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WEDNESDAY 8/27/08

Blunt Jesus
 
Some folks just can’t take a subtle hint, or even some pretty blatant ones.  Whisper in their ear … and they ignore it.  Tap ‘em on the shoulder … nothing.  Poke ‘em with your finger … they brush you off like a bug.  So, I can imagine that, every now and then, God gets fed up trying to get our attention, clobbers us with a big club and lays it out in big, block, all-cap letters.
 
That’s what He did with Paul, who up to the point that Jesus knocked him senseless, was having a ball running around and dragging those errant Jews (those irritating Christ followers) out of the temples and making their lives miserable, even helping stone one or two.  But then you can almost see it (I picture my Italian grandfather banging his fist on the table, leveling a gaze across the table and announcing: “Basta!”  “Enough!”)  That’s the kind of language even I understand.
 
My point: Maybe it’s a whisper; maybe it’s a kick in the butt.  But God is talking to us.  Personally, I think it’s better to listen to Him while He’s still being patient than when He finally loses His cool.  Enjoy this beautiful day … and pay attention when God has something to say. — jri
 
“‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’
he replied.  ‘Now get up and go into the
city, and you will be told what you must do.’”
        –    Jesus Christ (chatting with his new apostle, Paul)
               (Acts 9:5-6)

TUESDAY 8/26/08

Tough Choices

I missed, by a hair, experiencing one of the great defining moments of the Baby Boomer culture:  Woodstock.  Living on Long Island, a friend and I actually had tickets for this mega-concert a few hours away up the Hudson.  But as we drove north, the reports on the radio were of chaos and traffic jams backing up for miles.  We sold our tickets (in the end, the outdoor concert became a freebie for the tens of thousands who showed up) and headed off to Boston for the weekend.
 
What if I had had a chance to see Jesus back when?  Would I have done the same thing — turned away at the troubling news reports — if I had been present and heard the tough-love Jesus lectures (drink my blood, eat my flesh) or would I have stood face to face with the Son of Man  (now there’s a bit of history) and said, “Yes, Lord, I’m with you”?  Beatific glow of the Holy Spirit … or head shake, spit in the sand and mumble, “Da guy’s a nut”?
 
My point:  It seems to me that faith is both a gift and a choice, a matter of opening our hearts and going along for the ride.  We can follow Jesus because of the good-time miracles and the free meals.  But sometimes we have to make a choice — as in, when the times get tough — as to whether we’re going to stand strong or cash in our ticket and look elsewhere for the answers we seek.  It is our choice.  — jri
 
“From this time many of the disciples
turned back and no longer followed him.”
        –    John 6:66
 

MONDAY THOUGHT 8/25/08

Cursing God

I personally know people so afflicted with physical pain and suffering that they have every reason to curse God.  There’s one whose joints are so locked up with  arthritis that every step causes searing pain; several (this seems to be the season for it) fighting for their lives against a cancer that is devouring their bodies like Pac Man gone mad; and one beautiful woman diagnosed with early stages of dementia (and who struggled to find that very word — dementia — as she shared that frightening news with several of us the other night). 
 
Curse God?  You’d think so, but you’d be wrong.  The devil — who boasted that Job and all those severely afflicted would do so — was wrong, too.  Oh, I’ve heard them lament and complain a bit … actually a lot.  Yes, I know they are hurting and afraid.  These aren’t saints, but they’re also not stupid, naive men and women.  No, they are  everyday and yet faith-filled (faithful?) people, who not only believe in God but who trust in Him.  And I think — correction, I know — that is the difference.  They thank God and trust in Him.  Wow!  Talk about faith! 
 
My point?  It seems so obvious, but I have a hard time expressing it.  All I know for sure is that these wonderful people inspire me and give me strength … and, yes, cause me to bite my tongue and complain less about my garden variety problems.  I guess, if they can find joy and faith amid such dire circumstances, so can we all.  Also, as people of faith, we should be grateful for all our blessings, even those we do not understand.  If we trust God, we need to truly trust Him, twenty-four-seven, and seek joy in the hand as dealt, in the day as given.  God bless. — jri
 
“A man will give all he has for his own
life.  But stretch out your hand and
strike his flesh and bones, and he will
surely curse you to your face.”
        –    Satan (talking to God about Job)
               (Job 2:4)

FRIDAY THOUGHT 8/22/08

Babysitting a Friend
 
There are times there is nothing you can do, except maybe offer a pat on the arm and a vague, “There, there, it will be okay.” 
 
