tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83096826835868403582024-02-08T02:58:58.933-08:00Daily Prayer with Rev DavidDaily prayer featuring lectio divina or sacred reading.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-14008386266015461962018-03-19T10:19:00.000-07:002018-03-19T10:19:26.283-07:00"Promised... Eternal LIfe."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
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<strong>1 John 2:18-25</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">18</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">19</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">20</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">21</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">22</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">23</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">24</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">25</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And this is what he has promised us,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> eternal life.</span><br />
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1) "...it is the last hour;" "...many antichrists have come;" "...it is the last hour;" "...for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us;" "...all of you have knowledge;" "...abide;" "...eternal life;" "...and this is what he has promised us, eternal life;"<br />
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2) Ugh. So, when all else fails, demonize those who differ in opinion from you, and totalize: if they were part of us they would not have left us. I cannot affirm the arguments here. It denies the grief of breaking with those we have loved. It denies the possibility that there can be two less that perfect understandings of the truth. It denies diversity of opinion and experience. It denies Jesus' teaching, "those who are not against us are with us." The fledgling church experience no end of conflict as it worked out future dogma. But wouldn't Christ have us hold one another compassionately. Christ was far more concerned about feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the grieving and liberating the oppressed than with "the last hour." It pains me what became of his message. Here "Eternal life" has already started to be coopted into an end-times, "other worldly" booby-prize, rather than a lived political reality of treating one another with compassion and empathy. Were we to truly to abide in 'the Father and the Son" and "the Father and the Son" were to abide in us we would not longer feel the need to talk about "antichrists". To "the Father and the Son" what is the "antichrist"?!? Nothing. Eternal life extends in all directions here and now, into our past, outward - connecting us to every part of creation, the heavens and the earth - and into the future, the end (purpose) of all creation. What we heard from the beginning was that "it was good," and that we are beloved as part of that good creation, each of us made in the image and likeness of the creator.<br />
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3) What is the invitation in all this? To abide in "the Father and the Son;" to abide in Christ and to let Christ abide in us.<br />
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"Holy One, abide in us."<br />
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Breathprayer: "Promised... eternal life."<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-4615313475004363672018-03-15T10:39:00.003-07:002018-03-15T10:39:35.731-07:00"The Word of God... Abides in You."<br />
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I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.</div>
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<strong>1 John 2:12-17</strong></div>
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<sup class="ii" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12</sup> I am writing to you, little children,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
<br class="ii" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /><sup class="ii" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">13</sup> I am writing to you, fathers,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> because you know him who is from the beginning.<br class="kk" style="background-color: #ffaaaa; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 48px;" />I am writing to you, young people,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> because you have conquered the evil one.
<br class="ii" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /><sup class="ii" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">14</sup> I write to you, children,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> because you know the Father.<br class="kk" style="background-color: #ffaaaa; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 48px;" />I write to you, fathers,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> because you know him who is from the beginning.<br class="kk" style="background-color: #ffaaaa; margin-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 48px;" />I write to you, young people,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> because you are strong<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> and the word of God abides in you,<br style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; width: auto;" /> and you have overcome the evil one.
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<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">15</span> Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">16</sup>for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">17</sup>And the world and its desire<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> are passing away, but those who do the will of God live for ever.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
1) "...your sins are forgiven;" "...from the beginning;" "... the world and its desire are passing away;" "...do the will of God;" "...live for ever;" "...the word of God abides in you;"</div>
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2) I'm not sure what to do with this passage. If feels a little "works righteousness" with "because you have conquered the evil one." And I'm not sure how literally it takes "the things in the world." Certainly, all things in our world are passing away. But this passage seems to abandon being in the world; does it deny the incarnation? It seems very Greek in its dualism. I appreciate the call to doing the will of God. "The word of God abides in you," but the implication is that the word of God abides in you because "you have conquered the evil one," because "you know him who is from the beginning," because you "do not love the world or the things of the world;" and that would be a very strong works righteousness. Or is it because God abides in you... you are then able to do these other things. The language, translated here, isn't clear. The passage does begin with "because your sins are forgiven on account of his name" not because of anything you have done. When are we aware that the word of God is abiding in us? I did some beautiful visits yesterday. I meditate. I play with watercolour. We celebrate lives well lived. We feed, clothe, and shelter so many people here at Trinity, all the time.</div>
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3) What is the invitation in all this? To let God's word abide in us. It abides in us whether we bid it or not, but we do choose whether we live as though God's word abides in us. "Do the will of God."</div>
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"Holy One, abide in us. Guide us to do your will."</div>
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Breathprayer: "The word of God... abides in you."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-88687882688852535522018-03-14T14:56:00.000-07:002018-03-14T14:56:18.834-07:00"The True Light... Already Shining."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>1 John 2:7-11</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">7</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">8</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">9</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Whoever says, ‘I am in the light’, while hating a brother or sister,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> is still in the darkness.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">10</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Whoever loves a brother or sister</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> lives in the light, and in such a person</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> there is no cause for stumbling.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">11</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But whoever hates another believer</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness. </span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...beloved;" "...old commandment;" "..from the beginning;" "...the word that you have heard;" "...true in him and in you;" "...the darkness is passing away;" "...the true light is already shining;" "...no cause for stumbling;" "...whoever loves a brother;" "...the darkness has brought on blindness;"<br />
<br /><br />
2) I have to wonder if loving a brother or sister entails affection? I'm pretty sure that even here in 1 John, as in Paul's letters, loving one another is more about how we treat each other than about feeling warm fuzzies for one another. It is hard enough to treat one another with dignity and respect some days without the added expectation that we will also feel warm and fuzzy about each other. And then there are those whom it is so easy to love. Thank God for them! I don't think I'm one of them. I'm quite likeable, I'm charming, funny, and intelligent. But I'm too honest and blunt for most people. and once I think I know the truth of something, I'm dogmatic. "...the true light is already shining;" do we believe that? where do we have access to the true light that is already shining? Those people who are easy to love, maybe. Certainly in those people it is hard to love when we still manage to love them!<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To be more open to empathy for those hard to love folk.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, keep us mindful of the graciousness you show us by loving us even when we are less loveable."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "the true light... already shining."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-13556880335395587062018-03-13T11:49:00.000-07:002018-03-13T11:49:50.718-07:00"Know Him... Abide in Him."<br />
