tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89235393056482846312024-02-18T23:55:11.913-08:00Openly EpiscopalianEllis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-46754326392895459822020-07-11T22:12:00.000-07:002020-07-11T22:12:19.788-07:00The Seed that Fell on Clay<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">May
we all flourish under your care, O God, that we may grow like the palms and
cedars, producing fruits of righteousness and proclaiming your goodness like
healthy, green leaves, in our lives. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is yet another service where I
hear the famed (or infamous) Parable of the Sower. I can’t tell you how many
times I have heard this parable, especially being read in the (usually) boring
ways that people of the collar are wont to do. I can’t tell you how many times
I have heard the exact same sermon being read, probably because Jesus provides
preachers with enough clues about what to say. As a music director, when
planning for the next few Sundays, I was upset to see that this exhausted
reading was coming up. When reading through the Gospels, I oftentimes read the
first few phrases and skip it to get to something that hasn’t been beaten to
death in pulpits, auditoriums, or even blog posts. In fact, for me, this
parable falls on me like a seed that falls upon a bed of clay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">“We
are the soil…” These are words that I have heard in pretty much every single
one of these ruminations on this parable, probably because that is what one can
draw from reading Jesus’ explanation of this parable. But, as far as I know,
soil does not fix itself. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:7, “God…gives the
growth.” And at the time, people probably didn’t understand the specific
details about mycorrhizal structures and the nutrients, but they knew that God
provided what was needed in the soil in order for crops to thrive. In fact, in
the Pentateuch, or the Torah, God commands the Israelites to be careful with
exhausting the soil, commanding something along the lines of crop rotations.
But this is all to say that <i>we</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">
are responsible for the soil. If we say and understand that we are the soil, it
might seem impossible for us to conceive being able to prepare our minds and
hearts to receive the word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx0g1eiFLPbBlvUQoLa9zr6NVXKSqD-0zBVf4goX_eNQ4CLirPCh8_SoWcEHCnSobUaWpZfPoVsGeQe7ELlMBys164nnqk2zolQRke-FNWGanXMQ659skfQ68zTxG7hNBTPrntLJ3a27C/s1600/20200710_123303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx0g1eiFLPbBlvUQoLa9zr6NVXKSqD-0zBVf4goX_eNQ4CLirPCh8_SoWcEHCnSobUaWpZfPoVsGeQe7ELlMBys164nnqk2zolQRke-FNWGanXMQ659skfQ68zTxG7hNBTPrntLJ3a27C/s320/20200710_123303.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I have been gardening for over a year and a half
now, and I still consider myself a beginner. However, just by starting on this
journey, the different metaphors in the Bible speak to me in different ways. Now,
this parable focuses on the soil, a substance that has been on my mind this
whole time. When I read and watch videos about how to start gardening, it is
often described as something very plain and simple: dig a hole, plant a seed or
starter, and water when it needs it. However, the soil all around my house is </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">dense,
compacted, exhausted, clay</span></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">. Shoving a shovel into the ground is a chore all
on its own, and when it rains (a very frequent occasion here in Houston), the
shovel sticks to the clay, and the clay piles on. Oftentimes, in order to dig
anything, I need yet another tool, a trowel, to dig and scrape off the clay
from the shovel! After trying to get some gardening started around my house, I
started to wonder, “why is all this soil </span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">clay</span><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‽</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> I just couldn’t stand the fact that I had to do so
much extra work in order to get this garden started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Much of my gardening has required me to do one of
three things: dig out the clay and replace it with new soil, add new soil above
the clay, or plant in pots. The former two add up quite a bit (I can’t believe
how expensive soil is!), and the latter is pretty good, unless I want a shrub
or tree to grow quickly, and it still requires me to buy new soil. This past
week, my dad was asking me what I wanted for my birthday, and he jokingly
suggested he’d get a truckload of dirt delivered to my house, and I responded,
“actually, that would be a great gift!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This past winter, I tried planting some bulbs, and
after being fed up with having to deal with the clay soil, I decided to dig up
the clay, toss it around a little to break up the clumps, and just place the
bulbs wherever and hope for the best. I probably planted 50 bulbs, but I ended
up with 3 flowers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Again, I ask, “why is all this soil </span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">clay</span><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">‽</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> But
then, I have learned that in order to build houses, in order to give them a
good foundation, there has to be clay. Otherwise, the house would become
unsettled, and the walls would probably start cracking, among many other
problems. And, I thank God that our house has been fine for the most part. So,
having to deal with the clay doesn’t feel as mindless. But, it is still work
that I have to do in order to tend to a garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As I said before, this Parable of the Sower has
begun to feel like a seed sown in clay. The nutrients have been taken out, the
soil has been abandoned, and now there is a resistance to this seed, to the
point that it can suffocate if it even tried to germinate and grow. But what do
we need to do in order for this clay to be hospitable to the word?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">For one, I would really appreciate if people would
give a better effort to reading the Word of God out loud. From my understanding
of the history of the Scriptures, all of these were spoken words first before
being written down, and they have always been meant to be read out loud.
Unfortunately, what I have found in most Episcopal churches is that people will
read the Bible in a monotone, oftentimes glossing over punctuation, phrasing,
and emotions. When I read through the Bible, it usually seems that people were
excited whenever they proclaimed their words, and oftentimes the writers of the
Bible describe those emotions. Prophets often made fools of themselves just to
make a point to anybody who would listen. Royalty would yell at subjects to
keep them down. Jesus would proclaim in different places a radical message that
was meant to challenge those in power, oftentimes calling out everything that
was comfortable. Paul’s language and word choice in his writings are very
pointed, and yet I have heard readers just act as if they were reading off some
sort of shopping list to a congregation. We need that same energy to come from
our readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I’ve been an Episcopalian my whole life, and I have
heard many Bible stories, especially during Sunday school. I remember one day I
was in a retreat on racial reconciliation, and Kathy Culmer was retelling the
story of creation, something I had grown up hearing time and again. Yet, when
she recited it, she spoke with so much emotion, so much urgency, that I was
driven to tears. The words that I had heard so many times and had grown annoyed
with, all of a sudden, became something that struck me to my core. She had the
way to plant the word of God deep into my being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Now to talk about this particular parable. What
does it mean to tend to the soil in order to nurture the seed, the Word of God?
Well, for one thing, we need to look deeply and honestly at what our soil even
is. When the construction workers of Sugar Land were trying to build a bunch of
houses in the middle of what used to be farmland, they made sure that there was
a foundational level of clay soil in order to support the new buildings. But,
when I wanted to plant some of my mom’s favorite flowers in that same soil, the
clay no longer cut it. I still have to amend the soil with fresh nutrients, the
waste of animals that forage on dead leaves, with mulch for the moisture, with
so many other things. What are the things that have become compacted and
exhausted of nutrients in our churches? How about the music? How about the
prayers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Around 500 years ago, when electricity was just the
anger and whim of God, the organ rose as a marvel of technology and
architecture. As churches wanted to show off their wealth, they built organs.
Both outside and inside the churches, short, repetitive tunes, became popular
ways of singing poetry—hymns, if I may. As the tastes in classical music began
to embrace different timbres and different instruments, people added onto the
organs to make them appeal to this variety of sounds. Choirs grew, and the
style of music began to become more measured, just like how much of the music
outside the churches did. I wish I could point out what happened in the 20<sup>th</sup>
century, but I do not understand why church music began to depart from the other
tastes in music that were popular outside the church walls. However, when Negro
Spirituals and jazz roots began to influence Gospel music, many Episcopal
churches said “No!”. When African rhythms, Indigenous instruments, and other
languages, especially Spanish, began to give rise to new sacred music, many
Episcopal churches said, “No!”. When Asian Christians went into the Christian
communities all across East and Southeast Asia and brought back the music that
had become integral to their worship, informing the communities here in the US,
many Episcopal churches said “No!”. When Christian musicians, born and raised
in the US, learned to sing music, to dance, to play it on guitars, banjos,
different percussion instruments, and who knows what else, many Episcopal
churches said “No!”. We have a nearly 40 year old Hymnal that is filled with
“No!” to other cultures, but “Yes!” to Anglocentrism—yes to British folk tunes,
yes to Lutheran dance melodies, yes to American pseudo-chants. Our voices, the
voices of the oppressed, have been </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">canceled</span></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">
throughout this Church’s history! That is a clay soil we need to fix.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">Also,
about 500 years ago, a number of theologians started wondering, “what would
happen if we started to worship in our vernacular languages? What would happen
if we started to worship with our own culture represented?” Some of those
theologians began a project that became the Book of Common Prayer. Yet,
nowadays, after having a tradition of revisions for nearly 400 years, and after
relying on the same one for over 40 years, we are so resistant to incorporating
prayers from other cultures. I hear time and again, “If we allow for this
prayer/feast/language to happen, it will open up the floodgates.” Let me tell
you, the floodgates only burst open like that when they have been shut for much
too long. If we have been building this Church on a floodplain that has been
devoid of water that comes from just on the other side of the floodgates, the
water that becomes toxic to those upriver because it has nowhere else to go. If
we rely on shutting all of that out, then definitely, it’s time to flood the
Church with all that has been missing this whole time. Racism holds up the
floods of people who need Jesus. Homophobia holds up the floods of people
feeling that they are born just to be condemned to Hell. Transphobia holds up
the floods of people who seek communion with God. The plutocracy within this
Church has been holding up the floods of people who cannot have a voice just
because they are poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">In
fact, of all the things that Jesus points to in this parable, the most concrete
image is that of wealth. It is the lure of wealth that chokes out the word of
God, and I know that the lure of wealth has been choking this Church for years.