I’ve been on both sides of this — one time sitting up all night playing cards with a friend who had just made a massive mistake and thought his life was over (it wasn’t; all ended joyfully); another when a friend sat with me, wordless, just being there, as I sat in the dust of my own life and pondered a bleak future (it turned out fine; all ended joyfully yet again). 
 
My point:  I believe we are here to take care of one another, and sometimes that means nothing more than showing up, calling a friend in distress, dropping by to see a neighbor who is alone and suffering.  It doesn’t take much, sometimes little more than a “There, there, it will be okay.”  Enjoy this beautiful day and all the opportunities we are given to serve the Lord through one another. — jri
 
“Then they sat on the ground with him
for seven days and seven nights.  No
one said a word to him, because they
saw how great his suffering was.”
        –    Job 2:13

THURSDAY THOUGHT 8/21/08

Faith Amid Setbacks
 
I have a friend who died several years back.  Les had MS and died a painfully slow, creeping death by paralysis.  From a vibrant, fun-loving member of the community, with a wife and children, he ended up confined to a nursing home bed — money, marriage and community reputation gone, and only one of the two daughters and a few friends who visited him.
 
He was a good man who never gave up hope or faith.  Curious myself as to the “why” (the God why, not the medical why) of his condition, I recommended that we read the Book of Job.  It was a challenging read that covered several weeks of visits.  It left me a bit sad, but it strengthened Les, and he would listen intently as the arguments were raised and knocked down.  At the conclusion, he nodded quiet agreement as if to say, “question answered.” 
 
I guess it’s not our concern to understand God’s business, and that is the answer.  Our concern — if we do in fact believe in God — is to try to follow His way, no excuses, and leave the rest in His hands.  Sure, easier said than done, but do we have anything else more important to do?  So, enjoy the gifts of this day — both obvious and not so apparent — and leave the “why” in God’s hands. — jri
 
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”
            –    Job
                   (Job 1:21)

TUESDAY THOUGHT 8/19/08

At the Gates of Jerusalem
 
These are the ones that get me in trouble:  I awoke this morning with a powerful, clear image fully formed in my head and heart.  I saw myself sitting totally alone in the dust, no other living soul around.  Filled with a sense of quiet — as if this is where I was supposed to be — I sat facing the gates of Jerusalem, tall and set in massively high stone walls.  The gates were ajar and through the slit a blindingly bright light shown.   
 
The contrast from above was striking:  On my side of the walls was nothing but dust, sand and complete emptiness.  Inside the walls, though, were palm trees, streams and ponds.  In my heart there was not a sense of impending doom or death, but of salvation and purpose, of surrender and faith, as if my many struggles had brought me before the gates, and it was a good place to be. 
 
My point:  Just a sharing of an image (not a vision, thank you) and a deep sense of God’s presence and guidance.  Trust.  Have faith.  Be patient.  Let quiet joy fill your heart and may your day be blessed with peace.  — jri
 
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    ‘May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
    and security within your towers.’”
            –    Psalm 122: 6-7

FRIDAY THOUGHT 8/15/08

Spiritual Standoff
 
It seems to me that the people who do not want to do it God’s way are the very ones who scream bloody murder when God doesn’t do it their way.  (There is no God! God is mean! yadda yadda yadda!)
 
Maybe God gave us free will so we can choose, each day, what we will do.  The cool part is that God doesn’t interfere.  But He does let us enjoy or suffer the consequences.  Our choice.  Oh, and by the way, if we’re halfway intelligent and over the age of ten, we know the right way.  (If you need a hint, check out the Ten Commandments. Not a bad rule book.)
 
My point:  Enjoy your free will, your choices.  Oh, and if you choose poorly today, there is always tomorrow.  God bless and enjoy the many gifts that you receive, free of charge, this beautiful day.  — jri
 
“I can do all things through Christ that
strengthen me.”
        –    St. Paul
               (Philippians 4:13)

THURSDAY THOUGHT 8/14/08

Money!  Money!  Money!
 
