If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy. Corrie ten Boom

Meditation: The current president is manipulating the media. He is keeping the reporters and TV stations busy so that nearly hourly they would report many distracting messages. And the media acts like a sponge. It has not shifted its paradigm, but is falling for it. In the end, viewer ratings mean money. And money is what our society is built around. As hourly distracting news are keeping the media busy, so the people of this country are being kept constantly busy with absorbing messages that create certain emotions in the millions of people watching and listening. And this is intended. If the president cannot get us on his side, he at least will keep us busy and distracted. This way he can manipulate dynamics and keep up a certain amount of chaos. And chaos camouflages what is really going on behind the scenes. Let us monitor how much we allow the media to keep us busy, preoccupied and in chaos. Let us be wise and make the best use of our time.

Prayer: God of clarity and wisdom, we bring to You our feelings of being overwhelmed. We confess that we have spent hours listening to and watching the never ceasing news reports, falling victim to the artfully crafted manipulation of those in power. We admit that all those chaotic news reports render us speechless and foolish. We feel like our brain is being drained. We come to You. Help us discern how much and what kind of information is essential and what news reports are toxic and manipulative. Let us understand Your will and hear Your voice in the chaos of our times. We are grateful having You in our lives at this time in history. Amen

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

We must finally stop appealing to theology to justify our reserved silence about what the state is doing — for that is nothing but fear. ‘Open your mouth for the one who is voiceless’ — for who in the church today still remembers that that is the least of the Bible’s demands in times such as these? Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Meditation: Fear is sweeping the Congress. Our representatives refuse to talk. They are afraid to be bullied and publicly shamed – and then potentially lose their power and position. Isn’t that an understandable human response to threat? Many churches are quiet. Some churches actually secretly condone what is going on. Or at least they will not publicly denounce what is happening in our country. The “German Christian Church” declared Hitler as God’s sent savior and as their leader. They bought into the demonic myths that were created at that time. The resisting “Confessing Church” had to go underground. Eventually many clergy of the “Confessing Church” were arrested. Several were executed for their resistance to the regime. Last weekend we heard “Hail” shouting and raised arms that sent chills down my spine. Even though I was not alive when the German church sold out to Hitler, the collective memory lives in my soul and body. Let us as Christ’s church at least open our mouth on behalf of the voiceless.

Prayer: God of history, we pray for Your church to not conform, but be transformed by Your Spirit. God, do not allow for history to repeat itself. Let our theologies not become so corrupted that we confuse the demonic with your saving Grace. God, we are afraid of the darkness that is being emboldened among us. As Christians we need Your Spirit more than ever before. Let us be confessing churches that are exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness instead of colluding with them. God, have mercy! Amen

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:11

We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God…We must not…assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Meditation: Are we going on with business as usual? Should we stop and acknowledge the urgency of our times? I heard many wonder: “Do I leave my racist family?” “Do I engage in local activism?” “Do I prepare to travel to the next protest”? I think, each one of us has a different role to play in these urgent times. Why don’t we offer God our schedule? Why don’t we ask God to show us what our role of resisting the demonic will look like? Let us not assume we know our role and contribution at this time in history. We might be wrong. Let us listen, every day, what God wants for each one of us. Let us allow to be interrupted. Let us allow God to speak to us, when our time comes. Let us remain attuned to God’s working behind the scenes. And let us allow to be interrupted and have God call us when the time is right.

Prayer: God, in these times where the demonic has hijacked institutions that are set to keep peace and justice, let us be on alert. Fill us with Your Spirit. Guide us with Your wisdom. Let us be open to be interrupted when our time comes to participate with Your plan to restore Your Kingdom here among us. We pray that You interrupt us and show us what to say, what to do and how to proclaim Your presence among us. We are grateful for Your Spirit that has not abandoned us. Amen

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…went on his way…and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him…Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do.”Acts 9: 1-6

If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Meditation: How can we admit we took the wrong train? By getting off… How can we admit we have made a mistake? By remaining human and humble… How can we not just run “along the corridor in the other direction”? By jumping off the train if need be, even if it hurts. How can we stop the train? By gathering in the millions, demanding that the train be stopped… Last weekend a woman was killed when she demanded the train be stopped. Today is her funeral. We feel deep sorrow for her and her family. It could have been us. How can history repeat itself? America’s young democracy has not had a crisis like this. Its democracy has been hijacked. We are on the wrong train. Many are trying to figure out what to do. The first step is to admit that we are on the wrong train. The second is to get off. The third is to join the masses, demanding that the train be stopped – even if it puts us in danger.

