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my heart overflows with a good theme...
~Psalm 45:1a

Examen ~ GregJ

2/17/2025

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To review: (1) God enables my pursuit of virtues. (2) God equips believers with virtues including hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and forgiveness. (3) I pursue these virtues and gain experience and discernment. (4) People of like mind help me discover and deploy one or two specialized aptitudes which help the group serve people. Specialty virtues include seeing things from God's point of view, serving, teaching, giving, organizing, and mercy. These are just examples. God enables other spiritual gifts as he wishes.

God's people have long pursued these virtues.  Some do so with simple openness to God's direction. Some people are more systematic. Thus, the Wesleys’ 22 questions urge a person to ask of themselves daily probing questions: Can I be trusted? Am I enjoying prayer? Am I humble? Do I obey God in all things? Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography included his secular self-improvement program concerning 13 virtues, focusing on just one virtue per week. Other personal constitutions have been published, several since 1989 based on Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

We mentioned Covey but did not list his 7 habits. They are:  Be proactive (take responsibility).... Begin with the end in mind (have a plan and vision).... Put first things first (Prioritize).... Think win-win (Seek mutual benefit).... Seek first to understand, then to be understood (Listen with empathy).... Synergize (Value diverse opinions).... Sharpen the saw (Seek continuous improvement)....

Personal constitutions are essentially a list of virtues or desirable practices. New Year's Resolutions are another such a list.

The Single Question of Highly Effective Saints
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We now turn to a Christian personal constitution that is not a list of questions, virtues, habits, or resolutions. I find in it some issues. Still in its way it can touch every situation of life. Millions have followed it daily since Iñigo (aka Ignatius) from the town of Loyola in Spain, first published it in 1522: This is The Examen.

With Ignatian Examen, I would take time once or twice a day to read scripture and pray, focusing gratitude and dependence on God for direction. These alone are worthy activities.

Next, I iterate through my memory of events in my life since the previous Examen. An event can be an experience, my thoughts, my feelings, or my action: admiring the sunrise, worrying about a conversation, eating breakfast, something I read.

I review each event for a few seconds with a single yes or no question:
 
          Did this event move me closer to God? 

Of course to answer this, I need a sense of what God wants.

  • What does God want? That’s why Examen starts with scripture and asking for Holy Spirit’s insight.
  • For the illiterate, “Teachings of the Church” (and its leaders) and parents might substitute.
  • Examen groups I’ve visited meet with experienced Spiritual Directors (aka Givers) to discuss what “closer to God” can mean and to encourage one another.  
  • Awareness Examen requires that I not linger in reflection on each event, but move on like a farmer counting cows or chickens while alert for individual health problems.
  • Particular Examen is the kind of review exemplified by the Wesley 22 questions or the Franklin 13 virtues.

After my review of my events, I wrap up with prayer to God. I can log discoveries and resolutions.

Elegant, right? No 110 rules, 22 questions, 13 virtues, or 7 habits.
Though simple, there are weaknesses in the Ignatian Examen. I won't see the significance of some events in my life. I might over-emphasize some events. What feels like a humbling downer for my pride might be a step toward God’s way. I might judge illogically: by immediate effects, not considering likely consequences.  I might obsess over defects that God is already forgiving and healing. What seems like an opportunity to serve may be over-reaching. What seems like punishment may be opportunity.

Ignatius recognized such issues. His original book on Examin is 150 pages long. In his “Second Week” instructions Ignatian identified supporting activities before and after the central review.

  1. Read God’s word in quiet.
  2. Having prayed that the Holy Spirit will help me, Receive God’s Holy Spirit. Psalm 139 is such a request: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any evil in me, and guide me in the way everlasting.” So is Romans 8: “In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.”
  3. Review each event (my experience, thoughts, feelings, and actions) since the previous Examen. Don’t dwell on perceived success or failure. Instead, consider God’s activity in, around, and through me. Most important, decide: Did this event move me closer to God? Relish events that blessed me. Thank God. Repent of shortcomings or failures that the review found. Request God’s forgiveness and help with these needs.
  4. Resolve to live righteously in concrete ways by God’s grace.
  5. Recite a closing prayer such as “Our Father”.

Jesuit teachers call the above typically daily steps the Awareness Examen. If emphasizing thoughts and feelings (instead of experiences and actions), this is Consciousness Examen. If focused on a particular virtue or habit, this is Particular Examen. If focused on identifying and dumping sins, this is General Examen of Conscience and is a recommended preliminary to Confession.

