Creating Connection

  Where Is Your Treasure?   “Do not be afraid little flock…”   I love the beginning of this week’s gospel reading, it is comforting to know that Jesus was addressing a small group: “Do not be afraid little flock…” But Luke 12:32-40 can be fairly said to contain mixed metaphors, in fact, you might even say that it is a symbolic   salad rich with borrowed imagery. Indeed, this passage is a chef’s salad of mixed metaphors: Flock, kingdom, Father, purse, thief, moth, lamps, wedding banquet, door, knocking, belt, master, slaves, sitting, eating, house, kingdom. Yes, this passage employs a great amount of symbolic language in a few sentences. ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will ...

  There Is a Balm in Gilead   Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt . Genesis 37:25 For many, the lyrics of the Negro spiritual, “There Is a Balm in Gilead” cannot be read without hearing the soulful tune sung: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. If you can’t preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul, just tell the love of Jesus and say he died for all.   Creator God, Our hearts are weary. We pray daily for peace and there is no peace. We seek justice for George Floyd and all those victimized by violence at the hands of the state. We lament the violent training approaches taken by police academies. We lament a system of lo...

  Seek to Be the Balm in Gilead   Is there no balm in Gilead?    Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people    not been restored? Jeremiah 8:22   Diana Butler Bass made an excellent point about Spirituality in her book, Grounded : “Spirituality is not just about sitting in a room encountering a mystical god in meditation or about seeing God in a sunset. Awe is the gateway to compassion. It is a deep awareness that we are creators, creators who work with the Creator, in an ongoing project of crafting a world. If we do not like the world or are afraid of it, we have had a hand in that. And if we made a mess, we can clean it up and do better. We are what we make.” God of awe and compassion, help us to see your presence in every moment. As we ponder the smallest speck that the eye can see or the starry expanse of the universe, open our eyes and minds to the awesomeness of your creation. As we listen to ...

Steve Veazey, president and denominational leader of Community of Christ, introduces the 2021 Guiding Question for Community of Christ: "Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one?" “To be fully present in a moment can be challenging. It requires a refocusing of the mind on something as simple as a single breath. Jesus, the peaceful one, resides in that moment. Embodying Christ's peace always has a strong aspect of what some call hereness and nowness. As individuals, groups and communities, are our thoughts and actions aligned with Christ's peace? Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one? These questions continue to guide and challenge us in real life situations every day. it's my hope and prayer that we can collectively take a breath and keep our focus on what it means to be moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one.” Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained ...

  Scripture: Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 O God our source, we enter into this time of Daily Prayer for Peace desiring to find peace in the quiet and the noise of daily living. When we feel isolated and alone, may we hear the words: “peace be upon you.” We long for the day when the temple doors will be open wide and the prayers of the people will echo up the lofty spire where we gather. Until that time, breathe your spirit upon us. Fill us with your peace that we may be ambassadors of your peace. Teach us the ways of justice and prepare us inwardly for righteous living that we might be agents of change for the earth and the dispossessed of the earth. Forgive us when we stray from living in accord with divine will. Open us to repair relationships and bridge the barriers between peoples. And once again open our ears, s...

  Third Places Ministry 1:Peter 4:8-10 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I remember one Saturday in 2018, I prayed the Mission Prayer. Mission Prayer God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen I looked at the handwritten reminder notes on my refrigerator. One said "Breathing in the Spaces" and another "Third Place Ministry." Our “First Place” is our home. Our “Second Place” is our work or school. And “Third Places” are places we occupy in community: grocery stores, coffee shops, libraries, etc. I went to a Starbucks a couple of miles from my church to practice Third Place(s) Ministry. I entered...

  A Moment of Resurrection Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. —Acts 4:32–35 Each Wednesday the “Love Lunch” team delivers about 80 sack lunches to the hungry and homeless on the streets of the neighborhoods surrounding the Covina, California, Congregation. Each Sunday they serve a hot meal after the worship service. I estimate they’ve served nearly 50,000 meals since they began. Every week is filled with moments of spiritual awareness. One of the stops each Wednesday is to a narrow opening leading to a culver...

  May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:5-7 A Church With A Gable Roof Not far from the river, not far from the falls, A church with a gable roof quietly calls: “Come in to worship, come in to hear, I will not collapse, you’ve nothing to fear.”   “I’ve room for a jacket, a spot for your coat, A roll if you’re hungry, some tea for your throat. There’s room to come forward, or sit at the back. So enter my doors, after your snack.”   “My chapel is ready, the pews are aligned, A message is waiting, a soul for to find. I charge no admission, the sermon is free, My gospel commission is pure liberty.”   “I ask no confession, your silence is fine, In pure meditati...

