1. Put God first and genuinely care about the welfare of all people. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22.37 – 38
2. Seek Jesus, the giver of spiritual gifts. Do not seek gifts that satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. “Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness.” Matthew 6.33  “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”  1 John 2. 16
3. Surrender your life to Christ, not to a denomination, a preacher, or a ministry. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14.6
4. Promote only Jesus. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4.12
5. Live a meaningful life by denying self in order to focus on the things of God, including helping others. “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
6. Do the right things for the right reasons. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself.” Philippians 2.3
7.  Seek godliness.  “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. “You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.  ” 1 John 2.15
8. “Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5.17

I am overwhelmed with sadness by the senseless and brutal act that led to the tragic death of 25-year-old, NYPD Officer Brian Moore.   According to various news reports, on Saturday, May 2, 2015, Officer Moore and his partner confronted a suspect, Demetrius Blackwell, who fired multiple shots.  One or more of those shots struck Officer Moore in the face or head area and caused life-threatening injuries that led directly to Officer Moore’s death this past Monday, May 4, 2015.[i]

I don’t know any more about Officer Moore than what has been reported in the media. What I do know: Moore’s death is not tragic because he was a police officer gunned down while performing his duty.  It is tragic because Brian Moore’s life was senselessly and viciously snuffed out.

The only silver lining in this tragedy is the fact that the alleged shooter has been arrested and charged with murder, and he will stand trial for the horrific act of violence he is accused of committing.

May the Spirit of the only true wise and living God, the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, comfort all those who knew and love Officer Brian Moore.

[i] There are conflicting reports on the number of shots fired; and the number of times Officer Moore was shot.

The brutal beating of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Baltimore, Maryland resident, while in the custody of Baltimore, police officers on April 12, 2015, is one of a series of recent highly publicized examples of police brutality.   Sadly, following the valiant attempts by trauma center personnel to save Freddie’s life, and after being in a coma for several days, Gray succumbed to his injuries and died on April 19, 2015. Freddie Gray’s funeral was held yesterday.

Within hours of the conclusion of Gray’s funeral, a peaceful public protest began in Baltimore.  The protestors want justice for Freddie Gray. They want the person or persons responsible for causing the injuries to Freddie’s body that led to his death held accountable for their actions.

Unfortunately, a relatively small group hijacked the protest and a riot ensued. The looters, burners, and those who attacked law enforcement officials represent only themselves. They are not in any way part of the peaceful movement calling for justice for all, including for Freddie Gray.

In addition to the brutal beating and tragic death of Freddie Gray, the other unfolding story  is the response by some cable news channels, including CNN, to focus on the rioting and not on the circumstances and events that led up to the chaos that took place in Baltimore last night. The emphasis of most reporters seem to center on criticizing elected officials and on trying to get African American leaders to condemn the rioters-which they did, and rightfully so.

However, there were few attempts by those same reporters to get law enforcement officials to condemn the conduct of the police officers who were directly responsible for protecting and safely transporting Freddie Gray. Instead, most  cable news channel reporters offered viewers a steady diet of subjective narrow-minded, business protecting, moralizing comments  that focused on the harm done to businesses rather than the harm done by police officers to  Freddie Gray and the other citizens of Baltimore.

Last week eleven former Atlanta, Georgia public school educators were convicted in a test cheating scandal that rocked the nation.  According to various media sources, the educators were charged with racketeering because they conspired to inflate standardized test scores in order to receive bonuses for themselves or their schools. If guilty the educators deserve to be punished. However, the charge of racketeering and the possible subsequent sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment seem excessive.

The fact is, as indicated by the sampling of cases highlighted below, educators guilty of sexually assaulting their students have been permitted to plead to lesser crimes and received more lenient sentences than those educators charged and convicted in the Atlanta Public Schools standardized test cheating scandal

Mary Kay Letourneau- elementary school teacher

• In August of 1997, Letourneau pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape, and was given a suspended seven-year jail sentence, serving six months in the county jail and required to enroll in a three-year sex offender program.

• February of 1998, she was found in a parked car with Faulaau, along with a sizable amount of money, baby clothes, and a passport, and was sent back to prison to serve the remainder of her term.Debra Lafave- a middle school Teacher.

Debra LaFave- mididle school teacher

• In June of 2004, she was arrested on charges of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy. Police records report that Lafave had performed oral sex on the boy on June 3rd, and had sexual intercourse with the him in a portable classroom at her school nine days later.
• Lafave pleaded guilty in November of 2005 to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery, and received three years of house arrest, seven years’ probation, and was forced to register as a sex offender.

