“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”                                                               Jeremiah 1:5

Chlorophyll. It is a miracle that we take for granted. Without this particular chemical, life on earth does not exist. It is a molecular structure that turns light from the sun into usable energy for humans and animals. It starts a chemical process that strips electrons from water, and allows the plant in which it resides to produce, as a by-product, oxygen.

So, this marvelous molecule can turn light into energy, and produce oxygen as a byproduct. In my humble opinion, that unique process, which allows life on earth to exist, is simply another manifestation of the Creator’s hand in giving life.

Who else could plan such an incredible process? We can argue, if anyone wants to engage in such a discussion, about the creation of life, and the beginnings of life on earth. The presence of chlorophyll, a necessary molecule in the chain of life, answers for me the discussion about intelligent design. No accident here folks, this life- your life- is a miracle designed by God in eternity past (whatever that is!).

He planned for us long before we knew about him or his majesty and power.

Prayer: Lord, we remain in awe of your creation, Amen

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.                              Matthew 5:5 (the Message)

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.                                                  Mathew 5:5 (NIV)

I found it very interesting when I compared these two translations of Matthew 5:5 from the famous Sermon on the Mount. The word meek is translated as content with who you are, in The Message version.

I find that to be a fascinating look at the word meekness. I still consider the word meek to mean power under control. That shows self-discipline, and control of the power that we have within us. I do like, however, the translation content with who you are. This indicates a strong sense of self-awareness. People who know who they are can be content, recognizing that they do not need to be what others think or say what they are, or should be.

I often tell my clients, “wherever you go, there you are”. By this I mean, you take your full self into every situation, and you have what you need to get through. Being aware of these traits, strengths (and weaknesses) and owning them, gives us great freedom.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the wisdom of the words of Jesus, Amen

“Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be…”

(Attributed variously to several people, including, of course, Yogi Berra)

I am a student of history. I am so very interested in the way that society has changed over the years. I study things like “what were the forces and challenges of that period of time that occurred, and how did (do) we react to those changes?”

History is not just a story of the past, it is a story about change. Sometimes, in looking back, we try to rewrite those narratives to fit a present reality. We, of course, have the benefit have of hindsight to explain societal changes, and often we look at the past through nostalgic lenses.

I am often prone to do that. I grew up in the simpler time of the 1950’s and 1960’s. At least they appeared that way to me. However, those years were not always simpler times for many people around the world. History is often viewed from a very narrow window. We look back and we may only see life from our perspective.

For example, one of the facets of the study of history from an American perspective was the intense interest in courses called “Western Civilization”. I was fascinated by the stories of European culture, from the time of the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Age of Exploration, and finally the rich history of the Unted States.

However, I learned very little, in my early schooling, about the history of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Yes, such history books were there, but there was great emphasis on Western Culture. And, fair enough, that is a large part of American heritage. I loved it, and I still do.

However, I often wonder if world history might have been different had we studied more about Eastern cultures. Indeed, in the minds of many Americans in the 18^th 19^th, and early 20^th centuries, Chinese, Japanese, Philippine, Korean, and other Asian and Pacific region cultures were felt to be odd and inscrutable. Presidents like Theodore Roosevelt (and others) believed those cultures to be backward, primitive, and even dangerous. Such provincial thinking may have led to serious misunderstandings which ultimately involved us in the Second World War.

History is complicated, and this essay does not do justice to a very complex topic. Suffice it to say, when we think about history, we need to take a look first at the lenses through which we view it.  

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;                                                                                                            I Corinthians 6:19

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.                                                                                                                  II Corinthians 5:1

What is the best way to honor God as a Christian community? Is it better to build a temple or a tent?

Interesting that when God was trying to manifest himself to the ancient world, he told the Israelites to build a temple. That temple would be a manifestation of the presence of God on earth. The Israelites of old were the carriers of the “God message” to a heathen world. That is, there is one God, and he is to be worshipped above the many false gods that were around. The Israelites were to be witnesses of the True God to world lost in idolatry.  However, when Jesus came to earth, he was the fulfillment of that promise- God was now literally present on earth.

It seems that we are drawn to building temples. When Jesus was manifested in glory at the Transfiguration, Peter wanted to immediately build three memorials on the mountain- one to Jesus, one to Moses, and one to Elijah. Peter was overcome with awe and his first reaction was to build a memorial.

Nice thought, but Jesus wanted a more flexible witness. He planned to send his Holy Spirit into the world to invade the hearts of people. The memorial would not be bricks and mortar, but our bodies to serve as the temples of the Holy Spirit.

Paul called our bodies mere tents which house our Spirit. I am thinking that the best response to proclaiming God to a fallen world is pitching our tents where people are- not building temples that people must try to find.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be flexible witnesses, tents where you can dwell and be seen by others, Amen

Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.                                          Proverbs 11:14 (The Message)

May is Mental Health Month. I have been in this field since the early 1970’s, and I have seen so many changes in the field since then! For example, when I began in the mental health field, we were using the DSM II as the diagnostic and statistical manual for diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. We are now using the DSM 5 as well as the ICD -10 to make such diagnoses. There have been lots of changes over the years in how we determine diagnosis, and what we consider to be good mental health practices.

In those days, treatment was driven by psychiatry, and the fields of Social Work and Counseling as accepted treatment disciplines were in their infancy. That being said, I was mentored by some excellent psychiatrists, who were wise in the ways of classical diagnosis. I am still humbled by their acumen and grace, and grateful for their part in my growth.

In those days, seeking mental health treatment was socially stigmatized, and the percentage of the population who voluntarily sought treatment was very small. The movement of community mental health was just beginning, and I was really fortunate to get in on the ground floor of such a movement.  

