Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* To See Ourselves
* Scripture: Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?" Matthew 5:13, NKJB

I have yet to see a coin that didn't have two sides. Sides that are different, just like most arguments and opinions.
Both sides of a coin represent the same value; not so with arguments and opinions.
The Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote a little verse:
"O would the gift the giver give (gie) us,
To see ourselves as others see us."

It is said that he conceived the ditty while sitting in church behind a lady all decked out in her Sunday finery, complete with a hat with a large feather on it, and watched as a louse crawled up her neck.
Ah! To see ourselves as we truly are - that would indeed be a gift from the Giver above. That's one side of the coin. Not only to see, but to possess the tact and fortitude to handle the truth, whether about ourselves, or about others.
The other side of the coin is truly to be able to see ourselves as we ARE, but NOT as others see us! Perhaps you have been told, as a youth undergoing teasing and name calling, that,

"Sticks and stones may break my (your) bones,
But words will never hurt me."

In all truth, words can cut deeper than any two-edged sword! Words can leave wounds that do not heal over time, as most physical bruises do. Harsh 'put-down' words can be like pouring salt into an open wound.
Think about a plant, any plant, a growing thing. We can readily see what is above ground; the stem, stalk or trunk, and the leaves, reaching up to the beneficial rays of the sun. The health of the plant depends even more critically upon the root system, however, the unseen network through which the plant is nourished. Damage to that system threatens the well-being of the rest of the plant. Salt is good, in the right place, but not on most root systems, the other side of the coin, so to speak.
A person's psyche - soul, self, mind - is like that plant's root system, not visible like the physical body, but ever so vital in the wellness and wholeness of the person. How easily can that psyche be damaged by ridicule and words that cut and rend asunder a person's self image.
We can relate how people went on to achieve great things in spite of criticism to the effect that they were dumb, and would never amount to anything, people like Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein. They are an inspiration, surely, but how many more Edisons and Einsteins would there have been - would there be - had their spark not been quenched by the cold water of ridicule and scorn.
The music and comedy act, The Smothers Brothers, got great milage from the line, "Mother always liked you best." Why? I think because it touches a tender spot with so many people.
We are vulnerable, each one of us, to wounding by words. The remedy is not in retaliation, but in lifting up, encouraging, comforting. We are called to be the 'seasoning' of the earth, not the salt poured into opened wounds. Salt, true, but different sides of the same coin.
This week, try to be the encourager, the enabler, the good 'seasoner' in someone's life. In doing so, you will not only lift up their life, but your own, as well.
April 2, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Concern For Children
* Scripture: Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31a, NKJV

Solicitude, an attitude of attentive care and protectiveness; could aptly be defined as that time between when you hand your child the keys to the car, and when you hear the door safely close upon his or her return.
There are a lot of mixed emotions involved with the parenting of a child at any age, but it is especially difficult to watch without emotion as they step out into the wide, wide world on their own. There is pride in this moment, of course, on realizing what they have accomplished in their few years, but tempered by both the fact that this is one more step closer toward leaving the nest, and that there are many dangers and trials awaiting “out there.”
Each person, even as a child, is an individual, and though we do our best as a parent, we do not have total control over their thoughts or actions, nor should we. It is far better to lead them with lines of love than to bind them with chains of compulsion. The scriptures are filled with such admonitions, including the “Love” chapter of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13. Paul also counseled the church at Ephesus concerning love within the family, between husbands and wives, and between parents and children. (Ephesians 5:22-6:4)
Jesus summed up the Commandments, Laws and Prophets with these words: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31, NKJV)
All that about love having been said, perhaps we need to step back a little and look at children as ‘neighbors.’ Read again Jesus’ words. We “own” neither our neighbors nor our children. As full-fledged individuals, neither are extensions of ourselves. True, we have a special responsibility to, and relationship with, our offspring, but they are not possessions to be used at our whim, nor as avenues to vicariously attain goals that perhaps eluded us. I have witnessed examples where parents forced children into activities the children did not desire, have read too many stories of abused children, and observed cases where people probably treated their neighbors better than they did their own children.
What do we wish for ourselves? Certainly, we wish to love and to be loved, to be safe from harm, and the freedom to express ourselves as an individual.
While Jesus especially showed concern for little children, he expanded the “neighborhood” in the parable of The Good Samaritan . (Luke 10:25-37) And Jesus replied, “Go and do likewise”
February 6. 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered: “ ‘ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. Do this and you will live.” Lk. 10:25-28, NIV
September 1, 2002

