Monday, March 2, 2015
work to do
The Good News of Jesus demands that Agape Love be lived.
That brings about Peace, Justice and Equitable treatment of all God's children.
In the world in which we live,
the powers and principalities operate on a different system of values.
Driven by greed and a lust for power, they seek self-indulgence at the expense of others.
That runs contrary to Jesus' Good News. It is Anti-Christ.
But how do we make a difference is a world that has this far gone down that path?
1. Know the Good News of Jesus.
Read, learn, internalize and apply what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled,
as we have it in the Gospel witnesses.
2. Expose the works of darkness.
When something is inconsistent, even or especially with what the church is doing,
point it out, and remind folk of Jesus' more excellent way.
3. Be persistent in holding folk accountable for practicing what they preach.
Hold anyone who claims the name of Jesus to the standard of His teachings,
even (or especially) the church that bears His name.
4. Demonstrate Jesus' Good News Kingdom Values.
LIVE Jesus' more excellent way of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other)
in the world around you, absent of judgment or intolerance, willing to forgive.
5. Speak, write and march out of Agape Love for Peace, Justice and Equitable treatment for all.
The First Century believers lived Jesus' Way, and it changed the world by changing
the thinking of those who witnessed His Agape Love in action.
Let THAT be our mission today, here and now.
Pastor Jamie
Friday, February 20, 2015
Lenten Repentance
The first command of Jesus, in the first chapter of the first Gospel written was “Repent, and believe in the Good News.” This imperative to “change one’s mind” (metanoia) or “change one’s thinking” is especially necessary for any who would consider living God’s Kingdom values of Agape Love and Grace that Jesus taught and modeled in His ministry, according to the Gospels. We must change our way of thinking in order to be people of Agape Love and Grace, for then we will be able to change our way of living Agape Love and Grace. But of what must we repent?
I believe that Greed, Lust for Power and Self-Indulgence are preclusive of living the Good News of Jesus in the world. Agape Love is active commitment on behalf of the other, and these “values” are centered in self and not “other”. If these are core values in one’s life, then living Agape Love will be difficult at best. Despite our best efforts, we cannot truly be duplicitous in our values and faithful to Jesus’ teachings and examples of Agape Love.
I believe that Apathy, Complacency and Hatred are also preclusive of living Jesus’ Good News in the world. Apathy, being the opposite of loving, does not allow for concern or commitment on behalf of the other. Complacency, being focused on one’s own satisfactory situation in life, does not often allow for the dissatisfaction necessary in order for us to be actively committed to another’s plight in life. Hatred leads one to anything but active commitment on behalf of the other, and may indeed lead to our commitment to actively hurt the other. Agape Love is rendered impossible from any of those orientations to the world.
If we learn anything from the Gospels regarding Jesus’ teachings and examples around Agape Love, we learn that we must think differently in order to live it. The Rich Fool of Luke 12:13-21 faced grave consequences for living his greed in utter complacency. The Rich Young Man of Luke 18:18-30 willingly chose to hold onto his established value for greed and the consequent sadness, rather than repent, live Kingdom Values and ultimately be happy. The unnamed rich man of Luke 16:19-31 was slow to learn even while facing the fruits of his apathetic greed and self-indulgence. But the lesson of repentance in Zacchaeus’ story was different, as we find it in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus changed his thinking and embraced a different value than the greed, power lust and self-indulgence he once held as his core values. His encounter with Jesus replaced the complacency of his station in life with Agape Love, actively lived in the lives of those who were once exploited in order for him to have what he had. Zacchaeus was transformed. And we find that the greed and hatred of the robbers, apathy and/or complacency of the priest and Levite are countered by the Agape Love of the “Good” Samaritan in Jesus’ teaching of Luke 10:25-37, changing the life of the stranger/enemy who was healed, and perhaps the life of the Samaritan and of listeners to the story.
Repentance leads to transformation. When we embrace the Kingdom Values of the Good News of Jesus, we necessarily change how we think about things in this part of the Kingdom and how we live in it. Then the Good News of Agape Love and Grace come out from within us and into the world around us, also then transforming other individuals and whole communities. When we think differently than the normalized ways of greed, lust for power and self-indulgence, it makes us better within and has a positive effect on the world around us. When we leave apathy, complacency and hatred behind us in order to live active commitment on behalf of the other, we find within us a deep, abiding love for others that transforms us and them.
