Reflection Archives 2

 

 

 


28 MARCH 2021

HE COULD NOT BE HIDDEN (MARK 7:24)


This week's Reflection has been provided by a long-time friend, Raymond Key. Mr. Key is 100 years old and still writing quality material. His offering seems particularly appropriate for this, the week of Easter.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu


He Could Not Be Hidden (Mark 7:24)

It is said that men who excel cannot be hidden. The common view is that if a man builds a better mouse trap than anyone else, the world will make a beaten path to his door. Both of these state-ments are made in relation to the material side of man. There is something done that appeals to the imagination of man or something that he wants very much to make his existence more pleasant. So, he recognizes to some extent the source of that pleasure. These, however, depend upon the degree of excellence to which a man has attained, or the intensity of the need or want for that which a man possesses. Sometimes though the uglier passions of man, or perhaps the lack of wisdom, combine to conceal things that are truly excellent from the world's acclaim. As one poet wrote:

Full many a gem the dark unfathomed caves of ocean bare;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen;
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

It seems that the more spiritual things find it harder to receive recognition than the "mouse traps" of the world. Few people have ever been acknowledged as being truly great because of spiritual excellence and achievements. But perhaps it may be that their spiritual excellence was marred by some weakness, or that the "achievement" was not the thing that people really needed but merely what the man thought that people needed. But when we read of the life of Christ, we find that strange statement in Mark 4:7 that "He could not be hid!"

Certainly, Christ never excelled in any "academic" field, never attended any great school, or studied under any great professor. The achievement of Christ was not in any field of science, for no invention or material discovery was ever credited to Him. During His lifetime on earth, He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place of His birth. His closest friends were among those who were considered ignorant and unlearned. He had no great possessions, for He Himself, said, "The Son of Man hath no place to lay his head." His active ministry lasted but a brief three-and-one-half years. At the end of that short period, he was executed as a common criminal - as a rebel against the standardized thinking and teaching of the Jews. Yet this man could not be forgotten. As a result of his life and teaching the whole civilized world has been transformed. There is only one satisfactory explanation: This man was the Son of God.

Jesus never built any magnificent buildings, yet some of the world's greatest buildings have been erected in His honor; He never painted any pictures, yet some of the world's greatest paintings are based upon His life. Some of the world's greatest songs have been composed in His honor, yet Jesus never wrote any songs. More books have been written about Jesus than any other subject, yet Jesus never wrote a book. The only explanation is His excellence in the most important field of all - the salvation of our souls. He could give the world what it most deeply longed for and needed more than anything else. He said, "I am come that you may have life, and that more abundantly."

Christ could not be hidden even before He came to Bethlehem. That need was expressed in prophecy. Many heralds were sent before the approaching King to say, "Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given....and he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...." (Isaiah 9:6-7). Some of these heralds walked so far in advance of the coming King that the time of which they spoke seemed extremely far away. Still, they heard the far-off footsteps, caught brief glimpses of the approaching glory. I do not know how distinctly they realized the type or nature of His Kingdom, or how accurately they saw the exact form of His royal presence. "The prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the spirit of Christ in them was pointing......even angels log to look into those things." (I Peter 1:10-11) But this we know - Christ could not be hidden even before He came in the flesh. His forerunners had made the world's heart tremulous and expectant. As one looks for the rising of the sun at the end of a weary sleepless night, so did men look for Him!

At His coming to the Bethlehem manger, it was that way again: the world could not hide the coming Light! Taking the record just as it stands, it is nothing less than marvelous! The Emperor's decree drives an expectant mother to a small village which was so crowded that she is forced to rest her weariness in a stable with animals. This King was not born in a palace, but He could not be HID. The manger was not like a throne, but He could not be concealed! The "swaddling" clothes were not like the royal purple, but they did not wrap Him in secrecy; His heavenly Father gave the name of His birthplace to a star and hung that star in the sky as a guiding light to some "wise men." He took a song of Heaven and gave it to an angelic choir. He drew from the pastoral land of the shepherds, some keepers of the flocks to follow that guiding star to where a new-born Shepherd King of humanity was waiting. The Father drew that group of "wise" men, only to make them wiser as they searched for the new-born King who, in His brief time on earth would change the hearts and lives of humanity.

Yet all of this is in spite of the fact that the place and manner of His birth seems like a drama of concealment. Could the world ever find Him there, among the lowly barnyard beasts, lying upon the hay, covered by very coarse clothes? Sleeping upon the breast of a very poor and humble mother? Could it hear the voice of a new-born baby amid the confusion of moving caravans and the boisterous shouts of pilgrims? The "wise men" and the shepherds did hear. They did search and they did find Him. Bethlehem and a stable might seem a good hiding place, but they could not hide the Christ.

After Bethlehem, and even after the savage butchery by a desperate Herod, He could not be hid. A multitude of wee children, in unmarked graves, were called by the historian, Prudentius, the "Blossoms of martyrdom." But there was one baby that could not be placed in an an unmarked grave. Some kind of angel was sent, and led the way into the land of Egypt, and protected Him there. Out of all kinds of dangers, rivers, deserts, armies God protected Him, finally leading His family to a town despised by the general public. This disrespect was shown by the proverb of contempt: "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Other Herods would not look ffor Him there. But even a town held in contempt, a poor cottage, an insignificant workman's shop, rough workman's clothing - did not finally hide Him from the world's view. A final Herald came, a man who had one work to do, one message to proclaim, crying out, "There comes one after me," and "The kingdom of heaven is at hand!" "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!" And Jesus came forth from Nazareth to begin His short span of public teaching; something the world so deeply needed and to offer them the life they so deeply longed for! And He could not be hidden.

