Spiritual Calcium

Benediction January 29, 2012

2012-01-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

He fishes us and guides His flock, our shepherd is quite bold. He calls us sheep to Him at last, we enter the sheepfold. We are all needed at this church, and cherished by our Lord. He hauls us in his net of love, we gladly climb on board. So let us go this week to live the values Jesus told. Of peace and grace and faith and hope our hearts may always hold.

Benediction January 22, 2012

2012-01-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

May you look all around you and see God's spirit in each face. May you come back to church often and feel God's presence is in this place. May you take the love of God with you as you go forth from this space. And together may the people of God say, Amen.

Epiphany

2012-01-06T13:10:00.002-08:00

On Epiphany I share my benediction for Sunday.

My wish for you as we begin the year is that you love the world as it is, pray for the world as it could be, work for the world as it should be, recognize the holy in what you see and identify with the God who came for you and for me. And together lets us say. Amen.

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-06T13:10:00.001-08:00

Wishing everyone a most blessed 2012!

Up, Up in the Air

2011-06-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

As I think about the Lord's Ascension that we celebrate this week, I think of the return of space shuttle Endeavor with pilot Mark Kelly's whose wife, Congresswoman Giffords, is miraculously recovering from being shot. My wife and I met them at a conference in Charleston a few years ago, really nice. Many grieve their pain and share their excitement. The excitement of space, of medicine and of hope that Christ goes ahead of us to prepare a place far above.

Reflecting on the events of May 1

2011-05-26T11:54:00.001-07:00

A thought for the end of the season of Easter.

I have been trying to make sense of my feelings in the aftermath of the death of Osama Bin Laden early this month. I’m sure for many of us, the news of Bin Laden’s death brought up a lot of different emotions. I stayed up late that Sunday night waiting for the President’s statement, for I have tremendous respect for our troops, for the intelligence and military forces that risked their lives, carried out a successful and important mission on behalf of our country and who achieved a goal set out by three Presidents and by Congress. As I watched the President’s speech and the news, I instinctively swelled up with feelings of pride and victory, a sense of my heart racing fast like I was going up a roller coaster.

Watching the news transported me back to the morning of September 11, 2001 when I had just finished a Bible study in the basement of the U.S. Capitol around 9:00am and was told of the planes hitting the towers. I returned to my office in the Hart Senate Office Building and can remember a half hour later the announcement that the Capitol was a potential target of another plane and our running away from Capitol Hill to seek safety. It all brought back memories of good friends going to war, some still overseas, in response to the attack.

Some of you have been sent overseas or cared or prayed for those who were. I can only imagine the feelings this week of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, who have been yearning for justice ever sense and who found it last Sunday. Some of you may have lost something precious at the Pentagon or elsewhere that day. All my memories came back to me last Sunday and I’m sure for you too.

Then I watched the pictures of the crowds of Americans celebrating Bin Laden’s death in New York and outside the White House. I read about Maurice Harary, who put up a website this week dedicated to selling T-shirts that, quote, “celebrate the death of Osama Bin Laden” and he made $120,000 in the first 48 hours selling the shirts. And I felt uncomfortable. I know there is a generational aspect here for many young people who celebrated have not known life without the specter of Bin Laden. But I was trying to make sense of my discomfort and mixed feelings.

On a practical level, we live in or near a targeted area and these actions have great potential to make Americans safer in the long run. I am thankful for that. There are obvious advantages to Bin Laden’s departure and I am glad we don’t have to face that portion of the terrorist threat.

On a theological level, I believe that evil exists in the world and that the Biblical witness takes sin very seriously. I have studied the revered German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler and was ultimately killed for it.

I followed the debate in the New York Times that week. Jonathan Haidt’s post argued that it’s alright to celebrate. I read Benedict Carey’s article about the social science and psychological research that reveals a natural human instinct and appetite for revenge that grows when a society perceives a serious crime and a continued threat. Yet Jesus wasn’t all that keen on revenge. His teachings about how we confront our enemies move us in a different direction.

What does it say about the presence of evil in the world that such a mission is necessary? I think its one thing to give thanks that someone who caused so much harm won’t be able to do so again, but I am uncomfortable with the scenes of celebrating. It wasn’t just that it felt a bit like gloating or that celebrating the death of a Muslim could inflame anti-American feelings, or that new warnings reminded me that the terrorist threat doesn’t end with one man, I felt uncomfortable watching Americans, many of them Christians, celebrating death. At this time of year of all times.

The season of Easter is a celebration of the victory of life. It’s a celebration that God brought life out of death. It’s a celebration that the power of death does not contain us. The death does not win. That God’s love knows no bounds. I have a hard time celebrating death, no matter how great the sin, because at Easter Jesus overcame sin, ultimately, with life.

And so if the events earlier this month brought out of variety of different emotions for you, you are not alone. Intense experiences tend to do that. Take some time to think through the feelings you have experienced.

Facebook

2011-05-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Bradley Hills PC Facebook page!!