Abbie Jane Swogger- 34-year-old Teacher’s Aide               

• By the time Swogger made it to trial, she was accused of 39 separate charges, including providing crack cocaine to the teenagers at the Clarion Inn, and luring two other female teenagers to her room at the Clarion Inn in order to have sex with them.
• In May of 2009, she pleaded guilty to 11 of the 39 charges against her, and was sentenced to three to six years in jail, followed by 36 years of probation.

    Stephanie Ragusa- middle school teacher

• In between March and April of 2008, she was arrested three separate times for having sex with two different underage male students, one 16 and the other 14.
• On June 28, 2010, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five years of sexual offender probation.

It doesn’t seem right that educators who have stolen the innocence of young people, and in some cases contributed to the corruption of their morals’, should be tried less harshly and receive lighter sentences than the eleven former Atlanta Pubic Schools educators convicted of cheating by inflating students’ test scores.

 

The first five meditations in this series focus on the character and cost of discipleship. The final meditation focuses on the rewards for diligently following Jesus.

Biblical References

• Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5.11-12
• Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9.23
• Truly my soul finds rest in God;  my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken   Psalm 62. 1-2

Biblical Reflection

Today, as in biblical times, a cross represents hardship and suffering. Jesus’ use of the phrase: “…take up their cross daily…” (Luke 9.23) serves as a warning and encouragement to all who earnestly seek to follow him. Jesus lets prospective disciples know they will experience persecution simply because of their allegiance to him.   Jesus tells them about the struggles they will face so they won’t be caught off guard or discouraged by the waves of persecution they will face. He also wants them to know they are not alone in suffering for the sake of righteousness. Hence in Matthew 5.12, Jesus offers the following encouraging words, “…for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Moreover, in the first part of Matthew 5.12, Jesus makes clear the rewards for discipleship far outweigh the sufferings his followers will experience in this life.

 

Food for Thought

Rewards for following Jesus include the following.

1. Those who follow Jesus are guaranteed the blessing of eternal life- existing perpetually in the presence of the only true, wise, and living God.
2. Those who follow Jesus have instant and constant fellowship with God-speaking to God and knowing God hears them and interacts with them
3. Those who follow Jesus experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit-God’s Spirit abides in all those who follow Jesus, guiding, comforting, and working on their behalf. The Holy Spirit empowers Jesus’ followers to stand firm in the midst of every persecution.
4. Those who follow Jesus have the benefit of having Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God, advocating for them.
5. Those who follow Jesus’ are empowered with wisdom because they are anointed with spiritual eyes, spiritual ears, and hearts receptive to Jesus’ teachings.
6. Those who follow Jesus are empowered to resist evil.
7. Those who follow Jesus experience the joy of fellowshipping with God; peace that surpasses understanding, and contentment in every situation- knowing God will work every situation to their good.

May the Spirit of the only true, wise, and living God continue to rest, rule, and abide with us.  Amen.

Glory to God!

Scripture References

• “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”  Matthew 16.24, New Living Translation (NLT)
• Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. John 15.a, New International Version (NIV)
• The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. Psalm 34.19, NIV

Biblical Reflection

Have you ever enthusiastically made a commitment that you later regretted? If you answered yes, you’re not alone.

At one time or another most of us have thought or said, “If I had it to do over I would not make the same decision.”  Our regret often stems from not having fully considered the consequences of involvement. Therefore, we underestimate the scope of our commitment, over simplify the tasks associated with our commitment, or ignore or dismiss the possible negative outcomes of our involvement.

No such claims can be made by those who seriously choose to follow Christ. In an effort to comfort and prepare them for the persecution they will face, Jesus explicitly warns would be followers that their faith in him and the claims they make about him will cause them to undergo hardships that exceed those common to the human experience.  In Matthew 16.24, Jesus likens the weight of discipleship to that of a person constantly carrying around a full size wooden cross.

In the midst of persecution Jesus wants his disciples to stand firm in their faith being  reassured by him that suffering for the sake of God is expected. He also wants them to know he and  all the prophets before him were persecuted for speaking truths that conflicted with societal norms (Matthew 5.12).

In addition to preparing his disciples for the dangers they will face,  Jesus wants them to know the rewards for faithfulness to him far outweigh the suffering they will experience in this life.

Food for Thought:

1. The cost of following Christ-

• rejection

• loss of treasured relationships
• being maligned, misquoted, misunderstood, misrepresented
• betrayal from within the faith community
• disbelieved
• undermined
• and hated with a passion, without justification

2. Rewards for following Christ-

• eternal life
• constant fellowship with God
• joy, peace, contentment
• indwelling of the Holy Spirit
• wisdom
• Christ Jesus is the disciple’s advocate
• the power to resist the Devil

May the Spirt of the only true wise and living God continue to rest, rule, and abide with us all.  Amen.

