8/31/10 I have been reading from and praying around Jeremiah 18:1-11, where the LORD takes Israel and reworks her like a potter does with a piece of clay. It is not thrown away; it is reworked, reformed, remade under the patient, strong hands of the potter. As I walked and prayed this morning, I brought to mind persons and situations, some which seem hopeless (cancer diagnosis, flooding in Pakistan, lack of peace between Israel and Palestine) and lifted them to God. I wondered about each, "Can You not turn it around, can You not rework it?" God, our potter, doesn't give up. God keeps turning us around, molding us, reworking us.
Love,
Lynn
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
great day
8/30/10 Yesterday was a great day, a day I was glad that I was a pastor. People showed up for worship. They were not just sitting in the pews, but engaged in the liturgy. People were patient with each other as we had another Sunday of being displaced, since our bldg M was not quite ready for us to move back into. We had a great Gospel Sing after the second service. Over 260 registered for the bbq meal. We had wonderful singers and players who presented some of the old favorite tunes. We had 14 entries in the Chill-Off, where persons offered their homemade ice creams. People helped to clean up and put away all the tables and chairs and mic stands and music stand and risers. Then to top off the day, Cathy and I had the first meeting of our Disciple I Bible study witha diverse group of people. Already they were sharing at a deep level. Cathy and I had supper and rehearsed what a great day it had been. We watched Mystery on PBS with Inspector Lewis. I did the crossword puzzle and went to sleep quickly.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Sunday, August 29, 2010
turning the tables
from my sermon on 8/29/10 from Luke 14:1, 7-14
All living organisms eat...only human beings dine. There is something that happens at the table; it is more that just taking in of nutrition.
Therefore, when someone is sick, we say, "I' be right over with my chicken soup and we will eat together." Something happens at the table. Before the wedding, there is a rehearsal dinner, and afterwards, there is a banquet. Something happens at the table. Yes, we will have a funeral service, but afterwards there is a meal with family and friends. Someone will say, "You must try my 3 bean salad. The King ranch casserole is wonderful." Something happens at the table. On your birthday, you get to have your favorite foods with your favorite people. A big hint-- I like lemon pie, Cathy's lemon pie, whose recipe came from my grandmother Johnson. Something happens at the table.
In Luke's Gospel, one commentator said, Jesus is either going to a meal, or at a meal, or leaving a meal. Is it any wonder that the central piece of furniture in our holy gathering place is a table? Something happens at the table.
For you linear thinkers out there, there are two questions the passage for today raises, two points to be made.
So Jesus is at the table in house of a Pharisee on a sabbath. One commentary said, "If Jesus is with a Pharisee on the Sabbath, there is going to be conflict." And so there is. Jesus doesn't show very good table manners, upsetting the people with his stories. Or he is showing superb manners by turning the tables on what everyone thought was appropriate.
The first question is: where do you sit? Jesus noticed how the Pharisees sought the places of honor at the table, so he told a story about a wedding feast where that happened. Now, I attend quite a few wedding banquets. As a UM pastor, it is an occupational hazard. Often my name is on a placard. You have gone to banquets where there is the head table, there are place names, table numbers. We may not do exactly the same way as in the parable, but I believe that we still are aware of where we are sitting.
I remember visiting with one woman who distinctly recalls the first time at a Thanksgiving meal that she got to move up from the children's table to the "grown-up's" table. I talked with a man who married into a family who finally included him in their feasts.
We are all keeping score, wondering where we are in the pecking order. Maybe you are a senior in high school and you are concerned about what your standing in the class is. Maybe you are in business and you are anxious about where you are on the organizational chart or what parking spot you have been assigned. Maybe you are a preacher and you worry that you are not at a big steeple church.
Jesus says not to seek the higher places, but the lower ones, and let the host say, "Friend, come up higher." Now I know why so many of you fight to sit in the back of the church!
Jesus is not trying to give us a strategy for winning friends and influencing people. He is offering us the virtue of humility. He turns the tables by saying, "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." He is trying to free us up from becoming self-occupied. He would rather us focus on loving God and our neighbor. Around here, it would fit our vision statement, Following One, Serving All.
The second question is: with whom do you eat? In that culture, maybe in ours today, you were known by those with whom you ate. So John the Baptist, that ascetic, is accused of eating with nobody. And Jesus the Savior is accused of eating with anybody. In fact one of the charges leveled at Jesus is "He eats with tax collectors and sinners."
Let me give you some context for the power of eating with someone. When I was pastor at St. John's here in Austin, an older man who lived in our neighborhood asked me to visit him. I did. He wanted me to do his funeral when the time came. I said that I would. I asked him to tell me more about what he wanted for the service. He said, "Nearly every funeral has the 23 rd Psalm, so I guess I will also, but I want to take out one line." "What one is that?" "It's that one that says, 'Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.'" I said, "You are missing one of the best parts of the psalm. To eat with someone, an enemy, means that you are reconciled, that all is forgiven, that you are in community."
So Jesus says that when we give a meal we are not to invite family, and friends, and those who can repay, but to invite the vulnerable ones, the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, those who cannot repay. The virtue is hospitality.
On Friday, I was at table with our Bishop, Jim Dorff. He was ascting as our host, getting us something to drink and eat. Some of us were helping him prepare the bishop's convocation in March. He said, "I would sure like to get those guys from the book, Same Kind of Different as Me." I said, "I have read the book, and I have seen them in person at Caritas fundraiser in Austin."
I don't often recommend books, but this is one you need to read. It is the story of Denver Moore, a black man, a sharecropper from Louisana, who got in trouble with the law, became homeless....read, a modern day slave. The other character is Ron Hall, a white art dealer in Ft. Worth, who is rich in things and poor in soul. Ron's wife gets these 2 together as she and Ron work to feed people like Denver in downtown Ft. Worth. The amazing thing is that these 2 need each other to be whole, to find salvation. It wasn't one way; it was a partnership.
There is a great vignette in the book, where Denver asks Ron about fishing. "So you white folks catch a good fish and you throw it back?" "Yes, it is called catch and release." "You catch perfectly good meat and you throw it away?" "Yes, catch and release." "Well, I don't know if we can be together....we can't have a catch and release friendship."
We eat together and it is powerful. Something happens at the table. We become equals. It is a sign of the Kingdom of God. It is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. It is true community.
One of the most important things we do together as church is eat together. I am glad that after each service we have an opportunity to do that.
I am glad that in this holy space we have the opportunity to do that. As UM's, who is welcome at this table? Everybody! You hear me give the invitation, You don't have to be a member of this church or any church, if you are willing to receive whatever Christ has to offer at this table, then come. So there is no sign like at 6 Flags that says, "You must be this tall." There is no test you have to take to prove you are smart enough. There is no morals test either to show that you are good enough. I know some of you don't feel that you are good enough, and you are exactly the ones who are welcome here.
