Be Careful What You Say

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

                                                                                      (James 3:4-8 KJV)

For good or for bad the tongue can set the course of our futures.

James compares the tongue to a ship's rudder.

Although, small in comparison to the rest of the ship the rudder steers the ship. Likewise what proceeds from our mouths can have a great effect on our futures as well as the futures of those around us.

James also compares our tongues to fire. The humongous fires out west and north of us have had some serious effects on the people around the country. The air we breathe has become difficult to breathe at times especially for those who have asthma or allergies or other like diseases. Who even know why these fires start? Some start from lightning strikes. Some are accidental. Others are started by arsonists. The fires spread out. The smoke moves through the air directly affecting people even a thousand miles away. The smoke dissipates and travel around the globe. Fires affect more than just the people who are in their immediate vicinity.

Likewise our tongues can start some major fires. The evil; the lies, that we speak can spread like wildfire harming not just the people that we intend to harm; but, can have a lasting negative effect on people all around us and sometimes world-wide depending on who is spreading the evil. If it is the national media then the wildfire can spread pretty far and fast.

The words that we speak can have a positive or negative effect on the community. May God help us to control our tongues so that we do not steer the ship in the wrong direction or purposely start any wildfires in order to harm others.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Mouth Of A Fool Invites Ruin

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

                                                         (Prov 29:8-12 KJV)

Rulers (as well as the media) who buy into and promulgate lies destroy communities. They can destroy entire countries. They care not for the people that they destroy. Leaders who keep moving on their chosen path of destruction in attempts to show that they are the leader and can do what they what because they are in charge are risking the very people that they have been called to defend.

No one know for sure how many people died yesterday in the bombings at Kabul.  The media kept reporting twelve or thirteen. I did not see any report nor did I hear any of the national media ask (other than the Wall Street Journal) ask how many of the allies  and their families that assisted our military over the last twenty years were killed. This morning I am finally seeing the reports of over ninety civilians. But, no one seems to have asked yet if there were any Americans among those civilians. Maybe someone asked and I just didn't hear that one instance. For all of the news releases we're hearing; we're not hearing much new. They are not being as transparent as they promised they would be. 

We are hearing that the Taliban is working with us. They will keep Americans and our allies safe until August 31st. I suspect our leaders think we should actually believe this and trust that this will happen. Do you? Are you willing to trust a terrorist organization that just overthrew a government?

It is not always just the words that we need to listen to. As a country we need to learn to watch their body language as they speak; how they respond to stress; and what they actually do.  Their words may convey an amount of compassion for others but their movements; their actions, do not.

May God protect the people who are subject to rulers who rule only for their own interests. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Live In Peace With One Another

      

         Live In Peace With One Another!

Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.”
Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
“He won’t call me to account”?
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
that would not otherwise be found out.
The Lord is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere earthly mortals
will never again strike terror.
(Psalm 10 NIV)

Today is a day of national mourning as we grieve the tragedy of September 11, 2001. We continue to suffer and grieve as we continue to struggle to comprehend the inhumanity of humankind. It is difficult, if not impossible, to understand how or why anyone would kill so many people in the name of God.

But, 9-11 was not the first time nor the last. History is replete with religious fanatics; religious wars. The Christian church on earth is not without its own guilt. As there are Muslim extremists so there are and have been Christian extremists who destroy the lives of others for what their egos tell them is the thing to do. I often consider the damage that Christian have done even to Christians over the centuries; particularly, as the hierarchies have striven for political power. Those are some serious "shake my head" moments as I wonder how humanity can be so inhumane.

It is not just religious fanatics who strive for power to gratify their own egos, either. Consider how many people die daily because of being terrorized not just by strangers; but, often by friends and even family. It seriously grieves me when I consider Chicago's crime rate alone and Chicago is just one of example among many; albeit one of the worst. How much more inhumane can humanity become than to put one's own desire for power above the lives of others? 

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; encourage them, and listen to their cry, defend the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

God's Peace be with you all - Pr. J

Humbly Pray For The Healing Of The Land

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron 7:14 NIV)

Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer; but, we need to pray everyday for this country, for our communities, for our congregations, and for our family, friends, and neighbors.

The Lord promised Solomon that if we figured out that we were not God and turned to Him in prayer rather than pursuing our wicked ways, he would heal the land. He will make us whole. 

God sent His Son to die for us that we might be forgiven and be made whole. Yet, the land; the people, are a mess! The forgiveness of our sins; the healing of the land and ourselves are precious gifts from God. But, unless we accept these gifts they are of no use to us. It is like receiving an awesome birthday gift and then putting it on a shelf in the closet to enjoy at a later day. But, that later day never comes. We get distracted and forget to turn to that gift, take it out of the closet, use it, and enjoy the gift.