In his Spiritual Exercises for the Second Week, Ignatius considered several complications and how to avoid them. These tend to involve feelings. The Second Week comments address puzzlements not clearly covered by scripture, by the teachings of the Church, or by the counsel of wise believers. Who should I marry? What work should I pursue? Where is my hairbrush?
A more controversial activity associated with Ignatian Examen is Imaginative Prayer.

This begins as above: Read scriptures and pray. Additionally ask that the Holy Spirit work through my imagination. We want to turn up imagination of the senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell…  Memory works through connections, and the idea is to enhance scripture memory and insight via sensory connections, even just imagined ones. Thus, selected scripture could be a gospel event or stories in which I might have participated had I been there: Jesus being born. Jesus healing the lame, feeding the crowd, celebrating Passover,… these contain sensory impressions waiting to be enhanced. Imagine chatting with other Judean spectators, hearing of their anxiety and fatigue before Jesus gave them bread and fish. Imagine being the blind man who fumbled his accustomed route in darkness until Jesus gave him sight.

Having mastered these safe imaginations, you can level up to Examen Contemplation and Examen Colloquy.  In these you approach Jesus on the cross and ask him how he can forgive—and he answers you. He tells you how you can forgive. Or buzz by a TARDIS on your way to creation and ask Father God about quarks or hell or raising children. Prompted by Psalm 139, ask God about his creation of you.  Discover that God loves you. Certainly, ask something of a saint—Mary the mother of Jesus is always popular. What are those things she hid in her heart? How did Jesus act at funerals?
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Of course, the problem is not asking questions. The problem is not fanfic and Mary Sue. The problem is imagining a reply from Jesus, God, or Mary. Does that reply come from the Almighty or from my hopes or fears? From the Holy Spirit, or from the tempter? Holy Holodecks, I could fantasize Jesus confirming my stupid desires: Verily, Robin Hood, do rob that bank; just give some to the poor. Safeguards against wayward imagination are the Examen's prescribed use of the Biblical precedent, the "Teachings of the Church", and Spiritual Directors. Google, "AI", and social media can bring you trustworthy sources, opinions, or confident lies.

Toward the end of Spiritual Exercises, under the heading Greater Discernment of Spirits (p 169 in the pdf), Ignatius deals with many possible insights discovered in Examen. His advice is to recheck your current position and especially your current trajectory. The first rule: continuing in serious sin is bad, even if you feel good about it. “In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin,… the enemy commonly proposes to them apparent pleasures… The good spirit uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting their consciences through the process of reason.”

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Compare with the third rule: “the evil angel enters the devout soul with good and holy ambitions; but then little by little he aims at drawing the soul to his covert deceits and perverse intentions.” In other words, “It’s a trap!”

In many Psalms, David and others requested justice or vengeance. Jesus gives us even more confidence to come to God (Hebrews 4:15-16). But there’s such a thing as presumptuous prayer (Psalm 19). So be extremely careful with imagined directives. Seek external confirmation. I’m not a 100% cessationist; but I know that words from God tend to be on his initiative and through his means, confirmed by his miracles to certify his truths in his time.

Supporting Ignatian Examen, there is a sizable stack of devotion books, Apps, and web sites . They offer preparatory scriptures, canned prayers, suggested music, discussion prompts, and other customizations for students, athletes, business people, mothers, fathers, etc. You just bring your experiences, thoughts, feelings, and action. Most I’ve seen are decidedly Roman Catholic. Jesuit retreat centers sponsor weekends or longer retreats saturated in Ignatian Examen. Practically all weekend you will be in silence except for chapel prayers and singing. Can’t go to a retreat? Some monasteries and churches offer Ignatian groups via Zoom.  Several non-Catholic church groups conduct spiritual direction retreats that are mostly Ignatian Examen but basically Biblical. There have been secular outfits that claim connection with Christian spirituality, but watch out: “It’s a trap!”

At its heart, the Ignatian Examen shines a flashlight on each of my events today, and asks, “Did this event move me closer to God?”  Other Christian contemplative methods tend to add a few more questions. They are not hard to find.  Here is one such Examen core from a Franciscan community:
  • If I truly wanted to live God’s dream for humanity, or to live and act as Jesus did, What must/should I do in response to this text?
  • How would it change my life? 
  • Is it possible for me to respond at this time of my life?
  • Is there anything I can do, right now, which would begin my journey of response to this text?

