It appears that Sunday's sermon is stirring up conversations about toxic relationships. For those of you not in worship, we are continuing in our sermon series in Matthew 10, where Jesus calls his disciples into a relationship and then sends them out on mission. The primary passages were: Matthew 10:11-15, and 10:40-42. When a person is made right before God through Jesus Christ, he/she is called a righteous person. In the text Jesus talks about righteous people and worthy people. Like righteous folks, worthy people are hospitable, open, respectful and view the world as larger than themselves. Worthy people simply do not have the relationship with God. Jesus calls us to be in partnership with and in mission to worthy individuals. Check out verses 40-42 to see how God responds to the worthy person. Jesus does give the warning about staying away from toxic people.
Toxic individuals hinder our relationship with God. If we are around negative friends, then we tend to become negative. If we grew up in a house filled with shame and secrets, we keep parts of our lives hidden from God's healing. If we never heard how much God loves us, then our identity is found in whatever idol presents itself-- work, kids, house, relationships, promotion.
Accordingly this passage seeks to pull from within us those areas which are toxic. When do I laugh at someone elses expense? When do I judge someone else, only to discover on closer examination that very characteristic within me? How often do I blame others because I simply can't cope with another failure?
Matthew's gospel is not for the faint of heart. Remember... this is the Gospel of Jesus. There is good news. I believe John the Baptist said it best: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent. Confess the areas where toxicity resides in you. Let God's forgiveness and grace heal the broken heart.
On a side note. I got into a conversation about how this works in terms of political humor. The question was, "At what point do I become toxic in my humor?" A timely question. In the last election I felt very convicted in this area. I love a good political cartoon. They are concise and speak volumes through art. As I lifted the question to God I heard the following: Stay away from personal attacks against an individual. All people are my (God's) creation. Imagine if you were in that person's shoes. How would you feel if the personal attack was against you and your children heard it? Let that be your guide.
For me that has served as a guide in two ways. First a commitment to not participate or pass on personal attacks--funny or otherwise. Also I heard a call to speak up when someone is targeting a politician in such ways. I have to admit this has not always been very easy for me. I have had to work harder at understanding the issues rather than the soundbites.
On the journey,
Alecia
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Which One First?
If our mission is found first in our relationship with Jesus, then how do we respond to the pervasive consumer culture? This culture of consumptions undermines our mission to live in such a way that the Kingdom of God is near. Our need for more-- more stuff, more money, more whatever-- eclipses that central relationship. How much personal time is spent in order to keep the present standard of living? We can't live spiritually and emotionally the way we would desire because of our need to work to make the payments.
In the sermon on Sunday, we talked about three action steps which help counter the consumeristic mindset we have adopted. Which action step is important for you to work with first:
* Cultivate a relationship with God. This would involve an actual relationship not simply knowledge of God.
* Spend time with people you love. This includes our families most certainly. It also includes developing a close-knit group of people that you are in a spiritual small group with regularly.
* Do things God calls you to do. Don't wait for Ministry Council to bless it. Pay attention to the people and situations that need your assistance. Take a spiritual gifts class to help better identify your passions.
I hope you spend time with one of the action steps this coming week. These three steps help us to live more fully as we engage life spiritually. If you are serious in moving deeper with God, this is a good way to start.
On the journey,
Alecia
In the sermon on Sunday, we talked about three action steps which help counter the consumeristic mindset we have adopted. Which action step is important for you to work with first:
* Cultivate a relationship with God. This would involve an actual relationship not simply knowledge of God.
* Spend time with people you love. This includes our families most certainly. It also includes developing a close-knit group of people that you are in a spiritual small group with regularly.
* Do things God calls you to do. Don't wait for Ministry Council to bless it. Pay attention to the people and situations that need your assistance. Take a spiritual gifts class to help better identify your passions.
