Hope SPRINGS eternal!

Remember this rhyme from childhood?

Spring has sprung

The grass is ris'

I wonder where

The flowers is?

I love spring!  And because I am taking a journey thru lent, I looked for an appropriate verse for today.  Guess what?  I found this from the Song of Solomon 2:10-13 "...for now the winter is past, the rain [or snow!] is over and gone [hopefully soon for the snow!].  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.  The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance..."

Isn't that what we love about spring?  It is a season of hope and beauty and wonder!  The days are getting longer and the grass is getting greener and the flowers and trees are budding and blooming and the birds are returning and the butterflies are coming!  Matthew said it best when he told us to "consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."  (Matthew 6:28-29)

The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox.  Today the day and the night are equal lengths!  I really don't pretend to know much about science - ask my brother Mike who tried to tutor me in physics!  The only way I actually passed was because physics has a lot of math equations and, as we know by now, that is my forte!  Anyway, back to the equinox....  It has something to do with the sun and the earth dancing together in the heavens and that it is hard for scientists to watch because of the power of the sun.  Scientists have software that helps them today but did you know that Stonehenge is an equinox calendar?  I am always amazed at the creativeness of past cultures - Stonehenge, building the pyramids and aqueducts just to name a few.  Go to space.com to learn even more about the vernal equinox.  I might just add that they have a link to 6 signs that spring has sprung and a quiz about the earth that I got 8 out of 10 correct!  I was pretty pleased given they were all science questions!

So thank goodness we can see the light, literally, at the end of the tunnel!  Winter is such a long haul; this winter especially for my family.  But as the good book says "endurance produces character and character produces hope"  (Romans 5:4).  So there is hope for brighter tomorrows for all of us.  Is that why they say "hope SPRINGS eternal"?  Think about it!

All is becoming right with the world!  Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32) and enjoy the lengthening days because everything seems to get better when we shed a little light on it!

Don't miss the point.....

I should have had this thought on Ash Wednesday, not this late in Lent!  But today my Daily Guidepost reading pointed me towards Matthew 6:1-4 which is about alms giving and piety and hypocrites and doing things in secret and all of this caused me to do some research because I don't know what alms are!

Alms is an archaic word for charity.  It is defined as something given freely (such as money or food) to help relieve the poor.  Hopefully we have all given to charity in some fashion - donations to the United Way or UNICEF or our local food banks or to many other organizations that assist the marginalized population.  We also give to disaster relief like the Red Cross to help out people who lost so much in natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and floods.  These are all charitable acts, something we give freely to help, almsgiving!

Something else we might give a lot of is time!  This is also given freely in order to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  This, too, qualifies as a charitable act.  However, we need to keep in mind that Jesus instructs us that "whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you .... so that you may be praised by others."  (Matthew 6:2)  Our charity is to come from our hearts and kept in our hearts because, as Jesus told us in Matthew 6:4, "your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

While researching, I found a beautiful Ash Wednesday sermon by a Rev. Steve Domienik who, according to Google, is an Episcopal minister at St. Andrews Church in Madison, Ct.  (I found this on the internet, so it must be true - at least that's what I hear on TV!)  I don't think he will mind if I share a few things with you!

What does practicing piety, giving alms, praying, fasting and storing up treasure have to do with me? Aren’t these just antiquated behaviors that Jesus is talking about? Who disfigures their face and tries to look dismal so that people will know that they are fasting? Do people still fast? Isn’t that something that monks do? And who stands out on the street corners with hands held high praying to God in a loud voice? And how does one practice piety anyways? 

Isn’t Lent just about feeling gloomy, guilty and giving something up? Aren’t we just supposed to endure some self-deprecating behaviors for forty days and then return to our normal lives once Easter arrives?

I’m sure that there are many people who feel this way about this particular season of our church year, but this is NOT the purpose of Lent.  The ultimate point of Lent is to create change.  Change in our spiritual lives, in our relationships with self, others, creation and God.

So the point of Lent is change not suffering!  Giving up candy for Lent is a choice but why is it your choice?  If it is just because you think you should suffer, then giving up candy is the wrong choice.  But if you are giving up candy to change an unhealthy eating habit, go for it! 

It is important to keep balance.   Remember my choice - I wanted to give back instead of give up.  This is a valid choice but, again, balance comes into play.  I had to give up something in order to find the time to give back.  I gave up my morning TV shows to blog and I gave up pleasure reading to read the Bible.