The poverty, hunger, violence, injustice, inequity, inequality, discrimination and exploitation that are now commonplace in the world, could be things of a dark past if we could bring ourselves to shed our values for wealth, power and self-indulgence, leave behind our complacency, apathy and hatred and live the Kingdom Values Jesus taught and modeled of Agape Love and Grace. A world of well-being, peace, justice, equitable treatment and equality, adequate sustenance, mutual respect, acceptance and benefit is possible with different thinking. It starts with one heart and mind at a time.
As you encounter Jesus this Lenten season, consider how repentance (changing your thinking) may bring about transformation that starts from within you and is manifested in the world around you.
Pastor Jamie
Monday, February 16, 2015
Lenten Sacrifice
As I am a follower of Jesus' Way, one who values the message of the Cross especially, and one who relies fully on the redemption message of Grace and Agape Love...
I suggest to all who claim Jesus' name that THIS LENT... on our way to the Cross...
we sacrifice our attitudes that keep Jesus on the Cross,
that we sacrifice those baser, darker corners of our spirit that relegate us to being part of the mob,
that we sacrifice those ideologies that preclude Agape Love,
that we sacrifice those philosophies that put us at enmity with those whom Jesus loves,
that we sacrifice those behaviors that come from "us" vs. "them" thinking,
that we sacrifice those instincts to judge others who are different,
that we sacrifice those bitterest feelings that keep us from forgiving,
that we sacrifice those most gut-wrenching, vengeful emotions that would bring us to violent
words or actions or both,
that we sacrifice those personal guiles that would keep us from being Gracious,
that we sacrifice those norms that keep us locked into selfishness, greed and ruthlessness,
that we sacrifice those classist outlooks which are born of our sense of entitlement and that
give us disdain for or license to exploit those poor who Jesus loves,
that we sacrifice those arrogant, self-serving, destructive leanings toward destruction of the
creation we are charged stewardship over for some short term and personal profit or
convenience,
that we sacrifice those racist residues that persist in how we view sisters and brothers that
allow us somehow to see ourselves as "superior",
that we sacrifice those urges to find reasons in scripture to point fingers of self-righteous and
arrogant disgust at our LGBT sisters and brothers,
that we sacrifice those temptations to engage in self-indulgence at the expense of anyone else,
that we sacrifice those stirrings within that would drive us to unfaithfulness to God, to
spouse, to children, to humanity,
that we sacrifice ALL that is Anti-Christ, ALL that is Anti-Agape, ALL that is Anti-Grace...
THIS LENT... on our way to the Cross...
Let us unburden ourselves of these things,
sacrifice them at the Altar of Agape Love, Grace, Equality, Equity, Freedom, Justice and Peace,
out of devotion to the one whose going to the Cross means those very things to us...
Pastor Jamie
I suggest to all who claim Jesus' name that THIS LENT... on our way to the Cross...
we sacrifice our attitudes that keep Jesus on the Cross,
that we sacrifice those baser, darker corners of our spirit that relegate us to being part of the mob,
that we sacrifice those ideologies that preclude Agape Love,
that we sacrifice those philosophies that put us at enmity with those whom Jesus loves,
that we sacrifice those behaviors that come from "us" vs. "them" thinking,
that we sacrifice those instincts to judge others who are different,
that we sacrifice those bitterest feelings that keep us from forgiving,
that we sacrifice those most gut-wrenching, vengeful emotions that would bring us to violent
words or actions or both,
that we sacrifice those personal guiles that would keep us from being Gracious,
that we sacrifice those norms that keep us locked into selfishness, greed and ruthlessness,
that we sacrifice those classist outlooks which are born of our sense of entitlement and that
give us disdain for or license to exploit those poor who Jesus loves,
that we sacrifice those arrogant, self-serving, destructive leanings toward destruction of the
creation we are charged stewardship over for some short term and personal profit or
convenience,
that we sacrifice those racist residues that persist in how we view sisters and brothers that
allow us somehow to see ourselves as "superior",
that we sacrifice those urges to find reasons in scripture to point fingers of self-righteous and
arrogant disgust at our LGBT sisters and brothers,
that we sacrifice those temptations to engage in self-indulgence at the expense of anyone else,
that we sacrifice those stirrings within that would drive us to unfaithfulness to God, to
spouse, to children, to humanity,
that we sacrifice ALL that is Anti-Christ, ALL that is Anti-Agape, ALL that is Anti-Grace...