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The Seven Spiritual Weapons of Saint Catherine of Bologna

A method of Christian spiritual growth might not use questions. Instead, it can spotlight values or goals or “Life Verses”. These are a little like Franklin pursing his 13 favored secular virtues.

Catherine was an inspiring painter and musician in Bolagna, Italy. No introspective wimp she. From about 1463, she lists her weapons of integrity and progress.

  • “The first weapon I call zeal in doing good, since the Holy Scripture condemns those who are negligent and lukewarm in the way of God.” “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  (Revelation 3.15-16)
  • “The second weapon is mistrust of self: that is, to believe firmly and without doubt that one could never do anything good by oneself, as Christ Jesus said: “Without me you can do nothing.” (John 15.5).
  • “The third weapon is to put one’s trust in God and for love of him to fiercely wage battle with great readiness of spirit against the devil and against the world and one’s own flesh which is given one in order that it might serve the spirit.    [GJ adds reference from Proverbs 3, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”]
  • “The fourth is the memory of Christ Jesus, the glorious pilgrimage of that immaculate lamb, and especially his most holy death and passion, keeping always before the eyes of our minds the presence of his most chaste and virginal humanity.    [GJ notes Hebrews 12:2, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”]
  • “The fifth weapon is to remind oneself that we must die….  And so, Paul the glorious apostle spoke well: “Let us do good while we have time.” (Galatians 6.10)
  • “The sixth weapon is the memory of the goods of paradise which are prepared for those who lawfully struggle by abandoning all the vain pleasures of the present life in accord with the saying of the most holy doctor Saint Augustine: that it is impossible to enjoy present goods and future ones too…. "Those who are just await me until you reward me." (Psalm 142)
  • “The seventh weapon with which we can conquer our enemies is the memory of Holy Scripture which we must carry in our hearts and from which, as from a most devoted mother, we must take counsel in the things we have to do. And with this weapon, our savior Christ Jesus conquered and confounded the devil in the desert, saying: “It is written.” (Luke 4:1-13)
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Addresses and Morals and Virtues, Oh My! ~ GregJ

2/13/2025

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George Washington

Toward the end of February the US Senate performs a Senate activity repeated every year since 1893. It is a 45-minute reading of George Washington’s Farewell Address.  This document is way longer than many personal constitutions.  Nevertheless, it quite conveys the ideals and advice of a respected leader practicing what he preached. What advice would you leave for people you love?

Please don’t take as representative of President Washington's values his widely-circulated “110 Rules of Civility” (more compactly here). As a teenager he simply copied these rules from a century-old textbook. Quite likely this was a school assignment, possibly a penmanship exercise. If you know teenage boys, you know they generally need such rules as number 4, “In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.” Or number 107, “If others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with Meat in your Mouth.”

Though longish, read Washington’s Farewell Address. It is worthwhile, even as an annual reflection. You might skip his warnings about foreign entanglements, cautions about political parties, concerns about government debt, and so on—if you dare.
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Thomas Jefferson

The third US President wrote several short notes to youngsters summarizing his principles and practices. Here is the earliest and longest, titled “A Dozen Canons of Conduct in Life”. He sent this to his granddaughter instead of the expected two-dollar bill with his picture on it.

Items with * were omitted in later versions sent to other young people. TJ took rule number 5 quite seriously.

  1. never put off to tomorrow what you can do to-day.
  2. never trouble another with what you can do yourself
  3. never spend your money before you have it
  4. never buy a thing you do not want, because it is cheap, it will be dear to you.
  5. take care of your cents: Dollars will take care of themselves! *
  6. pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold.
  7. we never repent of having eat too little.
  8. nothing is troublesome that one does willingly. *
  9. how much pain have cost us the evils which have never happen
  10. take things always by their smooth handle.
  11. think as you please, & so let others, & you will have no disputes. *
  12. when angry, count 10. before you speak; if very angry, 100.
These slightly cryptic maxims trace to Greek philosophers. For example, the Stoic named Epictetus wrote, “Every event has two handles, one by which it can be carried, and one by which it cannot. If your brother does you wrong, don’t seize upon his wrong, because this is the handle incapable of lifting…”.
 