 

14 MARCH 2021

FORGIVENESS

This week I have been considering the importance of "forgiveness" in the Christian life. It turned out to be a bigger topic than I had previously appreciated. It seems closely associated with and intertwined with the concepts of reconciliation and love. All three are essential to one's peace, joy and a fulfilled life. Unforgiveness lurks within us like the bottom 90% of an iceberg. And you know what an iceberg did to the Titanic.

It has been said that living like Jesus must include forgiving like Jesus. And it is difficult, hard emotional work. It's not easy to forgive someone who has hurt your feelings or harmed you physically. Have you experienced this? Do you know firsthand what I am writing about? As Christians we clearly enjoy God's forgiveness, but we often have difficulty forgiving others until the offender has suffered appropriately for the harm she or he has done to us. Have you ever wanted your "pound of flesh"?

Mark Abshier has defined forgiveness in this way: "Forgiveness is clearing the heart of reasons to not show mercy to another." As forgiving Christians, we must forgo our desire for that "pound of flesh" and choose mercy instead. But it is hard. What could be more difficult when we have been taken advantage of or cheated or slandered or swindled or gossiped about or physically harmed?

Forgiving does not mean forgetting. Healing from a hurt inflicted by another can eventually come but that does not mean we have forgotten the hurt or that scars do not remain. Until that healing has occurred, we often feel a need to blame the other. In fact, sometimes holding a grudge is a cover for low self-esteem. I can only feel better about myself when I can blame you or other people for where I now find myself. A lot of this is based in what psychologists call the ego. Left unattended, it eats on the subconscious mind like an invisible cancer. And, like cancer, it will kill you!

Forgiveness is not synonymous with reconciliation, but it is a means to reconciliation. There is something special about a Christ-like love that is expressed in forgiveness. In fact, it has been said that forgiveness is literally a matter of heaven or hell. It affects our relationship with God now and into eternity. In Matthew 18 Jesus teaches Peter that he must forgive "70 times 7". Beginning there Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant. It ends with, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart" (Matthew 18:32-35). And of course the Lord's Prayer includes the plea that we might be forgiven ".,,,as we forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). In other words, forgiveness is something we have to do all of our life. It becomes a lifestyle. As children of God and followers of Jesus forgiveness must be taken seriously. And when we do the result is a sense of being blessed.

By the way, have you ever hurt someone? Have you felt the need to be forgiven? You see, this forgiveness thing is a two-way street. It is grounded in relationships that forgive and encourage and care for one another rather than treating one another with the proverbial wrecking ball. Which approach would you prefer to have if you are on the "receiving end"?

So, how do we do it? How do we enable ourselves to show mercy? Perhaps the first thing we have to do is to be honest about the hurt. Until we can be honest about the hurt it will fester and infect everything in our lives. Once we have become honest about the hurt, we have to decide "What does love demand?" Remember three key words from the Bible, "God is love." (I John 4:16). In other words, God is wishing our good, our forgiveness, in order that we can be reconciled to Him. Remember John 3:16 and Jesus' last words, "It is finished". We must like-wise choose to wish good on the one who has hurt us. We love because God first loved us. And then, one has to let the issue go. The scar will remain, but it will no longer negatively affect the way we live with and relate to the other. And that's how we will know that healing has done its work.

Forgiveness is hard work. But it is one of the things that goes hand in hand with loving people like Jesus loved people.

It seems to me that there is a continuum that goes something like this:

Joy and power are the fruit of reconciliation.
Reconciliation comes from forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the fruit of love.
Love wishes only good for the other.
"God is love".

All of this began with a loving God, resulted in forgiveness that produced reconciliation, and can end in joy, power and other aspects of the life we really want and were created for. Now that's something worth pursuing! Begin today.

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu
www.chaplainscorner.org


A Reading about forgiveness, from a sermon by Caesarius of Arles.[1]

(Caesarius of Aries was the foremost churchman of his generation in a portion of Gaul. He lived a thousand years before the Protestant Reformation (469-582 AD) and was particularly known for his preaching, generally on moral issues. He focuses on forgiveness in the article below.)

If any one of us is in conflict with another, let us end the quarrel lest we ourselves end badly. Do not consider this unimportant, my beloved. Let us call to mind that our life here is mortal and frail, that it is endangered by many and great temptations, and this makes us pray that we may not be overcome. And so, we realize that even the just are not without some sins. But there is one remedy which enables us to keep alive. For God, our Master, told us to say in our prayers: "Forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us." We have made a contract with God and taken a resolution that the wrong must be forgiven. This makes us ask with complete confidence to be forgiven provided we too forgive.

If, on the contrary, we do not forgive, how can we in good conscience hope that our sins will be forgiven? Let us not deceive ourselves: God deceived no one. It is human to be angry, but I wish it were impossible. It is human to become angry but let us not water the small plant born of anger with various suspicions. Let us not permit it to develop into a tree of hatred. It happens also frequently that a father is angry with his son, but he does not hate the son. He is angry because he wishes to correct the son. If this is his purpose, his anger is animated by love.