Something happens at this table. Jesus turns the tables on us. We learn humility and hospitality. Something happens at this table. That is the good news I have to share.
All living organisms eat...only human beings dine. There is something that happens at the table; it is more that just taking in of nutrition.
Therefore, when someone is sick, we say, "I' be right over with my chicken soup and we will eat together." Something happens at the table. Before the wedding, there is a rehearsal dinner, and afterwards, there is a banquet. Something happens at the table. Yes, we will have a funeral service, but afterwards there is a meal with family and friends. Someone will say, "You must try my 3 bean salad. The King ranch casserole is wonderful." Something happens at the table. On your birthday, you get to have your favorite foods with your favorite people. A big hint-- I like lemon pie, Cathy's lemon pie, whose recipe came from my grandmother Johnson. Something happens at the table.
In Luke's Gospel, one commentator said, Jesus is either going to a meal, or at a meal, or leaving a meal. Is it any wonder that the central piece of furniture in our holy gathering place is a table? Something happens at the table.
For you linear thinkers out there, there are two questions the passage for today raises, two points to be made.
So Jesus is at the table in house of a Pharisee on a sabbath. One commentary said, "If Jesus is with a Pharisee on the Sabbath, there is going to be conflict." And so there is. Jesus doesn't show very good table manners, upsetting the people with his stories. Or he is showing superb manners by turning the tables on what everyone thought was appropriate.
The first question is: where do you sit? Jesus noticed how the Pharisees sought the places of honor at the table, so he told a story about a wedding feast where that happened. Now, I attend quite a few wedding banquets. As a UM pastor, it is an occupational hazard. Often my name is on a placard. You have gone to banquets where there is the head table, there are place names, table numbers. We may not do exactly the same way as in the parable, but I believe that we still are aware of where we are sitting.
I remember visiting with one woman who distinctly recalls the first time at a Thanksgiving meal that she got to move up from the children's table to the "grown-up's" table. I talked with a man who married into a family who finally included him in their feasts.
We are all keeping score, wondering where we are in the pecking order. Maybe you are a senior in high school and you are concerned about what your standing in the class is. Maybe you are in business and you are anxious about where you are on the organizational chart or what parking spot you have been assigned. Maybe you are a preacher and you worry that you are not at a big steeple church.
Jesus says not to seek the higher places, but the lower ones, and let the host say, "Friend, come up higher." Now I know why so many of you fight to sit in the back of the church!
Jesus is not trying to give us a strategy for winning friends and influencing people. He is offering us the virtue of humility. He turns the tables by saying, "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." He is trying to free us up from becoming self-occupied. He would rather us focus on loving God and our neighbor. Around here, it would fit our vision statement, Following One, Serving All.
The second question is: with whom do you eat? In that culture, maybe in ours today, you were known by those with whom you ate. So John the Baptist, that ascetic, is accused of eating with nobody. And Jesus the Savior is accused of eating with anybody. In fact one of the charges leveled at Jesus is "He eats with tax collectors and sinners."
Let me give you some context for the power of eating with someone. When I was pastor at St. John's here in Austin, an older man who lived in our neighborhood asked me to visit him. I did. He wanted me to do his funeral when the time came. I said that I would. I asked him to tell me more about what he wanted for the service. He said, "Nearly every funeral has the 23 rd Psalm, so I guess I will also, but I want to take out one line." "What one is that?" "It's that one that says, 'Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.'" I said, "You are missing one of the best parts of the psalm. To eat with someone, an enemy, means that you are reconciled, that all is forgiven, that you are in community."
So Jesus says that when we give a meal we are not to invite family, and friends, and those who can repay, but to invite the vulnerable ones, the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, those who cannot repay. The virtue is hospitality.
On Friday, I was at table with our Bishop, Jim Dorff. He was ascting as our host, getting us something to drink and eat. Some of us were helping him prepare the bishop's convocation in March. He said, "I would sure like to get those guys from the book, Same Kind of Different as Me." I said, "I have read the book, and I have seen them in person at Caritas fundraiser in Austin."
I don't often recommend books, but this is one you need to read. It is the story of Denver Moore, a black man, a sharecropper from Louisana, who got in trouble with the law, became homeless....read, a modern day slave. The other character is Ron Hall, a white art dealer in Ft. Worth, who is rich in things and poor in soul. Ron's wife gets these 2 together as she and Ron work to feed people like Denver in downtown Ft. Worth. The amazing thing is that these 2 need each other to be whole, to find salvation. It wasn't one way; it was a partnership.
There is a great vignette in the book, where Denver asks Ron about fishing. "So you white folks catch a good fish and you throw it back?" "Yes, it is called catch and release." "You catch perfectly good meat and you throw it away?" "Yes, catch and release." "Well, I don't know if we can be together....we can't have a catch and release friendship."
We eat together and it is powerful. Something happens at the table. We become equals. It is a sign of the Kingdom of God. It is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. It is true community.
One of the most important things we do together as church is eat together. I am glad that after each service we have an opportunity to do that.
I am glad that in this holy space we have the opportunity to do that. As UM's, who is welcome at this table? Everybody! You hear me give the invitation, You don't have to be a member of this church or any church, if you are willing to receive whatever Christ has to offer at this table, then come. So there is no sign like at 6 Flags that says, "You must be this tall." There is no test you have to take to prove you are smart enough. There is no morals test either to show that you are good enough. I know some of you don't feel that you are good enough, and you are exactly the ones who are welcome here.
Something happens at this table. Jesus turns the tables on us. We learn humility and hospitality. Something happens at this table. That is the good news I have to share.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
satisfy
8/25/10 My breath prayer today comes from Psalm 81:16, "I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." I can hear Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones singing in my head, "I can't get no ....satisfaction." What does ultimately satisfy? I am reading a book right now by Adam Hamiliton called "Enough." We have tried to be satisfied with money, security, material things....and always feel empty. The 81st Psalm tells us of the God who wants a relationship with us and seeks us out even when we rebel against that invitation. God seeks us out because God knows that nothing else will satisfy.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
sing aloud, shout
8/24/10 My breath prayer for today comes from Psalm 81:1, "Sing aloud to God our strength; shour for joy to the God of Jacob." I like to begin the day by walking outside and using that time for prayer. Most of the time that praying is interior, a private conversation with God. This passages challenges me to vocalize my prayers out loud. I found it funny that this morning I had the opportunity to walk around Lady Bird Lake since Cathy and I carpooled together. I was making some of my prayers for others, if not out loud, at least out soft, as I called various people's names. I am hoping that the other walkers, joggers, and runners didn't think that I was some crazy person who had gone off of my meds and was mumbling to myself. Thankfully most days, I am by myself on the trails in Searight Park where it is ok to pray out loud, if that is what is called for.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Monday, August 23, 2010
full day
8/23/10 Yesterday was the day before school started. Of course, we acknowledged that in the worship services. It was a day when we signed up children for their new Sunday School classes. The youth started their worship team at lunch, and later in the afternoon had a lakeside party for United Methodist Youth Fellowship. We had an orientation meeting for the start of Disciple I Bible study. I called visitors on the phone, blogged, answered emails, and finished the day with a meeting of the Stewardship Committee. I worked 12 hours yesterday, so today I am doing much at all.
