With increasingly-sophisticated communication technology, the world has gotten "smaller" (or more flat, as some have proposed). As young people look for work in their chosen professions, they feel the pull to leave their hometowns and families to find jobs. Our consumer-driven society has led us to want "what we want, when we want it." We may not drive to California to buy our lettuce year-round, but we buy lettuce year-round which has been delivered to us from California. (Ironically, if you live in California, your lettuce may be coming from some where else. Unless the situation has changed recently, California imports as much lettuce as it exports every year.)
Not all modern advancements or situations are necessarily bad, but these are the kinds of things which have erroded our communities and contributed to society's larger problems. For example, I can't help feeling a sense of responsibility as I see images of oil washing up on the beaches of the Gulf Coast. So many of my habits require large amounts of electricity and other forms of energy, habits which are fueled by the very oil that is ruining the livelihood of thousands of people in the South.
Ironically, one of the most appealing aspects of popular online social-networking sites is a feeling that participants are part of a community. And in a sense, it's true. It has been such a pleasure for me to meet new friends and re-connect and be in touch with people I haven't seen in years via Facebook. In fact, as someone who has anti-social tendencies, it's been the perfect way for me to be part of a community while having few real obligations. And that's why online interaction cannot take the place of daily living in a caring community where everyone looks out for and helps take care of the others living around them. Most of us know about the latest disasters in the rest of the world, but we may not be as likely to know the heartache and needs of our neighbor down the road.
In the second chapter of Acts, we read of the early believers who were "together and had all things in common...and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need ...and breaking bread from house to house." I fear that many of us have lost that very real, solid sense of community.
I'm not advocating giving up Facebook, (I like it too much!), but I have to remind myself not to forget the people right in my own little corner of the world and consider ways to take a cue from the scripture above and make small steps to change the way society works. Supporting locally-owned businesses so our hometown economies thrive, buying locally-grown food to cut down on trucking expense and fuel use, taking time for face-to-face chats and remembering that we are all connected to one another are all ways to start regaining a sense of community. Our small, daily decisions have the potential to make the greatest impact.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Consider the lilies...and the Daisies
I went for a walk on a recent evening, and as I returned home, the rays from the setting sun slipped through the trees and fell across our field filled with wildflowers. A blue-gray haze had already begun to settle around the edge of the tree-rimmed field, in stark contrast to the yellow and white of the blooms which appeared to almost glow from the inside out. The sunlight shone at seemingly impossible angles, making everything it illuminated seem brand-new and perfect. The field which I've seen thousands of times, was suddenly something I did not recognize. It caught me off guard and took my breath away.
It was a moment which stopped me in my tracks and made the majesty and presence of God real beyond words. No amount of trying to explain matters of faith or hearing someone talk about what God has done for them or meant to them can compare to those brief glimpses we occasionally experience which can only be described as heavenly. In an instant like that, all doubts and fears melt away, and all that we strive for in our day-to-day existence, all of the work and worry, fades away in glorious, triumphant realization that nothing matters except God himself, God alone, and he is all we need. When our eyes are opened to that reality, we can see God in every moment, in every person, in every situation, and nothing looks the same.
I was reminded we are told to "consider the lilies," and their magnificent testimony of not "toiling" or "spinning" but merely being. It is a wonderful place when we allow ourselves to simply be in God's presence and drink in all that he is and all that he wants to be in us. When we begin to see God's majesty at every turn and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by his love and his grace, then we, too, become as the lilies and the wildflowers, inspiring others, not by our work or even our good deeds, but simply because the light has transformed us, making us different than we were. Without a word from us, people will recognize that only God could be responsible for the change and the beauty in us.
It was a moment which stopped me in my tracks and made the majesty and presence of God real beyond words. No amount of trying to explain matters of faith or hearing someone talk about what God has done for them or meant to them can compare to those brief glimpses we occasionally experience which can only be described as heavenly. In an instant like that, all doubts and fears melt away, and all that we strive for in our day-to-day existence, all of the work and worry, fades away in glorious, triumphant realization that nothing matters except God himself, God alone, and he is all we need. When our eyes are opened to that reality, we can see God in every moment, in every person, in every situation, and nothing looks the same.
