Fear or Faith – in which do we place more of our trust and treasure? Where do we find our heart?

Continuing to rearrange our focus and priorities.

Fear or Faith – in which do we place more of our trust and treasure?

“Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep.  Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith.  They keep it awake and moving. Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than a possession.  It is on-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all.  Faith is not being sure where you’re going, but going anyway.  A journey without maps.” –Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC (from the entries on “Doubt” and “Faith”)

Today's lectionary readings highlight Abraham and Sarah as living in faith by hope, even amid their doubts and fears.  Chapter 11 and 12 of Hebrews (which we'll continue to hear from during the next three weeks) offer us example after example of biblical 'heroes' who have lived by faith.

Faith, not so much as a thought/belief, but as an attitude/disposition/conviction that compels action (overcoming paralysis or avoidance rooted in fear).

Consider also three of the Holy Women and Holy Men who we (in our church tradition) remember this week:

Aug 11 - St. Clare (Abbess of Assisi, 1253); themes of faith, poverty, and hope

Aug 15 - St. Mary (mother of Jesus); theme of trust and faith amid uncertainly and fear

Aug 14 - Jonathan Myrick Daniels (seminarian and modern martyr, 1965); how did he invest his treasurers of time and talent; where was his heart when, on the steps of a store in Selma, he stood between a hate-filled shotgun and an innocent girl?

What are the implications of investing more in what faith can DO than in debates about faith IS?

Who have been women and men of faith in our lives?  How are we examples of faithful living to others?

FACEBOOK post for today: Continuing to rearrange our focus and priorities. Fear or Faith – in which do we place more of our trust and treasure?  Where do we find our heart?  Remembering this week, seminarian and contemporary martyr Jonathan Myrick Daniels - How did he invest his treasurers of time and talent? Where was his heart when, on the steps of a store in Selma, he stood between a hate-filled shotgun and an innocent girl? Ref. also: "Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than a possession.  It is on-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all.  Faith is not being sure where you’re going, but going anyway.  A journey without maps.” –Frederick Buechner