Tuesday - January 16, 2023

Kris Baker

SCRIPTURE

Acts 5:1-11

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

WORDS OF HOPE

This story about Ananias and Sapphira is a troubling one. What did they do that was so wrong as to cause their deaths? We’ll come back to that question.

Today is National Religious Freedom Day, a day whose observance was due to the work of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison on the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which ultimately became the framework for the part of first amendment of the U.S. constitution, that says that Congress will make no law respecting an establishment of religion. This is supposed to keep there from being both political control of religion and religious control of government. Whether or not we are currently protected by the first amendment rests in how we understand the meaning of religion.

At the time the U.S. forefathers were writing the Constitution, religion was understood at its root to be a way of living that acknowledged a supreme being that was to be worshipped. This worship should happen in certain ways and people would be either rewarded or punished both on earth and in heaven based on how they lived their mortal lives. Much has been written about the nature of religion both before the time of Jefferson and Madison and after. It’s definition has morphed and thus so has the role of religion in culture and society.

Paul Tillich (1886-1965) was a Lutheran theologian and Christian existentialist. He wrote that religion is “the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of the meaning of life.” He also says, the basis for one’s religion is “whatever dominant concern serves to organize a person’s values, whether or not that concern involves belief in any unusual realities.” Thus, “religions” are constructs made by groups to fit their specific needs for living and understanding. And the freedom to do so is given in the first amendment of the Constitution.

Tillich’s definition can be construed to give movements such as Marxism, white-supremacy, and celebrity fandom the designation of religion. With any kind of freedom, perhaps especially religious freedom, should also come responsibility. At the basis of Tillich’s thought is not the rights and freedoms of the individual, but the place and responsibilities of the individual in the community. One’s “religious beliefs” should support the good of community. This is where much of today’s “religious thought” falls short. Much is done in the name of religion that benefits the individual or a very small group of people. Is practicing such a way of life guaranteed to us as religious freedom?

The notion of focusing on the individual may be where Ananias and Sapphira went astray. They sold property and lied about the profits saying that they had given the entire amount of their proceeds to the apostles. They were thinking first of themselves and in doing so lied also about their commitment to the community. Death seems like a harsh punishment for what they did and I suspect the fear that was felt by the people observing these deaths was terrifying as how many of them, and us, put our own needs and desires before the needs of our community?

As we go about our days, we must live faithfully through our “religious values” knowing that what we believe is what shapes and guides us, but that these same values and beliefs may not be the same ones that guide our neighbors. We do have the right to believe as we feel called. We also have the responsibility to do so in a way that does not harm others with whom we share the path.

PRAYER

O God, I give thanks for the freedom to love, follow, and proclaim your goodness. Guide my ways such that I will do these things responsibly —showing love, mercy, and compassion to those whose way is different from mine. Help me to create hope, unity, light, and joy in the communities in which I live. Amen

DEVOTION AUTHOR

Kris Baker

Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

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Friday - August 28, 2026

By Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley • August 28, 2026

Scripture A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. Proverbs 14:5 A Word of Hope “Be Real and Have Thick Skin” If you have read or listened to various devotions or books I’ve written over the years, you likely have heard me quote M. Scott Peck, a psychiatrist and popular author of books including, The Road Less Travelled. Dr. Peck often defined mental health as: “Commitment to reality at all cost.” Another best-selling author, Dr. Brene Brown, research professor of social work at the University of Houston and UT Austin, emphasizes authenticity and vulnerability as essential to effective human relationships and genuine connection. The message of the famous children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit, which is perhaps even more beloved by adult readers who often shed tears by the last page, conveys the theme that we are made real by love. Today, being real is still precious but often scarce in practice. With all the political subterfuge, genuine news labelled fake in order to mislead, and fake news lifted up as truth to bolster personal agendas, truth and reality can be elusive. It happens in personal relationships, in business, and in organizations where people-pleasing and telling others what they want to hear is the norm. Not very real or healthy. For the sake of your mental health, for the sake of authentic living, be committed to reality. Be real and have good boundaries—a “thick skin” that isn’t easily perturbed by naysayers and detractors. As the Velveteen Rabbit so aptly explained it: “[Being Real] takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” (The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams, 1975, Avon Books) Prayer Dear Jesus who loves us, help us we pray, to be truth-telling followers, real and genuine every day. Amen. Devotion Author Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley, LPC Pastoral Psychotherapist DrGK.org

