On the Way to Wonder

Today we come to the end of September 2020 and to the end of James 4.  It is hard to read verses 13-17 about boasting what someone can accomplish tomorrow without pondering our presidential campaign and last night’s debate where two men shared (we won’t say boasted) about what they could accomplish better than the other guy.   Oh my!  Who will be able to control disease and the virus in our midst?  Who can best provide income for families?  Who can keep our environment healthy?  Who, who, who?  James clearly points out that the future is in God’s hands and life can change in a moment with a car accident, a phone call, or -a loss. 

         Chapter one compared us to a toss waving in the sea driven by wind and unstable in doubt or to a wild flower that blossoms and fades.  Now James uses the image of a mist that appears and vanishes.  A presidential term is even shorter on the stage of history.  James claims boasting is arrogance, placing our trust in ourselves rather than in God.

         Yesterday I went to get a new state license and to register our car.  I thought I had my ducks in order and had all necessary documents.  My husband and I were assigned to different windows but our documents of residence were to both of us, oops.  Fedex delivered the title deed to our temporary address three doors from our permanent address so our temporary shuffling of houses became obvious.  Then when they looked at proof of insurance it became clear that insurance was issued at our old address so that we had to run to the lobby and call the company and get everything updated with addresses.  A seemingly straight-forward process somehow drained all my energy.  Life is like that.  We think we have things  in order to tackle huge issues like environment or welfare and suddenly we are masking and finding new ways to do church.  Only God holds tomorrow.

         James concludes that when we know what we should do and don’t do it, we sin.  The focus returns to the present and the reality that God holds our lives in his hands and our task is to live with integrity in that knowledge.  I do not know your plans for today nor which ones will go side-wards but God does.  Let’s keep our eyes on him for he is faithful.  Blessings.

“Channel surfing” from yesterday’s thoughts transitions to “slander” for us to ponder today.  Tonight, I believe, is our first presidential debate and for sure the “fact checkers” will be on duty.  Both parties will find as many distortions of truth as they can.  James warns against judging others.  Of course James is talking about within the body of believers but perhaps there is an element of truth for politics also?  When we judge, he says, we put ourselves over the law and assume the authority to enforce it.  But if we have no power to enforce the law, he reasons, by what right do we tear apart another with the law?

         The Biblical story that comes to mind involves Moses, Aaron, and Miriam in Numbers 12.  All three siblings were significant people in leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Moses, the leader, Aaron the first high priest, and Miriam the song leader worked together.  But Moses took a new wife, a Cushite, and Miriam grumbled against Moses.  We don’t know underlying causes but we do know Miriam and Aaron starting speaking against Moses and his new wife.  God stepped in and punished Miriam and Aaron.  God reiterates that he is working with his leader and Miriam is out of line.

         Slandering others seems to be a form of self-justification.  Ooops, that word “self” has slipped in again and my focus has turned from God unto me.  Slander is not God-focused but self-focused because I place myself in the seat of God and judge.  We diminish this on the everyday level by calling it “idle gossip” but slander in all its forms is dangerous, divisive, and destructive.  The tongue (Chapter 3) undisciplined destroys fellowship and communities

         As we listen to all the information we hear surfing the news channels, may we be careful that we do not ignorantly slander others by passing on information to make ourselves look informed and knowledgeable.  Lord, help us during elections!

I like the image of “channel surfing” or “surfing the web” which our generation can employ.  I sit back  on the couch and flip through the alternatives available to me until I settle on something that fits my mood, fits my fancy.  James returns to the theme of chapter one which we might identify as channel surfing through life.  We are like that wave tossed and turned by the wind, sometimes up and sometimes down, searching for advice that fits our fancy at the moment.  James challenges us to choose or be forever divided.  He advises we seek God and the Devil will flee.  As we repent of the adrenaline rush, the thrill, the chase after our wants and turn to God’s wants and God’s wisdom, God draws near to us.  As we humble ourselves before God, he brings about true fulfillment and peace.