<div>
I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<strong>1 John 2:1-6</strong></div>
<div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 600px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="cc" style="color: #666666; float: left; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin-right: 6.4px; vertical-align: top;">2</span>My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2</sup>and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 600px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3</span> Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4</sup>Whoever says, ‘I have come to know him’, but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist;
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5</sup>but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him:
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6</sup>whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1) "...we have an advocate;" "...for the sins of the whole world;" "...Whoever says, 'I have come to know him', but does not obey his commandments, is a liar;" "...the love of God has reached perfection;" "...whoever says, 'I abide in him', ought to walk just as he walked;"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2) I should think there are few of us who could walk "just as he walked." Another call to humility. I'm not really happy with the image of "the father" in this passage, as if God is wrathful and wanting to do violence to us and Jesus is the only thing preventing that. Not my theology. I do want those of us to who claim the narrative of Jesus to behave more as he behaved. Its a constant struggle. Daily are the trials, but so are the blessings. Yesterday had many blessings, and so too, already, has today. "I have come to know him." What exactly does it mean to "come to know him?" I witness Christ. I believe Christ communes with me and I with him. I believe we have journeyed together, intimately, throughout my life. But would I claim, "I have come to know him?" There are people in my life I might make that claim about, though few. I even surprise myself on no few occasions. What exactly does it mean to say, "I have come to know him?" I'm sure there are plenty of folk out there who make great claims about their knowledge of Christ. I am just terribly, terribly grateful for the ways in which I experience Christ manifest in my life and the life of my community, and I endeavor to live, motivated by that experience. We don't spend enough energy observing the claim that Jesus is atoning "for the sins of the WHOLE world."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3) What is the invitation in all this? To live as one who has "known" Christ.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Holy One, keep us in the truth, help make us honest."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Breathprayer: "Know him... abide in him."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-17194817219682904462018-03-12T10:45:00.005-07:002018-03-12T10:45:51.227-07:00"God Is Light... Faithful and Just."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask to show patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>1 John 1:5-10</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">5</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">6</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">7</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">8</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">9</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">10</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "God is light;" "...in him there is no darkness at all;" "...he himself is in the light;" "...we deceive ourselves;" "...the truth is not in us;" "...he who is faithful and just;" <br />
<br /><br />
2) Immediately I have to wonder, what constitutes "darkness" such that there is "no darkness at all" in God? the following line seems to illustrate a little more on what constitutes "darkness." The things that we do that deny God. Is he "light" or is he "in the light"? Walking with God/Jesus is to confess our sins. Walking in the light, means admitting to the shadow that is in us. God is light, faithful, just, and true. Can we trust God's light, faithfulness, justice, and truth enough to confess our shadow/sin/darkness faithfully. I was just listening to a clip on Facebook about raising teenagers. The speaker talked about getting ready to ride a roller coaster. You sit in the car and someone comes a long to put down a metal bar across your lap. Immediately you push and pull on the bar. It is not your desire for the bar to give way. You want the bar to do its job and you are testing it. The speaker compared this to parenting teenagers. Parents put down the bar, and the teenagers push and pull on the bar, not hoping it will let go, but that it will remain in place. Teenagers need to know that they have something in their life that will hold as they go through the ups, downs, bends and turns. Parents need to learn to not take that struggling personally, but to remain steady and in place. Its a useful image. The problem is that no person is going to get 100% on that test. We are human beings, not metal bars locked in by mechanics. Being an adult, or a parent doesn't get us a "get out of sinning free card." Parents fail the test. Teenagers can be stronger than the bar. We end up with teenagers who grow up with out unconditional love who continue to test every relationship to see if it will be the one that is able to love "unconditionally." Our need for God is for an absolutely unconditional lover, who forgives and reconciles even when the bar gives way.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? I have a number of adult "teenagers" in my community who throw everything they've got at me to see if I will be the "one" to "love" them unconditionally. I can feely admit I regularly fail the test. And, of course, there are certain people with whom I am more likely to fail the test than others. How does God want unconditional love to be expressed through me?<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, Guide us all in taking responsibility for our actions and expressing your unconditional love."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "God is light... faithful and just."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-32648378387082529712018-03-10T10:34:00.001-08:002018-03-10T10:34:35.022-08:00"Eternal LIfe... Joy."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>1 John 1:1-4</strong><br />
<span class="cc" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 400 32px/32px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin-right: 6.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">1</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">2</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">3</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">4</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We are writing these things so that our</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> joy may be complete.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...what was... we have heard... seen... looked at and touched;" "...concerning the word of life;" "...we have seen... testify... declare;" "...eternal life;" "...revealed to us;" "...declare to you what we have seen and heard;" "...We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete;" "...so that our joy may be complete;" "...concerning the word of life;" "...the eternal life that was with the Father;" "...so that you may also have fellowship with us;" "...our fellowship is with the Father and... JC;" "...so that our joy may be complete;"<br />
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2) Quite emphatic that the author has witnessed "the eternal life that was with the Father" first hand. And the author writes, so their "joy may be complete" by sharing fellowship between the Father, Jesus Christ and the readers of the text, consequently sharing "the eternal life that was with the Father." How much of what we do here brings us great joy? eternal joy? the joy of eternal life? How does God continue to reveal the eternal life to us? And let me be clear, I don't mean life after death, I mean the life that extends in connectedness in every direction: connected to the earth, the sky, the beginning and the end, to each created being... When have we experienced that kind of connection? And old friend messaged me last night on Facebook. An old girlfriend actually, from when I was maybe 12 or 13. We knew each other throughout our teens. She'd been teaching her grade one art class and came upon a children's animal magazine that had my name and old address on it. The magazine had to be over 35 years old! I'm sure we disposed of those old magazines at least a decade ago, but mom just moved a little over three years ago, so maybe they got sent to a recycle then? No idea. The funny thing was, I'd also just been thinking about my old Owl Magazines and the Mighty Mights that were featured in them. It was good to chat for a while with an old friend. Finding the magazine was the push she needed to reach out and contact me. It was a delicious moment in time, a sweet conversation of reminiscing and recalling old affections. I'm so very grateful for all the old affections, the companions on this life long journey.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To express gratitude for connections, intimate and affectionate.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, thank you for the tiny glimpses into eternal life that is with you."<br />
<br /><br />
Beathprayer: "Eternal life... joy."<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-48627870757259506312018-03-07T11:20:00.001-08:002018-03-07T11:20:39.805-08:00"The Cross of Christ... a New Creation."<br />
<div>
I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask for the grace to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<strong>Galatians 6:11-18</strong></div>
<div>
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<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">11</span> See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand!
