Does Anyone Hear Me: Listening at the Well, The necessity of Listening in difficult times

Considering the time we are living through, with its moral and ethical catastrophe as well as a prophetic hope rooted in an uncommon faith, the ground of justice, it is important to examine three components of the Christian tradition. The first one is our relationship with Jesus Christ of Nazareth the only begotten son of the Living God, secondly, our relationships with family, friends, coworkers, church, and those we may have a disagreement with and thirdly listening to the voice of God which may manifest in unexpected places. The voice of God is in creation, its God’s word, it is in the prophets and apostles, it is in God’s ministry.  Of the three components, I want to focus on is active listening. Active Listening is important because our relationship with God and community, that is our communion, is made alive with active listening.  
        Active listening is an invitation to encounter the humanity of the person first as a child of God, God’s sacred pleasure. It is about radically inclusive hospitality that opens hearts and minds to the spirit of God. It can be a most intimate and intoxicating affair if the Christian chooses to put their desires for power and privilege, assumptions, biases, preconceived notions, and socialization aside to know the person beyond societal and class structures that seek to dictate much of the human experience and condition. An example of this happens in John 4:1-42. The biblical text depicts Jesus, traveling through Samaria on his way to Galilee, sitting down at the well in Sychar, and talking to an unnamed Samaritan woman at the well.  After Jesus talked to the woman at the well, she appeared to have been astounded at how Jesus knew such truths about her. As she told the other Samaritans, “He told me everything I ever did” (v. 39). Intrigued, they approached Jesus, and He stayed in their town for two days talking with them. Here is a woman and her community that felt heard. This would seem to be the underlying question of our time, “Do you feel heard?” 
        This is the model of listening I seek to follow as a Christian. Active listening requires time, patience, humbleness, a desire for healing, and a heart of generosity. Most of all, the Christian must want to listen. “Do you want to actively listen?”  Many of the issues and concerns of church and society could be addressed if active listening, to encounter humanity were practiced. I suppose what I am arguing for is the reception of humanity as a primary call to listen and the issues and concerns to be secondary. The first question of church and society should be, “Do You See Me?” “Do I have your attention?” I am mindful of the words of Simone Weil, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” which engages these questions.  What I glean from the text is both Jesus and the woman are courageous in their attention to each other. This is not a one-sided conversation but an intimate sharing that breaks strict cumbersome boundaries that maintain the marginalization and oppression of the unnamed Samaritan woman and her community. The conversation at the well violates the boundaries which represent unjust cultural assumptions, and a politics, rooted in patriarchy, that denies a full and thriving Samaritan humanity. 
        It would appear, that if we are to live fully in the Christian faith, that is to humbly seek to walk in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth, active listening more so than speaking would be a primary calling of the Christian. James 1:19 says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel Always, and if necessary, use Words.” Amidst a fast-paced society where trauma is a norm, where desires for instant gratification, the rise of Christian Nationalism, culture wars, authoritarianism, extreme individualism, and the war against a woman’s bodily autonomy and the LGBTQIA+ community are legislative imperatives, the words of James and St. Francis would be wise council. The biblical text for today calls us to develop an appreciation once again for active listening amidst a society where there is great fear of active listening, particularly active listening practiced by the Woman at the Well and Jesus. Failure to actively listen becomes an opportunity for weeds to flourish and thrive, choking out the grace and mercy provided through the cosmic sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. 
        In a time when theological malpractice is rampant, when injustice and cruelty, for many Christians, have become an article of faith, the confessing Christian is called to be mindful of what and who they are listening to. The art of listening keeps the Christian attuned to the Holy Spirit. I long for a time when listening is embraced and appreciated more so than speaking. This may be a long wait. I imagine a time when everybody takes on the responsibility to listen, with intention, to their family members, neighbors, coworkers, friends, and most importantly, those they might have a disagreement with. To be inclusive in their listening is a hallmark of the human experience. A pandemic, an insurrection, rising suicide rates, a politics unhinged more than usual, and mass shootings, are reminders of the importance of listening to hear the voice of the divine amidst those lost in fear, loathing, depression, pain, and hatred. If the Church is going to successfully navigate a process of spiritual and religious renewal, listening must be an essential element.  

