Healing Rays of Righteousness

Remembering To Forget

The older I become the more I sense the importance of “remembering to forget.” This may sound strange to those of us who are haunted by the fear of forgetting when we cannot remember names or dates, or where we put our glasses or car keys. We fear forgetting because we keep telling ourselves that forgetting is the first sign of growing old and possibly becoming a victim of dementia. We fear becoming a useless and undesirable person.

However, that’s not the kind of “forgetting” that I’m speaking about. I’m using the word “forget” as meaning “to let go.” And so to “remember to forget” is about the need to forgive fully and forever. Biblical wisdom admonishes us to forgive fully and forget (let go) forever the old wounds from our past; to forgive fully and forever those who caused us pain and anger.

From Jesus we hear, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25).

And from the apostle Paul, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

Old resentments and lingering bitterness must be discarded in order for us to enjoy a good life of health and peace as we grow older. It is the only doorway to experiencing God’s abundant life of divine forgiveness, peace and joy.

And likewise, we also need to “remember to forget” (forgive fully and forever) our own self for the failures, the regrets, and the wrong choices we made in life. There is no sense or gain in torturing ourselves with regrets and remorse over what might have been or with our failures.

Psychological research regarding health and religion continues to confirm that being a forgiving person is essential to good health and happiness. When someone wrongs you, the feeling of anger or hatred only causes your life to descend into stressful misery and resentment. You are the one who suffers, not the person with whom you are angry. In contrast, remembering to forgive and forget erases the resentment and relieves the stress.

Everett Worthington Jr., a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and a pioneer in forgiveness research, has found that people who won’t forgive the wrongs committed against them tend to have negative indicators of health and well-being; that is, more stress-related disorders, lower immune-system function, and worse rates of cardiovascular disease than the population as a whole. In effect, he says, by failing to forgive, they punish themselves.

His research also suggests that unforgiving people experience higher rates of divorce, which reduces a person’s well-being, given that married men and women consistently do better on most health barometers, including longevity.

In contrast, Worthington’s research confirms that people who forgive have better health, fewer episodes of clinical depression, longer marriages and better “social support,” which suggest that forgiving people get along better with others, who in turn come to their aid in social-support situations.

When Jesus taught us to forgive those who sin against us, he was not just teaching holy living; but he was also giving us practical, down-to-earth advice on how to experience the abundant life, how to better enjoy the “golden years” of life.

The biblical Joseph had a lot of hurtful and bitter memories: the hatred and jealousy of his brothers, their treacherous betrayal, and their murderous act of selling him into Egypt. But he had learned the grace of forgiveness. He even named one of his sons “Manasseh” which means “God has made me forget.”

The apostle Paul also experienced much hardship, persecution and pain, and yet encourages us to live life as he does. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Yes, all of us, would be well-advised to “remember to forget” by fully forgiving the hurts and failures of yesterday and forever remembering them no more. We need to turn these painful experiences and emotions over to God, who alone can help us forgive the situations, events, and persons that caused us pain, anger, and resentment. Look to Jesus, and let his peace of forgiveness give you a wonderful today of joy.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 5, 2019
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley

Not All Prisons Have Bars of Steel

In Matthew 25:31-46 we read of one of the most vivid parables Jesus ever spoke, and the lesson is crystal clear, telling us that God will judge us in accordance with our response to human need. Included in his listing of judgment criteria we read that he said to those on his right, “I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (v.36), and a few verses later he said to those on his left, “I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” (v.43).

Whenever we hear these words about a prison, I think most of us would usually picture a building surrounded by high walls, barbed wire and guard houses where lawbreakers and criminals are housed in small cells with steel barred windows.

However, not all prisons have steel bars, and the prisoners seldom did anything wrong to deserve their imprisonment and separation from their family and friends. These imprisoned persons are the victims of unfortunate events that happened to them. Let me explain.

Prisoner number one is a seemingly healthy and active man who suddenly suffers a major stroke that causes a degree of paralysis in his body. He is no longer able to do, to go, or to speak as he had been doing until the moment of an unexpected and unwelcomed, forced imprisonment by the stroke. His freedoms are taken from him and he is given a life sentence of imprisonment inside a partially non-functioning body.

