A journey to the well

This past Sunday, the lexionary appointed John 4:1-42 as the appropriate gospel for the third Sunday in Lent.  In this particular passage of scripture, we are told the story of Jesus' encounter with the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well.  Just to give you a little background, during this time, the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along.  In the eyes of the Jews, the Samaritans were lower than dirt. 

I want to take a journey to the well.  I think about the many times I am in social settings.  If it is an event outside of family or church, I am one of a handful and at times the only african-american in the group.  Upon scanning the venue, I immediately begin to look for someone to whom I might be able to identify and relate.  Sometimes there is another african-american in the venue and at times there is not.  Think about it.  When was the last time that you went out of your way to talk to, or minister with someone that is different than you?  It does take a little effort and confidence to do this.  But in Jesus' journey to the well, upon seeing the Samaritan woman, he did not spit in her general direction or shun her, but rather he took time to hear her.  Not only was she a woman, but because of the lifestyle which she lived, one could assume that she was outcasted from within the women of Samaria.

In his journey to the well, Jesus told this woman that in essence, he was the living water and the messiah.  Marvelled at the things she had heard from Jesus, the woman went back to Samaria telling the people what she heard and experienced.  The Samaritans had to check out this sister's story.  Let's face it, she probably was not the most credible source in town.  But because these Samaritans sought Jesus, they too believed.  Let's go down to the well! There may not be a well where you are, perhaps a water cooler, water fountain break room, Starbucks or where ever.  You never know who's waiting for you at the well. 

The challenge for today is -- Go to the well!  Just like Jesus was waiting on the woman of Samaria, you too should be waiting to share the awesomeness of your experiences with God, not only with those who are similar to you or may have similar interests, but the marginalized people who seem to have lost all hope and need a word of encouragement.  After their encounter with you, you never know with whom they'll share their revelation and insight.  God is calling us to "Go to the well!"

Peace,
Karsten

People Matter

Most of you may or may not know, but I am in the discernment process for Diaconal Holy Orders.  That's really fancy talk for, after much prayer (individual and collective) and jumping through many hoops, I will hopefully be ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church.  The role of a deacon in the Episcopal Church is to share the love of Christ and resources of the church to the poor, widowed, orphaned.  You get the point?  The deacon is also a proclamator of the gospel and minister.  Since this is lent, I do have a confession.  I am a hoarder, okay maybe more or less a pack rat.  So it should not come as a surprise that I have four lenten devotions.  Today's blog comes from "2011 Lenten Meditations, "which is published by Episcopal Relief and Development.  This meditation challenged my calling not as an aspiring deacon, but as a child of God and I hope that it will do the same for you.

For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt, then I will dwell with you in this place, the land that I gave of old to your ancestors for ever and ever.  Jeremiah 7:5-7

The people of Judah like to imagine that the presence of the temple will protect them.  It is all that matters, they believe.  Jeremiah comes along and shatters the illusion.  The truth, he explains, is  that what matters is how you treat those who are weakest and most marginalized in society.

Aliens and immigrants -- matter because they have no support networks in the place where they are settling.  In Jeremiah's society, the fatherless mattered because they lacked the traditional support network for survival; it was the father that provided food and housing.  The widow mattered because she had lost her husband and was alone.

Let us all pause today and think about those in our society who are weak and who lack a voice.  Let us commit afresh to praying for these marginalized ones and doing everything we can to provide support for them.

--Ian Markham

I echo the words of Brother Markham.  NOW is the time.  If not you, who?  If not now, when?  Remember, only what you do for Christ will last.  If you don't stand for something, or (someone), you fall for anything.  People matter, you matter, we matter!

Peace,
Karsten

Fit in or stand out?

I am having a cup of coffee and hanging out with one of my favorite TV ministers, the late Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson at Couchside Baptist, no worries.  I am going to church today, just dragging my feet a little.  Yesterday in my Twitter newsfeed, I saw the following tweet and it just blessed me and ministered to me.  The tweet was posed as a question:  Why are you trying so hard to fit in, when God has called you to stand out?

Think about it.  How many times do we not do something because we don't think that we're good enough?  How often do you "go along" with the crowd or your crew, just to get along?  How many times have you dummied yourself down just to date a potential significant or insignificant other?  Have you ever compromised your integrity or lowered your standards, just to be in good with what you and others may have perceived to have been the in group, the do-drop-in club, or the A-list?  Speaking for myself, I can answer in the affirmative.  But as humans we are social beings and generally enjoy being around people that we think are good intentioned and are of sound mental capacities.

Twitter has inspired me to share this with you today.  Do not try to fit in, when God has called you to stand out.  As believers, Christians, Abraham's seed and co-heirs with Christ, we do not have to fit in circles of negativity, commiseration, poverty, or addictions.  God has called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.  At the same time, we are not called to fit in with people who, on the outside may have it going on, but their lives are in just utter disarray.  We are all uniquely different and gifted in our own special way.  Tap into your gift.  Encourage others to tap into their gifts as well.  You may just get blessed in the process.  Why are you trying so hard to fit in, when God has called you to stand out?

Peace,
Karsten

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's time to celebrate Ireland, have a Guinness, stout or a bitter.  Some of us may have attended parades and parties over the weekend.  Yet some of us may be humming "When Irish eyes are smiling" to ourselves, while fumbling through closets and drawers trying to find something green to wear today besides socks and undies, with the hopes of warding off pinches from leprechauns.  My lenten road map (countdown to Easter) encourages that one takes time to celebrate and research the life, ministry and witness of St. Patrick.

Having attended a Roman Catholic school, and now a fiery Episcopalian, it dawned on me that I don't know too much about Patrick other than he was from Ireland, had a couple churches and cathedrals named in his honor, and that we celebrate his life on March 17, the day that he died.  I encourage you to google St. Paddy and check his life out.  He was a slave/shepherd, sailor, called to the priesthood and served God and his church.  Imagine if centuries from now people will be able to google our lives.  In the words of my grandmother -- I just want to remind you that "Only what you do for Christ will last."  The most interesting thing that I learned about St. Patrick is the eloquent prayer which is attributed to him and I am going to share it with you.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Peace, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Karsten

Don't lose your testimony!

Earlier today my facebook status read "Karsten Tyson almost told someone where they can go and how fast they could get there."  Yes, it's been one of those weeks and I had reached my breaking point.  As you could imagine, this brought forth a flurry of comments and "likes" from my facebook friends ranging from "you should have in Spanish,"  or "Next time you should be like Nike and just do it."  But it was my friend Lisa, who commented with "Don't lose your testimony!" 

Lisa's comment really made me think deeply.  You all have heard me say this time and time again.  You cannot have a TESTimony without a test.  Would I really want to lose my witness and some major heaven points because I let the cares of this world a work situation potentially get the best of me?  I will blog about Lent later during the season.  I contemplated heavily on Lisa's comment during chapel today, which was very contemplative in nature due to the observance of Holy Lent.  Thank God that I have a job that provides a worship space.  I leave you with the last stanza of the song "In Christ alone."  But before I sign off, I would like to encourage you, to go through this lenten journey, and not lose your lose your testimony.

No guilt of life, no fear in death
this is the power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no schemes of man
can ever pluck me from his hand.
Til He returns or calls me home,
here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Peace,
Karsten