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"Best at Bragging?"

1/29/2019

But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. James 4;16"



LISTEN TO: Curtis Mayfield: "People Get Ready"   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOXmaSCt4ZE

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "

As part of our 2019 resolution to become more Christ-like, we continue our walk through Paul's inspired passage on love.
Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts
in the world. Today we meditate on the the bad habit of boasting and how it gets in the way of love.
The following chuckle highlights the problem of boasting.

Amir: You Americans are always boasting how Paul Bunyan wasthe greatest lumberjack ever, but we
Moroccans know that Ibrim Hassan was theworld's greatest lumberjack.
Fred: I never heard of Ibrim Hassan. Who was he?
Amir: He was the famous lumberjack of the Sahara Forest.
Fred: Umm, don't you mean the Sahara Desert?
Amir: Oh, sure, NOW it's a desert!

The root word for“brag” in Greek is very picturesque and is closest to our English word,“wind-bag.” When you and brag, we
are demonstrating our insecurity and spiritual immaturity. Even if what we are bragging about something that is true, we fail
to see how it may hurt or discourage someone else.  Love is not big-headed but big-hearted. Love focuses on how the other
feels, not on our own feeling. This means the more loving we become, the less boasting we need to do. The greater our
spiritual gifts, the less prone we should be to brag. After all, the gifts you have been graciously given are from God. If we are
to brag, we are to brag about the Lord -- and how God is working in our life.

"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 2 Cor10:17

Now all of us should be gracious and share in the good fortune of others. We should be able to share wonderful accomplishments without evoking envy in others. However it is the style of bragging that has emerged these days that is a
concern. There is an article about seeking a truce in the bragging wars that abound in New York City. (My child scored 12 goals in one game!!! My daughter learned to read at 6 months!! My son got into Brown, Harvard and Yale, and is having a hard time choosing! I so tired, we just got back from Palm Beach and we have to go to Aspen for spring break!). So in boasting we draw attention to  ourselves, without giving any thought to the circumstances of others. We do not boast to build up the Body, but to increase our prestige.

There is a growing etiquette about bragging, because of its potential to alienate
and cause problems in community.

As we turn to prayer, and learn from Jesus, who was "humble of heart," we learn to share our joys in ways that are sensitive to others, and we hear the joys and accomplishment of others with thanksgiving, not with resentment.
This way, we build up the body of Jesus in the world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/fashion/time-for-a-truce-in-the-bragging-wars.html?pagewanted=all

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"Overcoming Envy"

1/21/2019

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"You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:2-3"

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "

LISTEN TO:   Vashawn Mitchell, "Nobody Greater" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyRv-tbGJ1Y

As part of our 2019 resolution to become more Christ-like, we continue our walk through Paul's inspired passage on love from his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts in the world.

Paul now tells us what love is NOT. Love is not envious.

In envy you want what you never had. In jealousy, you are threatened with the loss of something you have (or thought you had). Envy is a two-person emotion; I want what you have. Jealousy is the three-person love triangle, I want who you have. Jealousy  can also mean "watchful, " "anxiously suspicious, " "zealous, " or "expecting complete devotion." The last is normally applied to God.

We all feel envious or jealous occasionally. That's normal. But holding on to the feeling of envy/jealousy is a serious problem. If we don’t let go of envy it causes us to be bitter and resentful, potentially disrupting relationships.

Envy (and jealousy) is often associated with the color green and is portrayed as 'the green-eyed monster'. Green is a color associated with sickness and the skin of people turns yellow or green tinge when they are seriously ill. Even the color of many unripe fruits are yellow or green. Have you ever tasted a green banana? Ugh! In the ancient Greek theory of medicine, which long governed medical treatment, Envy (and jealousy) was considered to result in an excess of bile, which would give a pale-greenish cast to the skin. This idea remained popular for centuries. It famously appears in Shakespeare’s "Othello," when Lago refers to jealousy (envy) as a "green-eyed" monster. Shakespeare, in the “Merchant of Venice”, denoted how jealously could destroy life.

No wonder God wanted us to take envy seriously when he gave the Ten Commandments. Envy, unchecked, ruptures relationships and community.
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” (Ex. 20: 1-17; Deut. 5:4-21)

The nasty bile of envy (jealousy) also eats away at our spirits. It destroys our peace of mind. Envy is a spiritual cancer: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones” (Proverbs 14:30).

We can be envious of many things. The beautiful house a neighbor has. The fine clothing and style of another. The intelligence and wit of a friend. Bank accounts. Travel exploits. Professional accomplishments. That your friend’s kid got into a better preschool (or college) than yours. The list can go on. Once we give Envy a foothold, it will find more and more things to feel dissatisfied about. Envy’s aim is to turn us into that nasty greenish bile, that people around us can “spiritually taste” and feel – and flee from. This is not God’s will for us!!

What can we do to conquer envy (jealousy)?