This imprisonment is oft-times reinforced by his need for nursing home care, further separating him from family and community life. His prison bars may not be made of steel but they are just as strong and confining. Feelings of loneliness, disappointment, and despair are his companions. This same imprisonment also happens to those suffering severe accident injuries that cause some degree of paralysis or very limited body or mind functions.

Prisoner number two is an energetic and skillful woman who manages her home and business responsibilities well, and who is known as a good thinker and conversationalist, but falls victim to Alzheimer’s disease. Sadly we watch as the slowly progressing disease forces her into confinement behind bars of lost memory, confusion, fear, paranoia, and isolation from the world of purpose, meaning, and relationships. Like prisoner #1, her prison bars are not made of steel, but they are just as strong and confining.

There is yet a third prisoner that we often fail to notice or identify as a prisoner. This prisoner is known and named as “The Caregiver”. The moment a loved one, whether spouse, parent, or child, is diagnosed with a disease such as Alzheimer’s, AIDS, Parkinson’s, Cancer, ALS, Stroke, Chronic Depression, or some other chronic emotional or physical illness, someone’s name changes to “The Caregiver”.

From that moment on their life is dominated by that title and their prison begins to take shape behind bars of continuous difficult labor, emotional strain, lost friendships, and feelings of fear and insecurity. Caring for a loved one is exhausting work, the pressure is unrelenting, and the hours are never-ending.

Even so, God forbid that “The Caregiver” would even dare to mention their pain, their loneliness, their feelings of imprisonment to anyone, for surely they would be tagged as being selfish and unloving. And so they suffer in silence, wearing a pasted smile.

I identified only three kinds of such prisoners and more could be named. But these three prisoner types are the ones I mostly saw in my work and ministry as chaplain and pastor. And I wonder how they would respond to the words of Jesus, “I was in prison, and you visited me.” Would they say, “Yes, I was visited and cared for by many.” Or would they say, “No, I was neglected and forgotten.”

These imprisoned persons are residents in our communities and members in our churches. And I wonder if we have really heard and truly understand these words of Jesus as the criteria by which our relationship with Jesus will be judged. To visit and to care for such prisoners as these is to serve Jesus. And to not do so, is to be condemned by him.

I believe our life mission as followers of Jesus, is to purposefully walk into these prisons and with loving compassion give support and assistance that enables the “prisoner” toward experiencing new freedoms, renewed hope, and new life.

And so, I gratefully applaud those who choose to work in our various health-care facilities for the unselfish purpose of being a caring friend and cheerful helper to those imprisoned by disease, illness or handicap. May God bless them, and may their numbers increase.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 29, 2019
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley

Precious Memories

The Memorial Day activities of parades and services to remember and honor those who died in our nation’s wars, left me wondering why the contrasting difference in the way our American society responds to the deaths of its citizens.  On the one hand, it responds with an all-out effort to remember and honor those who died in its wars, but on the other hand, it seems to encourage an all-out effort to quickly move on with life and suppress talking about the deaths of family and friends.

Because it hurts to remember, many friends of the family believe that they must somehow help the family to forget the death of a loved one and move on with life.  It is believed that to “bring it up” in conversation will open up the old wounds and cause more pain.  However, the truth is that people should and are going to remember whether we “bring it up” or not.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it well when he wrote, “Nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love.  …It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap.  He doesn’t fill it, but on the contrary, he keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other, even at the cost of pain.  …The dearer and richer our memories, the more difficult the separation.  But gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy.  The beauties of the past are borne, not as a thorn in the flesh, but as a precious gift in themselves.”

Nevertheless, there seems to be a universal fear of remembering and talking about those who have died.  But, contrary to the popular fear and myth, bereavement grief is not a process of forgetting; rather, it is a process of learning to reconcile one’s self to the lost of a loved one while also reliving the good memories of that relationship.

To not talk about our relationship with the person who died is to rob ourselves of good grief work and healing, as well as to steal significance from the one who died.