Thursday -August 27, 2026

By Dr. Pat Saxon • August 27, 2026

SCRIPTURE Proverbs 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. WORDS OF HOPE Did you have a diary when you were young? If so, what did you keep there? A record of the day’s happenings? Achievements and disappointments? Reflections on parents, friendships, “crushes”? Maybe you spoke of your first kiss—but if the person wasn’t the right gender, likely you recorded it only if you had a lock and key. Some periods of my life I’ve kept journals faithfully, at others, more sporadically. I still have a number of them, and last weekend I was nudged to read a very important one. It was a deep dive into grieving and spiritual growth work after my beloved partner died. It began in the beauty of Taos, NM—one of our sacred places—chronicling hikes with Maggie, my golden retriever, daily prayer and spiritual readings, sometimes copying passages which particularly spoke to me. Learning contemplative prayer was another focus, as well as recordings of dreams, the swings of a wide range of emotions and deep yearning for God. It traced a year’s sabbatical journey to special places of ours to remember and create simple grief rituals as I scattered her ashes. It included my first year of spiritual direction with the wise and compassionate Rev. Dr. Mona West who tutored me in forms of prayer, coached me in lectio divina, shared writings of the female mystics, helped me discern that seminary was not my calling, supporting instead my entering the Spiritual Formation program at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decater, Georgia which allowed for me to fly in and out for courses as my schedule permitted. It includes my wrestling with whether to stay closeted when I entered the program or to be open about my identity, and recounts early experiences on that journey into authenticity. It records as well the early “callings” to the ministry of compassion—to grief ministry and congregational care with Rev. Dr. Sharon Bezner and her encouragement to begin writing for the devotional ministry. Woven through it all is the stunning beauty of nature and its healing—of loon call and autumn gold, pinion fires and spring rain. Of course, these days the forms journaling can take are quite diverse—with digital formats and the ability to add photographs, video, personal artwork, and more. Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, I encourage you to try your hand at keeping a spiritual journal. Having said that, it is important to say that the sacred permeates ordinary life and moments of presence and quiet, so the content need not just be only those Damascus Road transformations. An entry might offer gratitude which bubbles up while sitting with your morning coffee listening to bird song. Or wrestling with a life choice, Jacob-like. It might be a Psalms-like cry of lament at a time of great pain. Or remembering a time when you were surprised by, felt rescued by, the magnitude of God’s Grace appearing unexpectedly. Even sowing the seeds of a few paragraphs a day can grow into a rich harvest. PRAYER Move in us, O God, to be able to write the truth of our stories—even if only in the privacy of our rooms. But when we can summon courage and desire, may we share the old, old story that others may know the power of Your Saving Grace to draw us back from the verge of despair, to sustain us in sorrow and sickness, and to lead us to our heart’s calling. In your holy and healing name, Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Dr. Pat Saxon

Wednesday - August 26, 2026

By David Sims • August 26, 2026

SCRIPTURE Matthew 26:6-13 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” WORDS OF HOPE The woman approached Jesus with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She broke it open and poured it on his head. Her act was extravagant, costly, and prophetic. In a culture that often silenced women, she offered total devotion at the exact moment. While others calculated the “waste,” she recognized Jesus’ approaching death and responded with surrender. Jesus called it beautiful and promised her story would be told wherever the gospel is preached. This account speaks powerfully because today is Women’s Equality Day commemorating the 1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. The 2026 United Nations International Women’s Day theme is Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. The theme demands more than symbols and demands structural changes by dismantling barriers and discriminatory systems. The unnamed woman embodied that spirit. She did not wait for permission. She acted boldly, offered her best, and absorbed the criticism. Jesus’ defense of her reveals the consistent pattern that God honors the costly contributions of women—from Deborah and Mary to the suffragists who risked everything for the vote. Too often, voices still cry “waste” when women pour out their gifts in leadership, advocacy, or ministry. Jesus’ words cut through the noise: “Leave her alone. What she has done is beautiful.” Female devotion is not peripheral to the gospel. It is central. We are invited to live this out. Women are called to steward their gifts courageously. Allies must emulate Christ by protecting, amplifying, and partnering with them. Practical devotion includes advocating for education and justice, resourcing women’s ministry, and mentoring the next generation. Extravagant worship of time, talent, and treasure poured out on Jesus prepares the way for Kingdom impact. PRAYER Receive this Blessing Lord Jesus, teach us to break open our own alabaster jars—not only in worship, but in justice and action. Give us courage to pour out costly devotion dismantling barriers, defending the overlooked, and advancing dignity for every woman and girl. Let the fragrance of our lives honor you and lift others into freedom and opportunity. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR David Sims Deacon