         Having spent my youth at the ocean in California, I love the thrill of catching that big wave that will carry me almost to shore.  I only body surfed and I must admit that more often than not I was too early and ended up tossed and twirled about in the crash or too late wishing I could have paddled a little faster and had better timing.  It is a bit dismaying to think that my moods often correlate to my focus of faith at the moment.  Am I seeking God or my wants?  Am I resisting evil or at least my selfish desires?  The cake looks so good but as soon as I eat it, I berate myself for my weakness.  Double-mindedness is real.

         I am reminded of C. S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters where a greater devil is writing to his nephew working in the world and admonishing him to remember that people are amphibians.  People live in highs and lows.  Screwtape says in effect, God is happiest when the person at a low point when God does not seem present, that person prays in the darkness to the God he is trusting. Spiritual maturity is like learning to walk.  We are not drones controlled by God but his children learning to use our spiritual abilities and we must learn to choose to seek him.

         Today, as you go through the ups and downs of the challenges you face may you humbly trust God and he will lift you up.  Blessings.

Contention and idolatry, that’s an interesting combination.  James proposes in chapter 4 that we have arguments because we are focusing on our own selfish desires and wants.  As we wind into our political season here, we politely call all the differing points of view, politics, convincing us that one candidate can do the job better than the other, help us achieve our dreams if their party has political control.  Are they different paths to the same outcome, different ways of approaching the aame God?  At best it is confusing.

         Jemes calls his friends an “adulterous people” because he points out that friendship with the world is being at odds with God, the kingdom of heaven.  Wow.  That is hard for us to hear and easy to dismiss as “back then” when siding with Rome was not siding with faith in Jesus.  We are far more tolerant and embracing of diversity in culture today and slide over these verses.  It seems though that a core question niggles at the back of my mind.  Am I seeking to please me, achieve my desires, or am I seeking to God’s desires, and perhaps do I have the two confused? 

         When we think of blessings, we can merge the ideas of blessings of God with blessings of this world.  For sure God does not want us sick, poor, warring.  So now we are back to chapter one again.  It is during times of trials that we have trouble sorting out values for suffering tempts us to put our eyes on the values of this world.  Then we hear that little voice whispering in our ear, “IF…”  If God is the God certainly he would not want you unwise or sick or poor or…. Name your problem.  Trials have a way of sorting our values.  Hence the charge of idolatrous, having an idol, making something more important than God himself and seeking, worshipping that outcome.  I justify lying on income tax because…  I justify luxury because…  I justify compromise.

         James ends with a promise.  The Spirit of God is battling for us “intensely” and we are given grace.  “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  When we find ourselves pondering choices, may we take that as a clue to stop and reflect.  Who am I seeking to please?  God bless you as you prepare for Sunday tomorrow.  Blessings.

Arguments!  There is nothing that corrodes relationships like arguments and James jumps from discussing how an undisciplined tongue (not unsimilar to the man driven and tossed by the wind like a wave in chapter one) destroys and undermines wisdom.  Faith is what we believe but arguments is the works that reveal the condition of the heart.  James talks about the “desires that battle within” us. That throws us back to chapter one where he says temptation comes from our desires that battle within us and give birth to sin that leads to death.  Here he specifically names the death of relationships and fellowship in our groups.  Again our eyes shift from God’s desires in a situation to our wants.  Perhaps our famous saying is, “my way or the highway!”

         The patriarch Jacob who had twelve sons by two wives, gave a beautiful coat to his favorite son, Joseph, by the second wife.  The other brothers are jealous, envious, and hurt.  Favoritism has led to actions that hurt.  The brothers plot against Joseph, sell him into slavery, and Joseph’s life goes into turmoil.  As far as I can tell, the story is about family conflict, desires for parental love, and sibling rivalry.  Many of us can identify with those kind of family dynamics.  The church is a similar microcosm of people struggling for recognition, affirmation, and power.  We are people.