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12</sup>It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">13</sup>Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">14</sup>May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">15</sup>For<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">16</sup>As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
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<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">17</span> From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
</div>
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<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">18</span> May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> Amen.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1) "...may I never boast of anything except the cross;" "...the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world;" "...a new creation is everything;" "...I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body;" "...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters;" "...a new creation is everything;" "...new creation is everything."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2) I simply love the playfulness of the first line! See!!! This really is a letter of extremes, from very severe admonishment to incredible affection and familiarity. It is a mistake to read this letter as if it were written for us, or for a "public" audience. It is uniquely intimate, almost a journal entry. I cringe at the thought of people reading my personal letters or journal entries as if they were meant for the public. Rest assured... I censor myself as I write my blog even if I do very little editing!!! In these last lines of the letter, Paul returns to his point..."A new creation is everything." Following the law is nothing if you aren't following the whole law, and following the whole law simply isn't possible without grace. Further, it is a mistake to compromise the gospel in order to avoid being "persecuted for the cross of Christ." What compromises of the gospel do we make in order to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ? How do we keep a new creation in our sights, so as to reduce the temptation to compromise the gospel? What does it mean to say "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"? Paul and the world cannot be separated? Paul and the world are suffering because of each other? Paul and the world will participate in each other's redemption? Paul does have scars as a result of his ministry: "for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body." What are the marks of Jesus branded on our bodies? How do people look at us and know we are followers of Christ?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3) What is the invitation in all this? To bear the cross more readily. (And maybe I should think more about burning some journals?)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Holy One, may we live for a new creation, may your new creation be our all in all!"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Breathprayer: "The Cross of Christ... a New Creation."</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-61672688702739388772018-03-06T11:54:00.003-08:002018-03-06T11:54:40.012-08:00"Sow the Spirit... Reap Eternal Life."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 6:7-10</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">7</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">8</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">9</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">10</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...God is not mocked;" "...you reap whatever you sow;" "...sow the Spirit;" "...reap eternal life;" "...let us not grow wearing in doing what is right;" "...we will reap at harvest time;" "...let us work for the good of all;" <br />
<br /><br />
2) It is easy to be deceived. Especially when tired, overwhelmed, anxious, and angry. But as Richard Rohr says, the true self is never offended... God is not mocked. It can be hard to believe that we reap what we sow. Bad things happen to good people and bad people seem to get all the power and authority. How do we stop giving authority to bad people? I know that there are not "bad people" but it sometimes seems far too much to separate actions from personhood. Some people seem bent on making life as miserable as possible for the rest of the world. I know that I am humbly grateful for the crazy madness that makes up the package of ills in my own life. Because with that package of ills comes so much blessing, and I am profoundly grateful for the blessings, they far outweigh the ills. The trap is letting myself be deceived into backsliding into negative behaviour because sowing what is right seems to bear no fruit. God is not mocked. Even if I never see the fruit, I'm still called to sow what is right. God is not mocked. Eternal life is the life of profound connection to people, to the world, to companions, to the Holy and the Sacred. I reap abundantly of the fount of eternal life. Thanks be to God! Today I had breakfast with a dear friend; I dreamed up plans for creative expression in my home; I started making some of those plans come to fruition because I have the resources to do so; I enjoyed the (rare) sunshine on the drive to work; I get to connect deeply with people I care about throughout my workweek... the list of fruit of eternal life I reap at the harvest goes on and on. Thanks be to God!<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To sow what is right. And to be grateful that I have the privilege of sowing what is right. And to enjoy and give thanks for the eternal life I do reap. <br />
<br /><br />
"Thank you, Holy One, for all the ways I am privileged to reap of the fount of eternal life. May I sow, so as to continue to reap, and that others may also reap."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: " Sow the spirit... reap eternal life."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-83638668269903465022018-03-05T13:56:00.002-08:002018-03-05T13:56:53.332-08:00"...Share in all Good Things."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 6:1-6</strong><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 600px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="cc" style="color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin-right: 6.4px; vertical-align: top;">6</span>My friends,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2</sup>Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> the law of Christ.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3</sup>For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4</sup>All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5</sup>For all must carry their own loads.