I began this day with walking and prayer as usual, which I really needed after the full day yesterday. I got my tires rotateda and balanced on the way into the church. The work crew is pouring concrete right now for the new walkway to connect Bldg. M with our gym. I had a message that one of our dear church members has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so I have made that call already.
I am learning to pace myself the older I get, but I find that ministry happens according to its own schedule and not according to mine.
Love,
Lynn
I began this day with walking and prayer as usual, which I really needed after the full day yesterday. I got my tires rotateda and balanced on the way into the church. The work crew is pouring concrete right now for the new walkway to connect Bldg. M with our gym. I had a message that one of our dear church members has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so I have made that call already.
I am learning to pace myself the older I get, but I find that ministry happens according to its own schedule and not according to mine.
Love,
Lynn
Sunday, August 22, 2010
a teaching moment
from my sermon on 8/22/10 from Luke 13:10-17
Bent...she was bent over...crippled, unable to stand up straight, bound by her condition. I want you to experience what it was like for her. Bend over, look down...that's what she saw all of the time. Look down...that's what others did to her...looked down upon her.
Maybe it was purely physical, maybe she had scoliosis, curvature of the spine. Maybe it was something else. Since the text says she had a "spirit" of infirmity, maybe we could say being bent over was more of a metaphor. Maybe she bore the weight of the world on her shoulders...she could have been a "hero" child, super-responsible, trying to take care of everything and everybody. Some of you know what that is like. Maybe she had an addiction...alcohol or another drug ...and felt the shame of that, we say of someone in that condition thay they have a monkey on their back. Some of you know what that is like. Some of United Methodist Women are reading a book right now about women in some cultures whose only supposed value is in getting married....who are treated more like an object than a person. Some of you may know what that is like. Maybe she was under heavy load of debt, we say today that someone has a "crippling debt." Some of you know what that is like.
Since it is the start of school tomorrow, maybe to be bent over is take that backpack upon your shoulders. Those notebooks and pencils don't weigh very much, but add textbooks, and then add your parents expectations--"Make good grades, go to the right college, get a good job, make lots of money"--and you start to get bent over.
Maybe you are a teacher and you are feeling the weight of getting started--you don't have your class rolls yet, gradespeed is not up to speed, you are going to block schedule, the copier is broken. Some of you know what that is like.
Jesus comes along, right into our midst, and the text says, "now he was teaching.." Jesus is always teaching, especially in this part of Luke. Jesus is on a long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, and it takes him 10 chapters to get there. The path is not logical; it's theological. Jesus is trying to teach his followers, all of us, who he is, what he wants us to do and be.
He is in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Say what you will about Jesus, he was faithful in worship. He is a good model to follow.
And does the woman cry to him? Does she ask for help? Does she proclaim her faith? No, it's Jesus who take the initiative. He notices her. The one everyone overlooks and looks down upon, he sees. He calls to her. He pronouces the word. Does he say, "be healed, be saved, be well, your sins are forgiven?" No, he says that he set her free.
It is that way with us. Jesus takes the initiative. He won't let us hide. He seeks us out. He says the word that sets us free. Where in your life do you need to hear that today? Where in the world do we need to hear that word of freedom?
Immediately the woman stands up straight. She has new life, new dignity. Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham. She praises God.
But the leader of the synagogue is indignant. Ouch, this gets close to home, because I am sort of the leader of this congregation. The leader is a rules and regulations kind of guy. He knows his Old Testament. What commandment talks about the sabbath? The fourth one. It is interesting that the 4th commandment is given in 2 different places. In Exodus 20, we are to remember the sabbath and keep it holy because God worked 6 days in the creation of the world and rested on the 7th. In Deuteronomy 5, we are to keep the sabbath because once we were slaves in Egypt and now have been set free.
Jesus wants us to be set free, even, especially on the sabbath. When is the right time to do what is the right thing? Right now!
The crowd rejoices. A woman is set free from 18 years of being crippled. We are about to rejoice. Our sabbath is Sunday, the first day of the week, the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. Last Sunday, I was so proud of you as wave after wave of you came out to the Blunn Creek apartments on Woodward St, near St. Ed's U. You were getting it ready for Igor to come home. Igor, this 20 year old student from Macedonia was injured in a swimming accident 2 months and 3 weeks ago, and was paralyzed. He has made much progress in that time, but still has a long way to go. In the hot sun, last Sunday, you were bringing a couch, beds, dressers, towels, entertainment center, tv's, kitchen utensils, food, and drinks. Lizzie who has been in a wheelchair for some years now was pitching in by checking everything out to see if her chair fit in all of the spaces. It was a time of rejoicing because Igor was coming home the next day.
And the next day, Monday, Igor left the hospital and came home. But he didn't immediately go to the apartment. He came home to this church, to God's house. Igor wheeled into the front of this sanctuary and sat before the altar and looked up at this cross. We allowed him the time and space to do that. Then we gathered around him and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. I asked him later, "What was going through you?" He said, "It was like a great weight was being lifted off."
This is what the world needs--at school, at work, at home, in the neighborhoods--to be set free. When is the right time to do it? Right now. That is what Jesus is teaching.
Bent...she was bent over...crippled, unable to stand up straight, bound by her condition. I want you to experience what it was like for her. Bend over, look down...that's what she saw all of the time. Look down...that's what others did to her...looked down upon her.
Maybe it was purely physical, maybe she had scoliosis, curvature of the spine. Maybe it was something else. Since the text says she had a "spirit" of infirmity, maybe we could say being bent over was more of a metaphor. Maybe she bore the weight of the world on her shoulders...she could have been a "hero" child, super-responsible, trying to take care of everything and everybody. Some of you know what that is like. Maybe she had an addiction...alcohol or another drug ...and felt the shame of that, we say of someone in that condition thay they have a monkey on their back. Some of you know what that is like. Some of United Methodist Women are reading a book right now about women in some cultures whose only supposed value is in getting married....who are treated more like an object than a person. Some of you may know what that is like. Maybe she was under heavy load of debt, we say today that someone has a "crippling debt." Some of you know what that is like.
Since it is the start of school tomorrow, maybe to be bent over is take that backpack upon your shoulders. Those notebooks and pencils don't weigh very much, but add textbooks, and then add your parents expectations--"Make good grades, go to the right college, get a good job, make lots of money"--and you start to get bent over.
Maybe you are a teacher and you are feeling the weight of getting started--you don't have your class rolls yet, gradespeed is not up to speed, you are going to block schedule, the copier is broken. Some of you know what that is like.
