Monday, April 27, 2009
Holy Week :
Bishop Timothy W Price :
04\27\2009
Isaiah 42:1-9, John 12:1-11
I want to say how very honoured I am that you should trust me enough to allow me into your lives at this sacred time.
If Lent is like a long drawn out visit to the dentist, Holy Week is open heart surgery. So it's a very great honour that you
trust someone to come and stand in the operating theatre with you. Fear not, Our Lord is the surgeon and the anaesthetist.
I'm just handing around the scalpels and forceps. But because it's a question of our heart, we are in Holy Space, it's a very,
very great privilege to be honoured by you, that you feel safe enough to come and share some of that time with me.
What I'm going to be attempting to do as we walk together over these days towards Good Friday is dwell a little in a
passage from Zechariah which is very familiar to us from this time of year:
And I will pour out on the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so
that when they look on him whom they have pierced they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly
over him, as one weeps bitterly over a first born. (Zech 12:10)
There are two dimensions of that spirit of mourning which we're given. One I think is the work on our hearts which is
the work of Lent. Lent is the time when our hearts are broken. You remember on Ash Wednesday:
Let not your garments be torn but your hearts broken. (Joel 2:13)
What the Holy Spirit does with us over Lent is take our heart and start to heal it, and that means making it more capable
of mourning, of looking with sorrow on the one whom we have pierced. A hard heart, an unbroken heart, is unable to look at
a pierced one. It's too unpleasant a reminder. The gift of the Holy Spirit at this time, giving us mourning, is to enable
us precisely to look at the one who is our victim, and to undergo that discovery of moral equivalence with all the people
who we don't like to think of ourselves as morally equivalent to; because we're brought together to celebrate a murder, to
celebrate someone undergoing being murdered. And we'll be asked, as the days go by, to adopt various parts in that re-enactment
of a murder. Crowds shouting, "Crucify him". Crowds saying, "Give us Barabbas". Different voices of participation in a murder.
And we do this, not so as to recite some sacred text, but so that we may be inspired by the spirit of mourning to look around
and see the other murders we participate in, to look at the other parts of the world where people are killing each other in
the name of God, and saying, "Yes, actually that's our story". Another Shiite mosque blown up. "Funny how those religious
people murder each other". And what we're celebrating is our moral equivalence with that, what it's like to be people undergoing
a murder that's taking us by surprise.
In the story, which we'll be dwelling in, there are normally three or four positions. One position is the crowd. I don't
know whether any of you were at Palm Sunday services yesterday. In the Catholic lectionary it was Mark's passion that was
read. The interesting thing about Mark's passion is the sense of how speedy it all is. What a muddle. What chaos. The getting
excited about someone coming in. The chanting at him, the words of the great high priest, the muddle, the confusion, the murder,
the lynching, the way in which crowds whip each other up and whip each other down with enthusiasms, and how it ends up in
a murder. And how it's everybody's fault and nobody's fault. There's something delightfully chaotic and fast-paced about Mark's
text. We have the luxury now of dwelling in some of that slightly more slowly. Because there are other voices. There's the
crowd which is normally our voice. And it's the crowd that we are coming to learn how not to be.
Then there are the voices of the disciples. And they half get it and half don't get it. They are half sticking by Jesus,
and they are half running away. And another voice of course we hear in the text is the disciples' retrospective vision. What
they got afterwards that they hadn't got at the time. And of course that's what most of our Gospel texts are. It's the "Oh,
so that was what it was about" of the apostolic group.
But then there's the fourth and most profound and important voice, which is the one we'll be straining hardest to listen
to, which is the voice of Our Lord, the One who is undergoing this. Speaking very gently and very quietly, not "shouting or
crying in the streets" as it says in the Prophet Isaiah, not bullying people, but moving towards occupying a place that only
He can occupy, a quiet but deliberate voice. Our surgeon. Our anaesthetist. The one who enables us to have an open heart,
to live with our scandal.
In today's gospel we have a household of faith. Jesus has come back to Bethany, to a place which he likes. And there
are three key disciple figures:
Lazarus, whom he has raised from the dead, just as in every small church group there should be people who have been raised
from the dead, people to whom someone has said "Lazarus, come forth". And for that reason are able to live outside the Law,
through having been brought to life in a way which does not know death any longer. A way that might cause scandal or curiosity
to other religious people. A key person in any community;
and then Martha, the servant, who is here serving dinner, exercising diakonia. Here she's not complaining about it as
she is in one of the other gospels. Here, she's just doing it. Service is being performed;
and then there is Mary, again, sitting at the feet of Jesus. But she is the one who has not only sat and learnt but she
is the Prophet. She is the one who anoints, thus fulfilling the Song of Songs, where it says that my Beloved will anoint.
The women will anoint.