I hope you spend time with one of the action steps this coming week. These three steps help us to live more fully as we engage life spiritually. If you are serious in moving deeper with God, this is a good way to start.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, September 26, 2011
Being Sent
Like last week, I seem to have too much sermon for the time. I came more prepared this past Sunday! I thought ahead as to what I would need to cut out, rather than simply letting the 8:00 AM service serve as a practice run. If you would like to go deeper, then continue reading.
It is easy to relegate the Old Testament to a secondary status. We like the action of the Gospels, the power of Jesus and the immediacy. Matthew 10 will not allow for such a simplistic view. Spend some time reading Isaiah 58. The Jewish people are enjoying a time of resurgence in worship and spiritual life. In Isaiah, the prophet questions how the relationship with others has a direct link with our intimacy with God. After reading the passage, how do your individual spiritual practices indicate your relationship with the Lord? Do you sense the Lord calling you to new practices?
Jesus as recorded in Matthew 10 calls us to a vital relationship first and foremost. Our practices and works are a by-product of that relationship.
On the Journey,
Aleciai
It is easy to relegate the Old Testament to a secondary status. We like the action of the Gospels, the power of Jesus and the immediacy. Matthew 10 will not allow for such a simplistic view. Spend some time reading Isaiah 58. The Jewish people are enjoying a time of resurgence in worship and spiritual life. In Isaiah, the prophet questions how the relationship with others has a direct link with our intimacy with God. After reading the passage, how do your individual spiritual practices indicate your relationship with the Lord? Do you sense the Lord calling you to new practices?
Jesus as recorded in Matthew 10 calls us to a vital relationship first and foremost. Our practices and works are a by-product of that relationship.
On the Journey,
Aleciai
Monday, September 19, 2011
And Now the Rest of the Story... um, Sermon
Sermons are like motion picture films in which a lot of deleted scenes end up on the cutting room floor! This previous Sunday a great deal ended up on the sanctuary floor. For those of you that enjoy digging deeper, chew on this for a few moments.
We are in the tenth chapter of Matthew which is Jesus' commissioning sermon. The section left out of the sermon dealt with God's faithfulness and apparent favor of one group. The troubling part of the text is in Matthew 10:5-6 where Jesus admonishes the apostles to go only to the "lost sheep" of Israel, not the Samaritans or the Gentiles. You might remember the troubling passage of the Syro-Phoenician women whom Jesus encounters (Mt. 15). The woman wants help for her daughter. Jesus replies he won't take food from the table and give it to the dogs. While Jesus ends up declaring this woman's faith great and heals her daughter, his mission at this point is still to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus' mission expands in the Great Commission in Matthew 28 where he commands his disciple to go "unto the ends of the earth."
It is important to note that God keeps his commands. If we return to the OT book of Ezekiel, the 34th chapter, scripture tells us that God has once again heard the cries of the people now enslaved by the Babylonians. Not only has God heard, but is concerned. In the 11th verse God speaks to a specific time, culture and location in regards to the Good Shepherd. God provides for the people in a time of human trafficking, rape as used in warfare and genocide. Later in the passage one the Lord now describes the one shepherd as David. This is a reference to Jesus as found in the David line. God is making a promise or a covenant not just to the specific situation but to Israel that Jesus will be the one Shepherd. As you finish chapter 34 you will see the covenant with Israel that "You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord God."
God always keeps his promises. It might not be in the time frame we would expect, but the covenants will be kept. Read Romans 11:25-29. Take a few moments and reflect on Paul's words concerning Israel. Think about the specific plan God has for the Jews. Think about the provisions made for us and finally how and when God plans to keep the covenant with Israel.
Jesus had a clear mission. That clarity allowed him to complete his work on earth. That mission continues now in you and in me. What is your mission?