The Call to Prophetic Spirituality

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. My last message I shared was Freedom in Christ. It began with Albert Camus’ statement, “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence becomes an act of rebellion.” It was about overcoming stultifying norms that deny an awakening that transforms ones understanding of God’s love, community and most importantly themselves. Freedom in Christ Jesus is necessary if the sincere Christian is to courageously face the cold hard realities of life and to act to alleviate the burdens of this life. Today’s message is “The Call of Prophetic Spirituality.” Prophetic Spirituality, according to St. Jerome’s University, is visionary and yet practical, evades no reality but embraces the possibility of newness. It enables us to live with faith and energy, somewhere between hope and despair.  It is about an honest assessment of where we are in our own journey as well as church and society and those emerging possibilities of transformation that keep our hopes and dreams alive. It is within these complex, at times complicated relationships and intersectionality's that our Christian faith is deepened and defined becoming a resource of wisdom, assurance and a radically inclusive hospitality.  It is a Christian faith exemplified by the poem, Come Yet Again Come written by Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī.  Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving and come, come, whoever you are this isn’t a caravan of despair. (2x) It doesn’t matter if you’ve broken your vows a thousand times before. And yet again, Come, again, come.  

    Amidst these challenging times when Christian Nationalism, a committed partner of white supremacy and its particular brand of theological malpractice the words of Rumi’s poem are a reminder that the Church of Jesus Christ is about radically inclusive hospitality today and has been about historically and globally, even in its many shortcomings and growing edges. The radically inclusive hospitality embodied in Rumi’s poem are about seeking what Gary Cummins, author of If Only We Could See, Mystical Vision and Social Transformation call the God Realm. Seeking the God realm is the underlying importance of diversity and looking at history from a prophetic perspective as one means to live fully into the Matthew 5:1-12, the Beatitudes, the manifesto of Jesus. Matthew 5:1-12 presents a radical and liberating shift in the autobiography of those communities on the margins of Roman and Jewish society.  

    The implication of the word “blessed” within the autobiography of those on the margins is a tectonic shift in the meaning of their lives that made Jesus even more of an existential threat to those in power. Evelyn Underhill, Victorian student of mysticism, retreat leader, writer and spiritual director says that “At the heart of Jesus’ Spiritual teachings she found seeds of social revolution.”  She concludes her analysis of the Lord’s Prayer by teaching that the real Christian is always revolutionary, belongs to a new race, and has been given a new name and a new song.” We should give careful consideration to the Lord’s Prayer to encounter a new transformative vision for Church and Society. 

There is something about Jesus that gives new and revolutionary meaning to all who would choose to be in communion with the Savior, no matter the sacrifice.  This concept of meaning was something that Howard Thurman dealt with in his own life.  A motivating question asked repeatedly by Howard Thurman according to Luther E. Smith, author of Howard Thurman’s essential writings, is, “How can I believe that life has meaning if I do not believe that my own life has meaning in a new and revolutionary way and that it is the ground of liberation and freedom in Christ Jesus?” 

  Howard Thurman’s motivating question amidst the daily demands of this life, the joys, concerns, and the many growing edges of our life's is a reminder that each of us must see our life and the life of our neighbor as meaningful and valuable. One way to discover the meaning and value of our lives is through journaling our autobiography. This is something I began to do at the advice of my therapist as I grappled with life’s changes. Journaling our autobiography is a way to see how our life is connected to spirituality.  It is about finding ourselves and how the spirit of God is moving in our lives. For many people of faith journaling their autobiography is important in developing an inner awareness, and a different more liberated consciousness as a matter of religious experience, as they seek to know life in its fullest possible grace or significance. 

In the face of unjust and inhumane legislation and policies we read about in Isaiah 10:1-3 and put forward by those who embrace an authoritarian church and political regime statements such as Black Lives Matter, Trans Lives Matter, statements on diversity which are reminiscent of “I am Somebody” and an fuller accounting of America history are about meaning and value.  Our present national tragedy and its brand of politics is about what lives matter, what lives have value and in this sense it is about who holds the power in church and society. This is an age old question which made Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and William Barber, Liz Theoharis and the Poor People’s campaign for some politicians an existential threat.  

This takes us back to Matthew 5:1-12 and the process of social transformation and how the Holy Spirit moves. The Holy Spirit was and continues to be on the front lines of social, religious, and spiritual transformation. This is how we can remain hopeful in the face of circumstances and situations that seem hopeless.  Prophetic Spirituality puts forward a compelling radical truth that God is in solidarity with those who are poor, low wealth, the working class, those who are houseless and living in poverty and many more who are struggling, some in silence.  This is the central tenant movements like the Poor People’s Campaign, A National Call for a Moral Revival and the environmental justice movements like the Sunrise movement.  