Now is the time to give to those who need it. Now is the time to open up the
floodgates. Now is the time to break the soil that has been compacted by
hording up wealth, privileging people with certain theologies or influences,
and really tend to the soil. Now is the time to scrape our hands against the
thorns that cover the soil, now is the time for us to bleed as we clear the way
for the rich nutrients, and, even more so, for the good seeds of God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">We
have become too comfortable as a Church to the point that there is very little
that can grow in the soil that we have control over. When we have programs for
evangelism led by white people, made in an institution headed by white people,
in order for mostly white people to learn how to minister to white people, only
the same white plant will grow. It will take root at the surface, flower for a
moment, and then die away; a yield of just onefold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">When
we have theology that involves just talking to white people about issues of
racism, sexism, homophobia, and a host of other issues, we will just get the
same white answer. Even now, we have people of color who are trying to blend in
with this theology by accepting the white model. Rather than inculturate and bring
our experiences to the meeting tables, the ones in those fancy hotels or
neo-gothic buildings, where money just seems to be in the air we breathe, some
of us are just accepting this white, exclusive model in order to make it in
this institution. It’s so difficult to survive in an institution where racism
and classism are key. However, when we take a moment to start tearing this
down, when we take time to tend to the soil, cut off the weeds and thorns, when
we take time to dig deep and really fix the underlying problems that restrict
all sorts of growth, then we will be able to witness the growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">You
see, there are already people doing the work, the arduous work of cracking the
clay, of mixing in the nutrients, of adding that good soil that others have
created, of renewing all that we need for this garden to thrive. There are
people calling out racism, calling for change, and there are people who are
actually explaining what exactly to do! There are books out there, podcasts,
videos, sermons, workshops, that are already out there to help make this all
happen. However, when we receive these seeds, we need to tend to our own soil,
to all that we have allowed to happen. Do we know if the soil in our lives is
exhausted? We have to look at what we do. Are we doing the same thing, reading
the same passages, reciting the same prayers, preaching the same sermons? Even
in Jesus’ lifetime, in the three year period of the Gospels, we read that Jesus
had to teach those who were already “in the know” in so many different ways.
There are parables, like the one we read today, and there are exhortations,
condemnations, calls to action, healings, miracles, and so many other things: <i>all
in three years</i>. Now let’s look at our own lives. Are we doing the same
thing over and over again? Perhaps we need to refresh our soil. Perhaps we need
to find the shovels and trowels to dig deep. This will never be a one time
thing. Let us remember that our faith is living, and the Sower continues to
sow. It is time for us to prepare our soil for the Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-81457188679338415472020-05-24T16:06:00.000-07:002020-05-24T16:06:03.103-07:00Why do we stand looking up toward heaven?<br />
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<i>“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Acts 1:8<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the
world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you
have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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John 17:11<o:p></o:p></div>
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The disciples were staring up into the sky as Jesus was
probably becoming more and more distant. Either that, or perhaps they were
staring at some spectacular show. Today, I think that a cloud coming down from
heaven to take up a person would look like a tornado, if not a full-on wall of
a cloud like a hurricane. Whatever it was, it was certainly spectacular. And
yet, the disciples hear someone telling them not to just look up. The gospel
account doesn’t say whether the men in white robes said anything else, and I am
driven to believe just that. They didn’t need to say anything else. They
already knew what needed to happen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While Jesus was preaching to his disciples, he spoke
about different ideas, pertaining especially towards people’s behavior towards
one another. Jesus explained one of the most difficult concepts to define: how
to love. However, Jesus did not just stand at the front talking and yelling and
pointing fingers, gesturing, or jesting. Jesus acted. In fact, he called all of
his students, all of those people who were giving him anything of an ear, to
action.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As Jesus was being taken up into heaven, he continued to
preach, reminding his students, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And so, just as students
today might be distracted by the barrage of lights before them—Chromebooks,
ebooks, educational games—the disciples stood, staring into the sky. And, two
men in white robes reminded them not to keep staring.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, it can be tempting to look back on the good ol’
days. We might even be reminiscing on the times we could just walk around and
go to any restaurant without any concern. We might remember being able to
travel to any destination around the world. We might remember just being able
to get together with a group of friends for a chat throughout the night. I do
this quite often, especially when I wonder what I can even do to pass some of
the time that isn’t just occupied by my anxiety to continue producing content
(“stop wasting your potential for unfettered creativity” my brain tells me). <o:p></o:p></div>
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As the disciples saw their teacher, their mentor, their
friend departing yet again, what did they do right after? I would imagine after
being told not to stare into heaven, they thought about all the other things
they were called to do: bring people from all over the world together under the
Good News of Love. After that, all the teachings must have come back to them.
All of the practice, the examples, the lessons, the sermons, the poetry, the
discussions, the debates, the overturning of all that they thought they knew
must have come back to them. And then, we get the beginnings of the Church.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we continue in different states of quarantine/staying
at home, we have to remind ourselves to look at what tasks lie before us. We
have communities to maintain. We might be involved in different businesses that
need to figure out how to continue onwards. We have our own debts to think
about. We even have our own health to take care of—our physical health, our
mental health, our spiritual health.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And yet, it is so easy to think back to the times before
this pandemic, the time before this ongoing Lent. It’s easy to remember the
“large stones and large buildings,” or the “great buildings,” we had in the
past. I love my church, with the newly constructed hardwood floors, which added
a wonderful boost to the nave’s acoustics. I love the piano which projects
without me having to press hard on the keys. I love the cozy community we have,
especially with how it feels when we are all together, singing, praying,
talking, being. I remember going out to eat at any restaurant of my choosing, with
nearly every cuisine represented (except Russian, for some reason). I remember
the ease of just ordering food rather than having to struggle through another
recipe, waiting for our grocery order to happen to have the right ‘essential’
for the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But what do we get from staring back at those glittering
times? When we just sit and stare at the calendar, looking at how many days
have gone by, how many birthdays, funerals, anniversaries, memorials,
graduations, fasts, or ceremonies we have missed, what do we gain? As I think
about all of this, it just makes me upset at the current situation and wish
that everything were over. I dwell on all the negative rather than try to work
with what I have.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of my all-time favorite games to play is bridge,
especially duplicate bridge. The reason why I especially enjoy duplicate bridge
is because the rules of the game eliminate the amount of chance. In duplicate
bridge, rounds are played in different tables, and each table eventually
receives the exact same cards dealt as the other tables around. Therefore, each
time I play, I am working on making the best of the cards I am dealt.
Sometimes, the round requires me to win, and other times to lose. However, the
final score is calculated by how well I won or how badly I lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nobody that I know has asked for this pandemic to come
through. Nobody that I know has asked to make many everyday physical
interactions to be potentially life-threatening. But, we are living through
this situation, and we need to deal with the cards that we have been dealt. The
good thing is that we are not being judged by how well or how badly we win or
lose. We just need to get through this thing. In order to live out this Good
News of Love, we need to remember what we have learned. Jesus calls us to love
God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In this pandemic, much of this love for neighbors and
self are intertwined. By practicing social distancing and proper sanitation
procedures, we protect both ourselves and others from the risks of this disease.