On the journey,
Alecia
On the Journey,
We are in the tenth chapter of Matthew which is Jesus' commissioning sermon. The section left out of the sermon dealt with God's faithfulness and apparent favor of one group. The troubling part of the text is in Matthew 10:5-6 where Jesus admonishes the apostles to go only to the "lost sheep" of Israel, not the Samaritans or the Gentiles. You might remember the troubling passage of the Syro-Phoenician women whom Jesus encounters (Mt. 15). The woman wants help for her daughter. Jesus replies he won't take food from the table and give it to the dogs. While Jesus ends up declaring this woman's faith great and heals her daughter, his mission at this point is still to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus' mission expands in the Great Commission in Matthew 28 where he commands his disciple to go "unto the ends of the earth."
It is important to note that God keeps his commands. If we return to the OT book of Ezekiel, the 34th chapter, scripture tells us that God has once again heard the cries of the people now enslaved by the Babylonians. Not only has God heard, but is concerned. In the 11th verse God speaks to a specific time, culture and location in regards to the Good Shepherd. God provides for the people in a time of human trafficking, rape as used in warfare and genocide. Later in the passage one the Lord now describes the one shepherd as David. This is a reference to Jesus as found in the David line. God is making a promise or a covenant not just to the specific situation but to Israel that Jesus will be the one Shepherd. As you finish chapter 34 you will see the covenant with Israel that "You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord God."
God always keeps his promises. It might not be in the time frame we would expect, but the covenants will be kept. Read Romans 11:25-29. Take a few moments and reflect on Paul's words concerning Israel. Think about the specific plan God has for the Jews. Think about the provisions made for us and finally how and when God plans to keep the covenant with Israel.
Jesus had a clear mission. That clarity allowed him to complete his work on earth. That mission continues now in you and in me. What is your mission?
On the journey,
Alecia
On the Journey,
Monday, September 12, 2011
Caution: Spirit At Work
It seems anywhere you go on North Jones Boulevard one sees literal caution signs of people at work. At First UMC, the Spirit is at work. I was speaking with Rev. Mel Schlacter from Trinity Episcopal Church last night following the Sept. 11 service. I told him of the modern day Good Samaritan story I told in worship. As part of my reflections on September 11, I had prayed for Mychal Judge. Judge was the chaplain for the NYFD at that time. He rushed to Ground Zero and died while giving last rites. I heard multiple sermons at the time (2001) speak to the point that it sounded like God to have a priest welcoming people into heaven. On Saturday September 10th, I learned that Judge was gay. It reminded me of the story of the Good Samaritan, whereby God uses individuals in which the institutional church is still in debate.
As I passed this on to Mel. He said it correlated with the lectionary. After joking about my lack of use of the lectionary, he pointed out the passage yesterday was on forgiveness. Peter was asking Jesus how many times he must forgive an enemy. Jesus replied, "Seventy times seven." We are called to forgive.
The passage was part of the larger lectionary, which is a three year walk through the themes and primary passages of Scripture. Out of all the passages, this is the one that was for September 11. Not a coincidence -- simply the Spirit moving.
Peace,
Alecia
As I passed this on to Mel. He said it correlated with the lectionary. After joking about my lack of use of the lectionary, he pointed out the passage yesterday was on forgiveness. Peter was asking Jesus how many times he must forgive an enemy. Jesus replied, "Seventy times seven." We are called to forgive.
The passage was part of the larger lectionary, which is a three year walk through the themes and primary passages of Scripture. Out of all the passages, this is the one that was for September 11. Not a coincidence -- simply the Spirit moving.
Peace,
Alecia
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Odyssey
The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied. It is to be lived. Thomas Merton
"Alecia, how is it that my faith life feels non-existent? I don't experience or feel God in the ways you describe. What's wrong with me?" This question is posed to me on a regular basis. My answer is fairly consistent. As a church -- local and the larger one-- we have done a good job inviting people. We want our friends and family to be connected to God and to the church community that we love. We diligently get "them" and ourselves to church, but then what? We need to become disciples. I don't know abou you, but I want to live -- really live out my calling. Call me crazy, but that seems like a journey of a lifetime.