Establishing the significance of the life lived in our midst is key to the healing of the pain suffered in the loss.  Significance is established as we remember and share memories of that relationship with one another.

In his booklet, The Gift of Significance, Doug Manning writes, “The grieving process is a gradual change from the physical presence of a loved one to the sense of presence provided by the memories.  The goal is to learn to live with the person not being here.  Coping without their presence happens when we begin to find comfort in the memories.”

I believe that one of the most priceless gifts that God gives us through the life of another person is the memory of our relationship with that person.  Those memories are ours to keep, to hold, and to cherish – a treasure that no one can rob from us – a treasure that never needs to be locked up or buried.

Memories are gifts that we should both cherish and nourish by recalling them often throughout our lifetime.  Memories take us by the hand and lead us back through the mists of the past to the happy scenes and experiences of yesterday.  And when a life has been lived constructively for God and others, the memories of that life is like a beautiful walk through a pleasant garden.

The wisdom writer of Proverbs suggested this when he wrote, “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.” (Pr. 10:7a).

The ability to nurture and enjoy the memories of a relationship means that we never need to do as is often said, “pay our last respects” to a beloved friend or family member.  Nurturing and enjoying the garden of memories given us by a person keeps our respect and love for them alive and growing.

In many memorial services held each year, candles are lit in remembrance of those who died.  As we light each candle we give name, face, and public acknowledgement of the unforgettable relationship that was ours with that person.

The tradition of lighting candles is significant in two ways.  First, it symbolizes the light and warmth that each of those persons brought into our lives and community.  And secondly, it reminds us of our Christian hope that shines as light into the darkness of death and loss.  That light of Christian hope encourages us to walk through the garden of memories knowing that our present separation is only temporary.

Again I say, that the memories given us by those now separated from us are very precious gifts.  Let us rightly cherish them and freely share them with one another.  In so doing, we will both bless and be blessed.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 22, 2019

Keep Climbing Mountains

When educational philosopher John Dewey was 89 years old, a young medical doctor expressed his low opinion of philosophy.  “What’s the good of such claptrap?” he asked.  “Where does it lead you?”  Dewey answered by saying, “The good of it is that you climb mountains.”

The young man scoffed, “Climb mountains!  And what’s the use of doing that?”  The professor answered, “When you climb mountains, you see other mountains to climb.  You come down, climb the next mountain, and you see still others to climb.”  Then he added, “When you are no longer interested in climbing mountains to see other mountains to climb, life is over.”

Professor John Dewey had a point.  He was right in suggesting that it is the challenges ahead of us that give life meaning and energy, and if there are no challenges, or mountains, then we may still have a heart-beat, but we are not really living and aging as God intended for us.

It is very interesting and probably instructive to note that the pivotal moments in the life of biblical Moses took place on mountains?  First, there was Mount Horeb, the mountain of God’s call.  Then there was Mount Sinai, the mountain of God’s commandments.  And finally, there was Mount Nebo, which I like to call the mountain of God’s commencement for Moses.

From this final mountain Moses was privileged to see the results of his life’s work – the land God promised to his people.  From this mountain he also entered the heavenly Promised Land, graduating from this earthly life and entering into eternal heavenly life with God.  For Moses, there was always another mountain to climb, until he was called home to heaven from the final mountain.

If you are a senior adult, like me, I ask you, for what purpose are you living during these latter years of life?  Is your purpose just to hang on as long as you can, like the bumper sticker states: “I just want to live long enough to be a burden to my children.”  I suppose that can be a purpose for living, and it may indeed prolong your life, or probably more correctly, make it just seem that way to everybody around you.  Obviously, we should possess a purpose that is much bigger and more appreciated than just having a negative or cantankerous spirit about life.

So, what keeps you going?  What is your purpose on planet earth, in your community, church, and family?  Even more importantly, is that purpose given you by God?  I’m convinced that if we have a purpose that daily challenges us to keep climbing and discovering new things and new understandings, we can be young at age 80.  If we don’t, we are most likely old at age 40, in both spirit and body.

