But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!       Revelation 2:4 (New Living Translation)

I was having a discussion the other day with a church pastor who was disturbed by the lack of love shown to others outside his congregation. It was not just his congregation, he felt, but his growing sense that the Church had lost its love for others. His local church had, he felt, had become more “politically aligned” than “Jesus aligned”.

We discussed the inherent paradox of the gospel, and it appeared that the salvation of the Church may well come from outside of the traditional church. Wild, right? Yes, what a paradox.

What does that mean? The author of Revelation stated in chapter 2 verse 4, “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”  I think the author meant that the gospel was about loving other people. It seems that “church people” may often not seem to love those outside of that somewhat tight circle quite as well as some people who are not “church people”.  Maybe people who identify as Jesus followers need to demonstrate radical love in ways like those who do not identify as “the Church” embrace others. No matter political ideology, we must align first with the commands of Jesus to love one another.

Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).   We must always be aware of having our priorities right. If your political party disintegrated tomorrow, you would be fine, as long as your first priority is Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom in how we demonstrate your love to others, Amen

…not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others           Philippians 2:4

I recently read a piece in the newspaper about the effectiveness of “Wellness Programs” in the workplace. Such programs have been proliferating for the past ten years or so with the goals being increased employee production, higher employee morale, better employee satisfaction, and increased staff retention. Perhaps the companies also are truly interested in the well being of their employees. I hope so.

The results of a recent British survey indicate that many such programs have not produced the desired goals in employee mental health and well-being. That is, except for one option offered to employees- engagement in volunteer activities. This activity outpaced things like self-help apps, coaching, relaxation classes, courses in time management and classes in financial counseling.

It is no surprise to me that activities that are focused outwardly, and not self-directed, are the ones that produce the most effective results. Becoming involved in a mission larger than our own well-being is the most effective way to become truly healthy socially and emotionally.

In fact, my homework for clients frequently involves a suggestion to check out volunteer work in the community or at church. When someone is positively involved in the lives of others, and the goal is the betterment of those whom we can help, we end up helping ourselves.  

Isn’t that an interesting paradox about human nature?

Prayer: Lord, you have made us to have missions larger than ourselves, Amen

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.                                                       Matthew 5:13

I am fascinated by chemistry. Had my math strengths been better, it is possible that I might have majored in chemistry in college. However, I realize that while I have an interest in chemistry, at best I could only be considered a chemistry “spectator”, or maybe admirer. I do not think I have the academic rigor to pursue the hard sciences professionally. Call me a science “groupie”.

At any rate, I am fascinated by the chemical elements and compounds. One of them is salt. Common ordinary table salt. There are many types of salts, but the one we are most familiar with is sodium chloride. Salt has been valued for centuries, mostly, in the past, for one thing- its preservative qualities. Before refrigeration, people needed to find ways to preserve precious food supplies, such as fish. In the time of Jesus, salting fish was a common way to preserve them. Another was drying the fish, and still another was smoking the fish. All produced the result of allowing the fish to be kept much longer than in its fresh state.

Through the centuries, salt was sought after and wars were even fought to ensure steady supplies of it. Cities grew up around salt mines, and the word “salary” even derives its meaning from salt, since workers often were paid in allocations of salt. It was that important a product.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus used the analogy of salt. He told his followers that they were to be the salt of the earth. This meant that they were to be the ones to deliver the message of grace and redemption in order to “preserve” the earth. If they failed to be “salty” they would fail in the mission.

In order to live out the full mission of being “salty” not only are we to preserve the earth with the good news of the gospel, but we also need to display other qualities of salt- making things taste better, and making people thirsty. People will not hear our message of hope if we are not making the world “taste better”- that is, be more of a palatable place to live. If we do not make people thirsty to hear about the hope of the gospel, we will not be effective.

So, consider how you can make the world around you taste a little better. It is only then that we can get a hearing for people to know how grace can be freely given to them.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the creation that you have spoken into existence. Even salt is part of your plan for our benefit, Amen.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,                                      James 1:19

To answer before listening—that is folly and shame                  Proverbs 18:13

I spoke with some clients the other day who really were starting to understand what it is like to truly listen to one another. The woman in the relationship even remarked, “Before, we were listening to be able to respond to the other. Now we are listening to understand one another.”

What a great insight and statement. When we begin to start to formulate our response to another, we have stopped listening and started to respond. It takes a great deal of patience and self-awareness to discern the difference.

 But it makes all the difference in the world.

Prayer: Lord, give us the patience to listen before we speak

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’                                                                                                              Matthew 25:40

The wisdom literature in the Bible is fascinating to me. One can find practical instruction that is good for how to live among other people. One can find the heart of God in literature such as Proverbs. You also can find some arcane sayings that are baffling to modern readers. Yet, we can learn much from this literature, and the Proverb above is one that I like. I like it because it speaks to how God sees his children living out their lives with one another.

The Proverbs, and other Bible passages, speak about the need for us to treat one another well, for as we do that, we treat God well. God wants us to do well toward others more than he wants some sacrifice to him. God was speaking to the Hebrew nation that valued sacrifices of goats and lambs. Yet God essentially said, “I would rather that you take care of one another than to sacrifice more sheep to me” (my feeble translation of the Proverb…). Jesus expounded on this when he explained that “whatever you do for the poorest person among you, you did for me…”

I mean, how can you not love a God that has that kind of a plan?

Prayer: What a powerful message of who God is! Amen

I recently met with a client who has trouble in taking stock of his situation and giving himself some credit for work he has done. He in fact is working a full-time job, and is also caring for a mother who is in cognitive decline. Yet all he can see is work that is not yet completed, and the specter of more that needs to be done.