If we would have God heal us, then in humble prayer we ought to confess our sins. We ought to turn to Him and receive the precious gift of forgiveness; the precious gift of life; a life of wholeness in His sight. 

May we never forget to pray daily for the healing of our land; our country, our communities, congregations, and for our family, friends, and neighbors.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Poverty

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Matt 11:28 NRSV

 

Jobless, homeless, hungry, and cold: that is the state of a lot of Americans. So many are weary of struggling to survive from day to day. We live in a country of some pretty big extremes. It amazes me when the political and social upper classes speak like people earning $50,000 a year are poor. In 2012, the National Center for Law and Justice estimated that one out of sixteen people were living in deep poverty; that is they lived with income 50% below the poverty line. Imagine living like that! Those who live in deep poverty will never see this blog. They do not have access to computers or the internet. Many live on the streets. Just maybe our elected officials make so much money they have lost touch with the reality of what kind of struggles many Americans actually live with. $50,000. a year is not poor for an traditional family of two parents and two children. It should definitely not be considered poor for a family of two adults. One can feed and clothe and shelter their families quite adequately on $50,000 a year.

 

Personally, I get weary of people who have I-Phones and I-Pods; have more bedrooms than children; and, take vacations two or three times a year complaining that they don't make fair wages or are broke. I get weary when people tell me that they are "poor" when they are not poor; not by a long shot. We need to remember that we are representatives of Christ. He calls us, even as he called Peter to feed his sheep. He does not call us to build up secret storehouses for ourselves and then go around like we are in need of charity ourselves and unable to help others to meet their daily needs.

 

May God help all of his representatives to feed his sheep; to help carry the burdens of others so that they might find rest. The followers and representatives of Jesus the Christ must step up and do this as it seems quite apparent that our elected representatives don't have much of a clue as how to do this.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. In 2015, there were 43.1 million people living in poverty in the United States. Feed His sheep!

We Are One Church; The Body Of Christ

"...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

                                                                                                                       (2 Chron 7:14-15 NIV)

Yesterday, was the National Day of Prayer. I had the opportunity to attend both the Flagler County Sheriff Department's Prayer Breakfast and the National Day of Prayer in Bunnell. Since, I am relatively new to the area, it was a great opportunity to meet and connect with others of the faith community. I noticed that many of the prayers, including my own, referenced the scripture above from 2 Chronicles.

If those who are called by His name would only humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways is not a call to the atheist or the agnostic or anyone else who does  not believe the one true God. It is a call and a promise to those who say that they believe. If it is truly healing that we desire for the communities around us it needs to begin with a change in us; those who profess to follow Christ. We must humble ourselves and confess that we are a part of the problem when the Good News, that has been entrusted to us, is the answer. We often allow the devil to distract us with personal agendas leaving very little time or energy left to share that Good News either in word or deed. We often think so highly of ourselves that we cannot see anyone or anything else; but, the things and persons in our own little circle of friends or family. God's family is not restricted to our own little circle. He desires that all would be members of that family. But, how can they if they have not heard; if they have not been invited?

There is only one Church. With that one Church, which is the Body of Christ, there are many, many members. We are not all of the same congregation or denomination. We do not always share the same doctrines. But, we share the same faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and for all people. Let us learn to put aside our differences; our own egos; humbling ourselves so that we might serve together as many members of the one Church; the Body of Christ.

May God help us to turn from our wicked ways so that He may use the church on earth more fully to bring healing and wholeness to the people around us. God keep the church from being a stumbling block to others!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Live In Peace

"Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy." Prov 12:20 NIV

Very, very tired this morning after reading the national news. It is draining to see so much animosity toward those who do not believe the way some might think everyone should believe.

There is way too much evil in the world. There is way too much bullying of those who do not think or act like some think everyone ought to think or act. Apparently, it has once again gone way past bullying; but, has advanced to actually destroying other people's property. The bullying has advanced to interfering with the rights and freedom of others.

Jesus, himself, did not get involved in the politics of the world. He got involved in the world, for sure. He forgave the sinner. He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. He did not promote violence against those who would not accept his ways. In fact, he loved all people so much that he was willing to die for us. He died that we might live in the peace that only God can give as we are reconciled to God through the shedding of his blood on the cross for us. He died for those who denied him. He died for those who crucified him. He died for you and me. This is the epitome of love; of unconditional love.

Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (John 15:12-14)

This is true love; that we should give our all for others whether we agree with them or not. Unconditional love calls for sacrifice. It calls for peace and reconciliation; not plotting evil against those who disagree with us.

May God help us to respect and love our neighbor no matter who we might think they are; no matter whether we agree with their politics or not, because we are all children of God. 

God's Peace - Pr. J