WEDNESDAY'S WORD - MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE - 01/25/17 Sadell Bradley

"I always tell people this: to be a savvy politician or a good head of state and to be charitable are not mutually exclusive things."  - Natalie Dormer, Author

 

"Doing business and doing good are not mutually exclusive, and it is our responsibility to prove that every day anew." - 

 Ofra Strauss -  Owner of 2nd Largest Food Producer in Israel

 

It's amazing how polarized our thinking is. It's as if we no longer believe that two things can be true at the same time. Perhaps because I'm an outlier, it's not as difficult. I can love the character, poise and lack of scandal that former President Obama and his family have shown in their time in the White House and disagree strongly with some of his policies. I can be concerned about the damaging fall out of some of President Trump's immoral statements and actions, yet still recognize the authority of the office and pray for him. I can see government propaganda and press spin and know that true  information and power is not as much in the people's hands as we'd like it to be. These concepts are not MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE: which means being related such that each excludes or precludes the other; incompatible; not both true. I can support police officers yet be against police brutality and mass incarceration. I can support the quality of 'All Lives' yet understand that particular emphasis might need to be on 'Black Lives' because of high abortion, murder and mortality rates and systems that steal away quality of life in a myriad of ways for those at the bottom of the US economy. I can desire equal pay and opportunity for women who have been disenfranchised without agreeing with the entire 'feminist' platform. I could go on and on. This reality poses dilemmas and sometimes internal wars. We were taught critical thinking skills in school, but the palpable  emotions of this atmosphere make them difficult to use and acknowledge.

We can look at the Bible and shop for the Scriptures that suit our particular platforms and try to rank sin or God's heart if we'd like. I'm not sure how He feels about that though. The God that cares about the unborn also cares about the living: the poor, the prisoner, the brokenhearted, the widow, the stranger and the orphan. (Matt. 25, Lev. 19:34, Luke 4:18-19; James 1:27) The God that tells us to pray for and respect governments, kings, and those in authority (Rom. 13; 1 Tim. 2:1-2) also made Nebuchadnezzar bow (Dan. 4), and tells us not to be conformed to this world's systems (Romans 12:2), not to be greed filled lovers of money (1 Tim 6:10), and that ultimately the kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever. (Rev. 11:15)  It's important for us to understand the Bible from whole to part - not part to whole. Jesus was a lover, a savior and a teacher, but He was also a defiant insurrectionist to the religious and political systems of His day. So as we engage others before we become arbiters of our perceived 'truths,' maybe we should ask "How true is this?" and "Is it mutually exclusive?"

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - OUTLIER - Sadell Bradley 01/18/17 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Who we are cannot be separated from where we're from."                          Malcolm Gladwell - Outliers   "I realize that Camilla is our very own statistical anomaly, an outlier that no one seems to know where to place." -   Melissa Keil, Author Life in Outer Space  An OUTLIER is a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system; a person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set.  In statistics, an outlier is a data point on a graph or in a set of results that is very much bigger or smaller than the next nearest data point. I'm an outlier. My orphaned status differentiates me. Living in Black and Caucasian environments (some hostile, others embracing,) made me aware of my 'otherness.' I was bused from one side of City to another for private education. I fit in neither circle. I'm an African-American female minister in a male-dominated field. My presence is often not acknowledged. I've been the youngest and the oldest leader on a team. The ways I land in situations are really out of the norm, as are my perspectives on life, socio-economics, the Kingdom and politics. I love sports and I'm a creative. Outliers are usually not captive to monolithic or 'group-think.' It makes it easier for me to empathize with a variety of folks and navigate difficult subjects. I have an outlier personality: INTJ on Meyers Briggs, representative of only 2% of the population - the vast majority of whom are male. My thinking is dual-brained, almost 50/50 left to right. My religious experiences range from silent Quaker to Pentecostal. It's interesting how Outliers can fit in everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Christ followers are to be outliers in the culture. (Rom. 12:2) We're to love our enemies and pray for users, false accusers and persecutors. (Matt. 5:43-45) Where the world is dividing, we've been given a reconciliation ministry. God's not counting people's sins against them, but wants them to return to Him. (2 Cor. 5:11-21)  We're to be so selfless and loving that we'll sell our homes and share our possessions with fellow Christ-followers so no one has need. (Acts 2:42-45, 4:32)  We're to reject racism, classism and sexism and demonstrate our unity and oneness in Christ (Gal. 3:28) Our lives are not about fulfilling ourselves, but denying ourselves, taking up our crosses daily and following Jesus! (Matt. 16:24) We believe in the foundation stones, including the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment in Heaven or Hell. (Heb. 6:1-2) We lay down our lives and offerings of time, treasure and talent for Christ. Perhaps we've forgotten, but we are unconventionally called Heavenly outliers. 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are,29 so that no one may boast before him. God calls outliers. Most every Biblical figure, including all of the disciples were outliers. Jesus was and is an outlier. He stands alone, Supreme and outside of all others. There is none that can be compared to Him. His ways and thoughts are not only outside of the norm, they're higher. (Isaiah 55:8) In this season, we must be prepared to demonstrate that we're really different...and we're not ashamed.

