How are commandments, obedience and love connected?

Laws and commandments make people cringe. Indeed, Christians see the “Law” with negative lenses.. Similarly, for some people, Christianity is a burdensome system of laws and commandments: “Don't drink!”, “Don't smoke!”, “Don't dance!”, “Don't watch movies (except “The Passion of the Christ” - with a church group, by the way)”, “Be nice to people – even those you don't like” and so on.

For Jews, the Christian “Law” (Torah) is nothing negative nor burdensome, but the loving instruction, guidance and teaching of God for God's beloved. It is the expression of love.

The scripture readings for this Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, point in the same direction. In the Epistle Reading from 1 John 5:1 -6, the writer notes: “For the love of God is this, that we obey God's commandments. And God's commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world”.

In the Gospel Reading from John 15:9 -17, Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends...”

Obedience therefore, is a love relationship not a legal commandment. Jesus' followers obey him because he is a friend, not a taskmaster.

In every walk of life there are heroes or “saints” - people whose lives inspire or challenge the rest in the true meaning of living. Some earn recognition while others may not be acknowledged or even noticed.

Karl Barth (May 10, 1886 – December 10, 1968) is acknowledged as one of The Ten Most Influential Christians of the Twentieth Century. Yet, not many Christians necessarily recognized him as they recognized some of the other “nine greats” who made up the list: Billy Graham, for example; John XXIII, Martin Luther King, Jr, Mother Teresa, John Paul II, or C.S. Lewis.

Karl Barth was a theologian – one of those academics whose influence is felt by other academics, not quite consequential to the ordinary Christian! Or was he?

It was his intellectual faculties that propelled him to champion for the distinction between the divine God and the forces of humanism of his time. His academic examination of the Epistle to the Romans enhanced, for all Christians, the contrast between the power of the Gospel and that of the state in its oppression of the poor.

His opposition of the Nazis and their “German Christian Church” is certainly exemplary for everyone. The Theological Declaration of Barmen, which he drafted (with Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller) is a testament of the Christian virtue of defending the defenseless.

There is so much at stake for the poor, the needy and the marginalized in today's society. In the neighborhoods of Cincinnati and in the halls of Congress, there are risks of the defenseless being discounted.

On this anniversary of Karl Barth's birthday, his life's example can serve as a reminder of our duty to our Creator and to one another.

Overstressed, overweight and over-drugged

The week began on Monday with the television networks' reports of a nation heading to a 42% of its population obese (overweight, to put it mildly) by the year 2030. According to other sources, one third to two thirds of Americans are overweight. On the other side of the scale, nearly 49 million people - 1 in 6 of U.S. population- live in hunger.

It is well accepted that these are physical outward symptoms of inner spiritual imbalances.

Stress in life causes anxiety, dissatisfaction and even despair and hopelessness. External or physical well-being is the result, not the cause for peace, tranquility, joy and purposefulness.

There is a need, therefore, for society to realign itself. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches: “But seek first God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mtt. 6:33). Horace, the Latin poet, wrote: “They change their clime, not their frame of mind, who rush across the sea. We work hard at doing nothing: we look for happiness in boat and chariot rides. What you are looking for is here...if only peace of mind doesn't desert you”.

Let our goal be the healing of the spirit and soul of every human being so that all humanity can experience wholeness.

Spirituality in a Marathon

May 5-6 is a very special week-end in Cincinnati. It is the Flying Pig Marathon week-end. This marathon is a hallmark of Cincinnati for many years now and it gets bigger and bigger every year.

The Step Forward Team is participating in this week-end's events for the 4^th year. Launched in 2008, Team Step Forward has grown in strength and in numbers in sync with the marathon itself.

The team brings together men of City Gospel Mission's Exodus Program, the women of Having the
Courage to Change, staff, volunteers, family members and friends of the Mission. So, what is behind this team effort?

First of all, when people come together, in agreement for a common cause, tremendous energy and power is released. It is the very principle that guides corporate prayer. The men and women of City Gospel Mission's Exodus Program and Having the Courage to Change, recovery from addictions is their first goal.

