are, and recognize our deep need for God.

Facing the fact of our mortality - that one day we’re going to die - challenges our delusions of grandeur and encourages us to make the most of the lives we’re living here and now.

Facing the fact of our sinfulness - that left to ourselves we only make a mess of our lives - challenges our delusions of self-sufficiency and encourages us to allow God to do His wonderful work of forgiveness, healing and transformation within us.

Acknowledging these truths of who we really are enables us to turn to God in humility and honesty and own for ourselves our complete dependence upon God’s goodness and grace. This is exactly when God can do His most creative and exciting work in our lives that will enable us to choose the path of faithfulness that will take us on the road that leads to the cross..

Questions for reflection

1. What do you think are the reasons why the overwhelming majority of all commercial advertisements in our culture feature young, healthy, attractive, athletic-looking men and women?

2. If this were to be the very last day of your life, what regrets would you have for the things you neglected to do or failed to accomplish in this lifetime?

3. Reflect on these words of St Augustine:
‘Before God can deliver us we must undeceive ourselves.’

PRAYER

O God,
maker of every thing and judge of all that you have made,
from the dust of the earth you have formed us
and from the dust of death you would raise us up.
By the redemptive power of the cross,
create in us clean hearts
and put within us a new spirit,
that we may repent of our sins
and lead lives worthy of your calling
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Becoming Purposeful - Part 3

Focus Scripture

Luke 4 : 14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

Daily Byte

If ever there was a person who had a sense of purpose, of calling, it was Jesus. At the start of his ministry, he made it clear what he was about - liberation, wholeness, upliftment, justice. It was clear from the very beginning: whoever followed Jesus was joining him in a whole new way of living in the world, a whole new system of relating to one another, of sharing the world’s resources, of deciding who was important and who wasn’t. Everything would be different for the followers of Jesus, and his purpose was to become their purpose, our purpose.

Read the words Jesus read from Isaiah again. What do those statements mean to you? In what ways do you believe that Jesus is still bringing good news to the poor, liberation to the captives and restoration to the blind? How do you feel about being part of this mission, even if only in a small way? As we worship, we are reminded of this purpose of Christ, and we are called to participate in it. How does your worship teach you to be part of Jesus’ mission? Try and put one ‘saving’ action into practice in your world today.

Pray As You Go

You were not playing games, Jesus;
this mission of yours was not about cosmetic changes,
not just reassuring the religious people
or inviting the non-religious to consider a change;
Your mission was about changing everything;
about a total overhaul of how people worship God,
and how people treat each other,
and how we live in the world.
But, what is so amazing, is that, from the start,
you invited people to be a part of it,
you called simple men and women to be your co-workers;
and now you also invite me.
I long to be part of your mission, Jesus;
I want my worship to show me your vision
of what the world can be,
and to inspire me, empower me,
to loving, liberating action.
Yes, Jesus, I will follow you.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com

Becoming Purposeful - Part 2

Focus Scripture

Jeremiah 1 : 4-10

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.’ Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’

Daily Byte

The young man, Jeremiah, must have been shocked to discover that he had been made with a purpose in mind, that God had formed him for the ministry of a prophet. Clearly he was taken aback - uncertain of his abilities, and possibly of whether he even wanted the job. But his life was centred on this work, and through years of struggle, misunderstanding and persecution, he remained true to his calling. Maybe it was the assurance that he was born for this that carried him through. In some sense, Jeremiah’s experience is true for us all - we all have specific gifts and abilities that are useful for God, and God calls us to use them in God’s service. God does not call us to become something we are not. God calls us to offer what we are - what God has made us to be - in service of the Gospel.

What are you good at? How are those abilities useful to God? What are you not so good at? Have you ever tried to become good at those things because you thought you weren’t what you are supposed to be? What if you let go of that, and offered yourself to God just as you are? As you worship this week, listen for a sense of call, for the place where your gifts connect with the work of Christ in your church and your world.

Pray As You Go

We would never have expected it,
but you chose us.
We would never have believed it,
but you have called us to follow you.
We would never have know it could happen,
but you have given us a place
in your liberating work of salvation.

We are people of unclean lips,
sinful men and women,
weak and unworthy to be called by your name;
and yet, against all expectations,
not because we deserve it,
but because you are gracious and loving,
we are chosen.

Thank you.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com

Becoming Purposeful - Part 1

Focus Scripture

Genesis 22 : 11-18

But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt-offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place ‘The LORD will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, ‘By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.’

Daily Byte

It’s easy to miss the profound message of this passage by getting caught up in the moral question of Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son. It was different world back then, and people did not have the privilege of seeing God in the incarnate Christ. In a world where child-sacrifice was common, the idea that God would step in to stop the sacrifice was radical and completely new. But, the really incredible thing is this - God chooses a human being to fulfil God’s purposes in the world! Read that sentence again, and let it sink into your soul. God chooses to partner with us in saving the universe.

How do you feel about the idea that God seeks human partners for God’s work? Would you like to be a partner of God, or do you find that thought intimidating? In what ways does worship help you to understand God’s purposes in our world? In what ways does worship help you to participate in God’s purposes? As you contemplate the miracle of being co-workers with God, respond in praise and thanksgiving, and ask God to show you what your part is in God’s purposes.

Pray As You Go

An old man and a young boy,
a sacrifice stopped and a ram in a thicket,
these things point to an amazing truth, God:
that you use us to do your work!

And that means me, too;
somehow I have a part to play
in your saving and healing of the world.
It is more than I can understand
that my daily routines, my ordinary actions,
have eternal consequences,
but that’s what you tell me.

Help me to live up to your faith in me, Jesus,
to give each day to you as an offering of worship
and as an opportunity to partner with you
in bringing life and love into the world.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com

Becoming Loving - Part 5

Focus Scripture

Ephesians 5 : 21-33 (NRSV)

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind - yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Daily Byte

It is sad to see how this passage has been used to justify the oppression and abuse of women. When we make this passage all about women ‘submitting’ and men being ‘the head’ we have completely missed Paul’s point. What Paul is really saying is that, in a society in which women counted for less than men, love would call Christ-following men to treat their wives differently - laying down their lives, sacrificing their own needs and desires, their ‘leadership’, in order to service and love as Christ did. When men, and women, love one another as Christ loved us, the world sees the Gospel in action, and they are drawn to its saving power. What a pity that we’ve allowed our brokenness to turn this passage into the reflection of the oppressive systems in the world! But, here’s the mystery: when two people love each other sacrificially, their union reflects the intimacy that God’s worshipping people enjoy with God.

In what ways have human relationships hindered you from receiving God’s love? In what ways have they helped? How do you feel about the idea that human sexuality is a metaphor for worship? In what ways can you allow your worship to become more passionate, more ‘erotic’, in the sense that you totally give yourself over to God? Try to hold this idea in mind when you worship alone or in community today.

Pray As You Go

It feels strange to think of you as a Lover, God;
to come to you with the vulnerability of intimacy.
Sexuality has been so devalued in our world,
reduced to bodies and acts,
stripped of meaning and connection,
so it seems wrong to think of your love in those terms.

But, when we think of you coming to us,
like a long-married couple:
familiar and committed,
one in every way,
then it begins to make sense,
and we hear your message.

You love us with passion and longing,
even as we long for you,
and want to lose ourselves in you;
and , as a good marriage brings life and love to others,
so you want our love to make the world
a more loving place for all.

Amen.

Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission

To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com