I grew up comfortably, lacking for nothing, but not overly spoiled.  I loved to work hard and, as a result, at one point in my life I found myself borderline wealthy — two homes, multiple cars, boat, money in the bank.  Not bad.  But somewhere along the way, the money and possessions began to run my life.  I fretted about losing my assets, began working to retain and grow them, kept putting in longer hours and losing track of my relationships with others.
 
Fortunately, I lost all my fortune, came up scraping the bottom of the barrel.  Thank God.  Not that money is evil — far from it — but I let it run and ruin my life.  Today?  I’m moderately comfortable, work moderately hard, and spend as much time as possible enjoying the wealth of my many  friendships, my family, my community, and my Church. 
 
My point:  Money is a nice tool, but it has no value in and of itself.  Work hard and use your wealth to make life truly better for yourself and those you love. — jri
 
“When there are no values, money
counts.”
        –    E. Digby Battzell

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 8/13/08

The Smile of Faith
 
As a child, I would watch my Grandmother Stella as she would recite the rosary quietly to herself every evening.  Her expression was not hopeful or needy, but calm, so deeply peaceful that I used to suspect she and the Virgin Mary were close friends having an intimate chat.
 
It was the quiet that I think I noticed most.  Her body barely stirred as she sat in a large, overstuffed chair in the semi-dark.  Her eyes closed, only her lips and fingers moved, as she recited the Hail Marys in a barely audible voice, her fingers moving over the beads of the rosary in her lap, and the barest smile on her face.  (I’d swear there was an inner glow that radiated from her, but memories from 50 years ago sometimes are not quite accurate.) 
 
My point:  I cannot find the words, but that inner stillness my grandmother carried, her simple faith, that light-up-your-life smile and her gentle, humble love, all I know is that I was blessed to expererience it.  May my faith and your faith someday be that solid and clear and powerfully quiet.  God bless. — jri
 
“All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin
looked intently at Stephen, and they
saw that his face was like the face of
an angel.”
        –    Acts 6:15

TUESDAY THOUGHT 8/12/08

Grant Us Peace
 
“Will all those in the room with troubled souls please raise their hands?”  Sadly, I believe the majority of hands would go up.  I know so many people who struggle with guilt from the past, fear of the future, mind-numbing and hopeless feelings of inferiority, trouble over dearth, unhappiness over wealth, dread of what tomorrow may bring. 
 
Well, it seems to me that the quote from Mark below has nothing to do with weather or sea conditions, but about the storms that all too often rage inside our souls and hearts. 
 
My point:  God heals.  He calms the raging inner storms.  He brings peace.  Enjoy.  Surrender.  Let go.  God bless. — jri
 
“He woke up and rebuked the wind, and
said to the sea, ‘Peace!  Be still!’  Then
the wind ceased, and there was a dead
calm.  He said to them, ‘Why are you so
afraid?  Have you still no faith.’”
            –    Mark 4: 39-40

MONDAY THOUGHT 8/11/08

Go for the Light

My mother was a powerless person.  She was technically disabled from her mid-thirties until she died at age 62.  She held no position of authority or money and was a threat to no one.  Nonetheless, she was an incredibly active person, both physically and mentally.  Most of all, she conquered and ruled hearts every day with love and an inner strength that was legendary among those who knew her. 
 
Her favorite phrase when a person she knew was struggling with some setback was: “Go for the light.  It’s really the only choice.”  She meant this both as practical advice for living and — in her later years as she became powerfully yet quietly spiritual — as the way to cope and prosper in faith.
 
My point:  At its most basic level life — and the God who gave life to us — gives us two choices each and every day — go for the light or stumble along in the darkness.  Enjoy this day.  It’s a freebie, a gift.  No price.  No cost.  Bursting with light and joy.  God bless. — jri
 
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the
world, but men loved darkness instead of
light because their deeds were evil. 
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and
will not come into the light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives
by the truth comes into the light, so that it
may be seen plainly that what he has done
has been done through God.”
        –    Jesus Christ
               (John 3:19-21)

WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 8/6/08

Marketing Jesus
 
As a marketing strategist, I would go nuts working for Jesus.  I mean, if it were cars He was peddling, I’d vote for some hot image like the “Jaguar of God” or “The Marvelous Mustang” as marketable slogans.  How about “The Hummer?”   (Nah, not enough gravitas, but still a good one.)  Even “The Eclipse” or “The Escape” aren’t all that bad because … well, you get it.  Isn’t it all about shameless promoting, spin doctoring, grabbing the attention and imagination of the prospects?
 
