Devotional

Jesus Is A Companion To The  Marginalized Rev. Dona Johnson |December 15, 2024 In this 3rd Sunday of Advent, we find John the Baptist in  prison. His proclamation of Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God  who takes away the sin of the world’ got him into big  trouble with religious authorities. Now things are not  going well for the prophet. His disciples come to his cell  to inform him that they have seen Jesus in the region.  But John has his doubts. Some discredit John’s faith  because he doubts. But who wouldn’t have doubts? Stuck deep in a prison cell with the narrow walls closing  in on him. In the midst of this cruel punishment, his  heart is shaken. John had no way of knowing if this was  the man he baptized (Luke 7:18-35).         There were many imposters in those days who  claimed they were the messiah. Wanting in the worst  way to know who this man was, John sends two of his  disciples to ask Jesus who he is. But Jesus never directly  answers their question. Instead, Jesus says, “Go back  and report to John what you have seen and heard: The  blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have  leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,  and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.23 Blessed  is anyone who does not stumble on account of me” (Luke 7:22-23).         Most Christians, unfortunately, do not recognize the significance of Christ’s answer. Thus, it is  not a surprise that John asked this question through his  disciples. And the answer he got from the Lord was to  have an enlightening and healing effect on his intellect,  for if blind see, dead are resurrected etc. then it is clear  that this Messiah is even greater than any political  messiah can be, and if greater, then He is the true  Messiah and not anybody lesser; and if this true Messiah does not promote an earthly political agenda  (John 18:36), then one has no other choice than to  change their mind about the essence of the  Messiahship, and understand that the Kingdom which  the true Messiah is bringing is not a visible one but a  spiritual one (Luke 17:20).        This was a complicated political situation: as is  always the case when the Empire reigns. Israel is  plagued by social inequity, by vast disparities between  the few with wealth and power and the many who are  poor and destitute. There was abusive taxation on the  poor and paranoia about being arrested for the slightest  infraction. In the grand expanse of the Roman Empire,  the Jewish people are but a small and politically  inconsequential group, trying to hold onto their unique  culture and customs while avoiding the disapproving  gaze of those who rule over them.        In answering John’s question, Jesus now expands his messianic identity to include healing and  restoration. The Messiah comes not as conquering king  lording it over on the poor and have-nots. But Jesus  identifies with the people who have been marginalized  by a corrupt system. The true Messiah is not one who  sits in royal luxury, in a palace being served by slaves.  No, Jesus comes as a companion to sit with sinners and  tax collectors. In a great reversal, the Messiah empties  himself of all titles and importance and becomes a  slave, a servant to those who are suffering from sin and  abuse (Col 2:5-11). Jesus explains that he and John are  being condemned for their failure to fit into a  fraudulent system and play the games of the religious  elite. Both John and Jesus were scandalized for refusing  to be aligned with a world system that had grown  corrupt at every level. In the eyes of the system, the  marginalized population were of little value and  expendable.         Since the death and resurrection of Jesus, you  might say Christians have been in a long season of  advent—waiting and watching for the signs of the  second coming and reign of Jesus Christ. As we look out  at the overwhelming corruption in our own world, we  know all too well that we are need of a Savior.        A good question for all of is is: how do our blind  spots make us complicit to the marginalized? In what  ways are our convictions about how God should work in  the world wrong and lead others discouraged — with  God, with others, and/or with ourselves? What type of  messiah are we looking for? A messiah that thinks, talks and behaves like us, or a God who sets up a system  unlike any we know, a system of radical forgiveness,  grace and mercy. Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ is  the one who is a friend and companion to sinners! For  that is good news for all of us!  Rev. Dona Johnson |December 15, 2024

