Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer

One who is forgiven the most responds the most

2013-06-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

The Gospel Reading for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Luke 7:36-8:3) is summarized in Jesus' words to Simon, his Pharisee host: "...her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love" (7:47). That is precisely what David says in Psalm 32 – which is also the alternate Psalm for this Sunday: "Happy are those whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt..."

Think of David's crimes in the First Reading. Then look at his confession in Psalm 51: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight..."

Even Ahab who "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him (1 Kings 16:30), and compared to no other "who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord...(and) behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols..." (1 Kings 21:25-26) had God's forgiveness when he repented (1 Kings 21:27-29).

Some people still find it difficult to find reconciliation between David's sins – especially with regard to Uriah's murder – and his place in history as the greatest king of Israel, and, lest we forget, the house from whom Jesus comes. Yet, that is precisely the point in these readings. It is about God, love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness – to be seen in God's perspective.

These surpass human understanding. In the Epistle Reading from Galatians 2:15-21 Paul says they come "not by doing the works of the law" but through Christ. He further says, "...it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me".

Tough to grasp and contemplate but we are called to imitate God, especially in our relationship with one another.

Justice and compassion and proclaiming God's truth without judgment

2013-06-13T11:35:00.001-07:00

The two alternate First Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost portray greed and injustice at their worst. King Ahab of Samaria – or northern kingdom of Israel – lusts after Naboth's ancestral piece of land on the edge of the Jezreel Valley (1 Kings 21:1-21). If you have seen the Jezreel Valley – the most spectacular and picturesque land in all of Israel – you will probably understand why Ahab lusted over Naboth's land.

But then, King Ahab put Naboth in an impossible situation because it was ancestral land, he could not simply transfer it to anybody, and Ahab knew it. Furthermore, he was the king. What he had was in abundance relative to poor Naboth's possession. Ahab's lust and injustice resulted in Naboth's murder, a worse crime than the contributing offenses.

There is a similar picture in the alternative reading from 2 Samuel 11:26-12:15. Here King David lusts after Uriah's wife, commits adultery, attempts to cover it up, and ends up committing murder, again a crime worse than the contributing offenses. Note too, that David was king, the most powerful man in his time and he had no business lusting after Bathsheba – even though the scripture says, "the woman was very beautiful" (2 Samuel 11:2)."

In the Collect we pray that the Church, "through God's grace may proclaim God's truth with boldness and minister justice with compassion".

Perhaps the greatest challenge the church is facing today is discerning God's truth in our ever-changing society. Social issues continue to divide the church as different voices believe theirs represent God's truth. Some even look at contemporary social issues in the light of Ahab and David's deviations from God's truth.

The dilemma is between justice and compassion; and while the former, for humans, often leads to judgment, the Collect invokes faith, love and compassion for the church.

There is more on this, next.

Unconditional service or strings attached?

2013-06-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

In our discussion of God's sovereignty, protection and provision for all – especially the needy and the least in society – we ended with the observation that Elijah was active in the Zarephath and Sidon (Phoenician) region or what is today Lebanon; in a foreign land. Similarly, the widow whose son Jesus raised from the dead was from Nain in today's Shomron, or Samaria, also foreign territory.

There is a huge challenge for us here, to examine how we relate to those outside our borders or boundaries. People of faith, and especially Christians, affirm that we are obliged to help those in need. Indeed, we excel in doing that. Nevertheless, how we do it and the motivation, are perhaps even more important than the doing itself.

Consider the following, real illustration:

For many years, a rescue mission has served breakfast and dinner to the poor and needy, every single day of the year. Most of this ministry is borne by volunteers who give their time and resources to serve the needs of the hungry.

Over the years, before dinner or breakfast, the guests assembled in the chapel for 30-45 minutes where a pastor or preacher gave a sermon. 95% or more of the guests did not listen or hear the sermon because they were hungry, tired, sleepy or simply not there for a sermon. The mission eventually decided that dinner would be served first, then chapel time to follow thereafter. In other words, the guests were given a choice regarding chapel time.

Some of the pastors and preachers decided to withdraw their help because "the gospel was being compromised" - in their words. It is as if they were saying to the hungry, "we will give you something to eat but first you must hear the gospel message".

That is the question we ask ourselves today: How do we help those we help and how do we serve those we serve? Are there per-conditions or strings attached or are we doing what we are called to do unconditionally? Think of our foreign policy too, as a nation. Are there some accompaniments that go with foreign aid?