We read in Scripture: "Why look at the speck in your brother's eye when you miss the plank in your own?" You find fault with another person for being angry, and you keep hatred in yourself. Anger in comparison with hatred is only a speck, but if the speck is fostered, it becomes a plank. If, on the contrary, you pluck out the speck and cast it away, it will amount to nothing.

Our Master says in another place, "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer." Those who hate their brother, walk around, go out, come in, march on, are not burdened by any chains and are not shut up in any prison, but they are bound by their guilt. Do not think of them as not being imprisoned. Their heart is in prison. When you hear: "He who hates his brother is in darkness all the while," lest you might despise that darkness, the evangelist adds: "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer."

You hate your brothers and sisters and walk safely around and refuse to be reconciled with them, and God has given you time and opportunity. Yet you are a murderer and are still alive. If you felt God's wrath you would be suddenly snatched away with your hatred toward others. God spares you; spare others likewise; make up and seek reconciliation with them.

But suppose you want reconciliation and another does not want it. That is enough for you; you have something to grieve for, you have freed yourself. If you want agreement and the other refuses, say confidently: "Forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us."

[1]Fraternal Harmony (Morin Sermon 185) 1-2: PLS IV, 446-447. (CR VI p 215)


Source: Much of this Reflection has been inspired by and developed with thanks from a sermon by Mark Abshier on March 7 at the MacArthur Park Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas.


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2 MARCH 2021

MY CHRISTIAN TOOL BOX


What "tools" do you use in living the Christian life? Several options immediately come to mind: Bible study (One might even peg the Bible as a spiritual toolbox.), prayer and fasting, hymns, fellowship with other Christians, etc. This week I have reflected on some of the tools that have been meaningful to me over the past few decades.

One "tool" that has evolved in my life is the use of several forms of prayer. Most of us have grown up using what I call "conversational" prayer in which we consciously go to God with our problems, praise Him for the good that has come our way, ask for favors, lament difficult situations, etc. In addition to this I've discovered the use of two other forms of prayer, what I call "contemplative" prayer and "community" prayer. Of course, one could also categorize other forms of prayer such as "liturgical" (i.e. The Lord's Prayer) or "extemporaneous".

Sometime in 1995 my first wife was undergoing treatment for advanced cancer. The hospital offered and I attended a short seminar on what they called "An Introduction to Contemplative Prayer". I could not even pronounce the word "contemplative" at the time, but the concept took root and has become a significant part of my spiritual life. In contemplative prayer we simply sit in silence with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to do whatever subconscious mental processing is needed. I like to say that we are silent so God can speak in the space between our thoughts. It is recommended that one do two thirty-minute sessions of contemplative prayer each day.

"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut
your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

A third form of prayer is what I call "community" prayer. Most of us already experience this each Sunday when we gather for worship. We also do it when for example we pray within our own families. Praying with other like-minded believers is an essential part of living as a Christian. It has become increasing so to me. Over the years I have evolved to the point that I now meet in community with a group of believers at 0730 each morning during the week to pray, read scripture, receive a short sermon, and invite Jesus to live in and control my life during the coming day. It is a powerful practice and only takes 30-45 minutes.

These three forms of prayer (contemplative, community and conversational) seem to intertwine in some sort of overlapping manner. Each is good in its own right. However, the discipline of routinely doing all three seems to produce better results.

What "tools" are in your personal Christian toolbox? How deliberate is your Bible study? In what ways have you learned to care for and be kind to others? Do you have a Spiritual Advisor? Do you seek to follow practical disciplines such as silence, solitude, simplicity or service? Is the practice of kindness a conscious behavior? Think about that; then let us proficiently use each appropriate tool in a way that draws us closer to God and one another!


Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu


22 FEBRUARY 2021

God Will Take Care of Me


I read this week about a child named Howard who one evening was awakened by his mother. As the story goes, she asked if he would like to see the comet (Halley's Comet). He got up, dressed quickly, and went out with her into the back yard. There he saw the awesome tail of the comet and stood transfixed. With deep anxiety he asked, without taking his eyes off it, "What will happen to us when that thing falls out of the sky?" There was a long silence during which he felt the gentle pressure of her fingers on his shoulders. At last she said, "Nothing will happen to us, Howard. God will take care of us." In that moment something was touched and kindled in him, a quiet reassurance. Have you ever had such a sense of "God will take care of me?"

This past week my state of Texas has experienced one of those "falling comet" events when exceptionally cold weather (10 degrees F) collided with a failed electricity grid, frozen natural gas lines and burst water pipes. Much of the state was plunged into the frigid dark with no running water and no fuel for heating. Through it all I have again become aware of God's abiding care. And I cannot help but compare our current "difficulty" with many around the world who are routinely without running water in their homes. I think of those women in the Bible and even in many parts of today's civilization who routinely travel some distance with clay jugs to bring water home from the river or a well. I reflect on those in Jakarta who are homeless and routinely sleep outdoors in the cold. We all learn to adapt to whatever state we find ourselves in, both long and short term. I recall the Apostle Paul writing (in a somewhat different context) "…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am…" (Phil 4:11) and "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)

Without electricity many of us in Texas have endured dark nights and failing refrigerators. And I think of those in Nigeria and other similar locations who light oil lamps at night and are limited in their food supply (No easily available supermarkets in their world!). Each of these has learned to manage within their particular situation. My "neighbors" in Cairo had moved to the city from the countryside in order to have a better life. They lived in a large plywood box with the nearest water spigot about 30 meters away. Their water buffalo was tied to a tree next to my driveway. Like us this week they had no electricity for heat or light. Yet their three children seemed happy as they flew home-made kites or pushed a hoop down the road.

