“ ‘I think’, I said slowly once, looking out at the Sunday worshipers, ‘that we’re being called to something harder than being conventional ‘Good Samaritans’‘. To understand ourselves, individually, and as a church, being rescued by strangers and foreigners, by the 'wrong people'. To understand ourselves individually and as a church, as beaten, hungry, hurting, and lost at the side of the road. Called to touch the parts of ourselves that are strange and damaged and needy. Called to receive love from people we don’t know and have no reason to trust. And only then, in turn, being called to the second part: to go and do the same thing - knowing it will change us in ways we didn’t plan and may not like. And both receiving and giving mean really opening ourselves to strangers - in whose bodies we find, and upon whose being depends, our own salvation.”
Take This Bread, Sara Miles.


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thought.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

I have been led.. many times.. and recently to ponder, saturate myself in, center my being in... my love for God. I can tell you that... these promptings at first felt odd. I mean.. I love God. I pray, I read scripture... I worship most times rather enthusiastically ...joyously in and for my love of God. I've even been blessed with brief glimpses of just a sliver of the depth of God's love .. the most recent was in Togo, Africa... it was a stillness and a celebration all at the same time.. where my heart seemed to break open in tears... for the understanding that we are all united in God's love... undoes everything ... and my heart feels as if suddenly it is home.. a home that is connected to all people... and connected to all people in love... and not love as emotion.. but love as God..

"With all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind..."

Sure you know this.. I knew it.. read it many times.. but I've begun to really focus my prayers and time with God on just how big this is.. what it really asks of me...

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1

You see.. I am nothing but noise if I am not first and foremost centering my life in and on my love of and for God. I can speak about scripture and not really speak well of it, I can speak about my faith.. but.. without the love of God in my being.. it's all noise. All the arguing and debate.. all the theological and doctrinal posturing.. all noise without a heart, a mind and a soul bent on God's love. 

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5

Everything hinges, everything makes 'sense' based, on this command... once we are connected to God in love, mine for Him and His for me.. then I have the ability through God, the capacity from God to love others... to be obedient, to seek God's will. How can we see others clearly without first seeing God's love .. we can only love others, once we have a love for God, and know of God's love for us... If I love others as myself... and my self doesn't know God's love... I could potentially do more damage than was intended. 

Indeed...

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

 My 2 favorite topics are religion and politics. Crazy huh? But having voted this past week in Virigina's primary... I am so excited by the energy and optimism that is tangible at the polling stations and in the conversations I've had recently. People actually are feeling empowered to change ... alleluia. 

But.. I have also met some scoffers. God bless the scoffers. Some have claimed that such a thing as a Christian Democrat is a myth. :) I, however, can't imagine a Christian who isn't a democrat. However... Differences shouldn't define us

I am a Christian Democrat. :)  

The following are 7 values presentsed as a value statement from the Christian Alliance for Progress. I don't claim to have read all of the website but I can say these 7 values I agree with completely.  

Spiritual Foundation

 "Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12).

 Jesus had an intense, personal relationship with God. Time and again he withdrew from the press of people and events for long periods of prayer and communion with God. Jesus spoke to God with profound intimacy, and Jesus invites us to do the same. Following his example, we turn to God as our spiritual foundation, and we work to strengthen our connection with God - in quiet retreat, in meditation, in prayer, in the everyday-ness of jobs, friendships and family.

 "But a Samaritan while traveling came near, and when he saw him he was moved with pity... which of these do you think was the neighbor... the one who showed him mercy" (Luke 10:30-35).

 Jesus challenges us to embrace personal and societal responsibility.  He gives us an example in the Samaritan, an ethnic 'enemy' who showed what it meant to act as a genuine 'neighbor'.  Jesus' life and death summon us to take up our own obligations.  In our individual lives, Jesus' example calls us to continually grow and transform, to die to an old way of being and be born to a new identity.  But following Jesus requires us to go further.  Our duties do not stop with 'the personal'.  We are obliged to challenge oppressive and unjust structures in our world.  Despite being keenly aware that his actions could lead to his execution, Jesus courageously persisted with his message.  As an incomparable standard for accepting obligation, he teaches us to seek God's justice as he did.  We strive to heed Jesus' call to take up our cross - to live in personal integrity and to take responsibility in our communities and country. 

Compassion and Care for "The Least of These"

 "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25: 34-40)

 Jesus said that our lives as Christians will be judged on how we treat "the least of these," how we serve the hungry, the poor, the ill. Jesus also loved the "little ones," the children, and said the kingdom of heaven was for them (Matthew 19:14).  Throughout his ministry, Jesus cared for the poor, welcomed the stranger, fed the hungry, healed those ill in body or spirit. Jesus tells us that, he himself is among "the least of these."  To love and care for them is to love and care for Jesus.  He taught, by word and by deed, encompassing love and compassion. We believe that today Jesus continues to call us to "love your neighbor as you love yourself." (Mark 12:31)  We seek to follow Jesus' often-difficult commandment to care for all people, not just some people, not just our kind of people.

Justice for All

"...They asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep, and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." (Matthew 12: 10-12)

 Jesus stood against human injustice in his world, particularly when such injustice was driven by powerful institutions, including the religious establishment. Jesus was a provocative voice of social criticism whose work challenged power systems, like the use of The Law to oppress people. Jesus teaches us to seek God's justice as he did.  Some of his harshest words were for those who treasured "personal holiness" while ignoring the pain, poverty, and suffering of their fellow human beings. Jesus sought to build the kingdom of God on earth here and now, not later.  He gave us the Beatitudes.  He taught us how to pray in word and deed.  In the Lord's Prayer we say, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth...".  Following Jesus' example, we work to shape our present world to reflect the just order of things.