I was reminded we are told to "consider the lilies," and their magnificent testimony of not "toiling" or "spinning" but merely being. It is a wonderful place when we allow ourselves to simply be in God's presence and drink in all that he is and all that he wants to be in us. When we begin to see God's majesty at every turn and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by his love and his grace, then we, too, become as the lilies and the wildflowers, inspiring others, not by our work or even our good deeds, but simply because the light has transformed us, making us different than we were. Without a word from us, people will recognize that only God could be responsible for the change and the beauty in us.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Discipline of Loving One Another
When considering the commandment to love one another, it's easy for us to think of love in terms of the affection we have for spouses, children, family members and friends. The natural attachment we have to our "loved ones" is not the same kind of love we demonstrate to others. Loving outsiders and strangers -- giving them preference, inviting them into our lives and not judging them -- is difficult and can only be achieved when God's love resides in us, and we concentrate on developing and training that love, so that it flows out of us in useful and meaningful ways.
The writings of Oswald Chambers always challenge me to be better and do better, and here is an excerpt from his excellent book, "My Utmost for His Highest" regarding the difficulties of loving others:
"...God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, '...love one another as I have loved you' (John 15:12). He is saying, 'I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you.' This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable -- it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated."
It is exhausting to try to love difficult people without cultivating the love of God which resides in us. By myself, I have trouble loving those whose opinions differ from my own, and certainly those who are rude, arrogant and hateful are not easy to love. However, we are called to love everyone, and to do so with the knowledge that God has loved each of us beyond measure, even with all of our faults, and we all have at least a few.
Chambers concludes, "Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through me? Neither natural love nor God's divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline."
The writings of Oswald Chambers always challenge me to be better and do better, and here is an excerpt from his excellent book, "My Utmost for His Highest" regarding the difficulties of loving others:
"...God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, '...love one another as I have loved you' (John 15:12). He is saying, 'I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you.' This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable -- it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated."
It is exhausting to try to love difficult people without cultivating the love of God which resides in us. By myself, I have trouble loving those whose opinions differ from my own, and certainly those who are rude, arrogant and hateful are not easy to love. However, we are called to love everyone, and to do so with the knowledge that God has loved each of us beyond measure, even with all of our faults, and we all have at least a few.
Chambers concludes, "Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through me? Neither natural love nor God's divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline."
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Simple Supper
For readers who are not in the West Plains area (and for those who live in West Plains but haven't heard about the West Plains Christian Clinic or "WPCC"), I want to give you some background information on this wonderful community project.
According to details supplied by my friend Becky Kiser from the group's website, the WPCC "seeks to improve the quality of life of the medically uninsured people in our community by providing affordable general medical care, preventative medicine and health education, and by making available spiritual counseling to those who seek it. The WPCC seeks to meet the needs of the medically uninsured without regard to race, religion, or creed of those who seek its services."
She notes that the clinic came into being when several members of First United Methodist approached their pastor, the Reverend Mark Mildren, about their desire to volunteer their services for uninsured people. He presented the idea to a planning group last August, and it soon developed into a citywide, ecumenical endeavor. More meetings followed, with the end result being that the clinic is set to open this July.
Volunteers are the backbone of the WPCC. Not only will all of the medical services provided to patients be done by volunteer medical professionals, but all the planning, organizing and paperwork is also done as a labor of love. Many churches are supporting the clinic as part of their Christian vision and mission, and a chaplain will be present when the clinic is open on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The space where the clinic is located has been donated and so has the equipment and most of the supplies.
Becky Kiser also tells of the need for "Simple Suppers" which is a way for local folks to help. She says, "On clinic nights, we want to thank our volunteers and take care of them with a Simple Supper, as many will be coming straight from work. We are looking for groups willing to prepare an easy-to-eat meal for about 25 volunteers on a rotating schedule. Some ideas have been bag lunches, sandwiches, one-dish casseroles or pizza. Drinks and paper goods would need to be supplied, too, and be at the clinic by 5:15 p.m."
Isn't it lovely to see believers working together in unity to fulfill the call to love others? I am so glad to live in a place that, even though it has its share of problems like any other, is willing to reach out and help. I hope churches, other community organizations and businesses will come forward to provide a simple meal to one group making a difference. Those interested should contact Reverend Becky Kiser at 1stpresbychurch@centurytel.net or call 256-4247.
According to details supplied by my friend Becky Kiser from the group's website, the WPCC "seeks to improve the quality of life of the medically uninsured people in our community by providing affordable general medical care, preventative medicine and health education, and by making available spiritual counseling to those who seek it. The WPCC seeks to meet the needs of the medically uninsured without regard to race, religion, or creed of those who seek its services."