Prayer: God of history, the inhuman demonic forces of racism, oppressive nationalism and pure violence are unleashed in this country. The terror is that we have a president who condones and supports these forces. God, help us see and admit that we as a country boarded the wrong train. Help us get off instead of just running in the opposite direction. Help us jump off if needed. And let there be masses jumping off and joining hands and voices. Comfort the family and community who are mourning the dead and injured. Pour out Your Spirit to strengthen our resolve. Amen

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator. I do not see why man should not be just as cruel as nature. Adolf Hitler

Our rights are not given to us by man. Our rights come to us from our Creator. No matter what, no earthly force can take those rights away. Donald Trump

Meditation: As a theologian, it is scary to hear when politicians are calling on “The Creator” to justify their behavior. When God is being equated with “Nature” –the God of the Jewish/Christian faith actually ceases to exist. When ignoring and reducing Jesus Christ as the expression of a transcendent “Thou” into the vague category of “Nature”, all norm giving categories that make humanity human (like ethical norms as justice, moral norms as respect and spiritual norms as love or forgiveness) are being wiped away. Instead the idol called “Nature” (standing for “brutality”) or a declared “Natural Order” (standing for “survival of the fittest”) is being worshiped, and thereby  the oppression of a dominant leader or an oppressive group justified. This had been in history and is still today the perversion of religion at its most hidden and at its most brutal. Unfortunately today many Christian leaders and congregations in the US are once again falling for the masquerade when hearing the term “Creator God”. They think as long as these words are still being used, the leaders they follow must have a spiritual core. They don’t realize that these words are just being used in a political scheme lead by “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.

Prayer: God, once again we encounter leaders who pose as “prophets” promising “Heaven” to the masses in form of wealth, work or privilege. They use Your name in vain by claiming “the Creator God” to be on their side, while in reality they set themselves absolute and worship only themselves. God, we see their fruits. We recognize their scheme. We recognize them as false prophets. Open the eyes of the many, especially religious communities that are being led astray. God have mercy! Amen

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7: 15-17 (ESV)

Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. Paul Tillich

Meditation: When we experience painful events like death, divorce, sudden loss or trauma, it feels like “God’s right hand has changed”. We do not recognize the God anymore who we once believed in, who we trusted and even delighted in. It is like we are losing our naiveté; like our childhood faith is being wiped away. God had been an unquestioned presence, but suddenly becomes a stranger. Some Christians try to prevent this experience from happening. Some say that having doubts means being far from God. However, doubt is not the opposite of faith, but an important and necessary element of it. Doubting shows that something is essential to me and has been put into question. Doubting is the wonderment if God can still be trusted after all that has happened. The Psalmist acknowledges his grief “that God has changed”, and at the same time says: “I will remember”… Just like the spouse of a person who has dementia sometimes doubts if there is any love left between them, the very act of remembering the other person how he/she was before the loss of memory can restore a sense of love and connection. Yes, doubt is part of faith. To remain faithful and hopeful we need to go through times of doubt. As the valley experience is naturally part of the mountain experience, doubting is part of the experience of faith.

Prayer: God, in our dark hours and our “night of the soul”, when doubt grabs us as if there was no morning, as if life and love have ended, help us to remember. We shall remember those times when You have sustained us, moments that were true and built on love and on trust. We will meditate on how You, God, have held us in the midst of strive. And we are doubtful and thankful at the same time. Amen

Then I said, “It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. Psalm 77:10

 

If you want to preserve – I’m very serious now – if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That’s how dictators get started. John McCain
Meditation: The fact that the White House and the president are not apologizing for an internal remark that leaked: “McCain’s political opinion no longer matters, because he is dying anyway” is deeply troubling. However, if we consider McCain to be a prophet who dares to speak out when most others in his party remain silent, it is understandable that the White House rejoices about him becoming silenced. In history those in power whose actions were questioned by prophets always tried and often succeeded in silencing or getting rid of them. What we see today is a movement towards silencing the independent press. It is a movement of silencing any critics. It is a movement of oppressing and removing anybody who represents a different or opposing view. What we see in the US today is a deliberate movement toward dictatorship. There is nothing sacred, and nobody is safe. Sarcasm, bullying and mockery are every day occurrences. And even God’s people turn and are carried away and find no fault in them.