         The beautiful part of all this is that even in the midst of all our fights and quarrels, God does not abandon us but continues to walk with us.  Joseph eventually rises to power in Egypt and saves his family but the brothers carry guilt for much of their life.  It took decades to heal that wound.  Some families never recover

         James points out our duplicity.  We think we are praying and asking for God’s help but in reality we are asking God to give us what we want for our advancement.  For sure, some time today there will be that irritating encounter that rubs us the wrong way.  May we stop and think about our motives, how our faith is being challenged by the trial, and what response we give would glorify God.  So easy to say and yet so hard to do.  Keep my tongue in check, look for favoritism in my heart, and acknowledge that all good gifts come from God!  Blessings as you walk through your day!

James summarizes chapter 3 with a final statement, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”  As I ponder the Bible, it seems like so many stories are tinged with finding peace through violence, through war, through wiping out the enemy.  And yet Jesus says in the beatitudes, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” 

         Webster defines peace first as freedom from civil disturbance.  The world is not at peace as refugees flee and our cities have riots.  OR: Peace is not being bothered mentally by disquieting thoughts or emotions.  Suicide rates speak about a lack of that kind of peace.  AND: Peace can refer to harmonious relationships socially as when Jacob sought to appease the anger to Esau by offering flocks of animals as he returned home.  I suspect peace is different than appeasement.  Fourthly, peace can be a period of time when we mutually agree not to shot each other.  In the book Peace Child a tribe in Papua New Guinea would give a child from their tribe to their enemy to care for and as long as that child lived, there would be peace.  The author points out that God gave his child, his son, to us to create peace and since Christ is God and lives eternally, relationship with Christ is eternal peace with God.  Lastly “peace!” can be an interjection to stop an argument, perhaps similar to “be quiet.” 

     Peace means a lot of things to people and James shares that peacemakers, those who do not fall into the traps of doubt, favoritism, and gossip but can navigate through life by a spiritual north star, by wisdom, will reap a harvest of righteousness.  Righteousness is being right with God and people, not being in conflict within or without, harmonious, content that our lives are in God’s hands. God does not tempt us nor lead us into evil.         As we go about today may we find the solutions to whatever confronts and challenges us by returning our focus to a God who sees the big picture and who works outside our little boxes to bring peace with him for all.  Blessings.

Yesterday I was T-boned by fear.  I summoned all my courage to cross the street and join the women, whom I know mostly, to do water exercises.  With all my back pain, could I get in and out of the pool without making a fool of myself?  I crossed the road and suddenly saw sitting at the foot of the column of the porch, a long black snake head raised!!  I admit it, I yelled and froze in place.  After a few seconds the fellow sped under the bushes and out ran a lizard.  I was not going to outrun that snake even as a youth!  In a few moments the director came to work and put his motorbike between the snake and me and I ooched into the building.  Fear without and fear within.  Late in the afternoon I went to see the cottage being rehabbed for us.  There on the cement car port floor lay the snake’s twin sibling!  Everyone else knows about all the black racers on our compound  and know they are friendly but I did not.  My day was undermined.

         James 3 continues in verse 17 to say that wisdom from God is “first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  I consider this my litmus test of wise advice and wise strategies.  Still seeking comfort for yesterdays trauma, toay I read Proverbs 23 and finally turned to Psalm 23, forgetting that it was the classic “Good Shepherd” psalm we always quote.  I reflected on the psalm in light of my snake experience.  Christians equate the good shepherd with Christ and how he leads us.  Psalm 23 tells me I can lie down and rest without fear of an unseen snake, be refreshed by water that does not toss to and fro unstable, be guided on the right path, be accompanied by the shepherd, be fed and anointed, and eventually enter the Shepherd’s home.  Unlike my morning and afternoon walk that were T-boned by fear and caution because of perceived danger, Psalm 23 resonates with James 3 confirming the wisdom of the God who guides my paths – even when there are snakes.  As you are surprised by the unexpected today, I pray you will stay grounded in the truth of wisdom that comes from above that leads to life.  Blessings.