</div>
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<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6</span> Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.</div>
<br /><br />
1) "...restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;" "...take care that you yourselves are not tempted;" "...bear one another's burdens;" "...deceive themselves;" "...all must test their own work;" "...all must carry their own loads;" "...share in all good things;"<br />
<br /><br />
2) He doesn't say what to do if attempts to "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness" are thwarted. I've been taking an art class one evening a week. Last fall I loved the class. It gave me a couple hours a week to work with minimal supervision on a totally new to me skill. This season, I am enjoying the class less. The content is more challenging, and I'm not taking to it as easily. But also the classes themselves are less... peaceful. It is a different group of students. This season there is a woman in our class who talks incessantly, mostly complaining. I've changed seating so I'm not sitting next to her. But her voice still dominates the space for the full hour and a half that we are gathered. Even when we are receiving instruction, she fills the air with complaints about what the instructor is asking us to do and how he is asking us to do it. I'm feeling resentful. And I'm resentful about being resentful. I'm enjoying the classes much less between the natural challenge, and the environmental change. I just want her to stop talking and filling the air with her negativity. As I sit through the class trying to concentrate, I feel my own body generating negativity. Where's the off switch? My own as well as hers? How am I deceiving myself? I am definitely being tested in my own work.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To take care that I myself am not tempted. I feel sorrow for her, that she needs to express herself so negatively with strangers. Maybe the invitation is to pray for greater mindfulness of Christ's presence during art classes.<br />
<br /><br />
"God give us strength."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "...share in all good things."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-49176511302092727482018-03-01T10:46:00.001-08:002018-03-01T10:46:19.646-08:00"Live by the Spirit... Belong to Christ."<br />
<div>
I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<strong>Galatians 5:22-26</strong></div>
<div>
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">22</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">23</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">24</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">25</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">26</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.</span></div>
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1) "...live by the spirit;" "...guided by the spirit;" "...fruit of the spirit;" "...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control;" "...those who belong to Christ;" "...live by the Spirit;" "...belong to Christ;"</div>
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2) Do we behave as though we belong to Christ? I can give a definite maybe. We do not behave as though we belong to Christ when we become conceited, compete against one another, or envy one another. And there was the "bad list" yesterday of behaviours that do not belong to the Spirit or Christ. I ask daily to manifest the fruit of the spirit listed in this passage. Here in my blog as well as at home in my morning pages. Does asking/praying to bear these fruit manifest them? Once again, I can give a definite maybe. My giving is at an all time high financially. I feel my anger flares less often, especially I observe this in traffic and walking. How's my food? diet? exercise? Do I experience the peace I want? Am I in the bow resting with Jesus, or am I getting tossed about on the storm with the disciples? Honestly, I think I'm experiencing more equilibrium now than I have experienced, though I am still quite able to be knocked about... especially by certain individuals... its always the same individuals... Two thoughts come at the same time... "I should pray more for peace" and "Wait, I use the word 'peace' every day for my 20 minutes of centering prayer!" Maybe I need to focus on receptivity... especially around equanimity and peace.</div>
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3) What is the invitation in all this? To be more receptive of equanimity and peace.</div>
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"Holy One, I ask to be more receptive of the peace and equanimity you offer in your great abundance. Help me to let go of the self-importance and righteousness that justify my excitation when I feel 'offended' and needing to defend what is 'right'. In all things for which I pray, help me to be present to the ways in which I belong to Christ and the Holy Spirit."</div>
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Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... belong to Christ."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-18846438807136774602018-02-28T10:52:00.001-08:002018-02-28T10:52:29.818-08:00"Live by the Spirit... Inherit the Kingdom."<br />
<div>
I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>Galatians 5:16-21</strong></div>
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<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">16</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">17</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">18</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">19</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">20</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">21</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">envy,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.</span></div>
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<div>
1) "...Live by the spirit;" "...led by the spirit;" "...</div>
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2) These are regrettable words. Paul is making a distinction between two ways of being. Unfortunately, his use of "spirit" and "flesh" to distinguish the two ways, will get taken literally, to the detriment of the world. Taken literally, this passage erodes an embodied theology... the incarnation itself, the center of Paul's gospel! Suffice it to be that Paul discourages the behaviours of "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." It is a "list," probably a stock list inherited by Paul. It is extensive, thought not meant to be exhaustive. Paul wants us to remember that our "belief" and "faith" are followed by a change in behaviour. To participate in the kingdom of God is to abstain from these behaviours. When we engage in these behaviours, we pound nails in the hands and feet of the very Christ we claim to follow. It seems to me that none of us are free from the accusation of pounding nails into the hands and feet of Christ. I can't imagine many people being free of all of these behaviours... "and things like these." Humility, humility, humility. None of us is all that. </div>
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3) What is the invitation in all this? To abstain from behaviours that are a barrier to the Kingdom of God? But that is probably simply not possible. Maybe it is better to seek behaviours that nurture and engage the Kingdom of God, and to cease behaviour that is contrary to the Kingdom of God when we realize we are doing them, and seek amends immediately.</div>
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"Holy One, guide us to your kingdom."</div>
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Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... inherit the kingdom."</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-40870407173051552582018-02-27T10:26:00.000-08:002018-02-27T10:26:01.062-08:00"Called to Freedom... Love One Another."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 5:13-15</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">13</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> but through love become slaves to one another.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">14</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">15</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.</span><br />
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1) "...called to freedom;" "...opportunity for self-indulgence;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...You shall love your neighbour as yourself;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...called to freedom;" "...<br />