Jesus comes along, right into our midst, and the text says, "now he was teaching.." Jesus is always teaching, especially in this part of Luke. Jesus is on a long journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, and it takes him 10 chapters to get there. The path is not logical; it's theological. Jesus is trying to teach his followers, all of us, who he is, what he wants us to do and be.
He is in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Say what you will about Jesus, he was faithful in worship. He is a good model to follow.
And does the woman cry to him? Does she ask for help? Does she proclaim her faith? No, it's Jesus who take the initiative. He notices her. The one everyone overlooks and looks down upon, he sees. He calls to her. He pronouces the word. Does he say, "be healed, be saved, be well, your sins are forgiven?" No, he says that he set her free.
It is that way with us. Jesus takes the initiative. He won't let us hide. He seeks us out. He says the word that sets us free. Where in your life do you need to hear that today? Where in the world do we need to hear that word of freedom?
Immediately the woman stands up straight. She has new life, new dignity. Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham. She praises God.
But the leader of the synagogue is indignant. Ouch, this gets close to home, because I am sort of the leader of this congregation. The leader is a rules and regulations kind of guy. He knows his Old Testament. What commandment talks about the sabbath? The fourth one. It is interesting that the 4th commandment is given in 2 different places. In Exodus 20, we are to remember the sabbath and keep it holy because God worked 6 days in the creation of the world and rested on the 7th. In Deuteronomy 5, we are to keep the sabbath because once we were slaves in Egypt and now have been set free.
Jesus wants us to be set free, even, especially on the sabbath. When is the right time to do what is the right thing? Right now!
The crowd rejoices. A woman is set free from 18 years of being crippled. We are about to rejoice. Our sabbath is Sunday, the first day of the week, the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. Last Sunday, I was so proud of you as wave after wave of you came out to the Blunn Creek apartments on Woodward St, near St. Ed's U. You were getting it ready for Igor to come home. Igor, this 20 year old student from Macedonia was injured in a swimming accident 2 months and 3 weeks ago, and was paralyzed. He has made much progress in that time, but still has a long way to go. In the hot sun, last Sunday, you were bringing a couch, beds, dressers, towels, entertainment center, tv's, kitchen utensils, food, and drinks. Lizzie who has been in a wheelchair for some years now was pitching in by checking everything out to see if her chair fit in all of the spaces. It was a time of rejoicing because Igor was coming home the next day.
And the next day, Monday, Igor left the hospital and came home. But he didn't immediately go to the apartment. He came home to this church, to God's house. Igor wheeled into the front of this sanctuary and sat before the altar and looked up at this cross. We allowed him the time and space to do that. Then we gathered around him and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. I asked him later, "What was going through you?" He said, "It was like a great weight was being lifted off."
This is what the world needs--at school, at work, at home, in the neighborhoods--to be set free. When is the right time to do it? Right now. That is what Jesus is teaching.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
my hope is in You, Lord
8/19/10 My breath prayer for the day comes from Psalm 71:5, "For you , O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth." These words are true to my life, as I have been brought up in the Christian faith. I cannot remember a time I did not feel like I was not a part of God's love and family. As I was walking this morning, I could not get out of my head a song that we will sing in worship on Sunday. I offer it now:
My Life Is in You, Lord
My life is in you, Lord;
My strength is in you, Lord;
My hope is in you, Lord;
In you, it's in you.
I will praise you with all of my life,
I will praise you with all of my strength;
With all of my life,
With all of my strength.
All of my hope is in you.
Love,
Lynn
My Life Is in You, Lord
My life is in you, Lord;
My strength is in you, Lord;
My hope is in you, Lord;
In you, it's in you.
I will praise you with all of my life,
I will praise you with all of my strength;
With all of my life,
With all of my strength.
All of my hope is in you.
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
change and pushback
8/18/10 My breath prayer for the day is Psalm 71:1, "In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame." Our congregation is living into a new vision statement, "Following One, Serving All." I am asking all of our program areas to consider how they will enact that. It involves change. That can lead to conflict, becoming uncomfortable, and resisting. I am starting to pick up on some of that pushback now. I am glad because it means we are moving beyond our comfort zones of doing what we have always done. It means we may need to work with "those" people who are different from us, and because of that difference we get scared. In midst of this change, I take refuge in God who sustains.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
going home
8/17/10 Yesterday was a good day. It was the day that Igor Petresky got to go home. He had been in the hospital since May 26, at which time he had suffered a spinal cord injury after diving into a swimming pool. He had been at Brackenridge for about a month, first in ICU, then in intermediate care. For the last bit, he has been at St. David's rehab. Our congregation has adopted him and his family who are from Macedonia. That adoption process and the number of coincindences (God incidents) I have written and preached about previously. Our church and others have worked hard to find the Petresky family an apartment near St. Edwards University. We found beds, towels, a couch, a TV, kitchen wares, and everything to make the apartment a home. So yesterday, when Igor got out of the hospital, where was the first place he went? He came to our sanctuary, to God's home. How many 20 year olds do you know who would make that their first stop after 2 3/4 months in the hospital? He sat in his wheelchair in front of the altar in silence for several minutes, thanking God. We then gathered around him in prayer also thanking God, for bringing Igor home.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Monday, August 16, 2010
hard truths
from my sermon on August 15 from Luke 1249-56
I am a nice person. Most pastors are. We tend to drive hybrids not hot rods. We return our library books on time. We pay taxes. We take our recycables to the curb. We sit on boards of agencies. We are nice.
We like to be liked. On the MMPI, we score in the high 90% in the categories of nurturing and taking care of others. So how do we deal with a passage like this one?
I read an article this past week on clergy burnout. Care to guess what the reason for burnout was? I would think overfunctioning, for we try to do too much. Or, lack of self-care; we clergy are terrible at this. No, according to the author, a UCC pastor, the number one reason for clergy burnout was giving into the temptation to forsake one's highest calling of preaching the gospel and giving into congregational pressure simply to soothe them.
I have a pastor friend who is new in his church. He recently included the Apostles' Creed in the liturgy....and got chewed. "We don't believe in those old words....they don't apply." I have pastor friends in congregations that want to take down the cross from the sanctuary. "It is offensive....it turns people away."
The pastor who wrote the burnout article comes from a denomination where congregations write up a profile of what they are looking for in a pastor for their local church. The number one criterion mentioned was the ability to give humorous sermons. Lucky for me, I am a funny guy! The church seems to want an entertainment director, not a change agent.
So what are we to do with this passage? It is hard. Let's see a show of hands. How many of you have committed these verses to memory? "I came to bring fire to the earth." Put them on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror? "Peace, no division." Can you see a whole line of greeting cards with these verses as a theme? "Three against two in the family."