You are old when you feel that tomorrow holds no meaningful challenge, no mountain to climb.  You are old when you say, “I’m too old for that.”  You are old when you think that you have learned all that you are going to learn about life and God.  You are old when you talk to people younger than you but you don’t listen and learn from them.  You are old when you talk about purpose for living in the past tense but not in the future tense.

But, if you possess a God-given purpose that daily motivates you toward discovering new learning and understandings, you are “young” no matter how many candles are placed on your birthday cake.

If you keep focused on your spiritual legacy, find a purpose for living, and follow God’s guidance, then every day you will climb to a new mountain peak, from which you may see tomorrow’s mountain, and then the next day’s mountain, until you reach your final mountain and from there, while standing on its peak, you graduate to your heavenly home.  What a way to live, and what a way to die.  And so, keep climbing mountains, and God be with you.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 15, 2019

God’s Crowning Creation

“After God created man, he stepped back, observed his work and concluded, ‘He is imperfect.  I must give him someone to complete him, to be his helper.’  So he created woman – loving, gentle, tender, kind, understanding.  Side by side they were to live and work – cooperating, trusting each other’s strengths and allowing for the weaknesses of each.” (Source unknown).

As his final and crowning work in the biblical creation story, God purposely “made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:22), to be an unique helper to man and the mother of all human-kind.  Many centuries later, the apostle Paul reminds us of this relationship – “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.” (1 Corinthians 11:12).

Mother’s Day is a day to give special recognition and honor to our mothers, both living and dead.  I heard it said that “Mother” is not a name, but a divine function.  “To mother” is to be the bearer of life and the one who nourishes it.

The world has been significantly blessed by women who, having committed their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, view their role as a good mothering parent to be a sacred calling from God.  To accept the responsibility of shaping lives and building character in a nourishing environment of a Christ-centered, love-filled home is often a difficult and frustrating challenge, but also a very rewarding responsibility.

Truly, a noble mother is the world’s most effective teacher and best companion.  Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

Speaking of noble mothers, the writer of Proverbs says that “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”  (Proverbs 31:30-31).

Called out of town to take care of a sick relative for a few weeks, a mother left her husband and children to run the house.  After a few days the mother began to wonder whether she was being missed at home.  A letter from her youngest son removed all doubt.  She read, “Dear Mom, Since you went away, this is the biggest house I ever saw.”

Little Brenda was about to “say her piece” in a children’s day program, but when she got in front of the crowd and saw all of the people in the audience, she panicked.  Every line that she had so carefully rehearsed faded from her memory, and she stood there frozen and unable to utter a single word.

Sitting in the front row, her mother was almost as frantic as the girl.  She gestured, she screwed up her lips to form the beginning words, but to no avail.  Finally in desperation she whispered the opening phrase, “I am the light of the world.”  Instantly little Brenda’s face relaxed, a smile appeared, and with supreme confidence she began, “My mother is the light of the world.”

Of course the audience quietly chuckled, but then on reflection realized that Brenda’s statement was not altogether wrong.  For good or for evil, mothers (and fathers) are unquestionably the light of their children’s world.

For that reason, I believe that the highest peak of influence for any woman is in the role of motherhood.   I once heard it said that to be a mother means managing a university, a clothing establishment, a laundry, a health clinic, and a restaurant.  Additionally, she is the president of the little state called home, as well as being its health officer and truant officer.

To be a noble and loving mother is an awesome challenge, and we need always to respect and honor their good influence in our life.  And probably the greatest tribute given to a mother was found on a cemetery headstone.  Below the name and date of the deceased mother, is this simple phrase, “She made home happy.”

No other word was needed.  What a testimony to a mother who was gifted, enabled, and committed to her calling and mission in life.  May their numbers increase in our world today, and may all of us, both mothers and fathers, daily endeavor to make our home happy.

                        “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 8, 2019

Watch and Pray

Tomorrow, May 2, is designated as the “National Day of Prayer.”  For what reason?  In what ways will your thoughts and scheduled activities be reshaped to honor the day?

