Courage as a Disciple

November 13th, 2009

Nowhere did Jesus demand His followers to show great courage. Nowhere did He say, “Never compromise on your values.” He didn’t need to! His example was enough.

In John chapter 2 Our Lord stood against all the Jewish leaders of His day because they had made a place of worship into a trading house. He chased them out with whips and overturned their tables. He castigated them for their wicked practices.

The church needs disciples that will courageously give direction. We need disciples who know and will tell the truth. We do not need to be told our duties, we need the Christ like courage to do what we already know we should do.

Discipleship is a battle, and the fight requires courage.  Having courage doesn’t mean that you will never fear or tremble. Having courage means that you will do what is right, regardless of the consequences.

Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer, was a true disciple of courage. He defied the church of his day. In 1521 he appeared before the German Diet  in the city of Worms; though promised safe escort, he knew he risked his life by going. The same promise had been given to John Hus a century before, and they had burned him at the stake. Church leaders had promised Luther forgiveness if he would repent of his “errors” and return to “true faith”. Luther knew this promise had little value since they considered promises to heretics as nonbinding. He also knew the history of the two previous centuries, when thousands of Christians underwent torture, sometimes death, during the infamous Spanish Inquisition.

Luther arrived safely, but the court allowed him no opportunity to defend his beliefs. Instead he was presented with a list of his “errors”.  Knowing that the court would decide whether he lived or died,  Luther said the following:

Unless I am convicted of error by the testimony of Scripture (since I put no trust in the   unsupported authority of Pope or of councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves), by manifest reasoning I stand convicted by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, I cannot and will no recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.

Through the centuries our disciples have made their stands. They have stood for truth integrity, and righteousness, no matter what their field of labor. God has promised that He will honor those who honor Him.

(1 Samuel 2:30)

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Discipleship Requires Teamwork and Humility

November 6th, 2009

Jesus told his disciples that the fields were ready to harvest, obviously using this as a symbol of spiritual readiness. He added,

Those who gather the crop are already getting paid. They are already harvesting the crop for eternal life. So those who plant and those who gather can now be glad together.

“Here is a true saying. ‘One plants and another gathers.’  I sent you to gather what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work. You have gathered the benefits of their work.” (John 4:36-38)

Jesus wanted His disciples to know that they owed a debt of gratitude to those who had labored before them.  He could have easily reminded them that the very land they stood on had been won in combat by Joshua and the faithful Israelites. He could have mentioned the rabbis and the other leaders who kept the Jewish faith and taught the people.

When the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians, he had a similar idea in mind. The Corinthians had begun to elevate the leaders they liked and align themselves with them.

After all, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? We are only people who serve. We helped you to believe. The Lord has given each of us our own work to do. I planted the seed. Apollos watered it. But God made it grow.

So the one who plants is not important. The one who waters is not important. It is God who makes things grow. He is the One who is important. The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. The Lord will give each of us a reward for our work. We work together with God. You are like God’s field. You are like his building. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

Jesus came to His own ministry, but only after John the Baptist had prepared the way. Peter owed his connection with Jesus to his brother Andrew, who invited him to follow the Lord too. And the Book of Acts implies martyrdom of Stephen had a powerful effect on Paul, which helped make way for his conversion.

Why did Jesus, after training His followers, send them out by twos? (Luke 10:1) Having a second person along obviously would encourage a traveler in a strange place. But I wonder whether Jesus had an additional reason in mind.

Might Peter have come back after visiting a city all by himself saying, “Look what I did?” Could it be for the start that Jesus wanted His followers to see their dependence on one another- and on the Lord? He may have even wanted to prepare them for the “one body in Christ” idea. Later Paul’s writings would constantly call the church back to that concept (Rom. 12:3-8, 1Cor. 12:12).

Jesus Himself could have taken credit for everything from Creation onward. But He acknowledged the rules of the faithful, readily pointing to Abraham as the father of the Hebrew nation, for example (John 8:53).