Of course, this means that we are spending much more time at home, and perhaps
we are staying at home with other people. Our love for neighbors needs to be
sincere. We need to give people the distance they need (think of the
introverts), and we need to explain our own needs as well. We cannot just
destroy our physical, mental, or spiritual health just for someone else to
thrive. We need to balance things out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another thing we need to watch is our behavior online. As
a kindergartener, I learned about how to act around others: no pushing or
shoving, no yelling, use manners, among other things. And now, we need that
same sort of attention online. As more and more people seek community through
social media, especially those newer to the internet, we need to show love. We
need to be true to others and (importantly) to ourselves. Perhaps we hear about
the problems that a friend or acquaintance is going through. There, we need to
listen (or read, probably). Just as we give our friends and acquaintances space
to speak their truths, we need to offer that space. One of the difficult things
might be on Facebook, where, especially in groups, people who write out more
comments will be brought up to the top of the page, whereas a more reserved
person might be drowned out. One way to overcome this algorithm is by limiting
one’s commenting, or encouraging others to continue writing their comments. On
the other side of this, we have to let people know when they are speaking in
ways that are against our own being. We have to call out racism, homophobia,
transphobia, and so many other forms of discrimination, for, unfortunately, the
structures of discrimination are still alive and well on the internet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When all of this is over (God willing), or at least when
this is contained, we have to remember what Jesus calls us to do. We are called
“to be witnesses…to the ends of the earth”. To be witnesses to this Gospel is
also to “be one”. Jesus calls us time and again to love one another, to show
compassion and mercy, to bring peace to the world, to pray for each other, to
worship and break bread together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of the harshest things I have learned from being in
this pandemic is that our world’s economies (or at least the ones connected in
any way to that of the United States) are dependent upon something other than
the well-being of human lives. In order for some food businesses to stay
afloat, they have dumped tons of healthy crops. In order for other businesses
to remain, they have laid off workers after workers, and they continue to
demand more kickbacks from their governments. We still have the poor and the
hungry with us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another issue is that we still have the evils of racism,
classism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and so many other prejudices
playing out in our communities. People are slaughtered day-in and day-out in
the names of these ideologies, and we still have elected officials supporting
them or playing things off as one-offs or flukes. Even in the middle of a
pandemic, there are countless people without access to healthcare.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we come out of this situation, we will still be
tempted to look up into the sky at the romanticized image of our world we have
created for ourselves. We will even have times when we will be staring rather
than working on the problems that are all around us. But, our consistent
devotion to God will be our wake-up call. That will be the tap on our shoulder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jesus gave us so many different resources to draw upon
when he was on earth. He gave us ways to talk to strangers, to talk to loved
ones, to debate with those who have different opinions, to resolve conflict, and
to spurn change. Nothing was just left where it was. Jesus reminded his
disciples to put everything they learned into practice. In our Gospels, we find
that Jesus has sent out two large groups of people to preach. We find that
Jesus fed more than one large crowd of people. We find that Jesus forgave sin after
sin. We find that Jesus went deeper and deeper into the ‘over there,’ the ‘we
don’t associate with them,’ the ‘I just don’t care.’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so, we need to remember our calling that rings louder
and louder each time we hear it. Slavery was abolished, but there was still indentured
servitude and a nationwide institution founded on racism. The Civil Rights Act
was passed, but we still have people murdered every day just for the color of
their skin. The Supreme Court ordered same-sex marriage to be recognized across
the country, but there is still rampant homophobia. Today, more and more rights
are being taken away from trans people. Today, undocumented immigrants still
struggle to make it in a world that seems to just want to push them out. Today,
the poor are shoved aside during this pandemic, denied shelter and food when
those two things are mounding up in an unforeseen surplus. Today, people are
dying while politicians are playing everything off as some sort of hoax or plan
to control those already in power and exercising control over the vulnerable.
These are the reminders! These are our “men in white robes”! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As we remember the Ascension, let’s remember our calling,
just as Jesus reminded all of us in the midst of ascending into heaven. We have
communities to build, people to care for, a world to love. Let’s stop looking
up and thinking back, and let’s look and think forward.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-17107915435010624132019-12-08T15:16:00.000-08:002019-12-08T15:16:42.155-08:00A Year of Integrity <div>
As this calendar year draws to a close, I have been reflecting on what Integrity has been doing for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in Houston. Every month, there is a Eucharist where different priests from around town come and celebrate. It's always refreshing to see the number of allies we have, especially in a diocese with a difficult past with respect to our community.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
During Houston's Pride Parade, Integrity held a Eucharist for all who wanted to attend. There were people competing for the experience of celebrating and distributing communion to everybody. Then we all marched in the parade, reminding people that they are all children of God.</div>
<div>
At the Trans Unity Banquet in Houston, Integrity helped to support and encourage the purchase of a significant number of tables for The Episcopal Church to be present. In fact, over the past several years of this involvement, the number of Episcopal churches attending has been growing substantially. This continues to amaze me, that our community of LGBTQ+ folks and allies continues to grow in The Episcopal Church.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For National Coming Out Day, Integrity partnered up with Houston Canterbury, which has also been a major support for LGBTQ+ causes, especially by giving college students a space to ask questions, pray, and talk in community, to celebrate a mass. We were full of the Spirit as we sang, prayed, and had communion with one another. We listened to the testimonies of three different people who came from very different walks of life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All throughout these moments, I have seen more and more people of color becoming involved in Integrity. We are seeing so many people coming from communities where LGBTQ+ people are marginalized against the trend of acceptance. There is still a struggle going along, and we are seeing people setting more spaces at the table for new people to sit at. I love my community, and I pray that we will continue to walk in the light of God.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-60493699025647269722019-03-09T18:16:00.000-08:002019-03-09T18:16:20.334-08:00Materialism: An Accuser<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the
putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul
to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in
obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:9b-10<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Materialism
has been at the forefront of my mind recently, and it seemed only appropriate
for me to reflect on it when the reading in the Lectionary was the one above. Materialism
has been showing its face to me in so many different ways lately, and I noticed
that when I look into it, I see both the face of a menacing, demonic gargoyle
and an attractive, well-crafted idol.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For pretty
much as long as there has been a Judeo-Christian culture, there has been
materialism. It’s been something that comes up in so many writings, from Exodus
and the Ten Commandments, all the way through Jesus’ teachings. In fact, it is such
a common issue, yet, judging from the number of treatments of the issue, it has
not gone away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
secular society, materialism is brought to the fore, with advertisements,
product placements, jobs, and so many other aspects of our lives being governed
by it. Even our relationships with one another are dominated by materialism:
what’s the shiniest gift to give to my crush; what’s the best restaurant to
take my family to; how can I impress my friends this time? However, even when
we walk into our churches, we find the same problem. We have churches closing
their doors to the communities of the poor, the sick, and the needy surrounding
them. We have committees voting to buy the “newest trends in evangelism” while
refusing to serve the person begging at their door. We have church staff
members who have paychecks so much larger than the incomes of congregations
combined, making me wonder if there is even enough there to support a community
in need.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
addition to the tangible manifestations of materialism, we also have an
ideological issue in our churches as well. At the surface, we have people
preaching a “prosperity gospel,” where all of God’s blessings are material
blessings. Going deeper, we will even ignore what the Bible tells us about
materialism. We shy away when Jesus says to get rid of all of our belongings to
follow him. We try to reinterpret what Isaiah means when he says if we draw out
our souls to the hungry and the afflicted then we will become light. We
downright ignore the laws of Moses regarding the harvest, where leaving a bit
of our crops for the less fortunate and travelers was mandatory, not just a
thing to do if we happen to have a large enough plot of land to sustain a
miniscule community garden next to our towering, gothic building. We have
tolerated greed and materialism so long that we grow uncomfortable looking at
what life would be without it. Going further into this notion of
institutionalized materialism in the Church, we have people who start to look
at congregations as small businesses. Rather than consider what it means to
reach people who need to hear the Gospel, we look at the specific number of
people in pews as figures in graphs. We turn down programs that are for
spiritual enrichment in favor of events that serve solely to bring income into
the church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now,
what happens when we look at the world through the lens of materialism? Our
place in society becomes a competition. One day we are at the bottom; the next
day we are above a few other people; and then a few days later, we are back
down again. When we are at the top, we start looking at those who don’t have
the same car, the same house, the same job, the same skill, the same talent
with contempt and/or shame. We point fingers at them. We fabricate stories
about them. They no longer are human. Instead, they are creatures who have
failed their duties to God. The artist working for non-profits is blind and
silly, unlike our careers in the sciences, which is filled with the culmination
of intellectualism and wisdom. They are reaping the wrath of an angry God, and
we, at the top, with our precious belongings, are near angelic in our existence.
This most certainly is not the life that we are called to as Christians. For,
when we propagate this sort of society, we end up hurting ourselves as well.