I Am My Church
My Church is composed of people like me,
We make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work,
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I bring them.
It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with noble spirit, if I, who makes it what it is, am filled with these traits.
Therefore with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things I want my church to be.
Amen.
Taken from The Flame of Newark District U.M. Women

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

You would think, in these enlightened times, that a symbol for the brain, or at least the head, would be used to represent the seat of our emotions. Instead, the symbol of the heart is emblazoned on bumper stickers, Tee shirts and greeting cards to represent love of places, things, and even the family pet.
Surely the brain, that marvelous collection of memory cells and director of bodily communications, should get some credit for what we think and feel. But, no, the heart, a pumping station, prevails in art and literature as the seat of emotion, not the least of which is love.
My computer dictionary, having described the heart as a “hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system” moves on to the embodiment and “seat of the affections or sensibilities, collectively or separately, as love, hate, joy, grief, courage, and the like; rarely, the seat of the understanding or will; -- usually in a good sense, when no epithet is expressed; the better or lovelier part of our nature; the spring of all our actions and purposes; the seat of moral life and character; the moral affections and character itself; the individual disposition and character; as, a good, tender, loving, bad, hard, or selfish heart.” (Whew!)
Someone might become so alarmed that they have their “heart in their mouth,” or be sincere and well intentioned by having their “heart in the right place.” We might have a heart of gold, or a heart of stone, reflecting our nature toward others. In fact, there are so many illustrations that it is breaking my heart to not include them all.
Getting to the heart of the matter, the scriptures plainly teach the importance of the heartof man in his relationship and service to God. Jesus stressed the urgency of purity of heart thus: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matt. 5: 8).
“By an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
God's acceptance of man is based on the whole heart (Ps. 9: 1, Prov. 3: 5), God knows the secrets of the heart (Ps. 44: 20, 21), and God's law must be in our heart (Ps. 37: 27-31). Man is taught to keep his heart (Prov. 4: 23), and to be of a pure heart (Matt. 5: 8, 2 Tim. 2: 22). The Bible teaches that our speech mirrors our heart (Matt. 12: 31-35). The heart is urgently important, but the heart can be wrong - if not guided by God's word (Prov. 28: 26).
The heart has emotion (Jn. 14: 1, Matt. 5: 28), will or choice (Ex. 35: 5), the intellect (Jn. 12: 40, Rom. 1: 21), and the conscience (Acts 2: 37). All four of these elements are essential. Man is to "obey from the heart that form of doctrine…" (Rom. 6: 17).
God knows the secrets of the heart. (Ps. 44: 21). God knows our will, our emotions, intellect, and conscience. All things are laid open to him who shall be the righteous judge of all men (2 Cor. 5: 10)
The Bible heart is not the physical, blood-pumping organ found in our chest. The Bible heart involves the mind, will, emotions, and conscience of man. God's acceptance of man is based on man's heart (Prov. 3: 5
God wants your heart focused upon Him: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine . . .” Mt. 5: 14; 16, NIV

This little light of mine,
I’m gonna’ let it shine!

There is more than a little wisdom packed in the simplest of children’s songs! We’ve all watched children sing this one with the gusto that only a little child can exude, finger held up to represent a candle. We have probably sang it ourselves, as both child and adult, but living the words as a life-long practice. . . now that’s a difficult undertaking.
The song is based upon Jesus’ teachings contained in the “Sermon on the Mount,” Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7. We are to be living candles, showing the world the “Son-shine.” In a way, the “light” analogy is the pivot point of all the rest of the Beatitudes, including those two most important commandments;

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Little children imitate adults: Oh! How they imitate them! Monkey see; monkey do! Both good and bad.

Hide it under a bushel, No!
I’m gonna’ let it shine.

It is hard to hide anything from these little ones. They are a seeing, doing, learning machine. It is programmed into them. Some things are innate: crying, sucking, responding to touch and parental warmth, even babbling which later becomes speech.
While the ability to learn language and mannerisms is programmed in, most things are acquired through experience. Like a dry sponge placed in water, we soak up the language we hear and see used. If we want our children to learn to talk, we talk to them. We let our “language” shine! We don’t hide it. Neither should we hide a righteous life.
So - two faces of “hide” -

1. We should not hide our “son-shine light” from children, or the world; and,

2. We should not maintain a secret, non-Christian counterpart to our “shiny” life, and try to keep it hidden in the darkness.