Forty-five years ago I became interested in James because he talks about wisdom, the gift king Solomon asked of God.  Wisdom is a key theme permeating scripture.  The person who finds it, is blessed, and the one who does not is defeated and in danger of being foolish. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom,” say James 3:13.  Hearts filled with “bitter envy and selfish ambition” do not come from God but are marked by “envy, selfish ambition, disorder and every evil practice.”  Pretty heavy stuff. 

         I did not want to be known by those adjectives but I struggled.  I had a younger sister who was brilliant with long straight blonde hair to her waist.  There was nothing she couldn’t do or so it seemed to me.  Short, brown curly hair was not the vogue in those surfer days.  It seems silly now as I look back for God has certainly blessed my life. It seems that the wisdom that James talks about comes from above, from God which means I must not be trapped by self centered whining about my trials, trapped by stereotypes that tempt me to think I am better or worse than others, nor trapped by gossip from other’s tongues that take by mind down a rabbit trail of lies and imaginations.

         Certainly I count to ten when I become angry but I also count to ten when I encounter disorder, selfish ambition and envy.  I must ask myself where I find God in the overflow of rhetoric that seeks to justify violence and disorder.  James links wisdom with humility.  I think of humility as the ability to look at oneself objectively, acknowledging truth and not being blinded by comparisons to others.  It is standing in the truth of God’s light and accepting his leadership.  Tough stuff in a world that wants us to be self confident and empowered.  I pray as you reflect on the events of your life today that you will see your life through God’s eyes and not be blinded by looking at others.  Blessings.

Ouch, we have reached James 3, the chapter that convicts me.  James starts the chapter warning us not to rush to be teachers.  I would like to think that he is not speaking about teachers as a profession but the temptation to consider oneself more knowledgeable and hence responsible to set another on the “straight and narrow, the right” path.  That falls in line with chapter two on practicing favoritism, that is living by stereotypes that define one sort of person as better than another, and needs to be taught.  In any case, teaching is when I open my mouth to share words of “wisdom” that I hope might help another.  Parent to child, we think of correction and discipline.  Between equals, teaching often feels more like criticism.  We allow the worship leader to preach because the person is teaching from the Word.  All those examples involve use of the tongue to communicate to another and so James has much to say about the tongue and its potential danger.  In the shadow of the last chapter, talking about faith and works, perhaps we can consider the use of the tongue as an example of how our faith, a matter of the heart, works in the expression of the tongue, our communications.

         Tongues can be so healing and constructive as shown by the example of a bit in a horse’s mouth.  When my friend gives words of encouragement and affirmation, my heart is turned to health and life.  The tongue used for good, motivates us (the Gettysburg Address, our leaders) and heals us (no cancer!).  But likewise the tongue is used for gossip to destroy lives and motivate people to war and hate.  I often find myself reflecting on orators today and pondering how what I am hearing is motivating me to act, to work.  Am I being directed to life or death?

         Interestingly Proverbs 21 for today also says much about the tongue.  Verse 2 reminds us that we often think our words are right but God is looking to see if our heart is right.  Verse 6 shares, “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”  Twice the writer warns about living with a wife who is quarrelsome and contentious.  And verse 23 shares, “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

         James pleads for consistency and the avoidance of duplicity.  That is not unlike the image of the wave driven and tossed by the wind in chapter 1.  There is no wisdom when we are tossed about and no blessing when our tongues are undisciplined.  So today I ponder my role, not only as a teacher, but also as a wife, partner.  To what extent do the words of my mouth reflect the faith of my heart?  Does my speech build or is it idle chatter?  As you go about your tasks today, I pray you will hear words that build you as you seek to live with others.  Blessings.