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2) "Freedom" cannot be "absolute." Freedom is found in mutual relationship, love. We are freed to love one another AS ourselves. Not "like," but "as." It isn't a metaphor... to love others the way we love ourselves, but to love others as an extension of ourselves. When my neighbour bleeds, I bleed. We are one body in Christ. When a member of the body is injured, the whole body is weakened and experiences the pain. How "free" can one be if one keeps slamming their foot with a hammer? Devouring another is to consume ourselves. This is certainly not how our world works. Watching 45 proclaim that the solution to mass shootings in the US is to produce, buy, sell more guns, is definitely part of the devour/consume paradigm, not the love your neighbour as yourself/become slaves to one another paradigm. I dislike the "slave" imagery, but I'm open to service, and serving one another. How are we called to serve one another? How are we called to exercise our freedom in service to one another? Do I experience my freedom when serving? yes. That was a quick response. I definitely experience freedom when I choose to serve, either by making a generous financial gift, or by giving my time and skills. I have a felt sense of freedom when I choose to serve. On the other hand, when someone tells me I should do "this" or "that" I do not feel the freedom of serving... then I'm enslaved. It is freedom only if I have the choice to freely server or not serve.<br />
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3) What is the invitation in all this? To explore how I freely serve.<br />
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"Holy One, Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and for the companions who serve with me."<br />
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Breathprayer: "Called to freedom... love one another."<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-16934064089411346692018-02-26T09:59:00.000-08:002018-02-26T09:59:05.560-08:00"Obey... the One Who Calls You."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Christ more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 5:7-12</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">7</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">8</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">9</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">10</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">11</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But my friends,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">12</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "You were running well;" "...the one who calls you;" "...a little yeast leavens the who batch of dough;" "...I am confident;" "...I am confident about you in the Lord;" "... I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!"<br />
<br /><br />
2) This makes me smile this morning. There are those who unsettle me. Why do I let them? It does make a small part of my heart smile to think of Paul wishing those who unsettle me would castrate themselves. Perhaps a bit extreme. Better I would just stop letting them unsettle me. "A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." But which is the leaven and which is the dough?!? Is it a little confidence that leavens the loaf to good, or a little unsettlement that leavens the loaf to bad? I'm afraid it works both ways. It depends on which leaven we nourish. God help me nourish the yeast that comes from the one who calls us. I cannot imagine that the one who is unsettling me spends much genuine energy discerning where their yeast comes from. Only that one thing feels good to them and another is uncomfortable. And if it is uncomfortable it has to be annihilated. But the one who calls me, calls me to discomfort the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. The problem is that in one way or another, we are all comfortable; we are all afflicted.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To hand it all over to the one who calls us.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, receive that which unsettles, send us the yeast that leavens the whole batch of dough for good."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Obey... the one who calls you."<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-2157403393931036172018-02-15T10:33:00.000-08:002018-02-15T10:33:48.589-08:00"Faith... Working through Love."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 5:1-6</strong><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 600px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="rr" style="color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 32px; line-height: 32px; margin-right: 6.4px; vertical-align: top;">5</span><sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1</sup>For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 600px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2</span> Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3</sup>Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4</sup>You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5</sup>For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6</sup>For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> through love.</div>
<br /><br />
1) "...Christ has set us free;:" "...Stand firm;" "...do not submit again to a yoke of slavery;" "...fallen away from Grace;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love;" "...faith working through love;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love"<br />
<br /><br />
2) How easily am I pulled back into an old pattern of behaviour, one that I have given up? I am free without that pattern, but under stress, adversity, conflict, it is so easy to return to that pattern. "Stand firm." I even have friends who prefer the old pattern. It is as inconvenient to them as to me, learning a new set of practices. And the world gives lots of encouragement to return to the way things were, rather than embracing a new way of being. "The only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm right. I want to prove I'm right. I want the person who has wronged me to admit that they've wronged me and that I'm right. But "the only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm so hyper sensitive to enabling addictive/alienating/dysfunctional behaviour. What constitutes "standing firm"? What constitutes rigidly returning to old practices? And what constitutes receiving freedom? What response constitutes "faith working through love"? You can't hurt me that way any more? But I can't make you change. It's all in Christ's hands. "Christ has set us free."<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To make "the only thing that counts is faith working through love" my mantra for the day, week, month... season...<br />
<br /><br />
"Christ set us free."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Faith... Working through Love."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-35364947997940475572018-02-14T11:13:00.002-08:002018-02-14T11:13:52.858-08:00"Rejoice... You Are Children of the Promise."As Lent begins, I ask for what I always ask, to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 4:21-31</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">21</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law?
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">22</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">23</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">24</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">25</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">26</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">27</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For it is written,</span><br class="kk" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffaaaa; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;</span><br class="kk" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ffaaaa; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> than the children of the one who is married.’
</span><br class="uu" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" /><sup class="uu" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">28</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now you,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> my friends,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> are children of the promise, like Isaac.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">29</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">30</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But what does the scripture say? ‘Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.’