1. Count your blessings: Everyday. Every hour, if you have to. Health, The home you live in, the fact that you can afford three square meals a day. What you have overcome. Family. Friends. Be present to what you have rather than living in another "might have" world. (“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. .” Ephesians 5:3-4)

2. Learn to be at peace with yourself:  If you live in the Western world, chances are that you are better off than everyone except royalty was even a hundred years ago. You've got access to exotic foods that even kings and queens would never have seen as recently as a century ago. You don't have to grow your own food or physically battle with others to keep your human rights. Be grateful about this! So keep the focus on yourself, where you have come from, and not on comparing yourself to other’s journey (“Submit to God and be at peace with him, in this way prosperity will come to you” Job 22:21)

3. Turn the envy around: When your feeling envy, learn to give thanks for the people or circumstances you envy. Remember God promises to meet your needs: … (You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Phil 4:19-20): So keep your focus always on God, and not on what others have. In everything give thanks.

4. Do an envy inventory. If you find yourself caught, seek help from a mature believer, and in prayer:
Do you congratulate those who succeed?
·         Do you feel good, bad or neutral about such people?
·         Do you worry that you may look bad in comparison?
·         Do you find yourself obsessing about another person's success?
·         Do you feel good when the other person fails?
·         Do you get upset when you don't get your own way?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1435290

If envy or jealousy rears its head, Deal with it quickly. Remember: we are created to love, and love isn't envious.   So let us confess our sins and struggles. Let go. Let it pass. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and following his way of service, -- our way out of the madness of envy.

PRAY: "O God, cure me of envy."

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"Striving To Be Kind"

1/15/2019

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"And be ye kind one to another... Ephesians 4:32"

LISTEN TO: Glen Campbell, "Try a Little Kindness"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2H-GiiDfnE

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "

As part of our 2019 resolution to become more Christ-like, we continue our walk through Paul's inspired passage on love. Paul breaks down for us what Love does, just as Jesus models for us in his actions and teachings how love acts and reacts in the world.

Today Paul tells us that Love is Kind. Kindness is also considered a fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22). So kindness is a virtue that must be put into practice and deliberately tended to in order for it to mature in us.

There is some folklore that kindness is the lost 11th of the 10 commandments: "Thou shall be merciful and kind to all creatures that roam the fruits of thy land." To be kind is to treat others with care, consideration and compassion. The root of the word suggests to "serve usefully." "Loving -kindness" is a word used about 30 times in the Old Testament, exclusively for God. God takes the initiative to help his people, to save them, forgive them, lead them, care for them. Loving-kindness speaks of the fundamental nature of God, revealed to us in Jesus. Jesus has compassion on the crowds, and feeds them. Jesus reaches out to tax collectors and sinners. He heals, calms the storms; Jesus teaches us in parables to be kind, like the "Good Samaritan, the Good Shepherd, or the Workers in the Vineyard, what kindness looks like. Kindness is a key active ingredient in love.

The great thing about kindness is that we can start easy. Kindness is within our reach. As we act kindly, we not only make someone else feel good, our hearts are transformed as well; we become changed into the mindset of Christ. A Jewish saying would suggest:: "The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G-d, and deeds of loving-kindness."

Practice kindness daily. Here is a list of kind deeds. Everyday pick one. Or let it inspire you to something similar. The important thing is to go out of our way to be kind. See what a difference it makes!!

Buy or prepare a meal for a homeless person.* smile :. )* call someone to tell her/him that you love her/him.* write a handwritten note. *knit a beanie or blanket for a homeless person.* put change in the washer/dryer for the next person.* fill an expired or about to expire parking meter.* buy a little extra grocery for the local food pantry.* pay the toll for the person behind you.* instead of just thinking it, compliment someone. *ask someone “how are you?” mean it. and listen.* make some baked goods for your neighbor(s).* hug your loved ones for no particular reason. *make breakfast for your partner or housemate.* call someone you haven’t talked to in a while.* give someone a flower …or a dozen.* offer someone else your seat on the bus/train.* visit a senior center or nursing home.* pick up trash.* donate one of your favorite possessions.* give someone a fruit basket.* volunteer for a charity.* build a home with Habitat for Humanity.* pay for the person behind you at the drive-thru.* pick up the tab for a random table at a restaurant.* put $10 on a random gas pump.* buy flowers for the cashier at the grocery store.* buy an extra umbrella on a rainy day.* give your waiter or waitress a huge tip.* don’t lose any opportunity to say: i love you. *leave a funny or kind note in an unexpected place.* read to a child. *rake (or shovel a path) someone’s yard.* be a courteous driver.* hold the elevator. *practice patience.* refrain from gossiping; speak well of others. *act as if the glass were half full.* let someone get ahead of you in line.* listen intently. *babysit for a single parent.* be bold in your appreciation of life around you. *compliment a stranger sincerely.* run an errand for someone.* donate your professional services. *invite someone who is alone over for dinner.* write a letter of appreciation.* donate blood.* make time. *speak gently.* laugh heartily.* share your last bit.* one time, stop everything to help someone else...