Before his arrest and crucifixion, “Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane” to pray.  Later he found his disciples sleeping and he asked them, “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?  …Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”  (Mt. 26:36, 40-41).

The words “Watch and pray”  were much more than a reminder not to fall asleep while praying, but rather his words were a call is to be intentional and vigilant about prayer.

Jesus modeled his admonition to “Watch and pray” by habitually giving time to prayer, constantly realigning his activities and planning with the Father’s will.  In all the major crisis of his life and ministry, Jesus took time to pray and make sure he was still headed in the right direction.

Simone Weil, who died in 1943 at the age of 32, was part of the French Resistance movement during the Second World War.  After the war she became known as an apostle of the spiritual life.  Simone Weil defined prayer as attention. 

So, too, Pascal, her spiritual forebear, felt that the greatest enemy of the spiritual life was in-attention, complacency.  Their thoughts surely echo Jesus’ “Watch and pray” admonition.

The apostle Paul considers prayer to be a serious matter when he writes in Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  The apostle’s explicit command to the church is not simply to pray but to devote yourselves to prayer.  Paul’ concern and call is about keeping alert, paying attention, and being thankful in prayer.

I hear the words “being watchful” to mean “be alert, pay attention,” which is all about listening to, and being in relationship with God.  Maintaining relationship requires my making intentional space and time to listen, pay attention, to what God is saying to me.  How else can I faithfully follow my all-wise Savior and Shepherd, Jesus?

I think we Christians often fail to appropriately value the rich resource that prayer is for us.  We glibly “say a prayer” at mealtimes, or begin a meeting or special event with prayer; and yet, in doing so, we are often more motivated by tradition than by a sincere, genuine desire for God’s presence and power in our midst.

Prayer is about enjoying both communication and relationship with God. To be privileged to come into the presence of Almighty God as his children, and to speak with him as “Our Father” is a privilege of unimaginable worth.

Furthermore, our praying opens the gates of heaven for God’s “will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Prayer brings God into our life and work and also makes us more conscious of his presence and power.

Prayer connects us to the wisdom, power, and energy of God.  The prophet Isaiah wrote, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31).  It is the privilege of every child of God to have this super-natural power and energy of God’s Spirit in their life and work.

I believe prayer is one of God’s majestic gifts to us, a gift of gracious privilege, and a gift of tremendous value in daily enabling us through life’s uncertain and often difficult journey. To be privileged to come into the presence of God Almighty and to speak with him about what is on our hearts and minds, is a gift of grace.

The biggest challenge for all of us is to keep our eyes open, our minds alert, and always focused on Jesus.  And this can only be accomplished as we devote ourselves to diligent , informed and focused prayer with thanksgiving.

William Temple is quoted as saying, “When I pray coincidences happen, and when I do not pray, they don’t.”  Mother Teresa said, “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself.”  And Leonard Ravenhill wrote, “The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, and the self-righteous cannot pray.”

Let’s hear the call of tomorrow’s “National Day of Prayer” and give ourselves to diligent, devoted prayer in behalf of our nation and its leadership.  I invite you to join me in praying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth (in U.S.A, in my community and church) as it is in heaven.”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 1, 2019

Taken By Surprise

Today is the Wednesday after Easter Sunday.  And as in previous years, it seemed to come and go so quickly.  I reflect and wonder had I adequately prepared myself to enter into Christ’s wondrous and glorious resurrection event in order to better understand its impact on my life.

In reading all four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection, it appears that none of the disciples were fully on board and prepared to understand and joyously celebrate their Lord’s bodily resurrection.  Instead, all were overtaken by surprise and doubt.

The women bring spices to anoint his body.  They wonder who will roll the stone away for them.  They seek the living among the dead, and then are perplexed to find the stone rolled away and the body gone.  They don’t know what to make of the empty tomb and neatly folded grave clothes.  They are asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” and “Trembling and bewildered, they fled from the tomb,” to go and tell the Eleven and all the other disciples. They were not prepared for Easter.

