Everywhere and Here

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No. 3
Dear Friend, Years ago I heard a story, whose source I do not know, of a fellow who drove a school bus. He said, “When I stopped the bus to pick up a little boy for preschool, I noticed an older woman hugging him as he left the house. 'Is that your grandmother, Bill?'" I asked. "Yes," Bill said. "She's come to visit us for Christmas." "How nice," I said. "Where does she live?" "She lives at the airport," Chris replied. "Whenever we want her, we just go out there and get her!” I love that because that is how many of us have experienced our grandparents. At the same time, it amazes me how we tend to live as if the Lord who loves us “lives at the airport” – at the church – in our Bibles – and whenever we want him, we just go and get him. “Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.”  Psalm 139:7-8* The Lord who loves us is so near to us that we speak of Christ living in us. It’s hard to get closer than that! As you go about your day, know that while our Lord is “everywhere,” he is also “here,” right where you are and with you wherever you go. Christ be with me, Christ within me,         Christ behind me, Christ before me,                   Christ beside me, Christ to win me,                           Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me,           Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,                     Christ in hearts of all that love me,                             Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.                                                  St. Patrick's Breastplate
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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First Prayers

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No. 2
Dear Friend, When I hear people speak of various individuals in our government with whom they disagree, hoping they don’t do well, that they don’t succeed, I always think of Paul’s admonition to pray, “for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” I Timothy 2:2* Over the years I have voted for many presidents and many others standing for office. Sometimes they have won their elections, sometimes not. Sometimes I have agreed with their policies. Sometimes I have not. Yet always my “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings” are for them. Why? “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” I Timothy 2:1-2 Paul urges prayers for everyone, but only specifies one group in particular, and surprisingly that group is not our family, our church, or our own selves (although such prayers are clearly a part of praying “for everyone.”) He says, “for kings and for all who are in high positions.” His reasoning is clear! “So that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” Our joy, our security, our well-being as a people depends on them. As we inaugurate the President of the United States, as a new Congress meets, as the Supreme Court rules, may all of our prayers be for their well-being, their wisdom, and their work. May they do well.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV

Walk by Faith

Building One Another - Vol. 12, No. 1
Dear Friend, This morning I enjoyed a conversation that was delightful. It warmed my spirit and left me feeling good. Directly afterwards I read an email that was completely annoying! Life is full of such moments in which we hardly know what we are feeling, although I have to admit the bummer email tended to overshadow the upbeat conversation. The concept of spirituality in our day is increasingly linked to the emotional, to the visceral, to what we are feeling.  In the upbeat moment we may “feel” God’s presence and we enjoy an experiential sense of God’s love. In the downbeat moment we may “sense” God’s presence standing with us in our suffering, although some of us may have the opposite reaction and “feel” God’s absence. We are feeling creatures, something our Lord understands very well. The Apostle Paul offered a wonderful word to us whose emotions can move up and down every other second. He puts it simply, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” II Corinthians 5:7*  True spirituality is based on our faith in the Lord who loves us and not on the moment by moment circumstances of our lives. I love that! Our relationship with God comes out of trust, of faith, of relying on Jesus! “Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes [trusts, entrusts, relies on] has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” John 6:47-48 So we rely upon our Lord and whether we feel his presence or not, we know God actually is with us, loving us and indwelling us. It’s a great word for a New Year! “That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!” John 3:36 The Message
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV