WEDNESDAY'S WORD - RECEIVE - 06/24/2020 - Sadell Bradley

WEDNESDAY'S WORD

RECEIVE

Sadell Bradley

06/24/2020

"Most Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships and have opted for power and control instead. Many Christian empire-builders have been people unable to give and receive love." - Henri Nouwen

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." You've heard this oft-quoted saying of Jesus through Paul in Acts 20:35 in his farewell to the Ephesians, admonishing that they must help the weak. Giving is emphasized in the Church and it should be, but we often translate this verse, "You're blessed if you give, NOT when you receive. So make sure you're always on the giving end." Some damaged souls work hard to never need to RECEIVE - to be given, presented with, or paid something. They not only have a hard time receiving but struggle with the idea that there's any blessing there. Jesus said giving is more blessed, but receiving is blessed too. There will be times when we're on the receiving end: of advice, of gifts, of opportunities, of miracles, and of goodwill. We need to receive to develop humility and gratefulness and to bind our relationships with God and one another.

Blocking Compliments Like A Linebacker Some of us are so averse to receiving, that we can't even take compliments. The church is notorious for this. Scripture says, "Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, not your own lips." (Prov. 27:2) But...do we LET them praise us? What happens when someone commends or admires us, or applauds what we've done? THE most awkward responses: from blushes to deflections, to the church approved, "Glory to God!" (We should give God glory, but not fake it because we're too uncomfortable to receive kudos). Sadly, we've at times lost sincerity. Maybe we could start regaining the ability to give AND receive by encouraging each other. Here are some good phrases with which to start. Henri Nouwen is right, we cannot show this world a love that we're unable to give and receive. For those who've experienced trauma and pain in their lifetimes, believing they're worthy to receive love, then giving and receiving it is very difficult.

I RECEIVE YOUR LOVE

In 2013 Israel Houghton released, 'I Receive," a powerful song whose lyrics ring out, "Accepted, highly favored of the LORD. Forgiven, by Your love I am transformed. It's not what I do, but what You've done for me. And by Your grace, oh God, I stand with my head held high. I receive Your love! I receive Your love for me. I receive Your love, I know I am accepted!" In this time, where some of our relationships are in jeopardy and the powers of this world are dolling out hatred, rejection, and vitriol; it is not only comforting but crucial for us to be able to receive God's approval and validation. At times He does that directly, at other times it's through US. So if you see something beautiful in someone, speak it.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - EMANCIPATION - Sadell Bradley 06/17/2020

 

"Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men's skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact." - President Lyndon B. Johnson

To EMANCIPATE means to set free, especially from legal, social, or political restrictions; to free from slavery. Emancipation is also used to describe a child being set free from the authority of their parents or the foster care system. The word derives from the Latin, emancipat - which means 'transferred as property.' The day Africans were emancipated from chattel slavery - the most brutal form of sustained bondage was June 19, 1865, and is commemorated yearly by the holiday Juneteenth. Learn more by clicking this link: What is Juneteenth?

From Owned to Owning Those words 'transferred property' evoke a lot of feelings. Africans were brought to the colonies to be owned as property. Millions of human beings were owned by other human beings for hundreds of years. They were brutally treated and forced to produce billions of hours worth of FREE labor in almost every sector of society. Not only were historic buildings such as the White House built; the foundation of America's wealth was generated on the backs of slaves. Then racist systems, laws, and practices like Jim Crow, redlining, gerrymandering, Plessy vs. Ferguson, mass incarceration, police brutality, racial violence, etc. continued to hold masses of African-Americans back economically and socially. It is a blight, a stain, and one of this Country's greatest sins. Its effects still reverberate. Through many subsequent generations, despite these obstacles and systems, Blacks have striven to move from being owned, through owing and debt, into ownership. The economic impact and loss to our communities have put us hundreds of years behind as described in the article below: It will take 228 years for black families to attain the wealth of white families.

JESUS IS A LIBERATOR

Why is it important for Christ-followers to care about the lives of the poor, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed? Because that is the ministry of JESUS! In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus told us, 'whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ and in turn, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ Isaiah 61:1-3 and Luke 4:18-19 tell us that Jesus was anointed to preach good news to the poor, to mend the brokenhearted, to recover the the sight of the blind, to set the captives free, and to proclaim God's free flowing favor to all. Sure, we want God to bless America, but John 3:16 says GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CATASTROPHIZING- Sadell Bradley 06/10/2020