Yesterday, I was in conversation with a good friend who lives in Virginia who is just beginning to awaken. They’ve come a long way in their thinking regarding cultural, religious and economic concerns. It was a conversation I never could have imagined. The conversation let me know that the Holy Spirit is at work. It reminded me to trust God amidst an awakening that is the ground of God’s revolution. Gary Cummins writes, “the revolution of God seeks the complete transformation of all that is –unjust systems and the chaotic, twitching, random movements and countermovements of politics and economics – into all that can be: God’s will done on earth.”  This is God’s work and we are blessed to be a part of what God is doing in the world today. 

In closing, I would like to leave you with some questions I’ve reflected upon. You can  reflect on these questions at your convenience (1) Are you sensitive to God’s presence? Have you ever felt that you’ve encountered God, (2) Do you feel that your life has meaning and value and (3) Have you ever journaled your autobiography?  If so, what did you discover.  

Let us Pray 

The Holy Desire of Luke 4:1-13

 Please Pray with Me.

The Proclamation of Holy Desire

Today I would like to speak on the topic of the proclamation of Holy Desire. Holy desire is a desire that emerges out of our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. “Holy Desire” is that seed of love that inspires people to take action to serve and please the Holy One, God! Holy desire is the deep longing for God, and for the things that please God. It is a state of mind and soul that purposes all things great and small towards the nurture of our relationship with God. It is profoundly liberating, opening our hearts to radical inclusion, to exhibit a life-affirming passion for God’s creation in the face of evil, sin, injustice, and their tragic consequences and implications. Luke 4:1-13 is this proclamation of Holy Desire as Jesus, the son of God and full of the Holy Spirit, affirms his father’s love in the face of the three temptations of Satan. It is how he got over.

The three temptations are aimed directly at the heart of Jesus’ identity. Twice (vv. 3,9) Satan begins his temptation by calling into question Jesus’ identity as the Son of God with the words “if you are the Son of God” followed by a challenge to prove this identity with some miraculous display (stone into bread (v. 3); a dramatic angelic rescue from death (vv. 9-11)). In the first 3 chapters of Luke, Jesus’ identity was confirmed by Mary, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, John the Baptist, and the genealogy in Luke 3. Jesus did not have to do anything to prove his identity or to earn commendation as the Son of God. He is declared to be the one who will bring salvation to his people. It was not what Jesus could do; it was who he was. To do justice, to heal the sick, to bring sight to the sight-impaired, raising Lazarus from the dead, to alleviate the pressing concerns of mental health even the feeding of thousands, while a life-changing alleviating tragedy, it was not the point, more so it was the question of allegiance. Jesus could still do those things, even some form of salvation, but in allegiance to Satan, the authority of the world (Luke 4:5) which Jesus rejected.

This passage puts in mind Matthew 7:21-23 that says, ²¹ Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply calling Me “Lord” will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will join Me in heaven. ²² At the end of time, on that day of judgment, many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? Did we not drive demons out of the possessed in Your name? Did we not perform miracles in Your name?” ²³ But I will say to them, “I never knew you. And now, you must get away from Me, you evildoers!” The work we do, the ministries that change people’s lives must grow out of our love for God and nothing else. Another point I want to acknowledge is that the saving grace of Luke 4:1-13 appears in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.” Having gone through his own temptations, Jesus knows what we experience.

Now Satan repeatedly tempts Jesus through scripture to display his identity in self-serving ways that would undermine his identity as the Son who relies on the good gifts of the Father. Let me be clear here, Satan knows scripture. Satan knows the Bible cover to cover and cannot be fooled. Both Jesus and the devil quote Scripture. In response to temptation, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy, but it is not enough to know Scripture. Satan, who quotes from Psalm 91, also knows Scripture. Satan is very well able to manifest a church that denies the power of radically inclusive love for the sake of unfettered violent power, so we must be careful to consider this as we reflect on the meaning and presence of church this Lenten season. Considering such matters, what makes the difference? Where is the hope? Luke 4:1, says, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. The Christian, the one who sincerely and humbly, seeks to follow in the footsteps of Jesus must be full of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. All the Spiritual Practices matter little unless the Christian is filled with the authentic power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer, meditation, fasting, reading, and knowing scripture at the level of heart and soul, self-examination, even the grace to discernment, as necessary for a strong and steadfast faith as they are, cannot contend with Satan unless one is filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us, in the Old Testament teachings and the life and teachings of Jesus that the Christian has been promised the Holy Spirit. Joel 2:28-29, says,

“It will come about after this, That I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; and your children will prophesy, your old people will dream dreams, your young people will see visions. “Even on men and women both I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Gospel of John 14:15-17

“If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be [^a] in you.

