In this election year there is a lot of talk about change. We want leaders
who will bring about a change. No more "business as usual".
We need a better economy, a better ecology, and a better government.
Yes?
The truth is we will never see real change until each of us accepts the
responsibility of changing our attitudes and actions. Fortunately, there
are some brave Christians who are calling us to recognize that we need
to do something more than just cheer on our favorite politcial party
or candidate.
Jesus
For President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals,
is a new book by social activist Shane Claiborne
and artist Chris Haw. This book is about
getting Christians to think about a different
kind of campaign and a different kind of
party. Instead of focusing on the flawed
and divisive two party system, live out your
life as Jesus (our true commander in chief)
asks you to. The book is also a tour and
may be coming to your city. Find out more
at JesusforPresident.org.
March 26, 2008
You don't have to be smart to a relationship with God. That's a good
thing. Lots of people have a tendency to overthink religion, spirituality
and a personal relationship with a Higher Power. Not surprising. Guilty
of it myself.
But it is a good thing we don't have to figure it out - because we can't.
God is a bigger concept than humans can really understand.
However, there is nothing wrong with using our brains and reason to help
us in our faith. And scientists are discovering this more and more. It
is an area that still has controversy (and probably always will). Francis
Collins is a scientist and director of the Human Genome Project.
Find out about his faith and this project in an intriguing interview, Francis
Collins: Celebrating God Through Science, online at ChristianityToday.com.
March 25, 2008
Are we going to allow race to be a deciding factor in electing a US President?
We have to ask that question. It is apparent that some are so opposed
or afraid of a black president in the White House for the first time
that they stoop to distortion.
The best candidate should be elected. It matters not if they are man
or woman, nor does race determine qualification. The attacks on Barack
Obama because of his ethnicity rather than his qualifications and character
are shameful. It is no different than refusing to consider John McCain
as a viable candidate because of his age, or Hillary Clinton because
of her gender.
This country desperately needs leadership to bring us together to face
our many challenges. Not fear and divisiveness.
March 23, 2008
Easter is the resurrection. He is risen! Christ is alive. He didn't just
come back to life a few days after his grisly crucifixion and then leave
us. He is alive with us, in us and works through us - if we accept him
in our hearts and choose to live his commandment to love others and love
God.
There are many opportunities in life, in each day, to do this. Yes, it
is easy to stay in our comfort zone, or to be afraid of others, or to
avoid confronting injustice. But we must really ask ourselves "what
would Jesus do?". Indeed, what would he do? And what will we do?
Our world needs the solution of Christian love. You can make a difference
by doing something everyday. It doesn't have to be big. A random act
of charity, no matter how small, has an impact. Rise to the new life
in your - Happy Easter!
March 21, 2008
On Good Friday when Jesus Christ was crucified consider what he hung
from. Two beams of wood joined together forming a cross. Opposites. One
beam vertical, the other horizontal.
Jesus hung between opposites - heaven and hell, love and hate, and the
extremes of left and right. Yet he refused to return negativity (hate);
he took it all in and he gave love in return. He forgave those who put
him to death. He held the tension of being God and dying for us all to
release us from the bondage of sin and death.
Jesus Christ - the ultimate transformer.
March 19, 2008
Today is the 5th year anniversary of the war in Iraq. The United States
has deployed troops for five long years and there is still no timeline
for them withdrawing. Regardless of how you felt about the situation
five years ago I think most of us would like to see an end to this situation.
It's a huge financial drain on our country, but beyond that we cannot
count the cost of loss of life or physical, mental and emotional injury
for so many.
I'd like to see peace in our world. And I hope that all countries can
one day have just governments that represent the interests of their citizens
without imposing their regimes on other countries. We can work for that
change, but most of us must do what we can in our homes, our workplaces
and our communities to be known by our love.
March 17, 2008
Today is St. Patrick's Day (info
here from the History Channel). It is also early in Holy Week, leading
up to the days most significant in the liturgical calendar for Christians
(Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday).
Is there a parallel to draw on? Only, perhaps, in the merriment of St.
Patrick's Day celebrations and how on Palm Sunday so many in Jerusalem
welcomed Jesus of Nazareth into the city with palm branches and shouts
of hosanna. People can be fickle and a couple of days after a St. Patrick's
Day party some will be grumpy at work or consumed with self-centered
behavior. Jesus was rejected shortly after his warm welcome into Jerusalem.
Do we take our eyes off Jesus so quickly? Yes, I'm sure many of us do.
I find that I need to constantly get out of self and Jesus is the one
who shows us how to live a loving and selfless life.