Besides quoting Stoics and Epicureans—in Greek, French, and English!—Jefferson famously distilled a collection of Jesus’ words. However, he omitting from his harmony of the gospels anything supernatural: Claims of deity, angels, miracles, and the resurrection? Gone. Jefferson explained his super-condensed Bibles—he made two—in an 1813 letter to John Adams:
 
“We must reduce our volume to the simple evangelists, select, even from them, the very words only of Jesus, …. There will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter which is evidently his, and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill.”  
 
I repudiate Jefferson’s abuse of indigenous people and slaves, and reject his deism, “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”  Still, I do admire that Jefferson’s personal constitution was just Jesus’ words: nothing more, nothing less. Whereas US Senators hear Washington’s words every February, US Presidents—really, everybody—would do well to give as much attention to Jesus’ words as did President Thomas Jefferson.
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Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin published a strikingly systematic yet humane set of resolutions. And that’s not all!  Regarding these resolutions, he set up a simple system for his own performance evaluation.

This thorough attention to virtues doesn’t compensate for Franklin’s promotion of daylight saving time. Or his wishy-washy deism. Still, compared to the other personal constitutions, individual agendas, resolutions, and maxims of his era, I see Franklin’s as clearer, more doable, and more adaptable to my use. Here's his list:

  1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
  3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
  4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
  5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
  6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
  7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
  8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
  9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
  10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
  11. Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
  12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
  13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Here is Franklin’s own enjoyable explanation of his motivations and the development process.
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page38.htm

Franklin included humility, chastity, and perhaps some other virtues because people told him that he was not good at them! He was particularly keen to not just admire virtue, but to do virtue. His approach was intentional—not accidental—daily practice and streamlined daily self-evaluation. So as not to confuse himself, he resolved to focus on just one virtue per week. With 13 virtues on the list, that’s 13 weeks before starting over. 13 weeks times 4 is 52 weeks. See what he did there?

Here’s a clearer presentation of his calendar: 
     https://blogs.library.unt.edu/untdocsblog/2014/01/17/11/

This report and encouragement comes from a fellow who followed Franklin’s Plan for a decade.
Virtuous To-Do Lists

Question: Are there virtues that you would add to Franklin’s list?  Would you trim any?

My priorities would be kindness (or agape) and discernment replacing silence and moderation.

Really, what’s worse than a silent ax-murderer, if not a moderate silent ax-murderer?

Consider Hebrews 11, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

Consider Matthew 6, "If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive, ...."

Franklin’s list of virtues reminds me of several New Testament lists:

Galatians chapter 5    (ESV)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Colossians chapter 3
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Romans chapter 12
“We all have different gifts … prophecy … serving … teaching … encouraging others … giving to others … leading … showing mercy.

2 Peter chapter 1
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,…

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Methodists ~ GregJ

2/8/2025

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I have talked to Christians who objected to the idea of becoming a better Christian. I would not call them lazy. They languidly pointed out that Christ Jesus has already done all that can be done to please God.  Moreover, God has already programmed each person’s future. Service may come. If they need preparation or discernment, God will provide. They cite Ephesians 2: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (More) They sit back and enjoy the ride on the train from St. Augustine to Calvinville.

Those, ahem, determined believers are rare. Few Christians are completely passive. God calls us holy and saints. Most of us want to match such titles with improved thought, feelings, and action.

So it was with college students John Wesley (1703-1791), his brother Charles, and some friends. They formed a club that advanced the following 22 yes or no questions to track daily their lifelong pursuit of holiness.  Tally how well you do on these 22 questions. I’ve rephrased some so that answers of “yes” are always desirable. 22 “yes” answers puts you close to Jesus.
  1. Do I never consciously or unconsciously create the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, do I avoid being a hypocrite?
  2. Am I honest in all my acts and words and never exaggerate?
  3. Do I never blab what was told to me in confidence?
  4. Can I be trusted?
  5. Am I never inclined to impress people by my dress, friends, work, or habits?
  6. Am I never self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
  7. Did the Bible live in me today?
  8. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
  9. Am I enjoying prayer?
  10. Did I speak to someone else about my faith?
  11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
  12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
  13. Do I obey God in all things?
  14. Do I not do something about which my conscience is uneasy?
  15. Am I never defeated in any part of my life?
  16. Am I never jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
  17. Do I spend my spare time productively?
  18. Am I humble?
  19. Do I never thank God that I am not as other people, as the Pharisees who despised the tax collector?
  20. Can I say there is no one I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward, or disregard? If there are such persons, am I doing anything about it?
  21. Do I never grumble or complain?
  22. Is Christ real to me?
I find this is a tough list. What else would you consider?  How about, "Have I been generous? Have I encouraged anyone? Have I forgiven? Have I gone the second mile? ..." Lists like these bug me. They easily spotlight my errors, fumbles, and opportunities missed.