Many are haunted by memories of past failures: Uncompleted education, sporadic employment, broken family relationships and so forth. Training for the marathon involves commitment, discipline and determination. Those are some of the principles involved in recovery.

Furthermore, crossing the finish line announces a completed endeavor. For some that may very well be the first or only thing they have completed in many years. It is a tremendous source of inspiration and encouragement to keep focused on the task at hand.

The whole community therefore, has reason to turn up and be part of this spiritual experience.

United in Faith?

On Friday, May 4, 2012, the Amos Project is organizing a day-long summit focusing on race, faith and justice, under the heading: “United by Faith?”. It will take place at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center from 9 am to 4 pm.

First, what is the Amos Project? According to its website, it is “a federation of congregations in Greater Cincinnati dedicated to promoting justice and improving the quality of life for all residents”. Justice is a major theme in the biblical book of Amos and the practice of Judaism and Christianity – or any faith at all – is empty without the pursuit of justice.

In addition to this fundamental pursuit, one of the keynote speakers at the summit will be Prof. Michelle Alexander, a faculty member at Ohio State University, a legal scholar and an experienced civil rights advocate.

In her book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Prof. Alexander argues that mass incarceration of black Americans by the criminal justice system – which brands them felons – has undermined the gains of the civil rights movement. In an interview on NPR's Fresh Air on January 16, 2012 she remarked: “Today there are more African-Americans under correctional control – in prison or jail, on probation or parole – than were enslaved in 1850...”

Much of this injustice, partly, or to a large extent, goes back to Ronald Reagan's policies on the war on drugs which relegated black Americans to a subordinate status.

There should be plenty to ponder during and long after the summit.

Violence: The focus on National Day of Prayer in Cincinnati

Thursday, May 3, 2012 is the National Day of Prayer. Different communities around the nation will pray for different issues relevant to them. It is not uncommon for some communities to pray for peace or their own in the military while others pray for those impoverished or struggling to make ends meet.

Violence in Cincinnati is of special concern. There is not a day that goes by without news of young people's lives being claimed in gun violence. A culture of despair and hopelessness prevails in the inner city. There are no easy solutions available.

Data from the past 11 years reveal an upward trend in violent crime, and the rate in 2012 will be higher than in 2009.

Look at the statistics:

Cincinnati's violent crime rate in 2009 was 177.56% higher than the national average and 258.93% higher than the Ohio rate. Property crime was 103.22% higher than the national average and 88.63% higher than the state average.

Clergy, pastors and religious leaders will therefore join in a caravan ride to specific points in Cincinnati for prayer stops. The starting point – at 10 am - will be Church of the Living God and proceed to Avondale, Winton Terrace, Price Hill, Over the Rhine and end on the steps of City Hall.

The pain of violence is too great on the community. God answers prayers. Every person of faith and good will is urged to participate at one of the stops for this special occasion.

Germination of seeds is beyond the sower's ability

On May 1, 1873, Dr. David Livingstone died after spending more than 33 years in Africa. He had been both a missionary and an explorer. In those days exploration and missionary work were closely related.

Dr. Livingstone is the epitome of a missionary, in most people's minds. Yet, perhaps not many people know that in all those years in Africa, he won only one convert, who later forsook the Christian faith. Nevertheless, this information will not, in the slightest, change the view that Dr. Livingstone is the epitome of a missionary!

Almost 140 years after his death, Africa is experiencing the fastest growth of Christianity. Indeed, demographically, the center of Christianity is no longer Europe or the West. This, despite the fact that the exemplary missionary did not win one convert in those many years.

He sowed the seed, he had no control over it's germination.

There are many individuals, churches and non-profit organizations in Cincinnati and all around the world that devote their energy, time and every resource to help the poor, the needy, the disenfranchised and the homeless. One can name almost any church or synagogue, or City Gospel Mission – for example – Mary Magdalene House, St. Vincent dePaul and many similar charitable organizations.

Perhaps there have been times when some have been discouraged because they have witnessed no change in those they serve. It may be disheartening to see the same faces every day.

It is important to remember that the call is to sow seeds. Germination is in the hands of the Lord who calls. Dr. David Livingstone is comforted as he looks at his work in Africa today.