From thirdway.com:
A Sip of Scripture
Daily Scripture:
PATHS OF PEACE
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart. NRSV
Reference: Psalm 15:1-
a simple desireShort commentary on “A Sip of Scripture” from Third Way Cafe
The Mission of Shalom
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“O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart.” ( Psalm 15:1-2 )
In the past few weeks my focus has been divided when writing these blogs/commentaries. I am looking at finishing this year speaking to issues of peace, but also looking towards next year when the focus of the scripture passages will be mission. I will not have (or am not anticipating) any helps in inspiration as I have drawn from 366 Ways to Peace.
Today it is Pam McAllister who is quoted; “It is crucial that we begin to understand peace to mean, not only an end to war, but an end to all the ways we do violence to ourselves, each other, the animals, the earth.” It is the latter part of the verse that would seem to support this type of peace plan.
But as I think about mission issues, my thoughts are drawn to the first part of the verse. Who is worthy to be seen as one of God’s chosen? Who is worthy to be called into God’s holy presence? These are more missional reflections. Of course the quick and easy answer is that everyone is. We are all part of God’s creation. And Christ has made a way through his life, death, and resurrection as our exemplar and saviour. But do we treat others as if they are worthy? And then there we are back on peace and shalom issues.
The walls and boundaries between shalom/peace and mission are not absolute; it is that way with most all religious and faith ideologies. One should and does flow into another because they all address how we view and worship our God.
If a person walks blamelessly, does what is right, and speaks truth from their heart -would they not also be people of peace, and accepting of all of God’s creation, welcoming them to worship and being in community with them?
As the weeks go on, I will try to see and identify both shalom and missional aspects of the scripture that comes to us daily. It is my hope that in this way we can move easily from shalom/peace and into mission. That in keeping within the idea of gentleness we will not make an abrupt and sudden change in the New Year, but will flow from one consideration to another. And in keeping with the theme of Advent we will look to coming of our Lord of Peace whose mission it was, is, and will always be the tending to God’s creation.
May you gentle reader walk in the way of God leads you. Selah!
Written by Carole
December 13, 2010 at 12:10 am
Posted in commentary
.Peace and shalom at sundown
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“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” (Ephesians 4:26 )
Anger is actually a complex emotion. There is the “being mad” anger which is a negative emotion that results in a raised voice, increased blood flow to the face and scalp that causes a reddening of the face, and a tensing of body muscles. The motivation is most usually displeasing or disturbing events external to the person experiencing the emotions. Some people, because of temperament, personality, physiology, or upbringing are more prone/susceptible to getting mad.
But there is also the prolonged anger that can simmer below the surface and not cause any marked change in the person feeling it. Most of the time people like this are more susceptible to being mad. Being mad can be likened to a storm that blows into a person’s life, wrecks the havoc it will, and then leaves. Anger is more like a volcano that can build up over years until finally it explodes. Trying to figure which is worse is like trying to figure out if which would be worse to experience; the storm where the devastation is immediate or the volcano where the devastation is unpredictable in its coming.
This verse from Ephesians could be applicable to either being mad or angry’ either the immediate or the prolonged. If we would re-write the verse to encompass both, we could say “In your being mad do not sin when you express the negative emotions. And do not let the sun go down before you deal with your anger and resolve the longstanding issues that cause it.”
It is not a sin to be mad or angry. It is a sin to hold on to your anger and let being mad rule your actions. Just as a storm can “blow over” and not cause damage, and that a volcano can rumble a bit and never explode, you can be mad and be angry without sinning.
Living a life of peace does not mean never being mad or angry. Sometimes when see peace being abused and broken we become mad/angry. But this can lead us to make changes and re-establish peace and peaceful conditions.
May you gentle reader use your emotions, positive and negative, to bring shalom to those who suffer. Selah!
Written by Carole
December 12, 2010 at 12:26 am
Posted in commentary
.As children of the Most Hight
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“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” ( Luke 6:35 )
My daughter and I were looking at an old picture of me. It was taken in three-quarter profile and my chin was tilted up. From that angle she and I looked a lot alike. I have often told her stories of her great-grandmother, my grandmother on my father’s side, who she is named for. She gets a kick out of hearing how some of her personality traits remind me of my grandmother. We have been told we resemble each other even now, looking more like sisters than mother and daughter. But she is definitely my child; but I am not “the Most High”.
Most children resemble their parents; personality traits, hair color, height, and food preferences are just some of the things that are passed along from biological parent to biological child. But even adopted children and blended families can resemble each other in significant ways.
How though do we resemble our God? Do we love our enemies as God loves them? Do we treat them well? Do we lend to others not expecting recompense in return? Are we kind to the ungrateful and the wicked?
I would encourage you gentle reader to look into the mirror that is your inner being and soul, and ask yourself, Do I resemble my God?
May you gentle reader look more and more like your Lord, until the day comes that the Lord of Shalom comes back to claim the children of the Most High. Selah!
Written by Carole
December 11, 2010 at 1:35 am
Posted in commentary
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