Sunday, September 20, 2015



Unconditional
To or From

     For many of us “Christians” how we come to understand God may not be as important as where we actually start from.  As a parent relates to their child, and for healthy families, the parents love their child unconditionally from birth. They correct and guide the child from that place in their hearts!  Their love is given freely at the moment of creation and the child is loved by the parents from that point on.  Now look at it from the other side.  Many of us, from the point of view as a child, are still trying to make our parents “proud” or to get them to accept us or to love us.  We are trying to get “to” them!  The entire perspective changes when we realize that we really come “from” them and there is no cause to move toward them.

     If a parent asks us to do something we can either see this as something we need to do to keep our relationship whole in order to keep their love and acceptance of us, or we can see our relationship as already whole knowing that our parent is asking us out of their love for us.  So we come to relate to God a lot like this.  Many think we are striving to get “to” God.  That is to say we are ever striving to be good disciples and follow the way of Jesus so as to gain worth in God’s eyes and in doing so also gain self-worth.  That is the exact opposite of the way we should view our relationship with God.  God first speaks in scriptures to his child Jesus: “You are beloved; with you I am well pleased”.   Notice God says this at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, before Jesus takes any actions in scripture!  Why?  Because God is saying we are worthy of God’s love right from the start!  We are worthy without doing anything, this is what we come to call grace.  You can easily see this same dynamic played out in a parent’s love for a child as soon as it enters the world. 

     From this perspective things change dramatically.  We now act, not as one craving acceptance, but as one already loved.  When we act “from” this love everything changes.  We have nothing to prove!  Acting from this perspective, living our life becomes one of trust and joy.  Things will of course happen and we all will stray from the path in one way or another.  We’ll certainly stumble and fall along the way.  But instead of God being in front of us, judging our actions and worth, God actually stands behind us; awaiting our return into His arms for the love and support we need to get up and go forward once again.  Isn’t this what a good parent does!  Why would we expect anything less from a loving creator who wants to be called Abba (translated in Hebrew as a term of endearment - Daddy)?
We keep searching for God, searching for love, searching for approval…when these things have already been granted to us!  We have only to know that God has always been right there with us all along.  Repent, in Greek - metanoia, means to change ones’ mind or to turn around.  When we can’t see God one literally just needs to turn around!  Change your perspective, change your heart.  The only thing that can ever separate us from God’s love is our own limited perspective.

     So may you all come to believe that you are wholly loved and that you were loved before you were even born – before you took a single action. You are loved as a human “being” (created in the makers own image – a child of God) not as a human “doing”.  Come to know that you will be loved forever by the Parent who created you.  As the Apostle Paul confirms to the early churches struggling themselves for God’s favor and approval, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

     What else needs to be said!?  What else needs to be done!?

Your faithful servant,

carmen





Monday, September 14, 2015




Promise
Covenant and Relationship


     The entirety of the Bible describes how one can be a righteous person, i.e. in right relationship with God and one another.  Throughout the Old Testament we can see that Israel, as a people, are constantly struggling and evolving with this notion of being in relationship with their Creator.  The Old Testament writers weave an intricate story describing this in terms of Covenant.  God reaches out to us, his children, and we respond.  Our response to God takes on many different forms as we see throughout the landscape of the Old Testament and the many colorful people that “respond” to God.  All of the people are described in three dimensions, we see their doubts, fears, anger, frustrations, suffering, disobedience; we see them being human.  Over and over we see God’s love for them continually played out against the background of human emotions.  The relationship is never static and God continually reaches out to us and waits for our response.  As God transitions from the Old Testament to the New Testament we see the emphasis change from rules and laws, meant to define relationships and community behavior, to what the spirit of being in relationship should feel like and be for us.  We transform from a rule based relationship to a relationship with love at its foundation.  Jesus tells us that when we love all the laws and rules hang together at that deep level in response to one another.

     What we see is not a “how-to” book so much as a “what-to” book.  The bible becomes a living document describing God’s love for us in action and our response to that love.  As the relationship matures and deepens so does the depth of the relationship.  The Bible becomes a love story.  It starts out as a parent would love their child.  The parent sets boundaries and establishes the rules one follows to live in right relationship with the parent and with the community that they will grow up in.  As the child matures and begins to think independently, they think they know better and rebel against the very authority that provided their framework and boundaries.  They become enmeshed and influenced by things in the world and they attempt to test the boundaries that have been set for them for right or wrong.  They now begin to experience life independently and sometimes that leads to the very human experiences of doubt and fear as they struggle with who they are; their purpose and place in the world.  Ideally when they falter, their parents are there to love, comfort, protect and teach them.  Israel clearly goes on this journey through the Old Testament and can be seen in a child’s maturing relationship as they grow within the family.  From the child’s point of view as they mature they begin to understand the rules for what they were, a parent’s expression of love to keep them safe and to form them into the person they will one day grow up to be.  As the child reaches adulthood the spirit of the rules becomes clear and they hopefully transcend the rules.  Their foundational ethics and response to love takes them forward to begin the process all over again within their own families.  The Old Testament plays out this human transformation with all its myriad variations.

     This process of being in relationship is what describes being in covenant with one another.  It is not a static place where boundaries are once established and maintained.  Instead the rules of behavior establish the guidelines and ethical structure that we begin with.  From there the relationship can take on many forms.  If love and serving the other is at the core of the relationship then the relationship will grow into a healthy one - based on mutual respect and love.  The covenant therefore becomes an ever-changing dance that constantly re-establishes and builds the relationships we have formed; and this is at the heart of it all - love and connection with one another and with our Creator.