John tells us that even after seeing the empty tomb, the disciples “still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.”  He also tells us that Mary Magdalene weeps with grief while the resurrected Lord stands close at hand.  They were not prepared for Easter.

According to all four Gospels, Easter is precisely for those who are not ready for it.  Easter is for Peter, too paralyzed by guilt and fear to take it all in.  Easter is for Philip, who because of doubt finds it hard to believe without concrete evidence.  Easter is for John, who believes in Jesus’ resurrection but needs time to process what difference it makes.  Easter is for Mary, blinded by tearful grief, mourning her loss, while her Lord stands behind her.

According to the story, Easter is for each one of us.  Our retail culture doesn’t give us much time to joyously ponder Easter.  Like an impatient waiter whisking our plate away before we’re finished eating, our culture tries to banish Easter from our awareness.

But we have the fifty days of the Easter season until Pentecost stretching out ahead of us; a time for spiritual lingering by the empty tomb.  Days to weep.  Days to pray.  Days to ponder.  Days to rejoice and bear witness to the Lord, who stands behind us, healing our past; and before us, beckoning us to follow him into His promised future.

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  (Isaiah 41:13).

Tommy Dorsey, jazzman and gospel songwriter was singing at a revival meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, when he received the tragic news.  He was handed a telegram that read, “Your wife is dead.”

He had left her at home in the last month of her pregnancy.  The last look into her face was of his Nettie sound asleep.  All seemed well.  Now, she was dead.  She had given birth to a son, but within a day he also died.  Both were buried in the same casket.  Tommy fell apart in his soul, his inner peace was shattered, his faith weakened and struggling for answers.

A few weeks later, as he meandered close to a piano, he sat down and started to fiddle with the keys.  A melody began to flow from his fingers.  Lyrics formed in his mind, and out of the deep sorrow of loss, came these words of faith that we still sing today:

“Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night  Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near   When my life is almost gone.  Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall. Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

That is the bedrock of our Christian faith.  Because Jesus has “destroyed death” and made it powerless (2 Timothy 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:26), we are able to face uncertain tomorrows with this song in our hearts and on our lips, “Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 24, 2019

Why Do We Call It “Good” Friday

We call the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, “Good Friday.”  But what is so “good” about the day a man named Jesus of Nazareth is arrested, brutally beaten and hung from a cross to suffer and die?

The cross of Jesus is a central symbol of the Christian faith, but for many who claim to be Christian, Christ’s death seems to have very little impact in the way they live their life.  It is simply a tragic, bloody story to read on Good Friday.

At that time in history, the cross had no religious meaning.  It was simply the method of execution preferred by the Roman government for all criminals.  These executions were usually staged just outside city walls and beside main roads, where they would be prominently visible, as a scary warning to all who passed by.

But Jesus is no criminal and so there must be something different about the crucifixion of Jesus that makes the day “Good” and the week “Holy” in our annual remembering and retelling of the story.  What is it?

To answer that question, I invite you to remember what the prophet Isaiah said about God’s messiah who would come into the world, the messiah whom Jesus claimed to be.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  (Isaiah 53:4-6).

And remember what the writer of Hebrews said about Jesus’ crucifixion; “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. … and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:14, 17c)

Three things come to mind as I think about what Jesus’ death means to me.  There are three things Jesus accomplished for me when he declared from the cross “It is finished” and died.

The first thing is that by suffering death on the cross, Jesus redeemed me out of slavery to sin.  The price of my redemption was paid in full with the sacrifice of Jesus’ own life.  It is finished, the price is paid, and I am set free from slavery to sin.

The apostle Paul says that God “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14).

The second thing is that by suffering death on the cross, Jesus reconciled me with God.  Sin always separates relationships, and my sin separated me from God. But through Jesus’ sacrifice of himself, Jesus forgave me and restored my relationship with God.  In other words, his death mediated peace between me and God.

By suffering death on the cross, Jesus also empowered me to be reconciled with others.  The sinful walls of prejudice, fear, pride, and selfishness in me, are broken down.  And now, instead of being filled with fear and alienation, I am freed to enjoy peace and caring relationships.