God's sovereignty has no boundaries

2013-06-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Lessons for the Third Sunday after Pentecost continue from last Sunday's reading. Last Sunday we saw God's sovereignty over kings and rulers. There were the stories of King Ahab and King Solomon in the Hebrew Bible readings and the Roman centurion in Capernaum, in the Gospel Reading. All were shown to be under God's sovereignty.

In this Sunday's First Reading from 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) there is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, one of the most familiar stories in the bible. A widow in the bible lies on the opposite scale of a king or a ruler. It is the lowest position in society. Widows, orphans, strangers, the infirm, are the weakest and most vulnerable in society.

Then there is also the story of nature woven into the account. There is a drought, a calamity, because it brings about hunger. Add to that, death. A widow, without a husband, is dependent on her son. Take away the son and it is the end of life for the widow. The widow of Zarephath, already in a precarious position, also has famine and hunger to deal with, then the death of her only source of support.

Yet, she is not without help. That is the thrust of the story in the First Reading. The Psalm for the day (Psalm 146) reinforces that where it says, "Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;...Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; the Lord cares for the stranger; he sustains the orphan and widow..."

Indeed those words of the psalmist summarize the story in the First Reading.

The Gospel Reading (Luke 7:11-17) is a replay of the First. Indeed, the crowd that witnessed the Lord's miraculous raising of the son of the widow of Nain could recall the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath.

Thus, what we see in these lessons is the Lord's sovereignty over kings and rulers, over nature and its forces, including death; and the Lord's care and protection for the least and the most vulnerable in society.

One more thing: Zarephath and Sidon were in Phoenicia, in present-day Lebanon. Nain, about 20 miles south west of Capernaum is in today's Shomron – or Samaria – today's West Bank. So, these are stories about the Lord's dealing with strangers.

Follow the discussion next.

Pluralism, syncretism and institutionalized idolatry are as challenging today as in the days of Ahab

2013-05-31T07:21:00.007-07:00

The lessons for the Second Sunday after Pentecost raise some questions and challenges about pluralism, syncretism and institutionalized idolatry.

To begin with, pluralism, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, is 'a condition of society in which numerous distinct ethnic, religious, or cultural groups coexist'. Syncretism is defined as 'the attempt or tendency to combine or reconcile differing beliefs, as in philosophy or religion'.

Institutionalized idolatry is best illustrated in the First Reading from 1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39.
Because of his wife Jezebel's strong influence, King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel led his people into the idolatry of Baal worship. 1Kings 16:30-31 says, "Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him...He also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him".
Rulers like kings, and leaders in general, provide a moral compass for those they lead. The people of Israel strayed away from the Lord because of Ahab's leadership.
Earlier, in 1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43, which is the alternate First Reading for this Sunday, King Solomon had dedicated the temple he built for the Lord. 1 Kings 8:22-53 is the most inspirational dedication service in the whole bible. In its conclusion, Solomon "rose from before the altar of the Lord where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven...and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: 'Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised"

Here are, therefore, two pictures of two different kings and two different leadership directions. The first typifies syncretism. In the opposite picture, Solomon prays: "Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name – for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm – when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built".

Simply put, in our own day, how do we distinguish between Baal worship and worshiping the Lord? Think of power, prestige, recognition, materialism (and consumerism).

Pluralism is probably even more challenging. Solomon prayed for the inclusion of the stranger. In the Gospel Reading too, from Luke 7:1-10, Jesus ministered to a Roman military leader, who, in turn had built a synagogue for the Jews. It is a picture of our own pluralistic society. Add to that our desire for free thinking, free from dogmas, free from conformity.

One can argue that there are two different issues involved here: Service to the whole world on the one hand, and our faithfulness to Jesus Christ and even inviting others into this faithfulness, on the other. Indeed, the Epistle Reading from Galatians 1:1-12 stresses the one gospel of Christ.

We would emphasize too, that the ultimate goal of all our endeavors and thinking ought to be the glory of God. In the words of Psalm 96, "Declare God's glory among the nations and God's wonders among all peoples...Ascribe to the Lord honor and power. Ascribe to the Lord the honor due to the Lord's Name".

