Facebook Postings 8
by Matthew Cramer
These are the Institute's Facebook postings beginning January through April 2021. As in last quarter, there are fewer postings yet they are considerably longer. This change is a reflection of the evolving geographical mix of our Facebook friends, and their number. There are over 4000 now and our request list averages about 150 a day. This change has required us to add more content and detail in our postings because of the significant variations amongst them.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • May 1, 2021
Christians hold that relationships should proceed in love, God's love, agape love. Our model is Almighty God himself and the teachings of Jesus. He accepts us as we are, even in the midst of terrible sin. He doesn't zap us with a bolt of lightning in a fit of anger and rejection. Instead, He keeps us in existence moment by moment, is willing to forgive in an instant, while granting us great leeway in our struggles to live the new life we receive in baptism.
His love puts the needs of his beloved above his own and sends his son to die for us. Jesus reveals that agape goes much further. We are to turn the other cheek, love our enemies, freely forgive those who offend us, and go the extra mile in our attitudes. Such largess in acceptance, forgiveness and deference is at once awesome and eagerly accepted. But employing it in relationships with others is another story.
Hatred and division is now recognized as a major problem in our country. It has infected our families, culture and politics in abandon. It's supported by anger, derived from legitimate disagreement that has not been resolved in a loving manner. Individuals have taken positions quickly that they believe are supported by the cornucopia of conflicting evidence and ideas in the media and education. Never mind that the truth about many things is seldom available anywhere close to real time.
If I disfavor opinions and actions of another, I'm tempted to distance myself from that individual. Hate arrives to convince me that I must sever the relationship completely, isolate my thoughts to protect the purity of my position from being contaminated. Attempts to reconcile, find common ground or new perspectives are rejected because of intransigence. Then distance or dissociation becomes hardened and serious division has taken hold.
If someone offends me exceedingly, or does something I fundamentally disapprove, I may want to righteously claim that the offending individual is responsible for a division in our relationship. But if I have withdrawn and aggressively attack the individual, I am responsible for the division that occurs. Because as a Christian, I'm responsible for maintaining the relationship as best I can.
Agape love is tough love, tough on us — not the other guy. It is self-sacrificing, untiring and forgiving. It does not require us to be a doormat that anyone can walk on. But it does require us to keep working the problems, keep our minds open for discernment and wisdom, and stay in the mix. The first time agape love is addressed seriously, it sounds daunting. Yet we are guaranteed of the Lord's support in our efforts and we must press on. Our society is starving for they know not what.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • April 28, 2021
Here's another video that struck me. Life has not been easy lately, there are troubling signs for the future. More and more, Christian values — expressed in the Scriptures, the teachings of Jesus and the magisterium of the church — are being challenged and replaced with values that lead to disaster. Literal, day by day, exclusive dependence on the God of our fathers, his son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is more vital than ever.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • April 24, 2021
From a talk by Ruth Ann:
Science tells us a lot about what happens during pregnancy; how bodies are conceived, formed, protected, and prepared for the next step in life’s continuum. Yet much more is going on:
The Breath of Life— “In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10
Fashioning the Form— “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:” Isa 44:24
Wisdom— “To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; she is created with the faithful in the womb.” Sir 1:14
Guidance— “(for from his youth) I reared him as a father, and from his mother’s womb I guided him;” Job 31:18
Commitment— “From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Ps 22:10
Calling— “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jer 1:5
While the womb is fashioning the baby’s body, the Breath of Life is fashioning the child’s soul: with free will, rules of the road (rectitude), a unique collection of talents and gifts, a call or sense of direction. The Author of Life sees to it that our wonderful sources of joy are ready to roll when they move to their new address.
May the Lord console those who have participated in abortions, and grant courageous wisdom to those who are considering it.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • March 28, 2021
Long-standing Christian beliefs view Psalms 22, 23 and 24 as awesome insights into the Easter weekend. The Synoptics report Jesus saying, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?", an hour or so into His agony on the cross. Clearly, he felt forsaken. Still, his words suggest that he is reviewing Psalm 22 in his mind. "All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer...They have pierced my hands and my feet, I can count all my bones."
Yet the Psalm’s reverie changes abruptly. "For he has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor wretch...but heard me when I cried out... I will offer praise in the great assembly; my vows I will fulfill before those who fear him." Even in his abandonment, right to the point of his death, Jesus does not yield to staggering despair — He is affirming incredible faith and trust in the Father.
Psalm 23 correlates with Holy Saturday, or perhaps Good Friday evening. Millions of souls had been held for thousands of years behind locked doors, somewhere called Sheol — a kind of half-way place. They were righteous, but they couldn't enter heaven. I see Jesus "walk(ing) through the valley of the shadow of death", among defiant demons who threaten him, then cower and back away. On reaching the locked doors, he says to Satan, "I'll take those keys" and kicking the doors open, he calls forth the joyous redeemed. (Ern Baxter)
Psalm 24 relates their entry into heaven. The mammoth gates had been closed for thousands of years — slammed shut in an earsplitting echo throughout eternity. Jesus departs Sheol with his train of redeemed souls, determined to pass through those very gates. On their way through the earthly realm, "...tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many." (Mt27)
The Psalm gets to the point quickly. Archangels, standing on top of the colossal gates, challenge the approaching retinue. They hurl lightning bolts of questions that will only accept truth. "Who may go up the mountain of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place." The growing body of liberated souls must now face a formidable challenge.
