A Prayer of Service

You are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:5

O Lord,
Open my eyes that I may see the needs of others;
open my ears that I may hear their cries;
open my heart so that they need not be without aid.
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,
nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
and use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for Thee.
Amen.
–Alan Paton, President Emeritus of Liberal Party of South Africa

The Good Fight

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

What makes you want to fight? As human beings, we have an inherent primitive instinct to fight when we feel threatened. Perhaps this helps explain why many people have been so belligerent and combative the past two years because we have all been in survival mode. It seems as if we have seen the worst of humanity lately ranging in everything from racially charged murders to attack on the capitol. What people rarely talk about is also the best of humanity that has been displayed; millions have American citizens have rallied together in protest of racial injustice; people have donated more to charities on Giving Tuesday 2021 than ever before; and 80% of Californians have gotten the Covid vaccine, which is higher than we’ve ever seen for the influenza vaccine. This tells us that everyone has varying degrees of “fight” in them; they will either fight a “good fight” or a bad one.

“The ultimate measure of a (hu)man is not where he stands in moments of comfort but at times of challenge.”
–Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Bill's Story

Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Proverbs 24:16

Do you know the story of Bill Wilson? He’s the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Bill and his sister were abandoned by their parents shortly after he was born and raised by his grandparents. Despite his rebellious nature and struggles with depression, he went to study at Norwich University where he met his wife Lois. Wilson was nearly expelled on several occasions for excessive drinking and a hazing incident gone wrong, but went on to graduate then enlisted in the army to fight in WW1. After he returned from the war, he married Lois and went to study in law school. He was never able to complete law school because he was too drunk to attend his own graduation. He went on to run his own business, but his constant drinking made it impossible for him to continue and permanently tarnished his reputation. Wilson had been committed to a New York hospital four times for his uncontrollable drinking, and it was during his fourth stay that he had a “religious experience” through the support of his former drinking buddy Ebby who overcame his drinking as a result of his faith and Christian small group. Wilson joined this small group that was his primary source of support and accountability to keep him sober. This small group eventually grew to be several small groups across the East Coast with hundreds of members, which evolved into the Alcoholics Anonymous we know today.
Through Bill’s failures, recovery, and faith, he was able to bring healing to millions of people. Thank God for Bill’s failures.

“In God’s economy, nothing is wasted. Through failure, we learn a lesson in humility which is probably needed, though painful it is.”
–Bill Wilson

Spiritual Growth Is Not Linear

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
1 Corinthians 13:10

What does spiritual growth look like? Is it up and to the right? Or is it more complex than that?
Many people of faith take cues from the world around us to help explain spiritual maturity. But those metaphors are not always the most helpful because the kingdom of God doesn’t operate like the kingdom of the world. The kingdom of the world rewards the proud and punishes the humble. The kingdom of the world uplifts the bold and cuts down the meek. Gains are sometimes losses and losses can be gains. Maybe the goal of spiritual growth is not to go up and to the right. In fact, spiritual growth is not linear at all.

Healthy Unity vs. Unhealthy Unity

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28

What does true unity look like to you? I’ve been in contexts where unity looked like conformity; everyone has to think, act, dress, and behave the same way. I’ve been in contexts where unity looked like control; everyone lives the way they’re instructed. But I’ve also been in contexts where unity looked like diversity in communion; different voices, styles, behaviors, and backgrounds coming together for the common good.

As a person trying to create a new community that strives for unity, I’m learning this truth:
Healthy unity embraces individual uniqueness.
Unhealthy unity controls individuals through conformity.

Culture of Fear

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6

What are you afraid of? And how much of your decision-making is based on fear? It seems like everyone around us is freaking out these days because of omicron. But how much of our fear is based in reality?

