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From Rev Dr Tom Nibbe Independence Sunday - during the Great Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 This weekend is normally presented to local people in the San Francisco Bay Area as a celebration of "Constitution and Faith". This year because of the Coronavirus epidemic we have decided to postpone this joyful and informative event until next year. Today our old friend Irenaeus died. The date was 195 AD. Who was Irenaeus ? Why should we know about this man? Irenaeus, despite great opposition from fellow Church leaders, made the bold move of adding the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to the Scriptural Canon of the Old Testament. Also, we remember Irenaeus because he was a true theologian of the Scriptures and not just one as an apologist defending revelation in Christ Jesus. We are grateful that Irenaeus had the courage despite opposition to add the Gospels to the Canon. Prayer Heavenly Father, today I will accept my powerlessness where I have no power to change the facts of my life. I remember when Jesus, Co-Creator of the Universe, submitted Himself in personal surrender into the hands of evil men to do what they would do. I will not allow despair to overwhelm me. I will surrender to You in the midst of crisis. I will allow my life to become manageable. In the process I invite you to provide completeness to me in my daily living with brokenness, despair and tragedy all around me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13,19 "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what is it to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength...and my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." The Message Grace and peace to each of us in the Lord as we continue to experience our lives being controlled and transformed daily by an unseen power in our midst beyond our control. That unseen power is Coronavirus. The harder we try to deny the reality of pandemic -- pandemic responds by continuing to take its deadly toll upon us. In the midst of the pandemic, we are witnessing protest demonstrations throughout our nation and around the world. Things seem totally out of control. How are we to respond? In this respect I'm not suggesting that we protest or not protest. I'm not talking about social distancing, wearing masks, washing our hands often, staying at home...I'm not talking about staying healthy or playing it safe. I am talking about being well. I am talking about being well heart, soul and mind --- when the odds are against us. Saint Paul put it this way..."I've learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Imagine what great fellowship of faith and life would take place in Christ's Church if we were to take this concept of the Holy Spirit more seriously and practice it. Should we take "the bull by the horns", so to speak? We've learned we can't always do that, especially in the our present situation...How are you and I going to say, this has got to stop! We may be right in saying this, but we have no power to make it happen.
...taking care of myself properly and showing compassion to others (this does not include giving "helpful advice" to others) --- when we'd normally think only about ourselves inappropriately and become the chairperson of the local "pity party committee" we become "in drawn" and unattractive to others...it's not a good place to be in.
Feeling what I feel...addressing those feels that are negative...and turning them over to the Lord...addressing the positive feelings and allowing them to bless us...we need all the help we can get. I got a call some time back from a guy who informed me that Los Angeles that day was declared one of the three most smog-free metropolitan areas of the world---because of the "sheltering-at-home" policy as a result of Coronavirus...(the idea here keynotes the song-line from the 1930s tune, "Accentuating the Positive"). Doing what I want to do with my life...as believers we get so caught up in what God wants for our life that we fail to understand that sometimes what God wants for our lives is what we have always wanted. A former fellow student friend used to think that he had to go into formal ministry to please God. He became a high school football coach and has done far more as a Christian coach than he could have had as a Lutheran minister. Being people of faith...not just unbelievers expecting the very worst to happen...or, contemplating a lucky break along the way...or being mere religious people following the "traditions of men" expecting that God will, in turn, shelter them from the difficulties of life...yes, being the people of faith...WE LEARN TO SURRENDER. We learn to surrender, not to the situation, or to the well-intentioned oppression of others, but to God, whom we can trust. We can learn a great deal about unrealistic expectations, fake religion, and constant disappointment by reading the prophetic book of Habakkuk. Note! Habbakuk overcame by surrender. God became real to the Prophet through surrender. What happened for the Prophet Habbakuk became true for Saint Paul. Again Saint Paul declared, "I have learned the secret of being content..." Through surrender in faith we stop wrestling with bears and tigers because we cannot win. When we strive to take on things like Coronavirus on our own terms, we will meet with failure and the consequences of this will be horrible. Sometimes we turn to change other people. We learn that the more we are focused on controlling and changing others, the more unmanageable our own lives become. The more we focus on living our own life, the more we will have a life to live. It comes in biblical spiritual surrender despite our situation. In the process our lives become increasingly more and more manageable. Imagine...not having to ride the roller-coaster of life any longer. Cordially, Tom
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From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Hello Everyone, I pray this note finds you and those you love and serve doing well. You continue to be in our daily prayers. I want to let you know that the board of SpiritCare has decided that we should move to a Zoom platform by September, and I have talked to a few of you about this possibility. While I am certainly far from the most technological informed person, I do have some experience with Zoom, and I know it to be an effective tool for helping people draw closer together in these times of physical distancing. I look forward to talking with you sometime after the 4th of July weekend. Also, just a reminder if any of your residents or family members need someone to talk to, I would consider it a blessing to take part in that conversation. I am grateful for the work that you do, and I hope that you are taking regular Sabbath time to rest. Scripture: Matthew 10: 40-42 “Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Welcoming the Christ among us requires that we always are opening the doors of our heart. We all struggle with that at times, but fortunately, we have been given the gifts of prayer and meditation. We can always practice by repeating, "Welcome, Lord Jesus. Be my guest." Remember, there is always a teaching in every moment for us. What are we learning? To love God with all our hearts, our souls, and our minds, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39).