Rev. Steve's sermon ends thusly (I choose to use his words because I cannot improve on them!)  But his message is worth our time and reflection:

Lent isn’t about suffering and sacrifice. Lent is about balance. We are called to a period of fasting and self-denial because we have too much already. Those actions call to mind people who are perpetually hungry and constantly poor. Donate the money you would have spent at a restaurant to the food bank. Balance what you have with what others do not. 

Over the course of a year, we have a tendency to get out of balance. Meeting with friends over coffee is a good thing. But when we get to the point where we can’t function without a double mocha latte grande skinny with a touch of caramel java juice at $7 a cup, we’ve gotten out of balance. Find something else to do with the money. And if that feels like self-denial, so be it. 

I said Lent is an interesting season, and I think that’s because of the push/pull feel to it. Fast, but don’t let it show. Pray, but do so quietly in your own home. Give money, but don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. Those actions are what make Lent introspective.  Why do you do what you do? Why do you fast? Why do you give money? Why do you pray? Only you can answer these things. 

Lent is about change and balance. 

How will you regain your balance this season?

God helps those.... not in the bible?

I'm sure you have heard the saying that "God helps those who help themselves" but did you know that phrase is nowhere to be found in the Bible?  I know, I was surprised too!


I recently read that it is probably the most often quoted phrase that is not found in the Bible.   It is usually attributed to Benjamin Franklin as quoted in Poor Richard's Almanac.  But my research shows that it actually originated in a 1698 article about government by Algernon Sydney.  However, a similar thought, although phrased differently, was expressed as early as 350 AD by the Archbishop of Constantinople.


Some Christians have actually made the case that this phrase is contradictory to the teachings in the Bible.  Consider that God helps the helpless as stated in Isaiah 25:4 "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..."  

Some say that the Bible does teach this as evidenced by 2 Thessalonians 3:10  "For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat."  

However, much more often, God helps those who cannot help themselves, which is what grace is all about! 

And, of course, what would be the benefit of all this if we didn't have some research statistics, right?  And, remember, I'm just reporting them - not verifying them or proclaiming their validity (because studies show that 97.3% or 88.2% or maybe 61.8% of all statistics are made up!)  But about 53% of Christians believe this saying is actually in the Bible and 82% of teenagers think this is the main theme of the Bible.


Okay, maybe it is not from the Bible but it is worthy of mention, don't you think?  God can make things happen for us but we need to do a little work!  I always remember this anecdote that I read once.  It is about a man that went to heaven and complained because he had always prayed to win the lottery (ask and you shall receive!) and he never won.  God answered, "It was frustrating for me as well.  Why didn't you ever buy a lottery ticket?"


 
I don't believe God is asking us to just sit around and wait for all His blessings to come our way.  I am happier believing that God is asking us to live in his commandments, loving and serving Him and only Him, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and living our lives in His way.  If we do this, than God's blessings are ours to have!  

So go ahead and look for that new job

but remember to ask God to help you! 

Together, you can make make things happen!

Look for the signs....

God likes humor as much as the next guy!  He did create the albatross, didn't he?  The albatross is so graceful when flying, but put it on the ground and it falls all over itself!  And what about the platypus?  It makes sense that since God made us in His image and we like to laugh at things, God must like humor!

It's even written in the Bible:

In Proverbs 17:22, God tells us to have a good sense of humor:  "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones."

Psalm 2:4  lets us know that God laughs:  "He who sits in the heavens laughs."

The Bible verse from Ecclesiastes 3:4 explains that there is time for almost everything, including "a time to laugh."

It is easy to picture God as a dogged and relentless ruler, always serious and never smiling.  But is this an accurate picture?  After all, since God created us in His image and since we enjoy a good laugh and have a sense of humor, then it must follow that we got that from God!

I just love to laugh and am glad that God laughs too!  It makes me feel more connected to him somehow...  Do you think God has a hand in writing church signs?  I love the humor I find on these signs - some punny, some dry, and some so obvious!  I especially love the ones that make me think and smile and laugh.  Let's enjoy the humor of some of these church signs I found online and, by the way, have a great weekend and share your humor with God!


                               

                               

                                   

           

                    

The Golden Rule

 
The Golden Rule - a rule that we were taught at a very young age, a rule that I used in my classroom to explain behavior to my students, a rule that pretty much sets the right tone for how we should live, and a rule that can be found in the Bible!  In fact, it appears several times in the Bible:


Leviticus 19:18  "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Leviticus 19:34  "The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself."

Tobit 4:15  "And what you hate, do not do to anyone."

Sirach 31:15  "Judge your neighbor's feelings by your own, and in every matter be thoughtful."