Memorial Day

2011-05-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

This special Memorial Day I give thanks for all those who died for our freedoms and who continue to defend our land.

Easter Season

2011-05-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

Easter is not just a day but a season, so this Sunday again I say - Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

Creation Care Sunday

2011-05-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

As we focus on God's incredible creation I was inspired to read this from yahoo.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-39412377

April 21

2011-04-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

John 17:1-11 (12-26)
1After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ¡°Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6¡°I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

DG Comment: On Maundy Thursday we celebrate that Jesus came into the world but is not of the world. That Jesus loves us and gives us a new commandment to love each other. Let us do so today, on Good Friday, on Easter and beyond. Thank you for joining us for this Lenten journey of lectio divina. See you in church!!

April 20

2011-04-20T04:36:00.000-07:00

John 12:27-36
27¡°Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say. Father, save me from this hour.? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.¡± Then a voice came from heaven, ¡°I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.¡± 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ¡°An angel has spoken to him.¡±30Jesus answered, ¡°This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.¡± 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34The crowd answered him, ¡°We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?¡± 35Jesus said to them, ¡°The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.¡±
After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

DG Comment: As we move to the end of Lent, we look to the culmination of Jesus' saving ministry on the cross and the completion of Christ's work in rising and ascending so that we might rise too.

April 19

2011-04-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Philippians 3:15-21
15Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

DG Comment: As challenging as our lives can be, our citizenship ultimately is in Heaven, and that is never more clear than at Easter. Cant wait for Sunday!

April 18

2011-04-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

Philippians 3:1-14
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. 2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! 3For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.
4even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

DG Comment: A powerful statement by Paul to begin Holy Week. I pray for God to make me his. Make me his. Make me his!!!!! This week I put down my pride and confess my shortcomings and open my heart to Christ. Lord, make me his!

April 17

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Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!!! Hosanna on Palm Sunday. See you in church!

April 16

2011-04-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

Psalm 149
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!

DG Comment: The Psalmist calls with much optimism, hope and joy. This is a powerful and positive way to begin the weekend. Praise the Lord!!

April 15

2011-04-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than
those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him
is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

DG Comment: "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than
those who watch for the morning." I begin this morning waiting and watching with hope for the Lord. For Hold Week is coming and salvation to follow.

April 14

2011-04-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Psalm 126

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

DG Comment: I love this phrase, "May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy." Those who suffer now I hope have an opportunity to shout with joy. This is what we hope our Lenten journey results in at Easter. When we take Maundy Thursday and Good Friday seriously, this is what we look forward to.

April 13

2011-04-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

John 10:1-18
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but
climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep
hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.When he has
brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because 20
they know his voice.
They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him
because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this figure of speech
with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
All
who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.I
am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and
find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they
may have life, and have it abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep.
The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees
the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away — and the wolf snatches them
and scatters them.
The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care
for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know
me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for
the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them
also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one
shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order
to take it up again.No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this
command from my Father.”

DG Comment: The pastoral image of the shepherd resonated with Jesus' audience. God cares for us like a shepherd and guides us. And through Christ sacrifices for us.

April 12

2011-04-12T05:09:00.000-07:00

Romans 10:1-13
Brothers and sisters, my heart‟s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may
be saved.
I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.
For,being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish
their own, they have not submitted to God‟s righteousness.
For Christ is the end of
the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who
does these things will live by them.”
But the righteousness that comes from faith
says, “Do not say in your heart, „Who will ascend into heaven?‟” (that is, to bring
Christ down)
“or „Who will descend into the abyss?‟” (that is, to bring Christ up
from the dead).
But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in
your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
because if you confess
with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and
one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The scripture says, “No one who
believes in him will be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all
and is generous to all who call on him.
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord shall be saved.”

DG Comment: The hope filled word of the Lord as we approach Easter. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Let it be so.

April 11

2011-04-11T05:13:00.001-07:00

Psalm 119:73-80
Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn
your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as 19
for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame

DG Comment: The Psalmist upholds the tradition on learning and keeping God's commandments. As we near the end of Lent, let us use this remaining time to think about how our lives can be more consistent with what we know of God's revelation.

April 10

2011-04-10T04:46:00.000-07:00

As we march towards Holy Week, we begin to explore the resurrection power of God through Lazarus's story. That impacts that happens on Palm Sunday in a significant way. See you at church.

April 9

2011-04-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

John 6:60-71
60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

DG Comment: A hard passage on this Saturday. But Holy Week and the passion of Christ begin soon, leading all the way to the cross. But fortunately Sunday comes tomorrow, a mini Easter! And Easter itself comes soon.

April 8

2011-04-08T03:51:00.000-07:00

Friday April 8 Jeremiah 23:1-8
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the
LORD.
Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds
who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven
them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil
doings, says the LORD.
Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of
all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and
they shall be fruitful and multiply.
I will raise up shepherds over them who will
shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be
missing, says the LORD.
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a
righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute
justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will
live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our
righteousness.”
Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when it shall no longer be
said, “As the LORD lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of
Egypt,”but “As the LORD lives who brought out and led the offspring of the house
of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven
them.” Then they shall live in their own land.