Regardless of the physical situation, God cares for His creation. Sometimes it takes a crisis to jolt us out of "normal" and make us realize how really normal our situation is compared to that of others. There will always be those who have more difficulties than we and there will be those who are more blessed materially than we are. But we are always blessed by a God who cares for all of His creation. We cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. (I Pet 5:7)

 

Blessings and peace,
Chaplain Allen

 

15 FEBRUARY

We are all looking for ways to create more meaningful lives that include less "chaff" to distract us. This is especially important when one is working toward academic achievements such as those offered by NationsUnivesity. Most students of NU not only study but also hold down a job, are building a family, and are active in church related activities. Successful academic work requires one to become very effective and efficient in how he or she integrates their studies with their other responsibilities. The following article offers some suggestions on how to improve clear thinking and reduce what the author calls "brain fog". I hope it will be of help to the reader.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen


Want to reduce brain fog and improve clear thinking?
Consider these things immediately.

We are all looking for ways to create more meaningful lives with less to distract us.

Photo from francescoch / Getty Images

Mental fog is often described as a "cloudy-headed" feeling. Common conditions of brain fog include poor memory, difficulty focusing or concentrating, and struggling with articulation. Imagine if you could concentrate your brain power into one bright beam and focus it like a laser on whatever you wish to accomplish. Many people struggle to concentrate. And when you can't concentrate, everything you do is harder and takes longer than you'd like. Here are some suggestions that can help improve your concentration.


Give Up the Clutter
Mess creates stress. There's a strong link between your physical space and your mental space. Clutter is bad for your mind and health. It can create long-term, low-level anxiety. We are all looking for ways to create more meaningful lives with less to distract us.

Get rid of clutter at your office, on your desk, in your room, and you will send a clear message of calm directly to your brain.

Start decluttering today in small, focused bursts. You're not going to clean up your entire space in a day, so start small to make it a daily habit that sticks. Set yourself up for success by making a plan and targeting specific areas you're going to declutter, clean up, and organize over a prolonged period of time.

Multi-Tasking Doesn't Work
The ability to multi-task is a false badge of honor. Task switching has a severe cost. Your concentration suffers when you multitask. It compromises how much actual time you spend doing productive work, because you're continually unloading and reloading the hippocampus/short term memory. Research shows that task switching actually burns more calories and fatigues your brain - reducing your overall capacity for productive thought and work. Commit to completing one task at a time. Remove potential distractions (like silencing your mobile phone and turning off email alerts) before you start deep work to avoid the temptation to switch between tasks.


Use the 3-to-1 method!
Narrow down your most important tasks to 3, and then give one task your undivided attention for a period of time. Allow yourself to rotate between the three, giving yourself a good balance of singular focus and variety.


Give Up the Urgent Distraction
Disconnect. Your productivity, creativity and next big idea depends on it. Urgency wrecks productivity. Urgent but unimportant tasks are major distractions. Last-minute distractions are not necessarily priorities. Sometimes important tasks stare you right in the face, but you neglect them and respond to urgent but unimportant things. You need to reverse that. It's one of the only ways to master your time.

Your ability to distinguish between urgent and important tasks has a lot to do with your success.

Important tasks are things that contribute to your long-term mission, values, and goals. Separating these differences is simple enough to do once, but doing so continually can be tough.

 

Stop Feeding Your Comfort
Comfort provides a state of mental security. When you're comfortable and life is good, your brain can release chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which lead to happy feelings. But in the long-term, too much comfort is bad for your brain.

Without mental stimulation dendrites, connections between brain neurons that keep information flowing, shrink or disappear altogether.

An active life increases dendrite networks and also increase the brain's regenerating capacity, known as plasticity. "Neglect of intense learning leads plasticity systems to waste away," says Norman Doidge in his book, The Brain That Changes Itself. Michael Merzenich, a pioneer of plasticity research, and author of Soft-wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life says that going beyond the familiar is essential to brain health. "It's the willingness to leave the comfort zone that is the key to keeping the brain new," he says. Seeking new experiences, learning new skills, and opening the door to new ideas inspire us and educate us in a way improves mental clarity.

Don't Sit Still
Sitting still all day, every day, is dangerous. Love it or hate it, physical activity can have potent effects on your brain and mood.

The brain is often described as being "like a muscle". Its needs to be exercised for better performance.

Research shows that moving your body can improve your cognitive function. 30-45 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week, can help fend off the mental wear and tear. What you do with your body impinges on your mental faculties. Find something you enjoy, then get up and do it. And most importantly, make it a habit.

Stop Consuming Media and Start Creating Instead
It's extremely easy to consume content. You are passive. Even relaxed. But for each piece of unlimited content you consume, it stops a piece of content you could have created. Limit your mass media consumption. Embrace the creation habit. Start paying attention to the noise that you let seep into your eyes and ears. Ask, Is this benefitting my life in any way? Does all this information make me more prone to act? Does it really make me more efficient? Does it move me forward in any significant way?

