Looking for an earlier Watchword?
- The Holy Spirit - I Believe in the Holy Spirit: Are we back to hearing voices? The whispered voice of the Holy Spirit, ever present, guiding, inspiring. The presence of God, i.e. Holy Spirit, has been with us, pre-conception, and is with us still. Sacred voices, often in our heads, but sometimes they sound just like loved ones, or a person in authority, or a stranger. Sometimes not even a voice, perhaps a scene of intense beauty, creation calling us, granting us peace. Something Holy and Spiritual. Adam Hamilton, in his book Creed, makes this statement: "When we speak about the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of God, we are speaking of God's active work in our lives; of God's way of leading us, guiding us, forming and shaping us; of God's power and presence to comfort and encourage us and to make us the people God wants us to be...And in listening to this voice and being shaped by this power, we find that we become most fully and authentically human." Having said all that, then "I Believe in the Holy Spirit", would seem to be the most understated line in the entire Creed. Think about that. Continue reading
- in Jesus Christ… - I Believe in Jesus Christ… We can’t transport ourselves back to first Century Judea or enter the temple in Jerusalem at that moment of Pentecost. It must have been an amazing event, the sudden rush of wind, the tongues of fire, the babble of multiple languages and all present understood what was said. For the disciples, it was a moment of realization. Yes, they had followed the Master these many years, had witnessed miracles, healings and teachings, but this was something else. Fifty days prior, the Resurrection had occurred before their very eyes, and then their master had met with them. This was the Messiah, long promised. But who would believe? Certainly, not the Sadducees, and probably not the Pharisees. There had been too much anger and negative thought towards this Carpenter-teacher-miracle worker. So, who would believe his story? Perhaps all of that served as motivation, as the Twelve filed out of the temple and gathered to digest and understand what had happened to them. Continue reading
- I Believe in… - I Believe in… In the course of our Christian walk, and I suppose depending on the Church that you attend on a regular basis, certain elements of worship become second nature. Those elements become an important part of how we approach our worship of God, whether it is music; specific and often repeated prayers, i.e. The Lord’s Prayer, or whether the entire services follows a liturgy outline or is free-form. Whatever you have discovered in that walk with Christ, what you count on, that has increased in spiritual value. Continue reading
- When In Doubt - Reading the Instructions: I think too often I am guilty of that old saw, “When in doubt read the instructions.” For many of us, the last resort is often the simplest, pick up the sheet that came with the gadget, read and follow the instructions. What happens when you buy or trade for a new phone? If it’s a ‘smart phone’, then it had to be programmed for you. All your data from your old phone was transferred to the new one, something an expert had to do for you, probably a sixth grader. In a weird sort of way, we are a bit like that smart phone. From conception on, a set of instructions is being inserted into our memories, and those basic instructions will guide us on to what is next. In a sense, you and I get programmed. When we are young, our minds are constantly being programmed by the experiences we have. Continue reading
- Greek Mythology - Greek Mythology? Over these months, Watchword meditations have touched occasionally on the idea of God speaking to us, or our paying attention to the voice of God. We referred to tapping into the spiritual side of ourselves for direction, comfort and the resolving of conflicts. But, there are other voices out there. If you are steeped in Greek Mythology, there is the tragic story of Echo. You’ll remember her, she was an Oread, one of the beautiful nymphs living on Mount Cithaeron. Zeus loved Echo and she often visited him on earth. Hera, Zeus’ wife became suspicious, and came from Mount Olympus in an attempt to catch Zeus with the nymph. True to Greek tragedy, Echo protects Zeus and incurs the wrath of Hera. Then, Hera then puts a hex on Echo so she is only able to speak the last words that were spoken to her, which came from Zeus. So, when Echo, fickle nymph that she is, meets Narcissus and falls in love with him, she was only able to speak what he had spoken to her, he falls in love with himself. Don’t you love Greek myths? Other voices. But, we don’t live in a Greek Myth. Continue reading
- Therefore If Everyone… - Therefore, everyone who hears these words… : The other night I spoke with my daughter, who is an elementary school administrator, and she was lamenting the fact that she had just lost two of her teachers for two weeks of quarantine. She described a blasé approach, not only those two, but others, to following the guidelines of wearing a mask and maintaining distance. She said she had cautioned them in the past when they were chatting, without masks, despite the fact that they both had been in their classrooms with children. It seems that some people have a difficult time understanding the message and following it. In just a few days I will journey to the VA in Fort Wayne and receive the first of two Covid vaccine injections. I’m looking forward to this because I know that the vaccine will give me, and others, a degree of protection and that will have a positive impact on my confidence, and security. That is just one step in getting control of this pandemic, but it is one step in the right direction. Continue reading