Glory to God!

Three newsworthy events occurred in Ferguson, Missouri last week. First, according to published reports, the two officers who were shot in the performance of their duties were released from the hospital and are recovering. Second, various news sources report the arrest of Jeffery Williams, a 20-year-old man in connection with the shootings. Williams was arrested this past Saturday and charged with two counts of first-degree assault.

The third noteworthy event is the restraint showed by the Ferguson Police Department in their search  for the person or persons responsible for the shootings. By all accounts law enforcement officials conducted a thorough and respectful investigation that led to Williams’ arrest (although the arrest was made possible mainly by help from the  public).

The character of the search is noteworthy because in too many cases law enforcement officials terrorize entire communities in order to effect an arrest. Such was the case in the search by Boston Police in 1989 for the  suspected killers of Carol Stuart, and by police in Union, South Carolina in 1991 in response to the murder of Susan Smith’s two young children.

For example, after terrorizing the Mission Hill section of Boston (largely African American) and  numerous innocent black males in Union, South Carolina, police later implicated Charles Stuart (a Caucasian) in his wife’s murder- no African American was involved, and  arrested Susan Smith  (Caucasian) for murdering her own children.

Unfortunately, in their search for the killers police randomly: stopped, searched, and arrested many black men innocent of involvement in either crime.  Some of those men even had false charges drummed up  against them.  Because the crimes were high profile the violent police searches made national news and shocked some members of society.

Fortunately, the recent search in Ferguson, Missouri for the shooter of the two police officers reflects the antitheses of the tactics used  by Boston police in 1989  and Union, South Carolina police in 1991.  Hopefully,  the referenced investigation by Ferguson, Missouri law enforcement  officials represents a more just way in which police interact with all citizens.

Scripture References:

• “…If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”   (Matthew 16..24, New Living Translation)
• Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2.3-4)
• …People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.   (1 Samuel 16:7)

Biblical Reflection

Selflessness goes beyond making personal sacrifices such as sharing material wealth and God-given talent. It is doing the right things for the right reasons without seeing or expecting personal recognition (Philippians 2:3-4). Selflessness is sacrificing one’s personal desires for the common good. In the context of Scripture, that good refers to the Good News of the Gospel.

The Good News is:  God loves unconditionally, saves, delivers, heals, and keeps those who trust him. Salvation is free to all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, social and economic standing. God is no respecter of persons. Hence John 3.16 reads, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus requires his followers to proclaim the Good News by word and through good works that are motivated by love and compassion, thus demonstrating God’s love.

Food For Thought:

1. Good deeds point to and elevate God.
2. Good deeds are motivated by genuine compassion for others.

Jesus calls his followers to live selflessly. Selflessness is counter-cultural. Unlike many contemporary philosophies and ideologies  that focus on satisfying  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, selfless living strives to build a harmonious faith community. It requires individual believers  to hold paramount their calling to proclaim the Good News. In fulfilling that calling they are to:

•  love;
• forgive;
• demonstrate compassion;
• share generously;
• do no harm;
• behave graciously-even toward opponents;
• repent and pray constantly, and
• trust God.

To God be all glory!

The shooting of two police officers in Ferguson, Missouri last night was reprehensible and criminal. Those responsible deserve to be arrested, charged, tried, and convicted. There is absolutely no justification for their malicious behavior. At the time of the shooting, the  police officers were simply performing their duties.

Anyone – including parents, other relatives, and close friends – with knowledge of the identity and whereabouts of the suspects should turn them into law enforcement.  To know who is responsible for this vicious crime and not report them to law enforcement is to participate in a crime against humanity.  The perpetrators must be punished. No one is above the law!

In addition to breaking the law, the perpetrators attempted to coopt and corrupt a movement designed to effect harmony, justice, and peace. They should not be allowed to get away with their crime against the police officers; nor should they be permitted to corrupt a just cause! They are dangerous and must face justice.

May God have mercy on us all.

Scripture References:

• Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16. 24, New Living Translation
• Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2.3

Biblical Reflection

Jesus expects his followers to generously share their time, talents, and material possessions. He expects them to function as a nurturing family unit that supports and encourages each member. He also expects them  individually and collectively to do good deeds within and outside of the faith community. The following list highlights five characteristics of Christian Discipleship.

• Forgiving – as Christ has forgiven.
• Humble – not promoting self.
• Generous – compassionate, considerate and kind  .
• Peaceful  – as much as possible .
• Hardworking –  diligent

Food for Thought

1. Read Philippians 2.3-11.
2. In what way is Jesus’ call for selfless living counter-cultural?