Summer Reruns

I’m taking a summer break today and the month of August. While away I’m sharing some Summer Reruns of past blogs. I hope you’re having a great summer! Here’s one from Summer 2013.   Enjoy!

http://oneeternalpresence.blogspot.com/2013/07/slip.html?m=0

Credo Novum

Today's offering is a reimagining of the ancient Christian creed known as the Apostle's Creed that I wrote several years ago but had forgotten until a couple of months ago. It was hiding in plain sight on the One Eternal Presence home page. 

Credo Novum (New Creed)

I trust
One Eternal Presence,
God of Scripture,
the I am and I will be,
Creative force of the universe, the Source of life.

I trust
Jesus Christ,
As a complete human expression of
One Eternal Presence

I trust
the life of Jesus
begun in sacred mystery;
born of common, innocent, human origin,
lived in open yet humble exhibition
of companionship of empowerment
in the One Eternal Presence
among us, around us, and within us.

I trust
the death of Jesus
persecuted by imperial powers;
publicly executed and buried,
experiencing ultimate despair and hopelessness;
yet exposing the false power of death.

I trust
the resurrection of Christ,
revealing life and death as one in the same,
transcending time and space
with the One Eternal Presence.

I trust
the Living Spirit
of One Eternal Presence
revealed in
the unity of the universe;
the sacred connection of humanity;
the reconciliation of falseness;
the regenerative energy of creation;
and life unending.

I received an email yesterday notifying me that Credo Novum has been accepted as a resource by
ProgressiveChristianity.org  Check it out - they added a beautiful graphic.

Fear and Wonder

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ~Psalm 139~

The biblical psalmist says that humans are "fearfully and wonderfully made." It's a phrase that seems to adequately capture the paradoxes of humanity we see in the world today, as well as human history.

• We live in a world of wealth and plenty while poverty and scarcity abound. 
• We see imagination, skill, tenacity, and bravery rescue a soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave, while lack of imagination, cruelty, prejudice, greed, and cowardice keep hundreds of children imprisoned because they and their parents seek freedom. 
• No telling how much money and resources went into fireworks displays around our country last week while much of Peurto Rico remains without power from a storm nearly a year ago. 
• We buy meals at drive through windows, some of which equal an hour's wage of the person serving the food. 
• We can send rovers to Mars, but can't seem to figure out adequate housing and health care for all people. 

The list goes on.

We have the capacity to marvel and terrify, create and destroy, love and hate. Most importantly we have the capacity to choose between fear and wonder.

Celebration and Lamentation

...From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.  ~Jesus~

I have started and discarded several drafts of today's blog because I find myself conflicted and perplexed on the mother of all national holidays.

On the one hand I celebrate the freedom we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America and offer to others in the world. And, on the other hand, I lament the increasing escalation of the loss of freedom in our country, and our isolation from others in the world.

I find myself less proud, and more privileged to be an American. Pride is easy and carries very little responsibility while privilege is difficult and heavy ladened with responsibility. 

Have a happy and grateful Independence Day.