Prayer Come, Lord Jesus, be with us. We open our hearts to your teachings. We open our hearts to your love. We open our hearts to our neighbors. We know sometimes we fail at offering hospitality to all. We thank you for your forgiveness. Today, and every day we will try again to be the welcoming hosts you call us to be. We thank you for your steadfastness, even when we falter. You know these are not easy times for us, and we are grateful for your care. Thank you for answering our invitation to come and be with us. Our hearts are humbled and our spirits are grateful. Amen. Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com P.S. Even when we move to a Zoom platform, I plan to continue sending a weekly meditation. From Rev Dr Tom Nibbe Father's Day Scriptures: Ephesians 4:26-27 "When you are angry---do not sin---don't let the sun go down while you are still angry and don't give the devil a foothold" 1 Corinthians 13:5 "...(agape) love is not easily angered...it keeps no record of wrongs" Romans 3:4 "Let God be true and every woman and man a liar" Psalm 4:4 "Be angry...but do not sin!" That seems funny...I thought it was a sin to be angry. The doctrinal perspective on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth was that Jesus was without sin...but please note this: "Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers!'" (Matthew 21:12-13) Jesus was fully human but without sin...this is our basic doctrinal affirmation, and yet --- if this isn't a picture of a man being angry, I'm just going to have to return to school for a little more sophistication. This is a model for us...but how do we apply this to our lives, so we can be a blessing to others and also be a confident, yet fully human, well-adjusted individual. This is a great challenge to followers of Jesus, and really, each and every one of us. We can overcome...
In addition, we--as a nation--have been challenged by another old disease, another old enemy, from our inception that relates to racial tension and intolerance, and what comprises proper policing in our streets and byways. The nation is divided on these issues. In response to this, many have expressed great anger over the very "real issues" we face. I am pleased and comforted by the unique and helpful teaching of Scripture that assists me as a child of God to perceive these feelings of anger in a much more constructive and insightful way. As the father of my children and as a citizen of a troubled nation, I am blessed with the wisdom of God's Word to provide guidance for me. Prayer God, help my hidden and repressed angry feelings to surface. Help me to have the courage to face them. Help me understand how I need to take care of myself with the people I feel anger toward. Help me stop telling myself that something must be wrong with me when people at times victimize me and then I feel angry about it. I can trust my feelings to signal problems that need my attention. You, Lord, can gently lead me to address those feelings in a positive, triumphant way. This morning, I pray with great confidence, in Jesus' holy and practical way. Amen. Here we go. It's about time you got angry---yes, THAT angry! Note as I suggest such an audacious thing...that we understand what underlies anger. Indeed, anger is not the emotion. Underlying anger are three basic feelings. They are:
Anger can be such a powerful and frightening emotion. Note that it can also be a feeling that guides us to make important decisions that prior were difficult or even impossible decisions for us to make. Anger can signal other people's problems, our problems, or simply problems we need to address.
Recognize that we are holding on to what has affected us. Pause. Turn it around. As we say these days, "Flip it!" Give information. Not pulsating lava. It works. In any case, we've got to get it out. Stop being such a perfect person. Be like Jesus --- Get angry! But like Paul, get angry, but do not sin.