"Worries typically follow such lines, a narrative to oneself that jumps from concern to concern and more often than not includes catastrophizing, imagining some terrible tragedy. Worries are almost always expressed in the mind's ear, not its eye - that is, in words, not images - a fact that has significance for controlling worry." - Daniel Goleman - Author, Emotional Intelligence   To CATASTROPHIZE means to imagine the worst possible outcome of an event; to think about a situation or event as having a catastrophic outcome. Catastrophes are momentous tragic events ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin; utter failures; or fiascos. I wish I could say I was unfamiliar with catastrophizing. Sadly, it's something with which I've struggled. I was raised in a home with combating outlooks on life. My mom was hopeful, witty, and adventurous. Her sister much more fearful, anxious, and expert in catastrophizing. I'm a mix between the two and have to war against my propensity to do the latter. Some folks are really battling anxiety right now. The bible term is foreboding- a fearful apprehension that something bad will happen. Jesus told His disciples that this would be a characteristic of the times leading up to His return: "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Luke 21:25-26, ESV) By the way...there's no better time than the present to identify yourself with Jesus, to accept His forgiveness for your wrongs, and identify with Him as LORD of the universe and your LORD and Savior. (John 3:16-17)  How do we balance the facts with our fears? How do we resume regular activity with an unseen virus in our midst? We know it is contracted disproportionately by African-Americans. We don't know where or when it will strike, but the CDC says that the fatality rate is between .2-.5% of the population. How do I as an African-American leader encourage my friends and parishioners of color to LIVE their lives? Though they are more than twice as likely as whites to be shot and killed by police, according to a Forbes Magazine article quoting statistics from the Washington Post: the total number of US citizens shot and killed by police since January 1, 2015 is 4,728 people. 2,385 were Caucasian. 1,252 were African-American (though we make up only 13.4% of the US population). 877 were Latino and 214 were from other groups.  African-Americans can be killed at a traffic stop, in the park, on a jog, or at home - with or without cause. This horrific reality is unacceptable given ALL of the racialized systems in the US too numerous to name that disproportionately jeopardize Black people. Police brutality is really just the tip of a huge iceberg: hence the protests. Still, none of them, in my opinion, is as insidious, pervasive, or destructive as the spirit of fear that has been bread by domestic terrorism. It is modern-day lynching meant to dissuade us. It is slavery via mass incarceration and mental bondage by the continual propagation of these images. On one hand, I'm grateful that our voices are finally being heard. Just like the hoses and dogs on national TV during the Civil Rights Movement, the masses now see what we've known all along. On the other hand...I'm concerned about our collective psyche.        It's easy for any of us to get swept up in a tidal wave of anxiety. Anyone who's suffered abandonment, divorce, bankruptcy, abuse, racism, other isms, or PTSD may worry that it will happen again or to their kids. That millions of Black folks are simultaneously experiencing societal/personal trauma is devastating. My caution to myself and to those who read this blog is not to allow what's happened in the past, or to others around you to construct prison bars in your mind. Phil. 4:4-9 tells us that to ward off anxiety, the first characteristic for the things we should think about, (the story we tell ourselves)...is that it is TRUE...then honest, lovely, just, virtuous, praiseworthy and of good report.  Just how true is what you're thinking?

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - LAMENT - Sadell Bradley - 6/3/2020

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"If it were possible to cure evils by lamentation and to raise the dead with tears, then gold would be a less valuable thing than weeping." -Sophocles

 

LAMENT is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow; of regret or disappointment; a complaint. The Book of Lamentations in the Old Testament, was written by Jeremiah, who is described as the weeping prophet. Throughout his writings, he grieved over the wickedness of the people, their rebellion, and the judgment they had brought upon themselves. Lamentations can be songs, poems, or a piece of music used to express these same deep feelings. I've had several friends reach out to see how I'm doing after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arberry, and the subsequent unrest and response with even more deaths and injury. The words have sometimes escaped me.  

 

My greatest disappointment is with the Church, which should be a light for the Kingdom of God, its statutes and values, in this darkness. The Apostle John said, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." (John 3:19)  Jesus warned us to 'take heed, or "make certain that the light that is in you is not darkness." (Luke 11:35) Paul warned that "false apostles, and deceitful workers would masquerade as apostles of Christ, And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions." (2 Cor. 11:13-15) My posture has been to pray, ask God for forgiveness and repentance, to try to love everyone-even my enemies, and to speak Kingdom Truth into chaos.  

 

Still, this whole scenario is sad. I am grieved by: the continued history of injustice, murder, and racism that has plagued this generation and so many before it; the economic and militaristic oligarchy (rule by a small group) that is rising; the misuse of Christianity for political and personal gain; and the segregation, conflict and division in what is supposed to be One Body in Christ. Growing up, we used to sing a stirring song based on the lamentation below:   

 

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore I will hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:22-26) 

 

Weeping is an often neglected expression of emotion that connects us with God and one another. At times such as this, it's really necessary, but sometimes our feelings..particularly anger and hurt, are so buried that we can't summon up tears. I cannot describe how it feels to be hated, thought less of, dehumanized, and in danger just because you exist and your skin is of a darker hue. The question, "Why do they hate us so much?"  arises more often than I'd like to admit. (I know there are those who don't.) It is particularly painful as history points to the kinds of things that have been done to us since we were brought here. Evil, wickedness, and sin are alive and well. The lusts of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life continue to be all that's in this world. It's a wonder that the LORD still has mercy on us. We are definitely not getting what we deserve. Yet every day we get new mercies. Every day we get another chance to do things better. So my soul hopes and waits for Him.