PRAY: "God of Loving-kindness , nudge me throughout this day to be kind."

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January 08th, 2019

1/8/2019

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"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9"

LISTEN TO: Plumb, "How Many Times "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaeaayqrzS4

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "

We've been discussing resolutions for the New Year; on how to become more loving, Christ followers in 2019. Patience tops the list. Love is patient. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). It blooms when we cultivate it with care. We have ample opportunity to practice patience because we do not live in patient times. Cars weave in and out of traffic with impunity. We repeatedly press an elevator button, thinking it will come quicker. We have frozen meals, and 1 in 4 Americans eat fast foods at least once a day. We expect our orders or purchases to be processed quickly, children to learn that piano piece more rapidly. Chop, Chop!

Life, however, doesn't rush in the fast lane. One of my favorite Seminary professors, Dr. Kosuke Koyama, wrote a book called the "Three Mile an Hour God." Dr. Koyama noted, "People no longer see one another with faces, but as numbers and replaceable units in productive processes and systems. ...Our God is a three-mile-an-hour God." That is the speed at which humans walk. That is the speed at which Jesus wended his way through Galilee -- touching the ill, chatting with widows, pausing in marketplaces to observe children at play, plucking grain in the fields on a sabbath day." Only with patience can we reclaim the pace in which we have the ability to discern the face of God in each other.

So to be patient is to attune ourselves with the true pace of life. Some parts are faster, others are slower. We need patience with both. The root meaning of patience in Hebrew is to be slow to anger. One word in Greek tells us to "bear with adversity." So patience forgoes our own "timing," so we can relate and care for others calmly and with dignity. We do not judge or force growth. We endure the discomfort of trying circumstances without complaint, blaming or annoyance. We learn to let go of unrealistic expectations. We put others first. We put ourselves in another's shoes. Over time patience will begin a more natural reaction in face of adversity, delay, set-backs and misunderstandings

Here are some steps to learn patience:

1: Practice Wait: “count to 10 before you respond” is a tried and true way to practice patience. While you count, breathe in deeply. Pray for help. Let God take charge.

2: Take a longer view: If you’re reacting because someone upset you (e.g.: a friend who hurt your feelings, a stranger who was rude, etc.) or then give a little prayer of thanks that it wasn't worse, say a blessing for your friend (who probably needs it). If you are tempted to break a resolution, pause a minute and visualize your bigger goal— becoming a more spiritual person. Remember: "this too shall pass."

3. Give yourself a break: If you act on an impulse before thinking about it, acknowledge that you did it, then forgive yourself and get back on track. If you find yourself acting impatiently a lot, pray and ask God to show you what's going on in your life and heart. Too many demands? Too many buried hurts and fears? Be merciful with yourself, you are human. Remember God is patient and loving, and forgiving, and is a light to our path. As this becomes a reality in our life, we are called to treat others in the same way.

4: Celebrate: Remember to celebrate your accomplishments; when you withheld the cross word, when you took the extra time to help a co-worker, or took time out of your day to aid a stranger. Frequent small celebrations are a way to reward yourself for patience, and to increase your motivation to be even more patient.

PRAY: "Lord, teach us patience, so we may grow in your school of love'

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Loving Like Jesus

1/2/2019

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"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1"

LISTEN TO: Mark Schultz, Love Has Come http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZOMxPTXQuA

January is often a time of resolutions. To make changes in how we live. Getting in shape, losing weight, stop smoking -- all top the lists. Most studies show that most resolutions don't make it a week, let alone to February. Hard as we try (or don't try!) we fail. We can sympathize with the Apostle Paul when he bemoans:
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:15)."

We need support and guidance to change, whether its a running buddy or a friend who holds us accountable to our goals. While ultimately it depends on us, we need to remind ourselves we can't make major changes alone. We need support, information, and most of all, we need God.

We realize that while becoming physically healthy is an important resolution, becoming spiritually mature is critical. For this we truly need God's grace.

Our journey of faith begins with the truth: God is Love, and Jesus is Love Incarnate. God loves us, just as we are. He fashions us to be a Child of Love. This means nothing unless open our hearts, take this in, and submit to God's love to go about transforming us.

Prayer, studying the scriptures, worshiping give us an important foundation to understand God's love. But Love must be practiced and put into action. So daily we face the challenges and joys, and we have a choice: will I love through this situation or respond negatively? God helps us by giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us to chose love.

So let our 2019 RESOLUTION to love more deeply and selflessly. Let us help each other -- and let us being by meditating on Paul's inspired words:

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "

I would challenge us to mediate on these words, every day for a month, as part of our 2019resolution. See what develops. what actions we are led to perform, in the name of Love.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1"

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"Best at Bragging?"

"Overcoming Envy"

"Striving To Be Kind"

January 08th, 2019

Loving Like Jesus

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