DG Comment: When Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd, we know there is Old Testament basis and powerful symbolism for the metaphor. We are Christ's flock. God cares for us.

April 7

2011-04-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

Psalm 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the
stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they
shall stumble and fall.Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the
LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his
temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his
tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who 17
have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen
against me, and they are breathing out violence.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD

DG Comment: In the time when the broader church in our area struggles with revelations about past abuse at another congregation, let seek God's face, rely on God's comfort and seek to act as God would have as act.

April 6

2011-04-06T04:28:00.000-07:00

John 6:27-40
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal
life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has
set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of
God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him
whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then,
so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?
Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, „He gave them bread
from heaven to eat.‟” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not
Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the
true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from
heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread
always.”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that
you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will
come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have
come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent
me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that
he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my
Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will
raise them up on the last day.

DG Comment: Jesus is the bread of life. What really has potential to sustain our deepest need is the word and spirit of Christ if we take it and eat.

April 5

2011-04-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

John 6:16-27
16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had
rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

DG Comment: Building on our sermon on Sunday about food, spiritual food doing the will of God, and bread of life, here is again another focus on food of the spirit and our focusing on things that last, things that last from God. I say over and over:

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."

April 4

2011-04-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

Psalm 119:73-80
Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn
your commandments.
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have
humbled me.
Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your
servant.
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as
for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees.
May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.

DG Comment: God's steadfast love is our comfort in times of sorry and hardship. The comforting wisdom, care and love of God through Christ is a gift. Remember that gift this week.

April 3

2011-04-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

John 4: 31-38

We think about God's will being our food. The Lenten value of discerning and doing God's will for our lives. See you in church today!

April 2

2011-04-02T06:41:00.001-07:00

Psalm 149
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!

DG Comment: Sing to the Lord a new song. In gratitude to God, sing a new song to God with your life. Turn over a new leaf. Spring has come. The buds are opening. Sing a new song with your life.

April 1

2011-04-01T04:41:00.000-07:00

Romans 6:1-11
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may
abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united
with him in a resurrection like his.We know that our old self was crucified with
him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved
to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we
believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the
dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he
died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

DG Comment: No April Fool, Paul was serious minded and focused on the glory of God through Christ. As we begin April, where we'll connect with Easter in a few weeks, we look forward to being "united with (Christ) in a resurrection like his." Because Christ was raised we shall be raised also.

March 31

2011-03-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

2 Corinthians 12:6-10

But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I
refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or
heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations.
Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,
but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

DG Comment: We all have troubles and thorns in our sides. But God cares about us all. This is a great lectio passage as "three times Paul appeals" to God, as we recite a passage three times. I choose, "My grace is sufficient for you...." What a beautiful passage and reminder that it is by the grace of God that we are saved and can confidently move forward in life with firm knowledge of God's grace towards us!!

March 30

2011-03-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

John 8:12-20
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid
because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not
know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I
judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone
who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the
testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father
who sent me testifies on my behalf.” Then they said to him, “Where is your
Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me,
you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while he was teaching in
the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet
come.

DG Comment: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” What a positive way to begin the day. When we follow Jesus we do not walk in darkness because we have Jesus in front of us to light our way, lighten our load and give us light that brightens even the darkest corners of our lives.

March 29

2011-03-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Romans 4:13-25
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his
descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and
be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,
as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of
the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the
things that do not exist.
Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your
descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when
he considered the barrenness of Sarah‟s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus
our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

DG Comment: Right out front we read "For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith." Paul writes about the new covenant of grace which holds that not Abraham nor we inherit the world nor achieve anything that we receive from God through the law but through our faith. Our faith in God through Christ is at the center of our lives and possibilities. Thank God it is.

March 28

2011-03-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and
forevermore.

DG Comment: There is no better passage to read over to begin our week than Psalm 121. It inspires, it keeps us looking forward through the week, it affirms our trust in the Almighty and it reminds us of God's care for us.

March 27

2011-03-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

Let us seek the presence of living water this day. See you in Church!

John 4:7-15

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

March 26

2011-03-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

Romans 3:19-31

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable
to God. For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by
the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from law,
the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the
prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through 11
that same faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the
contrary, we uphold the law.

DG Comment: Meditate on this passage, "Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." In Lent as we approach Easter it doesn't get more fundamental.

March 25

2011-03-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

John 5:30-47

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because
I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John‟s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.
“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.
Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father‟s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set
your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

DG Comment: Today I meditate over and over and over again on the phrase, "I can do nothing on my own." I can do nothing on my own. I can do nothing on my own. But fortunately, I know I don't have to. The Lord be with you. And also with you.