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">31</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So then, friends,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...listen to the law;" "...born through the promise;" "...this is an allegory;" "...the Jerusalem above;" "...she is free;" "...Rejoice, you childless one;" "...burst into song and shout;" "...you who endure no birth pangs; "...the children of the desolate woman are more numerous;" "...children of the promise;" "...<br />
<br /><br />
2) I appreciate Paul teaching us to read scripture metaphorically, not literally. I do not appreciate his attempt at allegory. and here is where Paul's letter that has become scripture must be read metaphorically. It is no longer acceptable to say that any child is "born to slavery," unless it is mean that every last human being is a "slave" to nature. A racial distinction between who is born to slavery and who is born to freedom is simply not acceptable. Those who follow the law, do not experience themselves to be "in slavery." However, when they try to impose the law on others, who have already expressed an experience of salvation through belief in Christ, trespass. But I also think criticizing Paul for his acceptance of the socio-economic reality of slavery is like criticizing us for our participation in fossil-fuel driven socio-eco- economy. It is wrong, we should be criticized, but without a the use of public transit, and occasionally driving my car, given the world as it currently is, I wouldn't be able to do much, like, see my mother or chosen family once a week. We are all born to slavery. What choices can we make so that the freedom we receive in the promise may more clearly be revealed?<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? How do I live out the promise? How is the promise made manifest in my thoughts, actions and words? How do I choose to live freely and to help others discover freedom? ...with great difficulty sometimes.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, help us all live into the freedom of your promise, whatever our practices and observances."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Rejoice... you are children of the promise."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-90348246738502746122018-02-13T11:10:00.001-08:002018-02-14T10:51:50.093-08:00"Pain... Until Christ Is Formed in You."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for tolerance, patience, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Galatians 4:17-20</strong><br />
<sup><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;">17</span></sup><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">18</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">19</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">20</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
1) "...they want to exclude you;" "...so that you may make much of them;" "...in the pain of childbirth;" "...until Christ is formed in you;" "...I wish I were present;" "...I wish I... could change my tone;" "...I am perplexed about you;"<br />
<br />
<br />
2) Perplexed. Paul softens so much in this latter part of the letter. Such affection comes out, "I am perplexed about you;" "I am again in the pain of childbirth;" "my little children;" "It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times;" "they want to exclude you." Here it becomes clear, Paul's wrath has not been with the Galatians themselves, but with those who would convince them that they are excluded, "less than" those who follow the observance of the "law." I know it is easy to forget and obscure with whom and what I am perplexed. It is easy to mistaken someone being perplexed with a situation and perplexed with the person in the situation. I'm seeing this manifest frequently in my community right now. In some situations, I feel I can be really clear with myself and others that I'm perplexed with the situation... not the people in the situation. In other situations, it is not so clear, for me or others. I have difficulty myself separating the individual from the situation. Of course... the individual caused the situation, or let the situation become what it is (I like to think I would have done things differently). But still, the situation isn't the individual and the individual still needs empathy. I wonder what Paul needs to feel he could change his tone?<br />
<br />
<br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? to separate individuals from situations. To make a greater effort to address my own tone. I have been... I need to watch my tone with myself too. This whole spiritual practice/growth is about learning to find empathy with the things I hate most about myself.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Holy One, be with us in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in us."<br />
<br />
<br />
Breathprayer: "Pain... until Christ is formed in you."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-9542883666728455902018-02-09T11:14:00.001-08:002018-02-09T11:14:24.565-08:00"Angel of God... Telling You the Truth."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 4:12-16</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">12</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Friends,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">13</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you;
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">14</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">15</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">16</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "You have done me no wrong;" "...put you to the test;" "...you did not scorn or despise me;" "...welcomed me as an angel of God;" "...as Christ Jesus;" "...the goodwill you felt;" "...telling you the truth;" "...<br />
<br /><br />
2) This seems such high praise. I have to wonder if it might not have been good to have remembered the affection they'd shared at the beginning of the letter instead of at the end? It's quite beautiful for Paul to testify to the affection he once felt..."had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me;" "welcomed me as an angel of God." This is high praise and deep affection that sharpens the pain in the following line, "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" But let this perhaps be a lesson... affection first, truth telling next. It is, of course, easier to share truth among those who share affection, less fear of risking the relationship if we can trust the capacity to receive hard truth. But we are really afraid to tell one another truth if it contradicts what we think the other thinks. How blessed I feel in the friends who feel they can tell me the truth. It is hard to talk about truth in general these days, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, interpretation, perspective, context. <br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? to cherish truth when we hear it. To cherish those who speak truth to us, regardless of the risks. To have the courage to speak truth whatever the risk. To have the courage and honesty to witness the truth when it contradicts what I think and believe.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, help us be bearers of the truth."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Angel of God... telling you the truth."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-23701322725215827632018-02-07T10:52:00.001-08:002018-02-07T10:52:25.650-08:00"Know God... Be Known."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, complaining, discouragement, and self-interest. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 4:8-11</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">8</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">9</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits?</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> How can you want to be enslaved to them again?
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">10</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">11</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...come to know God;" "...rather to be known by God;" "...how can you turn back;" "...elemental spirits;" "...I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted."<br />
<br /><br />
2) Well, I can identify with the fear that my work with them may have been wasted. I can identify with Paul's frustration with the gap between his intention for the community and the outcome of his ministry. We do not want to change our ways. We do not want to repent. We want the kingdom of God and to do things our own way. I can identify with frustration in general this week. I'm so tired of listening to other people complaining. And I'm really tired of my own complaining about other people complaining! I can't comfort the inconsolable. I can't be comforted if I'm inconsolable. Why do I go back to the things that just don't give comfort?!? Haven't I tried that before? I feel like I am constantly dancing on the contour of my own graciousness.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? to accept being known by God and to let go of the observances that do not nourish.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, create in my a heart that can be consoled."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Know God... be known."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-40675846378102669902018-02-05T10:18:00.001-08:002018-02-05T10:18:55.030-08:00"Heirs... Children."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 4:1-7</strong><br />
<span class="cc" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #666666; float: left; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 400 32px/32px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin-right: 6.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">4</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property;
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">2</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">3</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> of the world.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">4</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">5</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">6</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> hearts, crying, ‘Abba!</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Father!’