God Gives Us Courage To Face Our Fears Submitted to Red Rock News for 12/13/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |December 8, 2024 With the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that  she, a virgin would conceive a child something  unthinkable, (Luke 1:30-33), with God’s message to  Joseph to not divorce Mary in order to carry out God’s  plan (Matt. 1:20), and with God’s announcement to the  shepherds their long-awaited Savior had been born (Luke 2:8-9), while all of these announcements brought great joy and celebration, they also brought much fear  and panic. In fact, when God approached these chosen  people, his first words to them were “Don’t be afraid”  or “Fear not.” God first calms, reassures and comforts  the people he calls. For who would not be frightened if  he or she were confronted by a God or a heavenly  being?         Fear is a human emotion. Fear is both real or  imagined. Fear begins with those nagging questions that  start out like this: “what if this happens,” or “what if  that happens.” It is the “what ifs” that trip us up. Fear  has a way of building on itself until it immobilizes us  from moving forward. When God calls us to do  something, there is always some amount of fear mixed  with joy and excitement. Many times God calls us into  the very places we fear the most. He also calls us to  speak what we fear speaking, to forgive, and build  relationships with those we dread the most. And why  does God do this? God wants us to grow in faith. To rely  on his power and not simply our own willpower. He also wants us to be free of fear. Naming our fears frees us to  live not frightened of the “what ifs” or distressed over  what we feel is an inconceivable or insurmountable  task. As Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).          Chris Hall, theologian and author of Desert  Spirituality believes our fears are overcome with  courage. He recalls a time when he was invited to fly to  Bangkok to meet with World Vision, but when he  arrived at the gate, he became so overwhelmed with anxiety that he could not muster up the courage to  board the plane. Hall was too embarrassed to tell  anyone about his fear of flying. He informed his provost  that he did not make the flight. He revealed openly his  fear of flying. Imagine a professional confessing this  fear. What happened next, well, the university and  World Vision got together and paid for Hall to take a  fear of flying class. He discovered his greatest fear was  air turbulence. The pilot teaching the class told him,  “When turbulence occurs it’s not about the airplane,  the airplane can handle it. It’s about the turbulence  inside you.” With further digging, Chris Hall discovered  that his fear of flying was connected to the deep-seeded  fear and horror that struck him as ayoung ma when his  father and mother filed for divorce. The pilot was right!  It wasn’t about the plane at all. The next year, Hall was  called to fly to the Philippines to give another  presentation. Now he peacefully sleeps when flying.        The season of Christmas is about God becoming  flesh to dwell with us, to walk with us, quell the fears  that weigh us down and give us courage to face them.  Our world is weary with fear. Some of us have a fear of  dying or becoming ill. Some of us fear speaking in  public, being alone or abandoned. Some of us fear the  shameful parts of our lives, the sins we’ve committed  and string of broken relationships we’ve left behind.  Some us fear we are not good enough. While others  fear being vulnerable and being judged for their  weaknesses. Too, there are people who fear God and  fear the church. And yes, there are still many of us who  fear flying–aerophobia. The Cleveland Clinic estimates  25 million people have a fear of flying.        What fear(s) do you need to release to God? A  good spiritual practice used to overcome fear, is to  simply pray your fear out loud. Give your fear to God.  Be open. Be honest. Ask God to give you the courage to  overcome your fear. There is so much freedom to be  gained when we face our fears. God can take any one of  our fears and give us his peace in the midst of our  turbulence. In Jesus’ birth, God reaches down and gives us a heart of courage to face them. Amen. Rev. Dona Johnson |December 8, 2024

Advent: Preparing for Jesus’ Return  Submitted to Red Rock News for 12/6/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |December 1, 2024 At the beginning of every Advent season, the four weeks before Christmas Day, we are told about a man who suddenly without warning comes out of the backcountry, the wilderness announcing the prophetic news that the Messiah was about to enter the world. This man was John the Baptist. He was a raw sort of burley man who wore a camel hair coat and ate locusts and honey. For many, this news was perplexing and at best somewhat skeptical. For others it was the hope they had been long been waiting for.       For about a thousand years, from Moses to Malachi, God spoke to his people by sending them prophets. After Malachi there was a 450-year prophetic silence, a silence that was finally broken with the first prophet of the New Testament period, John the Baptist.       The prophet was chosen and called by God to deliver a message many did not want to hear— repent of your sin. “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight” (Luke 3:3-4)?       