March 24

2011-03-24T05:50:00.001-07:00

John 5:19-28
Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but
only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does
likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and
he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.
Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to
whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

DG Comment: This morning I think about the phrase “Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own.' I read it over and over and think about the connection between Jesus and God, and the mystery and majesty of the Trinity at work. I think about the connection of Jesus and us. That Jesus acts in, with and through us. We can do nothing without Christ and we represent Jesus as Christians.

March 23

2011-03-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

Psalm 27: 1-9
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

DG Comment: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” I love this passage. After a hard night and a difficult time, the light does come. The light of Christ shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it. Whom shall I fear?

March 22

2011-03-22T18:53:00.001-07:00

Jeremiah 2:1-8
The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it were held guilty; disaster came upon them, says the LORD. Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves? They did not say, “Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?” I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, “Where is the LORD?” Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit.

DG Comment: The prophet calls us to think about where we look to find the Lord. Where should we look? We look inward. We look at creation. We look to other people. We look to the Bible. We look to Jesus. Amen.

March 21

2011-03-21T11:49:00.001-07:00

Romans 1:1-15

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of
God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,
the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the
flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of
holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we
have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all
the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to
belong to Jesus Christ,
To all God‟s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is
proclaimed throughout the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by
announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember
you always in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last
succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with
you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually
encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know,
brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have
been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among
the rest of the Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the
wise and to the foolish hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also
who are in Rome.

DG Comment: Today I meditate on the sentence, “For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” As we begin spring and come to a time when there are roughly 12 hours of light and dark, I think about the idea of balance. How we in the body of Christ balance each other and support each other. How we share spiritual gifts to strengthen each other. How we encourage each other’s faith. May it be so today and all this week.

"I've seen prayers answered. But often, in my experience, if you get what you pray for, you've really shortchanged yourself."
--Anne Lamott

March 20

2011-03-20T04:46:00.001-07:00

God So Loved the World!! That says it all. See you at church!

March 19

2011-03-19T07:09:00.001-07:00

Psalm 31: 1-14
In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name‟s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities,
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

DG Comments: “In you O Lord, I seek refuge….I trust in you….You are my God.” I say this over and over in my head and it sooths me. I read this passage as our nation is likely soon to engage in another military operation in the Middle East and as the events in Japan and elsewhere raise anxiety. And yet in the Lord do I trust.

March 18

2011-03-18T06:21:00.001-07:00

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

So now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? Only to fear the
LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the
LORD your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own
well-being.
Although heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the LORD your
God, the earth with all that is in it, yet the LORD set his heart in love on your
ancestors alone and chose you, their descendants after them, out of all the peoples,
as it is today. Circumcise, then, the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn
any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great
God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes
justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them
food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the
land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God; him alone you shall worship; to
him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen.
Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.

DG comment: The concept of love takes place in three ways in this passage. God loves us. God loves God’s people. “The Lord set his heart in love on your ancestors.” And how should we respond? By "loving God, walking in God’s ways and serving God with all our hearts." And by loving others, that is "loving the stranger." From this ancient passage, we hear echos of the Great Commandment in Matthew 22, that we should love God with our whole heart and love our neighbors as ourselves.

March 17

2011-03-17T07:56:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I am wearing green as I sit here getting ready for some Irish soda bread.

Passage: Psalm 102: 1-16

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call.
For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
My heart is stricken and withered like grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread.
Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my skin.
I am like an owl of the wilderness, like a little owl of the waste places.
I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.
All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink, because of your indignation and anger; for you have lifted me up and thrown me
aside. My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations.
You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the
appointed time has come. For your servants hold its stones dear, and have pity on its dust. The nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory. For the LORD will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory.

DG Comment: As the world looks with grief, anxiety and compassion towards the unfolding events in Japan, we join with the psalmist in asking God to "let my cry come to you." We are in mourning with the people of Japan. We are in distress, like the Psalmist. While God does not wish tragedy upon us, why God allows such things to happen remains a mystery to us. Yet we, like the Psalmist, affirm that God endures and thus, so can God's people. God's name and love endures forever. And God calls us each to be involved in helping where and when we can. God works through us to bring good in difficult situations. Let it be so now.

http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/pda/japan/

March 16

2011-03-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 3:12-19

Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving
heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as
long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the
deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our
first confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not
harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Now who were they who heard and yet
were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?
But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose
bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter
his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to
enter because of unbelief.

DG Comment: What speaks to me this morning is: “But with whom was he angry forty years?” and “For we have become partners of Christ.” During Lent, we go for forty days reflecting and examining our lives. We acknowledge the reality of sin in our lives and in our world. Yet we have a partner in Jesus Christ, who journeys with us through the wilderness of Lent, all the way to the Cross…....and beyond………....all the way to the joy of Easter.

March 15

2011-03-15T05:25:00.000-07:00

Psalm 34: 1-8

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every
trouble. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.