Your faithful servant,

carmen

Sunday, September 6, 2015



Dancing With God

In my life, and especially in the roles of father, manager, and deacon, many people often ask my advice.  I am humbled by the fact that they think I have some wisdom that they themselves don’t have access to.  I know we can all learn something from one another.  As I often tell my children “to learn from your mistakes is intelligent, but to learn from another’s mistakes is wisdom.”

Many people look to the internet for answers or even to the bible.  People will always find what they are looking for somewhere or another.

The issue however is not always one of higher thinking.  Sometimes the answers are subtle and are found in the realm of feelings.  Does it feel right or is something feeling forced, or just not quite right.  Often we dismiss this non-cerebral wisdom for the intelligence in our rationally thinking heads.

As Christians we must learn to trust our hearts as well - for that is the realm of God.  The ways of Jesus doesn’t always make sense, but they always feel right!  This is often where the ways of the world clashes with the ways of Jesus.  When looking for wisdom – pray…but then listen, not only with your mind and your five senses but listen also with your heart.  Jesus doesn’t always present himself to our minds.  Sometimes we just feel him, like a silent partner in a universal dance – and it feels just right!

I came upon the following passage which illustrates the concept of God’s wisdom in our lives.

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word.  I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.   When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.  The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.   When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.  It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. 

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw 'G': I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'.  'God, 'u' and 'i' dance.'  God, you, and I dance!

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. 

Sometimes when we are looking for all the answers sometimes it’s just best to let God lead.  That’s what many of us consider Grace. So dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through the challenges of this life.  Then you truly will be “dancing with the stars” (of the universe) in the form of their creator!


Your Faithful Servant,

Carmen



Discover a deeper spiritual connection with The Heart Of Discipleship. The Book is now available via http://heartofdiscipleship.com/ website or on Amazon at  http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Discipleship-Carm…/…/ref=sr_1_1…

Thursday, September 3, 2015



LOCAL CLERGYMAN PUBLISHES BOOK
The Heart of Discipleship

The Reverend Carmen Viola, a deacon at Grace Episcopal Church in Haddonfield, New Jersey, recently authored The Heart of Discipleship, in which Bible stories are colorfully illustrated and illuminated by commentary. Rev. Viola, who resides in Williamstown, N.J., collaborated with Travis Hanson, an Eisner-nominated fantasy illustrator, over the course of a year to create texts and accompanying colorful pen-and-ink artworks designed to spark thoughtful discussions about the stories of the Bible. A book signing event will be hosted by Grace Episcopal Church in Haddonfield on Sunday, September 13 at 2:00pm.

The Heart of Discipleship is designed to be used for personal reflection, group study, or family discussions, and it invites readers to see Bible stories in an ongoing narrative and conversation, rather than as ancient history. The illustrations contain many layers of meaning achieved through the use of light, color, and symbolism, continuing the medieval tradition of stained glass iconography, which used vivid images to bring Bible stories to life. Discussion questions are presented for both adults and children, giving the book intergenerational appeal.

Since it became available in early August, the book has already received high praises for its beautiful artwork, accessible commentary, and ecumenical slant. “No matter your denomination, I honestly believe that any Christian looking for answers will enjoy this!” said one reviewer on the book’s website. Another praised the artwork’s unique approach: “I would have imagined… angelic pictures of serene meadows with Christ walking with a lamb in his arms. Typical. But this was more real and I personally think that children are smart creatures and can see right through propaganda type artwork. This artwork is beautiful but gets the message across.”

The signing event at Grace Episcopal Church will be open to the public, and the book is available for purchase at 
heartofdiscipleship.com and through Amazon.

The Rev. Carmen J. Viola is a deacon in the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of New Jersey. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and youngest child where he loves serving God and showing others how to have a deeper relationship with God and one another. Travis Hanson is an Eisner nominated fantasy illustrator with a huge imagination. His works include comics, children's art, fantasy and just fun illustrations that encourage the need for people to be creative.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015



LOCAL CLERGYMAN PUBLISHES BOOK
The Heart of Discipleship

The Reverend Carmen Viola, a deacon at Grace Episcopal Church in Haddonfield, New Jersey, recently authored The Heart of Discipleship, in which Bible stories are colorfully illustrated and illuminated by commentary. Rev. Viola, who resides in Williamstown, N.J., collaborated with Travis Hanson, an Eisner-nominated fantasy illustrator, over the course of a year to create texts and accompanying pen-and-ink artworks designed to spark thoughtful discussions about the stories of the Bible. 

The Heart of Discipleship is designed to be used for personal reflection, group study, or family discussions, and it invites readers to see Bible stories in an ongoing narrative and conversation, rather than as ancient history. The illustrations contain many layers of meaning achieved through the use of light, color, and symbolism, continuing the medieval tradition of stained glass iconography, which used vivid images to bring Bible stories to life. Discussion questions are presented for both adults and children, giving the book intergenerational appeal.

Since it became available in early August, the book has already received high praises for its beautiful artwork, accessible commentary, and ecumenical slant. “No matter your denomination, I honestly believe that any Christian looking for answers will enjoy this!” said one reviewer on the book’s website. Another praised the artwork’s unique approach: “I would have imagined… angelic pictures of serene meadows with Christ walking with a lamb in his arms. Typical. But this was more real and I personally think that children are smart creatures and can see right through propaganda type artwork. This artwork is beautiful but gets the message across.”

The book is available for purchase at 
heartofdiscipleship.com and through Amazon.

The Rev. Carmen J. Viola is a deacon in the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of New Jersey. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and youngest child where he loves serving God and showing others how to have a deeper relationship with God and one another. Travis Hanson is an Eisner nominated fantasy illustrator with a huge imagination. His works include comics, children's art, fantasy and just fun illustrations that encourage the need for people to be creative.