Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world                             James 1:27

We are creatures of habit and routine. Such things give us a sense of comfort, stability, a grounding in times that are uncertain. Religion is one of those things. Religious practices give us a sense of meaning, and the comfort of knowing that there is a Power higher than ourselves who is the First Cause, or Creator of the universe. The philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas in the 13^th century, used the term “First Cause” in explaining the need for a Creator. He reasoned that there had to be such a Being, because “something” does not arise from “nothing” unless there is a mover, one who causes such action.

Our need for religion is one of those things that is a human trait. We seek higher understanding, and the existence of God is the natural (for many people) explanation of life.  From such thinking we arrive at religion, which is a formalized, and systematized way of thinking about God.

We know the origins of our Christian faith, and its having arisen out of a Jewish background- the very lineage of Jesus. After the first centuries of the Christian faith, it too became institutionalized into a system of practices, dogmas and hierarchies which have evolved over the centuries.

Faith and religion are not one and the same.

If we can allow ourselves to understand that faith is a vibrant and growing expression of who we are in relation to God, we can more easily accept that religion may actually sometimes get in the way of understanding God, who is bigger than religion. Religion, after all, is the human’s way of understanding and expressing our relationship to God.

It is a bit scary sometimes to consider our relationship to God in ways other than through the lens of religion.

Prayer: Lord, help us to relate more closely with you in relationship, Amen

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.                         Psalm 19:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.                       Hebrews 11:1

I was listening to a podcast today from a scientist who is a devout Christian. He was talking about the new Webb telescope that is sending incredible images back to earth from its perch high in space- higher altitude than any telescope ever launched could previously attain. It can “see” the origins of stars from billions of light years away. Indeed, just that statement boggles the mind. We cannot truly comprehend the distance of the light from stars that far away. Such a telescope can take us back nearly to the origins of the universe. We are seeing light that was emanating from stars billions of years ago. Wilder still, that universe is still expanding at a very fast rate.

Even more amazing is the fact that much of the universe is comprised of matter and energy that we cannot measure or really understand. “Dark matter” and “dark energy” abound in the universe, and we simply do not fully understand it – other than the fact that scientists have shown that such entities do exist, even though we do not see or understand them.

All this is to say that science seems to rely quite a bit on faith. People of faith have deeply held beliefs and understandings of God and his creation. We know that there is much we cannot see, but we know that there is a rich spiritual dimension all around us. The Bible clearly states that we are surrounded by spiritual beings and that we can be reassured of things unseen.

The creation of this amazing universe is far beyond our understanding, but the Creator of it can be known. He manifests his glory every day in our surroundings. Now he is continuing to manifest his glory through the lenses of a telescope.

We didn’t really need a telescope to recognize that creation is awesome. I love the fact, however, that science every day is proving the glory of creation, and by inference, the glory of the Creator.

Prayer: We are humbled Lord by your creation, and awed by your plans, Amen

 Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.                                                                                             I Thessalonians 5:19-22

In May of 2025, we commemorated an event that had happened 80 years ago. That was a celebration called VE Day. I trust that we still look with pride and appreciation on this day, because it was the celebration of victory in Europe- the end of World War II in that combat theater. The celebration was especially exuberant, because war had been raging in Europe since September 1, 1939. The world had endured nearly 6 years of bombings, invasions, privations and mass killings. Every country in Europe was affected by this terrible war, especially Poland and Russia, and, of course Germany itself. The British people suffered nightly air raids which virtually destroyed several cities and killed thousands of civilians. Europe’s Jews, of course were persecuted and murdered in the most detestable and ghastly ways. In short, evil had overtaken the continent.

World War II cost millions of lives all around the globe. It destroyed communities, economies and cultures. It cost billions of dollars and untold mental and emotional distress.

Nazi evil was defeated, but not destroyed. There are remnants to this day of evil perpetuated by the ideas of racial superiority and hatred. Such ideas are evil, and there is a cost for combating them. We must recognize them for what they are, and not be complicit in accepting them. Evil can appear in ways that look innocuous and even enticing. We need to always be aware of the insidious creep of evil.

The Bible verse quoted today is from I Thessalonians chapter 5 where we are encouraged to allow the Spirit to guide our thoughts, and to hold on to what is good, and reject evil.

Today, we still have evil in the world- usually a lot more subtle than Hitler’s outright genocidal mania, but evil nonetheless.  Our collective response 80+ years ago was to combat it at high cost.

“…hold on to what is good,reject every kind of evil.”

Prayer: Help us to discern evil, to reject its poison, and deliver us from its presence, Amen.

