King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and broader horizons

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, and our readings included recognizing Jesus as "ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). It is always a comfort to me that earthly rulers are not the ultimate authority; it may even be a comfort to the earthly leaders that they have a leader of their own (see David and Solomon). 

Momentarily, I felt left behind that the kings and rulers have someone as a backstop, someone who fulfills their tasks at a level above them. Then I reflected how often Jesus is compared to people in other roles. He is named Good Shepherd -- over the shepherds and all the rest of us. He was first "Fisher of men" over his disciples who were fishermen, who in turn become like him as fishers of men. He was Master of the Banquet in Cana. Physician over the physicians, and for us all. He is Great high priest over the priests, even over the high priest. He is Judge over the judges. He is Teacher over the teachers -- and himself the truth that they seek. And along those lines, whenever any of us need a father figure, God is our Father. 

When any of us is out of our depth, we have someone to turn to. And whenever we have a worthy job, we are in some ways like him. May his kingdom come, his will be done on earth as in heaven. 

Essential Bible Verses for Dealing with Difficult People

I have been struggling with my attitude towards someone lately, and wanted to collect some scriptures to help me with that. 

1. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all. (Romans 12:18)
2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
3. Judge not, so that you will not be judged.  (Matthew 7:1)
4. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)
5. See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
6. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
7. Do not repay evil for evil or slander for slander, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)
8. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; knowing that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel but be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient. (2 Timothy 2:23-24)
9.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
10. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

   So many good candidates for this list. 

The temptation to measure God's love by personal convenience

I find a temptation to measure God's love by personal convenience. The thought tends to lurk unspoken, since when said out loud it's clearly an ungrounded thought. And yet it's a real one, so I'll take a moment to look at it. 

There's that quiet assumption in my mind: I measure temperature with a thermometer, weight with a scale, and God's love by whether my life is going to my plan, or by my comfort and convenience, or by prosperity. When I look at "How much do my plans meet with success?", does that really measure God's love more than my planning ability? Or does it measure events I could not foresee? 

The Bible relates the life journeys of those that I am sure God loved, and they were not easy lives. We see Abraham called to leave his homeland, Joseph in prison, Moses on the run, the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness for a generation, Daniel imprisoned, Paul shipwrecked. Even Christ, executed. And so many others I haven't named. 

So I have to remember that comfort is not a measure of God's love. Desiring an easy life may say more about me than about God, and what it says is not necessarily flattering. 

How do I recognize love? Love listens. Love hears. Love is present. Love is there for us. And especially that presence: when I think of God's omnipresence, I might remember why it matters. Omnipresence is part of the fabric of God's love: Nothing can separate us from the love of God. In scripture, Paul named a long series of things that cannot separate us from the love of God, and he would know: he had experienced many of those hardships that he named. 

On this day, may I stop trying to measure God's love against my smallness, and choose to trust God's love. 

All Saints: Clouds of witnesses and role models

Today at church we celebrated the festival of All Saints. I see those who have gone before us as an encouragement. In the letter to the Hebrews, we're urged to be mindful of the "great cloud of witnesses" as we complete our earthly tasks. And I draw encouragement from the example of what is possible, as lived in the lives of many who have gone before. So in honor of God's people throughout history, here are some who have inspired me: 

1. Naomi - Mother-in-law of Ruth, who was an ancestor of King David. Naomi's love, kindness, and warmth created a home and converted a soul. 
2. Solomon - King of Israel, son of David and Bathsheba .When he dreamed that God offered him anything he might ask, he asked for the wisdom to be a good ruler of such a great people. 
3. Mary of Bethany - Sister of Martha and Lazarus. She famously sat at Jesus' feet and listened rather than busying herself; Jesus stood by her decision and said she had chosen what is better. 
4. Athanasius - Author of several books including On the Incarnation of the Word of God. His clarity in explaining Christ's work, and his passion for showing why it is good news, make his masterpiece writing nearly as inspiring as the canonical gospels. 
5. Eusebius the Historian - Following in the footsteps of Luke, he aimed to be careful in record-keeping and so preserved many fascinating references and faith-building connections. He is an inspiration for me in carrying history by the use of primary sources. 
6. Saint Francis - This man had an innocence so fresh that it would be easy to dismiss as naive, though his spirit had a beauty and generosity that continues in enduring appeal. 
7. Saint Clare - Her single-minded devotion to loving and serving God first earned her the respect of St Francis, and later earned her place among those who led their generation in serving God. 
8. J.S. Bach - an evangelist with a keyboard, he was a prolific composer who is well-known for his beautiful and powerful songs. He would often close his compositions with the initials SDG (Soli Deo Gloria): to God alone be the glory. 
9. G.F. Handel - Another prolific composer, he is most famous for his powerful, electrifying, and hauntingly beautiful composition Messiah, with its well-known finale Hallelujah Chorus. As I've mentioned before, I would rate his Hallelujah as the best Bible study ever written on the Book of Revelation. 
10. Therese of Lisieux - a nun who died young, she attracted many with her humble, accessible humility and her warm, generous spirituality. Her autobiography, recorded in obedience to her mother superior while she was dying, is one of my inspirations. 
11. Theresa of Calcutta - a modern saint whose intense love and devotion shined a light of compassion into the devastatingly poor slums of Calcutta. 
12. J.R.R. Tolkien - not officially a saint on anyone's list except possibly my own, Tolkien's imagination re-envisioned a world in which culture, beauty, and the natural world thrive side-by-side. His work is layered deeply with Christian themes such as the wisdom of hope, the necessity of forgiveness, and the desirability of good.