It is the kind of passage that helps me believe that the Bible is authentic in its witness to Jesus. Who would make up this stuff? Who would include it in our holy book? If I were in charge, this passage is exactly the kind that I would leave out. The prosperity gospel portrayers certainly don't preach on these passages. No power of positive thinking here, no health and wealth promises.
How are to deal with this passage? I know we have guests in our midst today. I know we have people who are hurting. All I kind say is that these words are hard, but they are true. Stay with me just a few minutes as we go through the passage.
The word order in the Greek text is important. The first word is fire. Jesus literally says, "Fire I came to throw on the earth." If you follow this Jesus you will encounter fire. It will feel like the fire of judgment. In its best sense, it will be the fire of purification. Jesus will love you so much that he will not let you keep on going to hell. Here is another fire image. Whatever you have been running from, hiding, medicating, denying....Jesus will burn away. You may even get "on fire" for Him and His ways. You may find a passion for Him and His work.
There is a baptism, but it is not of water, or sentimentality. Remember that Luke has this long travel section in his gospel as Jesus goes from Galilee to Jerusalem. What happens in Jerusalem? Jesus suffers, and dies, and is raised from the dead. Jesus wants us to be immersed in his life, and death, and resurrection. Our good news has a cross right in the middle of it.
Peace, no division. Every yes for Jesus means a no to someone or something else. My own call story involves going to worship and Sunday school and choir growing up. Even when I went to Texas A & M, I went to the Wesley Foundation, the Methodist Student Ministry. There my campus minister invited me to consider ordained ministry, which had been nibbling at me for a long time. I will never forget the Christmas break of my sophomore year. Can you see mom and dad in their lazyboy recliners on that side of the living room? Can you see me standing on this side? I say, "I think I am called to be a United Methodist pastor." They say, "What! What a waste of an education! Can't you just be a good member of the church and serve in that way?" It hurt a lot. I said, "But I thought you wanted me to be religious?" "Yes, but not that religious," they replied.
If you are a hero child, super-responsible, always taking care of others, just see what happens if you step out of that role. If you say to the other family members, "I am tired of rescuring everyone and every situation. You all need to grow up and step up. I will no longer bail you out." See if some conflict develops. When you say yes to Jesus, you say no to something or someone else.
Start going to a 12 step group to deal with your addiction and see what happens in your family. You may get well, but I can nearly promise you conflict. When you say yes to Jesus, you say no to something or someone else.
The last part involves a weather report. What body of water lies to the west of Israel? The Mediterrean, so if a cloud arises in the west, you know it's going to rain. What lies to the south of the country? The desert, so if a wind comes from there, you know it's going to be hot like Texas in August. Jesus says you know about weather signs, how about stuff that really matters? The word "interpret" is best translated as "to regard something as appropriate or worthwhile." Jesus says, "To what do you pay attention as worthwhile?"
I know that the U of Texas is about to start its football season. Some of you have said to me, "I never miss a football game." Well that's fine, but by God, I wish you would say to me, "I want never to miss a worship service." You take good care of your cars and follow the maintenance guide. Well and good, but how about the maintenance of your soul? What is worthwhile in your life?
In the Uniting Church of Australia, we went to worship on Sunday night when the youth led it. Our friends' son George played electric guitar. They had a bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. I was impressed with the service. It was not just about "Me and Jesus". It was about going with Him into His world to make a difference. One song that we sang has stayed with me. "We Must Go." The lyrics include:
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us inot action
We must go
It is not about entertainment. It is about worship that leads us to get involved in God's messy, saving work. Around here, we say, it is about "Following One, Serving All."
These words are hard, but true. The good news is that nothing else will satisfy except these hard truths.
I am a nice person. Most pastors are. We tend to drive hybrids not hot rods. We return our library books on time. We pay taxes. We take our recycables to the curb. We sit on boards of agencies. We are nice.
We like to be liked. On the MMPI, we score in the high 90% in the categories of nurturing and taking care of others. So how do we deal with a passage like this one?
I read an article this past week on clergy burnout. Care to guess what the reason for burnout was? I would think overfunctioning, for we try to do too much. Or, lack of self-care; we clergy are terrible at this. No, according to the author, a UCC pastor, the number one reason for clergy burnout was giving into the temptation to forsake one's highest calling of preaching the gospel and giving into congregational pressure simply to soothe them.
I have a pastor friend who is new in his church. He recently included the Apostles' Creed in the liturgy....and got chewed. "We don't believe in those old words....they don't apply." I have pastor friends in congregations that want to take down the cross from the sanctuary. "It is offensive....it turns people away."
The pastor who wrote the burnout article comes from a denomination where congregations write up a profile of what they are looking for in a pastor for their local church. The number one criterion mentioned was the ability to give humorous sermons. Lucky for me, I am a funny guy! The church seems to want an entertainment director, not a change agent.
So what are we to do with this passage? It is hard. Let's see a show of hands. How many of you have committed these verses to memory? "I came to bring fire to the earth." Put them on your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror? "Peace, no division." Can you see a whole line of greeting cards with these verses as a theme? "Three against two in the family."
It is the kind of passage that helps me believe that the Bible is authentic in its witness to Jesus. Who would make up this stuff? Who would include it in our holy book? If I were in charge, this passage is exactly the kind that I would leave out. The prosperity gospel portrayers certainly don't preach on these passages. No power of positive thinking here, no health and wealth promises.
How are to deal with this passage? I know we have guests in our midst today. I know we have people who are hurting. All I kind say is that these words are hard, but they are true. Stay with me just a few minutes as we go through the passage.
The word order in the Greek text is important. The first word is fire. Jesus literally says, "Fire I came to throw on the earth." If you follow this Jesus you will encounter fire. It will feel like the fire of judgment. In its best sense, it will be the fire of purification. Jesus will love you so much that he will not let you keep on going to hell. Here is another fire image. Whatever you have been running from, hiding, medicating, denying....Jesus will burn away. You may even get "on fire" for Him and His ways. You may find a passion for Him and His work.
There is a baptism, but it is not of water, or sentimentality. Remember that Luke has this long travel section in his gospel as Jesus goes from Galilee to Jerusalem. What happens in Jerusalem? Jesus suffers, and dies, and is raised from the dead. Jesus wants us to be immersed in his life, and death, and resurrection. Our good news has a cross right in the middle of it.
Peace, no division. Every yes for Jesus means a no to someone or something else. My own call story involves going to worship and Sunday school and choir growing up. Even when I went to Texas A & M, I went to the Wesley Foundation, the Methodist Student Ministry. There my campus minister invited me to consider ordained ministry, which had been nibbling at me for a long time. I will never forget the Christmas break of my sophomore year. Can you see mom and dad in their lazyboy recliners on that side of the living room? Can you see me standing on this side? I say, "I think I am called to be a United Methodist pastor." They say, "What! What a waste of an education! Can't you just be a good member of the church and serve in that way?" It hurt a lot. I said, "But I thought you wanted me to be religious?" "Yes, but not that religious," they replied.
