paravanes:meditations

Image is from christianteens.about.com "Go where the love is." -- Edie Brickell A friend posted a social media message stating she was tired of praying after watching news reports of yet another mass murder/terrorist attack. Most recently, it happened in Orlando, Florida, USA. Her frustration could have been tied to reports about San Bernadino, or Boston, or Paris, or Brussels, or many parts of Nigeria, or any number of places. I took from her message how exhausted she felt from absorbing and processing these news reports, how emotionally draining it became to watch video of sobbing family members and friends of the dead, the wounded, the missing. She was no longer moved by memes that read "Pray for ------." She was tired of learning about roundups of suspects because these roundups didn't seem to slow the tide of those willing to violently take themselves and others away from this world. I completely understand "go where the love is" ...

What does it actually mean to be "made in God's image"? Across the world, we look, act, and think very differently about almost every imaginable thing. Do we have any commonalities that transcend our differences? We all share free will, we all share the ability to love, we all share the ability-- in fact, the need--to connect with others and be in relationship with other humans. Recent studies have also suggested we are healthier and happier if we enjoy regular exposure to nature and beautiful natural settings. We feel deep connection to those we have loved, even if they are no longer living on the earth. We were created for love, beauty, relationship, and eternity. What happened? The Fall happened at some point early in human history. Although I don't believe the Bible teaches what some have called the "total depravity of mankind", something tragically and deeply damaging happened to humanity and we have not escaped the consequences of that damag...

Image from firstchatham.org One week after Easter celebrations in the western church is a good time to ask: what happens now? Part of what we celebrated for Easter was Jesus' experience of overcoming betrayal, intense physical and emotional pain, abandonment, and death. Having done all of this, he did not leave behind those who abandoned and left him (almost) alone to die. The amazing and wonderful thing he did was this: he returned to them, welcomed them back into friendship, showed them his victory over all of the negativity, and then commissioned them to give out his message of life. The life Jesus is offering us is not simply an "extended" or forever life. As spiritual beings made in the image of God, we will live somewhere forever. What's to be determined is where and how we will live and what we will do with this "forever" life. , When Jesus says he came that we will have life, and have it to the fullest , Jesus is offering us the ...

Yes, Jesus knows how you feel when you experience the pain of betrayal and abandonment. He chose a place and a time to experience those pains and those losses. What did He experience? He experienced betrayal by those He chose, those He loved, those He trusted, and those He lived with. He also lived through abandonment by these people when the social and political environment became too hostile, too uncomfortable, too dangerous.  Add to this denial, rejection, an illegal  trial,  and torture while in custody. You can trust Him to know how you feel when everything falls apart and even God the Father seems absent. The story doesn't end there, just as our stories don't have to end while we endure the dark night of the soul. But isn't it a comfort to know we follow One who has lived so much of what we fear and He was not overcome by it? He will take our hands and guide us and protect us and show us the way to the light. He walked through the darkness and ...

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." -- Luke 13:34 --Image from beholdhim.org Have you noticed the most broken and wounded persons sometimes show the most anger, resistance to change, and hostility? Have you noticed they are often the most resistant to making even the small changes that would create more positivity in their lives? Have you observed their unwillingness to know something new, for fear of being disappointed-- again ? You have seen what Jesus saw when He wept over Jerusalem. His response to all of the rebellion, grief, pain, and anger was pity. He saw more in those who were lost than they could see in themselves. These lost souls refused to see another vision of themselves, refused healing and love from His open arms. Because Jesus forces Himself on no one, He wep...

In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus tells His disciple Peter: if your brother sins against you, forgive him "up to seventy times seven." (New King James Version) What is Jesus actually saying here? Jesus is challenging Peter, and us, to move ourselves away from thinking of forgiveness as a sequential series of actions in response to those who have offended us. Jesus is telling us to own an attitude and lifestyle of forgiveness. Be amazed by what God will do when you choose this path. Include yourself among those who need forgiveness. Remember: forgiveness is a gift your give yourself as you cleanse your spirit and your heart from the injuries others impose. It is an act of power, strength, and forward movement. You can't have too much of these things.

image is from cctvcambridge.org I am taking an online course on C.S. Lewis offered by Hillsdale College in Michigan . Yesterday, while listening to the lecture in the second unit of the course, the lecturer pointed out something that seems so obvious and yet gets lost too often when we try to say what is most important about being a Christian. The lecturer, Michael Ward , said the entire point of seeking and serving God is to have our wills conformed to God's will. This seems really obvious, so why do so many of us miss this? Many of us in North America live in the middle of church teachings that suggest we follow God to have a happier, better, more prosperous life. Or, we follow God because we want to make the world a better place. Or, we follow God because Christianity is part of our family tradition. The list of reasons could go on and on. The idea of having our wills conformed to God's will may sound frightening, mysterious, possibly offensive, or perha...