For example, if you look at the NY Times graph above, your eye naturally gravitates toward bright red line, which is the dramatic spike in Covid cases in the last month. However, that’s actually the least important data on the graph. You’ll notice that hospitalizations have not increased as drastically and that death rate has virtually plateaued. Yet, it seems like the level of fear in our culture is hyperbolically heightened. Why is that? Who benefits from your increased level of fear and panic? Do small business owners benefit? Or is it the people who control the news, social media, and technology?

For more on this topic, watch “Perspective On Fear” from our Sunday Gathering January 9.

No Fireworks Please

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

Happy New Year?! I think?

I don’t know about you but New Year’s Eve feels very bittersweet to me. In fact, many recent “fun” events are shrouded in bittersweet feelings. Getting together with family makes people worry because certain family members do not take Covid seriously. Going to a restaurant or coffeeshop is a struggle if it is crowded with unmasked guests. And hanging out with friends spontaneously doesn’t seem to be an option anymore.

One thing is certain, I don’t want to watch fireworks this New Year’s Eve. Just look at them; don’t they remind you of the Covid virus? Every time a firework goes off in the night sky, I’m gonna be thinking “Covid! Delta! OMICRON!” It’s so upsetting to me that Covid can even ruin something so benign as fireworks.

But how much of my anger is coming from within and not from extenuating circumstances? Yes, this season is still hard. Yes, there might be another surge AGAIN. And yes, we’ll have to make adjustments and adapt accordingly. For me, the big internal struggle has always been a lack of control. I cannot control the situation, so it makes me anxious and frustrated. What would happen if I have a new perspective and give it all up to the Lord? Instead of looking up at the fireworks, what if I lift my eyes to the heavens and ask God to truly help and guide me along the way? I am beginning to discover that this helps me release my need for control, live in the present, and enjoy my time day by day.

How is God challenging you to have a new perspective for 2022?

Merry Magi Christmas

When the Magi saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10-11

Merry Christmas! 

Many people know the Nativity Story, but not many know the history behind some of the details within Jesus’ birth narrative. For example, the Magi were former court officials of the remnants of the Persian Empire. They drew their wisdom from a myriad of cultures, histories, and traditions of the various nations that the Persian Empire absorbed over the centuries of rule. They were well-versed in many subjects, such as the constellation. And when there was one “star” that was out of place in the night sky, they knew it was something very special. This “star” guided their way to find Jesus whom they gifted with gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which proclaimed Jesus as King, God, and Healer respectively. Their encounter with the baby Jesus impacted them profoundly.

The Magi followed the light in the sky to find their way to Jesus;
then the Magi followed the Light of the World after they had found Jesus.

What is your North Star?

Questions For the End of the Year

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
Yes, I will remember your wonders of old.”
Psalm 77:11

With the coming of the new year, here are some questions to reflect on…

How have you overcome something difficult?
How has kindness you’ve shown or been shown impacted you in 2021?
How have you grown spiritually and emotionally?

A helpful way we can grow and develop as human beings is to look back and acknowledge the ways we’ve grown over the past year. According to the CDC, being connected to a spiritual community is one of the most effective ways to stay emotionally and spiritually healthy.

Benefits of Practiced Gratitude

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
His steadfast love endures forever
Psalm 107:1

According to Psychology Today there are seven scientifically PROVEN benefits of gratitude in a person’s life. Gratitude improves relationships, gratitude improves physical health, gratitude improves emotional health, gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression, gratitude helps people sleep better, gratitude improves self-esteem, and gratitude increases mental strength. And these are just the areas of benefits that are measurable and proven so far.

But what’s key is the regular practice of gratitude. If gratitude is suppressed or just “kept inside,” it yields the same results as being ungrateful. Gratitude needs to be expressed daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the context. Here are three easily accessible ways people can regularly practice gratitude.
1. Express gratitude intentionally through prayer
2. Express gratitude thru writing in your journal
3. Express gratitude by speaking to your friends, family, or partner

So if you’re grateful at all this Thanksgiving weekend, please be sure to express it.