hometown prophet
I never fully understood what Jesus meant – that following him would mean that I would lose friends, family, home. Growing up in self-proclaimed Christian conclaves, I heard the repeated siren: beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing! And so I joined the guard, militantly watching the borders for the outsider that dare try to sneak in. “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy.” But, I never looked inside the borders.
As I have grown closer to my Lord and sought to follow Him more fully, I have grown in horror to the world from which I have come. The simplicity and allure of that world is still tempting – whitewashed facades of happiness, endless CCM on repeat, dazzling lights and hopeful words of the world to come. But beneath it all, the good news sold salvation that allowed for exploitative consumerism, fear of the other, the death of innocents by drone strike or police brutality or murderers with unfettered access to weapons of mass casualties. To be sure, not all of it was fake; but then, neither is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I had a sense from early on that I was called to be a prophet, yet it was unclear to whom I was to speak. Now, more abundantly than ever, I see that it is within the self-declared borders that I am calling for repentance. “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.”
My brothers and sisters whom I so dearly love. Turn yourself wholly to our self-giving, all-loving triune God, I beg of you. I pray for you.
beauty & light
Businesses are not intrinsically broken. They are also not neutral.
Designed and run by humans, how do we be more human in how we operate a business? Honestly surprised that CVS is moving towards labeling products that digitally modify standards of human beauty. But this should not be the case, as businesses are run by humans.
We all have the potential to further polish the inner light given to us by our Creator, or to dull it with selfishness and a desire to pad our bottom-line. We have the potential to lead others toward the originating light, or to erase any sense of value.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matt 5:14-16 (NRSVCE)
May we all shine more, shine together, giving God the glory.
2018 prophecy
It has been fifty years since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. His vision of racial and economic justice, his dream for a common humanity, his hope in the kingdom of God, were brutally interrupted and have yet to be realized. 2018 will be a year of reckoning.
In the past years, we have seen and heard the fervor of demonic powers and principalities rearing their ugly heads, shouting vulgarities from the rooftops, declaring selfishness and fear as love. In a time where brown bodies are being systematically targeted for deportation or incarceration, where women worldwide acclaim #metoo, with renewed threats of nuclear war, it feels and seems hopeless. But this is not a season of their reign – it is the season of their exorcism. No longer moving in the shadows, they have been brought to light and it is in that light that they will be brought to justice.
For out of barrenness, out of the wilderness new life is born. Out of the deep void, the Creator brought forth life. After the great flood came the new covenant. Hannah’s tears ushered forth Samuel’s birth. The exile of Moses led to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. From the desolation of the cross came the dawn of a new victorious age.
The Lord hears the cries of desperation of his people. The cries of families torn apart by war, disaster, and immigration policy. The cries of those denied the opportunity and ability to live meaningful lives through systems that value capital and personal liberty above shared humanity. The cries of dehumanized, objectified bodies. Even Creation groans at our exploitative stewardship.
As MLK stated: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
What then does the year behold? In 2017, it became clear that we cannot just let a few be leaders and workers for justice. From the Women’s March to the Last Jedi, we become resilient not through personal strength, but through community. We cannot be so concerned with looking for heroes that we miss this essential truth: we are the conduit through which the arc of the universe is bent.
“Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.”
Ezekiel 37:4 (NRSVCE)
However, let us not forget we are in the midst of intense spiritual warfare.
Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 12:17 (NRSVCE)
Theotokos, pray for your children as we make war against the enemy and spiritual forces of darkness.
Are we not the Church Militant? Let us all continue to pray, continue to do justice, and continue to seek after the kingdom of God.
parable of the young american
A young American ran to Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’”
He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.”
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; love your neighbor as yourself – go, open your doors, welcome the immigrant, refugee, and sojourner, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had America first.
pain now? pain later?
A wise younger cousin once said to me: “Do you want to have pain now, or pain later?”
How is it that we are so caught up as a nation with avoiding maintenance? Our decision making systems seem to be focused on avoiding short term pain at the cost of long term system health, and I am as guilty of this as the next. Proactive healthcare is better than reactive but we’d all rather have the quick fix option. It’s easier to pay for something new then fix it. A lottery win is easier than working hard.
And this extends into how we care for one another as a society. Do we see that people are inherently, unequivocally humans made in the image of God deserving of mercy and care? Proactive social welfare. Preventive healthcare. These things are not simply a free handout, but mitigating future cost. Economics should convince us that it is less expensive to spend money helping someone thrive outside of prison then to keep them locked up. It is an investment in people.