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">7</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...heirs;" "...when the fullness of time had come;" "...to redeem those who were under the law;" "...adoption as children;" "...you are children;" "...God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts;" "...no longer a slave, but a child;" "...if a child then also an heir;" <br />
<br /><br />
2) Unfortunately, or not, there are those in disagreement whether or not "the fullness of time had come." And even for those of us for whom "the fullness of time had come," it did not come complete, because it is already... but not yet. And so we continue to wait. But in that time of waiting, "the law of Jewish observances" does not apply to those not first under the law. It's like we are in that stage of "adulthood" when we can drive, but we cant drink or vote. So, kind of adults, but not really, or adults in some places, but not others. Paul's most ardent point, however, is that it is wrong for certain Christians to insist that other Christians observe the same practices for the sake of their salvation. They have accepted the Spirit of God's Son into their hearts, they love one another. There are no other requirements for reconciliation. How many times does Paul beseech us to love one another? As if loving one another, acting like we love one another regardless of how we feel, seems more than a challenging enough goal. And if we followed all the "laws and observances" but still failed to show love? What then? Heirs and children are heirs and children. There is very little in heaven and earth that for good or bad, can sever the bond of heirs and children from their parents.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To love one another first and let all the practices come second, or even third. That's not as easy to do as it is to say. I feel pretty strongly about certain practices and the reasoning and tradition behind them!<br />
<br /><br />
"Help us to love one another."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Heirs... Children."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-28818331767453018892018-01-31T12:54:00.004-08:002018-01-31T12:54:52.890-08:00"All Are One... Abraham's Offspring"I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-interest. I ask to know and follow Christ more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 3:23- 29</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">23</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">24</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">25</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">26</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">27</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">28</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">29</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> heirs according to the promise.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...before faith came;" "...until faith would be revealed;" "...justified by faith;" "...you are all children of God through faith;" "...clothed yourselves with Christ;" "...all of you are one in Christ Jesus;" "...Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise;" "...faith came;" "...faith would be revealed;" "...Christ came;" "...justified by faith;" "...faith has come;" "...all children of God;" "...offspring."<br />
<br /><br />
2) so... "offspring" not "offsprings". Now he uses offspring as a collective noun to include the whole community, not must Christ Jesus as he did above. In reading the above, one needs to do it in light of these last two paragraphs. All of it is to make the point that in Christ Jesus the categories we use to separate and rank people no longer have a place. "Jew or Greek... slave or free... male and female." "All are one in Christ Jesus." This is a favourite passage of mine. I appreciate "All are one in Christ Jesus." But to get here, we go through some really difficult could be read as anti-Semitic material. I dread the thought of what folk might do with my writings out of context.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? Humility. To bear in mind that an injury to another is a wound to an extension of my own body through Christ.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, help us to experience oneness in you. May we have the courage to bear the suffering and the joy that is yours in this broken, beautiful world."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "All Are One... Abraham's Offspring."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-56845544972794715672018-01-30T11:33:00.000-08:002018-01-30T11:33:33.650-08:00"Make Alive... Believe."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask for the grace to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 3:19-22</strong><br />
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<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">19</span> Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">20</sup>Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 600px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="vv" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">21</span> Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law.
<sup class="ww" style="color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">22</sup>But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="color: #0000bb; text-decoration: none;"></a> might be given to those who believe.</div>
<br /><br />
1) "...offspring;" "...angels;" "...mediator;" "...God is one;" "...make alive;" "...promised through faith;" "...given to those who believe;" <br />
<br /><br />
2) So, here, Paul argues that the law as only meant as an intermediary until "the offspring" would come. The law was given because of the continual transgressions of the people, to keep them part of the promise until the mediator came. But now that the mediator has come, there is no longer any use for the law for those who were not already under it. I feel a great deal of suspicion as I read these words. I'm cautious of an anti-Semitic reading. But, again, Paul is asserting that those who were not already under the law, the gentiles, have not need for the law... they do not need to be circumcised; they do not need to follow the dietary restrictions. Funny that I've just preached on 1 Corinthians where he tells the "strong" the should not eat meat if it threatens the faith of one of the "weak." Really, Paul wants us to listen to what is genuinely in our own hearts, and not be persuaded by fancy "authoritative" arguments. Paul wants us to "trust," "believe," in the Christ speaking in our hearts. <br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To listen carefully, prayerfully, to the voice of Christ speaking among us. Love one another. Act lovingly toward one another. Live with compassion, empathy, and justice. Particular practices are meant to build up, not tear down the body of Christ.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, help us to pray, to make alive, to believe, and to live under your power."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Make Alive... Believe."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-75984423962177961522018-01-29T11:02:00.001-08:002018-01-29T11:02:20.784-08:00"The Inheritance... the Promise."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I pray for the grace to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I pray for the grace to know and follow Christ more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 3:15-18</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">15</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Brothers and sisters,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">16</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring;</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> it does not say, ‘And to offsprings’,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> as of many; but it says, ‘And to your offspring’,</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> that is, to one person, who is Christ.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">17</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">My point is this: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">18</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...a covenant;" "...through the promise;" <br />
<br /><br />
2) This is an example from daily life? I feel this passage would benefit from reading multiple translations. I'm not sure Paul gets to split the hair "offspring" vs "offsprings". A mass noun is a mass noun in English. I fear his argument is so comprehensive as to nullify everything he's said in other letters about honouring those who first received the promise. I do appreciate that the "promise" predates the "law." I would agree that Gentiles do not need to follow the letter of the law in order to receive the promise. But I'm quite sure, I would not choose take this line of argument. It is too ease to twist it into an anti-Semitic argument. And Paul is wrong anyway, because supersessionism was good biblical theology. With the prophets, the "new" regularly superseded the old. So I wouldn't name this one of Paul's more stellar moments in argumentation. I guess that's what happens when we are angry.<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To accept the promise, for all people. It isn't God's thing to make favourites, or to exclude based on practices or rites. God wants to know if we love one another, and serve the least of these.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, make us worthy witnesses to your presence and promise."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "the inheritance... the promise."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-81818951840984651722018-01-25T11:46:00.001-08:002018-01-25T11:46:52.093-08:00"Live by Faith... Receive the Promise."I am very grateful for the grace I have received in being able to maintain a faithful prayer and meditation practice. I'm grateful for the companions on the journey. I'm grateful that for sometime now, I feel I have successfully maintained abstinence from alienating behaviours, and behaviours that simply put me into a negative rut. I ask for the continued grace to grow in Christ, to know and follow him more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 3:10-14</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">10</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">11</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">12</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of the law</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> will live by them.’
