Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another speaks evil against the law and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor? Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.” Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. (James 4:11-16, NRSVue)
Do not speak evil or judge others.
Honestly, when I read this, I thought of John 3:17. We all know John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that They gave their only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”
But do you know John 3:17? In my opinion it is more important.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.” God did not send Jesus to condemn or judge the world; the Greek word means both here. And if God did not send Jesus to judge, They certainly are not sending you to judge either.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:1-5, NRSVue)
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
When we humble ourselves and rely on God, then we are the greatest in the kingdom. When we admit we can not make it on our own and need God, then we are the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who create dissensions and hindrances, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. For your obedience is known to all; therefore, I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:17-20, NRSVue)
Watch out for those who create dissensions and hinderances to the teaching you have learned. Many would say this is what I do.
Many who stick to a patriarchal understanding of the scripture would say that I create dissension and hinderances to the traditional way of understanding faith by saying all are included and seeking the justice and welfare of all. Even though this is exactly what the scripture teaches us.
Anyone who twists the scripture for their gain or to maintain power is who we really need to keep an eye on. Those who burn food or take away subsidies. Those who say they are upholding Christian values and make policies that harm the least of these. These are the ones we need to keep an eye on.
Do not be fooled by lip service. But look for the actions and see where their heart lies.
I think we all struggle with who we are and who God has made us to be. This post is an extra post. I do not do a lot of these, but I created a devotion for September 7, 2026, and the focus was on conducting ourselves honorably. I wrote about how the devotion would be posted after I returned from a trip I was preparing for to Tanzania. The devotion I wrote for that day is linked above, but here is the text of that devotion:
This devotion will post after I have arrived back from a trip I am taking to visit Tanzania and the Morogoro Diocese, which is the companion to the synod I serve in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). I was wondering about how I need to conduct myself to honor the culture I was visiting. I wrote this devotion before that trip, and I am preparing to be myself and still conduct myself in ways to honor their culture and learn how we move and live together. I was advised by a friend who is the liaison to the ELCA for companion synods to be myself and to be prepared to answer questions about my appearance for those who want to ask when they get comfortable with me. I know that I will get questions, but being true to myself is always the right answer. I am who God created me to be, and that is who all of us should be, and not shrink ourselves to fit in others’ boxes, but also honor those who may not understand how we present ourselves in order to not stop unity before it begins. Strive for unity but never at the expense of who you are in God.
This visit was part of a consultation between the ELCT (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania) and the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). I serve the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod of the ELCA as the DEM (Director of Evangelical Mission) and was invited by my bishop to attend the consultation and then go to the sister diocese for a one-on-one visit. The sister diocese for the AOK Synod is the Morogoro Diocese. We left the US on August 23, 2026, and arrived in Tanzania on August 24, 2026. The consultation was in Arusha from August 26-28. We traveled from Arusha to Morogoro on August 29, and were in Morogoro from August 29 to September 3, when we made our way to Dar Es Salaam tp fly back to the US, arriving on September 4.
I was concerned about dressing appropriately and how my appearance would be accepted. I have gauged ears with rainbow tunnels, and my beard was dyed orange but faded. My concern when I wrote this devotional was that I wanted to get a mani/pedi and get my nails painted. My friend told me to be myself, but to be prepared to answer questions. This is honestly no different for me than being in the United States.
The only question I was asked about my gauged ears was whether I was a Maasai. Maasai are known for their stretched earlobes, and a few members of the Maasai tribe asked me at an event hosted by the Morogoro Diocese. I was also asked when one of the pastors from the diocese was able to visit us in Arkansas-Oklahoma, if we could go to the place I get my nails done, so she could get her toenails painted like mine.
I was myself, and they accepted me, like I accepted them. Did I do everything correctly? No. I stumbled and messed up, but they saw my heart and that I was trying to learn about their customs and be a part of who they are. We established the beginning of a wonderful relationship of building the body of Christ across the ocean.
This trip allowed me to see the body of Christ that is flourishing. It allowed me to participate in gatherings that gave me hope for the kindom of God.
We participated in a worship day that lasted six and a half hours, plus three hours of travel, so nine total hours for worship.
We left our hotel at 6:30 am and drove for ninety minutes to get to the location of the parish we worshipped at. This was a big day for this parish, as they were doing a fundraising event; that is why the Bishop of the Morogoro Diocese was there and why we from the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod (AOK Synod) were invited to be there. We arrived at the parish around 8, and we had breakfast or chai. Worship started about 9 am and that lasted for about 3 hours. During worship, they collected three separate offerings. When worship ended, the Bishop started the fundraising portion of the day. The Bishop said the parish was hoping to raise 100,000,000 TZS (Tanzanian shillings) for the new building they needed to construct. There were local government officials and other dignitaries in attendance, but before any of them were called forward to speak, the Bishop called the pastor of the parish and the parish council forward to state how much their family was going to donate for the building. Each member of the council by name was asked how much their family was going to give. Some said an amount and placed it in a basket; some said they could not financially contribute. They were not coerced or forced to give. They each freely gave because they believed in the mission of the parish. After the council, other members of the parish were called forward. Each family was asked what they could give. I remember two women who each pledged 500,000 TZS this month as they placed it in the basket, and another 500,000 TZS next month. As they did this, I googled the average monthly salary in Tanzania, and the answer I remember was 500,000 TZS. Each of these women pledged an average monthly salary for August and an average monthly salary for September. And to put this in dollars for those in the US, that is roughly $290. The thing that really gave me hope was after the roll call that would have people walking out of congregations in the US, they invited others to come forward and a man from the community, who is not a member of the parish, heard they were doing the fundraiser and knew the ministry the parish did for the community came and he pledged and gave 500,000TZS! Then the public officials I mentioned earlier had their turn. Some of them gave blocks and cement; others gave large sums of shillings from the agency and their personal funds. The community backed this parish for the way they instilled community and love into the place. In total tha day, they raised at least 88,000,000 TZS.