At this time the society had grown secure, prosperous and luxurious, yet in imminent danger of perishing from hidden, festering disease; and a religious community which was fused to hopeless perversion and yet still contained the germs or a possible regeneration. Alfred Edersheim author of The Life and Times of Jesus suggests, in the Roman world, there had grown a great need for a savior. With a population of about 2 million, a good half of the people were enslaved in poverty and inflicted with mass cruelty and oppression, while the other half engaged in demonstrative corruption. Religion, philosophy and society had run through every stage into despair. There was a hyper indulgence in astrology, magic, oracles and divination of all sorts of gods (idols).  As society’s aspirations increasingly turned inward, interests in self-achievement and with the hyper-indulgence of every passion, atheism and despair increased. Does anything here sound familiar?       Luke who was a historian, liked to lay out his gospel of the life and times of Jesus Christ in great detail and in chronological order. Like tells us that John the Baptist’s announcement of a new messiah was in the fifteenth reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of the region of Galilee while the priesthood consisted of Annas and Caiaphas (Luke 3:1-2). Because of Luke’s detailed account, scholars believe this would date John’s ministry 28 to 29 A.D. This makes sense, because Luke speaks of Christ being about thirty years old at the time of his baptism and the start of his public ministry.      John proclaims a baptism of repentance that leads to release from sins. Release (Greek aphesis) is the same word that Jesus uses twice in Luke 4:18 to describe his mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me … to proclaim release to the captives and … to let the oppressed go free … ” The release or forgiveness that follows repentance does not undo the consequence of past sins, but it does unbind people from them.      So if were to invite John the Baptist into our living rooms today, what message would he have for us? The prophet might say to us, “Be extremely attentive. Don’t despair. Yes, it’s been a long time. It’s been 2000 years since Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, but don’t be fooled. Don’t give up waiting. Don’t harden your heart with the ways of this world—greed, power and self-centeredness. Stay the course. Christ with all power and glory will come again, he will appear in our neighborhoods unexpectedly and suddenly to set everything right, to bring justice and mercy, to take what is crooked and corrupt in this life, to take our pain and suffering and redeem it for good. God will restore what is broken and make it whole again.”      In the meantime, we are to live in the world but not of the world. We are to live a life of true confession, repentance and forgiveness. We are to be spiritually responsible with our faith—living it out in genuine and authentic ways. John’s voice still echoes and penetrates our culture today— prepare your hearts. Make room for the Messiah— He is coming again to rebuild, redeem and restore his Kingdom. Amen. Rev. Dona Johnson |December 1, 2024

Part 5 of the series ‘Desert Spirituality’  Gratitude Begets Gratitude Submitted to Red Rock News for 11/29/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |November 24, 2024 Are you feeling grateful this Thanksgiving? If so, what are you grateful for? Henri Nouwen suggests gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are not an “accident,” but a divine choice. “It is important to realize how often we have had chances to be grateful and have not used them. When someone is kind to us, when an event turns out well, when a problem is solved, a relationship restored, a wound healed, there are very concrete reasons to offer thanks: be it with words, with flowers, with a text, a card, a phone call, or just a gesture of affection. . . ”Every time we decide to be grateful it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for.        Gratitude is one of the identifying virtues for any follower of Jesus Christ. An enemy of gratefulness focusing on what we don’t have. Better said, living a life of lack. Maybe someone or something in your life is not meeting your expectations. So, rather than focus on the goodness in a person or situation, we become obsessed with what we feel is lacking, and that morphs into feelings ungrateful and resentment—a vicious cycle.        Sometimes we can become so focused on what we think is wrong around us that we lose sight of God’s blessings. We develop an attitude that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence that stymies a life of gratitude. We become less grateful and thus less gracious and this leads to complaining. This can happen without our ever realizing it. Who wants to be around a person who complains all the time and a person who is not gracious? Gratitude is the opposite of resentment, in Latin it means gratia, favor. Gratitude is not an occasional ‘thanks be to God,’ but the way of the heart, a heart turned towards God’s favor.  