- What If… I - What If… : I think we have all played the game of what if... as we have grown up into adulthood, and even then, we may continue to play. You know, What if... there are no taxes to be paid. What if... pigs can actually fly? What if... this virus disappeared? What if... dinosaurs returned and they were as friendly as golden retrievers and they know how to fetch all the good stuff. Or perhaps this, what if... the Israelites obeyed all of God’s commandments and didn’t have to wonder for 40 years, but had gone straight to the promise land in about nine months? How would that have changed things? Or even earlier, what if... Adam had said to Eve, “You ate What? I’m telling Father.” Continue reading
- Not In The Dictionary - A Word that Doesn’t Exist?: It is Saturday, let’s get a little silly -- Merriam-Webster tells me that the words, Pentance and Pentant, aren’t in the dictionary. If words aren’t in the dictionary, are they real words? Do they exist? If they aren’t words, how can I pronounce them? Why do they sound like real words? How can I spell them? I mean after-all, aren’t they derived from the word repentance? We know that repentance means ‘the action or process of repenting especially for misdeeds or moral shortcomings’. That being the case, then pentance could mean an awareness that I have done wrong and should do something about it, but then I do nothing. Or, how about this, someone says or does something that offends you and you double-down back at that person. Now you know you over-reacted, and should apologize, but you think, ‘they started it and they deserved it. I am not going to apologize’. That would be you being pentant. Continue reading
- Wisdom of Solomon - Wisdom of Solomon: One of my favorite Bible verses, and one of the few I have committed to memory, is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” But if you look at all of Proverbs 3, there is so much more there. Right at the start we have the author, Solomon, giving advice to his son, a warning not to forget the Word of God. This was more than a mental exercise of memory, this was saying to actively practice obedience to God’s Word. Practicing obedience to God’s word goes far beyond the simple memorization of Bible verses. If one knows the Word but does not practice it, that is, in effect, forgetting the Word of God. Continue reading
- Submit and Resist! - Submit and Resist! Did you see this in the passage above, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”? This is an interesting passage and it raises the question, how do we resist the devil? I guess the answer is found in the first part of that passage, when we submit ourselves fully to God we are indeed resisting the devil. As we read portions of the Holy Scriptures we should realize that God’s position has not changed, and has not moved, and, certainly, has not been compromised. The Word is very clear, we know where He stands--if we would but obey. Continue reading
- Bit of History - John, a Bit of History: Our Bible study group had just finished Genesis, and we were in agreement that the experience had been good and deepened our knowledge and understanding of this foundational Book of God’s Word. We then turned our attention to what would be next. Two suggestions were offered and, by consensus, we decided on the Book of John. We know that John and his brother James were fishermen, in partnership with their father, Zebedee, in the region of Galilee. Their home was probably near the town of Bethsaida, but they favored the marketplace at Capernaum for their catches. Continue reading
- Holy Ground - Holy Ground: I have been thinking about the Watchword meditation, Whom Shall I Send, for last Saturday, January 17, and there is an important point that needed to be made, but was omitted. Then in two streaming services on Sunday, the matter of "Holy Ground" was emphasized, which touched on my omission. My friends and I had traveled to Michigan for five days of golf, good food and, maybe some cards. Early one morning we stood on the elevated third tee of the golf course and drank in the beauty of the scene. Before us the fairway dropped down into a valley, framed by the pine forest, and, there, in the far distance, the green, our goal. Without words, one friend nodded for us to look behind us. We turned, and there at the far end of the tee-station, stood a deer and two fawns, beautiful, motionless, staring at us, seemingly without fear. No one moved, no one spoke for a what seemed like a long time, until the deer, and her babies, turned and slowly moved into the forest. Continue reading
- Let Go! - Let Go!: In a recent Our Daily Bread, there was the story of a missionary couple leaving in West Africa who developed a strong friendship with a man and shed the love of Jesus and the story of salvation with him. Their friend had a lifetime of allegiance to another belief and was a leader in his faith. With sadness, he explained, “I’m like a man fishing with his hands in the stream, who caught a small fish in one hand, but a bigger fish is swimming by, and to catch the bigger one, he had to let go of the smaller one.” As I read that, I thought about much of Jesus’ teachings that speak of putting behind us our old self in order to fully embrace life in Christ. I think about the rich young ruler who seemingly walked away from the key to eternal life because he was very wealthy. I think about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus about being born-again. Continue reading
