Today (Memorial Day) we are invited to take time to remember and honor those who have lost their lives in service to our country. At Deep River Friends, our White Ribbon campaign has been our simple way of expressing honor. Each of the white ribbons in our front yard represent a life that has been lost in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also serve as a reminder to us that our deepest longing and prayer is for peace. They remind us that those who have lost their lives are not numbers or statistics but real people with real families, loved ones, and hometowns. In many ways, their lives have been cut short and our world has lost forever their potential and contribution in many ways. We do honor their sacrifice and their willingness to serve our country in this way. We also can best honor their effort by our continued work for peace. As we continue to pray for peace and work for peace we envision a day in which war will be no more and we will not have to train for war. This is not a political statement. It is a statement that the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus himself uttered many times. God's dream for all of creation is for there to be shalom - wholeness in our lives so that our lives may flourish and all of creation can flourish. As we strive for peace and as we wage peace daily, we get closer and closer to God's dream for all of creation. Let us honor those who have fallen but let us honor them by recommiting ourselves to work for peace.
One of the ways Deep River Friends has sought to be proactive in working for peace is joining an organization called "Every Church a Peace Church" (www.ecapc.org). We have joined the national registry of churches committed to living for peace and seeking peace in our lives and in our world. Take a few moments and visit the website and see how God might be leading you to engage in acts of peace.
I also want to take a few moments and honor another individual - David Chou. On Saturday, David passed away due to complications from a perforated bowel. David and his wife Mary Ann came to Deep River Friends about five years ago. I would like to say we found them but they found us - and have blessed us ever since with their presence, gracious spirit, and hospitality. David was a very quiet person but his spirit was larger than life and he always had a kind word and a gracious word to say about everyone and anyone. Even though David could not make it to meeting for worship that much we will miss him. Our prayers go out to Mary Ann and the family as they prepare for David's Memorial service on Tuesday, June 1st.
Maybe on this Memorial Day there are many we can honor...but there are also those that have touched our lives in significant ways and we can offer a simply prayer of thanks for their presence in our life.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Living In The Spirit of Peace
"If we simply live in the spirit of peace, we contribute to the peace of the entire world. This is an ancient spiritual truth. If we want to participate in this transformation, we have to begin right now, this very moment, to root out the violence within us, to forgive those who have hurt us, to let go of bitterness and resentment, to reconcile with one another, and open a way for the spirit of God to move freely among us. We need to take a deep breath, turn our hearts in prayer, and receive God's gift of peace that we can then share with all of humanity and creation itself...Peace begins within each of us. It is a process of repeatedly showing mercy to ourselves, forgiving ourselves, befriending ourselves, accepting ourselves, and loving ourselves. As we learn to appreciate ourselves and accept God's gift of peace, we begin to radiate peace and love to others."
John Dear, Living Peace
As the song says, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Where does it begin with you today? Do you need to forgive yourself? Befriend yourself? Accept yourself? Appreciate yourself? How you see yourself is what the world gets. Is it getting peace?
John Dear, Living Peace
As the song says, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Where does it begin with you today? Do you need to forgive yourself? Befriend yourself? Accept yourself? Appreciate yourself? How you see yourself is what the world gets. Is it getting peace?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Reconciliation - God's Ultimate Purpose and our Ultimate Calling
During the month of May we continue to focus on "peace" and the many ways it can be expressed in our lives. I think when we hear the word "peace" we immediately begin to think about Peace Rallies and anti-war protest and pacifism. To be sure, these are all a part of promoting peace but I think this narrow view of peace leaves us thinking that it's only for a select few. In other words, we might think that peace is only for those that are into it and have an interest in world peace when, in reality, peace is everyone's calling - the calling of the church and the calling of those who are part of the church.
In Paul's letters to the Colossians we read: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, TNIV). God is in the business of reconciliation and it's a pretty comprehensive reconciliation (..things on earth or things in heaven.) The statement "all things" covers a wide area - from world issues right down to the neighborhoods in which we live and the churches in which we serve. God's ultimate mission is reconciliation and God's ultimate calling upon our lives is that we be reconciled to God, to one another, and to creation. It is this reconcilation that is the fruit of the peace God offers all of us.
Author Chris Rice writes: "...before reconciliation is about us, it is about God. It is God's mission in the world. The journey of reconciliation begins with seeing reconciliation is not the goal of human striving but is instead a gift God longs for us to accept. It is connected with and gives birth to other gifts within the reality of God's new creation....reconciliation both names the church as and requires the church to be the sign and agent of God's reconciliation."