Gratefulness takes away our fatigue and the apathy we often feel when we become distracted with discontent. Much of the discontent we feel towards others flows out of the dissatisfaction we have with ourselves.        But moving away from resentment requires moving toward something that is life-giving, and that something is gratitude. Gratitude looks towards the future, towards what could be and sees new possibilities. What are some of the little things you are grateful for? Maybe it’s having that first cup of hot coffee in the morning. What about a beloved friend who is always there to support you? What about the breathtaking view of the mountains out your window? What about thanking God that you have eyes to see, ears to hear, legs to move and hands to grasp?       Gratitude…goes beyond the “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift, a gift from God to be cherished in ourselves and in others. In the end “gratitude” is a choice we make.Jesus modeled gratefulness perfectly! He continually, raised his head and eyes upward thanking his heavenly Father, whether it was multiplying a few loaves of bread and fish to feed 5000 people (Matt. 14:19), or breaking bread with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke24:30), or the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41). Again, before Jesus was to be arrested and crucified, Jesus gave holy communion to his disciples at the meal of the Passover—the Last Supper. He lifted the bread and cup towards heaven and gave thanks (Matt. 26:27). In fact, in many congregations, every Sunday, holy communion is celebrated at the climax of each worship service. It is called the Great Thanksgiving—because it is “great,” it is God’s amazing grace penetrating the human heart in the bread and the cup. It is a foretaste of the gloriously feast to come for all God’s people.       So, as image bearers of Jesus, on this weekend before Thanksgiving, wherever you are in life and in whatever situation you find yourself, reach out to someone and share something of yourself with others— be kind, be generous and look for the goodness of God in others. Celebrate life, the living. You have a Savior, Christ the Lord who adores you. And in him, you have more than you could ever imagine. Remember, gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love. May boundless blessings of God fill your heart with gratitude! Rev. Dona Johnson |November 24, 2024

Part 4 of the series ‘Desert Spirituality’: The spiritual practice of proximity  overpowers greed  Submitted to the Red Rock News for 11/22/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |November 17, 2024 Greed is a vice that distorts the natural desires that, when unchecked, lead to significant personal and communal harm writes author Rebecca DeYoung. Greed deals with the compulsive consumption of material wealth. A good example, you may have a huge nest egg of financial investments stored away, but there is always this nagging voice that says, “Oh if I could have just a little bit more.” We accumulate because of an underlying insecurity. We fear that we will run out of money before leave this world. And this is surely a legitimate fear. And yet the more we have seems to create more anxiety and dissatisfaction, a vicious cycle.       Henri Nouwen makes an interesting point; the two main enemies of the spiritual life are anger and greed. “Greed and anger are brother and sister of the false self—the self we fabricate by the compulsions of an unredeemed world.” Maybe deep down, we are angry because we are not the people we want to be. So we keep accumulating more of just about everything in hopes that we will quell the unspoken dissatisfaction we have with ourselves. Nouwen continues, “Anger paralyzes a generous heart.”       So what do we do with this dilemma? Turning to Scripture, it’s surprising to learn that out of Jesus’ 38 parables, in 16 of them he mentions money and possessions more than faith and prayer (Matt. 18:23-25; 25:14-30; Mark 10:17-30…). Why? He knew all too well the weakness of the human heart. We want eternity but we also want the worldly benefits of what money can buy for us right now! But Jesus’ concern was not about our having money per se, but our obsession with it. And to be overly focused on money endangers our spiritual lives.       