DG comments: I read the Psalm this morning and select the third sentence, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” to focus on today. I meditate on that sentence and it reminds me of Mary’s Magnificat. This famous passage, usually read in the church in early Advent, is read from Luke’s Gospel. Mary meets with her cousin, Elizabeth, both looking forward to giving birth, and Mary sings, “My soul does magnify the Lord and my soul and my spirit have rejoiced in God my Savior.” The Psalmist expresses a similar exaltation and trust in the Lord. God was, is and will be our savior. As Advent prepares us for the coming of Christ at Christmas, Lent prepares us for the resurrection of Christ at Easter – the time when salvation is made real. So magnify the Lord and let us exalt his name together.

March 14

2011-03-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

John 2:1-12
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus
was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the
wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.

DG Comments: As I mentioned in worship yesterday, today we begin our Lenten discipline of lectio divina. I encourage you to select a word or phrase from the scripture passage; allow it to infiltrate your being; meditate upon it; look for God’s invitation to you within the passage and then think how it might apply to your life.

As I read John 2: 1-12 this morning, I focused on the phrase “'Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.' Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory.” This was the first of Jesus’ great signs that revealed his glory. Within this idea I select the passage, “but you have kept the good wine until now.” In a highly unusual act, the good wine was kept til last. I allow this phrase to infiltrate my soul as I read it over and over. I meditate upon what happens in the passage. I start to see an invitation from God to me. That the best is saved for last. That no matter how long we live, and no matter what has happened to us, God has something saved for us. Something sweet and beautiful. I apply this thought to the beginning of my week and I am renewed to begin the week again, confident that God has saved something wonderful for me.

March 13

2011-03-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Matthew 4:8-11
8(Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;
9and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me."
10Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"
11Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

March12

2011-03-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

Following Jesus

Gospel John 1:43-51

⁴³The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” ⁴⁶Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”⁴⁸Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” ⁴⁹Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

March 11

2011-03-11T12:23:00.001-08:00

Psalm 148

¹ Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
² Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!

³ Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
⁶ He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!

⁹ Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰ Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹² Young men and women alike,
old and young together!

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

March 10

2011-03-10T06:35:00.003-08:00

A good Ash W service last evening. Now into Lent

Luke 18:9-14

⁹He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ¹⁰“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ ¹³But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

March 9

2011-03-10T06:35:00.001-08:00

For Ash Wednesday

Luke 18:9-14

March 8

2011-03-10T06:34:00.001-08:00

I love Psalm 42

Psalm 42

¹ As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
³ My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”

⁴ These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help ⁶and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
⁸ By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

March 7

2011-03-07T09:30:00.001-08:00

As the week begins, we begin by thinking about the Word that was there at the beginning!!

John 1:1-18

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

March 6

2011-03-06T05:45:00.003-08:00

Give thanks for a kingdom that shall not end.

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

⁹ As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne,
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
¹⁰ A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.

¹³As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
¹⁴ To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.

March 5

2011-03-06T05:45:00.001-08:00

Psalm 90

¹ Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
² Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You turn us back to dust,
and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning;
⁶ in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

⁷ For we are consumed by your anger;
by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

⁹ For all our days pass away under your wrath;
our years come to an end like a sigh.
¹⁰ The days of our life are seventy years,
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.

¹¹ Who considers the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
¹² So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.

¹³ Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
¹⁶ Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands —
O prosper the work of our hands!

March 4

2011-03-06T05:44:00.001-08:00

Matthew 7:13-21

¹³“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. ¹⁴For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

¹⁵“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus you will know them by their fruits.

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

March 3

2011-03-03T12:35:00.001-08:00

God's grace is powerful. When we are feeling weak, rely on the Lord!!

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

⁸Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰

March 2

2011-03-02T05:36:00.001-08:00

I start today with Psalm 147, the glory of God, who both created the heavens and is so close as to number the stars, call them by name and heal the brokenhearted among us and broken hearts in us.

Psalm 147:1-11

¹ Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
² The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
³ He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
⁶ The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷ Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre.
⁸ He covers the heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹ He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
¹⁰ His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
¹¹ but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love

March 1

2011-03-01T05:19:00.001-08:00

Praise the Lord in this New Month!!

Psalm 146

¹ Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
² I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

³ Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
⁴ When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.

⁵ Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;
⁸ the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
⁹ The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰ The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD!

February 28

2011-02-28T03:26:00.000-08:00

When Jesus was asked to teach his disciples how to pray, he did not offer lessons or a teaching curriculum. He offered a prayer. One for them to practice and repeat and internalize and use and share and pray.

Matthew 6:7-15

⁷“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹“Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
¹⁴For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; ¹⁵but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

February 27

2011-02-27T04:42:00.000-08:00

From Psalm 150

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!

This is a good day to praise God at church. Go and join with others in the sanctuary. And then praise God everywhere.

February 26

2011-02-26T03:17:00.001-08:00

From Psalm 149

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song.

Its a new day. The same ideas as last week do not need to continue. Bring a fresh perspective today. Sing a new song of life.

February 25

2011-02-25T04:23:00.000-08:00

From 2 Corinthians 4 we read, "Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart." Let us affirm with Martin Luther that each of us is called into ministry in some way. We all are to worship God and serve neighbor.