In one of his letters, Paul refers to Christians as "ambassadors of reconciliation." Ambassadors act on behalf of the country they serve. They are agents representing that country. As Christians, disciples of Jesus, we are acting on behalf of God's kingdom - we are agents of reconciliation representing God's rule. In that way it could be said that we don't have a choice but to be reconcilers and peacemakers.
But, in reality, we do have a choice - and we make those choices everyday. Reconciliation is about forgiveness, kindness, mercy, love, and acceptance. We have daily opportunities in which we can engage in these practices. Peace isnt just for a select few. It's not just for those that are "into peace". Peace is about all of us. It's a calling for all of us. And, God's peace in this world depends upon all of us becoming God's agents of reconciliation.
In Paul's letters to the Colossians we read: "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, TNIV). God is in the business of reconciliation and it's a pretty comprehensive reconciliation (..things on earth or things in heaven.) The statement "all things" covers a wide area - from world issues right down to the neighborhoods in which we live and the churches in which we serve. God's ultimate mission is reconciliation and God's ultimate calling upon our lives is that we be reconciled to God, to one another, and to creation. It is this reconcilation that is the fruit of the peace God offers all of us.
Author Chris Rice writes: "...before reconciliation is about us, it is about God. It is God's mission in the world. The journey of reconciliation begins with seeing reconciliation is not the goal of human striving but is instead a gift God longs for us to accept. It is connected with and gives birth to other gifts within the reality of God's new creation....reconciliation both names the church as and requires the church to be the sign and agent of God's reconciliation."
In one of his letters, Paul refers to Christians as "ambassadors of reconciliation." Ambassadors act on behalf of the country they serve. They are agents representing that country. As Christians, disciples of Jesus, we are acting on behalf of God's kingdom - we are agents of reconciliation representing God's rule. In that way it could be said that we don't have a choice but to be reconcilers and peacemakers.
But, in reality, we do have a choice - and we make those choices everyday. Reconciliation is about forgiveness, kindness, mercy, love, and acceptance. We have daily opportunities in which we can engage in these practices. Peace isnt just for a select few. It's not just for those that are "into peace". Peace is about all of us. It's a calling for all of us. And, God's peace in this world depends upon all of us becoming God's agents of reconciliation.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Letting the Peace of Christ Make the Final Call
During the month of May we are focusing on peace. The topic of peace is one that's easy to discuss, theorize, and preach on but not always easy to practice. But, it's the most necessary to practice. In the Paul's letter to the Colossians, he writes these words: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts..." Bible scholars tell us that the greek word for "rule" in that sentence is basically the same word we get "umpire." In a baseball game, it is the umpire that makes the final call. The umpire declares who is out and who is safe. His decisions can often shape a game.
I often wonder what, or who, makes the final call in my heart? If I am honest, it's not always peace. If peace is ruling my heart and making the final call then most likely I am exhibiting actions that resemble kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and bearing with one another (which is another way of saying, "putting up with others") But, there are times when anger, hostility, ungraciousness, pride, arrogance, and bitterness make the final call. They can sometimes rule my heart. When they do it's not very pretty.
We presently live in a culture in which peace is not making the final call nor is it ruling the hearts of people. Rather, hostility and bitterness - even negativity -seems to be making the final call. As the body of Christ - the church - we have been empowered to live a different way and in a different manner. Especially amongst ourselves, peace needs to make the final call. It needs to rule, "...since as members of one body you were called to peace."
What makes the final call in your heart? What rules your soul? Is it peace? If it isn't, it will show. It it is peace, it will show as well...and bless.
In Peace and Joy,
Scott
I often wonder what, or who, makes the final call in my heart? If I am honest, it's not always peace. If peace is ruling my heart and making the final call then most likely I am exhibiting actions that resemble kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and bearing with one another (which is another way of saying, "putting up with others") But, there are times when anger, hostility, ungraciousness, pride, arrogance, and bitterness make the final call. They can sometimes rule my heart. When they do it's not very pretty.
We presently live in a culture in which peace is not making the final call nor is it ruling the hearts of people. Rather, hostility and bitterness - even negativity -seems to be making the final call. As the body of Christ - the church - we have been empowered to live a different way and in a different manner. Especially amongst ourselves, peace needs to make the final call. It needs to rule, "...since as members of one body you were called to peace."
What makes the final call in your heart? What rules your soul? Is it peace? If it isn't, it will show. It it is peace, it will show as well...and bless.
In Peace and Joy,
Scott
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)