Altruistic Egoism.    That’s quite a mouthful!

How about “When you give of yourself you get so much in return.”      That’s more like it.

Jesus shared plenty of words and examples of altruistic egoism including 

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”  ~ Luke 6:31

We heard this passage regularly from our mom while growing up. It did (and does) resonate today, helping the Spirit move us to do some things outside our comfort zones.

And it’s not just her words that ring in our ears. Our mom also “walks her talk” – – at age 87 she is still mighty active! And not only does she bless, she is blessed and grateful.

During Lent, more churches are encouraging folks to “Take Something On!” When we see pictures of people helping others, inevitably the helpers are smiling and engaging with others. A visual “symptom” of altruistic egoism! 🙂

ACTION: What can you “take on this week” to help another, possibly moving outside your comfort zone in the process?

PRAYER: Dear God, help us to remember about loving another the way we want to be loved. During this Lenten season, spur us with unexpected energy to help others; in the process feeling even better ourselves. Amen!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 28, 2021:

• • Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 
  • Psalm 22:23-31 
  • Romans 4:13-25 
  • Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

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During devotional time, some of us receive comfort from hearing stories and scripture instead of reading them. Our Daily Bread provides this service on a regular basis with their devotionals. As an example, the commentary “Praising Through Problems” is HERE along with the accompanying Job 1:13-22 scripture. The audio is a link on the site and is also HERE.

This quote from the Our Daily Bread devotional resonates: “Even at our lowest point, we can lift our eyes to the Lord.” 

ACTION: Consider taking a minute in prayer right now and during that time literally lift your eyes and enjoy that feeling of praising God in the midst of whatever joys and concerns you are experiencing.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 28, 2021:

• • Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 
  • Psalm 22:23-31 
  • Romans 4:13-25 
  • Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

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“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

~ Matthew 11:28-30

Maybe someone you know is carrying a particularly heavy burden? If so, perhaps today is the day to send some extra prayers of strength & support? to send a note of encouragement? to “put yourself in their shoes” and do something you think would be helpful and/or uplifting?

This Amy Grant song (HERE) is very topical and is worth the 3 minutes investment to listen. Let the words and music fill your heart as you allow the burdens to lift a little from your own life and visualize God lifting those burdens from your loved ones too.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 28, 2021:

• • Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 
  • Psalm 22:23-31 
  • Romans 4:13-25 
  • Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

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During a Kings Daughters and Sons gathering recently, Emmy read a portion of the poem entitled “Joy Unspeakable.” It was captivating. Upon looking it up HERE, who should appear to be sharing the message but our friends at CAC!

As CAC describes, “Holmes begins her book Joy Unspeakable with this evocative poem, tracing the thread of creative expression from the birth of the universe through the Christian Desert Mothers and Fathers (who were dark-skinned, though they’re often portrayed as white), through slavery and the continued oppression of people of color.” Here’s an example of the prose to “wet your whistle”

… For the tap dancing, boogie woogie,
rap/rock/blues griots
who also hear God,
joy unspeakable is
that space/time/joy continuum thing
that dares us to play and pray
in the interstices of life,
it is the belief that the phrase
“the art of living”
means exactly what it says…

~ from the poem Joy Unspeakable by Barbara Holmes

The griots (storytellers) are so effective in song – with rhythmic beats, melodies, harmonies, lyrics and more. Listening to those songs can lead to substantial contemplation!

The power of the poem must be taken in its entirety however, reviewing the thread through all the ages. You’ll thank yourself for taking some good time with this poem in reflection…

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

1. Listen to one or more of the following music forms mentioned in the poem: boogie woogie, rap/rock/blues. How does this aid your contemplation and reflection of the historical journeys that the poem Joy Unspeakable describes
2. Consider going back and reading the poem HERE aloud one more time

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 21, 2021:

• Genesis 9:8-17 
• Psalm 25:1-10 
• 1 Peter 3:18-22 
• Mark 1:9-15

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As we begin the Lenten journey for 2021, Christian Playbook will focus on the book The Rising (by Wendy M. Wright) and various other devotional materials about loosening the bonds. For Ash Wednesday, part of the focus in The Rising is this text from Isaiah:

“Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to your God? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own family?” ~ Isaiah 58:5b-7

In The Rising, Wendy talks about many fasts and non-violent protest that have been done in history. Whether done as one or with many, such efforts can bring substantial changes for an individual, communities and/or our world!

