A new way of thinking part III?

During a breakfast conversation with my mentor today, I was reminded that during the creation account, the day begins in the evening. How would this change your life if you viewed the relaxation you experience in the evening as the beginning of the day?

Imagine your day beginning around the dinner table with family with a slower pace versus the hectic eat and run breakfast. It's fun to ponder this concept.

Now, to find an online calender program that will let me live this way

I wonder

What would happen if we stopped using fear as a motivator? I'm tired of the 33% of (insert group here) will experience (insert disaster of your choice) on the evening news.

Why is it that we go so quickly towards the negative? I can't answer that today, and perhaps someday in the future I will understand the answer. Until that time, I'm resolving to reframe life in positive ways.

I believe this is what scripture says: " Don't worry! Don't panic! Live the trust you feel towards God in every moment of your life." Joel chapter 2 is filled with God's promise of restoration: "Don't be afraid, my people. Be glad now and rejoice for the Lord has done great things...once more the autumn rains will come as well as the rains of spring. The threshing floors will again be piled high...The Lord says, I will give you back what you have lost..."

So when I hear "33% of (insert group here) will experience (insert disaster of your choice)", I will focus on 67% of people are okay not going to experience disaster in whatever form (illness, natural, crime, addiction, etc), and I'd like to work to increase that number to 100% people having the good stuff rather than 0% bad. Is it the same? Sure mathematically, but I believe in these times, hearing good news is essential.

The need for Good News is why Jesus declared: "So don't worry about these things, saying 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These thoughts dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs."

We belong to God, fear, love, and trust God the most.

Patience

Leonardo daVinci once declared “Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner, you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind.”

This quote helps re-orient me in times of challenge. Remembering to pray first, daVinci offers a way to recognize when to absorb a wrong doing and when to speak against injustice. If someone does me wrong, i.e. cuts me off on the highway, I'm reminded that patience will keep the event from ruling my mind. However, if a group of people are victims of abuse, I am called by God to speak the truth, God's love for all people and to treat them with justice.

Holy God, give us courage to challenge and reform the injustice in the world, the patience to absorb the personal slights as Jesus did before his his crucifixion, and the wisdom to know when to speak and act. Amen.

Language Change

So often in life, I feel as though I'm writing in basic computer language again. Remember the "if...then" statements

If 3 > 300 Then ? "Good Job"

As Christian's what happens when we change our language from "if-then" to "because-therefore".

If God loves me, then I am forgiven to Because God loves me, therefore I am forgiven.

Framing our faith in positive words reflects the joy Paul reveals to us in his epistles. Saved by grace through faith. God is the main actor in our lives. The almighty acts first in love, and we respond.

Try to spend two weeks removing the word If from conversations. Because and When are two of my favorite substitutes. When I do my daily devotions, I feel at peace.

Secure Churches

After the death of Dr Tiller in Oklahoma, a swirl of questioning thoughts have been running through my brain.

• Why do people who are pro-life take a life?
  
• Why are some churches now encouraging members who are permitted to carry concealed weapons to bring their weapons into the worship space?

There was an article in the Chicago Tribune which argues that Christian Churches are soft targets and therefore easily attacked. You can read the full article here: Church Safety, 08 Jun 2009

I cringe at the use of fear to drive a product. Yes, we live in a dangerous world and we should take steps to ensure the safety of all. There are simple smart moves: background checks on those who work with young people and finances. However, safety is not something I can guarantee; because by being open and welcoming, we risk letting dangerous people into our lives. Training ushers to look people over the way I had to as security for a state park is not welcoming and inviting people to worship God. This is why I smiled as read one response to the article.

Tony from Mishawaka, IN wrote

Do we attend church to worship? Or do we attend church to be safe? The early church had no illusions of "security." Many Christians around the world cannot count on being "safe" in worship spaces. I don't want ushers armed with guns in my church, just because a few "loose screws" view us as "soft targets!"

We are people of faith, who pray first, trust the resurrection promise, and go about living daily life in a way that brings glory to God. This means taking chances as we trust God to provide and protect.

Follow up on Newsletter

While looking for some illustrations for my homily, I came across this story.

Don't let others determine how you're going to act. A Sydney Harris syndicated column started with this story: "I walked with a friend to the news stand the other night and he bought a paper, thanking the owner politely. The owner, however, did not even acknowledge it. 'A sullen fellow, isn't he?' I commented as we walked away. 'Oh he's that way every night,' shrugged my friend. 'Then why do you continue being so polite to him?' I asked, and my friend replied, 'Why should I let him determine how I'm going to act?'"

Telos Agape Phobos

In 1st John 4:18b we hear in the Greek "Telos Agape Phobos" perfect love drives away fear. There are a ton of things to be frightened of in the world. Yet knowing God loves me, allows and encourages me to go out into the world and reflect the love. God's love is so perfect, it provides a feeling of peace when the odds are totally against there being peace in that moment.

Imagine during a hurricane, a 5 year old calls out from the bed “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy, I'm scared!”

And gliding into the room with her bathrobe trailing like a cape on a super hero, mom's there
offering words of comfort. Soon the tears subside, even as the storm winds pull gutters from the house with the creaking and slamming noise of metal tearing and smashing making it seem as if the whole wall was going to give way and the rain would drive into the room. Mom is there, holding on to her child, and a feeling of peace washes over the child, even though the hurricane rages on against the house.

This is the power of God's perfect love, telos agape phobos, God's perfect love drives away our terror and fear and frees us to do amazing things.

• To love an addict by confronting them and holding them accountable
• To love family and friends by standing vigil at a bedside in the valley of the shadow of death
• To love others by volunteering even you're not sure you have the time

The energy for this love does not come from within, it does not flow because of what we know
God's love flows abundantly because God is pure love