With the information of the Scriptures we can legitimize anger. Uninformed people of faith think that ANGER IS A SIN and therefore they hide it and are ashamed of it. Denial of being angry at times in the life of a believer is equivalent to lying. We need to know how to be honest with ourselves, transparent, and yet straight forward in terms of personal integrity. One of the great teaching of Saint Paul, as he reflected upon the Psalms of his Jewish tradition, is..."BE ANGRY....but do not sin...". Often, what we do with anger instead of facing it --- and what it is telling us to do in terms of what is best for us --- is to feel hurt, victimized, trapped, and guilty. We experience uncertainty about how to care for ourselves --- which makes us uncertain about how to properly care for and deal with others, especially those who have made us angry. Our tendency is to withdraw from others, deny our deepest feelings, make excuses for our behavior as it shows up in the strangest of places...basically to hide our heads and our hearts in the sand --- while the strong grip of anger taking hold of us. In the process, we punish, get even with the person who is the object of our anger, we whine, and we wonder why good persons like us could have ever been offended...the ultimate pity party! Come on, let's face it, that is no way to live! It gets worse. We repeatedly forgive the other person --- and then take it back. In a committed intimate relationship we become afraid the other person will leave us, abandon us, if we deal with our anger toward that person. Not dealing with anger is, in this respect, especially harmful in the relationship of one partner with a husband, or another partner with a wife. We get to the point where we are afraid of our anger, and the awesome power it has over us. Often we don't know we have a right --- even a RESPONSIBILITY to ourselves --- to allow ourselves to feel and learn from our anger. In other words, we try to escape from the potency of angry feelings thinking we cannot overcome. It's embarrassing that we can accomplish the remarkable things we do as human beings, including going to the moon or crossing the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean in a raft, and yet, we don't know how to handle the very human feeling of anger. Brothers and sisters, come to terms with it. Don't try to hide it, because we're such nice people...after all, nice people never get angry, do they!?! The truth is, last time I checked, we all get angry. Even Jesus got angry, just as surely as "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) Don't think you are exempt from anger, even though you may be Mother Theresa or the Secretary General of the United Nations. Don't think that you are better or worst than any other person because you are human and bound to be angry, if you are normal. The subject of dealing with anger is of utmost importance to the Church and to the world we live in. To sum things up, the wisdom of the Scriptures in dealing with the subject matter of anger is one of the most profound teachings we can receive in regard to living an abundant life. From the experience I have had in my interactions with others, I must say, the insights of Scripture have been a saving grace for me through the years. Cordially, Tom From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Blessings to you all. The first day of summer is close at hand. I pray all of you can spend some relaxing and healing time in the sun. Yes, too much time in the sun is not good for us, but just a little can be just right. Do take your Sabbath time when you can. God always offers us rest and rejuvenation, but at times we get too busy to notice. Please take good care, and let us know if we can be of help. You are in our prayers. Scripture: Matthew 10: 26b-27, 31 "Nothing hidden will not be revealed, and nothing secret won't be brought out in the open. What I say to you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, announce from the rooftops...Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven."
We don't need to know, and can't know everything. Yet, we can be confident that what we need to know will not be hidden from us. God does not try to trick us.
Yes, living honestly takes trust. Learning to trust is a valuable spiritual practice. Sometimes, we need to trust a situation even when we feel uncomfortable. Fortunately, we can always pray to God to show us the path of truth, of how to get from Point A (where we are today) to Point B (where we want to go). However, in this scripture we hear Jesus reminding us that we need to acknowledge God's presence and guidance. Truthfully, I think all of us know that there are times when where we want to go is not where we need to be. It takes a loving and confident heart to acknowledge that God may be leading us in another direction. It takes courage, prayer, and patience to say, "God, where you lead, I will follow, for truly there is nowhere else I want to be." We may not be able to declare that from the rooftops, but we can announce it in our hearts. God is there and will hear. Heaven is that close. Blessed be. Prayer Holy and Ever Steadfast God, we thank you for your guidance that is ever being revealed to us through the love of Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we forget to trust your path, but rather want to go our own way. Forgive our impatience. Today, we acknowledge your love and guidance in our hearts, and we recommit ourselves to living your loving, honest ways every day. Help us to encourage and inspire one another on this path of trust. Help us to remember that if we claim to trust the teachings of Jesus, we must be willing to live in that trust. We know that in that trust, you will bring out the best in us, and this is what the world needs. In Jesus' name and love we gratefully pray, Amen -- Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com  From Rev Dr Tom Nibbe Good morning, Sunshine! Friends and Fellow Companions in the Journey! Be blessed this very day and the upcoming days which follow with the divine sense of the Lord's unconditional love and undeserved provision in your life! Let go and let God!
Prayer Lord, today, help me let go of my need to be perfect and to unreasonably insist that others be perfect. I won't use this to tolerate or accept abuse or mistreatment, but to achieve appropriate, balanced expectation. I want to, and I will create a healthy atmosphere of love, acceptance, and nurturing around and within me. I will expect that this attitude will bring out the very best in other people and in me, also. In Jesus' name. Amen Message As the years have passed by--more and more--it has been my experience increasingly to accept myself, my shortcomings, and as well, my idiosyncrasies. Laughing at myself gets me a lot further that "picking on myself" in my attempt to make myself perfect. Trust me, I've been there! How about you? It seems to me nowadays true prosperity in life is this:
It isn't rocket-science. Happily, you do the best you can, but put an end to expecting perfection from yourself, and also from those around you.