Or maybe not.  Jesus isn’t a hot brand-name image that promises a comfortable ride and that lets you glide gracefully over the potholes of life.  No, He’s this usually quiet, self-effacing Savior of the World.
 
Wanna hear what He has to say?  Just turn down the spin and bravado … and listen.  Enjoy the gentle blessings of this day. Oh, and by the way, I guess I do work for Jesus.  Good gig.  Great benefits.  — jri
 
“Look, the Lamb of God.”
        –    John the Baptist
               (John 1:36)

MONDAY THOUGHT 8/4/08

Keeping Score

I’m notorious for keeping score.  I don’t mean to, but I must admit that I find that when I play the role of the good Christian for a week or so, I think/assume/hope God’s gonna slip me a few brass rings in payment.  As always, I’m wrong.  Example:  A friend in our church men’s group mentioned that it took him 23 years to finally overcome his drinking addiction.  Then, three months after he quit the booze, he got a brain tumor.  Ha ha, real funny, God!  I told him I’d be (fill in the string of ugly expletives), figuring the least God could do was give him a break rather than “punishing” him for finally whipping alcoholism.  Shouldn’t life be a bit easier after that?

Without even hesitating, he came back at me with a big don’t-you-get-it-Brother? smile and a not-his-concern shrug: “John, don’t we learn so much more about life and God from the tough times, the tests, than the good times?” he asked.  But it wasn’t a question; it was a fact.  I suspect it had taken him a little work to deal with this tumor stuff when it happened, but it all makes complete sense to him now. And in case you’re wondering, he’s not some airhead, head-in-the-clouds Jesus Freak, but a man who’s been there, done that, lived life.  (Thanks, Joel.  Your simple, matter-of-fact faith shamed me, blessed me and inspired me.) 

My point:  It’s our business to walk the walk, and it’s God’s business to pave the way, put up the sign posts and, if He chooses, throw in a few jungle gyms and obstacle courses along the way.  Now if I can only do it … and quit keeping score.  — jri

“As God’s chosen, blessed sons and
daughters, we are expected to attempt
something large enough that failure is
guaranteed … unless God steps in.”
        –    Bruce Wilkinson
               (The Prayer of Jabez)

Guest Article for “The Transparent Christian” Magazine

Jason Elkins, a fellow faith seeker and the editor of The Transparent Christian online magazine, invited me to do a piece recently about “My Hero.”  He was kind enough to include the piece, which came out August 1.  If you get a chance check out the site and (of course, shameless self-promoter that I am) be sure to click on the title below for my complete article.  Thanks and God bless.  JRI

“My Hero” Special Guest Author — John R. Ingrisano

I’m a clay-footed Christian, best defined by the tired phrase been-there-done-that. When asked to consider and write about my heroes and mentors, I stumbled a bit (those darn clay feet) because I realized I had few such folks, who I’d just as soon call models.

FRIDAY THOUGHT 8/1/08

Embarrassed about God
 
Over lunch yesterday with a group of four others, I noticed that one woman quietly bowed her head and, when done offering a silent prayer, discreetly crossed herself before eating.  I had just met her and knew almost nothing about her, but I said to myself, “Aha, a fellow Christian.” 
 
I also thought, what a brave act!  Yes, even though no one hauls us off for persecution if caught praying in this land of the free, it seems to me that when Christians debate about praying, even quietly, in a public place, they are really asking, “should I?” (or MUST I?) rather than “May I?”  I mean, what if someone says something?  What if someone laughs?  But then again, what if someone smiles and says, “Aha, a fellow Christian?”
 
My point:  If we’re going to talk the talk on Sunday morning, why not walk the walk all week long?  As for me, I plan to say “God bless you” to at least one friend, family member or total stranger as a greeting or parting word this weekend (and, no, responses to sneezes do not count!).  So, to all of you, God bless you.  Celebrate and enjoy the many gifts the Lord has given you. — jri
 
“I will praise the name of God in song;
    I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.”
            –    Psalm 69: 32