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

1. Today, consider finding a church that does an Ash Wednesday service and spend the time worshiping (a link to Mount Washington Presbyterian’s online service @ 7 PM Eastern Time is HERE)
2. Will you consider “taking something on” or “giving something up” for the Lenten season?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 21, 2021:

• Genesis 9:8-17 
• Psalm 25:1-10 
• 1 Peter 3:18-22 
• Mark 1:9-15

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Worship at MWPC was blessed a few years back when our chancel choir shared the song Make This Church A Welcome Place. You can hear a choir’s rendition – with choral score and lyrics – HERE. In addition to the overall concept of making our churches welcome places, the song lyrics resonate with those of us “taking on” activities while preparing for the Lenten season:

“Reaching out to others, serving both great and small”

“in our words and through our deeds, knowing you will meet our needs”

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Think of a few members of your worshiping/spiritual community and forward this email or send along the song link above. Maybe it’s an opportunity to brainstorm actions to make your community an even more welcome place?
• To whom can you reach out to this week and “lighten life?”

PRAYER: Dear God, in our week ahead, strengthen us to reach out with complete confidence that you will meet our needs in ways we cannot even begin to understand.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 21, 2021:

• Genesis 9:8-17 
• Psalm 25:1-10 
• 1 Peter 3:18-22 
• Mark 1:9-15

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Born on 2/12, 212 years ago (:-o), Abe Lincoln was a master at injecting humor. Many of us believe that Jesus Christ, like Lincoln, was pretty good with a tale and a grin.**

Lincoln used material from many sources. In his book Jesus, Man of Joy, Sherwood Wirt writes…

I cannot help believing that Artemus Ward, Abraham Lincoln’s favorite humorist, was reflecting the mind of Christ when he told the Pharisees of his day, “Your religion is small pertaters, I must say. You air in a dreary fog all the time, and you treat the jolly sunshine of life as though it were a thief, drivin’ it from your doors by them pecooler noshuns of yourn.” ***

Seems like a good idea to stay away from any such pecooler noshuns that allow dreary fog to overcome the jolly sunshine of life!  In our religion and life in general, let’s go about sharing the love and JOY of Christ!

Along those lines, HERE are “humorous bulletin blunders” to enjoy  (with apologies to religious office staff members who usually get the material right!) Here’s one, as a teaser…

Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help.

Have a great day, filled with joy, humor and the Spirit!

** In his book The Humor of Christ, Elton Trueblood says “We do not know with certainty how much humor there is in Christ’s teaching, but we can be sure that there is far more than is normally recognized.” (Preface, page 10)

*** Topical Encyclopedia, no. 1139

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 14, 2021:

• • 2 Kings 2:1-12 
  • Psalm 50:1-6 
  • 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 
  • Mark 9:2-9

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The song HERE is inspiring. Do Not Be Afraid. The images of God being with us are powerful. You Are Mine. I Love You.

Listen and allow the music to soothe you on this day. Do Not Be Afraid…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit !

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 14, 2021:

• • 2 Kings 2:1-12 
  • Psalm 50:1-6 
  • 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 
  • Mark 9:2-9

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

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Thanks to the Methodist Church for so many wonderful materials they provide electronically and in print. This UMC article about finding more time to pray is an example, with suggestions such as: “…Use Resources…Enjoy It…Pray With a Group…Find a Sacred Place…Experiment With Different Methods…”

There is plenty of content when seeking new ways to pray:

• the CP Prayers section has loads of ideas mined from various sources
• many mainline churches have wonderful online resources. The United Methodist Church online resources are HERE.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Add a daily calendar item that says “Pray;” say a breath prayer every hour (set an hourly timer on your phone?), click on one of the resources above or ???

Enjoy the day while increasing the conversation with God, energized by the Spirit !

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 7, 2021:

• Isaiah 40:21-31 
• Psalm 147:1-11, 20c 
• 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 
• Mark 1:29-39

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In Luke 19 we read about a chief tax collector who was wealthy and not liked by many around. When Jesus sees Zacchaeus, he wants to be with him and is welcomed gladly. People mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

While in the company of Jesus, Zacchaeus experiences a change of heart. He will be a different person and will even correct some past missteps. The story concludes

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” ~ Luke 19:9-10

A song about this story, entitled Zacchaeus, is performed HERE by the Medical Mission Sisters. The energy of this “Singing Sister song” enhances an image of Jesus as a caring, joyful presence. That joy is shared with Zacchaeus and is an opportunity for us to share as we work to be Christ-like in the communities where we find ourselves.

Enjoy the day, energized by the Spirit !

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 7, 2021:

• Isaiah 40:21-31 
• Psalm 147:1-11, 20c 
• 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 
• Mark 1:29-39

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

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CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – NEWEST UPDATE on 1/10/21

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