February 24

2011-02-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

From Psalm 143 - "Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness." Are are encouraged and do well to pray to God. We are meant to and we benefit from it.

February 23

2011-02-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

From Psalm 147 - "Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God...The Lord builds up Jerusalem...gathers the outcasts of Israel. (God) heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds."

Its a good reminder that God cares about us even when we are not at our strongest.

February 22

2011-02-22T12:12:00.000-08:00

In Matthew 5 Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

We each have a light inside us. It illuminates truth. It shines on others. It sets an example. It reflects God's light. Let your light shine!

February 21

2011-02-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

On President's Day, we recall with the Psalmist who the greatest One of all is.

Psalm 145 - "I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever."

Daily lectionary

2011-02-20T04:15:00.001-08:00

Starting February 20, 2011 for the next year I'll be trying to post a thought on one of the suggested PCUSA daily readings.

Psalm 67 begins with "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make God's face to shine upon us."

Whether its cloudy or clear, the sun rises each day, just as God's face shines upon us each day. As a new day starts, as a new tradition begins, as we rise on the Lord's Day, we look up and see God's face shining upon us. God smiling at us. And we can smile back.

My prayers go to all without power as a result of the storms

2010-07-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

Link to Washington Post Blog on Our Conference on the Impact of Fear on American Public Life

2010-03-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/georgetown/2010/03/stephen_heinz_president_of_the.html

Four Resources on Simplicity I Mentioned at Yesterday's Adult Education Class

2010-03-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

1. Making Space for the Spirit - Kathleen Bostrom

2. Voluntary Simplicity - Duane Elgin

3. Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

4. Hurry Less, Worry Less - Judy Christie

What a Conference

2010-03-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today's Managing Fear Through Faith conference at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church brought together Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders from across the country for a frank discussion of the impact of fear in American public life. Leaders such a David Myers, Department of Homeland Security; Stephen Heintz, President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund; Daisy Khan, Executive Director, American Society for Muslim Advancement; Peter Stearns, Provost and Professor of History, George Mason University; Priscilla Lewis, U.S. in the World; Chloe Breyer, Interfaith Center of New York; Arthur Waskow, Shalom Center; Clark Lobenstine, InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington; Sayyid Syeed, Islamic Society of North America, and many others addressed various aspects of the impact of fear on our society and how our interfaith dialogue can do something about it.

I felt the substance today on this important topic was first rate and I hope all who heard it were as moved as I was. I hope together we were able to plant seeds of dialogue and collaboration to help counter the fear that is too often part of our national public thinking.

Tomorrow We Are Hosting An Interesting Interfaith Conference - come join us!

2010-03-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to invite you to what should be a fascinating conference on The Impact of Fear on American Public Life called "Managing Fear Through Faith."

Fear of change and anxieties about economic and cultural disruption in America are contributing to gridlock and polarization in our public life at a time when civil discourse, creative solutions, and bipartisan action are needed to address national problems. The media feed our anxieties and some have decided it is in their interests to fan public fears. Is there a role for religion and interfaith dialogue in countering the negative effects of fear in the public square?

Americans are also fearful about the possibility of a terrorist attack - and here, too, fear is having a negative impact on the quality of public debate and problem solving. If there is another terrorist attack for which religious justification is claimed, what would be the social and policy consequences for our nation? As we confront our terrorism-related fears, how can Americans, particularly people of faith, work together to strengthen America's resilience and encourage constructive responses to future national crises?

Join us for a provocative half-day interfaith conference that takes on hard questions about fear and faith, and be part of the visioning process for a new kind of community response to fear.

The event will take place next Tuesday, March 23, 2010 from 9:00pm to 6:00pm at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church.Sponsored by Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, U.S. in the World Initiative and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Co-hosted by Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Idara e Jaferia Mosque, the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue, the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and the New America Foundation.

Agenda

8:30-9:00 Food and sign in. Gathering Space

9:00-9:15 Welcome, Overview of Day and Introductions

9:15-9:45 - The Impact of Fear on Public Thinking

9:45-10:20 - Discussion of How Fear Impacts Public Discourse in America and possible Faith Response

10:30-noon – Terrorism: How Faith Leaders Can Strengthen the Social Fabric and Encourage Constructive Dialogue

12:00-12:45Working lunch, prep morning participants for their roles as facilitators of afternoon table discussions (Lounge)

1:00 - 1:10: Welcome and Introductions
David Gray, Pastor, Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church

1:10 - 1:40: Impact of Fear on Public Thinking
Priscilla Lewis and Sue Veres Royal, Co-Directors, U.S. in the World Initiative

1:40 - 1:50: Remarks
David Myers, Director, Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Department of Homeland Security

2:00 - 2:30: Impact of Fear on Culture
Peter Stearns, Provost and Professor of History, George Mason University

2:30 - 3:15: The Impact of Fear on Democracy, Citizenship and Leadership
Stephen Heintz, President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Daisy Khan, Executive Director, American Society for Muslim Advancement