 

Let creation determine consumption.
Allow curiosity to lead you to discover and pursue something you deeply care about. Make time to create something unique. The point is to get lost in awe and wonder like you did when you were a child. When you achieve that feeling from a certain activity, keep doing it! Share your authentic self with the rest of us.

Thomas Oppong is the founder of AllTopStartups and writes on science-based answers to problems in life.

8 FEBRUARY 2021

LIVING WITH CONTENTMENT
By Guest Author, Dr. Tom Nuckels, Lifeline Chaplaincy


Recently, I was speaking with a group of spiritual care volunteers on Zoom. We meet each Wednesday morning for a "virtual coffee." One shared how she had decided to stop talking about how bad things are and to begin to look for the good. What blessings have been found throughout the past year? Maybe you have to look hard, but they are there, none the less.

" More walking for your health
" Taking more notice of the beauty of sunrises and sunsets
" The kindnesses of people
" More connection. We are not really "socially distanced," but "physically distanced"

Her decision "to look for the good," reminded me of Paul's statement to the Philippian church,
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength," Philippians 4:12-13.

When I shared this with the group, another person said, "That is great, but it can be frustrating to hear what we need to do without the how." In fact, Paul also tells us the "how" to be content and to trust God in all things for our needs."

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you," Philippians 4:4-9.

Don't be anxious but be prayerful! Change what you think about-think on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable, praiseworthy things. Practice that and God's peace will be with you! Now, that is a helpful message for the New Year!

So, remember, in these unprecedented times of our new normal, that we're all in this together! After all, it is what it is and don't forget to wash your hands!"

Source: Dr. Tom Nuckels is Director of Spiritual Care for Lifeline Chaplaincy's Central Texas region. The original article has been slightly edited by the Chaplain for the NationsUniversity audience.

1 FEBRUARY 2021

Rediscovering Christian Prayer

For several months I have been ruminating over the general subject of prayer. For me it seems that there are three general forms of Christian prayer. I call them the "three C's", i.e. contemplative, community, and conversation. Each has its place and none is complete without the other two. It seems that I need to practice all three and to keep them in balance.

Contemplative prayer is the simple sitting in silence with God, allowing Him to speak in the silence between my thoughts. Community prayer is when we pray with others or meet as a church to worship and pray together. Conversational prayer is when we one-on-one consciously pour out our yearnings, concerns, requests, laments and gratitude to God. These could be visualized as three overlapping circles that have as their center the lifting up of our hearts in a divine engagement with the creator who relates to us as a Father. No wonder that the Apostle urges us to "Pray without ceasing!" as we seek to live in the presence of God.

The effectiveness of prayer is underpinned by several assumptions which we take to be true. For example:

1. There is a God.
2. Jesus teaches us that God is approachable.
3. He also confirms that we are God's children.
4. The Bible teaches us how to speak to our Father.
5. Experience and history demonstrate that prayer works.

Prayer is not about just getting what we want. God is not our personal ATM machine. Rather prayer is about a relationship of mutual love. It has more to do with being with and being in love with our Creator.

Prayer, especially contemplative prayer, is a gateway to becoming a practicing Christian. It leads one to the answers to our "how" questions.

How can I abide with God in Christ? (John 15:4)
How can I cultivate the mind of Christ within me? (I Corinthians 2:16)
How can I become a participant in the divine nature? (II Peter 1:3)
How can I die to self and live to God? (Galatians 2:20)

Praying without ceasing provides a rhythm to our relationship with God. It produces a patterned way of life that can be habitualized to help deepen our spiritual being. But it has more to do with "living in the present moment" with God than periodically shouting out to Him in pain or with requests. We must learn to be silent. It is as Jesus taught in Matthew 6, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." So often we get so wrapped up in the affairs of the world that we simply have no room left for the most important relationship in life. That is why deeply committed Christians have always eventually sought lives that are defined by silence, solitude and simplicity in addition to study and service.

How are you doing in your personal prayer life? Does it include all three of the "C's"? Is it leading you to live in the presence of God? Would you prefer a life of silence, solitude and simplicity to the hustle bustle that the world seductively encourages? Give it some thought this week and then let me know what happens. You will be in my prayers.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
NationsUniversity

25 JANUARY 2021

REENGINEERING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE


I worked in the corporate world for some 30 years before transitioning to the vocation of Chaplain. My fundamental skill set began as a "production engineer" in the oil fields. That led to project management and ultimately financial analysis. Toward the end I spent a year serving as a "reengineering consultant", helping chemical plants improve their workflow. I recall two aspects that popped up over and over again. The first we called "best practices". The second was "continuous improvement". I saw it in the oil industry. I saw it in the chemical business. And I have observed it in major hospital systems. For example, each used long workflow charts that adorned the walls and encouraged people to add "yellow sticky" notes suggesting areas for improvement. What might be the "best practice" in caring for a hospital patient? What might be the "best practice" for using contracted services in a large chemical plant? How can we become more efficient and productive in getting oil out of the ground? How might we move from where we are to that more effective place? Does our work reflect "continuous improvement"?

