When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 8:5-12

Time after time in the Bible, we see Jesus doing things that confounded his followers. Even his coming to Earth confounded people. Seeing the world from upside down is sometimes the best way to look at it. What do I mean by that?

We look at things through the eyes of logic and reason (mostly) and we have certain expectations of the world. The Jewish followers of Jesus expected that he came to save the Jews from an evil world (the Roman overlords), and to cast out those who were not rigid followers of the Jewish Laws set forth generations prior. All those who were not followers of Yahweh were to be avoided. Those religions were inferior and threatening to the religion of the True God.

Jesus confounded that thinking by giving examples of non-Jews who put rigid religious behaviors to shame. The Good Samaritan is a prime example. The Woman at the Well is another. The story from the passage cited above talks about the faith of a Centurion is another one of many.

Many religious people do much the same as the Jews did and try to make a relationship with God formulaic. Maybe having a formula helps us to feel better somehow, but rigid adherence to formulas isn’t the way that we can reach to God. He has already reached to us (another paradox) with Jesus, whose life was an example of loving those around him.

My point is that just when we think we have figured out a religious method and approach to God, he confounds us again. He says in so many words (if I may be so presumptuous as to put my words in God’s mouth!)

 “You all are overthinking this, folks. Love me by loving one another. Because I have forgiven you, and paid a high price to do so, forgive one another. Quit trying to reduce me to formulas- just go about loving one another and it will please me.”

Prayer: Lord, I trust in the simple approach to you and not tying you to formulas. Thank you for your love for us, Amen

Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father. During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples!  So, he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.     John 13:1-5

I have spoken to groups about leadership principles over the years, and one of the topics I discuss is the idea of influence vs. control. The role of leadership I contend, has much more to do with influencing others rather than controlling them. Even in our personal relationships, I recognize that I can have a certain amount of influence, gained over time, by consistent caring behavior, and an adherence to principles. I likely will not change another’s mind by forcing my will upon them.

Influential leaders call people to a higher level of performance and personal expectations. Trying to control behaviors often ends up in resentment and “pseudo-compliance”. Controllers want conformity to standards. That is not a bad thing since organizations need a certain level of compliance to meet organizational goals. The nuance is, how does the person being led respond? Are they resentful and bitter, or do they see that they are valued by the leader?

Influencers, on the other hand, can lead by bringing out the best in those they lead, and thereby attain goals while showing respect to those they lead. Influencers inspire others. Controllers… well they control the behavior of others.   

My point is simply this. Good leaders can inspire others by example, and by basic respect of others. Jesus led others by serving them.

What an awesome example of leadership!

Prayer: Jesus, you have shown how loving others is the best possible way to lead, Amen

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher               Luke 6:40 (NIV)

“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” This oft-quoted proverb may have origins in an ancient Zen tradition, or it may have popped up in the 19^th century. Like other intriguing quotes, we may not be able to cleanly trace the origin of it.

Whatever the origin, I like the quote. There is a truth to it that is not particularly mystical. It simply means that there are times when we are receptive to learning. Until that time, we will not see the truth of the matter. When we are ready to learn, there will be a person or situation who will verify that truth to us that we may have unconsciously pursued.

Pursuing the teacher, I think, is the key to learning. Desiring to always be learning is critical for us, no matter what our age. That takes certain virtues, like humility, patience, curiosity, and perhaps a few other qualities. Willingness to learn, and the wisdom to recognize that we do not have the complete corner on truth are qualities that enable such life-long learning.

I had a conversation recently with my oldest brother, Joe, known in his Franciscan Order as Father Dennet. He has lived many decades of life and has doctorate level education, but he has more than education- he has wisdom. He is a life-long learner, and he shares with me that he continues to learn daily.

As the disciples of Jesus were said to have “walked in the dust of the Rabbi” because they followed him so closely, so too should we follow those teachers who may appear to us at any moment that we are ready to learn.

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending us teachers to learn of your Wisdom, Amen

A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger                                                        Proverbs 15:1

Do you watch political ads? This time of year, they are all over media of every type. No matter your political persuasion, you are being assaulted by these ads. I use the word assaulted advisedly, because that is what most political ads are now- assaults on the character of the opponent.