 Word Origin: First recorded in 1570–80; from Greek katastrophḗ “an overturning,” from katastréphein “to overturn”;

 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them                                                                                                            Genesis 50:19-21

Well, that is quite the word to discuss! In looking into the root meaning of words, like I did yesterday with the word humility, today I look at the word catastrophe. I think we can all understand what a catastrophe is. Each of us, in our own way, has at one time encountered an event(s) that we would consider catastrophic.

Typically, we would define a catastrophe as a sudden, perhaps violent upheaval in our lives. Indeed, the word means “an overturning”. A catastrophe overturns the things we are used to, and it changes everything immediately. Sometimes it changes things dramatically, possibly forever.  

So, anything that changes what we are used to, or causes us to lose something or someone precious, can be a catastrophe. Yes, a catastrophe can cause that sudden upheaval, but it can also cause us to respond in a resilient way that can eventually be used for a good purpose. Anytime there is a sudden change, especially one we did not choose or anticipate, it is a shock to our system. However, once that shock is absorbed, we can learn, grow, adapt, and use it for good purpose.

It often takes time and support to weather such things, but in the long run, a catastrophe can become an entrance to a new start that may hold untold benefits that would never have been known without it.  

Prayer: Lord, I pray that the events that we see as catastrophic, can also bring new life and positive changes, Amen

Humility (n.)

early 14c., “quality of being humble,” from Old French umelite “humility, modesty, sweetness” (Modern French humilité), from Latin humilitatem (nominative humilitas) “lowness, small stature; insignificance; baseness, littleness of mind,” in Church Latin “meekness,” from humilis “lowly, humble,” literally “on the ground,” from humus “earth”

(Source- etymonline)

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way                          Psalm 25:9

I was struck by one of the speakers at Chautauqua this past week when he explained the root meaning of the word humility. It literally comes from the word humus, or “earth”. I find it meaningful that humility really means “grounded” in every sense of the word. A person with humility is a person who is grounded- one who knows where he/she stands.

A grounded person has perspective on both strengths and weaknesses- flaws as well as gifts.  We are of course talking about true humility, not hubris disguised by false humility. True humility is a reasoned understanding of ourselves- a sense of self-awareness.

I often tell my clients that humility is the beginning of wisdom, and I think that the excerpt from Psalm 25 would agree. That old saying, “When the student is ready, the master will appear” has much truth in it. When we are ready to learn, things that have been around us but not absorbed, will suddenly appear when we have the humility to receive it.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to see ourselves in a true grounded sense, knowing that you love us right where we are, Amen 

My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Chautauqua, New York, home of the original Chautauqua movement. I quote from Wikipedia to succinctly explain the institution:

 In the late 19th century, following the model of the Chautauqua Institution, the Chautauqua movement spread throughout the United States and was highly popular until the start of World War II. By the mid-1920s, when circuit Chautauquas were at their peak, they appeared in over 10,000 communities to audiences of more than 45 million. The movement combined several concepts prevalent in the post-civil war US, including:

• The Lyceum movement which attempted to raise the level of public education with lectures, readings, and entertainment with goals of lifelong learning and self-improvement.
• Camp meetings and revivals which used outdoor gatherings
• Sunday School for the purpose of religious education.

The ideals of the Chautauqua Institution spread throughout the United States through many Independent Chautauqua assemblies. Popping up were a series of traveling Chautauqua meetings, which incorporated many of the program’s components, including lectures, music, nondenominational religious studies, and a focus on current issues. Several Independent Chautauquas have survived into the 21st century

(Citation) Wikipedia

The weeklong experience is amazing due to its excellent speakers, musical programs, and educational and cultural experiences. We experienced, for example, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Morgan Freeman, and Brian McLaren among the speakers. We were moved by the challenges they gave to understand how the past has informed the present.

Lifelong learning is, I believe, a critical part of not only aging well, but seeing the need to be vital and interested throughout our entire life. I am thankful for the foresight of those who went before us, who established such a program which is now in its 151^st year.  

What a legacy!

A person’s conscience is the Lord’s searchlight exposing the hidden motives          Proverbs 20:27

I spoke with a client not long ago who was struggling with inadequacy, especially regarding his income. While he was earning a decent living, and was not in debt, he was triggered to feel inadequate when he discussed finances with his wife. After some discussion about this, I asked him what his “self-talk” was about how he felt. How did he internally process the feelings he was having?

He talked about his family of origin, as well as some past financial plans he had made, etc., and I asked him to consider in his self-assessment the difference in outcomes vs. motives. I explained that we often default to looking at certain outcomes in our life- “did this work out well or poorly for me”? At the same time, we often do not consider our motives. Did I mean to do the right and loving thing? Were my intentions geared toward the best interest of my family or others? Did I do the best I could given the information that I had at the time?