That was my world. And it made sense. Almost all of us wants to be the best we can as soon as we can for as long as we can. Isn't the same especially true for living the Christian life? The Bible defines "best practices". The Holy Spirit empowers us to move "continuously" toward that more perfect life. And our never-ending search for fulfillment, happiness and peace is enhanced as we consciously choose to install these "best practices" that are only be found in Jesus. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." (John 14:27)

Best practices: What is the best way to live each of the activities of your life? What works best? How about eating? Do we eat off and on during the day or are we disciplined to eat modestly at regularly scheduled intervals? How about sleep? Benjamin Franklin, and early American statesman. wrote, "Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise." How attentive are we to our sleeping habits? How about exercise? And, of course, how do we manage our money? Do we operate based on a thought through budget or do we just deplete our resources impulsively? Do we control these aspects of life or do they control us? I have a personal saying that "What you measure grows. What you do not measure goes." How we pursue each of these areas of life will have an impact on our happiness and peace and success. And, of course, how attentive we are to our spiritual disciplines is even more critical. What is our prayer life like? How effective is our worship? What does our Bible study look like? Does our life reflect the love that Jesus demonstrated? What would the "best practice" for each of these look like?

Continuous improvement: It is said that "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." There is often a great gap between where we are and where we want to be. Ask anyone who wishes to lose weight! The concept of "continuous improvement" encourages us to simply move in the direction we wish to go "one step at a time". Measure it. Control it. Savor the positive movements! And then from time to time look back and see how far you've gone.

Let us live the most effective and worthy lives that we can. And the God of peace will reward us.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplian@nationsu.edu

 

18 JANUARY 2021

A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO TIMES SUCH AS THESE


My friend, Raymond Key, has shared the following article by Scott Sager. It speaks of how Christians might respond to the events of the past few weeks in America. It looks forward to the coming momentous week when a new President will be installed. I am sure these remarks resonate with other parts of the world as well. Please note that the article has been slightly edited by me.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu



The events of the past few weeks have probably surprised, alarmed, grieved, and also shaken many of us to our core. What we have seen on our televisions and computers has certainly surprised most of us. It speaks of a polarization unseen in many of our lifetimes. This must sadden all people of faith and leave us humbly asking God to forgive us as a nation. People are fed up, and they want something better, something more. But most have no idea what they want, or how to get there. They are angry and hurting, and hurt people hurt people.

If we pay close attention, what we also see in America is a nation polarized without a foundation on which to find common ground. The tectonic plates underpinning our democracy are shifting, and the structures we have built that hold us together as a nation are cracking under the pressure. The building is still standing, but additional supports will be needed to hold it up for future generations. The author believes that only God's people can supply such supports. Long ago, King David saw a seismic shift happening in his day and wrote the words of Psalm Eleven:

"When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?" (Psa. 11: 3)

Assuming "we" are the righteous, what can we do? David's answer came in a reminder: God is still on his throne and his ears are attentive to our prayers. But before you approach God too quickly, he warned, notice that the Lord is looking for righteous people to pray to him, not those who love violence. The Lord is always on the side of right--He is righteous. He wants to see us promote justice. If we do, He promises to show up and reveal the Glory of his presence in the midst of our chaos.

"The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The LORD
examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he
hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning
sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice; the upright will see his face." (Psa. 11: 4-7)

Interestingly, the people best able to strengthen the foundations of society are those most concerned in God's Kingdom--far more than country. It is those who seek first God's Kingdom who will have the resources to strengthen the foundations of one's civil government. And, guess what. Satan is not interested in the politics of the day! He just wishes to distract God's people from their focus on the Creator's will for them. If they lose their direction Satan wins!

C.S. Lewis explains it this way:

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot in the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this world. Aim at Heaven and you'll get the earth 'thrown in'; aim at earth and you'll get neither."

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He is watching the affairs of mankind and bids all those whose hearts are right, and who love justice, to pray to him. So let's set our hearts right, seek his face, and ask that we might again see the glory of the Lord in the land of the living. Let's be those who "stand in the gap" and who are "healers of the breach" both by our prayers and by our righteous lives.


12 JANUARY 2021

BELIEVE AND DO

In a sermon this past week Mark Abshier of the MacArthur Park Church of Christ in San Antonio, Texas suggested that the Bible doesn't have a single teaching that does not affect how we are to live in life. I think he is on to something.

Numerous teachings in the Scriptures combine what we learn and believe intellectually with what we should do. For example, in James 1:22-27 we read, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus compares the wise and foolish builders. "Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like…." And in John 13:17 Jesus says, "Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them." Yes, it seems that every teaching in the Bible affects what we are to do. How are you doing in your doing?

Looking back to James, he writes in James 2:19-20 "Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. You foolish person…faith without deeds is worthless…" So, it is all about believing and doing. It takes both. Building on James 2, Mark Abshier calls believing without doing "demon level belief".

I remember driving around a city in southern Egypt with the minister of a large evangelical church that frequently came under persecution. He shared how he was trying to teach his congregation that they must be honest in their business dealings. Do not take bribes. Use accurate scales. You are not like the rest of the business community. You are Christians! Could he have preached that in your community as well?

Here are three things one can do to help combine believing and doing in his or her life.

1. Remember that the Word both informs and transforms. It changes us.
2. Reflect on what the Word says. Meditate. Contemplate. Reflect. It is about more than just learning some facts.
3. Respond to God's Word with your whole life. That includes relationships, resources, talents, finances, etc.

And finally, here are five points that Mark Abshier suggests can help you better align what you do with what you believe.

1. One Word. Think of one area of life you would like to improve in.
2. Evaluate how you are doing two times each month.
3. Share it with three people.
4. Do it for four months.
5. Answer five questions in your meetings: Have I prayed about it? Have I memorized key scriptures about it? Where have I failed? Where have I succeeded? Am I telling the truth?