Matthew 7:12  "In everything, do unto others as you would have them do to you."

Luke 6:31  "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

I wondered who started calling it the golden rule?  The best I could find was that it was named by an unknown person or persons about 1640 - the KJV Bible from where it originated was published in 1611.  It was first called the the golden law and later shifted to rule.  It is also known as the ethic of reciprocity because it describes a reciprocal relationship between you and your neighbor.  But it has been around a lot longer than that, dating as far back as Ancient Babylon!
 

The golden rule is so named from its teaching from Jesus in the first century.  However, Christianity is not the only religion to promote this rule!  According to Wikipedia, this ethical rule has its roots in a wide range of world cultures, and is a standard way that different cultures use to resolve conflicts.  It has a long history, and a great number of prominent religious figures and philosophers have restated its reciprocal, "two-way" nature in various ways.

Ancient Babylon (1780 BCE) had the Code of Hammurabi - you know, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth".  Maybe this is not the most positive of reciprocity but it was a start!  Ancient China did better when Confucius taught "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."

From ancient times to present day, cultures and most religions have this basic belief restated in as many different ways as there are cultures and religions.  The "Declaration Toward a Global Ethic^" from the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1993 proclaimed the Golden Rule as the common principle for many religions.

I just know that it is the best rule of thumb to guide us in our daily interactions with others!  Let's keep paying it forward - best way, teach our kids and practice it ourselves!

Shhhhh......

The other day I was reading in my Daily Guideposts devotional and found this prayer someone had written for themselves but as I read it, I swear must have been written just for me!

Lord, please help me to be less of an opinionated know-it-all and more of a quiet notice-it-all.    -  Marci Alborghetti

Can anyone else besides me relate to this?  

• I am too quick to judge. 
• I forget that there is a benefit to listening and assessing the situation before acting like Miss Know-It-All! 
• I like to think I can listen and design my wise and wonderful reply, both at the same time.  (I don't know why, I can't pat my head and rub my tummy at the same time...)

Of course, and I am certain of this, everyone will want to know my opinion because everything I say is insightful and knowledgeable and beneficial so I better prepare my response!  That is my usual MO (modus operandi).  But do you know what I think really happens?  I might not hear some of the details of the conversation.  So I end up making assumptions about the details I am not hearing!  And we all know about assuming, right?  Assume makes an ass out of u and me! 

Rather, though, I should heed God's words.  In Proverbs 18:13 it says that "He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame." 


There is a famous proverb that says something like we have two ears and one mouth so we should listen twice as much as we speak.   I also read somewhere once that our failure to listen to wise words only diminishes ourselves but the person who shared this wisdom with us suffers no loss.  So we should listen more - active, productive listening could lead us to be of assistance to someone or it could lead us to pearls of wisdom that might bear on our lives!

That makes me think of my dad, as do so many things these days.  He was an awesome listener!  Dad would actually focus on your conversation and then stop and think before responding!  If a pearl of wisdom was not readily available, Dad was not afraid to suggest that we think about it, give it some time.  And I'm sure Dad prayed about it and did think about it because he always came up with an answer which was usually THE answer!


 
On the day of Dad's funeral, I remember staring out at the lake and thinking how much Dad would have loved the sight before me - pristine snow, wind blowing it across the lake, a beautiful blue sky and sunshine sparkling on the snow - and I asked God to help me be more like my dad in every way possible.  At that moment, an eagle (one of my dad's favorite birds) flew across the shore of the lake and I knew that Dad was going to be fine and that God would help me to continue Dad's legacy of kindness and caring and love and spirituality here on earth!  Thanks, Dad, for being a light in my life and for your example of how to live it!



So each day when I begin my prayers and readings, I begin with Eli's instructions to Samuel in I Samuel 3:9  "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."  And I am!

The "God spot" in our brain?

Scientists are searching for the "God Spot"

Did you know that scientists have been looking for one distinct area in our brains that is responsible for spirituality?  They are calling it the "God spot" !

Researchers at the University of Missouri now believe that spirituality is a complex phenomenon and that multiple areas of the brain are responsible for the many aspects of spiritual experiences.  According to Brick Johnstone, professor of health psychology at the University of Missouri, "Spirituality is a much more dynamic concept that uses many parts of the brain. Certain parts of the brain play more predominant roles, but they all work together to facilitate individuals’ spiritual experiences.”

We know that we need to keep our bodies healthy but now we need to be sure to include our brains as well!  How lucky for me that I attended a lecture on brain health just last week!  I thought I might share that with you today.