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The Lord is my Banker

October 26th, 2009

The Lord is my banker ; I shall not owe. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He restoreth my loss: He leadeth me beside still waters. Yea though I walk in the valley of the shadow of debt, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy silver and thy gold, they rescue me. Thou preparest a way for me in the presence of business competitors; Thou anointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall do business in the name of the Lord. Amen.

  1. Let there be a breakthrough for me in my transaction in the name of Jesus.
  2. Lord, let me have the spirit of favor in this business transaction. 3. I ask for the release of prosperity on my business in Jesus’ name.
  3. Let all demonic hindrances to my finances be totally paralyzed.
  4. I break every circle of failure in Jesus’ name.
  5. Let my business be shielded away from all evil observers in the name of Jesus.
  6. I claim all my blessings in the name of Jesus.
  7. Let all business problems receive divine solution in Jesus’ name.
  8. Let men go out of their ways to show favour unto me in the name of Jesus.
  9. Lord, let not the lot of the wicked fall upon my business.

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BUSINESS SUCCESS AND VICTORY OVER FINANCIAL DEVOURERS

October 22nd, 2009

BUSINESS SUCCESS AND VICTORY OVER FINANCIAL DEVOURERS
Confessions: Psalms 56:9; 32:8; 23:1,6 Exodus 23:20
Praise Worship
1. Let all my enemies turn back because God is for me.
2. As you are turning back, let the doors of business opportunities open for me; morning, afternoon and evening.
3. Let profitable business meet me on the way in Jesus’ name.
4. No devourer shall destroy the fruit of my labor in Jesus’ name.
5. You devourers and wasters of fortune, I command you to depart from my life in the name of Jesus.
6. I use the Blood of Jesus Christ to wash my hands and my entire body and make them clean today.
7. I retrieve my blessings from every evil attack in Jesus’ name.
8. I break every curse of failure in the name of Jesus.
9. Let the Lord reveal to me every secret behind the problem.
10. I command the devil to take off his legs from any money that belongs to me in the name of Jesus.
11. Let the ministering spirits (God’s Angels) go forth and bring in blessings unto me in the name of Jesus.
12. Let the rod of iron fall on any strange money passed to me in Jesus’ name.

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Peter Did Not Have a Life Jacket…

October 7th, 2009

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. (MT 14:28,29)
1. Be Willing to Clean the Toilets
By the time Jesus got through training and purging the soul of Peter, he was willing to do anything for Jesus. During that training the “walk on water incident” was early evidence to Jesus that Peter was extremely desperate to please his Master. You can bet if he was willing to put his life on the line, he’d wash toilets and even the city dump if asked. Some need to show up Saturday night when the janitor is scheduled to clean the church and get down on their knees and (not pray) scrub the bathroom floors and clean the toilets. No preaching, no ministering or praying for people, just get “spiritually janitorial.”
Beware of “spiritually loitering” with the wrong intent. Peter had that when Jesus started to wash the disciples’ feet and he said, “No, Lord.” And, only after Jesus insisted with the threat that Peter could have nothing to do with Him unless he let Jesus go forth (John 13:4-9) did Peter allow Him.
2. Concentrate on Your Mission
Rare is it when Jesus tells you one day, when you get older, that you will die a not so pleasant death for Him. Peter had that kind of day (John 21:18-19). Peter didn’t take it well and started to look around the crowd, wondering about John’s future. Jesus must have thought quite highly of Peter to actually give him that kind of personal prophetic information. What would you have done if you knew nothing but persecution and a horrible death at an old age awaited you? Quit? I might have thought about it. “That’s my future?”
After Jesus basically told Peter to mind his own business, Peter resolved in his heart he was in for the long haul, good or bad. Are you? No matter what? You may be willing to do anything for God, but make sure it’s for the right motive.
3. Have Nothing to Fall Back On—God is Calling Many to Walk on the Water
In other words, it’s God or nothing. Many already have permission to walk on the water. Walking on the water means that “thing” that Jesus called you to do (whether it was many years ago or just yesterday); it is still valid, it is real and it is not a dream (see Philippians 3:13).
Jesus would have wanted all of the disciples to say, “Lord, if it is You, invite me to come to You on the water.” Once he got the go-ahead, either Peter was going to walk on water or he was going to drown, period. But he had no advance agreement that Jesus was going to grab him. This wasn’t play-acting; this was a real storm, real waves and real danger.
But be of good cheer! Many are getting older now and thinking they have missed it. I don’t think so. And here’s the good news: the majority have been on GPS (God’s Positioning Schedule) and are ready to be called out of the boat…and you will not sink. You will not swim or sink; you will walk to Jesus.

