Today’s Reading: Ruth 1:1-18
It seems so appropriate that today (All Saints Sunday) we hear a portion of the story of Ruth – for I can’t think of anyone who embodies the quality of a saint better than Ruth.
So what qualities or characteristics make a saint?
Well, there are lots of ways to answer that question. One of the more obscure would be to say a saint is a person who helps you see the world differently. Let’s use the opening verses from the book of Ruth as an example.
In the world in which Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi lived, women were seen in one-dimensional terms. Their value lay in their ability to produce - and hopefully care for - a family. Apart from that, their value was minimal. That’s why when Naomi lost her two sons – she released her surviving daughters-in-law to move on. “Why would you come with me,” Naomi asked the women. She asked that question because she couldn’t see why any person in their right mind would stay with her!
Thankfully, Naomi had Ruth beside her: someone who could see the value and sacred worth within Naomi (despite the fact that she was well beyond her reproductive years). Because Ruth was able to see Naomi’s sacred value, eventually Naomi came to see her value as well. That’s one thing saints tend to do –help individuals see others (and perhaps even themselves) differently.
On this All Saints Sunday, I would invite you to look back over the course of your life and see if there are any Ruth-like figures in your life. As you remember those saints in your life, pause to give thanks for them and the ways they opened your eyes in new ways. Til next time…
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Saturday, October 31
Today’s Readings: Psalm 63; Nehemiah 4:1-23; Matthew 13:31-35; Revelation 7:(4-8) 9:17
I remember years ago during one of my seminary classes we had a discussion about why people come to church.
Some folks come to church, one classmate said, because they were raised in the church; over the years attending worship has become a habit. Other folks come to church to find a place of love and acceptance another classmate said. Another classmate added that some come to church in order to find a place to exert power and control over others.
In today’s psalm, the psalmist offers another reason why folks come to a place of worship. “God – you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory” (Psalm 63:1-2 from The Message).
My question for you today to consider is this: “Why do you seek out opportunities to worship?” Til next time…
I remember years ago during one of my seminary classes we had a discussion about why people come to church.
Some folks come to church, one classmate said, because they were raised in the church; over the years attending worship has become a habit. Other folks come to church to find a place of love and acceptance another classmate said. Another classmate added that some come to church in order to find a place to exert power and control over others.
In today’s psalm, the psalmist offers another reason why folks come to a place of worship. “God – you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory” (Psalm 63:1-2 from The Message).
My question for you today to consider is this: “Why do you seek out opportunities to worship?” Til next time…
Friday, October 30
Today’s Readings: Psalm 84; Nehemiah 2:1-20; Matthew 13:24-30; Revelation 6:12-7:4
When I was younger and would hear people talk in ways Nehemiah talked near the beginning of today’s passage from the book of Nehemiah (i.e. “I hadn’t told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” in 2:12), I would have rolled my eyes and said, “There goes another religious fanatic. Why doesn’t such a person admit it was their own idea they simply pushed off on God?”
As I’ve gotten older, however, I’ve paid more attention to the calls (another way of saying God put something within my heart) that have occurred in my own life.
So how do I decide if something is a call versus simply a good idea that I had?
A big portion of it has to do with how things play out. Let me give you a powerful experience I had of receiving a call.
When I was called to attend seminary in 1998, I had no idea how I would pay for the education. I was also confused because I knew gay men wouldn’t be ordained by the denomination to which I belonged at the time. But something in my heart pushed me to pursue the experience despite my overwhelming reservations.
By the end of my third year of seminary, however, I had not only received scholarships to cover the full cost of my education – I had been called to serve a local church and was in the midst of the ordination process within a denomination where my sexual orientation wasn’t an issue!
So, Craig, are you telling me that when God calls you to do something (i.e. puts something in your heart) that it means things work out easily?
I wish! What I am saying is that from my experience when God calls me to do something I have enough resources to pursue that path before me - no matter how many obstacles lie in the way. PLEASE know that when I say resources I don’t mean superficial things like money – I mean the more important resources like courage and faith. That’s how I know the difference between things that are simply one of my own clever ideas versus something put in my heart by God.