It's also possible to compose a list where I get an A+. Consider the story of “The Good Samaritan” in Luke chapter 10.  The two jerks who passed by the injured man could congratulate themselves: Yes! I preserved my ritual purity and journeyed on to fulfill my appointed godly duties. Yay me. Jesus asked concerning the three passers-by, “which was the neighbor?” Jesus did not hesitate to ask clear but challenging questions.

A scorecard like the above can be a private record or used as the Wesleys did in accountable and more nearly objective review. Wesley's use was in a small group. Wesley's journal notes how the of these and subsequent coworkers helped him. The Moses of Methodists John Wesley later published four amendments that also can present as yes or no questions.

A. Am I absolutely open and unreserved with all I should converse with?

B. Do I labor in continual seriousness, not willingly indulging myself in any the least levity of behavior, or in laughter; no not for a moment.

C. Do I speak no word that does not tend to the glory of God; in particular, do I not talk of worldly things?

D. Do I take no pleasure which does not to the glory of God; thanking God every moment for all I do take, rejecting every sort and degree of it which I feel I cannot so thank Him in and for?
 
Wot, no lafs?
 
Jesuits use “spiritual exercises” to grow; we’ll see some of that subsequently. Of course, Methodists use methods. Historically, the main method has been discipleship in the form of a weekly small group meeting. The leader would begin by asking an open-ended question, “How is it with your soul?” There would be Bible study, and review of the General Rule of Discipleship evidenced in acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion. The small group enhances self-examination and is inclined to compassionately critique, encourage, and assist.

Footnote 1: Already noted in the New Testament is tension over faith vs works, determinism vs free-will, original sin vs responsibility, and more... These surface in Pelagianism and continue today.

Footnote 2: In the above screed I have focused on the Christian denomination, "Methodist". My focus will move on to look at lowercase "m" "methodists". That "methodist" is one who lives life life and pursues personal development via conscious rules of conduct and of personal evaluation: a method. The goals and evaluations that interest me must be more objective than, "if it feels good, do it" or, "go with your gut". The above unstructured 22 questions form such a method. It explicitly and implicitly accepted certain values, goals, and practices. The Stoic Enchirodon, the Ignatian Examen, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People are other such methods. I aim to touch on a few more methods of Christian personal growth.

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Personal Constitution ~ GregJ

2/1/2025

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Should you write a “Personal Constitution”? This is a potentially rewarding—and potentially obsessive—practice of listing your values, ambitions, and practices.  On first pass such a list will be inaccurate—too conceited, too modest, just ignorant.  After several passes and amendments, my own list became too wordy.  It remained useless until I boiled it down to two primary practices of two words each.
 
“A doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient” (Dr. William Osler). “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit." (Philippians 2) Start quietly, but don't finish your personal constitution in isolation. Instead, consider that sharing and refining personal constitutions can help the individuals involved and the community of Christ! Decades ago, around once a year, believers I knew shared perceptions concerning one another.  I remember being completely surprised at good things and deplorable things other people saw in me. Such confrontation encouraged us to discern and to develop “the better angels of our nature.” Here in February—between New Year resolutions, reviewing finances and taxes, spring cleaning, and daily news involving the national constitution—right now is as good a time as any to begin. Effort now is an investment that can grow to help you and others rationally face life’s persistent questions.
  • “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13)
  • “You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye.” (Luke 6)
  • “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17)
  • “Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” (1 Samuel 16)
  • “God has treated me with undeserved grace, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That's how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another. God has also given each of us different gifts to use....” (Romans 12)
  • “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4)
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In a previous post I cautioned concerning psych self-assessments and the Christianized versions, Spiritual Gifts Inventories. Too often these quizzes are not used as collaborative tools to build coworker communities. In isolation they become mirrors to confirm vanity, self-loathing, or sloth.