Transformation in practice

2013-05-26T08:24:00.001-07:00

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Christine Kloser, "The Transformation Catalyst" is a transformational book coach, spiritual guide and award-winning author whose spot-on guidance transforms the lives of visionary entrepreneurs and authors around the world. Her life-changing work is endorsed by many of today's leading transformational authors, including: Neale Donald Walsch, Lisa Nichols, Sonia Choquette, Gay Hendricks, and more - and has appeared in media such as the Los Angeles Times, Entrepreneur, FOX News, Forbes.com, and PUBLISHED! Magazine. Her books and publications have also received numerous awards including the Nautilus Book Silver Award, Pinnacle Book Award, eLit Award, National Best Books Award, and the Apex Award for Publication Excellence.

A men's book club is also be possible

2013-05-10T11:36:00.002-07:00

In his introduction to the May/June/July 2013 Forward Day by Day, Scott Gunn, the Executive Director of the Forward Movement, makes the following observation: "In many congregations, there are regular readers of Forward Day by Day, though I have discovered that too often people who are practicing this daily discipline do not know one another". He continues: "I wonder how our church might be enriched if more people shared their faith journeys – the successes and the challenges – with one another".

Indeed, the best way to share faith journeys is in groups, especially interest groups. Think of a men's book club, for example. It is not quite an audacious or wishful thinking – such clubs do exist.

Christ Church Cathedral already has a men's and a women's Bible Study groups. There is plenty of room for other interest groups. How about a men's coffee and discussion group? What about a prayer and breakfast group? Actually these are some ideas that some people have considered. They can be transformed into concrete plans and actualized.

Scott Gunn suggests finding "other readers of Forward Day by Day and share your journey with them". Indeed, this could be the beginning of an interest group and fellowship in faith. It is important to note that this journey of faith is not meant to be a lonely experience. It is easier, joyful and enriching when in fellowship.

Those who appreciate the benefits of fellowship may want to start by connecting with one another through Forward Day by Day and taking it from there. Remember the Chinese saying: A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

Whose voice do you hear?

2013-04-19T10:45:00.001-07:00

The lessons for this Fourth Sunday of Easter focus on the Good Shepherd. Last week we saw Jesus calling Peter – and the other disciples – to "tend" and "feed" the flock. In this Sunday's Gospel Reading (John 10:22-30) Jesus, the Good Shepherd says, "My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life..."

This is in perfect harmony with this Sunday's psalm – that most familiar and popular Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters".

Similarly, in the Second Reading from Revelation 7:9-17 we read as follows: "And the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger not more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any searching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes".

All these are consoling words, especially at this time and in this month of April which has been full of drama, violence, tragedy, heart-breaks and sorrow.

The question that these readings raise is this: "Whose voice do you hear?" Not just hearing but which voice do you heed? Remember, there are many voices and from many sources, vying for attention. It is critical that we hear and heed the right voice.

I am reminded of an illustration made by Charles Swindoll in one of his books. He narrates how in military training there are usually several platoons training simultaneously in the same ground. There are therefore several instructions coming from different drill instructors at the same time. In such a situation, it is essential that a recruit learn to recognize his or her instructor's voice.

So, who is your drill instructor and whose voice do you hear?

Always Strive to be Better

2012-07-20T11:04:00.001-07:00

This is the eighth in the list of 10 Commandments for Happiness – not chronologically by rank but numerically. Striving to be better involves improvement and change.

An anonymous author wrote, "The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement". Another wrote, "The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself". We have already noted that happiness comes from giving or contributing to someone or something beyond oneself.

We are told that the human brain is capable of holding one thousand terabytes of data, roughly 100 times the capacity of the U.S. Library of Congress. Thus the human brain's capacity for learning more and improvement is almost beyond imagination.

Improvement also means growth, and moving beyond one's present station is a source of happiness. That is what C.R. Lawton meant in this quotation: "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow".

We can therefore summarize by saying, self-improvement, growth and change, all contribute to happiness and they are interconnected. A final quotation from Les Brown: "You cannot expect to achieve new goals or move beyond your present circumstances unless you change".

Treat others the way you would like to be treated

2012-07-19T11:34:00.001-07:00

You can hardly find happiness if you are not involved in others' happiness. Look at every faith tradition and you will discover that they all emphasize compassion. Compassion is a lot more than simply pity or feeling sorry for another person.

Essentially, compassion is feeling what the other person feels. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are..." (Romans 12:15-16).