THIS LENT... on our way to the Cross...
Let us unburden ourselves of these things,
sacrifice them at the Altar of Agape Love, Grace, Equality, Equity, Freedom, Justice and Peace,
out of devotion to the one whose going to the Cross means those very things to us...
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, January 31, 2015
submission
I submit to you...
that those who have the most power and wealth would love for the rest of us to submit to their power and wealth,
that they would like for us to give them the nod of superiority and submit to their will so that they may gain more power and more wealth,
that our silence is seen as compliance to their superiority and entitlement to have more power and wealth than everyone else,
that our submission to them through our silence means that not only we, but others who are not them are hurt, exploited and held down, held out and held back,
that every time we have the opportunity to vote, speak, petition, demonstrate, write, march or rally and we do not do so for justice, equality and equitable opportunities for all, it is seen as submission to their will and compliance with/approval of their actions and methods,
that if someone came into our work place or home or neighborhood and tried forcibly to make us submit to their will, we would do what we needed to not to let it happen, '
but that because we mark success by how much power (over others) and wealth (at the expense of others) one has, we instead submit to these predators and aspire to BE them someday.
I submit to you, that this is NOT moral, loving, healthy, sustainable or sane. Our silence is our sin. Our compliance is our sin. Our submission is our sin. It hurts, not only us, but many around us who we love and who are loved by God.
I submit to you, that our lack of speaking out, acting out and VOTING in the church, in our neighborhoods and in our society, is a sin of omission in the face of this injustice, corruption, tyranny (buying government in order to hurt many for the sake of a few) and immorality (GREED, LUST FOR POWER).
I submit that it is time NOW for us to speak, write, demonstrate, march - to ACT against this and submit to the AGAPE LOVE command of Jesus that demands that we actively commit ourselves to the well-being of others...
I submit that it is the only way to restore our souls as individuals and the soul of our nation.
I submit to my Lord and His Good News of Agape Love and Grace -
Pastor Jamie
that those who have the most power and wealth would love for the rest of us to submit to their power and wealth,
that they would like for us to give them the nod of superiority and submit to their will so that they may gain more power and more wealth,
that our silence is seen as compliance to their superiority and entitlement to have more power and wealth than everyone else,
that our submission to them through our silence means that not only we, but others who are not them are hurt, exploited and held down, held out and held back,
that every time we have the opportunity to vote, speak, petition, demonstrate, write, march or rally and we do not do so for justice, equality and equitable opportunities for all, it is seen as submission to their will and compliance with/approval of their actions and methods,
that if someone came into our work place or home or neighborhood and tried forcibly to make us submit to their will, we would do what we needed to not to let it happen, '
but that because we mark success by how much power (over others) and wealth (at the expense of others) one has, we instead submit to these predators and aspire to BE them someday.
I submit to you, that this is NOT moral, loving, healthy, sustainable or sane. Our silence is our sin. Our compliance is our sin. Our submission is our sin. It hurts, not only us, but many around us who we love and who are loved by God.
I submit to you, that our lack of speaking out, acting out and VOTING in the church, in our neighborhoods and in our society, is a sin of omission in the face of this injustice, corruption, tyranny (buying government in order to hurt many for the sake of a few) and immorality (GREED, LUST FOR POWER).
I submit that it is time NOW for us to speak, write, demonstrate, march - to ACT against this and submit to the AGAPE LOVE command of Jesus that demands that we actively commit ourselves to the well-being of others...
I submit that it is the only way to restore our souls as individuals and the soul of our nation.
I submit to my Lord and His Good News of Agape Love and Grace -
Pastor Jamie
Monday, January 19, 2015
the inherent right to hate?
Many are claiming now that infringing upon their right to discriminate is to limit their freedom of religious expression.
Many of the same people are very sensitive to others' critical statements about their hypocrisies in practice as compared to the content of their sacred texts.