“Personal Constitution” is the term Peter Covey floated in his 1989 business-oriented best-seller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  The practice of forming such a mission statement, credo, prime directive, philosophy, or rule of life is far from new. In subsequent posts I'll link to diverse personal constitutions from such eminents as Socrates, Confucius, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, the Wesley brothers, Ignatius of Loyola, and others.

Besides constructing your motto, be aware of Biblical statements of purpose, including:

  • “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua
  • “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” Jesus. Also: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” And: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
  • “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul. Also: “My purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”
  • “All I know is that I used to be blind, but now I can see!” That guy in John chapter 9
I advocate putting in both introspection and discussion with friends that will lead to you recognizing your values, ambitions, and principles; finding perhaps your “Life Verse”, and certainly your individual spiritual gift or gifts. Again! Your spiritual gift is not so much an ability given you. Your spiritual gift is you yourself given to the church. Thus, discovery is not just a matter of pondering and conversing. Discovery includes introspection, extrospection, patiently doing, sometimes failing, and persisting in faith, hope, and love. I urge that such efforts to consolidate your values, goals, and practices do not displace your compassion, attention, and gratitude. Keep on appreciating God and the specific principles he has given his people. “Your word is a light for my feet and a light on my path.” (Psalm 119)
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Homemade Christmas Lights ~ GregJ

12/16/2024

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Several families were visiting at my house for a Christmastime Bible Study. The study was not in English. I took my usual role as child wrangler. The most respected gift, I think, is to give one’s self.

The kids—mostly talkative five-year-olds—ran to the Christmas tree. They were closely inspecting its decorations. “Kan zhi-ge! ”  “Look at these!”

One girl exclaimed, “Uncle Greg, we make these lights! We make these lights!”
 
I asked, “Do you have a Christmas tree at home?”

 She calmed down. “Little tree,” she murmured. “we do not make lights for it. Not our lights.”
 
Crouching down, I pressed, “How did you make these lights on this tree in my house?”
 
She looked at me. She exhaled. She spoke slowly so I could understand. I don't recall the exact words. The explanation went something like this:
 
We make these lights where we live in Taiwan.
We make little lights at my house.
Not here. At my house in Taiwan.
Every day, we make little lights.
We do not keep little lights. We sell them.

 
Then I understood. In Taiwan, her family assembled Christmas light strings in their apartment.

These five-year-olds were concerned about how my lights were spaced. Were bulbs solid color or blotchy? Could light strings join end-to-end? Which is better, blink or not blink? Which is better, blue or white?

The young Quality Assurance team finally approved my tree's workmanship and presentation. 
 
Since then, when I visit local stores—even if not intending to buy—I scrutinize Christmas decorations for sale. From where did they come? Taiwan, People’s Republic of China, Viet Nam, India, Mexico, the Czech Republic…? I wonder, did they come from children's hands or from automation?  What does it profit a kitchen-based factory when I buy fifty of their lights for two dollars?  When I ask adult visitors about Halloween items, they thoroughly dislike the uglies.  But they are intrigued by Christmas stuff. They ask, why do people with so many trees buy a plastic tree? Why buy so much sparkly stuff? What if you do not have snow? What’s with the old man in red clothes? Is he a Buddha? Is the baby his grandson? Do the animals eat the baby? Do Americans really eat bread with every meal?

China is the world’s largest Bible publisher, thanks to Nanjing-based Amity Press…. For the world’s largest Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP), more than three quarters of its production costs are incurred in China.”  Christianity Today, June 2019
What do the workers infer about the buyers of their product, whether cute lights or big books?  What things might I buy that would stir the producer’s interest in God’s kingdom?  The answer is above.
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The inspectors swarmed off to use the carpeted stairs as a toboggan run. I grabbed big plush animals to stand guard with me at the bottom of the stairs.

When the kids tired, we played with my “Made in China” nativity set. We talked about the star, the people, and the animals. We learned about the best gift: the child, the gift that is too wonderful for words.

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Peace on Earth, Good-will to Men ~GregJ

12/8/2024

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It's rare that I get quite so emotional as I did with the attached video. This may have to do with visiting this year so many American civil war battlefields near my northern Virginia location.

The song, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" uses an 1863 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Longfellow was a Harvard professor who had toured Europe apparently to learn to translate eight languages. He left academe, becoming a versatile, lyrics-slinging poet/rockstar.