If greed is the vice, then generosity is its virtue. Generosity is a fruit of the spiritual life. Christians among all people, are called to be over-the-top generous with their money and possessions towards the church, other Christians and all who suffer. Looking back centuries ago, several of the early church fathers who fled the distractions of ecclesiastical life, made pilgrimages to the desert to be closer with God. They intentionally took vows of poverty, lived meagerly to get away from the earthly compulsions of greed, money and living a false Christian witness. St. Basil the Great came out of his desert experience after twenty years so transformed by the voice of the God, that he vowed to use his life, his God-given natural abilities and resources to help the suffering, to care for the orphans and widows. In 386 A.D. he built one of the first hospitals. He also went on to build orphanages and homes for the elderly.      Chris Hall, author of the video series “Desert Spirituality” asks: If Basil were to sit with us in our living rooms right now, what advice or spiritual practice might he suggest that we undertake to become more generous? I believe he would suggest the spiritual practice of ‘proximity.’ Proximity, to be close to and not distant from people who suffer. In other words, to be so deeply moved by the suffering of others that you feel it in your bones. It opens your heart and opens your purse strings. When you truly take in the suffering and poverty of people, animals and creation, you can’t help but give, and give generously. When you understand that their suffering by the grace of God is not yours—it moves you to radical action. Reformer Martin Luther was on point when he said, “People go through three conversions: The conversion of their head, their heart, and their pocketbook. Unfortunately, not all at the same time.”      Thanksgiving is almost upon us. What is the Lord asking you to see that you are not seeing? Each of us can become a more generous person, holding what we possess lightly. The result of which is freedom— freedom from the sin of our own greed and abundance for others.Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are so extremely generous, you hold nothing back. Lord make me a generous person, if there is any greed within me, cleanse me and make me whole. Amen. Rev. Dona Johnson |November 17, 2024

Part 3 of the series ‘Desert Spirituality’ God’s Love Overpowers Our  Envy and Jealousy  Submitted to the Red Rock News for 11/15/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |November 12, 2024 Envy is one of the currents within the heart that makes deep grooves in the human soul. Scripture calls out envy as a vice and we need to understand its power and destructive nature. So, what does envy look like. In Proverbs 73:3-6, we are given a description of someone who is envious. “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.” The wisdom of this passage depicts a person who was envious of those who had healthy and beautiful bodies. A person who was envious of those who had accumulated wealth, and especially envious of those who seemed to have no problems in life—life made in the shade.       So, what is envy? Envy is wanting some aspect of someone else’s life. You may want their fame, status, character, accomplishments and or wealth. Rather than be happy for them, rather than rejoice in the gifts and blessing which have been bestowed on them, you have contempt for and begrudge them. A whole host of things can make us envious. For many, money is a big one. We can easily be envious of people who live in bigger homes, drive expensive cars and have more education. Acclaim, fame and popularity can make a person envious . Envy can make you obsessed with what others have and if left unchecked, fuels resentment and hatred towards others.       Cyprian of Carthage an early church father from the 3rd Century said this about envy, ““But what a gnawing worm of the soul is it, what a plague-spot of our thoughts, what a rust of the heart, to be jealous of another, either in respect of his virtue or of his happiness; that is, to hate in him either his own deserving’s or the divine benefits…”       Gavin Ortland, author of Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness writes, “There is no joy in your life that cannot be destroyed by envy. No matter what you have, envy can say, “Yes, you might have X, but you don’t have Y.” . . . “Yeah, you might have gotten into that college, but you didn’t get into that one.” “Yeah, you might be making good money, but you don’t have enough time to enjoy it.” “Yeah, your church might be growing, but you don’t have the opportunities that so-and-so has.”        Like all vices, envy is universal. It is the enemy of love. By definition, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Many a career or ministry has collapsed under too much too soon. Many of us want what others have without considering the sacrifice. Always remember, behind every success there lies a cost, sometimes a great struggle that requires time and effort. Being patient, living every day to the fullest, living every day with the end in mind guides us towards God’s preferred future for us. God will provide!      