 

And the Gospel of Luke 24:49 (the Amplified Bible)

⁴⁹ Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you, but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”

 

It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the Church is built and that the prophetic fire is lit, grounding the following statement by W.E.B. DuBois,

“How shall Integrity face Oppression? What shall Honesty do in the face of Deception, Decency in the face of Insult, Self-Defense before Blows? How shall Desert and Accomplishment meet Despising, Detraction, and Lies? What shall Virtue do to meet Brute Force? There are so many answers and so contradictory; and such differences for those on the one hand who meet questions like this once a year or once a decade, and those who face them hourly and daily.”

Grounded in holy desire, prophetic fire is a sacred response to the foundational struggle in American life, that is the struggle at the root of all American struggles exemplified by the Sojourner Truths speech, Aint I a Woman? Delivered at the 1851 Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio, the words “I am a Man” on picket signs carried by Black men during the sanitation strike in Memphis, TN in 1968, and the word, “Pride”, emblazoned on signs in the LGBTQI+ movement and the statement “Forward Together, Not One Step Back” of the Poor People’s Campaign, A National Call for a Moral Revival. The American struggle is very much engaged in a discourse on the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. It is not what we know, how much education we have, the banning of books like “The beloved,” All Boys Aren’t Blue, The Bluest Eye or even a fuller more accurate accounting of American history and the discomfort it might cause, is not the problem, more so it is who we are that is the great insult to Satan’s principalities and powers of Ephesians 6:12 reflected throughout much of American history.

How I Got Over

               This weekend was our 2022 Women’s Spring Renewal. Spring Renewals, like our Fall Retreats, are a sacred time for Women to take a break, breath, pray, reflect, connect with diverse spirit-filled sisters in the faith. Most importantly it is a time of courageous rest. As the Minister of Women’s Ministries, I am extremely blessed to be a part of a Women’s Council that is in communion with the Women in the Region, that makes space for all Women to share their joys, concerns, and burdens. This year the theme was “I’ve Got a Testimony.”  Our keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. Katrina Marsh. Listening to the testimonies of Women and the keynote, what emerged was love, trust, believing, and having a living and active hope in God. It brought to mind the words, “How I Got Over.”  We see how Jesus Got Over, “how do we get over?”  We Get Over with Holy Desire. We Get Over with the Power of the Holy Spirit. We Get Over it because we have Jesus Christ who knows what it is like to be tempted by Satan. We Get Over because we are, you and I, are God’s love and desire. Let me say it this way, God Desires You. God pursues you. Can you see it, do you not perceive it, God desires you, God longs for you. God‘s love is unconditional. This is salvation, this is joy and a peace that passes all understanding.

Holy Desire rests in our acceptance of God’s extravagant unconditional love. It is through the acceptance of this truth that we overcome the tragedies and temptations in this life. This is one reason Communion is so important. It recenters us into God’s extravagant, even lavish love. It is God’s Great Hospitality that strengthens us for the coming week. As we journey through this Lenten season may we bask in God’s love.

Amen!

it is what it is

I still remember the words of Michelle Obama, "It is What it Is."  One more guy like Trump getting off is nothing new. It's just not surprising to me or anyone else I know who follows U.S. history. Yet there is hope that the rest of us, the citizens of a multi-racial and multi-cultural democracy can be immovable in our pursuit of a just democracy. This might mean running for office, starting a non-profit, focused on concerns of justice, becoming a community organizer, or other interests that support a 240-year-old democracy. Letting your voice be heard near and far. You see, white supremacy will rarely be held accountable because it is the political and economic ground of power of an American caste system.  Anti-racism classes, classes on a complete and accurate American history not beholden to a pseudo-history, and laws that curtail white supremacist policies must be on the table.  We must continue to raise a generation of Americans profoundly opposed to racism in all its forms. More so we must continue to build an anti-racist, pro-reconciling church that supports educational institutions that stand for racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice along with programs that lift mental health needs brought on by a hyper-violent exploitative society from a concern of law enforcement to one for mental health professionals.