March 14, 2008
Do you have a holy desire? I think many of us do. We want to live for
the Lord. We want to love and help others. We want to make a difference.
The challenge is that we try to do it our way. How often do I have good
intentions and motives, but I try to orchestrate the outcome. And I get
discourged when life becomes hard and things aren't going the way I expected.
And I've set myself up for dissapointment.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't have goals and plans. But we must take
our vision and be willing to sacrifice it for the more perfect way God
has planned. God desires to do good things through us. But we must be
willing to give up all of our dreams and aspirations to do God's will.
The willingness is the key. God does indeed work through us. God's way
is more perfect than we can design. So, have good intentions, but let
God guide. This is the mystery of sacrificing our self will -dying to
self - that is embodied in the lessons throughout Scripture, and especially
in Jesus' passion. I found a renewed insight into this from Fr. Thomas
Keating's article Shattered
Vision, currently featured at the Contemplative Outreach
website.
This Sunday, March 15, is the 16th annual United in Prayer Day -
a day of Centering Prayer uniting the worldwide network of Contemplative
Outreach. More
here.
March 12, 2008
It has been nearly five years since the United States invaded Iraq. This
war has dragged on far too long. Our tax dollars have been spent on something
that has not brought about the results we had hoped for. There is still
much unrest, violence, death and suffering.
A number of Christians, including many leaders, are calling for us to
repent for the Iraq war. You can read the statement and also sign it
to show your support for ending the war. What would Jesus do? What will
you do?
More proof of how Jesus Christ has the power to convert is the turnabout
of novelist Anne Rice. She was best known for her popular vampire novels,
including Interview with a Vampire that was
made into a movie. But, a few years ago she returned to her Christian
faith and Catholicism and has been writing about Christ. Her new book
in the Christ the Lord series is The Road to
Cana, just released. Her website, www.annerice.com,
has information.
The Lord told us there is always great rejoicing at the return of any
lost sheep.
March 6, 2008
Much of the Gospel of John has Jesus speaking about doing the work of
the one who sent him. The Father - God - sent Jesus, His son, not to
condemn us, but to save us. The intent is to tell us God is a loving
God and wants a relationship with us. And that relationship must be honest
and true.
Jesus seemed to often deflect praise for himself. He kept pointing to
the Father and the work he was sent to do. The religious authorities
had a hard time with Jesus. They didn't want to accept that he was sent
from God, although they made a big deal out of Moses having authoritiy
from God.
Jesus had an inner authority. This same confidence about God can be in
us through the Holy Spirit. You just have to believe, accept it and trust
in it. And not get caught up in your self-centeredness. That's why we
need a community of believers. So we work for a common good and can not
be trapped in self.
March 4, 2008
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my problems that I lose perspective.
Sadly, this happens more often than I care to admit. At these times nothing
seems as important as what I'm going through.
This is why it is so good that I'm involved in maintaining this website
and doing other work that keeps me focused on Christian principles. It's
great to learn about this stuff, but it is vastly more important to learn
to live it. And this takes time and a daily continuation.
In my "other" job I've been really swamped with a large amount
of work that needs to be done quickly. And more requests for proposals
and projects keep coming in. It's a job in radio broadcasting and deals
with promotional events and marketing. I won't bore you with the specifics.
Suffice to say that it can be fun and exciting work, but it also can
be exasperating. There's only so many hours in the day and it is difficult
to be creative all the time with short notice and on demand.
But after I read some prayer requests and talk with others and realize
that many people are dealing with truly big problems and challenges I
once again realize it's all about perspective.
Living in the solution means believing there is a solution and using
it. If we are honest we all recognize times of doubt, anger, frustration
and despair. However, God is good and works in and through us. We just
have to persevere and be willing to accept life on life's terms. Not
easy - but our happiness is dependent on it.
Thanks be to each of you who are on the journey with me. In our little
way, this e-ministry has grown and done some good things to help others
over the past five plus years. It surely has been wonderful growth for
me.
March 3, 2008
Spring will officially begin this year right during the start of the
most sacred time of the liturgical year. Holy Thursday and the first
official day of Spring are both on March 20. It is fitting that as we
celebrate the Paschal mystery of death and resurrection new life will
be growing.
I am finding this Lent to be one of deep longing to change my way of
living to rely more on God. The goal is to let go with complete abandon.
It means consciously living each moment with the conviction of my Christian
faith. I need and want to trust in Jesus, but my old habits die slowly.
It should not be surprising that the more we commit to living a life
of loving God and others the harder our old self will battle us. But
as the saying goes, "Don't quit until before the miracle happens!"
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