in & out…

reflecting on the people past/present/future - good/bad that we allow into & out of our lives and how they shape who we are/have/will become…

so this really got me thinking – about all the wonderful people, and some not so much, that I have allowed in and out of my life, some have been called home - away from us all to soon for us, and others simply fade out of our lives and on with their own journey’s… some are good and some are bad - but all in all regardless of how we view their marks on us, they really do make us who we are and who we will become, past/present/future - each person leaves an indelible mark on us and us them, whether we like it or not… good and bad… sometimes we know the differences that we make in others lives, along the way. more times than not we don’t, all to often it is at funerals that we come to hear the impact we had on people, communities and the relationships we build along the way… the other thing that got me thinking is that we really do allow others in and out of our lives, just as we allow them into our inner circles, our inner most thoughts, our truest self at the very core, good and bad, we also allow them to go, to leave, to move on and sometimes we let them go completely out of our minds, the thoughts to painful, to keep them fresh in our minds, let alone our hearts, and so we say farewell, good riddens to some, and I will sorely miss you to still others… some we love others we hate, and the reality of it is that if we find we have hateful feelings for another, we really do love them, otherwise why would we give such energy to acting as though we didn’t, if they didn’t matter at all then why say that we hate them, you have to know them to hate them, now I admit that some people make it very difficult to love them most of the time, others make it so easy, we connect with them, almost immediately, and others it seems we have to struggle to make it work, and yet somehow we do, we come to realize that even the worst of us – reminds us of the worst in us… all to often it is the very things in ourselves that we want to change that we hate about someone else… sometimes the truth is to painful, for us to have them around us constantly reminding us we really do need to change that, but we simply just aren't ready or willing to… some times our friendships last a life time and others, only briefly, be thankful for each and every one of them, love each and every one of them – we never know the full scope of all the journey we take, but someday we will, and my Prayer for each of us is that we all will be greeted with “well done”  – so the next time we are thinking of either letting someone in or out of our lives – let us give pause to what we are doing…. and remember “where others may see waste God see’s a blessing, always bring out the best in others”… Terry J. McGuire

“understanding but who's”

 

in our Scripture readings this week – we find a summons of the people to obey the law, to see and acknowledge God's glory in creation and the law and that we are all one body, with many members and even Christ's Ministry had acceptance and rejection, then and now...

I think for me one of the truest words ever spoken is this we save no one... we can be vessels for God, but it is still He who saves us... often when we say Amen, and done twice, Amen, Amen, we are in accord with what is said or believe it in our core, gifted by the Spirit to understand... and so it is that God has richly blessed us with people we can understand, by reading the Scriptures we can read and begin to see all the wonderful graces and mercy God continues to give us as a people, even after all these years of denial or even down right disobedience. And in our journeys along the way we begin to share all the wonderful blessings that God has given to us, and we begin to be used by God to enrich the life of someone else who potentially had no hope, never heard that God has created you so uniquely that God loves you just as you are and has plans for you too... we are to be attentive to the Spirit within us that God will never fail us, we may fail in our attempts, but even so God can turn them into a blessing too.... the commandment of the Lord is clear – Love as I have Loved You... and in the Psalms we find we do have undetected blind spots, personal errors and hidden faults, it is about our omission not commission of the faults, that we could possibly do anything with out God... really... and of course my favorite verse 14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. O Lord, my strength and my redeemer” again in Corinthians we find we are of one Spirit, the body doesn't consist of only one member, but many, affirming the unity and the diversity of each and everyone of the members, and in doing so – we see it is God who has arranged the members in the body, each one of them as HE chose... and still we have the hardest time with this one... we can not imagine that we should have the same care for one another, that if one suffers, we all suffer, if one rejoices we all rejoice... and again we find we are cautioned about judging others... and yet we do it... it seems like we just can't help ourselves, I think for me that one of the greatest acknowledgements that the Progressive Christian Alliance has is that it is God who appoints us and calls us... we simply affirm that call... so many different Churches, Denominations, and Fellowships will certainly disagree... but we hold fast to the truths we are given, and the simplicity of that Call, to Love one another... I agree some make it very hard to love them... but we are to find the way around even the toughest exterior and find the heart of Christ in even them... it truly can be done... if Christ can do so must we... all to often, just like Christ in His ministry – some will agree, some will not... all we can do is to fulfill our mission, be the open vessels that God has placed exactly where we are... each of us have been blessed with so many wonderful gifts that even we haven't tapped into yet... allow the Spirit to work in and through us, reaching the captives, by circumstance, or lies they have been told before, or simply just never heard that God does indeed love them and wants a relationship with them too... and like Christ... we too can fulfill our Callings, our Missions, our Ministry's all within reach, what an awesome Ministry we each have been blessed with and when empowered by the Holy Spirit, watch out – the evidence of God shines forth in our lives – our words – our actions, even in our insufficient attempts the Holy Spirit can turn it into something incredible – usable – understandable to others, May the power of the Holy Spirit always be our guide, our voice, our witness to others in Christs most Holy Name... Amen, and Amen...

