Beyond "Law and Order"

"But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and come to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and then he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave then to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and what ever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.' [Jesus asks] "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" [the expert in the law said] "the one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."
Luke 10:33-37 NASB

In one of the most familiar parables in the Bible, the Good Samaritan, Jesus takes us directly to the virtual scene of the crime. There on the side of a treacherous section of a winding, steep, rocky road between Jerusalem and Jericho well known for its perpetrators, the victim lays unconscious, bleeding and left for dead. Jesus describes two others who pass but neglect to help the man. The third passer-by stops; a Samaritan, having compassion on the man, bandages his wounds, takes him to the nearest inn, cares for him, pays the innkeeper for future needs, and plans to check on him when returning home. Jesus' investigation asks us, "So, who saw the need and responded? Who demonstrates true compassion? Who was able to love without judgement?"

Jesus draws us into this senseless brutality, calls us out of our comfort zones, shows us how we are to love others. As always, political correctness tries to give its answer - or excuse - for not helping. After all, the priest follows the law keeping himself "religiously clean" while the Levite, too, keeps about his religious responsibilities. Jesus reaches beyond mere religious order and steps directly into a cultural and societal conflict. The Samaritan helping the victim crosses all kinds of social barriers; the centuries old mutual hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans highlights a dilemma. Jesus asks if we really see the needs of people or pretend not to notice. Jesus asks if we truly love others like He loves or just quote Bible verses about God's love? Jesus asks if we have genuine compassion for people or attempt to evaluate according to race, gender, or creed? 

Listening to this investigation does not tell us anything about the injured person. We do not know if he simply falls prey to some robbers, or perhaps, he, too, is a thief himself who loses an argument with a fellow robber. On this road known for crime and opportunity, hurt finds a helping hand. Every day we take a similar journey. Sometimes disappointment targets us; other times, need calls from the other side of the road. Sometimes we are overlooked or excluded; other times, unexpected love sees beyond public opinion. Jesus calls us to lay down outward appearances and stop beside need. Jesus calls each of us to develop compassionate hearts and unselfish spirits, to love fully and unconditionally. Reach beyond 'law and order'; go and do the same! ~dho

#TBT Bible

Throw-Back-Thursday's popularity fills our Thursdays. Along with its hash tags, pictures of yester-year dance across out computer screens, mobile phones, and tablets. Frequently the hair styles and clothing reveal the era. We laugh, usually, or moan, sometimes. Today I open my #TBT Bible, my name and the date 4/13/77 on the inside cover. Back in the day, unlike now, few translations of the Bible were available. "The Living Bible" translation broke the rules by using current vernacular, much the way we appreciate The Message today. The words and the order of the words sounded friendly, more familiar to the ear. The Living Bible, while popular with teenagers, did not thrill the adults. Whatever your thoughts or preferences are about various translations of the Holy Bible, I believe God always uses His words to inspire, to convict, to reveal His Goodness and Grace.

#TBT High School, 1973

Reading today from Romans in The Living Bible, God's word tells it straight. Listen to some of the verses from Chapter 12: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves...we belong to each other, and each needs all the others. God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. And further down, Don't just pretend that you love others; really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. These very valuable words remind us our connectedness in Christian community. These words are not just for #TBT!

Life is messy! We wait, longing for time to pass more quickly then hurry to what is next. Hurt and disappointment become friends we wish we didn't know. Doubt shouts! Hypocrisy mocks! But, God always sees the bigger picture, sees beyond what our minds cannot understand. Using my #TBT Bible, I find these words: Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. (Romans 12:12) I did not read other translations or search commentaries (none in the #TBT Bible), did not research Greek origins of the words or look for cross references. I simply let my prayer echo His inspired words: With a grateful heart, God, I trust You are planning something good for me. In times of trouble, help me be patient. Every moment of every day, my prayers rise to You. I long to spend time with You ~ listening, resting, waiting, learning, loving. Amen! ~dho

Holy Breathing!

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!"   Psalm 150:6

If you ever have questions about how to praise God, read Psalm 150 for the 'who, what, when, where, why, and how' answers. Anytime and everywhere, our lives are to PRAISE the LORD - the One who is Creator and Comforter, filled with mystery and majesty, holiness and healing; Praises to The Giver of goodness and grace. God is Love. Praise the LORD!

Whether in corporate or private worship, Christians, both collectively and individually, should praise God. This PRAISE is not an ordinary gesture or mere flattery; rather, it is to be a creative praise that radically raves about His awesomeness, ranging from silent awe to sacred shouts. PRAISE evolves into words and music, prayers and singing, rhythmic responses celebrating God's "mighty deeds" and "excellent greatness". Musical instruments of all forms - wind, strings, percussion, dancing - create a ceaseless motion of spontaneous joy to and for the LORD of all. Praise the LORD!