Thank you for joining me in this great "journey to eternity" that we find ourselves in this year. May we both learn through our studies at NationsUniversity and also experience positive change in what we do from day to day.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu

Deliver us, Lord, that by Your mercy we might have peace in our day and be free from sin and safe from all distress, all worries, anxieties, fears, accidents, sicknesses, desperations, and unprepared death as we await the blessed hope and coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 JANUARY 2021

NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

"To be near God is my happiness" was this past year's theme for one of my friends, Drew Woods of Sugar Land, Texas where he pastors a large church that has been affected by the COVID-19 virus. Pastor Woods used this theme in his sermons almost every week of 2020. Think on that for a moment. "To be near God is my happiness."

True happiness is never achieved without a close relationship to God is it? In fact, you might graph one's level of happiness versus one's closeness to God. The further from God one is the less happy he or she is likely to be. Conversely, the closer to God we find ourselves the happier we are. And of course whatever fear and anxiety we carry will diminish the closer we are to our "savior". Do you want to be happy? Move nearer to God!

I am reminded of the movie, Titanic, where the ship's musicians are playing "Nearer my God to Thee" as the ship is sinking and they face certain death in the cold North Atlantic waters. The passengers found some level of happiness in their desire to be close to God. Psalm 23 says something about this in its first verse, "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want…" and then, "…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil FOR THOU ART WITH ME." The early Christian martyrs know something about this as well, didn't they?

The term "happiness" has been defined as, "…a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy." The apostle Paul seems to have known this when he told the Philippians to "Rejoice in the Lord always…" Then, after a list of very positive things he says we are to think on he adds, "…and the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:4-9). And James in James 4:8 tells the twelve tribes that were scattered among the nations to, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." In that context when we draw near to God we will find God coming closer to us and we will experience that mental or emotional state of well-being that is known as happiness, even in the face of intense danger, even the danger associated with a world-wide pandemic. Yes, "To be near God is my happiness".

So, how might you draw nearer to God in the coming year? How will your level of happiness be increased? Let me suggest that we add at least one new spiritual practice to our lives. For example, we might commit to reading the Bible for 30 minutes each day. Or we might pray that amount of time. Could we make it a spiritual practice to do one especially good deed each day? There are a number of other special practices that one could begin. These include what is called Lectio Divina and the Examen, or just finding someone to become a spiritual companion in our walk. Think about it. Become proactive in drawing nearer to God and see what happens!

Blessings and peace in the coming year,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.org

20 DECEMBER 2020

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

I have observed a lot of families during my first 75 years of life. They have been amazingly diverse, yet also similar. One thing they hold in common is a desire that their children be given the best possible preparation for life.

Everyone wants their children to have the opportunity for a better life than perhaps the one they have had. For example, I recall the Indian and Pakistani men back in the early 1970's who worked as laborers and "house boys" in what was called the Trucial States. They were there to earn money that could be sent back to their families in Karachi or Calcutta. In the 1980's I was living in Cairo and had a neighbor whose family lived in a plywood shack. They had a water buffalo for milk and their three children ran and played in the street flying handmade kites, unaware of their poverty. The parents had brought their family into the city for a better life than the one they had experienced in rural Egypt. In America I grew up around "Sam", the man who worked as a janitor in the airplane hanger where my dad was a pilot. I still remember with fondness the day Sam took us fishing in his boat on a Louisiana bayou. Along the way he raised several children who went on to college and became successful adults. On the other end of the social scale we have seen highly educated parents who work at professional jobs and are able to send their children to prestigious universities after a childhood of privilege.

So there is this "spectrum" of families, all of whom want a better life for their children. And unless they are handicapped by such things as mental illness or the inappropriate use of drugs they will work to provide that life. This is common to humanity. Another thing that is common to humanity is the moral and ethical codes by which we live. In the Christian context we look to the Bible to guide us. The same rules such as "Love thy neighbor as thyself." apply regardless of which country one lives in or what level of society we find ourselves. Life goes so much better for everyone when we learn and live by these rules and when we teach them to our children. There is probably nothing more important in rearing a family than teaching them the eternal truths found in the Christian scriptures.

And there is nothing more important in this teaching process than a parent's example of living these truths. Example means everything! I recall Joe Beard, the godly father of a friend in East Texas. Joe had been able to graduate from college during the great depression in the 1930's. After graduating he worked for several years to put three siblings through school before beginning his life. I recall him telling his own children, "You never build yourself up by tearing someone else down." And he put three children through college by growing watermelons in a "secret" field back in the East Texas woods. I learned a lot from his example.

There is so much social conflict and general inequity in the world! We can probably not do much to change that. However, each of us can work to give our children a better life. And we can teach them the eternal truths, both by studying the scriptures and by our daily example. May we resolve to focus on the family in 2021!

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu

 

16 DECEMBER 2020


The next week or so will be particularly challenging for those of us who are needing to quarantine or otherwise isolate from both the general public and also close family. This Reflection will share some thoughts on how to get through such a difficult time. It is slightly edited from an article by Sarah McCmmon, a National Correspondent for NPR. It was published today on NPR's All Things Considered program. You will note that the article is not filled with "churchy" language. However, it contains some practical truth that may be of use to each of us.

