Prayer for Japan and those touched by the Quake/Tsunami

Dear God,
Tonight I go to sleep in a house which will keep the weather out. I have food in my refrigerator. My water is drinkable. I go to sleep not fearing the ground will move underneath me. I do not fear the water will sweep me or my loved ones away. But my brothers and sisters in Japan do not have safe structures to sleep in, food in their refrigerators, drinkable water. And their world is shaking, a lot. So I pray, Lord, have mercy. I cannot do much to ease their suffering. I cannot offer them a place to sleep in peace. So I pray, Lord, have mercy on the people of Japan. May aid get to them quickly. May peace once again come to their land. And may your people share love and grace as they bring food, clothing, and other aid.
Amen.

Living in Uncertainty

I am living in uncertainty. Living in the in between, once again. I am learning to find God in the midst of uncertainty, which is somewhat odd. In the churches I grew up in, we were told to be certain. Certain about the existence of God, certain that Scripture--word for word--is to be taken literally. Certain about what is a sin and what is holy. And so the picture I painted of a good Christian was one who lived in certainty. Any doubt showed weakness, any uncertainty showed a lack of faith.

But here I am, once again, in the midst of uncertainty. This is a place I am getting to know better as I get to know God and myself better. Seminary solidified my relationship with uncertainty. Here I go throwing myself at the mercy of God. Where you lead me I will go! But God is not one who gives us the full picture all at once. God is not one who gives us the answers and reasons all at once. And as I study Scripture, I seem to come up with more questions than answers.

I am living in uncertainty. It use to throw me into anxiety. But now it throws me into the arms of God. Perhaps this is where I need to be, simply trusting God, not the certainty of my situation. I am living in uncertainty and, you know, it is ok.

Into Your Hands

So I have submitted my work for ordination. And the words of Scripture that come to my mind are the words of Christ on the Cross, "Into your hands I commend my spirit." I wonder if, in a very small way, I am understanding those words a new. As Jesus said those words, was he saying, "Father, I have been obedient. I have proclaimed your kingdom, I have healed the sick, set the captives free, and when they turned on me I remained peaceful. I trust you to do what you said you will do." In his heart, did Christ say "but if I perish, still will I praise you"?
That is at least what I feel like I am saying today. God, I have been obedient. I have followed you this far. And now, I commend my life to you. I trust you are calling me. And whatever the outcome, I will praise you.

who do you think you are, running around leaving scars?

I heard a song on the radio the other day. "Who do you think you are, running around leaving scars?" We have all experienced the explosion of an emotional bomb and perhaps we have been the emotional bomb. Someone you may or may not know melts down, explodes. Shrapnel goes everywhere, leaving people bleeding in the wake.
"Who do you think you are, running around leaving scars?" I think we are human. We are all broken and hurt. And sometimes we explode, melt down and hurt others unintentionally. And sometimes we use the explosion intentionally. We leave people confused and uncomfortable at the very least and we leave others emotionally scarred.
Today, an emotional bomb went off next to me. And so while I want to ask who does this person think they are, I remember I have also been the one exploding. And the one who exploded, well, they are obviously in a lot of pain. They needed a place to explode, to let out that pain.

The American Beatitudes?

If America had its own Beatitudes what would they be?
Blessed are those who pick themselves up by their bootstraps and are self made people for theirs will be fortune and fame.
Blessed is the lone ranger, the one who does it their way, for they will never need comfort.
Blessed are the powerful and the influential for they will get what they want.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for instant self gratification for they will be filled and then empty and need more.
Blessed are those who stand up for their rights at all cost and have the attitude “take no prisoner” for they will be admired.
Blessed are those who are strong willed and those who do what feels right in their own understanding, those who stay true to themselves, for they can create God over in their own image.
Blessed are those who can tell others off and demean those who oppose them, for they will be called a good leader, a child of America, and offered their own television show.
Blessed are those who stand up for what they believe and keep people out of their exclusive clubs, for this temporary world is theirs.

Arizona Tragedy--some thoughts on language

Yesterday a madman, a disturbed individual or two, a disgruntled voter, someone named Jared went to a "congress on your corner" meeting and shot 19 people, killing a 9 year old and a federal judge and severely wounding Rep. Gabrielle Gifford.
The sheriff in Arizona stated "vitriol may be free speech but not without consequence." People began to complain about the political atmosphere in the country being filled with anger and hate. And then people found on Sarah Palin's website her "crosshairs" where on a map of the United States target marks were placed over areas where Democrat congress members serve. The words No retreat, reload appeared on the website. Palin cannot be held responsible. Nor can Beck.
No, their words were not the rally calls to violence. No, Palin and Beck are not calling people to go and shoot democrats. But have their words added to the violence and anger? Or have their words added to peaceful change?
Scripture states, be angry and do not sin. Being angry is not a sin. And there are plenty of things to be angry with in a broken world and broken system. Using violent imagery when inciting people to act may be cute and get your point across, but it also does not help encourage mature, civil dialogue and solutions.
No Palin is not to blame. But I would ask her and Beck to begin to choose their words better because we can be better. Words have power.

The New Year

I like the word "new". I like to get new stuff. I like new starts. I like "new". But in Scripture when the word new is used is it in the same manner we Americans use it? If I get a new car, I am replacing my old one. I discard the old.
With the coming of the New Year, we do not discard all the years which came before. In fact, we are the sum of those past years in good and bad ways. The New Testament does not replace the Old. The New Covenant in Christ does not discard the Old covenant. Christ came to fulfill the law, not do away with it. I am a new creation, the old has passed away---but does that mean the old is discarded?
God created us with strengths and talents and the ability to love and the ability to know God. In Christ we are new, the old that was self centered and broken has been healed and made new. In Christ we are new, the old that was good has been filled with Christ.
May 2011 be filled with Christ.