There is a desire for compassion in every human being. Being compassionate with others leads them to be compassionate with us. Conversely, treating others with contempt prompts them to treat us with contempt.

Happiness is a two-way street: give it; you will receive it. Withhold it; you will be miserable. Essentially, that is what it means to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Next, we will look at the remaining 2 of the 10 Commandments for Happiness
　

The Road to the London Olympics

2012-07-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

After the close of the impressive 2012 World Choir Games, the people of Cincinnati can now turn their full attention to the upcoming London Olympics which open on July 27, 2012.

For the first time, women in the U.S team outnumber men 269 to 261

One of the women, the prospective – or even, the projected – first ever U.S gold medalist in Judo, has roots in Cincinnati. Not only that; Kayla Harrison, a Middletown native, has a life story that is pure inspiration as an example of one who overcomes affliction to emerge out a star.

It is fair to say that, even before London, Kayla Harrison is role model and a teacher to many. In 2004, when she was only 13, she was sexually abused by her judo trainer, and a sexual relationship continued for three years. It is devastating at such a tender age – or even at any age – to be abused by a person in a position of trust.

Yet, she overcame all that. Lou Holtz is quoted to have said, "It is not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it". That is the first lesson we all learn.

The second lesson is how she bonded with positive people at Pedro's Judo Center in Massachusetts, and managed to keep pursuing her Judo dreams after her emotional ordeal. It a lesson everyone can learn.

A first gold medal in Judo for the U.S will be a well-deserved crown for Kayla Harrison for her endurance. Again, that is almost assured. However, even without it, she has this far taught many some useful lessons which will continue to be part of her legacy.

At only 22, Kayla Harrison is, and will continue to be a role model for many across the country and around the world.

　

　

　

Bible Study surrounded by nature is most inspiring

2012-07-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

While Christ Church Cathedral served as a venue for the 2012 World Choir Games, which conclude today,the church's Men's Bible Study group had to find a venue for their Thursday morning study away from the library. The International FriendshipPark provided a perfect venue for the past two Thursdays.

Now the group is pulled between continuing their bible study in the park and going back to the cozy library.

They could hear – and even feel – the Ohio River flowing in the background. Ahead, the picturesque Mount Adams was in perfect view. Surrounded by trees and summer flowers, the sound of chirping morning birds is everywhere. Every few minutes joggers go by, adding to the conscious awareness of the beauty of life in its fullest.

The park's display of flags from different nations adds to the awareness that all humans are connected to one another and with nature.

In meditation for this Sunday’s lectionary lessons from 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Eph. 1:3-14; and Mark 6:14-29, the group directed its reflection on the Collect for the day, which asks God to “receive the prayers of Your people who call upon You, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them”.

In the Gospel Reading, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded even though his conscious was against it. He succumbed to his ego, and the fleshly desire to appease his step-daughter after her sensual dance.

That is a good lesson in today’s world.

The bible study provides such an enriching and inspiring one hour a week that at the end of it, as one in the group remarked, “We have been here only 45 minutes but it feels like a whole day of so much fun”.

Yes, bible study is fun, even more so when surrounded by nature.

Never Take Anything too Seriously

2012-07-12T07:42:00.001-07:00

Number 6 of Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness is about being able to be relaxed – not letting things weigh heavily on your spirit. Recently I saw a paraphrase of Micah 6:8b on a T-shirt which read: “Be kind, don't take yourself seriously, but take God seriously”.

Rigidity is a source of misery, there is no doubt about it.

To ridicule the religious and monks in his book The Praise of Folly (1509) Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote: “It is amusing to see how they do everything by rule, almost mathematically. Any slip is sacrilege; each shoe string must have so many knots and must be of certain color...making an extraordinary stir if a habit is belted incorrectly or if its color is a shade too dark...”

First, this is not in reference to the religious and monks only. Secondly, it may sound like the life of a perfectionist, but, examine your attitude and how you work or think of others' habits. If you can't laugh at yourself you are probably not going to be happy either.

There is truth in the maxim: “Laughter is the best medicine”.

Work Towards Something Meaningful

2012-07-11T08:26:00.002-07:00

This is number 5 on our discussion of Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness – number 6 on his list – but again the numbering is purely arbitrary.