Rather than giving ourselves a community of compassion and love, we turn into a
society of ridicule and competition, one where, once we fail, we can no longer
exist as functional beings in the world. When we bow down to this idol, when we
bring our souls, our talents, our time to its altar, we descend into the
darkness. Our vision vanishes, and we are left with a devotion filled with
greed and selfishness until we too are consumed by all the negativity, unable
to fulfil the necessary offerings needed to continue this cycle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Instead,
we are called to follow Jesus, to show love to all of those around us. We are
called to use our talents to glorify God, to show the world what the unconditional
love of God is. We are called to bring the light into the world as it continues
its flirts with darkness. We have to look around us and listen to the cries and
groans from all of those around us, including our own souls. We have to realize
our talents and how they fit into the Kingdom of God. We have to take our
treasure and use it to bring others closer to God rather than distance
ourselves from God. We have to heal the world around us from all of its wounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This Lent calls us to action. Let us follow Jesus; no
turning back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-44720200143241418322018-11-12T20:06:00.000-08:002018-11-12T20:06:36.486-08:00I am the BCP<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am prayer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am
community.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am
God’s anointed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am the standing, sitting, processing,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>kneeling,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">genuflecting</i>, all as able.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am the gestures across the heart,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the
twiddling fingers tracing the Gospel cross<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>thrice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am the
stillness,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>the
stiffness,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>the
reverent,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>the
irreverent.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am he/him/his,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
ally of her, zir, and singular them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am the erring and straying lost sheep,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>lost,
because the resolutions rain down on me,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the
arrows of the hordes standing behind their high walls<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>their
altar gates,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>their
chasubles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am that oil running down Aaron’s beard,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>caressing
his pomegranate skin,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>knowing
the ephod’s secrets,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>his
cast of stones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am looking,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>searching
for that love that endureth forever,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>searching
for my “in sickness and in health,”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>my
“til death do us part,”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>searching
for my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dearly beloved.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of those 1,000+ pages, where is my name mentioned?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of the Rites, where am I a worthy partaker?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Does not
my history, 26 years and counting, give me authority?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Does not
my family of clergy and laity give me weight?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do not
my education, my “thy before thee except after thou,”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>my
<span lang="EL" style="font-family: "Orthos",serif; mso-ansi-language: EL; mso-no-proof: yes;">ἐκέκρικα</span>, my experience,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>my visions and prayers
count?<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span lang="EL" style="font-family: "Orthos",serif; mso-ansi-language: EL; mso-no-proof: yes;">μὴ γένοιτο</span>!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am the <span lang="EL" style="font-family: "Orthos",serif; mso-ansi-language: EL; mso-no-proof: yes;">μὴ γένοιτο</span><span style="font-family: "Orthos",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am not Paul’s model:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>the celibate man,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>the polemical,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>the God-damning<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the
eraser of false teachings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am not the good will on both sides—<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>bearing torches and flaming crosses<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>stabbing with my piercing tongue<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>throwing brothers, sisters, siblings<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>from the rooftops,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>beating with chastening rods<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>leaving them to hang on
fenceposts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>to give up
their ghost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am the meek heart and due diligence,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>the people walking to the new
creation,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>el desamparado, el
necesitado.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
Wait,
I thought I was a very well organized,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>very strategic,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>very well financed,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>very powerful hijacker—<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>then why do I get death
stares?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Why do people want me
behind electric fences?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Why do I have to work
against the grain<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>flailing my
arms at policies smothering me,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>as
I shout out to a panel<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>of
men staring at each other<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span>while
I throw the Bible right back at them?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
If
you know where that money is,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">show
me, </i>sugar daddy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
Nah,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am the Texan, rising in support<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>of my own voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am treading the path through the blood of the slaughtered,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>facing the rising sun of my new day
begun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am the weak theology,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Te Deum, </i>Hildegard, Bach,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Wesley, Willan, Price,
Pulkingham;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am Montes, S and A’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am solace, strength, pardon, renewal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am <span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: "PMingLiU",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond;">高興歡喜</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am in print, featured in Church Publishing,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>not that other idea from long ago,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>left to collect dust,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>or suffer, scaffolded in irate and
greedy beaurocracy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
I
am <span lang="ES-PE" style="mso-ansi-language: ES-PE;">página 284,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>las campanas,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>el órgano.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
You
can decide what you want<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>in this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ecclesia viae mediae,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
But
just know,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I know how best to show God’s love
in my life,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="tab-stops: .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 281.25pt;">
for
I am the Book of Common Prayer.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-54299356420581755822018-10-31T20:52:00.000-07:002018-10-31T20:52:37.216-07:00I Am the Reformation501 years ago, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the doors of All Saints’ Church in the German speaking region of Europe. I had heard of this and heard it mentioned again and again in different classrooms to explain how the Reformation began. However, it was not until recently that I actually read that famous text: 95 sentences, each one more polemical than the last, to condemn the practice of selling indulgences (basically, using money to be guaranteed a spot in heaven). Now, this document was not one that I was hoping would explain all of what came out of the Reformation. There is no mention of congregational singing. There is no mention of translating the Bible into<br />
languages people actually spoke. But, I realized it was just the first step in that direction.<br />
<br />
Christianity suffers from seizures of power throughout history, with the victors putting in their own twists in order to promote their own agenda. However, alongside those power struggles, we see people standing up for what is just and fair. Our whole faith started with Jesus, who stood up for<br />
the oppressed against all those in power. At the start of the Reformation, Luther stood up to an institution of preachers and even the papacy to fight for the poor. Today, we have countless theologians, laypeople, clergy, musicians, and many other kinds of people fighting to open up the doors in our churches to all of those who have been oppressed for ages. We are all still doing the<br />
work that Jesus commanded us to do from day one.<br />
<br />
Today, we take for granted that we have a Book of Common Prayer in a language we can understand. We take for granted that we have so many songbooks with hymns and songs from our different traditions. We take for granted that we can actually play maracas and sing to our heart’s content when we are in church. It was because of the movement that Luther began, one of standing up to oppressors, that we could have all these things. But we can’t just stop there. We now have a responsibility to stand up for those who are still being marginalized in our society. We still have<br />
congregations that say that trans people are sinning against God. We still have clergy and powerful laypeople deciding whether same-sex couples are sacred or not. We still have music directors and influential musicians who think that non-white-European voices are not worth listening to in our liturgies. There is a lot of work to be done, but by living our lives with Christ at the center, we can continue to lift up the voices of all of those around us. Jesus called us to reform our Church so that all can be welcomed. Let’s live in that teaching. Let’s be the Reformation.Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-15182891086384745952018-02-17T22:11:00.004-08:002018-02-17T22:11:40.221-08:00Lent, Day 4: The Journey<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"If you remove the yoke from among you,<br />the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,<br />if you offer your food to the hungry<br />and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,<br />then your light shall rise in the darkness<br />and your gloom be like the noonday." Isaiah 58:9b-10</blockquote>
We've got a journey ahead of us, the journey of Lent. It has been going on for a few days, but the first few days are often the hardest for those observing some sort of fast. But, if you are one who eases your fast on Sunday, then the first break is near! If not, then keep on truckin'.<br />