If you are a hero child, super-responsible, always taking care of others, just see what happens if you step out of that role. If you say to the other family members, "I am tired of rescuring everyone and every situation. You all need to grow up and step up. I will no longer bail you out." See if some conflict develops. When you say yes to Jesus, you say no to something or someone else.
Start going to a 12 step group to deal with your addiction and see what happens in your family. You may get well, but I can nearly promise you conflict. When you say yes to Jesus, you say no to something or someone else.
The last part involves a weather report. What body of water lies to the west of Israel? The Mediterrean, so if a cloud arises in the west, you know it's going to rain. What lies to the south of the country? The desert, so if a wind comes from there, you know it's going to be hot like Texas in August. Jesus says you know about weather signs, how about stuff that really matters? The word "interpret" is best translated as "to regard something as appropriate or worthwhile." Jesus says, "To what do you pay attention as worthwhile?"
I know that the U of Texas is about to start its football season. Some of you have said to me, "I never miss a football game." Well that's fine, but by God, I wish you would say to me, "I want never to miss a worship service." You take good care of your cars and follow the maintenance guide. Well and good, but how about the maintenance of your soul? What is worthwhile in your life?
In the Uniting Church of Australia, we went to worship on Sunday night when the youth led it. Our friends' son George played electric guitar. They had a bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. I was impressed with the service. It was not just about "Me and Jesus". It was about going with Him into His world to make a difference. One song that we sang has stayed with me. "We Must Go." The lyrics include:
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us inot action
We must go
It is not about entertainment. It is about worship that leads us to get involved in God's messy, saving work. Around here, we say, it is about "Following One, Serving All."
These words are hard, but true. The good news is that nothing else will satisfy except these hard truths.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
take me out to the ballgame
August 12,2010 Last night it was United Methodist night at the local AAA farm team for the Astros, the Round Rock Express. Thankfully, it had rained in the late afternoon which brought the temperatures down from 100 to the 80's. The baseball diamond is in a beautiful setting, with lots of activities for children and youth--swimming, shooting basketballs, rock climbing, etc. There are lots of silly games out on the field between innings. In the first inning the home team, the Express scored 9 runs. In the second, they scored 2 more. In the third inning, it was 11 to 0. I asked in a joking manner, if there was a mercy rule in professional baseball. Sacramento Rivercats clawed their way back, scoring 5 runs in the fourth or fifth inning, 2 more in the sixth. At that point we left the game, with the score 11 to 7. I opened the newspaper this morning to find out the final score. The Rivercats scored another run in late innings, and 5 in the 9th inning to win 13 to 11. The Express never scored past the second inning. Lesson learned, "it ain't over till it's over."
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
retreat
August 11, 2010 Yesterday our staff team went on a daylong retreat. One of our church members has a nearby lakehouse which we used. It is amazing how much can get done in 6 hours when we come together. I don't push too hard, allowing time for singing, praying, visiting, resting, eating. I find that the Spirit moves people to interact over dessert or riding in the canoe. I included a surprise in the early afternoon, Barbara Smith, who led us in some 40 minutes of Qigong, a type of Chinese exercise. It was like a body prayer. We got lots of things on the calendar. We raised some issues. We resolved some problems. We communicated well. It is funny to me, what one author I like says, "in order to move forward, you have to retreat."
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Monday, August 9, 2010
ready or not, here I come
from my sermon on 8/8/10 from Luke 12:32-40
"You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Are you ready? Most of life happens unexpectedly, not like our experience of a geyser at Wai-o-tapu in New Zealand. Cathy and I visited this national park on the north island where many geothermal features were--springs, mud pots, steam vents. One thing that they advertised was a geyser that went off at 10:15 every morning. I got to thinking about it. How could they be so sure that it would be that precise? I have been to Yellowstone. Old Faithful goes off about every hour, but there they give a range, say 53 minutes to 65 minutes. How does a geyser go off so regularly? At 10:15, we were standing with about 100 people looking at a cone coming up out of the ground. A park ranger came out with a microphone, and said, "This geyser would erupt about every 36-72 hours without any other kind of stimulus. What happens is that a layer of cold water traps the layer of hot water underneath until sufficient pressure builds to erupt. We change the surface tension with some soap." Then he put in some bars that look like ivory soap, and a minute later, the geyser started blowing, growing up to 50 feet or more in the air.
Most of life is not that predictable. Most of life is like this: "You are being laid off next week. I am sorry we no longer need your services." "I am pregnant." "We have to move next week." "It's cancer." "I want a divorce." It is unexpected.
How can we be ready? I think this passage has some wisdom for us.
First, Jesus sets everything in context with these calming words, "Do not be afraid." Being anxious is not the same as being ready. In fact, anxiety limits our choices and responses. Jesus continues with a term of endearment--"little flock", we are called. And we have a personal God, "your Father," not a God way off and uncaring. Finally, this intimate God has a gift for, "the kingdom." How good do you have to be? How hard do you have to work? It is not about that. It is a gift. We simply receive it. The kingdom is real and concrete, like being able to sleep at night, finding forgiveness when we mess up, having a community of friends to trust, being a part of God's reconciling work. The first part of being ready is about receiving what has already been given to us , the kingdom of God, and because of that not being anxious. In Australia and New Zealand, the common response was, No worries, mate."
Secondly, we are to hold onto the things of this world very lightly. Sell possessions. Give alms...interesting in that the root word for almsgiving is the same word for mercy. We can send our treasure on ahead of us to heaven. The word treasure in Greek is one you know, thesaurus. There is a story about how they capture a certain monkey in Africa. The trappers know that the monkeys like a particular nut. They place the nut in a large, heavy jar. The monkey can see and smell the nut and reaches into the jar to grasp it. The hole in the jar is large enough for the monkey to slip its hand in, but not large enough to get its fist out. In the morning the trappers come back to pick up the monkeys who are trapped with their fists firmly around the nuts in the jars. Being ready involves not holding onto possessions. Generosity is the antidote to anxiety over possessions.
Thirdly we have metaphors for being prepared. One is being dressed for action. The Greek is literally having one loins girded. Here's what it means. People used to wear long robes with a belt cinch. One would lift up the long skirt and tuck it into the belt in order to run. It has ties with the Hebrews escaping Egypt in the Passover. They were ready to run. A second image is that of having lamps lit. In the Tabernacle of the wilderness sojourn and the Temple of Jerusalem, there was a light, an eternal flame, to signify the presence of God always with the people. A third image is that of slaves/servants waiting for the groom to come home. He has gone to the bride's house in order to get married. The servants joyfully and eagerly await his return. These images for me connote our being ready to please God and not ourselves, and to do so with eagerness.