Now, many people seek mental health treatment without stigma (thankfully), and it is mainstream in our culture. It is not (and never should have been) shameful to admit the need for mental health help. In fact, those recognizing the need for counseling or medical help for anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders are the strongest people emotionally, because such self-awareness is the beginning of recovery.

So, my friends, if you have sought mental health counseling, I applaud your decision. If you are considering such help, be aware that such a decision can be the start of a more fulfilling and better life.   

Prayer: Lord, we know that we need one another. Help us to reach out humbly and confidently, Amen

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “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 25:37-40

In the book of Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus is contrasting the responses of people who are seeking after his Kingdom. First, he cites a parable of wise and foolish virgins awaiting the bridegroom’s return. Then, he cites the story of three servants who have been charged with the stewardship of their master’s wealth. Finally, he gives a picture of the last day judgment where people are being evaluated for fitness for entrance into the Kingdom. All of these parables, to me, have one thing in common- they ask, what is our behavioral response to God’s message to us?    

At the end of the chapter, Jesus concludes with his powerful explanation of what it means to be a Jesus follower- “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This succinct summary of his desire for his followers is unmistakable. We love God by loving others.

This is an amazing statement! He identifies with the poorest and most marginalized people. God loves us so much that he wants every person of his creation to be loved by others. This is what makes Him feel loved. All the theology in the world is summed up in that statement.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see you in others, Amen

I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.                                                                                               Psalm 131:2 (The Message)

Happy Mother’s Day to all my readers who are mothers. There is nothing like the love of your mother to understand the selfless sacrifice that is necessary to bring children into this world. We really cannot understand love well, until we have become parents, and we can then understand that love given away is love experienced.

As a father, I learned many years ago how gratifying it is to be a parent, and therefore to have a glimpse of God’s unconditional love for us.

So, dear readers, we have all experienced a relationship with a mother. Perhaps some of you have experienced some trauma from a mother who could not, or maybe would not, give the necessary love to her child. For you, I wish healing and hope.

The majority of my readers have indeed experienced a loving, caring mother, and for that we are grateful.

God bless the mothers who deserve recognition this day!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our faithful, loving mothers, Amen

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…                                                                                      Luke 4:18

A new Pope was elected the other day, and I think it is no accident that the newest head of the Catholic Church took the name Leo. He is Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV, and he is the successor, it appears, of Leo XIII. Yes, he is the proximate successor of Pope Francis, but he is hearkening back to the first Pope of the industrial age, Leo XIII. Leo XIII had to grapple with the vast cultural and economic realities that beset the age in the late 19^th century. While it was called the “Gilded Age” in America, it was a bleak and volatile time in the changing world economy.  

Pope Leo XIII was a Pope who tackled the difficult transition of the world into the industrial age. He spoke of the rights of common people, and how the world must adapt justly to such changes.

At this current time of social and cultural change, the new Pope is asking people to consider how the Church responds to the plight of common people, common workers, in an age of ever increasing social and economic disparity.

Jesus took up the cause of those least able to speak for themselves- those who had no social or economic power. I think that Leo XIV, having spent much of his life and energy among poor people in Peru, will remind the world that the message of Jesus was preached to the poor.   

Prayer: Lord, help us to refocus on the message Jesus came to proclaim, Amen

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.  So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”                                                                                                                                                           Matthew 23:1-4

In this passage, Jesus said something very interesting to his followers. He told his listeners to “obey everything they (teachers and Pharisees) tell you to do, but do not do as they do”. This was both an indictment of the Pharisees, and also a warning that just because the Pharisees were hypocrites, it did not give permission to the people to disobey the law or not seek after God.

We see so many people today who are looking for an excuse to not follow the hard road that Jesus set out before us. People will point out the flaws of a pastor, the wrong behavior of “church people”, or some other perceived hypocrisy (and indeed, there is plenty of hypocrisy present) in order to justify their own failed walk with Jesus.

Teachers have a high calling, and all of us have the responsibility to care for our fellow travelers on this earth. Unfortunately, there are times that all of us fail, to some degree or another, in this calling. I note in verse 4 of this passage, Jesus says, “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”                                                                                                                                                            This means to me that the Pharisees were quite ready and able to point out the heavy burdens of the law and the times when people failed to conform. They also failed, however, to give people practical tools to help in the journey, and they showed no grace when people failed. The essence of Christ’s message is grace.

Yes, we will fail to live up to even our own standards, let alone God’s standards; yet God loves us and forgives us as we are willing to come to Him to ask for forgiveness. Our job is to be examples of grace and vessels of it as we minister to other people.

Prayer: Lord, we all have the tendency to miss the mark, just like the Pharisees, and we thank you for your sublime grace. Help us to extend it to others today, Amen.

Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.                  Ephesians 4:26-27 (The Message)

I recently spoke with a client about an anger issue, and he had a very open and accepting view of his anger. He realized that anger was his “default” emotion- the one most easily accessible to him. So, if he were feeling sad, or scared, those emotions often came out like anger. Anger was an emotion he knew, and it was more acceptable than showing fear or sadness. We also discussed the idea that anger was energizing for him. Anger gave him the energy to move forward- it felt empowering somehow.   

This dynamic is common, especially with men. It is more culturally acceptable for men to be angry than scared. Also, if that anger gave him the energy to express himself, so much the better.

The more we discussed such emotional expression, the better he understood himself. He began to get more insight into how he sees the world, and also how he reacts to it. Such honest discussions are good for the soul and mind. Anger is not inherently bad, but if we do not understand where it comes from, and then find acceptable ways to express it, it can become a problem.

Prayer: Lord, you have given us a range of emotions. Help us to understand them and accept them, and use them well, Amen