A rousing answer comes from the redeemed. "Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter..." They have spoken truth, but the archangels fire back, "Who is this King of Glory?" The redeemed respond confidently, "The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in war". Then quickly, they demand entry, "Lift up your heads, O gates; rise up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter." In one, final challenge, the archangels repeat, "Who is this king of glory?" The redeemed shout back with a roar, "The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory."
Jesus, the Author of Life and Redeemer of us all, has blown open the gates of heaven.
May Almighty God bless you abundantly this Easter.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • February 26, 2021
We don't hear much about regrets nowadays. After all, our cultural attitude is about rights, not responsibilities. I am one unto myself, it's claimed. I make up the rules for my behavior and grant myself forgiveness or pardon should I fail. Serious grievances are seldom acknowledged in any form. The word apology is bandied about to browbeat an enemy with demands for redress, but it's seldom actually given by either side.
Nevertheless, any attempt at an open-minded review of one's past words and actions is bound to find at least one, bona-fide unloving action. For me and most of us, the count is significant and each transgression produces an emotional pain that is often called regret.
Scripture translations reveal that regret is a flexible term, with several meanings that depend on the context. Take for example, this translation of Gen 6:6 in the NIV: "The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled." The KJV has "and it repented the Lord..., and it grieved him at his heart.". The NRSV uses "sorry" and "grieved". In roughly the same context, "regretted" has been interchanged with repented, sorry, grieved, and deeply troubled. Further, repented itself includes meanings for a change in direction and intense personal sorrow about exigent consequences.
St. Paul introduces an expanded, post-Pentecost understanding in 2 Cor 7:10: "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. (NASB)" The sorrow "according to the will of God" proceeds from God's love, focused on giving life and putting the needs of the beloved first. It's an aching sorrow, rooted in hope, that longs for resolution; but willing to wait in pain for the right opportunity for a change in direction.
Worldly sorrow demands a repentance or fix in the situation that is fueled by regrets, despair, guilt and accusation — all intended to bring spiritual death to the issue and those involved. One of my beloved Ruth Ann’s favorite sayings was, "Don't let the could'a, would'a, should'as run your life."
When regrets appear, clear discernment is needed. They must be dealt with in the same manner as any other emotion that is under spiritual attack. Yet care must be taken to maintain the aching sorrow, be willing to bide our time awaiting resolution. Our Lord, in his good time, will make the opportunity plain.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • February 2, 2021
We exist in time. The measure of a man today is only a fleeting glimpse, a snapshot at a moment of time. I've had new thoughts and experiences since yesterday. They’ve affected my values and character to some degree. I'll be a different person tomorrow, maybe a little—maybe a lot, but different for sure.The blessings of a relationship with God surprise us at first. He fills us with joy and peace. Spiritual gifts begin to appear, we are led to commit ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. It's an exciting time of reckless abandon, exploration and promise.
Yet what lies ahead is the exchange of the damaged human life we bring to the party, for the new life we’ve received in baptism. It's a process labeled as “dying-to-self”. Pain is involved because it means saying NO instead of YES to appetites, emotions, desires, ideologies, or pride in certain situations. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you … put off the old nature with its practices and … put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Col 3:5, 9-10 RSV)
The Spirit prompts dying-to-self situations at various times. We cannot die-to-self in an "all at once/forever and ever" commitment; except in martyrdom. Successful decisions release the new life in us, just as Resurrection followed Crucifixion and the joy of a new life follows the pangs of childbirth. Yet, we cannot sit back, confident in our choices, because evil and deep-seated desires will approach us tomorrow. It's only through sustained victories over time that we achieve a sense of lasting victory.
Choosing to live the new life at the expense of the old one will surely be worth it. We are, after all, seeking life forever with Infinite Love. With joy, we should plumb the depths of our early encounters with the Lord, get a sense of his Majesty, love and acceptance of us, just as we are. Hard work is ahead, but God himself, will hold us in existence and help us make the right decisions.
The Cramer Institute of Minnesota
Published by Matthew J. Cramer • January 11, 2021
Image by mollicart
I intend this posting for the large number of friends that were added to my Facebook page over the last several months. I am honored by your request; you are most welcome to this page. I am the Owner and CEO of The Cramer Institute of Minnesota, a company founded in 2007 to provide wisdom & counsel for Christians seeking an integrated life in the Sacred and Secular. We give talks and seminars, publish books and articles. This personal Facebook page for Matthew J Cramer, is an outreach ministry of the Cramer Institute of Minnesota.
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