What is meaningful is that which is bigger than the individual's propensity. It does not have to be a grand endeavor, but directed outside of oneself. There is, for example, a volunteer at City Gospel Mission, who, for years has shown up, at 6:30 in the morning to serve breakfast to the poor and homeless. He stands at the door to the dining hall and high fives every guest with a broad smile and a greeting: “God be in your day!”. The effect is contagious as the guests cheer up in response.

Nothing grand but warming hearts.

Happiness comes from being positive about oneself and extending that to others; aiming to influence others to have a positive outlook about themselves and life in general. Bear in mind that human beings are spiritually connected. How you feel about yourself impacts those around you in their feelings about themselves.

Be a positive influence; you will find happiness in it.

The Monkey Trial still goes on

2012-07-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

Back in 1994 the O.J. Simpson trial was dubbed “the trial of the century”. I suspect it was because the Monkey Trial that began on July 10, 1925 had been forgotten by popular media and television was unknown in 1925. Undoubtedly, the Monkey Trial was “one of the most famous trials in U.S history”

The issues that prompted the trial are still entrenched in the faith community and growing stronger. The main issue was, of course, the literal interpretation of the Bible; a point that was not addressed during the trial because Judge John Raulston himself espoused literal interpretation.

When, in 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in another case citing the First Amendment, well, literal interpretation remains beyond the scope of judicial jurisdiction.

A Nova Program on PBS has been featuring new images of space and the universe – new in the sense that they were unknown or undiscovered in biblical times. To fathom what space telescopes like Hubble reveal calls for faith in itself.

The question I am raising is this: Would the creation narratives in Genesis still be as they are, if they were written today? With new stars being born (or created) and old ones dying and the discovery of galaxies that dwarf the earth “as center of the universe”, isn't creation still in progress?

Share your comments and suggestions.

Live Without Regrets

2012-07-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is number one on Brad's 10 Commandments for Happiness. It is another way of saying give up all hope of a better past. Regrets stem from mistakes or lost opportunities in the past; guilt for actions or inaction in the past; thoughts of "what could have been".

Perhaps, nothing will rob one of happiness more than living in the past.
Learn from mistakes, build on the present and look forward to the future. The present matters far more than the past; it is what you have. This compliments the last commandment we discussed: Enjoy all the little things, appreciate and be grateful for what you have regardless of what you had had or could have had.

Happiness is found in the present, not in the past.

Have a positive attitude about the present. Yes, we all may have some sweet memories of years gone buy, just don't let them take away the joy of the present. Experience from the past – good and bad – can only help us make better judgment today, but we cannot relive them.

Make a decision today to choose the present over the past.

Enjoy All the Little Things

2012-07-03T10:14:00.001-07:00

This is listed at number seven on Brad's 10 Commandments of Happiness.

It is easy to be caught up in preoccupation with what we do not have, and be oblivious to what we already have. A spirit of appreciation is a powerful force for happiness.

Life is a wonderful gift; it has meaning and a purpose. Waking up in the morning is a gift. So is food on the table – not how much but enough for sustenance. Having a friend or someone who cares, family and, simply, people around – these are blessings to be accepted and appreciated.

In our materialistic society, the significance of abundance is exaggerated and the simple blessings of life overshadowed. Longing for what could have been takes away the joy of the present. As Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) noted, "We are always getting ready to live, but never living".

Happiness is in living in the present.

Touch and be touched to experience healing

2012-06-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

There is tremendous power in a touch, many people will attest to that, hence the ritual of hand-shaking and the significance of body massage. The Eastern rituals of bowing or clasped hands in greeting are a spiritual form of the hand-shake, conveying connection between two people.

In the Epistle Reading for this Sunday – The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – Paul urges the Corinthian believers to be intentional “not only to do something but even to desire to do something...now finish doing it” (2 Corinthians 8:1-15). In other words, match desire with action.

Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to make a physical – monetary – contribution to help the poor church in Jerusalem. The significance of this contribution was not the money, but the resultant spiritual connection between the Gentile Christians and their Jewish brethren in Jerusalem.

There is an equally powerful demonstration of the significance of a touch in the Gospel Reading from Mark 5:21-43. By touching Jesus' garment, the woman suffering from unending hemorrhages found healing. Similarly, Jesus touched the dead synagogue leader's daughter by the hand and she came to life.

Think of the joy (a sign of healing) on the faces of those in a nursing home or hospital when they are visited and touched. The healing is on both the visitor and the visited; in fact many who do such visits believe they get healed even more than those they visit.