Here was a man who had lost first wife Mary to miscarriage and second wife Frances to a fire that scarred his own face and body.  Here was a dedicated abolitionist and pacifist whose son joined the Union Army. Said son took a bullet to the spine, and now in December 1863 was back home in Massachusetts being nursed to health by his father.  Here was a man who on December 25, 1863 wrote the following verses mixing pain and resolve.

1.  I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

2.  And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

3.  Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

[Verses 4 & 5 are omitted from most recent presentations.]

4. Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

5.  It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


6.  And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

7.  Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.


Luke chapter 2 verses 10-14
 But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid!
Listen carefully,
for I proclaim to you good news
that brings great joy
to all the people:

Today your Savior is born in the city of David.
He is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign for you:
   You will find a baby
   wrapped in strips of cloth
   and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth
peace among people with whom he is pleased!”


New English Translation and others
Rocks ... Longfellow Bio ... Charlie ...  Quotes ... Movie ... SATB
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Peanuts for Christmas ~ Greg J

12/5/2024

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Where I stood was mud the day before. Now that farm road was frozen hard as iron. I pondered:
 
“The TV bosses let a kid quote the Bible for a minute. Maybe there's hope for this world!”

This nostalgic moment is easy for me to pinpoint. I was waiting for the school bus at 7:45 a.m., Friday, December 10, 1965. Many others also were reflecting on the previous evening’s premiere of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

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Over the background brain jazz of “Christmastime is Here” and “Linus and Lucy”,  I reconsidered the words of Linus and Luke: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields…”. 

Commercials urging “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should” and “See the USA in your Chevrolet” had given way to "Glory to God in the highest!" Scary scenes from Selma and Viet Nam were for a while displaced by "Peace on earth, good will to men.” And by a blue blanket.

Most of the Peanuts kids—kids like me—knew well the Christmas biz. As Lucy confided, “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket! It's run by a big eastern syndicate you know!” She urged, “Get the biggest aluminum tree you can find, Charlie Brown, maybe painted pink!”
For me, the compelling character in Peanuts was not Charlie Brown, though I felt his pain. Snoopy was more flamboyant than anyone I knew.  I was a Linus fan. Later I learned that Linus was not always the brave evangelist who could calmly summon, “Lights, please.”  Linus had been forgetful, anxious, and odd. For example, rewind to December 21, 1958.
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A running gag especially in December was that Linus had stage fright. Lucy continued to encourage Linus in her persuasive way.
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I appreciate Linus' compassion. The other kids relentlessly dismiss and ridicule Charlie Brown. Linus is to Charlie a merciful, supportive, frank, and insightful friend.

Linus is unembarrassed about his security blanket.  In A Charley Brown Christmas, this versatile blanket serves as tow rope, slingshot, head covering, hiding place, and potentially a sport coat. Concerning Linus' attachment to his blanket, in 2015 Jason Soroski published a profound observation now echoed at over fifty websites:
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In that climactic scene when Linus shares what ‘Christmas is all about’, he drops his security blanket, and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Most telling is the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, ‘fear not’.
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There is a second blanket drop! Linus selflessly gives his prized blanket to restore the little limp Christmas tree. What do you think becomes of the blanket?

Walk with me in the starry night with Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and all others who would go. We will purpose our security for kindness.  We will trade cold tinsel for warm treasure. 

Footnote 1:  Linus steps up.

   1952 ... 1953 ... 1954 ... 1955 ... 1956 ... 1957 ... 1958
    ... 1959 ... 1960 ... 1961 ... 1962 ... 1963 ... 1964 ... 1965
       ... “Every now and then I say the right thing”
Footnote 2:  Linus steps back.
   Other Peanuts characters took much of Linus' role as sage and poet, even slinging a T.S. Eliot reference in one of the following Christmas strips.

  "Begat" ... "House of Bread" ... "Abiding" ...  "Attention" ... "I hate shopping" ...
     "Warned in a Dream" ... "Calling Bird" ...
         "Hark, Harold Angel" ... "Hockey Stick!" ...
            "Joe Handel" ... "Gabriel" ...
               "Sheep" ... "Moo! Whatever!"
Footnote 3: More Peanuts.

   Peanuts for Christ ...
       Peanuts Wiki on A Charlie Brown Christmas ...
           
Charles Schulz' Spiritual Walk
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