Equality and Inclusiveness

 "Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman..." (John 4:27)

"Look... A friend of tax collectors and sinners!" (Matthew 11:19)

 Samaritans were the outcasts of Jesus' day, and women were believed to be inferior to men in every way. Yet women were given the honor of announcing the resurrection, and Jesus stayed with the Samaritans for two days. Jesus healed the sick, who were believed to be ill because they had sinned. He traveled with women and welcomed them as his disciples. He ate with tax collectors and with Pharisees. Jesus lovingly ministered to the blind, the deaf, the lame.  He cared for "unclean" lepers.  He always welcomed people who society said were lowly and despised. By his actions, Jesus affirmed the equal value of all people. We seek to live as Jesus did when we hold that all people are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.  We strive to follow his example by eliminating hurtful, exclusionary distinctions between "us" and "them."

Right Use of Power

 "Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple...." (Mark 11:15-16)

 Satan "...showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him. ' All these I will give you...' Jesus said to him. 'Away with you, Satan...'" (Matthew 4: 8-10)

 Jesus understood worldly authority.  When he acted in the temple to throw out the money changers, he challenged powerful systems of purity codes and taxes that were oppressive.  But this was an act of protest against injustice.  While Jesus advocated a different social vision, he did not force others to accept this vision. Every year during Holy Week, we are reminded that the kingdom Jesus proclaimed was not to be brought about by force.

 Yet Jesus was powerful.  He was filled with the power of the spirit. He used this power to bring healing miracles into the lives others. In his ministry Jesus showed us how God's power can help a just world emerge.  As Christians and Americans, we strive to follow Jesus' example as we acknowledge that we are powerful, but as we also seek to avoid the seduction of power and the temptation to coerce others to our will.  In the darkest and most frightening times, Jesus calmed and strengthened his followers, telling them "Be not afraid..." (Matthew 28: 10)  Jesus shows us that we must reject fear and use the power of God that flows through us to protect the innocent and build justice in the world.

Faithful Stewardship

 "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." (Luke 12:48)

 Throughout the Gospels, Jesus calls us to stewardship - to sharing and caring - as opposed to unrestrained acquisition and greed. As Americans, we gratefully acknowledge that we are a people to whom much has been given. From us, to whom so much has been entrusted, we believe that much is asked. We hear Jesus when he tells us to be like the good servants, faithful stewards of our master's bounty. (Matthew 25:14-28)  Faithful stewardship requires us to care for God's creation, our world's environment, with wisdom and integrity. Even when we err, we are called to recover from our mistakes like the shrewd steward of the parable (Luke 16: 1-8).  We may not be able to repair all the damage done or undo all the consequences of profligacy; but we are obliged to change our behaviors and to amend wherever we can.  We seek to follow Jesus' call for responsible stewardship of God's abundant creation and worldly treasure.

The Creation of Shalom, A Hard-Earned Peace

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Nathaniel Branden writes:

"If communication is to be successful, if love is to be successful, if relationships are to be successful, we must give up the absurd notion that there is something "heroic" or "strong" about lying, about faking what we feel, about misrepresenting, by commission or omission, the reality of our experience or the truth of our being. We must learn that if heroism and strength mean anything, it is the willingness to face reality, to face truth, to respect facts, to accept that that which is, is."


When I think about honest communication and what the bible teaches me, many parts of scripture come to mind. The first 2 are my buddies, Moses and Paul. Moses and his consistent arguing with God is always a source of comfort for me. Moses argued with God! He was honest with God about his fears, insecurities, and even his doubts. He trusted God to hear him. Paul on the other hand.. Paul had to stand in front of those he had once persecuted and tell them, 'I'm a new person. Umm.. sorry for being ignorant, now I know better.' Talk about faith. It's difficult for me to say, 'oopps, sorry I forgot to call you back'... I can't imagine.. 'oh, sorry about that persecution of your people thing... '

Not only do both Paul and Moses get to the heart of being truthful, but they also represent in my mind the ability to learn a new way. Yes Moses grumbled and argued and Paul.. well Paul was struck blind... I would have to think those are the extremes. For God has surely given me the opportunities to shift without such spectacular promptings. (Thank God and amen)

 Now if we venture to Acts 5:1-11 we read of Ananias and his wife Sapphira whose dishonesty actually caused their immediate deaths. 

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit... " and "You have not lied to men but to God."

Now all of us having been children and teenagers understand the nuanced differences of being dishonest and lying. And as adults we know it's simply a matter of semantics because, in our hearts and in our relationship with God, we know there is no difference. 

There are whole lists of logical fallacies used in communication to prevent us from being honest. Many of us have learned from an early age not to be honest about our feelings, not to express ourselves honestly. To hold back our opinions, to help maintain the 'everything is O.K' illusion so as not to draw attention to ourselves, make others feel uncomfortable, or perhaps to protect ourselves from further damage by being open and vulnerable. 

No matter how many times I look at the lists of defense mechanisms, communication barriers that I review periodically for my work.. I am always a bit dismayed at my own use of these. Although I've learned to recognize them well in others... turning that mirror around is always a bit shocking :) And I add, that I understand why and how the children I work with have learned to protect themselves with these behaviors... I'm still thrown off by adults who don't even pretend to be aware let alone start to shift away from these less than honest means.

It makes me wonder how hard it is to be honest with ourselves. It makes me wonder again and again about the culture we've allowed ...even in our faith communities. It makes me more fatihful knowing that God is leading and prompting each of us to newness. It makes me love people even more knowing that acceptance is such a huge need.

.... it makes me want to pray more.