Oh, that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth, for your love is better than wine, your anointing oils are
fragrant. Your name is oil poured out. Therefore the maidens love you. (Song of Songs 1:2-3)
And then later on:
Your head crowns you like Carmel and your flowing locks are like purple. A king is held captive in the tresses. (Song
of Songs 7:5)
This is what's being fulfilled by Mary. But she's anointing him for his death. Her act of prophecy means that she understands
that he is going.
And then there is Judas, the other disciple, the one who actually runs the money and makes sure things are OK. And he's
a bit iffy. Not much is made of him here. He's a bit iffy. He doesn't understand the importance of prophecy; he doesn't understand
the importance of the one going. So he thinks that the oil should not have been used, whereas Jesus is keen to say: No, if
you really understand what living together as the household of God is like, what becoming the new temple is, where the aroma
fills the house, just as the incense fills the house in the temple. If you really understand what this is you'll understand
that such extravagance of gesture and prophecy is not to be separated from living with and loving the poor "who will be with
you always", but are part of the same thing. But Jesus is preparing them for when he is not there. The whole of Holy Week
Jesus is preparing them for when he is not there, teaching them the mode of presence by which he will be present when he is
no longer present to them.
People are coming. The crowds are beginning. A group referred to as "the Jews" are around.
A word about "the Jews" because they'll appear frequently enough during this week for it to be worth getting something
right here. The word, literally "Judeans", should not, by any of us, be read as referring to the people whom we now call the
Jewish people. We're talking probably about what would have been something rather like people who now call themselves Christians,
since we're in to moral equivalence. In other words, what had previously been rather a broad term was taken over by a group
who wanted it to mean something rather narrower and tighter and more excellent. You know what I mean in that use of the word
Christian. Well, the Hebrew people had quite a multifarious belonging and forms of belonging. And one of the groups, the people
who had come back from Babylon with quite a strong religious line, was known by others as the Judeans. They were very keen
on Moses and the Law and a particular interpretation of ways of belonging. This is by no means the same as the Jewish people.
This is, if you like, much more of a cultural and religious group within the Jewish people. And they were clearly interested
in Jesus. They were half tempted by him, hence the Chief Priests' concern. They're going to be with us, they're part of the
crowd, they're part of us: - people who want a system of goodness; for whom Jesus is not going to give a system of goodness,
but open up heaven. So let's sit with these people, with these groups, over the next few days, allowing us, allowing ourselves
to be approached by one who is about to be murdered. Allowing ourselves to be approached as murderers, not being scandalised.
That's the route Our Lord is taking us, gently, quietly, establishing justice, moving to the space of being the victim, without
creating enormous waves of scandal, trying to allow us access to God, who can only be reached when our hearts are broken,
and we look at our sisters and brothers as people equally involved, and therefore equally able to be called into new life.
That's our task for Holy Week.
Bishop Timothy W Price :
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Give and it shall be given to you .
The Law of Reciprocity
Bishop Timothy W Price :
Calvary Grace Church of Faith Inc.
The Law of Reciprocity means: to give and take mutually; to return in kind or even in another kind or degree. You
may have heard the Law of Reciprocity expressed as: "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine." The law of reciprocity,
(which applies in EVERY culture on the face of the earth), simply explains that that when someone gives you something you
feel an obligation to give back.
Giving and receiving favors is a common exchange and is an implicit assumption in most of our relationships. When someone
does something for you, they implicitly expect that when the circumstance is right, you will do something of approximately
equal value for them. The expectation may never be discussed openly but nonetheless it exists and affects negotiations and
relationships.
All parties must benefit from the relationship and invest in the relationship and acts must be mutually rewarding otherwise
it creates an imbalance in reciprocity. When someone is the primary giver, they often expect they will receive in kind from
the receiver or eventually from someone else in the world at another time.
Possibly the earliest version of the Golden Rule is translated from The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant (1970 BC) and states:
"Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do". Similarly, the Golden Rule says: "Do to others as you
would have them do to you." "You reap what you sow."
By doing for others you make favorable impressions on them and relationships blossom as you extend courtesy, kindness,
honesty, respect, and other favors. Even if favors are small, they accumulate over time as you build trust and create a history
of what to expect from each other. People evaluate your actions and motives through giving and receiving.
Reciprocity is a basis of trust and a basis for legitimate power. The principle is that others will reciprocate in kind
based upon the way you treat them. The world gives you what you give to the world.
The Bible reminds us that: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously.... And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work."
Salespeople, copywriters, and all types of "marketers" use this immutable natural law to their advantage to make more
sales. That's why people in these professions give you free samples. That's why door-to-door vacuum cleaner salespeople offer
to clean your house for free. That's why charities give out free gifts.