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Jesus is the Model Rule Breaker

September 24th, 2009

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:23-27)

Jesus puts people first, regulations second. Human needs come first, traditions second. The kingdom of God comes first, and everything else second. In practical terms, that means leaders must sometimes violate “sacred” traditions and tear down barriers. Sometimes that takes great courage.
We should not break traditions for the sake of breaking them. Customs can have their place or benefits. Usually they come into place for good reasons. Yet when custom interferes with human need, riles need to be broken. Human need comes before custom and tradition.
Jesus could have used hundreds of examples to show the religious leaders of His day had exploited and spiritually enslaved the people, but He selected one of the most important ones, the law of the Sabbath. Perhaps He did so to so that people would examine other customs, rituals, and regulations by the same criteria.
Sound custom breaking goes back to Jesus’ definition of the first commandment, loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. He tied this to loving our neighbors as ourselves so tightly that it is practically the same commandment. How better can we show our love to God than by the way we treat people? A Mountain Mover uses love as the measure for breaking human customs to meet human needs.

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Our Sacred Duty (adapted from the U.S. Navy SEAL Code)

September 19th, 2009

My loyalty to God is beyond reproach. I humbly serve as a guardian to my fellow Christians, always ready to defend those who are unable to defend themselves. I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions. I voluntarily accept the inherent hazards of my calling, placing the welfare of others before my own.

I serve with honor on and off the congregation’s property. The ability to control my emotions and my actions, regardless of circumstance, sets me apart from other men. Uncompromising integrity is my standard. My character and honor are steadfast. My word is my bond.

We expect to lead and be led. Where Scripture is silent, I will take charge, lead my fellow believers, and accomplish the mission that our Lord commanded. I lead by example in all situations.

I will never quit. I persevere and thrive on adversity. My Lord expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time, on the account that it is my Lord advancing through me. I am His humble slave. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish the mission. I am never out of the fight because the Lord is and has been in me since my baptism.

We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The eternal lives of others and the success of the mission depend on our total dependence on our Lord and Savior — my technical skill, tactical proficiency, and attention to detail are a gift from Him. My training is never complete, I will continue in His Word, always.

We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of His combat power to bear in order to achieve His mission and the goals established by through His Word. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required, yet guided by the very principles I serve to defend.

Brave, broken sinners have fought and died and are with Him enjoying His heavenly banquet. They built the proud tradition and reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of the Church steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail. This I do so intend with the help of God.

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A God of Mercy Throughout Human History

April 3rd, 2009

They could come no closer. If they tried, there was no telling what would happen. They knew their place in society. They were outcasts, bearers of a disease so contagious that no one would come near, not even their families. And though they had their own communities, they would never experience the fullness of life that others enjoyed. They were isolated, cut off, abandoned.

But then, one day, these 10 lepers gathered by the side of the road-at a safe distance, of course. Jesus was coming! The word on the streets was that this man might be able to help. But would he help them? Could he? As he began to pass by, they took a deep breath and shouted at the top of their lungs, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” They shouted again, even louder. Surely, Jesus would have mercy on them. And he did.

A God of Mercy

Like a golden thread, the theme of God’s mercy is woven through the fabric of Holy Scripture. In mercy, God did not bring an immediate end to the lives of Adam and Eve. In mercy, God used the scheming of 10 brothers to elevate Joseph to a position from which he could preserve the lives of his family-as well as a significant portion of the ancient world. In mercy, God heard the cries of his people and rescued them from bondage in Egypt. In mercy, he preserved this rebellious multitude during 40 years of wandering in the desert sand.

In mercy, God… . So the story goes to this very day.

Among the countless accounts of God’s mercy, one stands out. As the Israelites descended to the depths of idolatry by worshiping a calf made of gold, God announced to Moses on the mountaintop that he was going to wipe out the entire nation. Moses interceded for the people with these words:

Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever” (Ex 32:12b-13).

And God relented, sparing his people the punishment they deserved.

Shortly thereafter, God used these words to describe himself:

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin (Ex 34:6b-7a).

These words so perfectly summarize God’s essence that they are repeated no less than seven times in the Old Testament (Num 14:18; Neh 9:17; Ps 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). Again and again God showed what it meant to be slow to anger as his stiff-necked people turned from him. And in spite of their rejection of him, he demonstrated a faithfulness that was nothing less than divine.

It was, of course, in the sending of his Son that God revealed the depths of his merciful heart. St. Paul captures the essence of that mercy in these words: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Martin Luther explains it in this way:

There was no counsel, no help, no comfort for us until this only and eternal Son of God, in his unfathomable goodness, had mercy on our misery and wretchedness and came from heaven to help us… . He snatched us, poor lost creatures, from the jaws of hell, won us, made us free, and restored us to the Father’s favor and grace (Large Catechism, II 29, 30).

And then, in these poignant words, Luther summarizes the whole purpose for Jesus’ coming:

We could never come to recognize the Father’s favor and grace were it not for the Lord Christ, who is a mirror of the Father’s heart (LC II 65).

This is the heart and essence of the Church’s proclamation: God has had mercy on us!

Kyrie Eleison

For centuries, Kyrie eleison (Greek for “Lord, have mercy”) has been used in the Church’s liturgy. Though there have been occasions when these words have been used as a plea for forgiveness, the primary use of Kyrie eleison has been from the biblical perspective described above. Confident of God’s mercy, we call on him and hold him to his promise to show mercy.

The history of the Kyrie in the liturgy is a complicated one. In the fourth century, the Eastern Church used the Kyrie as the people’s response to a series of petitions. Later, the Kyrie became separated from the prayers and was used alone. During the Middle Ages, the Kyrie was troped. (A trope is an insertion of words.) For example, the following was a popular trope of the Kyrie:

Kyrie, God Father in heav’n above,
You abound in gracious love,
Of all things the maker and preserver.
Eleison, eleison!

Kyrie, O Christ, our king,
Salvation for all you came to bring.
O Lord Jesus, God’s own Son,
Our mediator at the heav’nly throne,
Hear our cry and grant our supplication.
Eleison, eleison!

Kyrie, O God the Holy Ghost,
Guard our faith, the gift we need the most,
And bless our life’s last hour
That we leave this sinful world with gladness.
Eleison, eleison! (LW 209; TLH 6)

Another popular use of the Kyrie was in the pre-Reformation German hymn form known as Leisen. Leisen hymns concluded each stanza with the refrain, “Lord, have mercy.” (In German, the Greek phrase Kyrie eleison was often contracted to Kyrieleis, from which the word Leisen is derived.) Several of Luther’s hymns use this form, including a Christmas hymn (LW 35; TLH 80), a Pentecost hymn (LW 155; TLH 231), and a communion hymn (LW 238; TLH 313). In his hymn on the Ten Commandments (LW 331; TLH 287), Luther also uses this form. Here is the stanza explaining the Seventh Commandment:

You shall not steal or cheat away
What others worked for night and day,
But open up a gen’rous hand
To feed the poor in the land.
Have mercy, Lord! (LW 331:8)

There can be no more fitting conclusion to God’s commandments than to call on him for mercy to assist us in keeping them!

More recently, the Lutheran liturgy has seen a return of the Eastern form of the Kyrie, sometimes referred to as an Eketene Kyrie. (The form in which it appears in Divine Service II in Lutheran Worship is provided in the inset.) Here we plead for God’s mercy, not just for ourselves, but on behalf of others as well. We pray, indeed, for our salvation. But we also pray that God would grant peace to our troubled world. We pray for the Church and for all who come to God’s house to receive his good gifts and to thank and praise him. Throughout, the refrain is the same: Lord, have mercy.

Through its continued use, the Kyrie reminds us that our God is merciful, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, etc. Though the world would love to tempt us to take this mercy for granted and to rely on ourselves, this ancient voice of the liturgy gives us a truly biblical perspective as we come into God’s presence. We stand before him only by his grace; yet, on the basis of that grace, we are bold to say: “Lord, have mercy!”

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace form above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

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Where Is Your Treasure?

March 10th, 2009

Where Is Your Treasure?

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and

where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

I. INVESTMENTS ON EARTH ARE NEVER SECURE

The PROHIBITION: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.”

Jesus does not prohibit treasures but He DOES prohibit his people storing up on

earth treasures that are ONLY for themselves.

EARTHLY TREASURES: “to treasure up treasures.” – don’t stockpile.

Stockpiled luxury we amass for our own selves and beyond what we can possibly use.

The Lord is not saying we shouldn’t possess anything. He never condemns possessions.

I Timothy 6:l7b — “…God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

The EXPLANATION: “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and

steal.” Every earthly treasure is TRANSIENT (perishes – wears out – loses value)

The DECEPTION: You deceive yourself if you think possessions endure.

The POINT: If you hoard it, you can lose it because it is unsafe & insecure.

The QUALIFICATION: Jesus expects us to save in a prudent way (Proverbs 21:20).

It is not wrong to accumulate money and invest in divine causes and concerns.

Your security, however, must never lie in any earthly treasure.

II. YOU CAN HAVE INVESTMENTS IN HEAVEN THAT ARE SECURE

The REALITY: You CAN have a treasure in Heaven – the appropriate place of storage.

The COMMAND: POSITIVELY Jesus instructs you to build up treasures in Heaven.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven

The ATTITUDE: an ATTITUDE toward possessing and accumulating treasures.

The METHOD: You deposit your treasure in Heaven by:

A - The right use of your possessions on earth - things of good and eternal significance

B - The development of Christlike Character: -Growth in the Knowledge of Christ;

The PERSPECTIVE: a matter of maintaining an eternal perspective

III. YOUR HEART FOLLOWS YOUR TREASURE

The REASON: The reason for putting your treasure into God’s work has to do with the

location of your heart. “For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.”

It is God’s Will that your heart be in heaven.

The Biblical “heart“: the center of your personality / intellect / emotion and will.

The things we most highly treasure occupy the “heart” and thus control direction and

values: investment of your life; motives; attitudes; thought patterns.

-Where is the concentration and the preoccupation of your life?

-What particular object do you spend most of your thinking, planning, and energy on?

Chances are, you are like most people and spend your time thinking about some “thing”.

Those who set their minds on things above discover that their deeds follow them.

Questions for your Heart

It is characteristic of a true believer that his treasure is in heaven. Take this time to

examine your life before God.

  • Where is your heart? Is the concentration and preoccupation of your life consumed with

things you own, or is it consumed with the things of God?

  • How do you spend the majority of your time? Do you need to spend more of your time

concentrating on heavenly things?

  • Do you selfishly accumulate things for yourself or do you use what God has given to

bring Him glory by ministering to the needs of those around you? His church?

  • How do you respond when something in your possession is stolen? Do you react

strongly against the person who stole it, or do you think of it as something that belongs to

God and that it is His to do with as He wills?

  • Does the location of your treasure manifest that you are indeed a believer, or does it

manifest that you are just like others who belong to the world?

Ask God to reveal your true heart to you. If changes are necessary in your life, ask God to

help you to turn from your pride and humbly submit to His will.

Remember, it is not a question of whether you can, but whether you will.

CONCLUSION:

Seek first the Kingdom of God – seek treasures there – place your heart there –

…And ALL these things will be added unto you.

When you put your money in the work of God, you will be captured by the things of God.

May God give us wisdom in this and all our endeavors that we be found faithful and good

stewards of his unspeakable blessings.