SUNDAY Worship 11:00 AM Worship The Great Room Sunday Class 9:30 AM Youth Room Basement at Wyoming Presbyterian 225 Wyoming Ave., 45215 For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - TRANSITION - 01/11/17 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else." - Playwright, Tom Stoppard "I've always believed that there are moments in our lives which can be defined as a transition between the before and after, between the cause and the effect." Author, Benjamin X. Wretlind.  Last night millions watched the farewell address of President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama. Some mourned, others celebrated. No matter your political persuasion, one thing about the US is very impressive in contrast to the world: President Obama stressed the importance of maintaining America's outstanding tradition of the peaceful transfer of the presidency. I hope that we all, particularly Christ followers, will do what we can to uphold that civility in the coming weeks. If we protest, do it peacefully. If we disagree, challenge in a courteous way. Unfortunately, due to our mishandling of this earthbound political sphere, much damage has been done to our Kingdom focus and the love that is supposed to be our identifying mark as Christians. (John 13:34-35) I hope that will change. TRANSITION is the process of a period of changing from one state or condition to another. It derives from the French transire or to 'go across.' Across is an adverb whose origin means "in the form of a cross."  Interesting...transitions sometimes feel like crucifixions. We are always leaving behind or dying to one  thing, identity, or position, while moving on to the next. . Birth is a transition. The baby leaves the internal, secure state of their mother's womb to transition to life in the world. The Bible calls this process travail (John 16:21), because the transition is a painful, laborious process but once it occurs; it brings a joy that makes you forget the agony. Death is also a transition from living in this earth realm to the eternal destiny we've chosen. In between, we get a lot of practice with transitions. Each stage of life: the various physical, mental, emotional, educational, relational and occupational stages are all transitions.  Even our spiritual development goes from being born again to converted and moving on to maturity. (John 3, Matt 18:3, Heb.6:1) Transitions are everywhere. At the same time we're going through them...so is everyone and everything else! and we're all bouncing off of each other from puberty to the 'change' of life. Think about it. Our houses settle, cars wax old, government officials change, new movies, TV shows and music are offered. Sports teams that once had all the championships transition to rebuilding years returning to the bottom of the totem pole.  If you are averse to transitions, life is going to be really difficult for you. We act as if we don't want ANYTHING to EVER change. Deep down we know that transitions bring challenge and growth.  When outwardly imposed transitions are not to our liking; we learn to resolve to stand for the things we believe in and make a change. When we become stagnant, frustration and restlessness about our lack of progress sets in. We realize we CAN DO SOMETHING, though difficult and uncomfortable, to get to where we desire to be. No matter what transition we face, we can be assured that GOD is working all things together for the GOOD for us because we love Him and keep His commands.  No transition can separate us from His love. (Romans 8)

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PERFECTIONISM - Sadell Bradley 01/04/17- New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Many people think of perfectionism as striving to be your best, but it is not about self-improvement; it's about earning approval and acceptance." - Brene Brown   Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor. - Anne Lamott PERFECTIONISM is the refusal to accept any standard short of perfection. Normally, a child would just scribble on the wall, but this young lady is measuring out her drawing to make it perfect, and taking all the fun out in the process. She simultaneously creates and criticizes her work, saying, "The sun is NOT yellow! Too big a tree! and Not even CLOSE to a stick person!" Perfectionists torment themselves doing tasks for the pleasure or approval of important others: parents, leaders, bosses, spouses, neighbors, family, friends or a larger audience. To be perfect means to have all the required or desirable elements qualities or characteristics; to be as good as it is possible to be; to be free from any flaw or defect; to be precisely accurate. To be perfect is to be approved of. Mistakes bring rejection. Anxiety can build so much internally, that it's hard to sign-up for projects. It's not so much in anticipation of others response, perfectionists often perform at high levels. It's avoiding the internal emotional war, and the irrational fear of failure. It at times presents with physical symptoms like a tight chest, headaches, or gastro- intestinal issues. You'd rather do nothing versus something at which you're not guaranteed to excel. I've been delivered from this oppression. Now I can feel it and arrest paralyzing perfectionist tendencies. GLORY! The doctrine of some religious and social circles is that perfection is attainable - even moral/spiritual perfection. This flies in the face of the GRACE Christ offers. God's grace is not just unmerited favor, but the Divine enablement to do what He has called us to do by HIS power. Prophet Mark Chironna said, "Grace says I can't; therefore God must!" In 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 Paul describes the 'thorn in the flesh' that the Lord allowed Satan to buffet him with so he would not become prideful. After asking 3 times that this issue be removed, God told him, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness" to which Paul replied, "So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." Remember, God resists/opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) He looks for weakness! The other matter God deals with for perfectionists is the issue of APPROVAL.  We are completely and eternally loved by God. (Jeremiah 31:3) We don't have to win God's approval! WE are approved, which is not the same as saying that everything we do is ok.. .no more than it is with your son or daughter.  WE are approved by our loving Father. Our identification with Jesus Christ and His finished work bring us into adoption and ACCEPTANCE in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6) If God is for us, who can be against us! Nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8)  Quiet as it's kept, we are often unknowingly approved of even by the people we so desire to hear it from - whether they say it or not. One small or large mistake isn't going change that. Most people don't even notice the things perfectionists deem so traumatic. So if perfectionism is holding you back, shed it in 2017. Perfect can be the enemy of good! It certainly is the enemy of peace, fun and progress. Don't let perfectionism win!

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131