Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: May 2015

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Paparazzi Praise

Search me, of God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ever lasting. – Psalm 139:23-24

Few things aggravate me more than phony or showy people. They are the ones who like to be seen all the time. They like to take credit for team work and cast blame when things don’t turn out well. In church, they are the ones with the empty “hallelujahs” or the insincere compliments. Often times, they are so busy trying to be seen that they end up being a complete distraction and hindrance to others. Sure, they lift their hands during worship but one must ask: are they humble hands or prideful ones? The bible is quite clear about paparazzi praise.

1 "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They've got their reward! – Matthew 6: 1-2

God is not pleased when we make a spectacle or put on a performance when doing good deeds. Some of us tend to only volunteer if it means we will be recognized publicly. God calls them hypocrites. Instead, He admonishes us to expect no credit for any acts of kindness. If we are looking for public approval, the bible says that that’s exactly what we will get and nothing else. God will not reward us.

The scripture verse also strongly suggests that if we are to help the poor or donate a financial gift, it should be done in private. The spirit of Mammon or the love of money, tends to bring out phoniness and the need to be seen. Giving gifts in secret is an effective way to curb the paparazzi syndrome. In doing so, the Father promises to reward us.

In verses four through six, the scripture cautions us against making a public spectacle during our worship or prayer times. In short, God rebukes those of us that fake our spirituality so that we can impress the people around us. In doing so, God says we are hypocrites—counterfeits who have little more than a form of godliness.

Worship and prayer are intimate exchanges between you and the Creator of the Universe. The bible says that when we pray we should: go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Every Sikh believes prayer is a result of faithfully believing in one God.

God takes hypocrisy and pride very seriously. When we endeavor to impress people with our deeds, win the approval of others or engage in paparazzi praise, God is not glorified—self is.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

A House Divided

One of the most fundamental precepts in the bible centers on love and service. Christ went so far as to say that the commandment to love God with our whole heart, body and mind was the greatest and most important commandment. He expounded on this great commandment by adding: love your neighbor as you love yourself. Both attest to importance of love and service.

It is written unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor to build it do it in vain. In other words, God has to be at the center of all things because without Him, anything we do will be of no effect. Imagine that the house the Lord desires to build pertains to our family, relationships or our purpose. In that context, it is not difficult to understand why God says that He needs to build it. If we hope to have a sturdy, well-constructed house that will not collapse at the first sign of bad weather, we have to make sure that God is the foundation. If God is not our foundation, we can find ourselves coming up against various things that will eventually tear our homes down.

One of the primary things that can destroy any relationship or family is the thirst for control. Gruhasth-ashrama endorses a strong family life, family centered principles and right action. Everyone wants to be lead but no one wants to follow.

Can you imagine what would happen if our body adopted that same philosophy? Our legs would refuse to cooperate because it deems itself more important than the neck. There would be absolute anarchy and chaos. The need to win via self-glorification and the lust for control will eventually lead to pride which always brings disaster, bitterness and resentment. With control and self-centeredness come division and dissension. No one wants to partner with anyone who does not have their best interest at heart.

When we become flooded with disunity and strife, it inhibits our ability to see the good in others. Instead, we constantly draw attention to their flaws and mistakes. We do not operate in grace or love. We tear down others instead of edifying or encouraging them. When respect is absent, immorality makes an appearance. When immorality is present, commitment and loyalty become things of the past.

When God is not the one responsible to design the course of our dreams or relationships, we set ourselves up for failure. If He is not the force driving our desires or purposes, whatever we attempt to do in our own strength will be useless and in vain.

Love directly correlates with service. When we give of ourselves to help others fulfill their dreams, God helps us fulfill ours. He rewards our sacrifices. The Father wants us to be more concerned about serving others than serving ourselves. Why? He understands that when we serve another person’s dreams, we often end up finding and fulfilling our dreams along the way. It is a win-win situation.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Never Give Up

Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 Sometimes life’s storms rage against us. They toss us back and forth, up and down and from side to side. We find ourselves angry, confused and spent. We cry out to the Lord while feeling shipwrecked or broken. Although life once radiated golden rays of joy and hope, now we feel isolated and rejected. When it seems like the storm’s full power is unleashed on your life, the author of 2 Corinthians offers this advice: don’t give up!

It seems like commonsense; however, when you’re facing some of your toughest challenges, commonsense is not all that common. In times like those, we are often ruled by our emotions and our thoughts. In other words, rhyme and reason are no where to be found. Still the bible says that every detail works to our advantage and to God’s glory. This means that every storm, painful experience or annoying event works to our benefit and will of course, glorify the Father. Despite what it looks like or feels like on the outside, we are admonished to cling to hope because the Father is at work. While our circumstances may appear chaotic, on the inside the Father’s grace strengthens, heals and equips.

Remember, today’s problems are like stepping stones to tomorrow’s future. Contrary to popular belief, pain does not last forever. Our circumstances can and will change for the better. Say it with me: my tomorrow is not determined by the outcome of my today. My latter days will be greater than my former days. The psalmist said “I believed it, so I said it.”

There is power in the words that you speak. Satya implores us to speak truthfully. Grumbling, complaining or lashing out at others only accomplishes one thing: nothing. The children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness because they grumbled, complained and lashed out at Moses (and God). Their example of what not to do speaks loudly for itself.

Don’t give up on yourself and don’t give up on God. Despite the storms that come, know that God’s grace can guide you through anything.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Your Blessing is Coming

Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

One of the most wondrous things about God is that He’s always so gracious and accommodating. He does not get overly frustrated with us when we perpetually rely on our natural sight instead of our spiritual insights. He continually reassures and guides us knowing we are fragile and easily bruised. He prompts us, encourages us and lights the way for us to follow Him. Look at the passage. He is admonishing us to forget about our pasts. He knows that it is impossible to move forward if we are looking backward. Not only does He was us to forget about the past, He doesn’t want us to even pay attention to past events. Sometimes, we forget about certain things that hurt us but once we remember, all the details begin to flood our minds. While the pain may have healed eons ago, we are reliving the event as though it happened yesterday. God wants us to not even pay attention to those things. Don’t allow them to clutter your mind. Here’s why. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.

The bible tells us that God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him. Clearly, this is a prime example. In the passage, God is admonishing us to forget about yesterday’s woes so that we can focus on the “new thing” God is manifesting. The first thing He tells us to do is look. God wants us to be aware of His blessings and what His plans are for our lives. He wants us to know that provision is in route. Remember the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery? She was going to be stoned by everyone because that’s what the law required. However, after Jesus admonished the people to throw the stones if they were sinless, they all turned and left. The woman was crying, probably condemning herself for her past behaviors, and did not notice that her accusers had vanished until Jesus brought it to her attention. We must be careful not to allow emotion or thoughts to inundate us to the point of blinding us to God’s provision in our lives.

Next, God reveals His future plans for us. Buddhists call this Prajna which is indicative of wisdom and insight. He says I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. The bible tells us that God is not a man that He would lie. Through its many accounts, we know that when He says something is coming or happening, it does. The word of God never returns to Him unfulfilled or void of action. Whatever God releases will be manifested.