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How To Respond To Bad Economic Times

March 10th, 2009

For some, economic hardship means belt-tightening: eating out less, skipping vacation, going from two cars to one. For others, it’s much more: losing a job, a house or health care. Both groups feel pain, but to those for whom it’s the difference between eating and going hungry, complaints about giving up cable TV can seem insensitive and frivolous. So how do people of faith respond to the real suffering that many face-both major and minor-during hard economic times?

What NOT to do

■ DON’T view economic adversity as God’s punishment. In some theologies, wealth signifies God’s favor and poverty indicates that one has sinned. The financially comfortable may be tempted to attribute bounty to hard work and virtuous living. Sometimes these go hand in hand but, just as there are innocent people who are born into poverty, there are wealthy people who didn’t achieve their riches through virtuous living. People of faith must remember that we are all God’s beloved children.

■ DON’T hoard what you have. It’s tempting to cling more tightly to what we have. If my family is in survival mode, we naturally focus on taking care of ourselves first. If I barely have enough food, why should I share? This all makes human sense, but it’s not what Jesus did. When Jesus fed the multitudes, a few generous followers offered their bread and fish which, when blessed, were enough for all. Remember too the prosperous farmer who had such a good harvest that he pulled down his storage barns and built bigger ones. “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves” (Luke 12:20-21).

■ DON’T nurse your anger, complain or act illegally or immorally. In hard economic times people feel angry and complain. That’s natural. Venting and crying out to God in pain and fear are common refrains in the psalms. Still, a time comes when these attitudes rob us of the energy to find positive solutions. We might understand why a person feels driven to illegal or immoral means to survive when in a desperate situation. That doesn’t make it right. Remember Job. His trials included both economic devastation and physical pain. His uprightness in the face of adversity is why he’s such a compelling model for us.

Embracing Christian simplicity

With the current economic downturn, many of us are being pushed to simplify our lifestyles. These virtues liberate us from being slaves to money and possessions….They also enable us to adopt a simplicity of life that frees us from consumerism and helps us preserve God’s creation   Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’… Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32). For many of us, the downsizing that is being thrust upon us is the lifestyle that Christians should aspire to anyway. It’s just that now we may not have a choice.

Deepening our spirituality

■  DO steward resources with care. Although we may already be good stewards of our money and possessions, hard economic times force us to evaluate how to do more: Where am I wasteful? Do I conserve electricity, gas, food, water, paper? Do I recycle? Do I wear practical clothes or am I a slave to fashion? Do I repair broken things or is my first impulse to replace them? Does my recreation renew my spirit or do I spend my discretionary funds on watching sports rather than playing them, listening to music rather than making it, traveling to far-off lands rather than enjoying my locale and neighbors? Keeping to a budget may be bothersome, but it can help us become responsible stewards.

■ DO practice generosity. It sounds counterintuitive to give things away when money is tight, but Christians are called to be generous. Does everyone on your block really need their own lawnmower, camping gear or basketball hoop? It’s convenient to have your own, but sharing reduces cost and builds community. Of course, it can also create conflict if some don’t act responsibly. Sharing is not always painless, but it can help us hone communication and negotiation skills. Hard times can prompt us to learn skills we’d otherwise neglect.

■  DO keep values intact. If hard times make us bitter and selfish, we’re not growing spiritually. We must stay true to our core values: People are more important than things. Caring for others is what Jesus did. To lessen feelings of deprivation, it helps to differentiate between legitimate needs and desirable-but-optional wants. Food, clothing, shelter, health, safety, education and loving relationships are needs. Eating out, fashionable clothes, a house with more bedrooms than kids, bottled water and two or three cars may not be bad in themselves but must be balanced in light of the needs of the poor. One mark of a mature and holy person is knowing how to live with and without.

■  DO stay spiritually centered. Few people welcome hardships but, when they come our way, God may be pricking our consciences or pushing us through untried doors. Hardships may drive us to deeper prayer. They place us in solidarity with those who regularly go without, not just when the stock market tanks. In the end, we place our lives in God’s hands, remembering that the same God who created the lilies of the fields loves and watches over us.

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