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Journal Archives – December, 2002 |
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| AN ONGOING SPIRITUAL WEBLOG |
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December 31, 2002
How will you end this year and start the new? A big party? A
look back. A look forward?
Gratitude must be part of my daily living. That’s true
on the first, the last and all the days in between each year.
Thankfulness that God, the Creator, the heavenly Father, cares
for us, each of us in personal way – this must be a priority
in my life.
The key to living life to its fullness is to be able to exist
in the sacred moment and to be fully alive and fully appreciate
that. I believe that when we really do that (and I know it’s
hard, believe me!) then we get closer to experiencing eternity.
Because eternity is always a “now”. It’s outside
of our normal understanding of space and time.
I’ve written a new article for the New Year.
“Be All That He Wants You To Be” is about looking
at the start of the year differently, perhaps, than you have
before. God is calling us. He’s calling us to be all that
we can be, to be wild and holy. God is indeed great, bigger
than any definition we can apply. God is bigger than our words,
our thoughts, a gender or any human concept. Still, we can have
that personal relationship. Awesome, yes.
As 2002 ends the world seems on the verge of more war and violence.
Peace is what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds when they
announced Christ’s birth. You can make a pledge to bring
peace in a personal way. It’s starts with each individual.
Make your pledge public at Pledge
Peace. May you have a happy and peaceful New Year!
Tom Gilbert
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December 27, 2002
One of the largest Powerball lottery jackpots ever was won by
a West Virginia man on Christmas night. The jackpot was about
$315 million, but the winner opted to collect it in one sum
of $170 million. After taxes it was over 111 million dollars.
Many of us have had dreams of coming into riches. Typically
those who win it end up going through a journey that eventually
shows that it isn’t all that it’s cracked up to
be and that money can’t buy everything.
The winner, Andrew Jackson Whittaker Jr., is a contractor. He
is the sole winner. Well, that is not exactly right. "I'm
gonna pay tithes with it, that's the first thing I'll do,"
he said (Fox
News).
Ten percent of his winnings is a pretty big chunk of change.
Kind of refreshing news when so many give so little. I’m
not suggesting we all go out and buy lottery tickets in hopes
we will win and then have big sums to give. I am thinking that
being a generous giver is something worthwhile. And God is the
most generous giver of all.
Tom Gilbert
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December 26, 2002
Happy day after Christmas! I hope that you had an enjoyable
day. Perhaps it was filled with family, friends, gifts and feasting.
Or, it may have been modest. Regardless, the true message of
the day is that unto us a savior is born.
So, now what? Clean up, put away and write thank you notes and
tuck away that “Christmas spirit” until next December?
Or do we remember that it’s about a daily living, a daily
renewing of our hearts and minds. A giving that goes year round.
December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen. Read about him in the
book of Acts (see chapters 6 and 7). We are told that he was
full of the Holy Spirit and power and performed many astonishing
miracles. He also was bold in his faith and was one of the first
martyrs. As he was being stoned to death he even asked God not
to hold his murder against them. Where did he get this idea?
Where did his way of living come from? We know the answer: from
the “truth, the way and the light of the world”.
And the darkness has not overcome it.
Tom Gilbert
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December 24, 2002
There is a gift for you. Will you accept it? We each get this
gift...if we want it.
Immanuel. "God is with us". The perfect gift. Merry
Christmas!
Tom Gilbert
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December 23, 2002
People talk about the “Christmas spirit”. I think
I’m as guilty as the next person for sometimes making
this a cliché. Really, this Christmas spirit should be
the indwelling of God, the Holy Spirit, within us. Not just
for this time of year, but all the time.
Yes, easier said than done, but that shouldn’t stop us
from striving towards that ideal. If you get a chance, check
out the short story I finally finished. It’s something
I had the idea for and began about three years ago, but it took
until now to get it done. You can read “A
Shepherd’s Tale” online. I share it with you
with the hope that the message will spread the joy among you.
Today I am feeling the Christmas spirit. I hope you are, too.
Tom Gilbert
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December 20, 2002
The times they are a-changing. The answer is blowing in the
wind. I shall be released. With God on our side.
The above are all titles of early Bob Dylan songs. Dylan has
always had a spiritual hunger and it is reflected in his music.
Many of his songs, not just the few listed above.
In 1979 Bob Dylan accepted Jesus as the true Messiah. His music
over the next few years really emphasized that. Gotta serve
somebody. I believe in you. In the garden. Over the years he's
continued to grow in his faith, although many Dylan watchers
thought it just a phase. I just finished reading "Restless
Pilgrim: the spiritual journey of Bob Dylan". A good book
that shows yet another person holding firm to their faith despite
criticism and trouble. You can read about it at our reviews
section.
Tom Gilbert
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December 18, 2002
Can we really know God? Maybe you've noticed we have a whole
area on this web site about that.
But, in reality I don't think we can really know God. However,
we can know of Him. More importantly we can love Him.
This is what is so wonderful about a personal relationship with
God. He loves us. We can love back. In the end, that is the
most important message for from that springs all the rest. Love
is the highest of all things, the most important, the most foundational,
the most powerful!
Tom Gilbert
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December 16, 2002
Most of us know the story about Joseph and Mary trying to find
a place in Bethlehem when she was about to give birth to baby
Jesus . Imagine what that must
have been like. Tired, in labor, dusty, hungry and no one can
offer a place to stay. Joseph probably was feeling humiliated.