That old deceiver whispers to us,
“It’s OK. Do it! Nobody will see; nobody will know.”

Won’t let Satan ‘poof’ it out;
I’m gonna’ let it shine.

Children see quite well in the “darkness.” And someone is certainly going to turn on the “lights” sooner or later.
A candle/light shines outward, not inward.
The more ‘outward’ we make our lives, the less reason we have to fear the ‘darkness.’
February 24, 2002

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “You hypocrites! You now how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:56 NRS.
Worldly wise and street smart - we’ve probably all known such people. They dress in the latest fashion, listen to the newest musical releases, know all about the current releases in movies or TV, and can tell you what is IN and what is OUT. Their world mainly consists of things, or as is often termed, STUFF.
They draw a circle to include friend who likewise share their tastes in fashion and entertainment; those not so favored are on the OUTSIDE of their circle.
Unfortunately, people who have chosen to place their emphasis on matters of the mind and spirit, rather than externals, fall on the outside of their circles. That wouldn’t be so bad except that the Insiders love to make sure that the Outsiders know who they are, and where they are! They tease, they cajole, they Label. Geek! Nobody! Dummy! Weird-o!
Such behavior can, and often does, occur within what are purported to be “religious” groups. Jesus faced such a situation with the Pharisees and Sadducees. In Matthew 23:5 Jesus comments, “Everything they do is done for men to see: they make their phylacteries (Note: boxes worn on their arms and foreheads containing scriptures) wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the market places and to have men call them “Rabbi.” “Blind guides,” He calls them, in verse 16. Take time to read chapter 23 in its entirety. It is a good guide in behavior to avoid. Test yourself - see if anything fits!
In Mark, chapter 7:1:23, Jesus again speaks about externals. vs. 20; “It is what comes out of a person that defiles.”
Read what Jesus says about true greatness, as in Luke 9:47.
To the people who knew of worldly things, He said, “You hypocrites!” Luke 12:54-56.
We are so pressured by worldly things to conform to the world. Since the worldly people are not going to mention anything that takes away from their prestige and glory, we have to look to another source to find what is truly worthwhile. That source is Jesus. His Word is the Bible. Start by reading Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7.
March 25, 2001

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Paul wrote, “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for for whom we live,; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6, NKJV

I’ve got a great idea! Instead of having to make so many different sizes of clothing, let’s make everything the same size. Garment factories wouldn’t have to worry about cutting so many pattern sizes. It would simplify stocking the clothing departments. Think of the hassle it would save when shopping; no more searching through the racks and stacks for that elusive measurement.
If something is too big, just fold it over, roll it up, wrap it around. Style it with a unique belt. Being in fashion would never have been so easy! Just think of the fairness of uni-size, one fits all. Equality at last. It would solve the age-old problem of jealousy and covetness.
What’s that you say? You don’t like my idea? Why, doesn’t it say in Acts that the early church had all things in common? Oh! You mean that doesn’t apply to clothing sizes?
Hmmm. . . Well, I suppose you are right. I had in mind something like the mumu. Just to be sure I had the correct spelling, I did a search on the internet, and - sure ‘nuff - there were pages of listings, but I stopped reading when I found a soul who was rejoicing that she had lost weight so that “I can buy clothes instead of Mumu's. ...”
Clothing that fits our individual size is more than just vanity, I suppose. After all, we were created with individual identities, right down to the whorls of our fingerprints. Still, there are times when it is desirable, even necessary, to yield some of our individuality in the name of common good. We may elect to share in a common purpose, even to the extent of wearing garments that are alike, of one style and color, called a . . . uni - form. One, uni, as in UNITY! Sports teams, bands, chain stores and restaurants, even schools, adopt uniforms to reflect the commonality of that community. The wearers of a uniform have a sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger than themselves. The viewers see the wearer of a uniform as a representative, an identifiable part of the whole. Oneness.
If many can join in oneness in temporal (earthly) things, how much more desirable to be one in the Spirit, for God is one (see Mk. 12:29; Dt. 6:4.) Not in clothing, for earthly things will pass away, but one in God.
The actual passage that I referred to earlier in Acts states that all the believers were “one in heart and mind.” (Acts 4:32) Paul also wrote to the Romans (and to us, as well) “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5, NKJV)
September 25, 2005