Demonizing opponents is not new, but it is nonetheless toxic. Issues, and stances on current societal problems are not what is emphasized to try to win votes. Rather, it is the undercutting of the opponent in order to paint him/her as a threat to our very existence. Such strategy, unfortunately, has been found to garner votes. Such trash actually seems to work.

So, dear readers, I have decided to try to disregard what I hear in these ads that is negative information about the political opponents. In a 30-second clip, many harmful things are said that are, A. not true, and B. skewed, and out of context in such a way as to simply make the other candidate look like a fool or a criminal. Truth, such as can be found, may be somewhere in the middle.

Which brings me to my conclusion. Whatever happened to the “middle”? Politics is now so extreme, on both sides of the political spectrum, that the middle seems to be an impossible place to find. Yet the essence of political governance is compromise. Yes, compromise has somehow become a dirty word.

So, when you hear those ugly ads that are all over the place, just tune them out. Do some research into issues and candidates based on what they have written, their voting records, and hopefully, their character history.

Just don’t listen to the ads. You’re welcome! 😊  

Prayer: Lord, give us wisdom and grace as we navigate these times, Amen

“Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.  You know where I am going, and you know the way.”                                            John 14:1-4

He was a man who did not want attention brought on to him. He loved God, his family, and he lived a life of service to others. He was an Army veteran, called up during the Berlin Wall crisis in 1961. He served his country while on duty, and also after he had left the service. He volunteered to be in the honor guard of veterans at their funerals so that they would have the final dignity of the recognition of a grateful country.

He served for many years in the U.S. Postal Service, retiring from there, and he often also did side jobs to provide for his wife and three girls. People on his route were blessed to have him around, because he would go out of his way to help some of the elderly folks on his route. He didn’t talk about that much, but others did.

He never met a joke that he didn’t like, and he had a library of them in his head. Whenever you spoke to him, he’d say “Hey, I’ve got a joke for you”. They were clean jokes, many corny jokes, but they made you laugh, and that was his point- he wanted people around him to feel better.

He told those jokes to whomever he encountered, because he wanted to lift up others. Even as he was going through the final stages of the cancer that finally claimed him- after a long and courageous fight- he told jokes to his doctors and caregivers.

He was married to my sister for 58 years, and they raised three very sweet, very special girls. They and many others will miss him terribly.

Most of those reading this blog did not know him, but I wish you could have. His life truly was a life well-lived. A man going about his business and his life in a very responsible way, loving his family and others in quiet warmth.

There is a saying that I have mentioned before in this space, and that is, “Our job is to make every place we have been better for our having been there”.

You did that Lou. We love you, and we miss you.  

“I was there when he established the heavens and formed the great springs in the depths of the oceans. I was there when he set the limits of the seas and gave them his instructions not to spread beyond their boundaries. I was there when he made the blueprint for the earth and oceans. I was the craftsman at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.                                                                 Proverbs 8:27-30

“Lady Wisdom”, the personification of truth about how the world operates, is the speaker in this excerpt from Proverbs 8. The truth spoken here is that God created the universe, but before he did that, he created Wisdom. Why did he do that? Because without a knowledge of God, there is no need of a universe. Seeing the world through God’s eyes is the definition of wisdom. Having a universe without a knowledge of its creator leads to a sense of meaninglessness. If we don’t know why we are here, we flounder. Sadly, so many people struggle with the sense of lack of purpose.

So, God created wisdom, so that we could have an understanding of his creation, and of him. If we do not understand all the intricacies of how the universe works (spoiler alert- we never will), that does not preclude us from having wisdom. Knowledge is fascinating, but wisdom is the ultimate attainment, that is- knowing the God who created that universe.

Wisdom is seeing the world through God’s eyes. That is what Lady Wisdom tells us in Proverbs.

Prayer: Lord, we seek wisdom about you. Help us to see you more clearly, Amen

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up”

Jim Valvano

And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady                                           Romans 5:4

Jim Valvano was a college basketball coach whose most notable success came at North Carolina State University. He had previously coached at Bucknell and Iona College. Once, when introducing himself to another person at a fundraiser, he said “Hi, I’m Jim Valvano, Iona College”. The man reportedly looked at him and said, “Frank Jones, I own a bank”.