<br />
Many times, when we look at the Lenten fast, we think about ways that we can improve ourselves. We look inwards. We add prayer, we read the Bible, we talk to God, we take on a special diet, among other things. However, Lent is not only about our own personalities. It's about how we live with those around us. None of us are so far removed from the world that we do not interact with someone else (especially if you are reading this blog). Today's reading brings that point home. When we start to accuse others of anything, when we judge people of doing something wrong (especially in our eyes), then we start to bring a darkness around our lives. Rather than spending time with God, we distance ourselves. Rather than walking in the light, we fall behind, running towards the darkness. That's not what we want.<br />
<br />
Now, the verses above are talking about literal things, but we can read deeper into them. It's not just the pointing of the finger or the speaking of evil that keeps us in the darkness. It's the negative thoughts. It's the jealousy. It's the anger that boils up inside of you. Instead, we should be trying to resolve these issues. One of the easiest ways of dealing with this is by leaving everything to God. We need to practice loving each other rather than dividing ourselves. When we listen, when we talk, we can learn more about each other and learn to live in harmony. It's a way for us not to get too stressed or concerned with those around us. God will deal with that.<br />
<br />
The latter words about giving to the hungry and the needy are also things that we can take more deeply. Of course, it is always good to volunteer at the food banks and donate to charities. There are countless ways for us to donate our times. However, sometimes we will go out of our way to mend relations with people we don't know rather than resolving issues that are around us. Maybe we don't get along with that one person who used to be our friend. Maybe a political argument went astray. Maybe we haven't spoken to someone for a very long time. These can be the people that are needy as well. We should take the time during Lent to mend our relationships with those around us. Lent is not supposed to be easy, but hopefully we will be purified throughout the journey. Let's pray that we will be ready for our ministry after our fast.Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-83542770113413473182018-02-15T21:01:00.000-08:002018-02-15T21:01:19.792-08:00Lent, Day 2: Following Truth<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows away." Psalm 1:4</blockquote>
I have to admit, I haven't really liked reading Psalm 1. I guess that comes from the fact that it starts with a beatitude about following God. The whole Bible could be said to be about this message, so to read it just feels like hearing a broken record. However, just as what happens when we read the Bible over time, a different verse jumped out to me: they are like chaff which the wind blows away. It spoke to me today because of what it implies.<br />
<br />
Jesus taught us that the main message of the Gospel is love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Love yourself. That's the Gospel. That is the truth. Love. When we walk in the ways of the Lord, we walk in love. When we follow God, we follow love. We show love to others when we live righteously.<br />
<br />
So then, the flip side of that is whatever isn't righteous, whatever isn't love. And, it becomes more apparent with this verse. You cannot root yourself without love. When you start to discriminate, you make things very difficult for yourself. You can no longer stand. When you spew hate, you just start allowing for yourself to be taken by others. Soon, that hate will grow into worse things. It becomes habit. It becomes distance. It becomes everything that separates you from your neighbor. It separates you from God. It becomes sin.<br />
<br />
And so, when we are trying to find the best way to live life, the best way to make the world a better place, there is only one answer: love. Love will keep us strong in the midst of our challenges. Love will conquer all that is wrong. Love will protect us while everything is crashing down on us. Love will help you push forward when things seem impossible. Love is Truth.<br />
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-21177602896160342072018-02-14T22:12:00.000-08:002018-02-14T22:12:16.193-08:00Ash Wednesday: Being Real<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward." Matthew 6:2</blockquote>
This has to be the most important message of Lent. Each time I come across this verse, I think about how much this message applies to today. There are so many people out there that will just say a lot but not actually do things. Heck, even I do that from time to time. But, Jesus is very clear in this sermon, which is today's reading for Ash Wednesday. He gives an example of what authentic worship is after showing what not to do.<br />
<br />
Today's message is more than just about our personal relationship with God. In each one of the admonitions by Jesus, there is the greater public involved. If you sound a trumpet, you get people's attention. If you stand on the corners and shout prayers, others will hear you. If you look dismal, you are seen by others to be that way. Today, I see these things happening not only out in public, but also in our social media. I see countless posts, articles, critiques, videos, blogs telling us exactly how to live. These messages tell others which body type is correct, which church is right, which theory accommodates everybody, which people should be around which people. Many times, I read these things from people who are not even in situations where they would know what to say. Bystanders narrate what should happen in schools, even dictating the roles of each staff member.<br />
<br />
In the end, by being inauthentic with words, people start to make an echo chamber for their ideas, starting with something plausible, but ending with something that is so convoluted and impossible. The same thing can happen with our spiritual lives. When we just talk a lot, when we just do the motions, when we post the #blessed or other tags, we lose ourselves to our words. Rather than better ourselves, we bog ourselves down with more and more words.<br />
<br />
Lent is a time for us to dig out of the mess that we can create around ourselves. Lent is a time for us to follow Jesus in our real, plain selves. Jesus did not ask for us to come forward dressed in a wig, spandex, and heels (although I'm sure he'd be fine with that, too). Jesus just tells us to live authentically. When we make the good news become our truth, when we put our actions where our words are, when we are real, we will find Jesus.<br />
<br />
I hope that everybody has a blessed Lent.<br />
<br />Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-68296693674906220442016-08-09T17:47:00.004-07:002016-08-09T17:47:39.856-07:00Day 164: Trusting Patiently<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40</blockquote>
Don't we all need to remember this message more?<br />
<br />
It is so easy for us to turn to fear whenever things in our lives get tough. When we are out of a job, or if we are facing some conflicts with our families or friends, we might try to go straight to stressing out about the situation and fearing for the future. Rather than comforting ourselves, our response only serves to harm us more. We end up turning away from our faith and even downright cursing God whenever we start to rely on fear.<br />
<br />
I'm certain that we all enjoy having instant results for everything we do (just look at where our feats of technology have brought us in that regard). However, when we live our lives with such a fast pace, we start to think that everything should be moving quickly; or, conversely, we think that things that take time are faulty. Just taking a look at practically any passage from the books of Samuel, Kings, or Chronicles will show how the nations of Israel and Judah were struggling with that. When things didn't go quickly for them, they turned away from God and went to other idols. In the same way, we will start to turn to idols. We will start to throw money at our problems as if that will save us.<br />
<br />
But Jesus has told us time and again, <i>if you would believe you would see the glory of God.</i> How many times have there been miracles in your life? I can count so many. I was born into a family that supports me in all my endeavors. My family loves me for who I am. I have great friends in my life. I have been supported throughout my school and as I transition into having a full-time job. God has provided so much for me, and I witness God's glory in every aspect of my life. When I start to fear or turn away, it is because I no longer want to see God in every situation. Rather than trusting in God, I would rather trust in other things. But God is the only one who will set things straight in my life. When we believe, we see the glory of God all over our lives.Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-66261535965699912962016-08-08T13:20:00.000-07:002016-08-08T13:20:04.452-07:00Day 163: God's Control<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." John 11:4</blockquote>
Here's a message that we need to hear in every struggle in our lives.<br />
<br />
One thing about illness is that it always brings about the prospect of death. As soon as we hear about any ailment, be it cancer or a boil, we start to think about death and what it means to us. We might start to think about what will happen to our family and friends when we depart. We might think about our own faith, <i>is there life after death? Does death hurt?</i> Now, John is not explicit about the illness that Lazarus had, but it definitely was something that assured his family and friends that his death was eminent. As a way to reassure Martha and Mary, Jesus tells them the above quote.<br />
<br />
For me, death is a rude idea because it means that everything comes to an end, whether things are finished or not. Taking this into consideration, I can think about how to apply Jesus' reassurance to other aspects of my life. As I grow up, I see that things start to settle into routines. I have observed different people among my family and friends who have jobs that they stick with for so long, doing the same things every day. I find people doing the exact same exercises, never gaining or losing weight. I see people playing instruments but never seeming to get better or worse. I find many people looking at things that must have been their dreams at first and finding those same great feats to become mundane and even annoying or boring.<br />
<br />
Anytime that I read through the Gospels, I quickly realize that Jesus was not one for stagnant routines. Jesus calls us to take up our things and continue to work preaching the Gospel. Jesus demonstrated this by being on the move, never settling in one place, and working constantly. In the same way, we have to be prepared to continue on with our lives, learning new things, going into new environments to preach the Gospel. The reassurance we need for these situations is that Jesus is going to be glorified in everything that we do, so long as we believe.<br />
<br />