Tuesday - August 25, 2026

By Kris Baker • August 25, 2026

SCRIPTURE Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. WORDS OF HOPE Some days I feel like I need to see these words from Paul in great big letters on a neon sign at every turn. Trying to do good is hard. It is frustrating. It is tiring. It is often dismissed or even looked upon as doing wrong. Obviously, these feelings are not unique to our twenty-first century lives as Paul felt the need to offer them to the Galatians in around 50 A.D. As followers of Christ, our days should be filled with acts of doing good. Some days this comes easier than others. I find myself often trying to shut down the voice in my head that says, “You are only one person. You can’t make any real difference in the world.” Depending on my frame of mind, I take those words as either a “get out of jail free card” accepting them as truth and doing nothing; or, I rebel against them doing my best to prove them wrong. Neither of these responses is rooted in what Paul is teaching. Doing good is not an issued challenge that we can choose to accept or not, it is a responsibility…and a gift…given to each of us every day. Sometimes God has a round-a-bout way of teaching us such lessons. The other day I was reading an article in Architectural Digest, not a periodical I normally read, about how the use of GLP-1 in this country is noticeably changing home building in this country. People want larger closets because as they feel better about their physical selves, they find joy in buying clothes. The extra-large gourmet kitchens of the last several decades are being downsized to simply “functional” as food becomes less of a focal point in daily life. Though the details of this article were fascinating, I was most interested in the numbers. How many people did it take to create this big swing in new home design? Approximately one in eight adults are taking this medication, 12% of the adult population. In the big scheme of things, that is not a huge number; and yet, one person at a time that decided to do something good for themselves resulted in a noticeable change in the home building industry in general. This example makes me examine more closely the potential that each opportunity, choice, or decision, we have has in effecting change in the world around us. Though those that identify as religiously progressive are still outnumbered by both moderates and conservatives, 19% to 38% and 28% respectively. This gives me hope that each of us doing good in the world around us can and will come together with a voice that is strong enough and loud enough to change things for good. If 8% of a population can come together to initiate bigger closets, surely 19% of us have a chance at uniting to build bigger hearts and minds. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” PRAYER God of all goodness, protect me from the weariness that comes from striving to be good in the world. Please give me strength and courage to keep going. And, let me never forget that all the goodness I am able to bring to those around me, I am giving in your name. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Kris Baker Order of St. Francis and St. Clare

Monday - August 24, 2026

By Thomas Riggs • August 24, 2026

SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 So, from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. WORDS OF HOPE The Future Is Peace by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon tells the story of two men—one Palestinian and one Israeli—who experienced profound personal loss because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, yet chose reconciliation instead of revenge. Through their friendship, they offer a powerful message of active hope: peace is not something we simply wait for; it is something we choose and create together. When we have been wronged, whether personally or amid the larger conflicts of our world, our instinct can be anger, defensiveness, or even revenge. We experience this in family disagreements, tension between coworkers, broken friendships, or the pain of being excluded. The need for racial reconciliation can arise in similarly ordinary moments. Someone may feel unheard, stereotyped, excluded, or treated differently. Reconciliation begins when we acknowledge what has happened, listen to one another’s experiences, take responsibility where needed, and work toward healthier relationships. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us that God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Reconciliation, then, is not simply something Christians support in principle—it is something we are called to do. Reconciliation is active. It means listening when it would be easier to defend ourselves, crossing divides rather than accepting them, pursuing justice, and recognizing the image of God in those whose experiences may be different from our own. Lasting peace requires empathy, honest dialogue, justice, and the courage to recognize our shared humanity. This Saturday, August 29, Hope for All Colors—a CoH advocacy group that brings together Black people, People of Color, and allies—will host an afternoon of food, fellowship, and meaningful conversation celebrating the richness of our diverse church community. I invite you to join us—to listen, learn, share a meal, and build new relationships. Together, we can practice the ministry of reconciliation: recognizing our shared humanity, pursuing justice and equality, and becoming people who do not simply hope for peace, but actively work to create it. PRAYER God of reconciliation, teach us to listen with humility, pursue justice, cross the divides between us, and recognize your image in every person. Give us the courage not simply to hope for peace, but to work together to create it. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Thomas Riggs

Friday - August 21, 2026

By Donald (Luke) Day • August 21, 2026

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 30.18-19 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you and therefore will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious God will be when you cry for help! As soon as God hears, God will answer you. WORDS OF HOPE How do you define the ministry of Social Justice? Who is most in need of social justice in our society? Often, we think about matters of social justice as inequality of opportunity, education, and income among various groups or races of people. Hence, we set out to change the structure of society to better fit these needs. Although emphasis can be on change of policies toward better practices, as Christians we should seek first to become involved in God's concept of justice which has its foundation in the existence of harmony among all humans. We long to live in a harmonious country, one in which we are united for the mutual benefit of all our citizens. The word "harmony" is derived from the concept of things "fitting together, joining in good order". God's desire is that human society will participate in a "seamless process" of receiving, giving, sharing: caring so that everyone experiences the full blessings of God's magnificence. As we give a cup of cold water to those weakened by thirst, we should be grasping their other hand in our loving hands of help. We should be joining our resources and self in harmony with their needs to bring them peace and relief. Harmony is more than "just getting along with others". That's cheap harmony... cheap social justice. We Christians are called to practice divine-style harmony. Justice which results when we interact with all others and share ourselves in peace, love, humility and the full blessings of God. Who is in need of peace, harmony, and the full blessings of God in your life? PRAYER May the days of our lives be filled with God's richest blessings and may we know the joy of sharing God’s harmony of purpose with those most on need of love and social justice among us. Amen DEVOTION AUTHOR Donald (Luke) Day Order of St. Francis and St. Clare