October 2024

Overcoming Pride with Humility   Submitted to Red Rock News for 11/01/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |October 27, 2024 Aristotle wrote that our vices and virtues are those aspects of our character that are second nature to us. Rebecca DeYoung author of Glittering Vices writes, “Christian thinkers have long considered that the work of Christianity is to continually die to the bad and rise to the good, and so the virtues and vices were incorporated into Christian teaching. The desert fathers, who left the Christian ecclesiastical structures of wealth and luxury to live lives of asceticism and take vows of poverty, living in the desert and caves of Egypt, redefined the list of vices to include nine: pride, anger vainglory, envy, gluttony, greed, fear, lust and sloth. C.S. Lewis suggests of all the vices, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind…… it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began.”       Although pride can be a good thing, such as taking pride in your work or family, too much pride can fuel wars, divorces, fierce competition, congregational splits, criminal acts and creates deep impasses that can permanently sever relationships. Pride, is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, successes or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired by others.       Pride is the original sin depicted in the story of the fall of humanity in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve who ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, out of pride wanted to ‘become like gods,’ but they did this against the will of God. And that is exactly what pride is, it is self-centered, it seeks its own gain or advantage. Beauty, success, popularity, intellectual and athletic achievements can be sources of worldly pride.  All of which can manifest into a sense of superiority and discrimination against others. Pride is the major obstacle to forgiving others. Pride prevents us from admitting our wrongs and taking an honest look at our own harmful behaviors. There is also a spiritual pride which in some cases creates ‘false prophets.’ Spiritual pride is an arrogance about Biblical knowledge. Unchecked, pride leads to selfishness, self-inflation and makes us think we are above others, above creation and also makes us feel justified to treat others poorly. In the end, pride is embedded in humanity because we forget or refuse to live out God’s will.       The antidote to pride is humility. Although pride originated in the Garden, humility reaches perfection in Jesus and cross. Humility is having a right view of yourself—compared to the universe, we are God’s creatures, small, dependent, finite, limited in intelligence and ability and prone to sin. But we are also God’s children: created, loved and redeemed by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. Humility is also having a right view of God. God is both creator and redeemer, who has the ultimate control over our eternal destinies.      Americans have a widespread, chronic reoccupation with self which is rooted in pride. Paul’s instructions in Philippians runs counter to our current narcissistic culture, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”(Phil. 2:3–4). As we refuse to be preoccupied with ourselves and our own importance and seek to love and serve others, humility reshapes our self-centeredness into outward expressions of love, sacrifice, forgiveness and service towards our neighbor just as Jesus did for us (Phil 2:5-11). Jesus who was God became a suffering servant. We all long to be loved with genuine warmth and acceptance and always laced with lots of grace. We will be starting a new series Desert Spirituality with Chris Hall from Renovare. In this series we will explore the nine vices (or sins) with virtues that bring life. Rev. Dona Johnson |October 27, 2024

The Desert Is A Place Of Spiritual Learning Taken from a Red Rock News Article (10/11/24) Rev. Dona Johnson |October 20, 2024 Sedona, unlike the warmer more arid regions of the Sonoran Desert, is still considered high desert country. It is a place that during the summer months can be very hot, dry and the backcountry can at times bring a deafening stillness. The high desert is both a beautiful place and a place that tests your agility and endurance.       Throughout biblical history, the desert has been known as a place of intense solitude where people encountered God. As Parker Palmer has said, “The desert is a significant learning space, and it was a significant place of learning for Jesus and this wilderness experience strengthened Jesus for his vocation.”       Some of the earliest, if not the earliest Christian monastics, the desert fathers and mothers of Egypt retreated to wilderness places. They intentionally moved away from ecclesiastical centers to the more barren desert areas. There they lived ascetically, living sparsely off the land. All if this was in reaction to the acquired luxury and laxness after Christianity was declared legal and became the official religion of the Roman Empire.       Throughout Scripture God used the desert as a place to test, teach and communicate to his people. In Hebrew, the word for desert is MIDBAR where we get the word ‘medaber’ which means to ‘speak.’ In the wilderness God gathered his chosen people. Then he called Moses to lead them into the wilderness for 40 years. God used those 40 years to speak to his people and demonstrate his saving power. It was not an easy journey.  There was definitely a power struggle between Israel and God. At Mount Sinai God not only spoke to Moses, but gave his people the Ten Commandments, a sign of his deep and abiding love for them. In the wilderness God met Elijah. Later still John the Baptist lived out his ministry in the harsh conditions of the desert, calling people to repentance. Thus, clearing the way for Jesus’ temptation in the desert for 40 days which strengthen him for his vocation—to bring salvation to humanity.        The desert is also used as a metaphor for the spiritual life. We all will eventually experience the desert. When we lose our way, when what worked in the past no longer serves us well, when our vibrant and alive spiritual life suddenly feels dried up or when we feel disillusioned with our belief system and it feels like the voice of God has gone silent.      Wilderness places are where God does some of his best work in us. God is with us in those times when we pray. ‘Surely Lord you are not asking this of me?’ In the desert we hang in there with God, in the heat of the desert, in the demands of the desert, they grow us in ways we would not have the opportunity to grow if we were not there in that very demanding and difficult place.      Human beings want to run from the truth. The truth about ourselves and the truth about God. Facing the truth threatens us. But when we find ourselves in vulnerable places, when we find ourselves in a survival mode, the masks we hide behind, the false images we create and project to others and the bad habits we live with fall away. They no longer protect us. In desert experiences, facing the truth about ourselves can be a painful experience and it is also a life-giving. God uses painful situations to reshape us from the inside out. Whether it be working through a serious illness, marital conflict, a stubborn addiction or unexplored childhood trauma, there is something in the center of these situations that we must take a truthful look at. And when this happens, our prayer is transformed into ‘Thank you Lord for not giving me everything I asked for.’ In the desert, a reordering of our desires and longings take place. And through these periods of testing, we come to truly know ourselves for the first time and our relationship with God moves from ‘belief in God’ to ‘knowing God.’ Amen. Rev. Dona Johnson |October 20, 2024

