“Set your mind on things above…” 

from Colossians 3:1-11  

In this passage, Paul is reminding believers who they are. He starts with, “Since you have been raised with Christ…set your mind on things above…”. This is a great reminder that we are different people once we have been raised by Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore, as children of God, we are to act accordingly. Paul tells us to “put to death what belongs to our earthly nature”. Wow, easier said than done! Actually, there are ways to do that, and we are never perfect at it, but we can only do that with reliance upon the Holy Spirit placed in us when we commit our lives to Christ.

I am reminded of an old Native American saying here. When a younger member of the tribe was asking an elder how to curb the evil intentions of his heart, the young brave described his struggle like there were two competing wolves within him, one evil, and one good. The elder told the young brave, “To keep at bay the evil wolf who would destroy you, simply feed the good wolf. The other will wither and die.”

I love this analogy, because it gives hope for looking toward the good, not just avoiding the evil. “Feed the good wolf” is a good metaphor. We are much more inclined to move toward a good goal than to simply avoid the ugly and painful parts of life. Constantly trying to avoid negative, painful thoughts gives rise to spiritual and emotional exhaustion. Setting our hearts and minds on higher things, positive things, helps us to get out of a cycle of fear and running from evil. We need higher goals and motives to become fulfilled and healthy. God constructed us to be “strivers” not “shrinkers”.

In 3:12 Paul says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” In doing this, we are naturally going toward the healthy lifestyle which will “starve out” the evil inclinations we have.

The holiness rules which are prescribed in this passage are not to be simply taken as a list of forbidden actions, in my estimation. We are to strive toward those actions which will uplift us and others around us. In so doing, we will slowly strangle those evil desires so present within us.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the remedy of your Son. You have called us to a higher place, and you have given us the Spirit to live a life pleasing to you, Amen.  

Where there is anger, there is always pain underneath.

Eckhart Tolle

I recently had a discussion with a client about the connection between sadness and anger. She has always had trouble getting in touch with the emotion of sadness, but instead she tends to become irritable and angry when upset with news that would normally elicit sadness.  

Upon further discussion of her history, it made sense that the client had tried to protect herself from sadness by getting in touch with an emotion over which she better understood and felt more control of- anger.

As I discussed this with her, I explained that irritability is often a characteristic of depression. People who are sad or depressed find it easier, or perhaps even more acceptable, to display anger instead. Anger may be more of a protection from the profound sadness that is so frightening for so many people.

We all get sad at times, and we all get angry at times. It is important to take the time and effort to really understand what is taking place in our internal emotional life. Only then can we effectively deal with either of these emotions.

Prayer: Lord, help us to take the time to look honestly and courageously at our emotions, Amen  

“For 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

The little statement above, Man plans, God laughs, comes, I understand, from an old Yiddish proverb. Typical of Yiddish proverbs, it is somewhat cynical, but reflective of mankind’s plight of trying to succeed on this earth. Can’t you just see Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof saying those words?

The essence of the proverb, of course, is that the best laid plans of people are always subject to change, even failure. God’s plans are higher than our pans, and he knows the direction of our life, even when we do not know (or even when we think that we do know!).

I think back to my own life, and decision points about my career. So many of the directions that my wife and I took, moving from Cincinnati, then to Dayton, Ohio, and subsequently to Troy, Ohio were already in the works of God’s plan because he could see what we did not see at the time. We regularly marvel at his provision for us, and we are always thankful for those decisions that we made, without really knowing the full story of what might lie ahead. Of course, we never really know the full story of what lies ahead of us.

Trusting that God DOES know is the whole key.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your leading in our lives, Amen

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor                         James 4:10

I saw a couple in marriage counseling recently who were having significant marital problems. They were both from difficult family of origin settings, and both had experienced trauma from a young age. They each had been divorced more than once, and they were both trying to save this marriage from that same fate.

As I heard them out, and heard the pain that they had inflicted upon one another, I said to them, “You have a choice here if you decide to stay together. You can decide to be a “hurter” to one another, or you can be a “helper”. A marriage is supposed to be the place of a soft landing, a safe place. We are meant to be helpers of one another. You have the capacity to help greatly, or hurt deeply. I want you to commit to be the helper to one another”.

There are many resources we can give that can help partners to be that helper. But unless they make the decision to be the “helper”, and not the “hurter”, those tools we have make no difference. Like everything else, we all have choices to make. Those choices are often very difficult choices – ones that involve humility and self-sacrifice. But we do have choices. I cannot make that choice for them, but if they choose the hard path, it can be richly rewarding.

Prayer: Lord, give strength to families that are struggling, Amen

“Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.”

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

We celebrate today the birth and the impact of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. As I was looking over some of his famous quotes- and rest assured, he was phenomenally quotable- I saw many of those quotes extolling the need and the virtues of non-violence.

How ironic, of course, that this man of avowed non-violence, died at the hands of violence. Indeed, Jesus too preached love and non-violence, and died a violent death. The powerful words of Jesus, Mohandas Ghandi, and Martin Luther King- advocates of non-violence- led them to destruction.

What does this say about society? Those people who have less facility with words, or failure to have a cogent discussion with others, evidently must resort to violence, in their own minds, to be heard. There is an old saying that is humorous, but also contains some seeds of truth. It is said to be a strategy of some attorneys in court cases. It goes like this:

If you have the evidence, pound the evidence. If you have the facts, pound the facts. If you don’t have facts or evidence, pound the table!

Perhaps taken to its logical conclusion, people who feel powerless and who have very few acceptable social outlets, resort to violence in order to feel “heard”.