The third thing is that by suffering death on the cross, Jesus restored to me God’s approval, acceptance, and divine nature as His adopted child.  I am now justified – restored to the relationship with God I would have enjoyed if I had never sinned.  My whole past is forgiven, blotted out.  So complete is that restoration that I am now called a child of God.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!”  (1 John 3:1).

These are the wonderful, amazing things that Jesus accomplished for me that day, when he declared from the cross, “It is finished” and died.

To gaze upon Jesus’ cross of suffering and death with the understanding that we belong on that cross – that it is our place of deserving punishment for sins committed, is awesome.  And to understand that Jesus took our place and died the death we deserved so that we could live in God’s house forever, because He so greatly loved us, is amazing.

We can properly stand before the cross of Jesus Christ only with a bowed head and a broken spirit.  And there remain until the Lord Jesus speaks into our hearts His words of forgiveness and acceptance.  Then being gripped by His love and overflowing with thanksgiving, we go from the cross and into our world to sacrificially love and serve all others in His name.

That is why I and all who believe Jesus to be the Messiah, the Savior, call this day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday.”  Thanks be to God for His amazing love and grace.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 17, 2019

Enjoying A Continual Feast

(Part Two of Two)

The wisdom of Proverbs 15:13 and 15 says that a cheerful face indicates a positive attitude toward life, and that such persons have an inner joy: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, … the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

However, these same verses also tell us that difficult circumstances can threaten and crush one’s spirit and rob a person of this joy; “heartache crushes the spirit, … All the days of the oppressed are wretched.”   Unfortunately, growing older often becomes fertile soil for negative attitudes to take root and grow, robbing the elderly of the joy that God intended for them to experience in their latter years.

It has been said, “It is not how old you are but how you are old that makes the difference in your enjoyment or despair of life.”  It is also said, “A beautiful young person is an accident of nature, but a beautiful older person is a work of art.”

The psalmist paints a beautiful word picture of the aging person in Psa. 92:12-14.  “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”

Proverbs 4:18 states that our latter years are intended to be our glory years, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”  To view our aging as a journey into the light, rather into the darkness, makes a world of difference in the kind of person we become in our latter years.

Proverbs 15:14 states that “The discerning heart seeks knowledge.”  This speaks directly to how our aging can become a journey into the light rather than into darkness.  For as we continue to seek knowledge, see new visions, hear new sounds, and find new directions for our life in service to God, we nurture a joyful, satisfied heart .

The biblical story of Moses is a good portrayal of a person with a discerning heart seeking knowledge.  Moses is about eighty years old when he encounters God in the burning bush and is given a new vocation, new responsibility, and a new lifestyle for the latter third of his life.  There are two attributes of Moses that reveal a cheerful, discerning heart, seeking knowledge.

Curiosity

Curiosity and interest in life outside himself, caused Moses to remain open-minded, even at 80 years old. He never stops learning as he gathers news from wandering herdsmen about life in Egypt; debates with others around the cook fire regarding the virtues and power of the God he follows; and gleans from his father-in-law, Jethro, any bits of knowledge he could.

Curiosity moved Moses from his comfortable, placid, easygoing life into an encounter with God and a new lifestyle.  Curiosity draws this elderly gentleman into a life of purposeful action; from herding sheep to delivering God’s people from slavery.  Call it curiosity or zest for life.  Moses had it, and I think it is a vital attribute toward enjoying a continual feast throughout all of life.

It’s tempting, as we grow older, to close our minds to change when it comes too fast for us to comprehend.  We tend to back up into our little corner, shut the door to possibilities, and wish for the “good old days.”  But, Moses would tell us to always remain curious and open to new possibilities and life-changing experiences.

Sense of the Sacred 

Moses had experienced a lot of disappointments, troubles and sadness during his life.  Once a handsome, sought-after social partner, Moses is now an 80 year-old, forgotten man of many abilities.  He could have become angered by the circumstances that took him from a person of prominence as a member of the Egyptian royal house to an insignificant, smelly sheepherder.