During The 2024 Election, Prayers  Are To Be Made For All People…  Submitted to the Red Rock News for (10/18/24) Rev. Dona Johnson |October 13, 2024 Right now, a large majority of American citizens are engaging in passionate conversations, discerning and zeroing in on who they will vote for in the 2024 presidential election. From a Christian perspective, with all the various political ideologies that exist, how are we to discern, prepare and approach elections? Author David Koyzis in his book Political Visions and Illusions writes, ‘In recent decades, alternative visions of the political life, ranging from ethnic nationalism to individualistic liberalism, are visions that play out either with power or justice.’ Koyzis continues, ‘Political ideologies are not merely a matter of governmental efficacy, but are intrinsically and inescapably religious: each carries certain assumptions about the nature of reality, individuals and society as well as a particular vision for the common good.’ It’s important to note that all of these political ideologies are to some degree rooted in idolatrous worldviews.       So how are Christians called to respond to elections and politics? Paul in a letter to Timothy, instructs the young pastor to pray and make intercessions for emperors, kings and all those who are in positions of authority. Paul said, ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’ (1 Timothy 2:1-7).       The early church regarded it an absolute duty to pray and bring before the throne of grace those people in authority over them—emperors and kings. Emperor Nero in the first century hated Christians. So much so, he falsely accused, tortured and killed them. Many emperors that ruled in the first few centuries were not Christian, in fact they despised them. Paul urges Timothy to pray for such emperors. Pray for peace, a change of heart, forgiveness and reconciliation. Thus, Christian prayers are to be universally non-discriminating and far-reaching. They are to include not only those we agree with and who have the same political views, but we are to pray for those we passionately disagree with and those we vehemently oppose. Prayer is to be made for all. That includes every person, regardless of their political views and positions in society. For the early Christians no one was to be excluded from the prayers of the people of God—for all are in need redemption.      The gospel includes both the people in high places and low places. It includes both the emperor in his power and also the poor in theirhelplessness. The gospel includes both the wise and philosophical and ordinary men and women who are less educated. Those in power with wealth and those who have little power and are middle class. Within the gospel there are no class or political distinctions. And so we learn, and it is a very difficult lesson to embrace in our current polarizing political culture, for true Christians, no one is outside the purview of our prayers, for no one is outside the love of Christ and the mission of God—who wants all to be saved.      So, as we approach this year’s 2024 elections, let us remember Paul’s words to young Timothy, pray for all people regardless of their political affiliation. Pray for people on both sides of the political aisle. Pray that our leader’s hearts will be changed and transformed by the love of God. May all people who are elected into office be servants of all people and live for a cause greater than themselves, sacrificing for the common good of all people. Amen. Rev. Dona Johnson |October 13, 2024

God Bottles Up Our Tears Taken from a Red Rock News Article (10/4/24) Rev. Dona Johnson | Oct 6, 2024 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. –Psalm 56:8 It’s difficult to watch on the news right now the people who are crying out for help from the vast devastation left by hurricane Helene—the deep pain and sorrow you see in survivor’s eyes as they experience a gut-wrenching sense of loss.        When was the last time you had a good cry? Did you ever think about this: human beings are the only creatures whose feelings enable them to cry—surprise, grief, joy, sorrow. Scientist believe tears are a heightened emotional response. Before you cry, basically, your body is getting riled up and emotions reach a peak. But when the tears begin to flow, your body actually starts to relax. Your heart rate slows down, the parasympathetic nervous system gets involved, which suggests that tears are something that actually may allow our nervous system to mellow out and recalibrate. Thus, crying can be both a release and a cleansing experience.       Henry Ward Beecher, a pastor who was vehemently against slavery wrote, “Tears are often the telescope by which men see far into heaven.” Oscar Romero, a priest in San Salvador who was gunned down while officiating mass said, “There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried.” Crying is thus a holy act. Crying allows us to release our hurts and disappointments to God and by doing so, God speaks his truths deep into our souls. Frederick Buechner wrote on tears, “YOU NEVER KNOW what may cause them.  The sight of the Atlantic Ocean can do it, or a piece of music, or a face you’ve never seen before. A pair of somebody’s old shoes can do it…Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go to next.”       Throughout Scripture, we are told over and over again how God not only hears but listens to the cries of his people, and through our tears God speaks to us. There are some people who chose to stay home from church when trauma strikes because they fear cry during worship. Many of us feel embarrassed by our tears, we’ve been conditioned to think tears are a sign of weakness. In a culture that prizes strength and grows uncomfortable with prolonged grieving, many of us respond to our own tears with an apology, thinking we need to get a grip on our circumstances. However, God invites each of us to bring our tears to the altar. Our suffering is never wasted. God remembers our suffering and records each tear we shed in his book.Scripture tells us that our tears are important to God. God actually bottles up our tears. David while in the midst of his enemies wrote, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (Ps. 56:8).” David trusted that God would remember his suffering.Jesus also wept several times: over the death of his beloved friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He felt sorrow deep in his bones. And with his tears, he reached down into the darkness of death itself and raised Lazarus out of the tomb and redeemed his life. Again in Revelations 21:3-4 we are promised, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” To know in your heart that the God of the universe cares enough about you to wipe away ‘every’ tear from your eyes and also values every tear and bottle them up, makes living in this world a little more bearable. Amen.