People make mistakes. People do much better in life if they can live with a sense of knowing that they are not expected to be perfect - less anxious and less intimidated.
So what are we supposed to do when it comes to having standards in our lives? Can we just goof off and have people tolerate us? Can we just allow others to use excuses when it comes to having standards and producing things and services of quality? I think a Biblical standard for accomplishment, excellence, and as well, quality in the affairs of everyday life would definitely include this notion. Striving for excellence, working together to create things of beauty and practicality - the very best we have to offer - just doesn't happen within a negative, fear-producing atmosphere of overseers expecting perfection. The good things of life --- the really excellent things of life --- come from the joy and peace of knowing you are doing something outstanding and well. Some of the best pottery in the world comes from Japan. The most expensive, the most outstanding pottery made in Japan is made in such a way that there are cracks and crevices in the final products. This very pottery is the most envied and expensive. I'd like to think that the most outstanding, productive and precious human beings that are with us in the world are a little bit "cracked" themselves...I would hope this would be true. So, indeed, especially as people of faith, we might present themselves as productive workers, but be ready at times to fall short of the goal, and being gentle with ourselves, we may be gentle with others.We need to have and set boundaries. We need to have reasonable expectations. We need to strive to do our best. We need to encourage others to do the same. As we do this, we know that we and others will make mistakes. We need to understand that we will have learning experiences, that is, things we go through, and being reasonable, we will overcome. We will be successful. It will involve pleasant though challenging times. Sometimes the flaws and imperfections in ourselves, like the Japanese pottery, will determine our uniqueness, and in some cases, pleasantly surprise us by not being a mistake after all. It will give rise to us to relish our imperfection --- to see that God is at work in our efforts to bring about true art or something new and useful. Rather than bringing self-condemnation, we will be able to find humor our in human efforts. As we embrace both sides of our human nature, to strive for excellence--or--to find ourselves in a situation of personal shortcoming...we embrace our circumstances and our most fundamental humanity. God will be there to bring eventual blessing to each situation. In process, we encourage others - having embraced our own humanity - and we do the very best we can ourselves. With the love of God firmly implanted upon our hearts we discover we are lovable and worthy of love, though flawed. We nurture ourselves and others for being who and what we are, creatures of God's own making, acceptable. It is then that we realize that we are not merely human. We affirm heart, soul and mind that we are intended and created to be human:
Cordially, Tom From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Hello everyone, please know you are being held in prayer by many. If you have other needs, do let us know. I think of you all so often, and it is indeed with deep gratitude. Genesis 18:1-5 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” Meditation I have always loved this well-know scripture of Abraham and Sarah extending hospitality in the desert. There is, of course, more to these "three men" than is first apparent, for one of them announces to their hosts that they will bear a son. Abraham and Sarah are reluctant to believe this bit of news because of their advanced age (in fact, Sarah, who was a distance away actually laughed out loud), they would indeed give birth to Isaac.
This story reminds us that everyone has something vital to offer. Abraham and Sarah offer food, water, some shade. The travelers share a message from God. We all have a role to live in this life, and we all have something to give, and something to receive. Sometimes all we have to offer are prayers and love. That is more than enough for we can depend on God to give us what we need. Learning to trust that we will be provided for is part of all our journeys. Let us always encourage one another for we know we journey together. Amen.
Prayer Holy God, you have called us on this journey, and we know that wherever we are, you are with us. Help us to treat one another, and ourselves, with love and encouragement. You know sometimes the journey does get difficult. We thank you for the good traveling companions you have given us. May we not take you, or them, for granted, but rather offer the hospitality of our hearts. May we always rest comfortably in the company of one another and in your care. Amen. "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2 Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor, San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ SpiritCare Ministry to Seniors P.S. Read Sue Ann's Blog www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough Scripture: Psalm 46: 1-3, 10 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah ... Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
I believe Jesus might have heard this tender message in the Garden of Gethsemane. He wanted the cup he was about to receive to pass him by. That was not to be, but a wondrous story unfolded then, and it continues to do so today. Let us remember that Christ is always guiding us. "Shh...Listen" God is telling us to sit in the silence and know that He is everywhere. God is asking us to be willing to trust and be patient. Let's let God be God, because we cannot. Yet, what we can do is pray, knowing that God is always with us, right where we are. Isn't that good news? Let us give thanks.
Prayer Our prayer today comes from the beautiful hymn, Be Still My Soul" Be still my soul; for God is on your side, bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Trust in your God, your savior and your guide, who through all changes faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a peaceful end. Words written by Katharina von Schlegel, 1752 |
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