She notes that the clinic came into being when several members of First United Methodist approached their pastor, the Reverend Mark Mildren, about their desire to volunteer their services for uninsured people. He presented the idea to a planning group last August, and it soon developed into a citywide, ecumenical endeavor. More meetings followed, with the end result being that the clinic is set to open this July.
Volunteers are the backbone of the WPCC. Not only will all of the medical services provided to patients be done by volunteer medical professionals, but all the planning, organizing and paperwork is also done as a labor of love. Many churches are supporting the clinic as part of their Christian vision and mission, and a chaplain will be present when the clinic is open on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The space where the clinic is located has been donated and so has the equipment and most of the supplies.
Becky Kiser also tells of the need for "Simple Suppers" which is a way for local folks to help. She says, "On clinic nights, we want to thank our volunteers and take care of them with a Simple Supper, as many will be coming straight from work. We are looking for groups willing to prepare an easy-to-eat meal for about 25 volunteers on a rotating schedule. Some ideas have been bag lunches, sandwiches, one-dish casseroles or pizza. Drinks and paper goods would need to be supplied, too, and be at the clinic by 5:15 p.m."
Isn't it lovely to see believers working together in unity to fulfill the call to love others? I am so glad to live in a place that, even though it has its share of problems like any other, is willing to reach out and help. I hope churches, other community organizations and businesses will come forward to provide a simple meal to one group making a difference. Those interested should contact Reverend Becky Kiser at 1stpresbychurch@centurytel.net or call 256-4247.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Consider It All
After having sat through numerous sermons over the years where someone was going to great lengths to promote one-sided views of various ideas, I realized the Bible can be used to prove, or disprove, almost anything. When fragments of scripture are used, we could even go so far as to say that I Cor. 13:1 tells us, "...do not have love..." while Matt. 10:34 says, "...do not think..." and I John 3:14 says, "...we have passed out..." I have read, in the introduction to a vegetarian cookbook, that the Bible tells us to be vegetarians, based on I Cor. 8:13, "...I will never eat meat again..." Only a small part of the verse was used, and upon further reading, we see each of these examples are taken completely out of context.
It's fairly obvious that the use of incomplete verses is often not a good idea, but even individual chapters and books of the Bible can be used in wrong ways. When we read and study scripture, and embrace its teachings, we must consider the context of the entire Word of God. And the whole Bible, start to finish, is the greatest love story ever written. From the very beginning, when we were created by God so we could have a relationship with him, that theme carries all the way through as we see the great lengths God has gone to throughout history to maintain that relationship.
God does love us, each and every one of us, and I don't believe it is his nature to try to catch anyone on "technicalities," or punish us when we mess up, just because he can. Like any caring parent, he challenges his children to be better people every day, and sometimes, there are hard lessons to be learned, but his love abides through it all. He also wants us to get along with our brothers and sisters and be kind to others, extending to everyone the same mercy and grace he has extended to us.
By using scriptures selectively, our focus can become too narrow, and we can lose sight of the "big picture" view that the Bible is about our relationship with God. Our focus should always be on God's relentless love for us and our unbridled passion for him, which will be demonstrated in the world, not in harsh, judgmental ways, but by being united with other believers and by loving everyone, unconditionally. When we're trying to decide if a particular behavior is a good idea, we should look to God's Word, and consider it all.
It's fairly obvious that the use of incomplete verses is often not a good idea, but even individual chapters and books of the Bible can be used in wrong ways. When we read and study scripture, and embrace its teachings, we must consider the context of the entire Word of God. And the whole Bible, start to finish, is the greatest love story ever written. From the very beginning, when we were created by God so we could have a relationship with him, that theme carries all the way through as we see the great lengths God has gone to throughout history to maintain that relationship.
God does love us, each and every one of us, and I don't believe it is his nature to try to catch anyone on "technicalities," or punish us when we mess up, just because he can. Like any caring parent, he challenges his children to be better people every day, and sometimes, there are hard lessons to be learned, but his love abides through it all. He also wants us to get along with our brothers and sisters and be kind to others, extending to everyone the same mercy and grace he has extended to us.
By using scriptures selectively, our focus can become too narrow, and we can lose sight of the "big picture" view that the Bible is about our relationship with God. Our focus should always be on God's relentless love for us and our unbridled passion for him, which will be demonstrated in the world, not in harsh, judgmental ways, but by being united with other believers and by loving everyone, unconditionally. When we're trying to decide if a particular behavior is a good idea, we should look to God's Word, and consider it all.
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