When a friend told him how well he is doing, and how admirable his mission is, the client could not see it, and he actually somewhat discounted the compliment. He felt that there was more to be done- the job not yet completed- so he could not yet accept any credit.

I suggested to the client that he really had no right to discount his friend’s sincere evaluation and affirmation. By saying things like, “That’s nice, but the job isn’t done yet”, actually negates the observation of his friend. I suggested that the proper response looks like, “Thanks, I appreciate that, and there is still more to do”. Both things are true- he has done well, and there is also more work to be done.

My client is stressed, and it is a hard time for him. He is doing really hard work, and he needs to see that others recognize that. I hope he truly sees it for himself.

His use of the word “but” negated the intended compliment. Thanking the friend, and accepting that he has done good work is the oxygen needed for the rest of the statement, “and there is still more to do”. Encouragement is indeed often the oxygen we need to complete the hard tasks. When someone offers an encouraging word, just say “Thanks!”

 Good for both the encourager and the one encouraged.   

God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears                                                                                         Psalm 34:4

I spoke with a client recently who suffers from anxiety. The discussion led to the difference between generalized anxiety and performance anxiety. He said that the difference for him is that performance anxiety actually gives him energy. The excitement he feels, while partly uncomfortable, is also somewhat of a spur to him to do his best.

Everyday anxieties are draining and sap him of energy. That anxiety is not productive, while performance anxiety can actually be a motivator to do our best. Both types of anxiety can be very annoying and frustrating, but it is beneficial to try to distinguish between the two.

Performance anxiety is situational, whereas generalized anxiety is pervasive. Performance anxiety can energize and motivate us. Generalized anxiety saps our energy and decreases productivity.

So, not all anxiety is the same. For my client, the discussion about the types of anxiety proved to be helpful and normalizing. His self-awareness was a way for him to feel some control over the anxiety. As I have said in this blog often, control is the antidote for anxiety- we just need to determine what we CAN control and what we CANNOT control.

 I hope this little piece can be helpful for you as well!

Prayer: Lord, help us gain awareness of what we can control, and what we cannot, Amen.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts

   Isaiah 55:9

Did you ever bargain with God in your prayer? I’m guessing that you have. During the Second World War there was a saying about such prayers- “foxhole prayers”. That is, desperate soldiers, in literal fear for their life, offered desperate prayers. Things like, “God, if you get me out of here alive, I’ll dedicate my life to you. I’ll join the priesthood!”

I suppose that if many of those men followed up on those promises, we would not have had a priest shortage! Don’t get me wrong, I am not blaming those brave and desperate soldiers who offered such a prayer. No doubt I would have done the same thing.

But God is not looking for bargaining when we lift our hearts in prayer. He knows how desperate we are and how scared we might be. He wants the best for us. But it is also likely that some of the men who offered such prayers did indeed die in that war or another conflict.  

God is sovereign, and he does not answer to us. We know and trust that he loves us, but he owes us nothing. Indeed, he is the giver of life, and he sees life as sacred, but he has also given us free will. With that gift, we have chosen so very poorly at times that we have created impossible situations for ourselves.  

We pray not knowing the outcome, but we pray with the assurance that God wants our communication with him.

Prayer: Lord, your ways are higher than our ways, Amen

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.                                                      Luke 5:16

We were discussing the practice of prayer the other day in a class at church. I have always found it fascinating that we have been taught to pray regularly. Jesus prayed daily to his Father in heaven, and of course, if Jesus found it important to pray, how could we neglect such a practice?

God already knows what is in our heart and mind, so why the need to take time to express it? I’m thinking that God knows that prayer is good for us. Prayer changes us. I don’t think we pray to change God’s mind. I think we pray so that God can change our mind.

We can look at things differently after having voiced those ideas in our head in a solemn attempt to talk it over with God. Prayer makes us be honest with ourselves and God about the important things in our life. Indeed, we may become aware just how important things are for us as we look to the Creator for comfort, encouragement or direction.

Prayer also reminds us that we are people of faith, even when we doubt. Oh yeah, you bet that we all doubt at times! Just the idea of lifting our heart to God is a statement that he is there, and that he listens and cares.

So, we will talk more in future blogs, but that is enough to ponder for the moment, right?

Prayer: Lord, every time we pray, we affirm your presence in our life, Amen

So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.                                   Matthew 7:12

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.                                                              Galatians 2:19

I have always thought that Jesus was a “lightning rod” for public opinion and criticism. What I mean by that is, people are not really neutral about Jesus. One is forced to take a side and have an opinion when it comes to Jesus. You love his message and live it out, or you reject his message and live a self-directed life.

During his ministry, Jesus did not shy away from controversy. He challenged people in the way that they looked at God. That is, you love God by loving other people. He called out the religious leaders of the Jews and explained to them very clearly how they had missed the mark. Specifically, he did not like religious leaders who leaned into the letter of the Law to the exclusion of those for whom the Law was written.

People who rigidly favored strict interpretation of the Law over the needs of people were singled out by Jesus as examples of those who had missed the mark. Many parables of Jesus remarked about the failure of those leaders to love others. Those leaders then justified their behavior by the letter of the Law. They had failed to see why the Law was even written.

When I wrote my novels about Joseph Shepherd, I saw him as a type of Jesus. That is, when he showed up in 17^th and 19^th century history, he was treated by people as shabbily as Jesus was treated in the first century. That happened because people either loved or hated Joseph Shepherd. Eventually, Shepherd was persecuted by his contemporaries, even though he loved people, served them, and always tried to live by a moral code. Because of that, he was reviled and rejected by those who perhaps felt judged by his very presence.

So, let’s think of Jesus as the radical that he was. He challenged mainstream Judaic Law with the true fulfillment of it. Because of that, he was rejected, and ultimately crucified.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see past the barriers that stop us from showing love to others, Amen