Moses had every right to be cynical in his old age, and bitter that life had dealt him such a bad deal. Who would blame him if he became another basket case of negativity and pessimism?  It would have been easy for Moses to smirk mockingly at an invitation from God to serve Him in a grand plan of rescuing His people from slavery.

But we find here a man who has retained a sense of the sacred.  When he encounters the presence of God in the bush fire, he covers his face, realizing that for some reason, God has not forgotten him, and is now coming to him.

Some people become very bitter and cynical in their latter years.  Cynicism grows and flourishes very quickly in the soil of hardships, unfairness, and disappointments. Cynicism destroys every aspect of life, even one’s religious life.

A sense of the sacred counters any tendency toward cynicism.  A sense of the sacred opens us to God’s presence, power, and possibilities.  A sense of the sacred fills life with purpose and joy, creating a zest for living.

Like Moses, people who “age well” remain committed to God, family, friends, and special causes.  Their curiosity, sense of the sacred, and service commitments give purpose and meaning to life.  Yes, God intends for our entire life to be involved in a service mission for Him and His purposes in the world, “staying fresh and green and still bearing fruit in old age.”

According to Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”  This is God’s “medicare plan” for all of us.  Are you in the plan?

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 10, 2019

Enjoying A Continual Feast

(Part One of Two)

It has been rightly said that there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” and those who wake up in the morning and say, “Good Lord, morning.”

The Book of Proverbs contains much wisdom regarding the heart. There are nearly fifty occurrences of the word “heart” in the Book of Proverbs.  And these “heart” Proverbs teach us that God has carefully designed us to function better physically, emotionally, and spiritually when we are cheerful.

Listen to these verses in 15:13-15; “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.  The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.  All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

“…the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”  Sounds inviting, doesn’t it.  Do you feel that your life, day after day, is a continual feast?  Do you wake up in the morning and say, “Good morning, Lord,” or is it “Good Lord, morning?”

The word “heart” as used in Proverbs, refers to the thoughts, emotions, and attitudes of our personal life.  It refers to our mindset, the way we view and respond to life experiences.  Verses 13 and 15 observe how the condition of a person’s heart affects our spirit or morale, and indicate that both happiness and depression are issues of the heart.

In verses 20-23 of the fourth chapter, the writer appeals to his son, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Wow!  This is so consistent with the medical research studies done during the past couple of decades, which consistently show that the mind plays a significant role in our illnesses, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and coronary heart disease.

These studies indicate that certain emotions cause changes in the brain’s physical state.  The brain then triggers changes in the regulation of other parts of the body, such as the heart and lungs.  And this, in turn, impacts the immune system, and thus our body’s health.

In March 1998, I attended the Mennonite Health Assembly, and one of the speakers, Dr. David Hilton, M.D., stated that medical science is discovering that negative feelings, such as anger, guilt, fear, are the greatest suppressant to the immune system, greater than HIV.  He further said that we are learning that long-term tension and stress has a very negative effect on a person’s future health, whether they are currently ill or well.

The studies since then continue to confirm that positive attitudes and happy feelings greatly enhance the body’s immune system; that what we think and believe, has a powerful ability to keep us well, as well as to promote healing.

And so, the ancient Scriptures and modern science agree that our spiritual, emotional, and physical health are uniquely related and must be seen as one whole in diagnosis and treatment.

This truth gives greater clarity to our understanding of Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  And to the Chinese proverb which says, “Where the mind goes, the body follows.”

A parallel thought to 15:13 and 15 is expressed in Proverbs 14:30; “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”  And Proverbs 17:22 adds, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

The person who can see the good in a bad situation, who can find humor amidst trials, is a person who will be happy and contented; indeed, they will experience life as a continual feast. But the person who dwells on their disappointments, who feels that they always get the short end of the stick, is a person who is rarely happy and is usually discontented and critical.

The wisdom of Proverbs and all of scripture, declare that attitudes determine actions; and that our current attitudes define both our present and future experiences of life and health.  This wisdom also promises that changing our attitudes from negative to positive perspectives will definitely change our life experiences and body health.

And so, I try always to say, “Good morning, Lord!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 3, 2019