We see evidence of violent expression all around us. Dr. King and so many other brilliant prophets, have tried over the centuries to plead for true communication to make changes in an unjust world.

Our best tribute to these precious prophets would be to have reasonable discussion of differing points of view to truly hear others, not just to be heard.

As Dr. King said “I have a dream”. He had a dream of a society of people that listened to one another with respect and honorable intentions.

Maybe we all have that dream.

Prayer: Lord, give us ears to hear others, and the courage to act justly, Amen

As we approach Inauguration Day, 2025, I want us to look back to another Inauguration Day- the one from March 4, 1865. The following is an excerpt from Lincoln’s second inauguration speech. It is unmatched in eloquence, compassion, healing and humility. It came just weeks before the conclusion of the bitter American Civil war, and just about a month before Lincoln’s own death by assassination. His desire to heal a torn nation was, I believe, God inspired. I trust that such spirit returns to a divided America.

It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

   With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.   

“At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He brought some people into being.”                                                                                                                                                  Friedrich Otto Hertz

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”                                                                                                                                                                              Martin Luther King, Jr.

 In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises                                                                                                                                                       Galatians 3:28-29 (The Message)

On this Martin Luther King weekend, it seems appropriate to re-run a blog from the past. Unfortunately, the topic is relevant, and needs to be regularly examined to try to reduce the sickness that is racist thinking. Here is the blog…

The evil that is racism has existed as long as sin has existed in the world. The pervasive nature of racism looks a little different in each generation and in each country of the world, but rest assured, it has been with us as long as we have lived as the human race.

Indeed, there were times when it looked very different and was called different things. You know, lots of “isms”, but it comes down as people somehow discerning that one type of people is better than another. This is perpetuated by spurious social, economic, and even religious arguments and assertions. But it is the quote by Friedrich Hertz that, to me, seems to cut through the noise- “At the heart of racism is the religious assertion that God made a creative mistake when He brought some people into being”          

Of course, Hertz was exiled from Nazi Germany in 1933 for his thinking and writing. The “isms” can’t stand it when truth gets in the way of a convenient theory.

Martin Luther King offered a cure for racism- only love can drive out hate; only light can overcome darkness. So, as we are in the midst of this weekend that honors the work of Dr. King, let’s also remember that there is a cure for racism.                

 “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”          

Prayer: Lord, you have shown us that love triumphs over hate. Thank you for that marvelous plan, Amen          

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works…                                                                                   Psalm 139:14

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a client who is dealing with a dying relative. The relative has a degenerative brain disease, and she now has very little short-term memory. Therefore, she is constantly contacting my client, asking the same questions over and over several times per day. It is, of course, very wearing on my client, and he has become irritable to those around him. He is depressed and unmotivated, but clearly angry in general.

As we discussed this, I pointed out that he was likely experiencing anticipatory grief. He is already grieving the loss of his loved one. He knows that her illness is terminal, and he feels sad and frustrated. Indeed, sadness often comes out like anger and irritability in such situations.

Just being heard and supported can be helpful for this client, but also, the explanation of his situation being anticipatory grief helps give a label to the pain he is experiencing. It is not uncommon, of course, for feelings to come out in unintended ways. Sometimes fear or sadness comes out looking like anger or irritability.

We are complex beings, and God has designed us so marvelously. We struggle with human emotions, and sometimes we simply do not understand them. Just having another person experience those feelings with us can be healing in and of itself.

Prayer: Lord, be with those who are suffering an expected loss, Amen

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.                                                                                                                                          Philippians 4:8-9

I recently spoke with a client about connection with her husband, and the fact that she feels right now like she is “on an island”. She feels isolated and alone. I discussed the idea that we are three-part beings, and that we need to be connected, as much as possible, on all three levels- spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

I asked her to think about connection with her husband as bridges from her island to the mainland. Those bridges are the emotional bridge, spiritual bridge, and the physical bridge.  Ideally, all three bridges remain open and unblocked, but sometimes, there are blockages. In that case, we need to look at what bridges might be open.

We decided that the spiritual bridge might be the most open at this time, so we discussed ways to work together to make that a way to spiritually connect at this time. We came up with a plan, and she will be discussing this with her husband.

The thinking here is that there is a solution to every problem if we just are willing to look at the positives that may lie before us. Just because one way is blocked does not mean that we cannot find a way to connect.

Assuming solutions is important. Assuming failure is failure.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see that there is a solution if we are willing to look for it, Amen

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.                                                                      Matthew 5:17

But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.                                          Matthew 22:34-40

When it came to the law, the Hebrew teachers had it down. They memorized it, interpreted it, and wrote books about how to enforce it. If God said it, you better comply! They were strict enforcers of the law, believing that it was what God wanted. They were, I believe, motivated by right desires. They wanted to please God. The problem, of course here is pride. No one can completely fulfil the law simply by our own heroic efforts of adhering to the strictest standards. The point is, we are unable, in our own power to comply with those laws.  

Jesus said that he did not come to abolish that law, but to fulfill it. He came to explain, by modeling in the flesh, how such laws were to be fulfilled. He explained very clearly what compliance is- “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.   

What the Lord of the Universe wants is for us to love him, and to love our fellow travelers on earth like ourselves. In the words of the recovery community, this is simple- but it isn’t easy. We can only truly fulfill these commandments to the extent that we are submitted to the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to do those simple (but not easy) commandments.

Prayer: Lord, help us to do the simple commands that you gave us, Amen