Those that do this are blessed. There is a beattitude, "blessed are those whom the master finds alert." There is a wonderful role reversal. The master will act as their servant. He will gird up his loins and serve them. There were 3 watches in the night. The master comes at an unexpected time.
Fourthly, there is the image of a house owner who is prepared for a thief. A break-in is disruptive to say the least. Any of you had this experience? I have, and it is not pleasant. You feel violated. No one can stay awake all of the time. No one know when the thief will come. The best we can do is to lower the odds and to increase our coping responses.
The whole point of this passage is not to be anxious about stuff that doesn't matter, and to be anxious of the coming realm of God.
To be ready is to act out what the Old Testament lesson, Isaiah 1 says, "Cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." Or as our new vision statements says, we are "Following One, Serving All." If we are in this posture, we won't have to worry when the Lord comes. We will be ready.
"You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Are you ready? Most of life happens unexpectedly, not like our experience of a geyser at Wai-o-tapu in New Zealand. Cathy and I visited this national park on the north island where many geothermal features were--springs, mud pots, steam vents. One thing that they advertised was a geyser that went off at 10:15 every morning. I got to thinking about it. How could they be so sure that it would be that precise? I have been to Yellowstone. Old Faithful goes off about every hour, but there they give a range, say 53 minutes to 65 minutes. How does a geyser go off so regularly? At 10:15, we were standing with about 100 people looking at a cone coming up out of the ground. A park ranger came out with a microphone, and said, "This geyser would erupt about every 36-72 hours without any other kind of stimulus. What happens is that a layer of cold water traps the layer of hot water underneath until sufficient pressure builds to erupt. We change the surface tension with some soap." Then he put in some bars that look like ivory soap, and a minute later, the geyser started blowing, growing up to 50 feet or more in the air.
Most of life is not that predictable. Most of life is like this: "You are being laid off next week. I am sorry we no longer need your services." "I am pregnant." "We have to move next week." "It's cancer." "I want a divorce." It is unexpected.
How can we be ready? I think this passage has some wisdom for us.
First, Jesus sets everything in context with these calming words, "Do not be afraid." Being anxious is not the same as being ready. In fact, anxiety limits our choices and responses. Jesus continues with a term of endearment--"little flock", we are called. And we have a personal God, "your Father," not a God way off and uncaring. Finally, this intimate God has a gift for, "the kingdom." How good do you have to be? How hard do you have to work? It is not about that. It is a gift. We simply receive it. The kingdom is real and concrete, like being able to sleep at night, finding forgiveness when we mess up, having a community of friends to trust, being a part of God's reconciling work. The first part of being ready is about receiving what has already been given to us , the kingdom of God, and because of that not being anxious. In Australia and New Zealand, the common response was, No worries, mate."
Secondly, we are to hold onto the things of this world very lightly. Sell possessions. Give alms...interesting in that the root word for almsgiving is the same word for mercy. We can send our treasure on ahead of us to heaven. The word treasure in Greek is one you know, thesaurus. There is a story about how they capture a certain monkey in Africa. The trappers know that the monkeys like a particular nut. They place the nut in a large, heavy jar. The monkey can see and smell the nut and reaches into the jar to grasp it. The hole in the jar is large enough for the monkey to slip its hand in, but not large enough to get its fist out. In the morning the trappers come back to pick up the monkeys who are trapped with their fists firmly around the nuts in the jars. Being ready involves not holding onto possessions. Generosity is the antidote to anxiety over possessions.
Thirdly we have metaphors for being prepared. One is being dressed for action. The Greek is literally having one loins girded. Here's what it means. People used to wear long robes with a belt cinch. One would lift up the long skirt and tuck it into the belt in order to run. It has ties with the Hebrews escaping Egypt in the Passover. They were ready to run. A second image is that of having lamps lit. In the Tabernacle of the wilderness sojourn and the Temple of Jerusalem, there was a light, an eternal flame, to signify the presence of God always with the people. A third image is that of slaves/servants waiting for the groom to come home. He has gone to the bride's house in order to get married. The servants joyfully and eagerly await his return. These images for me connote our being ready to please God and not ourselves, and to do so with eagerness.
Those that do this are blessed. There is a beattitude, "blessed are those whom the master finds alert." There is a wonderful role reversal. The master will act as their servant. He will gird up his loins and serve them. There were 3 watches in the night. The master comes at an unexpected time.
Fourthly, there is the image of a house owner who is prepared for a thief. A break-in is disruptive to say the least. Any of you had this experience? I have, and it is not pleasant. You feel violated. No one can stay awake all of the time. No one know when the thief will come. The best we can do is to lower the odds and to increase our coping responses.
The whole point of this passage is not to be anxious about stuff that doesn't matter, and to be anxious of the coming realm of God.
To be ready is to act out what the Old Testament lesson, Isaiah 1 says, "Cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." Or as our new vision statements says, we are "Following One, Serving All." If we are in this posture, we won't have to worry when the Lord comes. We will be ready.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
thanksgiving
August 5, 2010, My breath prayer today comes from Psalm 50:23, "Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God." It struck me this morning as I was walking that our offerings to God are not just money, or service, but gratitude. Maybe that is the heart of all of our offerings to God: thanksgiving. When we get oriented this way, God is honored and shows us the way of salvation.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
personal
August 4, 2010, My breath prayer today comes from Psalm 50:7, "Hear O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God." Every day I use the Daily Disciplines which follows the lectionary (a series of readings that covers most of the Bible over 3 years). I stay with the passage to which I am directed until something strikes me. Today the Daily Disciplines book helped me with its commentary. The God who confronts us and who judges us is also the God who is so close to us, "your God." God is personal.
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
pardon and assurance
August 3, 2010 In the worship liturgy, we confess our sin. We admit how we are wrong, how we have offended God, how we have hurt other people. Thankfully, God has the next word. In the order of worship, confession is followed by the word of pardon and assurance. You can't do much better for being set free from sin than my breath prayer for today which comes from Isaiah 1:18b, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red lke crimson, they shall become like wool."
Love,
Lynn
Love,
Lynn
Monday, August 2, 2010
eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you...
from my sermon on August 1, 2010, from Luke 12:13-21
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you....die. We get that common phrase from this bit of scripture we read. I would like to turn it around in a minute if you can stay with me. You see, I have been turned around. Cathy and I are just back from 4 weeks off on holiday in Australia and New Zealand and I'm still all turned around. We live in the Northern Hemisphere; they live in the ...Southern. Here it is summertime; there it is ....wintertime. Here we drive on the right side of the road; there they drive on the ....left..no the wrong side of the road. This messed me up more than anything else. For 11 days we had a rental can, and I got really turned around. Everytime we got in the car, Cathy would say, "remember to drive on the left side of the road." To make matters worse on the steering column, the turn signal and the windshield wiper controls were....turned around. Therefore, inevitably, in a time of great stress with Cathy screaming, "Left, turn left here, left," what you would see is this: the windshield wipers come on.
