Word of the day: Judge

Today, I decided I would not be judgmental. Not so easy sometimes, when you've been working with people for a long while. It is very easy to label them and generalize.

But at the end of the day, I reminded myself of my morning pledge. OK so every one has a reason they act the way they do, say the things they do. Judge not lest ye be judged. Indeed, I'm sure people judge me too, based on past actions and words.

Judge, in an official government sense - is to make a decision. Did that person cheat on their unemployment? Did that person willfully violate the worker safety law, putting workers at risk? Did that person willfully violate someone's constitutional right to free assembly? These judges are intended to be unbiased representatives here on earth, to uphold the law. The laws of the people, not their own whim.

When it comes down to it, none of us is suited to be the ultimate judge. Hence the "horizontal relationship" we all have with our Creator. One and many.

During the Easter season, I was reading some special Easter devotionals, and this one showed up on Easter Sunday:
"Your witness-bearing for Jesus is your chief concern. 'As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine' (John 15:4) "

Tomorrow I will again see if I can make it through the day without judging, but remembering my chief concern.

Word of the day: Day 1

Day 1 = Resurrection Day!
The day each of us becomes one with our savior, who died for us so that we may live. thank you!

Word of the day: Calamity

And what is a Christian's view of political action? Calamity is a word found in the Bible, so when I see it now, I remember thta its been in use for 1000's of years. The "Calamity Song" notwithstanding.

1 Kings 9:9 "Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them: therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them"

In this passage, it is a warning from the Lord to Solomon, of the consequences that could befall his house if he and his sons do not keep the Lord's ways. A warning to keep the Lord's word and promise, and not stray to serve false gods.

Calamity is disgrace, it is devastation, it is consequences for not following His ways.

Today's NY Times, David Brooks acknowledges the calamity before our nation. The unsustainable fiscal situation. Careful tweaking some programs, political rhetoric blasting the other side, all this will not get us there. Time for bold action.

Today is Good Friday. Listen... for the Holy Spirit. Tell your leaders - it is time for bold action, for communication, for compromise. Calamity is on our doorstep and that is not a good thing.

Word of the day: Religion

If you are an Oregonian reader like me, and it is close to Easter, as it is, then you might find an article about "Religion". And you might be convinced that taking the broad view is ok. That religion can be something spiritual, something personal, something otherworldly. Something you can do on your own with a tatoo or a walk through the park.

But lets talk about Christianity. It is not apart from other people, it is connected. It is not separate from the world it is in it, although maybe not "of" it.

Connected - to other people, to God. Mostly, it is not selfish, it is God-centered. That makes all the difference in the world.

Word of the day: Apocryphal

I never knew what this word meant till recently. People use it in politics all the time, but it really has to do with what is "in" the canonical bible, that is, the Bible as it is published in all its varieties. And what is "out".

I suppose there is an analogy to politics there, but that is not the purpose of this blog. This is about a Christian journey. To where? To closer connection with Christ. From where? From wherever you are starting from, anyplace at all.

Apocryphal - all those other books that did not get included in the canon. The Great Course CD I've been listening to - 'Jesus and the Gospels' - gives a great description how the apocyphal stuff doesn't fit. The apocrypha focuses on cosmic consciousness, the universe, other ways of seeing revelation, and being separate and apart. vs. the canonical Bible as we know it - is about being part of the body of Christ. One Christian community. Not separate. In the world but not of it.

ok will see about using that word in other contexts. Later on I will go for an apocryphal walk, outside. Right now, I am inside. ok starting to sound like Dr. Seuss, perhaps an analogy for another day..