I believe that those of us who profess to follow JESUS and claim HIS Gospels as Kingdom teachings, should be careful about how we treat people who do not believe the way we do. We need to be cautious about how we hurt others around us. We need to be aware of our propensity to publicly scandalize people, support the legislation of our view of morality and create climates of intolerance of any others who do not believe or live the way we think they should.
Have you READ the words of Jesus, as we have them in the Gospels?
Do you believe that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Law and Prophets in Agape Love, as HE said He does?
Do you believe that Jesus is not only Savior, but LORD of your life?
Do you recognize that Jesus identified with those who were hated, those who were marginalized and those who were judged by society and the religious leaders of His time?
Do you see that Jesus has a great love for the poor, sick and most vulnerable in the world?
Do you understand what it means not to judge and not to refuse forgiveness, for the sake of your own soul, according to Jesus?
Do you follow Jesus... are you a disciple of Jesus... or are you an adherent to the pharisaic manipulation of the Law and Prophets, like those whom Jesus confronted?
Hatred is contrary to the Agape Love that Jesus COMMANDED!
Claiming that one has the right to discriminate against ANYONE (even those who do not believe in Jesus), because of one's faith in Jesus, is ANTI-CHRIST.
Pastor Jamie
Many of the same people are very sensitive to others' critical statements about their hypocrisies in practice as compared to the content of their sacred texts.
I believe that those of us who profess to follow JESUS and claim HIS Gospels as Kingdom teachings, should be careful about how we treat people who do not believe the way we do. We need to be cautious about how we hurt others around us. We need to be aware of our propensity to publicly scandalize people, support the legislation of our view of morality and create climates of intolerance of any others who do not believe or live the way we think they should.
Have you READ the words of Jesus, as we have them in the Gospels?
Do you believe that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Law and Prophets in Agape Love, as HE said He does?
Do you believe that Jesus is not only Savior, but LORD of your life?
Do you recognize that Jesus identified with those who were hated, those who were marginalized and those who were judged by society and the religious leaders of His time?
Do you see that Jesus has a great love for the poor, sick and most vulnerable in the world?
Do you understand what it means not to judge and not to refuse forgiveness, for the sake of your own soul, according to Jesus?
Do you follow Jesus... are you a disciple of Jesus... or are you an adherent to the pharisaic manipulation of the Law and Prophets, like those whom Jesus confronted?
Hatred is contrary to the Agape Love that Jesus COMMANDED!
Claiming that one has the right to discriminate against ANYONE (even those who do not believe in Jesus), because of one's faith in Jesus, is ANTI-CHRIST.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, January 10, 2015
at liberty to offend????
I Corinthians 6:12-20 offers us a vision of how our "Christian Liberty" has limits, especially regarding how we might "use or betray people for our own pleasure", according to Paul.
I Corinthians 10:23 - 11:1 offers us a vision of how our "Christian Liberty" does not trump our need to be accepting of others' traditions and beliefs and respectful with them.
I do not believe that we should shy away from speaking the truth in love. I also believe that we should not seek to provoke conflict with the truth.
I do not believe that we should flaunt our "Christian Liberties" or "American Freedoms" just because we can do so. If it distances us from another person, and we do so, it is our sin. If it offends someone else, and that is our aim, then it is our sin.
I am not easily offended. If someone purposely provokes me by baiting me with our differences, I do not feel the need to strike out at them. I also do not actively, purposefully provoke others because of our differences. I believe it is contrary to Jesus' command that we live Agape Love, even with stranger and enemy.
My God is greater than having a need for me to defend my God's honor.
My faith is greater than to believe that everyone needs to have the same belief.
My love is greater than putting enmity between me and others who are different from myself.
My integrity is greater than to purposefully and intentionally provoke others or offend them.
I believe that Jesus' Greatest Commandment trumps sophomoric expressions of liberty. As an adult, I understand that.
Jesus' Greatest Commandment also prohibits me from starting to believe that I have some inalienable right to discriminate against others, keep them back, down or out, or raise questions about their humanity. To do so would lower MY humanity and relationship with my Lord of the Greatest Commandment. To do so would be my sin.
We are NOT at liberty to purposefully, intentionally or consciously offend others, according to Paul and Jesus.
Pastor Jamie
I Corinthians 10:23 - 11:1 offers us a vision of how our "Christian Liberty" does not trump our need to be accepting of others' traditions and beliefs and respectful with them.