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">13</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">14</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...under a curse;" "...all the things;" "...live by faith;" "...Christ redeemed us;" "...by becoming a curse for us;" "...cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree;" "...blessing of Abraham;" "...the promise of the Spirit;" "...becoming a curse for us;" "...cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree;" "...we might receive the promise;" "...receive the promise;" <br />
<br /><br />
2) I resent how these words have been taken out of context. Paul is a Jew, under the law himself. So was Christ. The "curse" is shared by everyone. I'm particularly sensitive to "the curse" as we've been reading the biography of Bonhoeffer, in which it was suggested by "German Christians" that the holocaust was the direct result of "the curse." Its beyond time to abandon that ideology entirely. Paul is making a point about it being pointless for Gentiles who had accepted Christ to follow the law. They have already received Christ, the law serves to purpose for them. Paul is adamant that one community should not impose its practices upon the other. In 1 Corinthians, Paul explicitly points out that in Christ, our practices no longer matter, what matters is if we loved one another. And by love, he does not mean, did we feel warm fuzzies for each other, but did we behave faithfully, lovingly towards "the least of these." Every human is abundantly complicit in the inequality, alienation, and evil in the world to illustrate "the curse."<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? to be conscious of what "the curse" refers to, to receive Christ as having redeemed us from the curse.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, redeem your children, redeem your creation, redeem your church."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Live by faith... receive the promise."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-60147901997246929312018-01-24T13:07:00.001-08:002018-01-24T13:07:53.903-08:00"Blessed in You... Blessed with Abraham."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for tolerance, patience, compassion, and empathy. I ask for the grace to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. May I know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 3:6-9</strong><br />
<span class="vv" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">6</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’,
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">7</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">8</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">9</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...believed God;" "...reckoned;" "...descendants of Abraham;" "...justify the Gentiles by faith;" "...declared the gospel beforehand;" "...All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you;" "...blessed with Abraham;"<br />
<br /><br />
2) So, winding up here for what will become interpreted as anti-Semitism (those who follow the law are cursed). But here is the context, Gentiles are being convinced to get circumcised and observe the dietary laws "in order" to follow Christ. But Paul is arguing that they are already "blessed with Abraham who believed." These texts and how they have been read/interpreted make me so sad. Paul is clearly admonishing the community for thinking that observances and practices are more important that living a life of faith. How often do my "practices" distract me, rather than taking me deeper into my relationship with Christ/Christians? I remember writing in my journal for hours and hours a day, pouring out my soul in Seminary while missing classes and isolating from my classmates. The practice had become a means of avoiding interaction, denying responsibility. Work is only faithful so long as it continues to lead us into the heart of God. When the work separates us, alienates, divides the community, it is no longer faithful. What are the "purity laws" that alienate us from the "outside world"? Chastity? Monogamy? Charity? Daily ritual Martyrdom? Work exhaustion? Burnout? Busy-ness? Holier-than-thou-ness? A commitment to ignorance? Perfection? Sacrificing progress for perfection?<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? To practice only gratitude that we are blessed in the rich traditions that bring us to grace.<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, bless you children all the world through."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Blessed in you... blessed with Abraham."<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8309682683586840358.post-34445624338230844192018-01-23T10:01:00.001-08:002018-01-23T10:01:58.815-08:00"Receiving the Spirit... Believing what You Heard."I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask for the grace to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Galatians 3:1-5</strong><br />
<span class="cc" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #666666; display: block; float: left; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 400 32px/32px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin-right: 6.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">3</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">2</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">3</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">4</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing.
</span><sup class="ww" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #777777; display: inline; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">5</sup><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Well then, does God</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0000bb; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #010000; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?</span><br />
<br /><br />
1) "...foolish Galatians;" "...bewitched;" "...are you so foolish?" "...started with the Spirit;" "...ending with the flesh;" "...supply you with the Spirit;" "...work miracles among you;" "...believing what you heard"<br />
<br /><br />
2) Paul is clearly in sensed. I can't imagine this being an effective means of communication. Either he really trusts his authority with this community, or he really doesn't care what response his words have. There is no question about his feelings or his position. He is horrified that despite the fact that the Galatians have already experienced miracles and the working of the Spirit among them that they would now start observing the works of the law, effectively surrendering grace for works righteousness. I have to wonder at what was lacking for the Galatians, having experienced miracles and the works of the Spirit, that they would choose to start observing the law including circumcision, and dietary restrictions. What would compel them to need the works of the law? There must have been a need, a felt lack, some obstacle that produced in them a need for "something more" than what they were already experiencing. I know that if someone wrote to me the way Paul addresses the Galatians, I would not be likely to finish reading the letter. There are only a small handful of people I'd be willing to finish reading their address if it were delivered like this!<br />
<br /><br />
3) What is the invitation in all this? How do I address people I know are committing atrocities? Do I show them as much curiosity and compassion as I'm currently showing the Galatians?<br />
<br /><br />
"Holy One, call us to reconcile, however you must."<br />
<br /><br />
Breathprayer: "Receive the Spirit... believing what you heard"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04756839658407372923noreply@blogger.com0