We all struggle in a world saturated by disease, poverty, and injustice that stands in stark contrast to Heaven's perfect, complete, and loving promises. The Greek word for 'breath' is neshamah which means all that is living within us. Just as GOD first breathed life into mankind (Genesis 2:7), He remains the Breath of Life within each Christian. PRAISE honors the redemption through Christ, which is victory over death, but also, this holy breathing glorifies God for His constant presence in our daily struggles. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! ~dho

NOT Just Christmas Peace!

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
'Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him.' Luke 2:13-14 MSG

What exactly is peace and what is the path to peace? We know that God is the Source of all true peace; Christ is the Good News of peace sent to us from God. On the night Jesus is born in Bethlehem, peace is the message of the angels. Peace is not just for Christmas!

Peace in the Hebrew [shalom] and Greek [eirene] teaches "absence of disturbance" and is the primary blessing of God's people. Scofield offers four references to peace: Peace with God, Peace from God, Peace of God, and Peace on earth. Deep inside, each us desires the assurance of peace. Only God can provide complete peace. Do you have peace? Are you seeking God for Real PEACE? Let the Peace of Christ be born in you today! ~ dho

Call To Worship

LEADER: We've been in hiding for too long.

Men: Perhaps we should open the doors of our lives to welcome whatever comes.

LEADER: But suppose that destruction, fear, and death arrive at our door?

Women: Jesus always said to us, "Do not be afraid, I am with you."

ALL: LORD, help us believe.

LEADER: Why is it so difficult to believe?

Men: We have been disappointed so many times.

LEADER: Do we dare trust that this time will be different?

Women: Everything is different when we trust in Jesus Christ.

ALL: LORD, help us believe!

LEADER: What will we do if we actually see the risen Lord?

Men: Our fears will be banished, and we will live in the truth of Christ.

LEADER: What is the truth of Christ?

Women: Christ has overcome the bonds of death. He is risen and goes before us.

ALL: LORD, we believe; help our unbelief. Amen.

~Call to Worship, St. Luke UMC

This Call to Worship presents uniquely in that the responses come from men and women individually and then collectively in unity. Why do we distance ourselves from one another, from the community? Disappointment and fear, disease and financial crisis, death and failure create disconnect and doubt within the soul. We cry out, LORD, help us to believe! Trusting in Christ renews the soul and refurbishes the heart. Christ brings joy into the suffering, faith into the doubt, love into the fear, and healing into the loss. We cry out, LORD, help us to believe!

Spiritual struggle knows no boundaries, does not recognize gender, race or age. We ALL struggle! Christ is the Truth that conquers the world with all its rage and wickedness. Christ calls us into relationship with Him and others. Confidence in Christ allows us to fail and start again, weep and find laughter, doubt and believe again. Let my soul reply, I believe; help my unbelief! ~dho

Remembering "Personal 9-11's"

In honor of remembering America's September 11, 2001 and September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month, I celebrate the patriots of America who come in all shapes and sizes, without distinction of gender or race and the heroes of cancer, who, like patriots, stand in the gap, persevere through the valleys, struggle to survive. The unexpected, whether the attack comes from terrorism or a tumor, shocks and disrupts the rhythm of the moment. In our darkest moments there is life-giving hope. This hope is Christ.

God of Grace and God of Glory

previously published on "Caring Bridge for Thomas McGirr" on Sep 11, 2011 4:43pm

Today America pauses to remember 9-11 and the heroes of that day, the victims of terrorism, those who died and those who have survived. Today my pastor spoke of America's 9-11 in 2001 and also what he called our "personal 9-11's".

We affirmed our faith this morning in church with these words (shared in part): We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man . . . Because He lives we believe that in our darkest moments there is life-giving hope . . . in the midst of suffering there is grace for healing . . .Thanks be to God! Amen.

God of Grace and God of Glory . . . Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days! (from hymn: God of Grace and God of Glory)

In these times when we walk this unexpected valley with Thomas, there is no greater comfort than to be reminded that God goes before us, God stands with us, God is our rear guard. The closing hymn today reminds my soul to focus on The Anchor, our Hope ~ Jesus Christ!

As we step into this next week of treatment, Thomas's hair is starting to come out. On Tuesday, he will receive treatment #15 - marking half the treatments are done. He battles some nausea and fatigue, but God's strength is evidence in his will to keep moving forward, his joy in the simple moments, his remarkable smile. In the times to come, we continue to find Hope in Jesus. He gives a greater Grace!  