Rev. Terry J. McGuire

Freedom

On this Independence Day - we celebrate our Nations Freedoms and remember all who fought for those freedoms - we also remember all who aren't totally free - here and abroad. But also on this Independence Day let us remember our Inter-Dependence on God and the proper use of freedom "faith working through love" and expend our energies on Loving God and Loving Others - sharing the wonderful abundance of His love and Grace... freedom doesn't give us the right to do what we please, but to do what pleases God... and let us give thanks to our God who through Christ, we too are Free - Truly Free - Thank You my Lord... Terry

Unity – in Mind, Body and Spirit

from our Scripture Readings this Trinity Sunday; we find in Isaiah 6:1-8 “A vision of God in the Temple” the Psalm 29, “the voice of God in a great storm”, Romans 8:12-17 “we find Life in the Spirit”, and in John 3:1-17 “we learn that flesh and Spirit belong together in the new, as Jesus envisions it” and so in “Mind Body and Spirit” we do come to unity as God had intended us from the beginning. now through Christ's redeeming sacrifice for us – we can be once again in harmony with God and with each other… here I see “Vision, Voice, Vocation, Victory” we are told our sins are blotted out and yet we continue to hold onto them as though they were our only thread to Christ – so if our sins are blotted out why do we continue to hold onto them and dwell upon them…  we really need to learn to listen to the voice of forgiveness the voice of guidance the voice of victory… we are a loved and forgiven people – now we must live as such… and through the Psalms and else where throughout the Bible we are reminded that He is with us… always… the Lord shall give strength and the blessing of peace to his people. It is us who must listen, accept the gracious gifts – in Romans 8:12-17 tells us for all who are led by the Spirit are Children of God. the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are Gods very own… no one can give it to you – and the greater blessing – is no one can take it from you… and in John 3:1-17 we lean that no one can see the Kingdom of God without first being born from above, born of the Spirit, “the wind blows where it chooses” so God blesses each of us with the Spirit and ours is to witness of Gods mercy and grace and gift of the Spirit for you for me for all who call upon His great name… to witness is an important vocation, because through witness the world comes to know the presence of God in Jesus through us… the presence of Jesus as the incarnate word, confronts the world with the decision to believe or not, and making that decision is the moment of self – judgment. the Gospels eschatology is defined by decision and self judgment. God’s judgment arises out of God’s love for the World. God sent Jesus to save the world… and the world will judge itself in its response to Jesus… for me the Kingdom of God is when we – you and I – are living in harmony with God and each other… are we living up to the fullest potential in Christ. are we living in harmony of Mind Body and Spirit…  can others tell – do they see it? Victory is ours in Christ – claim your inheritance… be a voice for someone else – your witness helps others to see victory for themselves is possible… Amen. Rev.Terry J. McGuire

Different Voices – One Message

How is it – that we hear, each of us? Because the Holy Spirit has rested upon you too – giving you the ability to understand the Word as God intends for you too. Because God wants an intimate relationship with each and everyone of us and to do so we must understand His Calling, His Word… For Christians around the world – Pentecost celebrates the climax of the Good News – that this day all the benefits of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – rush into our lives and into the Church – through the gift of the Holy Spirit - “what does this mean” that Christ’s promise of a Comforter has come and rested upon you and rested upon me and rested upon the Church Universal. “that God declares it is He who will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh – when and to whom He chooses and so we are reminded in our smallness there is nothing we can do to make the Spirit manifest itself in us or through us, it is only by and through the power of God… and “everyone – everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall and will be saved” the gift of the Spirit will be with us too… the Spirit will help us in our weaknesses – we just have to come to terms with our own limitations and allow the Spirit to intercede on our behalf. God knows our hearts – have we surrendered everything, have we given way for the Spirit to fill us with all the wonderful Blessings that await each and everyone of us. “when the Advocate comes, the Spirit of Truth” you too are to testify – what has God done for you… the Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth; then you my friends – must go and share your journey’s with others – share God’s unfailing love for you and encouraging one another alone this journey together until at last Christ's face we shall see… and in closing dig deep with in – where and how may God be calling you to witness to God’s justice? Know that if God calls you into action God will also provide all that is necessary for you…

