War No More

One of my all-time favorite songs is Bobby Darin’s, Simple Song of Freedom and especially the line “We Don’t Want War Anymore.” I think of that song as I see the news about the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. I think the Israel government is creating a generational anger and hostility that will play itself out for generations to come. Today’s leaders are creating Palestinian young people who will haunt the middle east with their anger long after these present leaders have passed from this life. I think the same for the Ukraine young people who will have an angry and hostile attitude toward Russia. The Bible speaks of the sins of the fathers playing out by later generations. Numbers 14:18, “The Lord is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and fourth generation.” I believe our world would be a better place for generations to come if we did not want war anymore and our leaders reflected this spirit.

Are These the Best That Can Be Offered?

I did not listen to the Presidential Candidates debate last evening. I suppose this means that I need not be making judgements but, nevertheless, here is my opinion.The morning news reports that Biden did not do well. I did not think the “debate” would really be a debate but an argument, like school kids arguing on the playground. My concern is "Are these two candidates the best the two political parties have to offer the USA?" Surely there are more capable and moral individuals who can offer leadership for our country. Lord, in Your mercy.

How Much Is Enough?

The gospel writer, Luke, describer Pharisees as “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14, NRSV). If that is one of the descriptions of pharisees then I think they may be of both the conservative as well as liberal branch of humanity. I think a “lover of money” may want more of it than they need. A “lover of money” may think it is security and therefore refuse to let go of any. Both have a characteristic of hoarding. As a psychotherapist, I often ask someone who seems preoccupied with money, “How much is enough?” If we have not prayed and thought about that question, we may not know how much is enough which sets us up for insecurity, greed and hoarding.

Go Inside And Ask

“Quietism, a doctrine of Christian spirituality that, in general, holds that perfection consists in passivity (quiet) of the soul, in the suppression of human effort so that divine action may have full play”. (Google) This was a belief in the 1600’s which was later deemed a heresy. I heard of a man who went up and down the main street of his hometown looking for work. When someone asked why he was having such a difficult time finding a job, he replied that no one had a sign in their window. His friend replied, “You have to go inside and ask if they are hiring.” In the next few days, he went inside asked about a job and was hired. Yes, God is at work and does wonderful things for us, but we still must go inside and ask. I believe there is mutuality at work. It is not the belief that God helps those who help themselves, but we follow the leading of God’s Spirit through prayer and then we must “go inside and ask.” That man was my dad and he worked for that furniture store more than forty years.

A Pentecost Prayer

On this day in 2024 during which we recall Pentecost, I pray for God’s spirit to move like a strong, even violent wind, among those who sell, support, use and are victims of military guns on the streets of America. Lord, in Your mercy we need wisdom and healing. I also pray for God’s Spirit to move like a strong, even violent wind, in the lands of Gaza where forces have over-reacted to the violent and awful killings in the land of Israel by Hamas. Military guns and weapons, again, being used in anger and revenge. I am praying for the people of Ukraine who are victims of a national leader who is unable to respect national boundaries. Again, there are military guns and weapons used in anger and greed. Lord, in Your mercy. Lord, we need Your Spirit both in our world and our hearts.

Life Lessons From My Computer Scheduling

I changed the name of my counseling sessions in our on-line scheduling app. My changes messed up my on-line schedules. I worked on it numerous times, all of which were unsuccessful. Finally, I asked for help from our resident "IT guru," Jennifer. The fix for my schedule was simple. I followed her instructions and indeed my on-line schedule became accurate. It seemed to me there are some important life lessons. First, I had to want to get my schedule fixed. Second, I had to ask someone who knew what to do and, indeed, the answer was simple. Third, I had to undo some of the stuff I had been doing to get to the fix. So, the life lessons from my on-line schedule app are: (1) you need to want to change; (2) be humble enough to ask for help and (3) you may have to undo some of the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, patterns, stuff, etc. that you have been doing in the past to get to a healthy fix.

Who Is In and Who Is Out?

Who is in and who is out? I grew up in a church culture that believed everyone who was not like us and believed like us were out. Out of whatever the eternal goal might be. As I think about that attitude now, it seems arrogant. I was taught from John 3:16 that God loves the world. Does that mean God really does not love the entire world; just my part of it. I now think it is entirely possible that God’s Spirit, which blows wherever it wants to blow according to the Christian scriptures (John 3:8), might have been the inspirer for Mohammed, Buddha, Lao Taz, the tribal leaders in Africa and Native Americans, etc. We are not in control of God’s Spirit to do whatever that Spirit chooses to do. I think it is wise to let God be the one to decide who is in and who is out; not me, because my vision is too narrow and exclusive, although I am trying with the Spirit’s help to enlarge that vision.