So, let us this week be particularly sensitive to both our and others' safety and also how we interact and communicate the boundaries we may choose to follow.

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu


'What Real Friends Do':
How to Navigate Tough Conversations About COVID-19

As it gets colder, and harder to gather outdoors, some of Kenzie Billings' conversations with her loved ones are feeling a bit more fraught. "It's felt frustrating at times. You know, you can feel energy from people in terms of wanting to be together," she said.

A 'push and pull' of competing concerns

Billings, 29, lives in Portland, Oregon. Her pregnant sister has been taking social distancing rules very seriously, she said, but others in the family are more eager to get together indoors.
She said it's especially hard to navigate these negotiations without being face to face.

"So there's a lot of push and pull there in terms of, 'Okay, where are my boundaries?' And then exerting those boundaries is actually really hard, with the people that you love," Billings said.

Hospitals in many parts of the United States, for example, are reporting another surge in coronavirus patients. That follows a Thanksgiving holiday where many families gathered despite public health recommendations. The spike in COVID-19 numbers is colliding with colder weather and the holidays, forcing many Americans like Billings to have difficult conversations with friends and family about whether and how to gather.

Communicating through misinformation

For Desiree Middleton, 50, in Los Angeles, the pandemic has also been hard on some relationships. Middleton said the swirl of misinformation around the coronavirus has complicated discussions about the need for mask-wearing and social distancing, and she's even lost some friends. "I have people that don't believe the virus is real, they feel like it's a government conspiracy," Middleton said. "These are friends that I've known since middle school. One friend, I was in her wedding. "The denialism she's observed among some old friends is particularly painful, Middleton said, because she's had family members who've been sick with the virus.

Connecting, creatively and safely

Even for a physician, asking loved ones to wear masks and stay distant from each other can be difficult, said Dr. Tista Ghosh, an epidemiologist in Colorado and the state's former chief medical officer. Ghosh said she's had difficult conversations in her own family, and she advises keeping the focus on the desire to keep everyone safe and healthy. "One of the things that I think is important to acknowledge up front is that you care about them and you don't want anything to happen to them, and it's not just about you," Ghosh said. "I think putting that out there up front, especially with older parents, is important." Ghosh advises looking for safer ways to connect, like eating a holiday meal separately and then going for a walk together, or even meeting up in different cars for a tailgate party.

Alise Bartley, a counseling professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, said offering creative alternatives can help soften the impact of conversations about social distancing. "Is it about saying no, or is it about trying to figure out what to say yes to?" Bartley said. "Based on each person's level of comfortability, how do we discern, 'Yes, I can do this, but I can't do this?'"

'What real friends do'

The pandemic, and the social distancing it's necessitated, have strained some social connections. But they've forced others to become deeper and more genuine.

"In this specific time, it feels so much more important that we have those conversations," said Thomas Davidson, 18, who lives near Philadelphia with his parents and two siblings. "When we see the political headlines; when we see the news about COVID, it feels like these are conversations we can't just push to the side and focus on our family dynamic. It feels like these are conversations that need to be had."

Davidson said it's been frustrating to witness some of his family members' skepticism about the need for social distancing, but the stress of the pandemic also made him appreciate them more. "It can be hard, but at the end of the day they're still family," he said. For Middleton, in Los Angeles, it's also been a time to communicate more honestly with some of her friends.

"I think before the pandemic, a lot of us were just on surface-level friendships," she said. "And now we're actually sharing the deep, painful parts of our lives with each other, and saying things that last year I was like, 'Oh I never would have told you this, because I'd never want you to think this about me.'" Middleton recently had to turn down an invitation to visit another close friend because she didn't feel safe getting on a plane - and her friend's response actually made her feel closer, she said. "She was like, 'Okay, when that vaccine comes, you're going be here,' and I'm like, 'Absolutely,'" Middleton said. "Because that's what friends do - we understand each other - that's what real friends do."

7 DECEMBER 2020

MAINTAINING BALANCE IN A TIME OF DISRUPTION

I was reminded today of three things that help me maintain balance during times of disruption and crisis, times like today's COVID-9 pandemic, times like December 7, 1945 (Pearl Harbor), times when we find it hard to agree with or even understand our neighbors.

First, God does not practice social distancing. Yes, we have found it necessary in recent months to maintain physical space between us and others, even those we care the most about. But our relationship with our creator is never hindered by such physical or emotional space, unless it is a space we ignorantly establish ourselves. Thank God for continually unleashing His power through the eternal presence of His Holy Spirit.

Secondly, I am thankful that Jesus came to bring peace, peace to us individually and peace in the world. Yes, we see the exact opposite of that peace all around us these days. But that disunity is not what Jesus came to give. We pray that God will allow his peace to settle upon us individually and as the family of believers. May we be instruments of His peace in the midst of a world that has so little.

And then we acknowledge that we are created for relationships that find their source in the unity of what we call the Trinity, a relationship of love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I thank God for this loving model. May He help us to love one another and to seek ways even in a time of necessary social distancing to enhance the relationships we have been provided. May we use all the tools that have been given to us (even the Internet!) to build one another up as a loving, world-wide community.

So, God is here. Jesus came to bring peace. The Holy Spirit supports relationships.

Let us seek to maintain our balance during the coming week!

Blessings and peace,

Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu

Note: The writings herein reflect the views of the Chaplain alone and are based on his understanding of the Bible and how God works with his people.

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