3:30 - 4:20: Importance of Interfaith Dialogue in the Response to Fear Inducing Events
Clark Lobenstine, InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
Chloe Breyer, Interfaith Center of New York
Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center
Sayyid Syeed, Islamic Society of North America

4:30 - 5:30: Participants Visioning a Community Response Infrastructure and reporting back

5:30 - 5:50: Discussion of Commissioned Papers on How Faith Helps People Respond to Fear
Joshua Stanton, Founder, Journal of InterReligious Dialogue
Tyler Zoanni, Harvard University

5:50 - 6:00: Wrap up

PCUSA prayer for Haiti

2010-01-13T18:42:00.000-08:00

We pray for Haiti

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:

God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer
Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.
(Adapted from Book of Common Worship)

-Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

On this anniversary of our Savior's birth, may you find peace, love and joy. Blessings, David

More thanks and patience

2009-12-03T17:54:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving passes and we get into the Season of Advent, I am thankful for the spiritual disciple of patience that Advent brings us. We need the reminder that we do not control time and that good things come to those who wait.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-25T06:06:00.000-08:00

This year I give thanks for all my wonderful colleagues and friends at BHPC!! Give God the Glory!

The Importance of Interfaith

2009-11-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow at Bradley Hills our main 1030 Sunday worship service will be transformed into an interfaith worship experience with our partners in sacred space from Bethesda Jewish Congregation and Idara e Jarferia mosque. One of the most important lessons we can teach to our young people is how to understand and get along with people from other traditions. The peace of our world depends on it. When we learn about how others experience God we strengthen our understanding of the world, become more understanding of the needs of others, and strengthen our own faith because we are often are giving the opportunity to explain to others what it is that we believe. Interfaith work and worship matters.

Keys to a Long Life

2009-11-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

On a pastoral visit yesterday with an amazing 94 year old woman who had a successful hip replacement this week, she shared with me her five secrets for living a long life. Eat well, moderate exercise, regular check ups, positive attitude and faith.

The Joys and Sorrows of Moving

2009-11-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

I've been so under water as our family moved to Bethesda in mid October. Still living out of boxes and looking forward to being settled.

God and Halloween

2009-11-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

Being a Christian is a lot like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff -- including the seeds of doubt, hate and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling faceand puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

What a Week

2009-10-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

Tuesday evening 400+ came to Bradley Hills to hear Eboo Patel's inspirational speech and, in the case of the youth, to meet for dinner. His interfaith witness is a great one and gives us good encouragement.

Today we closed on our new home in Bethesda. We are grateful.

U2

2009-09-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Last night's concert was great! They are really inspiring. Their ability to weave faith, policy, lyrics and tunes, their lasting power and their melodies are all entertaining, fun and provocative, and the books being written about religion and U2 make the point.

Fall is Officially Upon Us Today, I Love This Time of Year

2009-09-22T19:18:00.001-07:00

Op Ed With Eboo

2009-09-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

As we prepare for Eboo Patel's speech at Bradley Hills on October 6, I wanted to share an essay that Eboo and I (along with Paul Rauschenbush and Sid Schwarz) wrote for the WashingtonPost/Newsweek in February 2007.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2007/02/congress_needs_an_interfaith_c.html

Congress Needs an Interfaith Caucus

The National Prayer Breakfast, an annual gathering of inspiring speeches and solemn moments of silence, recently drew President Bush and hundreds of lawmakers when it was held in Washington. This year, the event was unusual in that it was attended by much of what is the most religiously diverse Congress in American history.

The 110th Congress includes one Muslim and two Buddhists. The U.S. Senate is now led by a Mormon. All of these are firsts. The new Congress also includes more Jews than Lutherans, Congregationalists or Episcopalians.

The writer G.K. Chesterton famously remarked that America is "a nation with the soul of a church." One look at Congress, indeed one look around the country, shows that Chesterton is only partially correct. Throughout the centuries, America has remained a devout
country, with uniquely high rates of belief in God and attendance at religious services, when compared to Europe. But we have also become the most religiously diverse country in the world. To be true to our 21st century demographics, we have to amend Chesterton's line by adding "mosque, synagogue, temple and gurudwara" after “church.”

In this era of global religious conflict, when religious tensions travel in nanoseconds over the Internet, America's religious diversity can be a great opportunity or a great danger.
It is not impossible that violence engulfing Shiites and Sunnis in Baghdad, Hindus and Muslims in Bombay, or Catholics and Protestants in Belfast could have ripple effects in Boston. Already, there are too many examples of religious communities who refuse to talk to one another on
college campuses in America because they come down on different sides of the political debate on issues ranging from domestic spying, to immigration, to aid to Israel.

America was founded partly on the idea of religious diversity. We are a nation of ideas formed by people who wanted freedom to worship God as they felt called. In a world where conflict between faiths threatens to set off a centuries-long clash of civilizations, Americans would do well to remember this heritage of reverence combined with tolerance. Indeed, this tradition has played an important role throughout American history. Take, for example, the famous picture of Martin Luther King Jr. marching through Selma with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, both called by their different faiths to extend the American promise to all people. Heschel later
acknowledged the religious differences between him and King, but still claimed that the march was worship: "I felt like my legs were praying."