Be intentional about touching someone and being touched this week-end.

Don't second guess yourself

2012-06-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

This appears as number five on Brad's listof 10 Commandments of Happiness, but the order is only arbitrary. Here too, I will give an illustration.

Recently, a friend recounted his experience when he stood in front of people and told of his own story of transformation. He is a young man rebuilding his life after years of addiction. In the process of recovery he has achieved some milestones, even in the eyes of those who know him.

He trained for and participated in this year's Flying Pig Marathon, something he would not have been able to accomplish before the recovery process. He has reconnected and now has relationship with his daughter. Furthermore, he is already taking steps to go back to school and finish his education.

Standing in front of people to tell this story was almost scary to him, but he managed to do it and he was quite happy afterwards.

Ironically, after ballet classes, his six year old daughter performed, for the first time, in front of 200 people. This was the same week he gave his testimony. She told him that she was a little afraid, but not scared.

Children don't second guess themselves and they are happier. We sometimes allow the past to haunt us.. We allow other people – and society in general - to impose limits on our abilities. None is these will bring one happiness.

Place Importance on the Things that Matter

2012-06-27T06:58:00.001-07:00

We live in a society and a culture of materialism and consumerism which value possessions and more possessions. There is therefore a cycle of wanting more and more resulting in dissatisfaction. Appreciating what one has, rather than lusting for what one does not have, is an essential element of what is truly important and what matters.

Here is an illustration.

There was a church group that visited a partner church in the Lake Victoria region of Tanzania. Even by Tanzanian standards, the area is poor. There is no running water – women and children walk a mile or more to water wells. They use firewood to cook on the floor. Most people walk barefoot, a few have shoes for church on Sunday!

The two represented two different worlds.

During the visitors two week stay, what struck them most was not their hosts' poverty but the happiness and joy that filled them. Everywhere they went and every activity they shared, there was just joy and happiness. It was the opposite of what one would expect, given their material condition.

They were puzzled because there was no explanation for the mood.

At the end of their visit, the group's first stop on their way home was Amsterdam. As soon as they landed, the feeling of joy and happiness they carried evaporated; they were filled with sadness. They wanted to go back to the people of the Lake Victoria region.

What are your comments or suggestions? May be you have had a similar experience – or different! You are welcome to share them here.

Next on our list's discussion will be: Don't Second Guess Yourself.

Ten Commandments of Happiness

2012-06-25T18:12:00.001-07:00

In his blog InspiredConsciousLiving, Brad lists 10 Commandments of Happiness. Perhaps there are not many people who agree with the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) that happiness “is not an ideal of reason but of imagination”. Certainly, it is not imagination!

Richard Whately (1787-1863) Archbishop of Dublin, noted that happiness “is no laughing matter”. Even more famously, Thomas Jefferson penned down that happiness is an inalienable right – it's pursuit, that is. There is a movie too, of that title, The Pursuit of Happyness.

Happiness is the goal of life – not pleasure as the English poet, dramatist and critic John Dryden (1631-1700) correctly remarked that “all the happiness mankind can gain is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain”. Ironically, Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918) would later ask: “Doesn't happiness issue from pain?”

What we see here – and when you take a deep breath and think about it - is that happiness is indeed an ideal, but it is also elusive. In the course of pursuing happiness, what is found is often misery. There are numerous examples from relationships, occupations and careers, and lifestyles.

It is worthwhile looking at Brad's 10 Commandments of Happiness and the first one we'll examine is: Place Importance on the Things that Matter – number 2 on his list.

Please join in, comment or make suggestions.

Sometimes transformation and legacy can only be understood in retrospect

2012-06-22T06:25:00.004-07:00

During a bible study session, the words in the Collect for The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost prompted some reflection. “...for You never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of Your loving-kindness ...” The puzzle is: How does this prayer reflect on the Jews and the holocaust?

Actually this invites reflection on the entire history of the Jewish people – a history punctuated with suffering and persecution throughout the centuries.

What kind of transformation and what kind of legacy can be seen in this experience? I suggest a look at the whole Judeo-Christian tradition, and by extension, western civilization. Ironically they are the very source and instrument of Jewish persecution and suffering.

Is Judeo-Christian culture or western civilization superior?

Not at all; lest we succumb to the temptation of labels of “us” against “them”.

