A Faith Journey Is Not A Timed Event

REFLECTIONS

February 27, 2011

Do you ever have those days when thirty seconds seems way too long to wait for a traffic signal? The few seconds it takes for your computer to reach the Internet is an eternity. In other words a simple task which might require a modicum of patience is asking something just not possible at the time. People who study human behavior tell us that technology has now driven humans to the state where we are often lacking proper civil decorum. Hence the likes of road rage, parking lot and shopping rage. For a variety of reasons we both work and play at speeds without leaving room for contemplation. Since we can check facts and figures nearly instantaneously, we are apt to think we know more than we actually do. This frees us to criticize, even condemn those we disagree with. This can become a non aerobic exercise for those of the muscle bound brain. Very good for the inflated ego, very bad for the soul. The Apostle Paul addresses this in his writing to the early Church.

In his first letter to the people of Corinth, responding to critics of his teaching along with that of his disciples he urges caution and calm. "Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy. However, with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me." 4:1-4 NRSV The words of Paul were strong when he wrote them. They are even more harsh today because we actually think we know something.

There is a wonderful song titled, "I’m In A Hurry (and I Don’t Know Why)" written by Randy Van Warmer and Roger Murrah. The refrain says volumes. "I’m in a hurry to get things done, oh, I rush and rush until life’s no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die, but I’m in a hurry and don’t know why." We seek to know, to make sense, to understand, to figure things out. The truth of the matter is, we cannot know and understand everything no matter how diligent we are. Over the years I have read of many folks rich, poor, famous, or pedestrian, educated or not, each with the singular belief that God does not exist. As a younger person this would either send me into a fit of anger, or a fancy for prayer over the said souls. Now it seem bemusing to ponder whether God ever doubts the existence of a nonbeliever.

Act As If Believing Means Something

Reflections

February 20, 2011

The poet Maya Angelou says of life, "Nobody, but nobody gets through without help." Think of it, from the time we are born people are around us. Teaching, nurturing, protecting and nudging. As we mature, part of the natural response within us is to return those helps.

Psalm 121 opens with the line "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come?" The question is asked and answered by the writer. All Holy help comes from God alone. This was an important statement because at the time monotheism was new and communities often had many gods including a variety of household gods for protection and guidance. The Psalmist is saying only one God is necessary, because one God creates, guides, protects and helps all.

To look at an ancient text like this is sometimes difficult for modern thinkers. After all, we are independent, self reliant individuals. With a global positioning satellite, a portable laptop computer and a cellphone we can do just about anything. So the notion of taking time in contemplative thought to consider how blessed we are might seem unusual. yet, that is precisely what the psalmist is saying. That in a world of transiency, God is constant, reliable, available, creative, and creating.

To complete the idea of the poet, we would then be called to live life in the name of justice, healing, hope, and peace. For when the help of God finds a home in the human heart, Holy things happen.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald

First United Methodist Church

4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Faith's A Relationship, Not A Negotiation

REFLECTIONS
February 13, 2011

We all live within the parameters of laws and human limitations. For example: when we, as full fledged middle aged persons, attempt to act like teenagers in either dress or demeanor, there will be repercussions. It might be the minor embarrassment of being attired in an age inappropriate manner, or it could be a major injury because we decided to begin hang gliding at fifty without physical training or flight instruction.

Laws are those things set forth as important restrictions with the intent of ordering behavior in order to protect society. We have laws for virtually every facet of life. From the way we drive, to how we conduct business. In some cases the areas we live have laws which regulate what color our homes may be painted and how long the garage door may remain open. Laws are not a new concept. Any civilization with a recorded history has codes of behavior for its people. In most cases these are related to religious or cultural tradition and in many cases both.

Religion has influenced the laws of many lands. The Muslim, Jewish and Christian interpretation of the Holy Scriptures we hold in common has long been subject to debate in terms of understanding. However, it is curious that these faiths along with most other historic faith traditions all have a form of what most theologians call the Ten Commandments. These rules or laws are found in the Bible in Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20. Even if we can’t recite them, we remember the essence of them as being tied to private and public behavior held in relation to God and others. In other words we may not get all the thou shalts perfect, but we know they are important. Perhaps in an effort to make them easier to remember, the Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, Texas has posted The Ten Commandments Cowboy Style on one of its walls.

1. Just one God 6. No Killin’
2. Put nothin’ before God 7. No foolin’ around with another
3. Watch yer mouth fellow’s gal
4. Git yerself to Sunday meetin’ 8. Don’t take what ain’t yers
5. Honor yer Ma & Pa 9. No telling tales or gossipin’
10. Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff

There has been much time and money spent in debate over the last several years about the placement of The Ten Commandments on the walls of courts or in monuments before State Houses. It seems somewhat silly to hang them on the wall of a Court, or for that matter even the wall of a house of worship. After all Moses was given these gifts that those who came to know them would find room for them in their hearts. Not to regulate or remind humans of their limitations, but to point to the possibility found in Holy relationships.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

The Market Value of Spiritual Currency

REFLECTIONS
February 6, 2011

Friends recently gave me a book titled, A Continual Feast. It is a compilation of quotes on spirituality edited by Jan Karon. A couple of my current favorites are as follows. “The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.” This remarkable saying is attributed to Marcus Aurelius who wrote in the first century C.E. What makes the quote, is the fact that we tend to think of these early times as serene and trouble free, and the saying would indicate they were anything but so. Another saying comes from the popular science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury, who said, “Sometimes you have to jump off cliffs, and grow wings on the way down.” The indication here would seem to be that risk is part of the freight of an adventurous life. The central element being what a life might cost.

In I Corinthians 2:1-16 the Apostle Paul wades in with his unique take on the value of a spiritual existence. For Paul a life of faith could not be separated from day to day living. For him, who we are, and what we are about, emanates from a spiritual foundation. In this passage, he writes to the people of Corinth with instructions on how to interpret a life in the Spirit. Because others followed him into this region saying, “They had the real truth, and Paul along with his followers had only part of the story.” Paul’s words are direct and to the point. First of all the story he told of the love of God in Jesus is not new or very complicated. So the gospel of God is not a new philosophy, but one rooted in an historic interpretation of how God interacts with humanity found in Scriptures which Paul refers to in his letters. Second, and even more importantly, is his insistence that mystery is part of a life of faith. He does not run or hide from the fact that we don’t get to know every thing. Later he embraces this thought fully when writing that what we see now is like looking in a dark or imperfect mirror, but in time we will see with greater clarity.

In this day and age any person, place or thing which strikes our fancy, we can Google and obtain a great deal of information. This is a wonderful aspect of technology. The issue resulting from our ersatz internet encyclopedia is that we often mistake data for understanding. What Paul is saying is that understanding is an act of the Spirit not of the brain. They both have value, yet where the mind eschews the unknown the soul embraces, even longs for it.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601