His male ego surely wanted to provide. Then again, perhaps he
declined to make a big scene, in humble faith sure that God
would provide a place. We don't know if Mary was cranky, but
who would blame her if she was? It seems likely from what we
discover of her that she, too, quietly accepted whatever lodging
her husband could locate.
Finally, a stable is offered. It's not much -- take it or leave
it. It wasn't exactly the accommodations anyone would desire,
especially with labor pains and the imminent birth. The couple
was probably grateful for it. And into these humble circumstances
God came to us.
There are many people who need a place to stay, a meal, a smile
and some compassion. It doesn't have to be extravagant, and
those wonderful people who run shelters for the homeless know
how hard it is. Can we find in ourselves some willingness to
help out? When you get a moment, please do visit our Spotlight
Specials page and consider what you can do for these brothers
and sisters in need. Find out about "54 ways to help the
homeless" and read the article "Nacho
Cheese Girl". You know, it might just help you to help
someone else.
Tom Gilbert
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December 13, 2002
The weekend is upon us. Christmas is near. Many of you will
go to church to worship. Some will not. Some will just attend
at Christmas.
Have you given much thought to why you go…or don't? God
calls us to worship and fellowship not as attendance, but as
participation. This same lesson must be drummed into us (me,
anyway!) over and over again. I can't do it alone. I need others.
Together we can with God's love, grace and strength.
That's why it's called the "Body" of Christ.
Tom Gilbert
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December 11, 2002
Anyone who has gone through a desperate, despairing and even
life-threatening time in their life and comes through it by
the grace of God understands someone else going through the
same thing. More than that, we become enabled by this experience
to have compassion for others' suffering. There is something
mystical about it all. We find the insight and the capacity
to share the burden of the suffering one.
Where does this capacity come from? Is it not Christ within
us?
Our ability to bond with another with whom we share the same
affliction is cemented when we both are able to accept the healing
God brings. The healing may not always be physical, but it is
certainly spiritual. I'm grateful for my own dark past because
I was offered a way out. I'm also grateful that I've been able
to share this and help others, in particular a friend who eight
years ago today began a journey that has led him from the bondage
of a powerful illness.
Tom Gilbert
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December 9, 2002
I arrived at work this morning thinking I should post something
to the journal section of the web site. After all, it's Monday
morning and as we start our week together I like to offer up
my thoughts or maybe share some insight from my weekend.
So, what to write? This I pondered, sitting at the computer
when Pete, our resident computer guru and the one who writes
the "Daily Thought"
commentaries came by and we struck up a conversation. The gist
of it was how Jesus spoke to seekers. He didn't "bible
thump" them with a bunch of scripture verses. He spoke
to them in ways they could relate to. He used parables and stories.
He showed compassion for the hurting and gave dignity to the
downtrodden. To those who needed something he would ask, "What
do you want me to do for you?"
The point? When we share about God's love and the truth of Jesus
we need to be genuine, humble in spirit and really nurture the
desire in others to find the Truth. We must avoid religious
arrogance, false piety and resist the temptation to "score"
for the Lord. It's not a competition or a contest. It's a message
that reaches everyone who is searching for it, because it is
true.
Tom Gilbert
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December 6, 2002
Today is the feast of St. Nicholas. You know, the guy that the
jolly old elf, Santa Claus, is based on. You might want to read
about him. Visit the St.
Nicholas center and get the history.
Tom Gilbert
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December 5, 2002
The Hebrew word for "word" is dabar. It translates
as both "word" and "deed". I find that interesting.
It really opens up a deeper understanding and appreciation of
the Word of God. Think about how that applies to so many scripture
passages!
There is Isaiah 40:5, "And the glory of the LORD will be
revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth
of the LORD has spoken." And, of course, John's Gospel
begins with "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God."
It's important to read and hear the Word. Even more important
to have it be deeds in our lives.
Tom Gilbert
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December 3, 2002
I want to write about something…and I don't want to try
to explain it, only to share it and let us contemplate it.
The mystery of Christ cannot be understood with our normal human
thinking. We in the West probably struggle the most with it.
The many paradoxes that we find in the Paschal mystery are pointing
to a deeper truth, a greater truth, unknowable in basic human
understanding. It is only through God's revealing, done with
the Spirit, that we can come to accept it. Dying to our self,
born again into a new corporate being (the body of Christ) and
through that process being transformed.
I know this is not new. It's just so important! I/we cannot
forget it. When we read the Bible, when we pray, and when we
interact with others we must remain open and accepting of this
continual transformation. It seems to be a constant letting
go. Hmmm.
Tom Gilbert
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December 2, 2002
Over the weekend many of my neighbors took advantage of their
Thanksgiving holidays to put up their Christmas lights (no,
I haven't done mine yet!). This tradition of lights is festive,
for sure. It can also become gaudy or crass. But, I have to
look beyond that to the beauty of those twinkling lights when
night falls. Children see it readily.
The real light, the true light, is Jesus. He is the light of
the world and the light of life (John 8:12). This light outshines
the darkness. It is a light from within that we can project
to others, not so they can be attracted to us, but rather to
that light. During Advent this light is kindled anew. As each
of us shines with this light it is akin to a string of Christmas
lights -- we are all connected! Let your light (the light of
Christ within you) shine.
Tom Gilbert
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| For past entries go here |
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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PSALM 118:24
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"This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."
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(NIV)
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