Have you had an experience of having something placed in your heart – something you thought you could never do but did? If so, give thanks for the power of that experience. If not, keep your heart open for the possibility of such a thing happening. Til next time…
When I was younger and would hear people talk in ways Nehemiah talked near the beginning of today’s passage from the book of Nehemiah (i.e. “I hadn’t told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” in 2:12), I would have rolled my eyes and said, “There goes another religious fanatic. Why doesn’t such a person admit it was their own idea they simply pushed off on God?”
As I’ve gotten older, however, I’ve paid more attention to the calls (another way of saying God put something within my heart) that have occurred in my own life.
So how do I decide if something is a call versus simply a good idea that I had?
A big portion of it has to do with how things play out. Let me give you a powerful experience I had of receiving a call.
When I was called to attend seminary in 1998, I had no idea how I would pay for the education. I was also confused because I knew gay men wouldn’t be ordained by the denomination to which I belonged at the time. But something in my heart pushed me to pursue the experience despite my overwhelming reservations.
By the end of my third year of seminary, however, I had not only received scholarships to cover the full cost of my education – I had been called to serve a local church and was in the midst of the ordination process within a denomination where my sexual orientation wasn’t an issue!
So, Craig, are you telling me that when God calls you to do something (i.e. puts something in your heart) that it means things work out easily?
I wish! What I am saying is that from my experience when God calls me to do something I have enough resources to pursue that path before me - no matter how many obstacles lie in the way. PLEASE know that when I say resources I don’t mean superficial things like money – I mean the more important resources like courage and faith. That’s how I know the difference between things that are simply one of my own clever ideas versus something put in my heart by God.
Have you had an experience of having something placed in your heart – something you thought you could never do but did? If so, give thanks for the power of that experience. If not, keep your heart open for the possibility of such a thing happening. Til next time…
Thursday, October 29
Today’s Readings: Psalm 116; Nehemiah 1:1-11; Matthew 13:18-23; Revelation 5:11-6:11
In the days following the Enlightenment, the notion of confession began to fall out of favor. That’s because folks wanted to celebrate all of the wonderful things human being were capable.
I can certainly understand the desire to do that - for I believe that human beings ARE wonderful creations who are capable of amazing things like love, compassion, and understanding.
In the midst of those celebrations, however, I believe it’s important to remember those other aspects of ourselves that are not quite so wonderful: things like our pettiness, our greed, and our propensity for violence. It is only by recognizing (dare I say, confessing) these things that we can achieve a fuller understanding of ourselves.
Nehemiah knew the importance of confessing his shortcomings. That’s why in today’s passage from the Hebrew Scripture Nehemiah said: “… I’m including myself, I and my ancestors, among those who have sinned against you” (Nehemiah 1:6 from The Message).
So how comfortable are you with the notion of confession. Are you comfortable doing what Nehemiah did and own up to your shortcomings, or would you rather skip over those shortcomings and exclusively focus your attention on your good traits? Til next time…
In the days following the Enlightenment, the notion of confession began to fall out of favor. That’s because folks wanted to celebrate all of the wonderful things human being were capable.
I can certainly understand the desire to do that - for I believe that human beings ARE wonderful creations who are capable of amazing things like love, compassion, and understanding.
In the midst of those celebrations, however, I believe it’s important to remember those other aspects of ourselves that are not quite so wonderful: things like our pettiness, our greed, and our propensity for violence. It is only by recognizing (dare I say, confessing) these things that we can achieve a fuller understanding of ourselves.
Nehemiah knew the importance of confessing his shortcomings. That’s why in today’s passage from the Hebrew Scripture Nehemiah said: “… I’m including myself, I and my ancestors, among those who have sinned against you” (Nehemiah 1:6 from The Message).
So how comfortable are you with the notion of confession. Are you comfortable doing what Nehemiah did and own up to your shortcomings, or would you rather skip over those shortcomings and exclusively focus your attention on your good traits? Til next time…
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