Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection: The Power of Your Word

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In some version of the good old days, a contract could be sealed with a word and a handshake. Children were taught, “Your word is your bond.” This was an agreed-upon community standard that made it possible to trust and be trusted.

After my father’s recent death, I learned that he had a business partner he trusted so implicitly that all it took was one phone call, one word, one handshake, to agree to a new business deal – no lawyers, no spreadsheets, no documentation, no fine print. It worked, for them.
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Selma 50th Anniversary Bridge Crossing Jubilee: God’s Work Continues Among God’s People

Thousands returned to Selma this weekend to remember God’s liberation of God’s people and to rekindle a sense of purpose and unity, to go back into the world with eyes and hearts and minds wide open to those things that stand between the people of God and the justice, mercy and abundant life promised by God

The Selma commemoration is act of remembrance, of gratitude to God and people of faith and courage. It is also an act of recommitment to be about God’s work in the world –

Bloody Sunday brought to light the American state-sanctioned violence against African-Americans and the liberating spirit of God to bring an end to that violence and bondage.

That is the liberating work of the spirit of God even now, and if it is God’s work, it is our work.

As John Legend said, “Selma is Now!”

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two to three Black people were lynched every week in the American South. The same number of Black people are now killed every week now by white police officers; a Black person is killed every 28 hours at the hands of police.

To end this violence and bondage is the liberating work of the spirit of God today, and if it is God’s work, it is our work.

This we know: Nothing and no one will stand in the way of the liberating spirit of God.

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Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection from Carolyn Foster: A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Those Who Marched

Gracious God, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the six hundred strong, the men and women who, as one in your Spirit, marched for freedom on Bloody Sunday.

Their way of courage and non-violence remains alive and inspires us to follow them. In our mind’s eye, as we remember their witness, guide us in their footsteps as we march on to a future where all your children will flourish together in your love.

Amen.

 

A Litany for Racial Reconciliation

Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Carolyn Foster: A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Those Who Marched →

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Lenten Reflection: Let Your Light Shine

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JOHN 5:30-44

30“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

31“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. Continue reading Lenten Reflection: Let Your Light Shine →

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Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: Honor your rebellion

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“Remember  and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God in the wilderness. You have been rebelling against the Lord from the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place.” Deuteronomy 9:7

Honor your rebellion-

Know that it has no fixed domain-

Will not harm you-

Will lead you, rather,  beyond the common vision-

To your true inheritance and appropriate reign.

  Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: Honor your rebellion →

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Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection: judge not

“Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.

You say, ‘We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.’ Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience?
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Lenten reflection from Carmen Maria Austin: A Lesson from my Brother

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This response was sent from Carmen to Jennifer, after Carmen read Jennifer’s Lenten Reflection last Wednesday.

 

This story really struck home with me.

More than a decade ago, my now-deceased brother, Curtis, and I had a conversation about this same situation after he had just given a panhandler $5.

“Lil Curt” felt it was his responsibility to share what God had blessed him with and not to judge; it was the receiver’s choice to do right with Curt’s gift.

Ever since then, I always have a $5 bill (and fruit) in my car tray that I share with folks asking for help.  I always ask them to say a prayer for me.

I have always gotten a “thank you, God bless you”  in return, and a warm feeling knowing my brother is smiling down at me from above knowing that he continues to teach his Big sister how to love unconditionally.

-Carm

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Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection from Susan Proctor: giving up expectations

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Recently a friend of mine dismissed me from his/her life, saying that, although I was generous and compassionate with others, I was not so with said person. That my pain and honesty was cruel.

So, I have had much reflection on this. Who wants to be measured by someone who is keeping score on what a gift may be?

But what I have thus far sifted from this passage is this: that with any disputes, missed communication, slights, neglect, even anger with friends–that what has salvaged and brought us closer, is that underneath it all was a core of love. Simply love. Sustaining love. It bears all. Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Susan Proctor: giving up expectations →

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Lenten reflection

Lenten Reflection from Susan Proctor: “giving up Jesus”

There is a great cartoon that shows Evangelists at the door of a woman’s sparse room asking her if she had found Jesus. Looking closely, you see “Jesus” hiding behind her curtains.

Hiding. From those whom are asking her “if she had found…” Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Susan Proctor: “giving up Jesus” →

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Lenten Reflection from Rev. Angie: Our Business

I was stunned to read the results of an al.com poll about how people of faith should respond to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and the failure to indict the police officer who shot him. Here are the results:

3.9%      Hold a peaceful protest as a statement of solidarity
13.6%     Work to prevent racial violence because it could happen in Alabama too
28.0%     Pray for the Brown family and everyone who is hurting
54.4%     This isn’t a faith issue. It’s a matter of law and order.

Over 54% chose “do nothing” (“This isn’t a faith issue”) over prayer (“Pray for the Brown family and those who are hurting”)!
Continue reading Lenten Reflection from Rev. Angie: Our Business →

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