O’Lord do not abandon us now, rather, make your presence real, manifested in joy, grace and love… Amen…

Rev. Terry J. McGuire

Human Rights

Human Rights
Human Rights can and will only begin when we all start treating each other with the same regard in which we wish to be treated… Human Rights are a GOD given right for every individual, to be treated with dignity, respect and equality that GOD has created each of us to have to be all that we can be. While remembering to appreciate the uniqueness of each of us and celebrate the diversity that GOD has placed in each of us. Human Rights can only begin to take root when we remember that each of us have the responsibility to Love one another as our selves, the rights that belong to the select few are the Holy Rights of ALL… only when we take off our own self inflicted blinders in humiliation, of self degradation, of self hatred towards others different from ourselves can or will we respect the individualities of a Life of one another as another Child of GOD. Remembering that if GOD is for them then who are we to be against them. It isn’t our place to condemn one another and yet we find it so easy to do on a regular basis. Based on many different factors and none; forgetting that it is GOD who has made each and everyone of us, uniquely individual as our finger prints and we are ALL created in GOD’s image. Then what are we doing? When will we start to recover the Human Rights each are each born with? Only when we begin to see the value of every single individual as one of GOD’s very own – no longer a disposable person in our society – a fellow brother – sister – neighbor. What if - it were I – what if - it were You – standing on the outside looking in and longing to be treated with the same Loving Respect and Dignity you were born with. Not until everyone has been restored with the same Human Rights – can we rest – can we stop Praying – can we stop working to stop the hatred – of self and others.

Rev. Terry J. McGuire

"undoing the Damage Done in the name of Religion"

the main theme of our Scripture readings speaks on Forgiveness, with other Scriptures providing us with insight on – Compassion, and Judging Others… I think that we sometimes forget the Mercy and Grace God has shown us when we become Christians… we seem to have become this new monster… of self-righteousness and piety, that we have all the answers and now have the right to condemn others as we see fit instead of our Great Commission to Share the Good News… ours is to share the Good News with others… Jesus Saves… if Christ didn’t condemn anyone why then have we taken on the role of condemning others as we choose… we aren’t to Judge anyone… what others do is between them and God… He will put His word on our hearts and minds… what applies for me may not apply for you… so why do we continually assert such a burden on others…Christ showed great compassion for those we seem to condemn… those with whom we show the door of our Churches… you don’t belong here… But wait… it isn’t our Church… it belongs to Christ, so what are we doing in the name of Religion, what Damage are we doing to His Children in the name of Religion… are we so certain that we have all the answers, are we so certain He has given us the keys to the Kingdom to act and treat others the way we sometimes do… None of us get it all right… but we are to make sure that No One is to be left out, even Christ showed us how to be Compassionate, Forgiving and yes Loving… how we are to live in harmony with the Father and with one another…and He has shown us how we All can - have a relationship with God again…when we live in fellowship with one another we live out our individual Callings, to bring the Good News to All … the rest is up to Him to lead and guide as He sees fit to do so… not us… ours is not to judge and if we find ourselves doing so…repent…for the day will come when we too will be judged as we judged others… are you that certain that you have all the answers, are you that certain that God will not hold you and I accountable for the Damage we do… are you that certain that God didn’t Call them to serve Him… just as they are… in matters not essential for Salvation, Faith allows believers to act on reason and conscience… instead of judging others we are to be concerned with our final judgment… How is God going to react to what we have done…even when others continue to suppress us and set us out, thankfully God always provides for His Children, He always finds a way for us to be in Relationship with Him… even when others tell us it can’t be done… He is the only one we need concern ourselves with… we are to forgive the Brother or Sister who tells us otherwise or holds you back from the Relationship He has awaiting each of us… and move forward in the Call that only He can provide…through Christ…we can be in that one same relationship with God… however we must show the same mercy, that He so generously shown us to our repressors to our condemners…we are to live the life that He has Called us to…we are to help others who fail to see the Love of God that is available through Christ… that they too can and will have the same unfailing Love that is available for All of Gods Children and sometimes it will be reflected in us… not just a select few… and certainly not the ones we think may be deserving… that is not our call to make… it is God’s… when we begin to realize that we are here to serve one another and to help build up one another instead of tearing each other down or suppressing anyone else, then do we start to live and to love as He has Called us to… and hopefully begin to undo some of the Damage that has been Done in the name of Religion… that God’s Love is available for All…who call upon HIS Great Name… Amen
Rev. Terry J. McGuire