Did you see the story about the “recently” discovered painting by Pablo Picasso?

Here is a part of the story…

A painting discovered by a junk dealer in the basement of an Italian villa six decades ago is actually the work of Pablo Picasso and could sell for millions, according to experts.

Luigi Lo Rosso used to spend his days combing abandoned houses and landfills in search of treasure to sell in the family’s pawn shop in Pompeii, Italy.

In 1962, he found a rolled-up canvas with an asymmetrical painting of a woman in the basement of the villa on the nearby island of Capri.

Luigi’s wife wasn’t impressed by the painting. He put the painting in an old frame and gave it to her anyway.

She didn’t think it was pretty enough to sell, so it hung in the family home for about 50 years and later in a restaurant they owned.

She simply didn’t pay any attention to the artists name scribbled in the corner.

40 years ago, Luigi’s daughter contacted the authorities about the painting and the journey began to authenticate this mini masterpiece. Just last month, the verdict finally came. It is an authentic Picasso painting and could be worth six million dollars.

Imagine possessing of immense value and not even knowing it!

But you do!

As a child of God, you have something called integrity. And it is priceless!

Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

I would define it as doing the right thing even if no one is looking.

Doing the right thing is invaluable in every age. Don’t check your morals at the door and don’t look up to people whose integrity is compromised.

Sure, we all make mistakes, that’s not what I am talking about.

When we idolize people who have a questionable moral compass, it will affect us as well.

Saint Paul puts it this way, Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

Their character, their actions, their mindset will rub off on you.

Choose role models worthy of emulation.

People think they can keep secrets. Eventually, all deeds come into the light.

The person of integrity walks securely, but those who takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

Your priceless treasure is your integrity.

Remember the words of Solomon…

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Your riches won’t help you on Judgment Day; only righteousness counts then. Proverbs 11:3-4

Choose integrity!

God bless,
Pastor Ben

There was a major shift in thinking that has contributed to the polarized times we live in right now.

Sometime in the 1990s, truth became relative.

What do I mean by that?

For a very long time, we could agree on what is true for everyone and there was very little discussion about these truths. Truths as simple as “the earth is a sphere” and as complex as “there is a consequence for every choice you make”. The list goes on and on about truths that disputed today.

In other words, your “truth” is whatever you want it to be, and my “truth” is whatever I want it to be. That change in thinking has led to a more conflict between individuals and groups.

Yet as people of faith, we follow the One who clearly stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6

Jesus is truth and his words are true.

Right before Jesus’ crucifixion, he said this to the Roman Governor, “I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37

Jesus is truth and Jesus tells the truth and Jesus expects the truth from his children. Not your truth, but THE TRUTH.

This past week, the Conference of Bishops of the ELCA (our denominational home) met and discussed truth. They too recognize the danger of “relative truth” and half-truths.

In a wonderfully written letter to us, they clearly lay out the importance of being truthful.

Here is a portion of that letter…

We refuse to accept the ongoing normalization of lies and deceit.

We recommit ourselves to speaking the truth and pointing to the one who is truth. We find courage in our collegiality and implore the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as our partners and friends, to join us as we:

• Pledge to be vigilant guardians of truth, refusing to perpetuate lies or half-truths that further corrode the fabric of our society.

• Commit to rigorous fact-checking, honoring God’s command to “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

• Reject the use of humor that normalizes falsehood, remembering that our speech should “always be gracious” (Colossians 4:6).

• Boldly advocate for the marginalized and oppressed, emulating Christ’s love for the least among us.

• Courageously interrupt hate speech, standing firm in the knowledge that all are created in God’s image.

• Lean in with curiosity, engage with those who think differently and “put the best construction on our neighbor’s action” (Luther’s explanation of the Eighth Commandment).

• Amplify voices of truth.

These are good words, and they remind us to avoid and denounce: lies, half-truths and personal truths.

Above all, seek Jesus and the truth he speaks.

Let me offer a verse from Proverbs to close. This is my prayer, and I hope it is yours too.

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Proverbs 30:8

Amen.

God bless,
Pastor Ben

The full letter can be found here: Conference of Bishops Letter regarding truth.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9

Words to live by from Saint Paul.

It is good to authentically and deeply love others.

It is commendable to cling to what is good and who is good in this life.

Even hating the evil in this life can be the right thing to do if we are spiritually clear about what evil is. Not everyone has spiritual clarity.

Hating others… is evil. Hating evil stuff that happens is not.

If you think someone is evil, you feel justified in hating them. I have seen a lot of focused hate on both candidates running for president this year. I have seen how both are labeled as evil.

Let me be clear, not everyone you hate is evil.

Second, your hate does not affect them in any way, shape or form. Hate affects you. That’s right, your hate is a boomerang that comes back to you.

A person reaps what they sow. Galatians 6:7b

Your hate affects the quality of your relationship with others. Your hate affects your relationship with Jesus. Your hate taints everything in your life.

Simply put hate is bad for you.

Hate is not only a spiritual issue. Medically, hate is not good for you either.

According to Dr. Rohini Radhakrishnan,  “Hatred negatively impacts the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system. Extreme emotions trigger the release of stress hormones in the brain. Over time, these stress hormones lead to increased inflammation throughout the body, resulting in significant health consequences. The more intense an emotion becomes, the more physically demanding it is to contain it.

The opposite of hate is often considered love, but this is not true. Opposite of hate is mental and emotional detachment. Hatred creates an attachment to the thing or person hated the most. Hatred is an intense repulsion. Hatred falsely inflates the ego and makes one feel very superior and self-righteous against the thing or person who is hated, which only results in more pain.”

(Dr. Rohini Radhakrishnan, ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, Reviewed by: Dr. Shaziya Allarakha, MD)

From a medical and physiological standpoint love is NOT the antithesis of hate. To move beyond hate, one must let go of the thing or person they are hating, because there is an unhealthy attachment. Hate can become obsessive, because it is the only thing you think about. Hate creates tunnel vision.

Before you can move towards love, letting go of what you hate must come first.

One can love and support something without having to hate its counterpoint, unless it is actual evil. But that can be a slippery slope (see my comments above).

As for me, I pity hateful people. I have no room in my life it. As the senior pastor of CLC, there is no room for hate in or around church.

I will be following Titus’ (found in the New Testament) instruction moving forward.

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such a person is warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11

I don’t have the energy for hate anymore. I only have room for love.

God bless,
Pr. Ben