 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—    let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.   Psalm 10:1-2 Pretty Paper In 1995, I was assigned to be the Creative Director of the Multimedia CD-ROM “The Life and Music of Willie Nelson.” Frankly, I had never cared much for the classic Nashville sound with its heavy use of the pedal steel guitar and therefore never considered Country music as my genre. A friend told me that Willie Nelson’s lyrics were deep and meaningful and that I should start my research for the CD-ROM there. So I bought a book of Willie Nelson’s lyrics and several albums. I was struck by the song “Pretty Paper.” It begins sweetly with the words of a street vendor selling “pretty paper,” ribbons and pencils. The interior verses of the song are the thoughts of a passerby, noticing the man sitting on the ground but deciding they were too busy ...

  “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom… For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.”  –Isaiah 35: 1, 6-7, NRSV I remember traveling through the Negev desert in the southern tip of Israel, a desert that is extremely barren and receives less than one inch (25 mm) of rain per year. And I happened to be there as it started to rain. As the Israelis on the bus told me, on the one day this year that it will rain. “You are experiencing a miracle” they told me. It is almost impossible to plan a trip to Israel to see it rain in the deepest tip of the Negev desert.   The desert changed colors, the rare desert plants soaked up the water, little streamlets formed and I even saw an Ibex, a wild mountain goat with long curved horns, bounding across the landscape seemingly excited by the rain. I feel as if ...

  To Cry or to Scream? Out of the depths I cry to you, O  Lord .   Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!   Psalm 130:1-2 Sometimes injustice is so obvious and so close that we want to cry out and to shout to God or anyone who will listen. It was my first time to drive the car as our congregation delivered “Wednesday love lunches” to the hungry among our friends without homes. I had no idea what to expect. We drove behind a gas station and Scott handed a sack lunch and water to David, a man in his seventies. He was in a wheelchair, his neck in a brace, both legs missing. How could this be that a man in this situation lived behind a gas station? I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. But then another man pushing a shopping cart slowly approached me on the driver’s side. “You’ll have to forgive me, I’m kind of slow,” he said. And then I saw he had only one leg and needed the shopping cart for support. Still bewildered...

  Finding Calm in the Storm Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8 In the season of Advent, we look expectantly to the celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The stress and pressure of gift giving can distract from the spiritual transformation possible when we invite the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Christmastime. Indeed, Christmas can be particularly difficult on those who lack resources if we mistakenly focus on the material aspects of the holiday. I remember sitting at the kitchen table of a farmer whose land bordered the Missouri River near Sidney, Iowa. It was a rainy day and we talked on and on. I was impressed by how gracious this farmer was to me. Near the end of the visit he explained that most of h...

  Generosity in a Pizza Box ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust   consume and where thieves break in and steal;   but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust   consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.   For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 I emerged from the Auditorium after a day of training filled with both spiritual and real food. I was excited about the call to incarnational ministries, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I prayed that God would put people in my path to whom I could bring ministry. As I stepped to the corner, I heard a young man approach me and say “Hey mister.” I instantly knew where the conversation was headed. I learned about his troubles: no job, no transportation, no family support, and then he said, “I’m real hungry.”   “Well let’s go get something to eat,” I said, anticipating his request. I invited him to ...

  The Upward Trail The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. -- Revelation 21:23 NRSV Working on a project in Paris for six months, I had managed to see most of this city’s beautiful landmarks. But nearing the end of my assignment, I realized I still had not visited the Sacré-Cœur, a beautiful basilica atop Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Starting from the Opera, I began walking to Sacré-Cœur. From time to time as I walked sometimes narrow streets lined with multi-story apartments, the travertine domes and spires disappeared from view. But I pressed on, keeping my goal in mind, walking higher and higher. Climbing countless steps, breathing heavily, I moved steadily towards my goal. Finally reaching the top, I made my way into the basilica. It was truly beautiful. But it wasn’t until I walked back outside through the three-arched portico, that I beheld the most beautiful sight of all: ...

  Zion’s Gate "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” -- Matthew 23:37 NRSV On a business trip to Israel, I asked a colleague for a ride to Jerusalem. He dropped me by the Jaffa Gate. By the time I arrived it was dark. It had been a few years since I navigated the narrow streets, but I managed to find my way alone past the Cardo and to the Western Wall. A crowd was dispersing after some sort of concert or rally. I felt I had missed something important. On my way back, I made a wrong turn, the Jaffa Gate was not in sight. I turned right. I came to another gate. I went through and read the sign: “Zion’s Gate.” My mind raced as I considered whether this hill really was “Mount Zion,” a beacon of the present and future kingdom of God in our faith community. I explored the streets nearby and found Hagia Zion , o...

  Understand the Vision   “As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision.” -- Daniel 9:23 NRSV “Flightseeing” over the Alaskan wilderness, we entered white out conditions, meaning there was zero visibility and only a wall of snow to be seen through the plane’s windshield. My pilot announced that we would have to turn back and I would not be able to see Prince William Sound that day. I was disappointed. As the pilot banked the plane around into open skies again, he flew us over the same glacier filled waterways and snow covered peaks that we had seen on our way to that point. But this time, having emerged from the white out conditions, my vision seemed clearer and my vantage point better.   Every detail of the awe inspiring landscape unfolded distinctly before me: the blue ice of the glaciers, the pure white coats of Dahl sheep, the massive r...