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness . . . On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

To God be the Glory ~ dho

Breathing Room

 [God] is waiting to explode our smallness and put us in places of which we have only dreamed. . . Do not settle for smallness, . . . God is waiting to take you into places and open you up to opportunities that exist only in your wildest dreams. Dennis Kinlaw, This Day with the Master

Kinlaw goes on to point out that these opportunities do not come from our own making, rather "you must let [God] give you the opportunities and move you into new places."

Why is it that we  complain about the smallness of our lives, the smallness of the moments? When does our complacency allow us to be content with our smallness? How often do we go in search of new places and opportunities by ourselves? Do we seek God's will for our moments or charge ahead, desperate to create our own? 

These are questions that wrestle with my mind. The many possibilities can create conflict for me, and other times, the waiting stagnates my willingness. If these words are true, that God desires to put us in places of which we have only dreamed, dare I not wait with Him? Likewise, if we must let God provide the opportunities and move us to these new places, dare I not trust His leading?  I must trust Him absolutely! ~dho

God, the One and Only - I'll wait as long as He says.
Everything I need comes from Him,
He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul.
. . . So trust Him absolutely.
Psalm 62:1-2,8 The Message

Faith Is ~ Week 9

"If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us our of your hand, O King. Bur if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18 ESV 

With Israel taken captive by Babylon, Daniel and three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, are chosen from Israel's nobility to be in service to King Nebuchadnezzar. They demonstrate great intellect and easily learn the language of the Babylonians. When Nebuchadnezzar creates a huge golden idol, the edict follows that all must worship it. In chapter 3 we read the account of Daniel's three friends and their refusal to worship this false god. Their punishment would place them in a fiery furnace with temperatures "seven times hotter than usual". Steadfast in their faithfulness to God, Scripture reveals their uncompromising commitment to God.

In this story we find some characteristics of faith that stand the test. Believing that God is Sovereign, these young men proclaim that He is "able to deliver" them from the fire. Trusting God to provide for their needs, their commitment to God does not waiver when faced with unimaginable circumstances. Also, their witness stands true! Without any doubt, they acknowledge that if God chooses not to save them from death, never would they worship the idol. In Crazy Love, Overwhelmed by a Relentless God Francis Chan writes, "True faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His Promises." Our faith can be tested when the outcome of a situation or an answer to prayer collides with our heart's hope. True faith, uncompromising commitment to God, calls us to hold nothing back while always trusting God. ~dho

Faith Is ~ Week 8

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV 

Without a standard for truth, all truth becomes relative. The foundation for faith, the solid rock is Jesus Christ. Jesus is The Truth. He is the Divine Truth that willing enters the world bringing redemption to all humanity. Jesus is the Living Truth that overcomes death offering restoration to fallen people. Miracles and compassion flow from Him; yet, He is mocked and denied. Infinite Love pours over all who know Him; Christ reminds the world is full of trouble. Christ is the Truth that goes before us, stands with us, and lives in us. To have faith is to believe beyond what can be seen, to trust the character of God, the One who's promises never fail.

Without focusing on God's Truth, without a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, life becomes disorganized. Chaos churns in the stresses and uncertainties of our days. Worry and fear dominate while failure mocks. The Gospel of Jesus is truth for the Christian; grace brings salvation and eternal life. With God, spiritual order reigns, conquers the world's darkness. In the middle of the crazy, busy living, we know a peace, a contentment, a confidence. Around the hurry, beside the insecurities, inside the fragile, the Spirit of Truth intercedes and illuminates. The Spirit encourages and empowers us to be faithful. To have faith is to hold to what cannot be seen, to know sabbath rest in Christ whose love endures forever. ~dho

Faith Is ~ Week 7

Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. Psalm 40:4 NLT


Using words to define faith and accumulating knowledge about faith can be academic exercises for the mind. In fact, without experiencing trials, disappointment, or grief, faith may remain a concept instead of becoming a recognized and reinforced process. While we cannot always understand God's ways, Christ brings grace to a fallen world. Trusting God's Sovereignty, knowing God's faithfulness, living God's grace, and believing God's love develops through personal experience. Experience refines faith. 

The very nature of faith is that it must be tried; faith untried is only ideally real, not actually real. Oswald Chambers

In Psalm 40, verses 1-10, David's past life experiences declare a bold faith based on God's character. His gratitude exposes God's power and explains the reasons for his increasing confidence in God. In verses 11-17, David's confidence depends on God, his Salvation, his Help, his Deliverer.  Life experiences frequently bring us to the altar of God. Because of God's unchanging nature, He remains with us, sustains us. We hold to this tested faith for every present need because trust deepens, intimacy embraces, hope believes. Christ is the foundation of our faith. What story does your faith tell? ~dho