The fundraising went on until about 1 pm, when we had lunch as a parish, and then we got back in the car with Bishop George Pindua, and we drove the ninety minutes back to our hotel. A nine and a half hour day for a worship service. And it was not long, and it was spirit-filled and holy and empowering, and it gave me hope for the church!
The Lutheran church in Tanzania is thriving; they had to turn away children who wanted to come and sing for the worship services when the ELCA came because there would be way too many people. They have a love of God that is infectious and holy, and I would love to see it become a part of our culture here. It is not just about having worship, but the way they live. Every time we got into the car to go somewhere with Bishop Pindua, someone would pray for the day and the journey. They invite God in, look for where God is leading, and seek to be God in the community. And the communities see this and see what the church is doing and see that it is needed. It is evangelism lived out in daily life.
It is hope.
How do we stay true to who we are, and live out this hope?
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord, as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the gentiles. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ. Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. (Romans 16:1-6, NRSVue)
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a leader in the church, whom you should welcome and help as she needs.
Phoebe was a leader of the church, and this is not the only time Paul lifts women as leaders and commends the church to welcome and accept them.
Why does the current church not do this and say women can not be leaders? Because 1 Timothy says that women should be quiet and not be allowed to teach? As a biblical scholar, I would say that 1 Timothy was not written by Paul, but by someone using the power of Paul’s name to stir up trouble and keep men in power.
Women have been leaders in the church since the beginning, and there were several women who were disciples of Jesus and spent all of his ministry with him. Stop oppressing the body of Christ with your jealousy and misogyny.
All are capable and worthy to be leaders in the church, if that is the gift they were given by God. Their gender, ethnicity, or anything else we use to separate people should not get in the way.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:1-16, NRSVue)
I was just at a theological learning event for the synod I serve, and we had a closing worship where we read this passage and then discussed it as rostered leaders of the synod. One of the leaders said the phrase, You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ stuck out to them.
What is right?
What is just?
Are right and just the same?
Why were so many people standing around so late in the day? Did they not show up in the early morning? Were they not skilled at what was needed?
So many ponderings came, and then the question of who God is in the story.
Is God the: Landowner? Those hired first? Those hired last? Manager?
How does this story change when we see God as a different person, and how are we supposed to hear this parable?
For me, it is the understanding that we are all gifted to do something and even those who show up later have the same station as those who have been around for a long time. We are all equal in the eyes of God and what is right or just for me, may not be right and just for all.
It is about God being with and in all of us and all of us doing a part to bring the kingdom to light in a world that lives in darkness.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Matthew 19:23-30, NRSVue)
So as I read this passage for this devotional, a passage I have read at least 4 to 5 times to write devotionals for, given I have been writting these daily devotionals since 02/15/2012 and that is 14 years ago and on a three year cycle of daily readings that is at least 4 times, I read Peter’s reply as a selfish rant. “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” I left everything for you and now you’re telling us this? What am I going to get for all I have given?
Do we follow Jesus because of what we will get? Peter is the one whom the Roman Catholics say was the first Pope, the first head of the church, and he is a whiny little brat who is entitled and wants his due reward.
But you know what, this actually gives me hope. Hope for those moments I am thinking only about myself and what I have given up and what I am missing out on. When Peter is in this mindset, that means there is hope for me and all of us.
So never worry if you think what do I get, but remember we have already received the greatest gift, God’s love.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may be restored. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. (2 Corinthians 13:5-10, NRSVue)
Even if those who led you in the faith have seemed to fail, hopefully you will appear to have caught the faith and live in love and do what the truth tells us to.
The truth tells us to love. Love God and love neighbor, and to love ourselves.
To show we understood the assignment, we must love everyone.
This is the third time I am coming to you. “Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” I warned those who sinned previously and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not be lenient— since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful in you. For he was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may be restored. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Be restored; listen to my appeal; agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (2 Corinthians 13:1-42, NRSVue)
Paul here is telling the Corinthians that they need to get themselves together because they are not acting the way they should be acting.
We need to show the world God’s love in our actions. We can not say we love and follow God when our actions show we do not. We need to show the love of God in deed.
You can say you love God, but do your actions show you do?
In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:20-25, NRSVue)
Whatever you ask in prayer, believe, and it is yours. Well. Really?
If I just have faith and believe I have it it will be mine if I ask for it in prayer?
Other places add that it is if it is the will of God. Sometimes we ask for things that we really want and think we need, but they are not in the will of God, and I think that no matter how much you believe or have faith, you will get it; if it is not God’s will, it ain’t going to happen.
I believe and have faith, yet some of the things I want and have wanted over the years are not in God’s will. And that is a growing edge for me and all of us.
Believe God will never leave you to suffer through life alone. And have faith that you are always loved. But know your will is not God’s, and your desires may not be part of the plan. And that my friend is ok.