Likely not a true story, but Valvano was a master storyteller, and he had a marvelous sense of humor. He led North Carolina State to a national title in 1983 over heavily favored University of Houston and secured lasting fame for that championship. Later, he left North Carolina State and became a broadcaster for ESPN.

He died at the age of 47 from a somewhat rare cancer. Before he died, however, he became an inspiration to many, and founded the V Foundation, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research. He left a legacy of fighting against cancer.

His quote, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up” has been the rallying call for ESPN’s annual fundraiser for the V Foundation. It is a great motto. So simple, yet profound. How often have we wanted to give up on something? People fighting deadly diseases, people who are facing serious family or financial problems- you name it.

I love Jimmy V’s motto. We will discuss more in future blogs.

 In the meantime- Don’t give up, don’t ever give up!

Prayer: Thank you Father for the hope you give us, and the strength to persevere, Amen

 So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  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 3:26-28

Okay, I am no Bible scholar, so please just take this as my understanding of what Paul is trying to say. In the context of this passage, I see Paul reminding his followers that Jesus came to fulfill the Law. Faith in Jesus, as the operative who supersedes the Law, is the point of the gospel. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to destroy it. Jesus told us that. The Law is fulfilled in loving God and one another and trusting in Him alone. If one has love for God and others, he/she does not need to hear “Don’t kill”, “Don’t steal”, “Don’t blaspheme”, “Don’t lie”- you get my drift.

The same is true for esteeming some people higher than others- you know, our tendency toward judging people who are different, disenfranchising women, stuff like that. Paul was clear here that being one in Christ is the key, not the individual flavors we come in such as Jew, Gentile, slave, free, men, and women.

The Bible has, unfortunately, often been used over the centuries by some as a justification for discrimination. Paul reminded the Galatians of the basics of the faith. We are one in Christ, and that is the basis of unity, not division.

Prayer: Lord, keep us mindful of your unity, not division, Amen

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.  Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”                                                                                                                                       Jeremiah 29:4-7

This passage from the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament has always stuck with me as a way we ought to live. The prophet Jeremiah was deeply distraught about his people being carried into exile in heathen Babylon. Imagine what it must have been like for this prophet and his proud people, God’s people, to be carried into the “devil’s den”. At least that is how they saw it.

But God saw it a different way. This was an opportunity for them to become a shining light of God’s love and provision for people who did not know the true God. Indeed, their neighbors worshipped many gods and idols.

I am careful to understand that the Bible was written for people at certain times and places, and not all passages can be cleanly interpreted into present time and culture. Yet this passage seems to be timeless and meant for all of us.

We can decide to curse the culture that we are living in, call it godless, and ask God’s judgment on the land. Or, we can love the people right where they are, not judge them, and work to make wherever we live a place that honors God.

You know, grow where we are planted…

Prayer: Lord, help us to make wherever we are better for us having been there, Amen

Whoever was still alive had reason for hope                             Viktor Frankl

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way

Viktor Frankl

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.                                  Psalm 9:18

I trust that many of my readers are familiar with Viktor Frankl. He was an Austrian psychiatrist, and a prisoner of Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He was a prisoner because he was Jewish.

During his time in the concentration camps, he witnessed the hopelessness and despair among many of the prisoners that one might naturally expect in such dreadful conditions. Frankl noted that those prisoners who gave up hope, those who did not see any meaning in life anymore, tended to die quickly. They had given up.

Those like Frankl, and the ones he tried to help in the camps, were able to see that, even in the most debasing of circumstances, there was something that could not be taken from them. They had a choice to hope. 

Frankl survived the concentration camp experience, however his father and his wife did not. But Frankl’s story, tragic as it appears, was one of hope for many, because from it came his works about therapy and treatment of emotional problems. His ability to marry the concepts of human suffering with the remedy of hope and choice, gave rise to logotherapy. He infused psychiatry with a spiritual dimension framed in a positive light hitherto unseen in the field.

Hope is where we find it. Unfortunately, we might stop looking. Frankl endured terrible suffering, but he never completely lost hope because he found meaning in his suffering. He found that the Nazis could never imprison his mind, even if they had his body in prison.

We have been promised that God will never forget us in our time of need, even when we see no provision in front of us. The hope of his promises remains.

Prayer: Thank you Father for infusing us with a spirit of hope, a spirit beyond us, resting in you, Amen.