I do not believe that we should shy away from speaking the truth in love. I also believe that we should not seek to provoke conflict with the truth.
I do not believe that we should flaunt our "Christian Liberties" or "American Freedoms" just because we can do so. If it distances us from another person, and we do so, it is our sin. If it offends someone else, and that is our aim, then it is our sin.
I am not easily offended. If someone purposely provokes me by baiting me with our differences, I do not feel the need to strike out at them. I also do not actively, purposefully provoke others because of our differences. I believe it is contrary to Jesus' command that we live Agape Love, even with stranger and enemy.
My God is greater than having a need for me to defend my God's honor.
My faith is greater than to believe that everyone needs to have the same belief.
My love is greater than putting enmity between me and others who are different from myself.
My integrity is greater than to purposefully and intentionally provoke others or offend them.
I believe that Jesus' Greatest Commandment trumps sophomoric expressions of liberty. As an adult, I understand that.
Jesus' Greatest Commandment also prohibits me from starting to believe that I have some inalienable right to discriminate against others, keep them back, down or out, or raise questions about their humanity. To do so would lower MY humanity and relationship with my Lord of the Greatest Commandment. To do so would be my sin.
We are NOT at liberty to purposefully, intentionally or consciously offend others, according to Paul and Jesus.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Giving Thanks this year...
for all those who DO NOT GIVE UP...
For those who persevere through the negative, to have a positive impact on the world around them...
who press on in the living of principles that positively affect others around them...
who persist in doing what is good for all in the world around them...
who patiently work for the good for the long haul, regardless of set-backs or defeats...
who proactively seek ways to benefit the people around them, instead of only reacting in anger...
who positively see the future...
who profoundly continue to affect that future...
who produce good fruit in the world around them, here and now...
who selflessly practice what they preach, walking the walk of justice, peace and equity...
who prefer to live in a world of equality, respect, love, joy, peace and generosity, so they live it...
who offer painstaking effort to stubbornly refuse to judge others, but rather accept and include...
who participate in community and offer themselves freely to others around them...
who, if they show partiality, do so for the downtrodden, disenfranchised and marginalized...
who pave the path of following Jesus with their words and actions, shared out of Agape Love...
who pattern their lives on the standard of those who have gone before in loving legacy...
who persuade others of a better way, by the witness they leave in the world around them...
who pierce the thick walls of hatred, not with more hatred, but with Love...
who pledge themselves to living the life that most positively brings others to well-being...
who powerfully live to empower others around them...
who prudently keep their tongue in some circumstances, in order to have a long-term effect...
I admire and value you. You inspire me.
Though I have been told that I can be provocative, pugnacious and even verbally pugilistic,
I will strive to be like you. I hope to be prolific at living a more positive life!
Pastor Jamie.
For those who persevere through the negative, to have a positive impact on the world around them...
who press on in the living of principles that positively affect others around them...
who persist in doing what is good for all in the world around them...
who patiently work for the good for the long haul, regardless of set-backs or defeats...
who proactively seek ways to benefit the people around them, instead of only reacting in anger...
who positively see the future...
who profoundly continue to affect that future...
who produce good fruit in the world around them, here and now...
who selflessly practice what they preach, walking the walk of justice, peace and equity...
who prefer to live in a world of equality, respect, love, joy, peace and generosity, so they live it...
who offer painstaking effort to stubbornly refuse to judge others, but rather accept and include...
who participate in community and offer themselves freely to others around them...
who, if they show partiality, do so for the downtrodden, disenfranchised and marginalized...
who pave the path of following Jesus with their words and actions, shared out of Agape Love...
who pattern their lives on the standard of those who have gone before in loving legacy...
who persuade others of a better way, by the witness they leave in the world around them...
who pierce the thick walls of hatred, not with more hatred, but with Love...
who pledge themselves to living the life that most positively brings others to well-being...
who powerfully live to empower others around them...
who prudently keep their tongue in some circumstances, in order to have a long-term effect...
I admire and value you. You inspire me.
Though I have been told that I can be provocative, pugnacious and even verbally pugilistic,
I will strive to be like you. I hope to be prolific at living a more positive life!
Pastor Jamie.
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