There is a glaring need within churches to grapple with Jesus' words to "make disciples." We walk through the threshhold and never move into the deeper relationship with the Beloved, the Holy One. Just how we make that move has perplexed a lot of folks that love God, but experience little beyond it in their daily lives.
In the next two months, I want to look at practical Christianity that deepens us inwardly, while calling us to mission. It is a journey we will take together in worship. If you join the small group, "Change the World" we will see similar themes as we seek to be more like Jesus.
See you Sunday
On the journey,
Alecia
"Alecia, how is it that my faith life feels non-existent? I don't experience or feel God in the ways you describe. What's wrong with me?" This question is posed to me on a regular basis. My answer is fairly consistent. As a church -- local and the larger one-- we have done a good job inviting people. We want our friends and family to be connected to God and to the church community that we love. We diligently get "them" and ourselves to church, but then what? We need to become disciples. I don't know abou you, but I want to live -- really live out my calling. Call me crazy, but that seems like a journey of a lifetime.
There is a glaring need within churches to grapple with Jesus' words to "make disciples." We walk through the threshhold and never move into the deeper relationship with the Beloved, the Holy One. Just how we make that move has perplexed a lot of folks that love God, but experience little beyond it in their daily lives.
In the next two months, I want to look at practical Christianity that deepens us inwardly, while calling us to mission. It is a journey we will take together in worship. If you join the small group, "Change the World" we will see similar themes as we seek to be more like Jesus.
See you Sunday
On the journey,
Alecia
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Insightful Questions
On Sunday, July 3, we took a break from the current sermon series and had a question and answer time in lieu of the message. We did not get to all of the questions posed. Today I want to look at the following question:
How do we stay positive about Jesus when we see all that goes against his teachings going on around us?
What a great question. Undoubtedly we have to take our cue from Jesus. He entered the world in a time of war and famine. Slavery, prostitution, classism, sexism and racial cleansing were issues in his time. I see Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels as doing several key things:
* Time to pray -- Prayer was as essential for Jesus as breathing. It kept him focused and centered on living out the Kingdom of God on earth.
*Time in worship-- Throughout the Gospels, we see worship is key for Jesus to live out his personal mission.
*Time in a small group--Jesus chose 12 and ultimately 3 to share key moments. He had a small group. We see the three present during the particularly challenging times.
*Proactive Response -- Jesus decided to live out his mission regardless of a world that seemed out of control.
We know Jesus agonized and prayed for those who followed him. Read John 17 to get a good understanding of how Jesus felt. We know he wept at the death of his friend and over the city of Jerusalem as well.
In a world filled with harshness and violence, we would do well to utilize these same principles. When I get discouraged, I read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. I have to remind myself that I am invovled in a greater story than simply my own.
On the journey,
Alecia
How do we stay positive about Jesus when we see all that goes against his teachings going on around us?
What a great question. Undoubtedly we have to take our cue from Jesus. He entered the world in a time of war and famine. Slavery, prostitution, classism, sexism and racial cleansing were issues in his time. I see Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels as doing several key things:
* Time to pray -- Prayer was as essential for Jesus as breathing. It kept him focused and centered on living out the Kingdom of God on earth.
*Time in worship-- Throughout the Gospels, we see worship is key for Jesus to live out his personal mission.
*Time in a small group--Jesus chose 12 and ultimately 3 to share key moments. He had a small group. We see the three present during the particularly challenging times.
*Proactive Response -- Jesus decided to live out his mission regardless of a world that seemed out of control.
We know Jesus agonized and prayed for those who followed him. Read John 17 to get a good understanding of how Jesus felt. We know he wept at the death of his friend and over the city of Jerusalem as well.
In a world filled with harshness and violence, we would do well to utilize these same principles. When I get discouraged, I read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. I have to remind myself that I am invovled in a greater story than simply my own.
On the journey,
Alecia
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