Others understand this law on a faith-based level. They were taught and believe that you should "plant a seed." Their
faith has taught them that giving is somehow a key to carrying out Gods instructions to them. When we give because of faith,
we do receive more! We don't have to understand it, for it to work. That's why it's called faith. Reciprocity can be both
positive and negative and if you harm others, they may seek revenge or retribution. People want to make things even in relationships,
doing good for those who have treated them well. They may even want to do harm to those who have harmed them.
You might ask yourself: How does it apply to me? How should I respond?
In the Divine system, we are created as a channel to serve others. Setting resources in motion, sets spiritual forces
in action for you receive your actions. Practice doing good deeds when opportunities present themselves especially to those
who believe and understand this Universal principle.
Tithing, an age-old concept endorsed by every major religion in the world, is an example of the "Law of Reciprocity"
in action. To tithe is to give back ten percent of your gross earnings to your spiritual source, whether that is the church,
temple, ashram or mosque you attend ... it's where you get your spiritual nutrition and sustenance.
Only giving creates human dignity.
Only giving opens up the soul.
Only giving can miraculously change a life.
Only giving works at soul level and radiates outward to every area of your experience.
Only givers get.
Only givers live a truly fulfilled, powerful, positive,
happy and deeply meaningful life.
Most of us believe to an extent that when we give, we somehow create "good vibes," "good karma," or that we will get
something back because we give. We don't all fully understand how it works however on a psychological level some of us do
understand the immutable law of reciprocity.
Reciprocity isn't always instantaneous, therefore persistence is vital. Even if you've found yourself saying "I've tried
that and it doesn't work", don't give up! At the proper time we will reap a harvest. By understanding and using the power
of reciprocity, you can improve your relationships and avoid mistakes that can permanently damage your relationships. In life
and work, you get what you give.
Start with a smile. It will come back to you! Give ideas! Give money! Give support! Give resources! Repay, in kind, what
another person has provided you.
With this that you have just read, I have a Idea What if every one here on YUWIE were to give one Dollar to just one
person Just pick one person on Yuwie and just give Him or Her One Dollar :
I know that every one here could afford just one Dollar thats not much why you cant even buy a cup of coffee for that
any more , Just think of the Possibilitys on this ?
We all could be rich every one here on Yuwie ,If only every one could just get passed your own self ?
Just think if you got one Dollar from 300,000.00 People If you took this money and just put it in a C D ,You would never
have to work at a Job or any thing Ever Again think about this long and hard ?
I have a Program that you can do just this its easy to do just go to :
Join this and then get all of your friends to and all of there friends and so on and so on.
If you can see large amounts of money here then you have it whipped !
You can be rich too all you have to do is take the first step to welth thats all it takes !
Thursday, July 24, 2008
God is every thing :
By Bishop Timothy W Price : 3\23\2008
God is The alpha and the Omega !
God is the first and last,the beginning and the end!
God is the keeper of creation and the creator of all!
God is the architect of the universe and the manager of all time .
God allways was,God always is,and God always will be unmoved,unchanged,undefeated,and never
undone!
Jesus was bruised and brought healing!
Jesus was pierced and eased pain! Jesus was persecuted and brought freedom!
Jesus was dead and brought life! Jesus is risen and brings power!
Jesus reigns and brings peace! the world can't understand Jesus!
The armies can't defeat Jesus! the schools can't explane Jesus,leaders can't ingore
Jesus,the new age can't replace Jesus.
Jesus is light,love,longevity,and lord.
Jesus is holy,righteous,mighty,powerful and pure.
Jesus ways are right,Gods word eternal,
Gods will is unchanging,Jesus mind is on me.
Jesus is my redeemer,my savior,my guide and Jesus is my peace! Jesus is my joy,my
comfort,Jesus is my lord and Jesus rules my life!
I serve Jesus because Jesus bond is love,and Jesus buden is light, and Jesus goal for me
is abundant life.
I follow Jesus because Jesus is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the
ancient of days,the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the over
comers, and the sovereign lord of all that was and is to come.
Jesus goal is a relationdhip with me! Jesus will never leave me, never forsake me, never
mislead me,never forget me, never overlook me!
When I fall, Jesus lifts me up! when I fail, Jesus forgives! when I am weak, Jesus is
strong,when I am lost,Jesus is the way!when I am afraid, Jesus is my courage, when I
stumble, Jesus steadies me! when I am hurt, Jesus heals me, when I am broken, Jesus mends
me!when I am blind Jesus leads me! when I am hungry Jesus feeds me! when I face trials,
Jesus is with me! when I face persecution, Jesus shields me! when I face problems Jesus
comforts me! when I face loss, Jesus provides for me! when I face death, Jesus carries me
home !
Jesus is everything for everybody,everywhere,every time, and every way!
Jesus is faithful, I am in Jesus and Jesus is in me!
Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,my Kinsman Redeemer!
Jesus is the Risen Savior, The Son of God !
Bishop Timothy W Price :