However, there is a lot of good in Judeo-Christian heritage and western civilization which is a source of pride for some and even envy by others. This explains why the late Pope John Paul II was so dismayed that the European Union constitution did not explicitly acknowledge Europe's Christian heritage. It would similarly explain some politicians' misguided desire to forcibly impose those values on others.

In this reflection, Paul's words in the Epistle Reading for this Sunday, elucidate on how this legacy is forged ahead: “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited....in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distress; in beatings, imprisonments and riots, in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness...” (2 Corinthians 6:3-13).

That, to me, is the process of transformation and the legacy of centuries of suffering: It can only be understood in hindsight.

Centuries of prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Through it all

2012-06-21T10:52:00.005-07:00

The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 – this coming Sunday's First Reading – is without doubt one of the most familiar – and famous – of all the biblical stories. It is immortalized in art, music and inspirational tales because of its audacity – whether you look at it from David's or Goliath's or third party perspective.

There is no match whatsoever, between the giant, heavily armored Goliath and the boyish, handsome David.

Yet, that is the real-life picture for everyone of us. There is a Goliath, or many of them, that must be faced every day or at some point in life. They come in the form of debilitating health problems or terminal diseases, if not in one's life, in a relative, family member, friend or loved one. They come in the form of financial, business or career threats or even ruin; and in relationships too. The list is endless.

The reason this story has been immortalized is because Goliath is not all that formidable. Yes, those Goliaths we face in life can be vanquished and we need to be anchored in that affirmation.

In the Second Reading from 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Paul looks back at some Goliaths encountered and subdued: hunger, persecution, jail, scorn, ridicule and rejection, and, again, the list goes on. Many can identify with this, even at this time.

storms in real life

Another way of looking at all this is the calming of the storm in the Gospel Reading from Mark 4:35-41. Life tosses us face to face with Goliaths and storms. Life also promises a sure foundation to conquer them. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “If there is a wall there is a door”. And Andrae Crouch wrote, “Through it all, I learned to trust God”.

What exactly is Transformation?

2012-06-20T07:52:00.001-07:00

A new book published by Transformation Books, and titled Pebbles in the Pond - 46 real-life stories compiled by Christine Kloser - gives the best answer and illustration of how challenges, struggles and disappointments can be transformational not only to the individual but also the world.

The title is a vivid picture of what happens when a pebbles falls – or is dropped – into a water pond. A ring forms where the pebble falls then it widens and spreads out in ripples - ring after ring after another, each wider than the previous.

Transformation is about being affected positively and for better from any life experience. What Christine Kloser has done in this book is to compile real life-changing stories from 46 contributors, among them, best selling authors and simply visionaries who faced and even embraced some very big challenges and moments of trial and uncertainty in their lives.

As a result, they discovered their calling in life, a discovery they would not have found without the life experience that initially scared them.

They are telling their stories in this book because of the even larger purpose of transformation. When one life is transformed, it can affect transformation of another life. That is the ripple effect of that one pebble.

Every single story in this book is inspiring and uplifting. The diversity of the contributors and the range of their experiences make Pebbles in the Pond a must-read for anyone seeking to grasp the true meaning of life experiences.

"First woman", "first American woman", "first Chinese woman"

2012-06-17T13:32:00.002-07:00

The first time it was simply a woman, without qualification by nationality. In order to retain the distinction of "a first" all subsequent achievements would have to be on the basis of nationality or something equally qualifying. Hence, "first American", "first Chinese", "first Japanese", "first German", and so on.

Here, it is space; and the milestone is almost 20 years to the date: The first time a woman went into space was June 16, 1963 – a Russian named Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova. Almost 20 years later to the day, on June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. 29 years later, Liu Yang, on June 16, 2012 became the first Chinese woman in space.

One needs only look back over these almost 50 years to appreciate the transformational process. Today, space travel seems almost routine. Indeed, it is fast moving into private commercial enterprise. Fifty years ago, it was still in the dream stage.

That "first woman", the pioneer, had a passion for sky-diving. It is that desire we all have, to do something – gardening, photography, hiking, cooking, reading, writing, and so forth. In her passion for sky-diving, Valentina Tereshkova could not have foreseen or even imagined what space travel is today.

This is precisely what transformation is all about. If only we could grasp the larger picture that emerges from our small, and sometimes routine, daily experiences. Look beyond this lifetime, beyond the tombstone.
Does it matter? That is the ultimate meaning of this life.