Finding Calm Amidst the Storming of the U.S. Capitol

For such as time as this we are called to speak a prophetic truth.

I share today’s message in light of the latest iteration of an ugly truth that has dogged this nation from its founding, one that was on full display for the world to see. Whatever good this nation has done in its 245 years, and there has been some good, it has been plagued by injustice, sin, evil and violence. These have been employed in the service of those who embrace the evil of white supremacy, white nationalism and a dangerous myth of Jesus, the foundation of the slaveholder’s religion, the terrible root of Christian Nationalism, that desecrated the U.S. Capitol building forcing lawmakers to evacuate with some fearing for their lives, while some insurrectionist urged on by a rogue president carried the confederate flag throughout the building.

As we solemnly reflect on the events of this past Wednesday, the 6^th of January, we should also reflect on the historical events of The Wilmington Riots, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Roseville, The riots of 1919, The Klan marching down the streets of Washington, D. C. brazenly in the early 1900’s and black men and women who fought for a nation that committed violence upon those who did not comfort a narrow and sick imagination. A few years ago, when I went to the Disciples of Christ National Convocation held in Selma, Alabama, Janice Ewing and I took a side trip to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. It is a sprawling memorial where you can see the names of more than 4400 African American men, women, and children and courageous white allies who were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned, and beaten to death by white mobs between 1877 and 1950. The older I get the more I appreciate the history that mom and dad made sure my sister and I knew.  History, particularly American history is always part of the discussion I have with my mother and with Nick and Kacy.  Survival in this nation means to know your history.

Now I have heard some say, they were surprised, astonished, I could not imagine this would happen, or this is not who America is. They seem oblivious to the facts of American life as they listen to certain propaganda that gradually strips them of their humanity. Fact is, many people, knew, the moment Hillary Clinton lost the election in 2016 that this nation, this fragile yet resilient democracy was in for a rough authoritarian facist racist anti-immigrant ride begun in birtherism. Yet it has been the case in American political history that the election of a progressive politician, particularly one like Barack Obama is always followed by a reactionary politics of make America great again.  Once again, those who are students of American history are not surprised.

Even 4 former presidents from both parties had comments. Former President Barack Obama commented, “This is a moment of great dishonor and shame for the nation”, Former President George Bush commented, “It was a sickening and heart-breaking sight”, Former President Bill Clinton commented, “Today we faced an unprecedented assault on our Capitol, our Constitution, and our country," he said in a statement.

"The assault was fueled by more than four years of poison politics spreading deliberate misinformation, sowing distrust in our system, and pitting Americans against one another," Clinton wrote. "The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost. "Former president Jimmy Carter commented, “A National Tragedy.”

Carol Anderson, author of the book White Rage commented, “This is a consequence that has been years in the making. At every moment in American history, this country has had chances to deal with white rage that “has undermined democracy, warped the Constitution, weakened the nation’s ability to compete economically, squandered billions of dollars on baseless incarceration, rendered an entire region sick, poor, and woefully undereducated, and left cities nothing less than decimated.”

Meanwhile, the state of Georgia, home of the formerly Jim Crow and staunchly racist South elected its first black senator in the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis and its first Jewish senator, Jon Ossoff a protégé of John Lewis, courtesy of the political organizing of Stacey Abrams and others and with that, flipping the senate to democratic control with the deciding vote being Vice President elect Kamala Harris, a black Woman of Indian and Jamaican decent born and raised right here in Oakland as well the most diverse, gender balanced cabinet in U.S. history.  So, while there is a broad religious political coalition that supports authoritarian anti-democratic policies of deception, misinformation, disinformation and ignorance perpetrated upon the people, with the help of a right-wing propaganda machine, the good and noble truth is that a multiracial democracy, begun in the 1960’s when a people from diverse racial identities and backgrounds came together is moving forward.