Prayer: God, we are deeply troubled. We lament that nothing is sacred anymore. Cruelty is being worshipped and human dignity denied. Prophetic speech is silenced and people who think differently are being attacked and their name and public image “is being killed”. Instead of democracy, we experience an oppressive regime. We are deeply troubled. We are mostly troubled with those who think they proclaim and speak in Your name, and who watch and listen, but who find no fault with the oppression that is happening. God, hear our lament. Amen

There is nothing sacred, and no one is safe. Vicious sarcasm drips from their lips; they bully and threaten to crush their enemies. They even mock God as if He were not above; their arrogant tongues boast throughout the earth; they feel invincible. Even God’s people turn and are carried away by them; they watch and listen, yet find no fault in them. Psalm 73:8-10 (VOICE)

Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life. Shannon Alder

Meditation: This new experience of collectively needing to change our life style due to a natural threat has been something I have been intentionally avoiding to think about or imagine. What about you? Themes like climate change is another question I have been avoiding as well. As it is coming on so slowly, I have not had to make major life style changes yet. However, a virus is another thing. It is here today, it is invisible and by the time the symptoms show, it has spread to hundreds of people within a week, unless we take precautions. Courage means facing the question: “Might our convenient life style change for a long time? Might we need to learn how to adjust to nature’s ways? Do we need to learn new ways of stay connected emotionally, spiritually, auditory and visually instead of taking the physical presence with each other for granted? Courage means learning something new, even when I don’t want to. It means learning to use technology in new ways. It means balancing home and work life in a new way. It means taking care of myself and my family in a new way. Courage means to learn many new things in a short time and become creative, even when it feels scary and overwhelming.

Prayer: Creator God, we so often think that we as humans are the center of the universe. And then nature reminds us how vulnerable we are individually and collectively. This social distancing time is challenging as we are facing questions we often try to avoid. Fill us with courage: Help us to embrace making mistakes while learning new things, and help us to teach others who are even more afraid than we are about new technological ways of connecting. Amen

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain. 1. Corinthians 15:58

“Faith Is Taking The First Step Even When… … you don’t see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King

Meditation: Many of us don’t know how to make it through this time where work, school, daily rhythms, habits, rituals and social gatherings are suddenly turned upside down or have disappeared. It is like standing in a large new building we are not familiar with at the bottom of a large staircase that will be difficult to climb and that will lead to a place we have never been before, not to mention that we did not choose it nor wanted to climb up in the first place.

Faith is taking the first step… believing that the One holding the staircase will also hold us. Believing that what expects us is not more powerful than the One who has called us and who loves us. Taking the first step with trembling, with tears, with feelings of anger and possibly dread. And yet, in faith we take the first step, create new first habits, learn new social media tools so we can at least see each other, learn with our children how to log onto online school websites, and wonder how to pay the bills…wonder how our loved ones, our neighbors will make it with us up those stairs….

Prayer: God everything has changed. We feel mountains rising before us and terrain opening up we have never been in. Come into our many human feelings – ranging from dread, to anger and even despair. Fill us with faith, with trust. Help us to take only this one first step today, and then tomorrow the second step – aware that we are climbing into the unknown – holding onto Your promises and holding onto the communities we are part of, even when we cannot hug each other. Amen

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11

The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident. Max Lucado

Meditation: Martin Luther said it similarly: “You cannot keep the birds (of sorrow) from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”.  How can we do that?

We can reach out to others and encourage each other. We can go out into nature and let her comfort us. We can listen or read uplifting thoughts from the Bible or other inspiring texts or authors. As we become creative, maybe write, draw or make music, the birds of sorrow will have no place to land. We can surround ourselves with peaceful music, positive voices and encouraging, loving family members, friends and neighbors (even only over the phone or via skype).

Fear will come. Fear will try to grip our hearts and minds. Fear cannot be avoided. And yet, we have many antidotes that keeps fear from settling in for good.

Prayer: Loving God, we are fearful for our loved ones, for all who are vulnerable, for ourselves. Let this fear visit us for short moments, and then come with your Healing Spirit that drives out all fear. You are the Spirit of love, of creativity and comfort. Help us stay connected and not become isolated in this time of forced social isolation.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  2. Timothy 1:7