Brain health seems to be very dependent on keeping our brains supplied with positive endorphins.  I am not a science teacher and I know that wikipedia cannot always be trusted but I went there anyway!  Here's what I learned:  Endorphins are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalmus (I've heard of that before but I can't explain it or tell you where it is in the body;  look it up on wikipedia if you feel compelled to know more about it!).  Anyway, they are produced from things like exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food and love.  Endorphins are considered a morphine-like substance originating from within the body.  They resemble opiates because they make you feel good.  And feeling good makes our brains healthier!

According to the speaker, the number one thing to increase positive endorphins is go to church!  I wouldn't have guessed that myself.  Apparently, church is a place where positive things happen, endorphin-producing things.  Many people come up to greet you and actually want an honest answer to "How are you today?"  There is singing and fellowship and good feelings abounding!  Church is not only good for your spiritual well-being but it contributes to good brain health!

Exercise is great for brain health!  What's more, walking could be the perfect thing to do!  I love walking and do it at least 5 days a week although only 3 days needs to be your goal.  When you walk, you get a lot of cleansing breaths going on.  The scenery is likely to be relaxing, the sounds of other people helps us feel connected as does the laughter of children and neighbors and fellow walkers greeting us!  Research shows that the colors green and blue release positive energy and how perfect for us - the grass is green and the sky is blue!


Having a BFF, best friend forever, is another link to creating more of those positive endorphins.  We all know that there are friends and then there is our best friend.  Our best friend is someone we can confide in and know the information goes no further.  We trust them completely and our best friend is the person we turn to in both good and bad times.  You can have more than one BFF but you probably have only one BBFF (best best friend forever)!

What about gossip?  That's right, I said gossip!  Gossip is another way to create positive endorphins to help your brain health.  However, the study was NOT talking about malicious gossip; but good gossip that is positive and friendly.  Where did you buy those shoes?  Love your haircut - who did it?  Have you tried the new restaurant on the corner?  Conversations that are upbeat and happy and informative in a friendly, helpful manner.

Finally, watch your diet!  Eating healthy is so important to your brain.  According to Web MD , research shows that we can maintain a healthy brain well into our old age if we include the following "smart foods" in our daily diet:

Blueberries.  or "Brainberries"!  Blueberries could reduce the effects of Alzheimers or dementia. It is recommended we eat at  least 1 cup of blueberries a day - fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried.
Wild salmon.  Rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids which contain anti-inflammatory substances. The recommendation is a 4-ounce serving, two to three times a week.
Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E and higher levels of vitamin E correspond with less cognitive decline as you get older. Add an ounce a day and raw or roasted doesn't matter.
Avocados. Avocados are almost as good as blueberries in promoting brain health. It's a monounsaturated fat, which contributes to healthy blood flow.  Avocados also lower blood pressure. Avocados are high in calories, however, so they suggest eating just 1/4 to 1/2 of an avocado each day.
Whole grains. Whole grains can reduce the risk for heart disease and it is recommended to have 1/2 cup of whole-grain cereal, 1 slice of bread two-thee times day, or 2 tablespoons of wheat germ a day.

Beans. Beans stabilize glucose (blood sugar) levels. The brain is dependent on glucose for fuel and since it can't store the glucose, it relies on a steady stream of energy. Any beans will do and 1/2 cup every day is the recommended amount.
Pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice (you can eat the fruit itself but with its many tiny seeds, it's not nearly as convenient) offers potent antioxidant benefits which protect the brain from the damage of free radicals (probably no part of the body is more sensitive to the damage from free radicals as the brain).   You should drink approximately 2 ounces a day, diluted with spring water or seltzer.
Freshly brewed tea. Two to three cups a day of freshly brewed tea -- hot or iced -- contains a modest amount of caffeine which, when used judiciously, can boost brain power by enhancing memory, focus, and mood. Tea also has potent antioxidants, especially the class known as catechines, which promotes healthy blood flow. Bottled or powdered teas don't do the trick, however,  it has to be freshly brewed. Tea bags do count, however.
Dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate has powerful antioxidant properties, contains several natural stimulants, including caffeine, which enhance focus and concentration, and stimulates the production of endorphins, which helps improve mood. One-half ounce to 1 ounce a day will provide all the benefits you need. This is one "superfood" where more is not better so remember to eat chocolate in moderation (bummer....).

Oh, one more thing I found out - March is National Brain Health Month!  Let's celebrate!

Let's keep our brains healthy and make sure that we keep our "God Spots" well-tuned!  You never know when He will have a message for you......

FYI - This is what an endorphin looks like!