Taking on a new job or learning something new, or going through a new struggle is something that we will face, and it will be frightening. However, when we know that God is in control, we will succeed, for God will be glorified through our courage.Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-11939730214987579832016-07-22T12:28:00.001-07:002016-07-22T12:28:53.528-07:00Day 162: Knowing God's Voice<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." John 10:27-28</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">This is a message of reassurance, and I am sure that many of us need this message this very day.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">This reassurance comes with instructions, though, and we cannot avoid those instructions. Jesus says</span><i style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> My sheep hear My voice...and they follow Me.</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> Easy enough, isn't it? When I was in grade school, as soon as the bell rang, I knew it was time to change classes. I followed the sound of the bell. Following Jesus should be just as easy, right? Of course it can be that easy! </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">We </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">just have to make it easier for ourselves.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">As I'm on the way to the Viola da Gamba Society of America Conclave, I remember when I was at another historical music festival a few years ago, the Texas Toot. I took a lesson with a professional, and I played in an ornate way that I thought was impressive. She replied, however, that what I had done was not in good taste. It was good playing, but not tasteful. From then, I sought to understand what good taste in Baroque music was, and I feel now, especially after receiving guidance from many teachers and performers, that I have somewhat of a sense for this good taste.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">What did it take? Well, it took, and still takes, lots of listening. I listen to many different artists and many different pieces to understand what is going on. I read countless pages by teachers of the time period and modern commentators just to get a sense about the style of music from back then. I have sifted through many </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">do nots</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"> just to start doing. Any profession will require this sort of dedication, and we all have a certain calling that we pursue with all our time and attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">However, the good news is that we have a simple way of getting in touch with God. We have the Bible with many quotes from great people and from God. We can only understand the sound of God's voice when we surround ourselves with God's voice. We can get a sense for it by sitting in church, where we all hear the word of God being read to us. Even easier is just to grab a Bible and start reading. Nowadays, we have an even easier step: listen to an audio Bible. When we get connected with the Bible, we start to understand that God is calling us constantly. We will learn that God reassures us more than scares us. Rather than listen to the loud voices that are trying to scare us into voting one way or another, to scare us into killing ourselves, to scare us into killing and hating all those around us, we will find comfort in all that Jesus has to say. Jesus tells us that times will be tough, but he reassures us so many times more than just telling us to be afraid. As Christians, we are called to be brave and bold in all our tough situations. We shall know God's voice, and we shall receive eternal life.</span>Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-88736066489762141342016-07-01T14:06:00.000-07:002016-07-01T14:06:26.059-07:00Day 161: Following the Prime Example<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:1-3</blockquote>
This passage spoke to me while I was reading today.<br />
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It made me think about all the different scams that we encounter these days. It reminded me about the adage: it's too good to be true. Just at its base value, the above passage can be applied to almost everything in life. When we take shortcuts, we will not get what we want. When we steal and lie to get to a position of power, the people under us aren't going to listen.<br />
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As I read further, I started thinking about how this passage applies to our churches today. It reminded me of the fact that a life of faith isn't meant to be easy. It's not about self-harm, but at the same time, it's not going to be a walk in the park. But, at the same time, we have many out there who preach that everything is going to be easy, that to have money is to be blessed and to be poor is to be cursed. There are some who have continued the rude tradition of preaching that to be sick or to be disabled in any way is to be cursed by God for any number of reasons. Once again, the above passage shows us that it's not about breaking through the window or going through the open back door that will bring us to salvation; it's finding our way to the door that will.<br />
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Again, I realized another important fact by reading this above passage: we have a savior who is our true shepherd. For the longest time, I didn't feel much whenever people would repeat the phrase, "Jesus is the good shepherd." What does that have to do with me? I certainly don't work on a farm, and I don't see myself doing that anytime soon. Even more, nobody would care to explain that to me. I'd just hear that same phrase over and over again. In my reading today, I learned that Jesus is our good shepherd not because he rules over us and oppresses us with his supreme authority but because he has gone through everything that we will face in life, and he continues to go through all of that with us today, <i>right now. </i>This passage is a great explanation because it uses a metaphor that is so good for us. Jesus, the shepherd, walks through the same door that we walk through. Jesus walks with us. Rather than just appearing out of nowhere in the sheepfold, Jesus walks the same way we do, and he leads us. It's up to us if we want to follow the person who has gone through that door and knows what lies beyond or the ones who just appear there for a moment and then jump the fence to escape.Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-17899926535235207712016-06-19T18:32:00.003-07:002016-06-19T18:32:42.508-07:00Day 160: Guidance<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains." John 9:41</blockquote>
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I find that the use of blindness as a metaphor is quite harsh.</div>
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We have other metaphors in the Gospels that are much easier to understand. We are sheep that are not too good at living on our own, but we can be led in a direction and can be taught. We are children who are innocent and willing to learn. We are salt to give good flavor to the bland world. We are light to illuminate the darkness. But, are we blind?</div>
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I have to wonder, does blind in the New Testament mean not being able to see anything at all, or does that mean to be just visually impaired (nearsighted/farsighted)? The metaphor would be easier for me to grasp if the latter because I have to wear glasses in order to see well. At the same time, though, am I just being so prideful that I need to say that I can see?</div>
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I interpret Jesus' saying above as being against judgment. We as humans have no right to take God's place and exercise judgment on the world. When we judge, we claim to be seeing while we ourselves are blind. After taking that into account, I can start to understand that blindness in this sense truly is blindness, where we cannot see a single thing no matter how hard we try or how thick of lenses we wear. This makes Jesus' power that much more glorious, though, for Jesus not only teaches us, but he also transforms us.</div>
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As I consider blindness more and more, I think all about our stumbling around in the world without direction or help. When we wander around, we will find it very difficult to get anywhere. So, why should we take it upon ourselves to cast judgment on all of those around us? Can we really lead others without Jesus? Do we even know where we're going? We can sure try to get around, but then, what if there's a hole right in front of us that we can't even feel our way out of? What if there's somebody chasing after us? A car? That's what this world is to us. There are so many unknowns, and we can't just wander around without any direction or guidance.</div>
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The most important fact for us to consider is the fact that we are truly blind. We need Jesus to guide us through all the difficult places. We need that strong hand to guide us at all times of the day, not just during the daytime. We need someone who won't abandon us, and that's what Jesus is here for. When we acknowledge that we need Jesus, Jesus will start walking beside us and in front of us. With Jesus, we will find ourselves walking in infinite grace.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-88551152043603243142016-06-16T10:50:00.001-07:002016-06-16T10:50:43.134-07:00Day 159: Who Sinned?<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." John 9:2-3</blockquote>
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Jesus has told us the same things in many different ways, yet we still fail to accept the message.</div>
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This above passage talks about judging. We are called not to judge. We should accept this as the end of the story, but we always want more. At least, the actions that I observe both around me and even in me show that we all want more. We want a better explanation on how not to judge. We want things to be made plain and simple enough. Or so we say.</div>
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In this event, Jesus adds an important detail: our judging prevents us from seeing the works of God. When we judge, we start to place ourselves on a pedestal constructed of pride. In fact, we attempt to build a throne that equals God's with our own pride. However, we end up being the blind people whenever we do so.</div>
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Whenever we decide to judge, we put our minds and our whole bodies' resources into judging rather than helping and loving. The disciples, rather than trying to heal the blind or help him at the very least, decide to judge, forgetting everything else that they had been taught. In the same way, we abandon everything good, everything loving, when we focus our attention on judging. Rather than going out and helping others, we end up hurting both ourselves and those in need. Whenever we don't show love to those in need, we divide the Kingdom of God and destroy it. That's not what we are called to do.</div>
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We are called to unite. We are called to love. We are called to be God's Kingdom on earth.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-62220733700344442742016-06-15T14:28:00.000-07:002016-06-15T14:28:08.573-07:00Day 158: Active Faith<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not like his father and mother, for he removed the sacred pillars of Baal his father built. But still he persisted in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not depart from it." 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 3:2-3</blockquote>
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I don't know why I don't see passages like this used to explain how faith and actions work.</div>
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This passage shows that faith isn't just about a one time confession, and it also shows that one action doesn't make a person faithful. Perhaps another example I can think of is how the gym works. I can go to the gym every single day but not do exercise. Of course, there's the simplest explanation: I just walk in and talk on the phone or to others the whole time rather than exercise. There is, though, another, and that is I can go into a gym and do exercises, but I might not be doing them correctly or in a constructive/productive manner. One can spend hours in the gym and come out no different or worse, even.</div>
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In the same way, we can walk into church and come out unchanged. We can go through the motions and not engage with God. I see this with many musicians who work in churches. I know many people who do church music just to perform and/or just to get a check. Those people can spend hours upon hours either in the church for rehearsals or even just with the music and still come out not having taken a single word to heart. King Jehoram is an example of this apathy to faith. He removed the idols in Israel, but was still evil. If this took place today, I'm sure many of us would accuse him of having done so just as a publicity stunt.</div>
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As Christians, we are called to action at every moment, and our goal is the same one as always: show love to all of those who need it. Jesus came into the world to show us love, and he has called all of us to show that same unconditional love to each person. We can't just live our life on the sidelines. We need to be active in our faith to love. </div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-86673255325089873542016-06-14T17:05:00.001-07:002016-06-14T17:05:50.855-07:00Day 157: Witnessing God<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also." John 8:19</blockquote>
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Although this response is quite negative and condemning of the Pharisees, it's a great revelation to us as Christians.</div>
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I have just finished reading <i>From Sin to Amazing Grace</i> by Dr. Patrick Cheng and have been starting to take many of his ideas into my own understanding of the scriptures. One of the things that Dr. Cheng writes about is the Out Christ, who serves as our revelation of the Godhead. The Old Testament God is difficult to understand many times, and that particular manifestation of God was never seen face to face. Jesus, on the other hand, came down to earth so that we can see God face to face and live (I love that song, "Come O thou traveler unknown"). In one sense, God came out of the heavenly closet in the form of Jesus Christ.</div>