So how do you avoid or stop being envious of others? First, prayerfully confess your envy and ask God to replace your feelings of jealousy with his peace and contentment. “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones (Proverbs 14:30). Secondly, avoid comparing yourself to others. Look at what God has already gifted you with. Yes, stop and look around you. Take inventory of all you have. If you are honest with yourself, you have much more than you think. God has given you the promise of a glorious future. So, rejoice and be grateful for your body and how God meticulously wove every part of it together, you are his masterpiece, be grateful for what God-given abilities and skills you have, be grateful for whatever material blessings you’ve been given and use them all for good, rather than be discouraged and discontent. May each of us learn how to rejoice in the giftedness, the fortunes and successes of others and our own. Amen. Rev. Dona Johnson |November 12, 2024

Overpowering Vainglory With God’s Love  Part 2 of the series ‘Desert Spirituality’ Submitted to Red Rock News for 11/08/24 Rev. Dona Johnson |November 3, 2024 Have you ever padded your resume when searching for a job? Resume padding is quite a common practice these days—the practice of adding untrue or exaggerated information to your resume to make your accomplishments look greater than they are. A recent LinkedIn survey reports that 72% of job applicants lie on their resumes, while 68% percent lie during their interviews. They lie mostly about academic achievements.       Have you ever heard the phrase ‘vain glory’? In Christian circles it is known as a vice, an excessive elation or pride over one’s own achievements and abilities. Today’s culture sees a person’s worth, value and usefulness in society based on their success and accomplishments, so much so that they are willing to inflate and stretch the truth about themselves. It is such a great temptation to glorify ourselves by exaggerating how good we are. This also happens in every facet of life. A great example of this is our social media hits. We’re so hungry for ‘likes.’ Many of us feel so accepted and important when we receive a great number of likes for our posts.       But all in all, vain glory is a relational issue. Most of us crave affirmation, applause and appreciation. We want so desperately to be loved and liked. Being known, being recognized, being appreciated and acknowledged — these are the things we people live for. So, where do we go wrong? When we put ourselves on display, show off and inflate our goodness, we are actually at that point of manufacturing glory for ourselves by putting ourselves out there, says Rebecca DeYoung, author of Glittering Vices. You might say, we either don’t trust or acknowledge the deep affirmation that has already been given to us by God. Very early, as children we learn to brag about ourselves.  And Christians have no immunity to bragging and seeking a name for themselves. “I am the lead pastor of a growing church; we’re worshiping 150 on Sunday.” Or how about this, “I baptized fifteen people on Sunday.” Or what about this, “I am good person, I would never do something like that, I am not one of those kinds of people.”       Paul in both Romans and Ephesians makes it clear, we are always in every way and every circumstance to give praise and glory to God for our faith, for the grace and countless blessings God continues to shower us with, even as we sin. “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith” (Ro 1:17). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8- 9). Now faith produces works, no doubt about it but those works and our achievements do not produce salvation, it is faith alone that produces righteousness in us.       The early church Fathers likened vain glory to peeling back an onion. Every time you peel back a layer, another layer of vanity stares you in the face. DeYoung continues, “Augustine’s and Aquinas’s moral insight is that every vice is a sham substitute for some good thing that we try to self-manufacture, rather than receiving as a gift from God. What’s the good we hunger for when tempted by vainglory? Being known and loved. We long for the attentive love of others.”      So once again, the vice or call it the weakness or flaw of vain glory comes down to love. That is what every human being longs for—to be fully known, imperfections and all and also truly loved. As those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus, there is no longer a need to brag, promote ourselves, justify our goodness and compete against others. Faith alone gives us a holy identity with an eternal destiny—that far out weights any worldly gains we seek. God’s love for us is fiercely unconditional and his grace is inexhaustible.   Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see my worth and value not in competing with my neighbor or all my attempts to self-promote how good I am, but you alone make me good, in you alone is where I find my true value and an eternal purpose. Amen.   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 |November 3, 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