Something I hear often from my friends outside the church is: I’m spiritual but not religious. I’m sure you’ve heard this too. I even said it myself. And usually, it is said meaning: I’m not into all the rules of religion. I’m not into the institution. But what’s missing is that word religion actually has a powerful origin. It comes from the Latin re-ligio – to re-ligament – to reconnect – to reconnect with God. In many major world religions, especially Judaism and Christianity, there is a strong emphasis on reconnecting with other human beings as a way of reconnecting with God.

In that sense, I want to be religious. I want to play a role in reconnecting people with each other and with God. The truth is we need more people like that. With all the hatred and divisiveness in the world around us, we need more people who are willing to take risks and work outside the cultural scripts that encourage polarization. We need more people who see the value and the potential in every human life. We need more people to build bridges. May God give us such compassion, creativity, and courage.

Let us pray: God of Grace, may your Spirit wash over us anew this day. Heal us and renew us that we might be people of healing and grace. Give us eyes to your image in each and every person we meet. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

In one of his sermons, Pastor Scott Hoezee told about an interesting study on forgiveness conducted by the Templeton Foundation in cooperation with the University of Michigan and the National Institute for Mental Health. According to this study, 75% of Americans are “very confident” that they have been forgiven by God for their past offenses. Surprisingly this is true even of those who don’t have much to do with God otherwise.

“The picture was less bright, however, when it came to interpersonal relations,” claimed Hoezee. Only about half of the people surveyed said that they had completely forgiven others.  

Most interesting to me is something else the study found. Where forgiveness does take place, there is a link between forgiveness and better health. “The more prone a person is to grant forgiveness, the less likely he or she will suffer from any stress‑related illnesses.” 

I am grateful that most people sense God’s grace. The scriptures teach us that God is a God of forgiveness and mercy, abounding in steadfast love. But they also teach us that in some ways, our ability to accept God’s forgiveness is tied to our own capacity to forgive. 

Jesus once said, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

My prayer for you today is that you would let go of any grudges, bitterness, or resentment you may be carrying. Remember life is short, and we only hurt ourselves by nursing our anger. Forgive others and allow God’s grace to wash over you – even now.

Let us pray: Have mercy on us, Loving God. Help us to let go of any burdens that we carry or any past mistakes or failures that we can’t seem to let go of. May your forgiveness and grace wash over us. And then, Gracious God, help us to forgive with the forgiveness we ourselves have received, that new beginnings may be ours through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A friend once asked Isidor Rabi, a Nobel prize winner in science, how he became a scientist. Rabi replied that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day. She wasn’t so much interested in what he had learned that day, but she always inquired, “Did you ask a good question today?” Without a doubt, asking good questions, helped Rabi succeed.

Questions are essential to science. They are also essential to life and to faith. 

In one of his books, pastor Rob Bell writes, “Some communities don’t permit open, honest inquiry about the things that matter most. Lots of people have voiced a concern, expressed a doubt, or raised a question, only to be told by their family, church, friends, or tribe: We don’t discuss those things here.”

“I believe the discussion itself is divine. Abraham does his best to bargain with God, most of the book of Job consists of arguments by Job and his friends about the deepest questions of human suffering, God is practically on trial in the book of Lamentations, and Jesus responds to almost every question he’s asked with…a question.”

My prayer today is this: May your family, church, friends, or tribe be a community open to honest discussion. May you ask good questions, and trust that God’s Spirit is at work within them.

Let us pray: Eternal God, You are holy, and You are a mystery. And yet, You are loving and as near as our next breath. We can’t always understand why things happen the way they do. And we don’t always have all the answers. Being human, we do ask for insight. But above all, we ask for your grace and peace. Give us the faith and the courage we need to face the hour – trusting that you are with us even now. Amen

One of my favorite poets is George Herbert who wrote in the early 1600s. He received an elite education at Cambridge and could have taken a powerful government position in England. Instead, he took a minor office in the church serving as a local country pastor. He cared deeply for those most in need and was much beloved by his parishioners. He was also a master poet.

His poem The Altar, draws heavily on scripture, including God’s command to Moses to build an alter using uncut stones. For Herbert, this altar becomes the human heart as in Psalm 51. I share this beautiful poem with you today:

A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears,
Made of a heart, and cemented with tears.
Whose parts are as thy hand did frame;
No workman’s tool hath touched the same.

A heart alone
Is such a stone,
As nothing but
Thy power doth cut.
Wherefore each part
Of my hard heart
Meets in this frame,
To praise thy name:

That, if I chance to hold my peace,
These stones to praise thee may not cease.
Oh let thy blessed SACRIFICE be mind,
And sanctify this ALTAR to be thine.

Let us pray: Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord to thee. Loving God, we give you our hearts, we give you our hands, we give you our very lives again this day. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A few years ago, at our annual Dial Hope “Friendraiser,” we had astronaut and artist Nicole Stott come to speak. She was super inspiring! In addition to flying on the Space Shuttle, Nicole spent 3 months onboard the International Space Station. She told us that looking back at the view of our planet from outer space was breathtaking. This view also made it clear that in so many ways, our life as human beings is shared… We are tied together in more ways than we can ever begin to imagine. And before we are any other label, truly we are all earthlings.  

I love that!

All of this reminds me of that beloved passage of scripture from John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son…” Notice John did not write, “For God so loved the Presbyterians…” Nor did he write, “For God so loved the liberals.” Or, for God so loved the conservatives.” No. John writes, for God so loved… the world…. 

As those who follow Jesus, may we find ways to love the world as he loved it.  

Let us pray: We thank you, Loving God, for creating this beautiful planet on which we live and make our way through life together. We thank you for science and the ability to glimpse our world from your perspective. Above all, we thank you for your love for each and every one of us. Help us to accept that love and share it. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.