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And this is where things are important with the above response. The Pharisees refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah for many reasons, but none of them explained away their intentions. They hated Jesus. And Jesus was honest (if not blunt) with them. He told them like it was. What Jesus told them is what he tells us all, that God is love. We are being called every day by God to show our love for one another. That's where our understanding can get to be difficult.</div>
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God will never be what we envision. God is so amazing, so transcendent, so great that we can never truly fathom or comprehend God. Yet, we don't need to be doing that. Despite the fact that we as humans are creatures of patterns and habits, we don't have a need to be putting God into a box or a drawing or a writing. God's love transcends all of that. What's even better is that we have all that we need in order to understand right in front of us. Jesus has spoken to us in so many different ways to explain all that we need to know. When we read the Gospel, we will come to understand love just a little bit more.</div>
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Yes, Jesus might make us uncomfortable because he calls us to come out of our closets made of prejudices and selfish pride, but to come out and embrace love is so much better! When we make that step to receive and internalize love, we will see that the world all around us will become a better place. When we learn to embrace one another, seeing the image of God in each person, we will be able to see God and know God better than we ever have.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-29843443616823330522016-06-13T14:16:00.000-07:002016-06-13T14:16:47.115-07:00Day 156: Putting down the Stones<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." John 8:7</blockquote>
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I always find this story to be one of the most intense in the bible.</div>
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I'm sure there are many LGBT people who have heard this same accusation placed on them, that "the sin for this punishment is death by stoning." The idea of stoning to death is so heavy for me as a gay man, and it's something that I fear every day I live. I fear that my expression of who I am is threatening my very existence here in the United States. We can talk all about those other countries, the ones where they speak differently, believe differently, and look differently and how they have so much intolerance, but I find much of that hatred to be mainstream here in a country I'm sometimes reluctant to call home. On top of there being this sort of animosity from the outside, I also feel uncomfortable (although not as much as to fear for my life) among people that I would love to call family: gay brothers and sisters, transgendered, non-binaries, people who don't <i>fit in</i> with the rest of the mainstream culture. Yes, as a Christian, I have felt much animosity, such as the questions, "Why do you associate with them?" or, "Why do you pray to their God?" or, "Isn't that just contradictory?"</div>
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I feel pelted, at the very least, by pieces of gravel on a constant basis. Sure, I'm not being killed nor tortured physically, and I pray that I never will be. Yet, I find the contradictions to be the same from two (supposedly opposing) sides:<i> love is all, unless you're different.</i></div>
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If we look to the beginnings of Christianity, we find ourselves a man who was radical and odd. He opposed the teachings of the day, challenging the highest teachers. In fact, he would end up teaching them, and many would even be foolish enough (seemingly, at least) to follow after him. He claimed to know more than all the teachers from before - a man who doesn't even seem to have left us a written book. Yet, his message was the same: love one another. Jesus teaches us every day that we need to love one another as he loves us. He teaches us that we need to be there for all those in need, not just the ones who look and act as you do. He teaches us that we need to build up a community with love at the center.</div>
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As I have been getting more familiar and involved with the LGBT community, I have learned a few mantras that keep the community together, and the biggest one is: love. Yet, on the inside, I feel that many of those in the community have forgotten the first days of our revolution, the riots at Stonewall Inn. Trans women cried for all of us to love one another without judgment. But, today, gay Christians cannot be trusted nor respected. The color of your skin determines where you belong, whether top or bottom, masculine or feminine, skinny or fat, young or old. I find that our own community is hurling stones towards one another rather than making the world a better, more welcoming place.</div>
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This change, of course, doesn't happen instantaneously. In the story above, the people leave gradually, not all at once. I wonder how long the departure must have taken. How awkward was the situation? Where was the pile of stones? We may never know, but we do know that love prevailed in the end. Loving unconditionally requires each one of us to reexamine our lives, figuring out what things we have learned and/or taught ourselves are harmful to our community. It's only whenever we get rid of all those prejudices that we actually start to build up a meaningful community. When we focus our lives on love and not on judgment we start to forge strong relationships with one another, for those are manifestations of our love that we have.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-38619908304175362782016-06-12T12:18:00.001-07:002016-06-12T12:18:53.717-07:00Day 155: Living Waters<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38</blockquote>
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I feel like these days there are people who are walking around with earplugs when they go to church or listen to the Gospel.</div>
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While we are in the midst of praising God and proclaiming God's name, Jesus invites us to come and drink. The next part of the invitation is key, though. Those who come to Jesus to drink will themselves become fountains of living water.</div>
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Of course, when we read this statement, we need a definition. What are living waters? John gives us a good answer, saying that this is the Holy Spirit. But even then, we can have issues with understanding this because of the fact that we might not know what the Holy Spirit is.</div>
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When we think of the Spirit, we should always remember the breath of life, for spirit and breath are one and the same word in Greek and Hebrew. And the Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of life. And what is life? Life can be anything that we make of it, but Jesus has been clear from the beginning that eternal life comes from our faith in him. Therefore, life is following Jesus.</div>
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So, if we are coming to Jesus for a drink, should our fountain of living water look like an outpouring of judgment based on the law of Moses? Certainly not! As Paul has said, the law reveals death. Jesus, on the other hand, shows us life. Jesus, the preacher and manifestation of love, is life. We cannot forget that fact. Jesus is the fulfillment of everything we do. All of our worship, all our prayers, our reading, our preaching, our listening, our learning, our understanding points to Jesus. Everything points to God's unconditional love for us.</div>
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When we go to Jesus for a drink of water, we will begin our transformation, much like a detox diet. We will start to drink of this life giving water which will cleanse us both inside and out. Then, through our transformation, we will start to become a fountain of love. We will know that we are drinking of this fountain, for that will be when we are showing our love forth throughout all of the pain and suffering that exists in the world. As Christians, we can only claim to be followers of Jesus Christ if we are becoming fountains of Jesus' love. Otherwise, we are just pedants, proclaiming and sealing ourselves in hatred that closes in on us until we die both in body and spirit. We need the Holy Spirit. We need life. We need love. </div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-52116006925120162802016-06-10T17:02:00.002-07:002016-06-10T17:02:58.812-07:00Day 154: Using the Light of God<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths." Psalm 118:105 (119:105)</blockquote>
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This is an important message that many of us prefer to ignore.</div>
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I will admit, the bible as a whole is pretty scary. There are so many books, and there are so many versions (even in the original languages). There are so many different authors, so many different theories and interpretations, and so many words. The book is quite heavy to hold, not only in physical weight but also in terms of ideas.</div>
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It's a testament of God's word revealed to people over a long expanse of time. It is also a reflection of which people thought which books were important enough to consider truly sacred versus apocryphal or heretical. In it, we can find a constant thread of meaning, expounding upon God's love in its many manifestations.</div>
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This metaphor of light is important for us to consider, for it suggests much more than just illumination. When I think about a light for a specific purpose, I think of the many lights in our lives that have directions: flashlights, headlights, camera flashes, lamps. These all have a light source, but then they are directed and magnified by mirrors or other tools. The important thing about this, though, is that each of these lights serve their purpose, and they need to be put to that purpose specifically. When we use flashlights, we need to point them to wherever there is darkness. Headlights point directly ahead. Camera flashes are directed to wherever they need to go in order to make a picture more clear.</div>
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In the same way, we need to learn to use the bible. It is a bright light for the darkness that covers our lives. One caveat, though, is that we don't know where the darkness is in everybody else's lives. We can only point the light of the bible effectively towards wherever <i>we</i> need it to point. It will guide us as we walk closer to God. We need our light to be pointed forward always. We don't need it to be pointing left, right, or even behind us. We need it to be pointing us straight to God. When we put the bible, our light, for the purpose of revealing God's love in our lives, then we will find God on our paths.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-60233600213654978142016-06-09T13:05:00.000-07:002016-06-09T13:05:20.114-07:00Day 153: The Sweet, Good Words<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"Good words are a honeycomb, and their sweetness is a healing of the soul." Proverbs 16:22</blockquote>
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This metaphor is so full of imagery.</div>
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The honeycomb is something that represents many things, and in the wisdom literature of the bible, it represents God's word. Today, in my reading plan, I just so happened to read "How sweet to my taste are Your teachings, more than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth." (Psalm 118(119):103) And, whenever I come across this metaphor, I have to wonder, why is it used? I mean, in the developed world today, we have rampant obesity, especially in the United States, and sugars are a major cause (I would dare to say the leading cause). So why would God's word be like a sweet that spurs more lust than discipline?</div>
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To start, as I think about honey, I can't help but remember all of those "nature doctor" posts that make their rounds on Facebook, the ones that say that honey can cure any disease, even cancer. Perhaps honey was seen as something more medicinal in the biblical age, but, then, the metaphors talk more about the taste than the healing properties (although the verse I want to talk about has both).</div>