Movements like Advance Peace give me a sense of hope. It sounds crazy to give weapon offenders (convicted or not) money. Are we willing to see people as worthy investments? We may all have the stain of brokenness, but do we believe that all were designed and intended for good?
“Caring is the most masculine thing a man can do.”
In the pursuit of healthy masculinity, we must recognize the deficits that society has spoken over us and that we have internalized about being a man. These beliefs dehumanize men and lead to dehumanization of others (including other men). Fellow men, we need empathy. We need cooperation. We need to be more like Jesus.
more guns?
The frequency of mass shootings is increasing. The number of victims are growing. And still, some brothers and sister in Christ look down in silence, mumbling thoughts and prayers while shouting, “we need more guns!”
Gun violence is not simply a public safety issue; it is a public health issue. Our country has a ridiculous amount of guns: 4% of the world’s population contains 42% of civilian-owned guns.
It is true, that people seeking to do violence will still use other means to do that violence (driving a car into a crowd, flying a plane into a building, crafting a bomb out of materials, using a knife or sword). In China, there have been a number of instances of mass violence via knives (a school stabbing spree, Kunming attack, Guizhou province stabbing). The difference? Much less deaths compared to violence with guns. The propensity to violence is another issue to address; the tools used to do violence drastically change the outcomes.
It is also true, that a “good guy with a gun” can stop a “bad guy with a gun.” However, the underlying question is around how the “bad guy” got the gun in the first place. Most Americans agree that there is need for reform, and even on how that reform might look. There are also issues with mental health, a culture of violence, and domestic violence that need to be addressed, but this does not mean that we ignore the glaring issue of weapon proliferation.
We are not helpless or hopeless. Let us not ignore this broken system. Let us seek the Kingdom. Lord, have mercy.
kingdom children
Lord,
Let us be more like children in humility, in empathy, in forgiveness, in hope, in love. How easy it is to be prideful, thinking that we are self-made. How easy it is to assume we are normal, and everyone else is wrong. How easy it is to be self-righteous, that others deserve condemnation. How easy it is to become jaded with age, drowned by worries of the world.How easy it is to disengage from systemic problems and just blame the victim. Allow our beating hearts to remain bleeding hearts.
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” - Matt 18:3
Let us trust in You in all things. Let us be Your hands and feet even when all hope seems lost, when every option seems to lead to failure. Let us have faith even as small as a mustard seed.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” - Matt 19:14
May your Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
parables: peter and two guns
Peter said to Jesus, “I will follow you, even if that means I have to fight to the death.”
Jesus responded, “Yet you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.”
“Look, here are two guns.”
Jesus sighed, “That is enough.”
As Jesus was being arrested, some of his disciples asked, “Lord, should we stand our ground? Should we shoot in self-defense?”
And Peter shot one of the men.
But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched him and healed him.
As Jesus was led away, his disciples fled. But Peter followed at a distance; and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, “Were you not with him? If one strikes you on the right cheek, do you not turn your other cheek?” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
And a little later some one else saw him and said, “You also are one of them. Was it not taught to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?” But Peter said, “Man, I hate my enemies.”
And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly, this man also was with him; are not the peacemakers blessed and called sons of God?” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.”
And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And Peter went out and wept bitterly.
parables: nebuchadnezzar and the flag
King Nebuchadnezzar made a flag, and set it upon every building. A herald proclaimed, “You are commanded, O people, that when you hear the sound of the anthem, you are to stand up and pledge allegiance to the flag.”
But there were certain people who did not heed the king’s command. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. Martin Luther King Jr refused to be still. Colin Kaepernick refused to stand.
Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage ordered them to be brought before him. “Is it true that you did not stand and pledge allegiance to the flag? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the anthem, stand. If you do not pledge allegiance, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
But they replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” Rosa Parks stated, “I will not give up this seat at the front of the bus.” Martin Luther King Jr stated, “I will not stop marching for justice.” Colin Kaepernick stated, “I will not stop kneeling.”
Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury. He ordered them to be thrown into the fiery furnace. And they fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
And they knelt in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord.
On my knees when the light pass’d by
I thank God I’m free at last
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He said to his counselors, “Did we not cast three people bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” He answered, “But I see four people loose, kneeling in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”