The Storm we witnessed this past Wednesday, January the 6^th, is a reminder that trusting in God is our greatest hope and strength. Prayer, fasting, meditating, reading our bible in community, the gifts of the spirit and radically inclusive hospitality are here because of the radical love of Jesus of Nazareth, to strengthen our trust in God. Matt 8:23-27 reminds us that Jesus calms the storm, bringing peace to our souls.  When wild and crazy times happen like it did on Wednesday, our relationship with Jesus keep us strong and steady protecting us from the schemes of evil. Our relationship with Jesus shapes our worldview, allowing us to see God doing new, miraculous and glorious things as well as the violent death of cultures and systems of evil. And love, the kind of love Jesus lived, is about looking clearly at the situation without pretense and working on a solution. It involves critique, analysis, relationships and actions grounded in the radically inclusive truth of God shaped by the pain, suffering and hope of the people. It is not about employing injustice, sin and evil through lies that hurt millions of people for selfish cultural, economic and political gain during a pandemic.  

Each of us must nurture our relationship with Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ to ensure that we do not find ourselves in relationship the myth of Jesus, the foundation of the Slaveholder’s religion. We must study our bible, making sure we are reading a life-giving interpretation, and embrace Jesus of Nazareth the one who died at a state execution because he cared for the people, and was raised from the dead because of God’s love. We must be vigilant in our faith!

Witnessing the mob desecrate the Capitol building and hearing the interviews that were done with those who participated in the insurrection, the common thread was no one is listening to us, our way of life is dying, and we had to do something. These were signs of desperation as a way of life is gradually and steadily dying, root and all resulting in a hopelessness that allows the lies of an impeached president to take hold on their psyche. As ugly and embarrassing as the insurrection was on Wednesday we needed to clearly see where our fellow Americans were mentally, emotionally, spiritually and the healing that needs to take place. It can be difficult to understand death, dying and transition. Logic, reason, seemingly rational arguments have no sway during this time. As many of them are being held accountable this must be the base of that accountability and if needed to offer psychological and spiritual help during incarceration.

Since Wednesday, I have had this vision of a really big tree. It is old, rotting and dying and the fellers, those called to the process of cutting down the tree are there. They fell the big tree and what is left is the stump. Now stumps are notoriously hard to remove requiring special tools for removal. If the stump is not removed it will begin to sprout anew. The whole stump and its deep complex root system have to be removed and thrown into the fire. If you have seen this process it is very involved and can be expensive but necessary for new life.

We are living through challenging times that may strike fear within yet trusting in God will make away and actually pour out the hope of Jesus in our lives.

Amen!

Pushing back against the indoctrination of Empire

I haven't posted since February 2019 so its about time I posted.

Well 2019 was very active.  Speaking, workshops, travel have been good but I like my own bed.  I like my bed in my small place because I can rest and rejuvenate from the darts and arrows coming from many well meaning people who don't have a clue that I encounter each day. For those who say, "Monica they won't know unless you teach them" please don't say the words to me again unless you are using your body to teach.  Each day as I go out to argue ma case for an inclusive society I encounter how well the slaveholder, the capitalist and yes a theology have done.  Surely empire begins in the mind as the principalities indoctrinate people in not thinking or not thinking critically.
As I walk out of my building I encounter people talking about the upcoming superbowl. I say hi and one person acknowledges my greeting but the others look the other way or just walk away.  I am mindful that the indoctrination of empire is strong and even insurmountable for some yet amidst the tragic affair of indoctrination II am called to be that sacred vessel of openness and hospitality. In this I push back on the indoctrination of empire in a real sustained presence.

We ignore the present political situation at our peril

The U.S. is in the middle of a cyber warfare which seeks to deepen the polarization of political ideologies. The tools are social media, frameworks of disinformation which embolden a wilful ignorance meant to enable and empower bad actors such as Donald Trump and domestic terrorist groups. You might say that a type of civil war is being prosecuted on the United States by groups such as the white nationalist, white supremacist, kkk, the arian nation, neo-nazi's, neo-fascist, and other domestic terrorist groups identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center and certain constituencies of the NRA.  We ignore these matters at our peril.  There are monied interests which support these domestic terrorist groups.  Monied Interests, including their allie Russia, which may not like a multicultural, multi-racial multi-ethnic dynamic country. We can only ignore this reality for so long.  The sooner we acknowledge this reality the sooner we can stand against it.  I write this post not as a means to trigger or scare, but to acknowledge what is happening right now.

Of course as a person of faith I live each day knowing that God is still in control.  This belief may really be tested in the coming days.

Much prayer is needed