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What I think about the most for this metaphor, though, is that the honeycomb is a result of so much work. If you ever study or read things about bees, you'll come to know that they are hard workers. The hive is an intricate layout of a home for the queen and the larvae, so that there can be more bees. We have also come to rely on bees to pollinate our plants, which also help to nourish the bees. Yet, after all that hard work, the bees lose their honeycombs to whichever consumers are brave enough to extract them. Whoever ends up being able to take those honeycombs and extract honey from them has to face the bees. I know that I could never become a beekeeper for fear of getting stung even through protective wear. But, the end result is quite delicious.</div>
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In the same way, many wise people have pondered over so many concepts. We have the fortune of having many words that have been dictated or said by God in our bibles, and we can continue to meditate and feast on them whenever we'd like. The best part of this is that we can be healed by all the good words that we read and learn. Whenever we learn all of the things that Jesus has taught us well, we will be healed. We will become better people. We will make the world around us even better, for the good words of Christ come down to one command: love.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-81556008652987771352016-06-07T23:34:00.000-07:002016-06-07T23:34:11.149-07:00Day 152: The Real Deal<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven - not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." John 6:57-58</blockquote>
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As Jesus explains the concept of feeding on him, the imagery becomes more poignant.</div>
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Aside from the direct command to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood (which is quite shocking enough in itself), he also begins to draw the connection to the consuming of manna in the wilderness. And, when he describes that, he says that all of their ancestors died regardless. That's quite harsh.</div>
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The thing is, though, that the manna was given to the Israelites almost as a concession. The Israelites were complaining to Moses about being in the desert, so God sends down manna for them to eat. And, although they ate the manna, they continued to complain against God, and they even turned away from God.</div>
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But now, Jesus comes into the world on his own divine accord, offering us this heavenly bread of life. Jesus comes to us in peace, offering us this life, offering us his love. We have a choice. Either we can take the offer or leave it. When it's like that in plain words, it can seem ridiculous for us to turn it away, just as how the Israelites were ungrateful for food that had appeared miraculously in the middle of the desert.</div>
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Yet, we allow for many other things to get in the way and blind our view of Jesus. Rather than seeing Jesus' love for us, we start to see our own lives, which are marred by things such as doubt, pride, anger, and hatred. When we reexamine our lives, we start to think, in our pride, that we don't want to lower our guards. We don't want to give up our grudges to follow Jesus. Following Jesus means to leave our own lives behind, the lives that were defined by society and not so much by God. We've become so attached to our society-dictated lives that we think that anything that is simply divine is not real. We start to think that it's too good to be true. So, we feel comfortable pushing Jesus' hands aside.</div>
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We need to listen to Jesus in our lives, and that will only happen whenever we give Jesus our time. We need to pray in silence, where we hear neither the sounds of the outside world nor of our minds. We need to listen to God in our prayers and in our bible reading. We need to see Jesus before us. When we do that, we will be able to taste and see that the Lord is good. Of course, once we taste that perfection, we will never want to turn it away. We will forever feast on the good, life-giving bread.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-34853468711459609232016-06-07T12:32:00.003-07:002016-06-07T12:32:56.867-07:00Day 151: Feeding on the Word<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." John 6:27</blockquote>
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This is a great command, but it does require us to think a bit.</div>
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Of course, we need food to live. We get hungry and need to fulfill that need on a regular basis so that we can continue to be healthy. However, we can't let that pursuit take over our lives to the point we can't do anything else. When we devote our lives just to the pursuit of money, we begin to lose our soul. We no longer have the time to contemplate the beauty of God, and we start to turn towards other riches in order to fill up our spiritual hunger. We will turn to other speakers, other books, other gods, other idols, just to satiate our hunger for the moment.</div>
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So, Jesus is telling us to follow him at every moment so that we can continue to mature spiritually. We need to grow stronger by nourishing our souls with the good bread that comes from Jesus. And what is that bread, exactly? Well, to start, it is feasting on every word that Jesus proclaims, since he is, after all, the word incarnate. Now, that can seem to be quite a bit for us to do, since we would have an entire bible to keep up with, learning every single word. When I was pursuing my English degree in particular, I had to spend lots of time with the pieces of literature I had to discuss and/or write about. I had to make sure that I understood what the author/poet was communicating to me, and I had to be sure that I was aware of all the things that were going on, particularly with the language. This took quite a toll on my ability to focus on other things, particularly my music, which was my other degree I was pursuing simultaneously. I can't imagine how hard it must be to learn all of the bible well enough to say that one is full off the word.</div>
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But this is where the earthly and heavenly food come together. Just as Jesus united both the heavenly and the earthly through his incarnation, he does the same in his preaching. He has taught us all about the Kingdom of Heaven, and he has even told us what it's like. The neat thing is that it's something that we can bring about on earth, today, <i>right now</i>. When we dedicate our lives to following Jesus, we learn how to become more loving towards God and towards everybody that's around us. Each time that we learn to grow in this love, every piece of scripture will serve as a reinforcement rather than a new command. As we continue on our journey towards Jesus, we will be able to focus our whole lives towards him, not abandoning all of those around us. We will be the ones to prepare the world for the Kingdom of Heaven. By feeding on the word of Christ, we will be able to serve that same word to so many others, so that they can start joining us in the greater community of heaven on earth.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-30699611302941576092016-06-06T14:03:00.003-07:002016-06-06T14:03:45.518-07:00Day 150: Calming our Storms<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going." John 6:16-21</blockquote>
This is a story that works quite well as a metaphor for us today.<br />
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I can't imagine going out on a boat into the sea when it is dark, in an age with no electricity to produce flashlights or motors. Yet, that's what these disciples did, and it's apparent that it was dangerous, since the detail of darkness is included. Even more, the sea was an unexplored world, and it still is today, for the most part. So, anything could have sprung up in front of them. How scary!<br />
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At the same time, there is so much symbolism in this story. The hearers of Jesus wanted to take him and proclaim him as king, kind of the way how the Jews did in the past, against God's will, by proclaiming Adonijah as king rather than Solomon, who had been appointed. So Jesus went away from them because of their misunderstanding, and it even seems that the disciples went out to sea to look for him, continuing in their seemingly selfish ways. But, as their ways start to become like the sea that begins to rage, Jesus comes and meets them, walking on the water as if it were still. They were afraid, not recognizing his face or form, as if they'd never seen him before.<br />
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That's what Jesus does for us. Even though we stray from following him, letting our lives get so messed up that waves are about to break our firm ground and drown us, Jesus will come to us and make himself known. Jesus will remind us what our duties are as he calms the seas for us.<br />
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While the followers wanted to have somebody who would end up killing all of their oppressors, someone who would end up stirring up the waters and storms even more than they already were, Jesus came to change their views. We stray from Jesus when we turn to ways of hate, following the very evil that scares us. And as things get so terrible around us, Jesus will remind us that love is the way. Jesus, in his unconditional love and abounding mercy and forgiveness, will calm the storm, turning us from hate and bringing us to firm land, so that we can continue our journey spreading peace and love.Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8923539305648284631.post-22726110580087350482016-06-05T15:55:00.002-07:002016-06-05T15:58:06.015-07:00Day 149: Searching for Jesus<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." John 5:39-40</blockquote>
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This reprimand from Jesus is pretty harsh, but there is an important message that will bring us closer to him.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrk_6f8UrP5kesiJAOrrSmLuwUWcOghUQ3zMmyRPGBeaDJkLh7SKk7eqsYS2cHph8z1xTIC7M2B-NC7-6UgidmZRLjtn6PWK3vcUNOCNVX5W22q1HF7N9S-Jab0_0wGIE2K-N7KmKuSnV/s1600/corduacookbook3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrk_6f8UrP5kesiJAOrrSmLuwUWcOghUQ3zMmyRPGBeaDJkLh7SKk7eqsYS2cHph8z1xTIC7M2B-NC7-6UgidmZRLjtn6PWK3vcUNOCNVX5W22q1HF7N9S-Jab0_0wGIE2K-N7KmKuSnV/s320/corduacookbook3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A page from the <i>Cordúa </i>cookbook</td></tr>
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This reprimand reminds me of how cooking works. There are countless cookbooks in circulation. Even some high end restaurants will put out books full of their own recipes, some of which must seem to be secret. And they'll even be in plain sight, where somebody could turn to a specific page and take a picture and have the recipe, for free! But, no matter the number of resources available, there is still a thriving restaurant industry, and many restaurants that have their own recipes out there are still in business. Why is that?</div>
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Well, none of us are using those recipes! None of us are taking the time to actually cook them. Even worse, we don't even know how to do half of the things that are described in them. Blanch a chicken? Stir-fry? Julienne carrots? Sous vide cooking? If we learned how to do all of these things, we would no longer need cookbooks. We would be chefs, rendering both restaurants and cookbooks useless.</div>
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But that's where Jesus' reprimand comes in. We can comb through every single page of the bible, read every single commentary on the bible, learn about every single tradition, but we'd be nothing if we don't go to Jesus ourselves. The bible testifies of Jesus. We have so many things to learn about Jesus. And, all the scriptures point out a focal point of Jesus: Jesus is love. We have to love if we are going to follow Jesus. We can talk all we want about the bible, but if we don't put any of the words into practice, we're going to have to keep going back to the same chapters, the same verses, hoping that maybe another time we will learn ourselves. Our bible is our recipe, our instruction manual. And there is a lot in there! We might not be able to put every single thing into practice in our lifetime, but if we continue to put more and more of it into practice everyday, then maybe, just maybe, we will start getting closer to Jesus. It will be difficult, but Jesus has shown that every step of the way will be glorious. We will see miracles happen, we will see joy, we will see the Kingdom of God materializing in our midst. When we love, we will have the eternal life that is promised us by God.</div>
Ellis Monteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03854671896922980837noreply@blogger.com0