Northminster Summer School: Philippians 4:8

6.5.16  NORTHMINSTER SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL  
Philippians 4:8 MSG

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things TRUE, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.  

            I am game for most any devotional challenge.  This one comes from Pastor Jack at Northminster Church in Sacramento.  We are to consider the same scripture every week, focusing on a different word each time. I will use this text for each Sunday over the next two months and incorporate my daily prayers into each drawing. 

 Our first word is True.   Correct.  Accurate.  Genuine.  Authentic. Real. Truth.  Candor.  Honesty.   The list of synonyms for true is lengthy.  But what does it mean to BE true to something or someone?  How can I meditate on the word true?  Where do I see truth in the world? (The candor and complete innocence of a child’s word, with no hidden meanings – kids speak TRUTH!)  Where do we need truth?  (Hmmm, our election process comes to mind immediately!)  Are my words true when I speak to and of others?  Do I tell the whole story or do I cover up the parts that may not put me in a good light? 

I’ll ponder TRUE this week.  Perhaps I will be back to add more to this brief post! (Or....perhaps not!)

6.12.16 Northminster Sunday School:  Philippians 4:8 GNT

 In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

            I am going to use a different translation of this Philippians passage each week. 

  

The 'B' contains the earth and stars quote. 

           Noble.  We get the following definition or synonyms:  having or showing qualities of high morals and ethical behavior; righteous, virtuous, good, honorable, upright, decent, worthy, moral, reputable.  Wow.  That’s a pretty impressive list of virtues; a high standard to keep.  But when we fill our minds with that which is noble, we are able to squeeze some of the less noble of thoughts out.  Humility and nobility go hand in hand.  One begets the others.  How can I practice nobility this week?  By taking the upper road.  By disregarding the petty and seeking the positive of a situation.  By encouraging and uplifting my teammates.

            I looked up quotations based on ‘noble’:

• There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.  (Hemingway)
• Better not be at all than not be noble. (Tennyson)
• No speech can stain what is noble by nature.  (Sophocles)
• It is nobler to declare oneself wrong than to insist on being right --- even when one is right. (Nietzsche)
• Never does the human soul appear so strong and noble as when it forgoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.  (Edward Chapin)
• Humble spirit leads to noble character. (Akita)
• Noble deeds that are concealed are most esteemed.  (Pascal)
• Be humble for you are made of earth.  Be noble for you are made of stars.  (Anon)

            I think I like the last one the best, but the last three all reflect a similar thought.  Hidden service is noble service.  

6.19.16  Philippians 4:8 VOICE

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.

Northminster Summer School #3  Right

R: Rectitude & Righteousness

I:   Integrity

G: Goodness

H: Honesty & Honor

T:  Truth

          Right and Wrong.  We toss the terms around constantly, and yet each of us has a different definition at times as to what is right and what is wrong.  Oh, we can define the BIG THINGS….murder is wrong.  But what about killing those who harm us?  Is that wrong?  Stealing is wrong.  What about stealing to save another?  It seems we can justify just about anything, twisting right and wrong around. 

          But….deep inside our souls, I think we know.  I think the God-Spirit within tells us, especially when we heed the advice of Paul in this very verse and truly consider and fill ourselves with that which is right and honest, truth and pure.  That which brings praise to God.  

6.26.16  Philippians 4:8 CEB

Northminster Summer School #4: Pure 

From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise.

PURE.  So many meanings.  So many synonyms.  Unadulterated, sterling, solid, refined, clear, sparkling, untainted, wholesome, flawless, perfect, genuine, real.   PURITY.  Virtue, morality, goodness, saintliness, piety, honor, honesty, integrity and decency. 

Illustrations are from the beauty of my garden at the moment:
Lilies, petunias, coneflower, zinnias, and lavender.
And dirty feet!!

Gosh, with that list, is it possible to BE pure???  But I think Paul is telling us to keep ourselves free of contamination from the outside world.  We may live and work among those who think and act differently;  in fact, that is our place.  But we are to remain unadulterated by the words and actions that lead away from God.  Such a simple, short word.  Such a challenge. 

• Purity means looking to God for our standards and not the world.
• Without purity of heart, there is no purity of thought.
• The greatest gift you can give someone is the purity of your attention. Give little, but give pure.
• It is astonishing what force, purity, and wisdom it requires for a human being to keep  clear of falsehoods.  (Margaret Fuller)
• I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.  (Mahatma Gandhi)

            OK, the last one by Gandhi is definitely the one I will remember!  No dirty feet on my mind!!  You’ll find reference to that quote on my prayer!

