“Words of Love: Don’t Fixate on What  You Don’t Have” Exodus 20:17-21; 1 Kings 21:1-16; Luke 12:13-15 When I was in middle school, it seemed as though everyone had these really cute Pappagallo shoes and clothing but me. The shoes were flats in soft leather with bows in a variety of colors. The clothes were bright pinks and greens or blues and yellows. Pappagallo products were expensive and my family couldn’t afford them. But how I longed for them so I would fit in more. In my case, the commandment to not covet fell on deaf ears. Covetousness is believing that our lives would be so much better if we had something or someone that another person has. We may covet an affectionate marriage, a great golf handicap, a lovely home, a larger television, glittering jewelry, a close relationship with our grown children or designer clothes (and the sleek body to wear them). If we were to make a list of things that people covet, the paper would run out the door and into the street. Like a … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 8 Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Matthew 12:36-37 We are daily assaulted by false witnesses. Casual conversations and public statements contain prejudice, fractured truth, accusations of fake news and hatred flung at those we view as opponents. Disparaging generalizations are made about the poor, people of color, other religions and foreigners. Deeply divided along political lines, truth is filtered through the prejudices we have of the opponent. Majorities of both parties see the opposition as immoral and close-minded and about 35% of both parties see their opposite party as unintelligent, according to a Pew Research Center study. “You shall not bear false witness” is God’s word to us today. It is a commandment that all of us regularly and willfully break. What is “false witness”? Eugenia Anne Gamble examines the meaning of the Hebrew words for false witness used in Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20 and elsewhere … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 7 Exodus 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46 Which of the following would you consider to be stealing? Taking home office supplies from work; Gossip; Failure to provide a living wage; Giving 2.4% of your income to God through your church; Fraudulent business deals; Charging poor people much higher interest rates than those in higher income brackets. Incredibly, all of the above are stealing according to both Jewish and Christian interpretation of the commandment, “You shall not steal.” Withholding what is needed for the well-being of others is deemed stealing, as much as taking something that is not yours. Gossip is stealing a person’s good reputation. Not providing a living wage limits a person’s ability to provide for self and family. Giving a tiny fraction of our income to God robs us of the understanding that all things belong to God and cheats God out of the income necessary to further God’s purposes … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone:A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 6: EXODUS 20:14; GENESIS 2:18-25; JOHN 8:1-11 Many years ago, a large group of us gathered at a church to watch the black and white movie, “It Happened One Night,” on a large screen. It starred Clark Gable as a reporter looking for a story, and Claudette Colbert as a runaway heiress. The characters were well developed and there was not a risqué moment in the film. There was almost a kiss, but the couple’s moment was interrupted. In disappointment, the audience said, “Aw.” Today, we would be hard pressed to find a television show or movie as innocent as the film we viewed. Instead we are exposed to dating couples who move from a passionate kiss to intercourse almost immediately. Sex is portrayed as casual and adultery as common. In actuality, infidelity is common to about 20% of Americans. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reported: “National surveys indicate that 15 percent of … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 5: “Words of Love: Don’t Kill Each Other” Exodus 20:13 and Matthew 5:21-26 Just when we think that we have come to a commandment that we have not broken, in comes the centuries of interpretation of the sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.” Rabbis and Reformers alike have equated hateful speech to murder — and malicious speech is common. We are trigger-happy when it comes to disparaging others. Gossip and condemnation are part of our everyday conversations. Plus, our culture is full of trash talk. Television programs disguise insults as humor. Latino immigrants are labeled “criminals.” The poor are denigrated as “lazy.” The other political party is reviled as immoral and ignorant. Words wound us. The psalmist in Psalm 69:20 laments: “Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” Speech can damage. In college, I … [Read more...]

Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments Lesson 4: Exodus 20:13 and Matthew 5:21-26 The training for the board of the nonprofit took an unexpected but meaningful turn. The trainer asked us why we serve on the board. Our answers to the trainer’s question were generally about helping those who are homeless and preventing cycles of abuse. Then a big, burly man – let’s call him Tom – answered. He said that his parents told him that he would never amount to anything and, of course, he believed his parents. As a boy, Tom had been a scout. His scoutmaster – let’s call him Miquel – was kind and praised each boy for small and large accomplishments. The boys were quick to follow Miquel’s instructions. The scoutmaster offered to pick up boys for church and Tom often went with them. From the messages at church and the encouragements from Miquel, Tom began to believe in a different future. A future that included college and a responsible job. Today, Tom is the chief … [Read more...]