The U.S. Constitution has protected the free exercise of religion at the same time as it has prevented any one religion from defining the public square. As such, America is in a position to draw strength from its ethnic/religious diversity instead of having it threaten its social fabric. This is a compelling model for a world enmeshed in religious conflict.

Congress can play an important leadership role in this effort by starting a bipartisan Interfaith Caucus. If a few members from each party and from different faiths formed such a Caucus, it could be a focus for discussion, a platform for outreach and a symbol of religious
cooperation for the world.

An Interfaith Caucus could meet regularly to discuss the positive role that religion plays in people's lives and in communities across the country and the world. It could also explore how religion is misused by demagogues of all faiths to fuel conflict around the world. The Interfaith
Caucus could interview leaders from a range of faith backgrounds, widening their understanding of the various faiths that call America home. In case of another attack like the bombing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, perpetrated by someone loosely affiliated with the Christian Identity movement, or a second 9/11, the Interfaith Caucus could be a platform for a cooperative,
balanced response.

Even if the Interfaith Caucus met only rarely, its formation would still be of enormous symbolic value. It would show the world that America is proud to recognize its religious diversity at the highest levels of its government. In an era where too many religious minorities suffer discrimination, and many outsiders wonder how American Muslims are treated in the aftermath of 9/11, an Interfaith Caucus would say to the world that America is committed to dialogue, not division.

America's religious diversity has the potential to be either a source of strength or a challenge for the United States in the coming years. People of faith can cooperate and help save our world, or continue killing one another and hasten the destruction of all. As representatives of the three Abrahamic faith traditions, we have seen in our own work the value of interfaith dialogue. We hope Congress will use its own diversity to lead in this area. An Interfaith Caucus would be a good first step.

The authors of this essay are:
The Rev. David Gray, director of the Workforce and Family Program at the New
America Foundation

Dr. Eboo Patel, executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core
and author of the forthcoming book, Acts of Faith

The Rev. Paul Raushenbush, associate dean of Religious Life and the Chapel
at Princeton University

Rabbi Sid Schwarz, president of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, and author of Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World

They are Back!

2009-09-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

Its soooo great having the Bradley Hills choir back. They are wonderful!

September 11

2009-09-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday the world noticed the numerically interesting 09-09-09 and today our hearts join with those who remember what happened in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania eight years ago. May the world find a more peaceful future.

:)

2009-09-08T05:22:00.001-07:00

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, ''And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?'' One bright little girl replied, ''Because people are sleeping.''

Labor Day

2009-09-07T05:48:00.002-07:00

Today is a significant day for me. On Sept. 7 my heart remembers all things home for me in Ohio. On Labor Day I recall my time at the Department of Labor and I celebrate all who worked to make our nation great, all those who continue to work hard and in these uneasy economic times, all those who are looking for work.

Football

2009-09-07T05:48:00.001-07:00

On Saturday college football started. I am very psyched!

Baby Baptism

2009-09-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

"After the baptism of his baby brother, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.'"

Children and Forgiveness

2009-09-04T11:20:00.001-07:00

One particular four-year-old prayed, "Forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

Psalm 126

2009-09-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

A friend shared Psalm 126 with me this morning and the comfort it brings her. She reminded me of Eugene Peterson's writings on this Psalm, "Laughter does not exclude weeping." Sometimes we do weep and sometimes we do laugh. But as the Psalmist knew, that was all part of life.

Happy Birthday to the Internet

2009-09-02T04:44:00.000-07:00

As I rise to blog today I am reminded that Sept 2 is the 40th anniversary of the technology that would become the internet. Its also the birthday of the automated teller machine. What a transforming technology the internet is.

Cool September?

2009-09-01T04:57:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature is cooperating with the turning of the calendar as the dawn of September brings delightfully cool weather.

The Importance of Sowing Seeds

2009-08-31T19:50:00.001-07:00

As the school year starts, I think about the role of teachers, parents and all those who help our young people learn. I am reminded of a poem by Ann North:

"Some of the seeds of hope planted tentatively in the fall have not come up. They life stillborn and unrealized somewhere in the spring soil decaying. The strongest and best ones pushed up through leaves and layers of cold, hard resistance, right into clear blue air and stand there nakedly green. Breathing. Its always that way with growing things. Never knowing at the start which will make it and which will fail. But the thing to hold fast to, never to lose faith in is simply - keep sowing."

Senator Kennedy

2009-08-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

Watching the memorial services for the Senator this weekend was very moving. I remember traveling to Ohio for the signing of the No Child Left Behind legislation and being impressed by the Senator, as well as from during my time working at the Senate. Bradley Hills had a connection with him as the church donated the tree to him that would be planted at the U.S. Capitol as the Massachusetts state tree there.