These are motive questions. I am a believer that outcomes are not totally under our control, but our motives are. There can be other circumstances that may hinder the outcome that we desire, but our motives are ours, and we must own them. They are totally under our control. If our motives are good (not perfect, they seldom are), then we can give ourselves grace about outcomes. We may be too hard on ourselves for outcomes without considering our motives.

My client considered that, and that was his takeaway from the session. He recognized that he did have good motives, but the outcomes were not always what he had hoped for, and indeed that is what he judged himself upon.  

So, consider motives when judging yourself. Self-aware people do judge themselves, and that is fine, as long as we do it in a way that is balanced.

 That allows us to give ourselves grace in the process.

Prayer: Lord, help us to extend to ourselves a portion of the grace you give to us, Amen

To answer before listening is foolish and shameful.

Proverbs 18:13

I have had several clients this week who have suffered with anxiety, as well as grief, and I noted once again that just having someone really hear the pain that they are in is a start to their healing. Sometimes, clients are dismissed by others, who sometimes have good intentions, by responses like, “just let it go”, or “you take things too seriously”.

People with anxiety know that they need to let things go, and that they do overthink. What they need is understanding, validation of the pain, and then some solid support from those that care for them.

Just getting into the space that people who have clinical anxiety live in can be a start to healing. They can be encouraged that they will learn to control their anxiety- that they can manage this monster in their life. I let people know that the anxiety simply won’t “go away”, but that with some time and tools, and perhaps medication, they will be able to manage the anxiety, and they will learn to control the anxiety- the anxiety won’t control them.

So, my friends, good empathic listening is a wonderful healing tool. We all have more power to heal than we realize.

Prayer: Lord, you have given the gift of healing to all of us in some forms. Help us to see that gift, Amen

Our pastor delivered his sermon from II Corinthians, and explained to us how we are ambassadors for God on earth. It reminded me of a teaching I did for our Lay Pastor community many years ago. I dusted it off to share today for your consideration…

These are essential attributes of a faithful ambassador:

Trustworthy. He/she will represent the interests of the sending authority– Remember who the Sending Authority is

• Has the full credit and authority of the sender– God has given us all that we need. Like Moses, our staff in our hand is enough! We don’t go in our own strength, but that of the King.

• Is empowered to act on behalf of the sending authority– God has chosen to limit Himself by sending us broken vessels to propagate the Kingdom on earth. He has empowered us to deliver the news of His love and salvation!

• Trusted not to exceed authority vested in her/him–We can do nothing without Christ, nor should we want to act outside our given authority. 

• Spreads good will on behalf of the sender– Our job is to win friends for the Kingdom, not win arguments. Judging others does not win friends!

• Understands the customs and culture of where he/she is sent– We are in a foreign land, but we need to respect the customs to gain a hearing.

• Understands the mission given by the sending authority– Our mission is to love people into the Kingdom, to reflect the loving nature of God.

• Speaks with the authority of the president/leader– God has given us Truth as the standard so we speak the truth in love to others. We speak the truth boldly toe who do not understand it.

• Maintains close, regular communication with the sending authority We can do nothing without prayer as a connection to our Sender

• Citizenship remains in the sending country– Remember who we are and whose we are. Our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God.

• Must learn to understand and affiliate with foreign assignment without losing sight of the mother country and citizenship. In the world, but not of it…

• Helps to protect the interests of fellow citizens in a foreign land– Above all we must tend to the needs of brothers or sisters in Christ as we journey this world together.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.                                                                  Galatians 3:28

Do you know anyone who had been in a Nazi concentration camp?

I did.

Yes, a distant memory, but as real as yesterday. My childhood playmate, Betty W. (I still don’t want to use her last name because I do not have her permission) introduced me to her mother when I was about 10 or 11 years old. Her mother, of Roma heritage from Hungary, had been sent to a concentration camp, and she showed me her inner forearm where she bore the tattoo of Nazi imprisonment.

I was too young to fully grasp what this meant. I wish that I had been older and I had been able to talk with her about what that meant in her life. Betty, along with Ray and Mary Jo were my neighborhood friends. We had great fun as playmates on Mayfair Ave. in Cheviot, Ohio (a Cincinnati suburb) where I grew up. Who knew that years later, I would reflect upon the realities of the horror that some of the generation ahead of me had endured?  

As I look back on those innocent years, I can also see that the presence of totalitarianism is always lurking in the shadows. The repression and control of years past has never really left, in the sense that there are still people who fear the “other”- people different than themselves.

Jesus was very clear that we cannot “other” people. We cannot say that some are “more equal that others”. Betty’s mother was not bitter as she showed me her arm. Maybe she was trying to send a message to future generations that people who are seen as “other” may be singled out for persecution.

I feel the need to pass that message on.

Prayer: Lord, impress upon us that discrimination because of race or culture is simply wrong and destructive, Amen