- Calm Yourself - Calm Yourself: In frustration, I stood up from my desk and started to leave my little office, to pack my bag in anticipation of my trip to Illinois. It was getting late and I had to leave soon. This Watchword meditation had not been written and I did not know what I would do. I took about three steps, when God spoke to me and brought me back to my Mac. In essence, I heard Him say “My peace is sufficient, calm yourself and write what comes to mind.” So, I sat and nothing came to my mind. I struggled and struggled with the meditation. There are times when I wish I had a background in theology, maybe that would help, but, mostly, I wish I had a more consistent creative spirit. I think there are times when I count too much on the spur of the moment inspiration from God and just sit down and put words together. There are times I feel like I’m tricking the Almighty, but how can that be? Continue reading
- Signs of a Christian - Signs of a Christian: Over the centuries, man has displayed all kinds of symbols to tell the world that they follow Jesus Christ, or simply, that they are Christians. I have a chain around my neck with a cross, as so many people do, and that declares that “I am a Christian!” Do you believe it? You may see cross lapel pins or ear rings. Maybe you will see the sign of a fish on the trunk of a car, another mark of following Christ. In some gatherings of followers, it is the haircut or dress that makes the statement. I guess there is nothing wrong with any of this, if that is your leanings. But, do they really say, “I am a Christian, a follower of Christ”? Is there a true universal mark or sign that tells the world whose you are? Continue reading
- 50 Chapters - 50 Chapters of Genesis: For the past sixteen months, our Bible study groups has been studying God’s Word as contained in the Book of Genesis. Each week, with the exception of a few weeks at the start of this pandemic, we gathered, taking each chapter as it comes. Sometimes we would spend two or three sessions on one chapter, on rarer occasions we would complete a chapter in one gathering. At times, we have found Genesis to be an exciting adventure causing some to read ahead to learn the rest of the story. At other times, not so much. Yet, from creation to the death of Joseph, 50 chapters, it has been a wondrous tour de force, covering thousands of years. Continue reading
- Fasting - Fasting: What do you think of fasting? Have you done some fasting? How often? Here, just a month from the start of Lent, we frequently speak of “giving up something for Lent.” A couple of my friends have traditionally given up sweets for Lent. Now, there is a true sacrifice. On the other hand, I have joked about giving up liver and onions for Lent, although I never eat that anyway. Not much of a sacrifice. Look at the reading from Isaiah. Is it possible that we have too narrow an understanding of fasting and what God would have us “give up” for Lent, that would prepare us for the true meaning of these forty days leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord? What is God telling us through Isaiah? Continue reading
- Whom Shall I Send? - Whom Shall I Send? I know we have talked about this and related topics, whether we spoke of the Voice of God, Jesus Calling, Nudges from God, or whatever, but Oswald Chambers opens our eyes to a different ‘take’ on God asking “Whom shall I send?” Before I get into that, let me ask you this: Do you think you are a ‘chosen one’? Seriously, do you believe that you are one of God’s “chosen ones”? Don’t let your dang pride get in the way of answering that, or some sense of false modesty. Search your heart for the answer. Is Christ your Lord and Savior, and do you trust Him with your life, really trust Him? Okay, right there in your heart is your answer. Good. Amen. Okay, on to the question, Whom Shall I Send? I can only imagine within the vast expanse of Heaven, when the Holy One asks that question, there is quite as racket of angels, arch angels, guardian angels, angels-in-training, all saying “Send Me, Father!” As a chosen one, do you join in? Send me! Continue reading
- Friday, January 15 - Are You A Simon?: “As Barabbas watched, a woman, tears running down her cheeks, stepped forward and, with a cloth, wiped blood from Jesus’ face. A guard rushed up and roughly pushed her away, she staggered and fell. Jesus reached out a hand, but the guard blocked him. The sight caused Barabbas to turn away in sadness and disgust. There was that mob of men, following Jesus laughing and striking him with scourging whips. Behind them came another man, Simon, dragging a long heavy post. Barabbas realized these were parts of a cross. It was a sad, awful scene…” (From A Life for Barabbas, Chapter 4, Page 14) One Good Friday, not that long ago, I witnessed a dramatic singing of the song “Watch the Lamb” that brought tears to my eyes. The song tells the story of Simon of Cyrene who, with his two boys, happened to be on King David Street in Jerusalem when Jesus passes by. The meditation concludes with Jesus telling us to "Take up my yoke (my cross) and learn of me." Continue reading
- Thursday, January 14 - My Shepherd, My God: It’s hard for me to pray the 23rd Psalm without images coming to mind. I see a green valley, very similar to those I experienced in Colorado or Wyoming. I see a broad and shallow stream flowing, not rushing, simply flowing with cool, fresh water. And in the praying, I am a lamb, totally dependent on My Shepherd. I capture a sense of peace, that I am safe, that I am with my Lord, my Shepherd and my God. This Psalm is a great comfort and encouragement to all of us. Jesus the Christ is our Shepherd who refreshes and restores our life, are soul. Continue reading
