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We Are Works In Progress

“So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.” - Jeremiah 18:3-4

Another important spiritual principle is humility. None of us are fully finished products. We all need God to reshape us and mold us into the people we need to be in this place and time. Each of us has to be ready to learn, grow, and change.

The process is neither instantaneous nor easy. It usually means being uncomfortable for a longer period than we’d like. Early on it’s hard for us to see what we are becoming. The potter has different purposes for us. We may not know what that purpose is while we are still on the wheel.

We must be patient with ourselves and with each other. We are still in the potter’s hands. We are works in progress.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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60 Seconds of Hope: When Is The Resurrection?

“And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." - Luke 14:14

What is the resurrection and when does it take place. Many Christians think of it as something that happens at the end of the world as we know it, perhaps on judgement day. Others think of it as something that happens after our physical deaths.

The early Christians believed in a life after this one. But make no mistake, their focus was on this life. We are born again in this life according to the Gospel of John. The Kingdom of God is already in our midst and is just waiting for us to embrace it according to Luke.

The Apostle Paul probably the most extensive use of the death, burial, and resurrection metaphors in his work:

“For through baptism we have been buried with him into death, so that, in the manner that Christ rose from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so may we also walk in the newness of life.” - Romans 6:4

Baptism represents our death, burial, and resurrection into a new life, here and now. The “payment” Luke is referring to is pointing us to the peace and wellbeing we experience when we allow ourselves to be resurrected or reborn into this way of life.

When is the resurrection? The resurrection happens everyday we crucify our old ways thought and behavior and allow the spirit to carry us into the world with new ones.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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60 Seconds of Hope: How To Be Steady

“They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD. Their hearts are steady; they will not be afraid” - from Psalms 112:7-8

Fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of hardship and suffering, fear of being laughed at and ridiculed, fear of not having enough or being enough…

At some point, life is going bring most of us face to face with the thing or things we fear. How do we keep ourselves from being knocked down? How do we stay steady? How do we confront them and overcome.

Now personally, I don’t believe that everything that happens to us is God’s will. Nor do I believe that everything that happens to us is part of God’s master plan for our lives.

I do believe that God will never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8) I do believe God is working for the good in all situations where we love and align with God’s purposes. (Romans 8:28) Finally, I believe that power of God within us is greater than any power outside of us. (1 John 4:4)

If we take these as our guiding truths, if we trust them with all our hearts, we shall be steady during times of crisis. We will overcome our fears. They will not overcome us.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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Not Everyone Is Going To Cheer You

“The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away.” - from Psalm 112:10

Nearly all of us like to be praised. Nearly all of us like to be encouraged. Nearly all of us would like the whole hearted support of people around us. Some of us love being affirmed. Not everyone is going to cheer.

Some folks are going to be angry and resentful, not because of anything we’ve done to them, but because of the way they feel about themselves when they look at us. In this case, we can’t be moved by their feelings. We can’t stop doing what we called to be doing, or stop becoming who we are meant to be because someone feels a certain way about it.

And by the way, if we happen to be one of the haters, we need to stop hating on others and start developing ourselves. The scriptures suggest that this kind of resentment and jealousy is a dead end street. “It comes to nothing.” (Also from Psalm 112:10)

Ultimately, until we make up our minds to do what we are supposed to do and what we need to do regardless of how anyone else feels about it, we will never become who and what we are meant to be.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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“So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?"- Hebrews 13:6

Verse six is the conclusion of a six verse sequence where we, collectively and individually develop fierceness and fearlessness the face of adversity.

First, we always look out for one another practicing kindness, compassion, generosity, and affection. We don’t have to be afraid because we have each other’s backs.

Second, we practice hospitality. There are no strangers. There’s only family we haven’t met. We don’t have to fear being in a new place or being alone. We will be welcomed.

Third, we remember the imprisoned. No matter the mistakes any of us have made, none of us is disposable. Every life can be redeemed. So we have the faith to begin again.

Fourth, we honor our commitments, particularly to the people who have chosen to spend our lives with. We treat those relationships as sacred. They become foundational to our lives.

Finally, while we all need money, material and financial resources, we must remember that these are means and not ends. We love people not money.

If we practice these five commitments, we will become fearless individuals living in fearless communities.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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How Are We Any Better Off?

“It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.” - Psalm 112:5

The psalmist says that those who are ethical and upright and live generously are well. How are we well? In what way are we better off than the mean and the stingy? How are we better off than the folks who are willing to do anything to get ahead?

The scriptures point out that the rain falls on just and the unjust. Good and bad things happen to everyone no matter how we live. We have money challenges, and or health challenges, and or relationship challenges no matter who we are. Life be life-in’ as the expression goes.

I’ve become convinced that what makes the generous and just person better off than the person who isn’t either of those things is the level of peace they experience as they live their lives.

A former colleague of mine back in the day left over $50,000 in the streets when he gave up his old life. But he told me how good it felt not to sleep with a gun under his pillow.

The gift of a peace that external circumstances may be able to shake, but cannot steal is the gift of the Spirit (John 14:27), and it comes to those who trust God enough to be generous, faithful, moral and upright.

We are better off because it’s well with our souls.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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60 Seconds Of Hope: How To Shine

“They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.” - Psalm 112:4

How can we shine brightly? How we can we be beacons of hope? How can we become the light houses that help ships navigate the stormy seas of life?

The psalmist identifies three aspects of character and habit that we must develop to do so. We must be gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Notice how being gracious and merciful comes before righteousness on the psalmist list. Without grace and mercy our righteousness becomes self righteousness- and that’s not a blessing to anyone.

Gracious people practice hospitality and welcome. They are generous in every aspect of their lives. They are quick to share credit and slow to redirect blame.

Merciful people, practice forgiveness. They do not seek revenge and retribution. They seek to facilitate the redemption of both individuals and institutions. Where appropriate they promote reconciliation.

Righteous people do the right things even when no one is watching, even when it costs them something. They do not take advantage of or exploit others. They can be trusted.

If we want to shine brightly, if we want to be beacons of hope, we must be and become gracious, merciful, and righteous in every area of our lives.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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60 Seconds of Hope: What Pleases God?

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” - Hebrews 13:16

While creeds. confessions of faith, and intellectual frameworks have their uses, they are not the main thing. Tradition and ritual can be of great value, but in themselves are empty. We don’t please God by believing the right things.

What pleases God are lives lived with compassion, generosity, and service. What pleases God is our living lives of applied love. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8) and is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10).

We can pray. We can fast. We can anoint our heads with oil. We can be baptized, take communion, and have our feet washed. We can even put on sack-cloth and ashes if we want. However, it’s just noise and symbols if we don’t truly love.

We express our love not exclusively, but in no small part, by doing good and being generous. This is what truly pleases God.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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