7.3.16 NPC-SS: Philippians 4:8 NIV

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Northminster Summer School #5: Lovely

          The dictionary gives the following synonyms for lovely: beautiful, pretty, attractive, good-looking, appealing, handsome, adorable, exquisite, sweet, personable, charming, enchanting, engaging, etc.  All words which at first glance are ‘surface’ beauty and I wonder, ‘Why did Paul include this word?’  Peterson's The Message uses the terms, ‘the beautiful, not the ugly’ and the Lexham translates to ‘things that are pleasing’. To fill our world with that which is beautiful, with wildflowers and roses, artwork, gardens, or fine craftsmanship, is to be constantly reminded of God and God’s power to create beauty and that which is good.  The word is tucked in-between pure and admirable and that puts ‘lovely’ in pretty fine company!  There is nothing surface-level about LOVELY! 

A few LOVELY quotes…

• Our Creator would never have made such lovely days, and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal.  (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
• What is lovely never dies, but passes into other loveliness.  (T.B. Aldrich)
• Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees [God].  (Rumi)   I added the God here!
• All the beautiful sentiments in the world weight less than a single lovely action. (J.R. Lowell)

7.10.16 Philippians 4:8 AMP

Northminster Summer School #6: Admirable

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

          Whew!  I had to look through at least 15 translations before I found one that actually used the word admirable! 

Google defines admirable as arousing or deserving respect and approval.  Synonyms include commendable, praiseworthy, laudable, creditable, or worthy, respectable and worthwhile.  Other words in this verse link to praiseworthy and laudable and creditable, but those terms are considered elsewhere.  I like to think of admirable as worthy of respect.  And respect is key.  Both respect for the dignity and humanity of others, and a life worthy of the respect of others.  To live with respect and deserving of respect.  A high calling. 

We are worshiping at Northminster today.  I shall tell Pastor Jack that eventually I plan to turn in my 'homework' for the summer.  Not many submit their prayers to the teacher....altho I lend mine to the Teacher everyday!  

We don’t need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful. (Taylor Swift)

One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.  (Bryant McGill)

There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.  (Henri F. Amiel)

To be one's self, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity. (Irving Wallace)

7.17.16  Philippians 4:8 ESV

Northminster Sunday School #7: Excellent

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Excellent.  The highest of rankings.  The grade you always wanted to achieve.  A+!  Webster defines excellent as extremely good, superb, outstanding, exceptional marvelous, wonderful, magnificent, perfect, matchless, unbeatable, supreme, prime and first-rate.  You get the idea!  You just can’t top EXCELLENT!

God wants us to focus on the positive in the people around us, in our relationships, even in the events of the world.  Sometimes that is very hard to do, especially with the current situation in our world.  Let us not dwell on the sins of the evening news, but rather on the good we can bring to those situations by our actions.  Our response to that which is less than excellent is what determines our life and our relationship to God.  Once again, this brings me back to the Joan Linde book, FIND THE GOOD, in which she attempted to focus on the good aspects of one’s life when writing obituaries for her small town.  Whatever is excellent, consider this! 

• Excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude.  (Ralph Marston)
• We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit. (Aristotle)
• Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.  (Anonymous)
• Excellence is achieved when you care more than what some think is wise, risk more than what some think is safe, dream more than what some think is sensible, and work more than what some people are willing to do.  (Anonymous)
• Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer. (Rick Pitino)

7.24.16 Philippians 4:8 NRSV

Northminster Sunday School Final: Praiseworthy

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

          Whatever is worthy of praise.  What a tremendous expanse of options – praise for Creation, praise for loving relationships, praise for acts of kindness, praise for solved problems, praise for God-Winks (that’s another blog to come!) Why do we dwell so much on differences and what’s wrong with the world?  There is much to praise!  Much for which to say ‘Thank you, God!’  Let us dwell on such things! 

          So today, rather than fill my PRAISE drawing with intercessory prayers, I shall lift up my pen and write that for which I sing to God’s glory!  Having spent yesterday in the beauty of Westminster Woods at a spirituality retreat, I have no doubt that the words and images will tumble out faster than I can write or draw.  To God be the glory!  Amen! 

TO SUMMARIZE Philippians 4:8.....