Jesus is on a journey. He is not on holiday. He is going to Jerusalem with all that city implies. Only Luke has this long travelogue. As he goes, he is trying to turn everything around, to turn things the right way for the kingdom of God. As he goes, a man from the crowd interrupts his journey with a demand: tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. I know that we don't have any family squabbles over wills, estates, inheritance. Oh, we do....maybe this story has some relevance even today. Now the Old Testament has guidelines on division of property and Moses evens sets an example, but Jesus refuses to get involved. As one of the commentaries I read says, when it comes to greed, who can says whose greed is more right? Jesus issues some warnings about greed and storing up of possessions.
And then Jesus tells a story, as I like to do. A man works hards, is carefuel, doesn't practice theft or graft. There is no history of mistreatment of employees. He has a bountiful harvest and gets rich. He seems to be the paradigm of American capitalism. So what is the problem? How many times does he use the pronoun "I?" Six. How many times does he use the pronoun "my?" Five. How many times does he reference God? Zero. How many times does he reference others? Zero. He lives for himself, talks to himself, plans for himself, and congratulates himself. The Lord comes and calls him "Fool." "This very night, your life is demanded of you." Do I need to remind you how fragile life is? You know about illness, about accident, about natural disaster. This man is so self-centered it is as if he is already dead.
Here's where I want to turn this sermon around. We have the communion table set today. I want you to hear Jesus say to you today, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for today you live." I believe some people around here are getting this message. You have heard youth give testimonies all summer long of going on mission trips. Why would they give up air conditioning, ipods, cell phones, etc., and go work in the hot sun doing home repairs. I think they have been feasting at this table and learned what life is about. It not about getting; it's about giving. Around this church we are learning that life is about "Following One, Serving All."
This morning I was blown away as I greeted a man in the pews just before the 9 a.m. service. "Help me with your name." He said, "I am Bob Bassett." Bob and I started Texas A & M together in 1971 and we were active in the Wesley Foundation there. Why would a bunch of Aggies get up early on Saturday morning and go out reroof little country churches, or paint them? I think it is because we feasted at this table. We learned to eat, drink, and be merry, and to live.
Jesus turns things around. I close with a story I got from Textweek.com.
Some years ago, a member gave me the following story, by Florence Ferrier about a social worker in poverty-stricken Appalachia. It's called "We Ain't Poor!
The Sheldons were a large family in severe financial distress after a series of misfortunes. The help they received was not adequate, yet they managed their meager income with ingenuity -- and without complaint.
One fall day I visited the Sheldons in the ramshackle rented house they lived in at the edge of the woods. Despite a painful physical handicap, Mr. Sheldon had shot and butchered a bear which strayed into their yard once too often. The meat had been processed into all the big canning jars they could find or swap for. There would be meat in their diet even during the worst of the winter when their fuel costs were high.
Mr. Sheldon offered me a jar of bear meat. I hesitated to accept it, but the giver met my unspoken resistance firmly. "Now you just have to take this. We want you to have it. We don't have much, that's a fact; but we ain't poor!"
I couldn't resist asking, "What's the difference?" His answer proved unforgettable.
"When you can give something away, even when you don't have much, then you ain't poor. When you don't feel easy giving something away even if you got more'n you need, then you're poor, whether you know it or not."
I accepted and enjoyed their gift and treasured that lesson in living. In time, I saw it as a spiritual lesson, too. Knowing that all we have is provided by the Father, it seems ungracious to doubt that our needs will be met without our clinging to every morsel.
When I feel myself resisting an urge to share what's mine -- or when I see someone sharing freely from the little he has -- I remember Mr. Sheldon saying, "We ain't poor!"
Jesus turns things around. We are rich. Come to the table today. Eat, drink, and be merry, for today you live. That's the good news I have to share with you.
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you....die. We get that common phrase from this bit of scripture we read. I would like to turn it around in a minute if you can stay with me. You see, I have been turned around. Cathy and I are just back from 4 weeks off on holiday in Australia and New Zealand and I'm still all turned around. We live in the Northern Hemisphere; they live in the ...Southern. Here it is summertime; there it is ....wintertime. Here we drive on the right side of the road; there they drive on the ....left..no the wrong side of the road. This messed me up more than anything else. For 11 days we had a rental can, and I got really turned around. Everytime we got in the car, Cathy would say, "remember to drive on the left side of the road." To make matters worse on the steering column, the turn signal and the windshield wiper controls were....turned around. Therefore, inevitably, in a time of great stress with Cathy screaming, "Left, turn left here, left," what you would see is this: the windshield wipers come on.
Jesus is on a journey. He is not on holiday. He is going to Jerusalem with all that city implies. Only Luke has this long travelogue. As he goes, he is trying to turn everything around, to turn things the right way for the kingdom of God. As he goes, a man from the crowd interrupts his journey with a demand: tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. I know that we don't have any family squabbles over wills, estates, inheritance. Oh, we do....maybe this story has some relevance even today. Now the Old Testament has guidelines on division of property and Moses evens sets an example, but Jesus refuses to get involved. As one of the commentaries I read says, when it comes to greed, who can says whose greed is more right? Jesus issues some warnings about greed and storing up of possessions.
And then Jesus tells a story, as I like to do. A man works hards, is carefuel, doesn't practice theft or graft. There is no history of mistreatment of employees. He has a bountiful harvest and gets rich. He seems to be the paradigm of American capitalism. So what is the problem? How many times does he use the pronoun "I?" Six. How many times does he use the pronoun "my?" Five. How many times does he reference God? Zero. How many times does he reference others? Zero. He lives for himself, talks to himself, plans for himself, and congratulates himself. The Lord comes and calls him "Fool." "This very night, your life is demanded of you." Do I need to remind you how fragile life is? You know about illness, about accident, about natural disaster. This man is so self-centered it is as if he is already dead.
Here's where I want to turn this sermon around. We have the communion table set today. I want you to hear Jesus say to you today, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for today you live." I believe some people around here are getting this message. You have heard youth give testimonies all summer long of going on mission trips. Why would they give up air conditioning, ipods, cell phones, etc., and go work in the hot sun doing home repairs. I think they have been feasting at this table and learned what life is about. It not about getting; it's about giving. Around this church we are learning that life is about "Following One, Serving All."
This morning I was blown away as I greeted a man in the pews just before the 9 a.m. service. "Help me with your name." He said, "I am Bob Bassett." Bob and I started Texas A & M together in 1971 and we were active in the Wesley Foundation there. Why would a bunch of Aggies get up early on Saturday morning and go out reroof little country churches, or paint them? I think it is because we feasted at this table. We learned to eat, drink, and be merry, and to live.
Jesus turns things around. I close with a story I got from Textweek.com.
Some years ago, a member gave me the following story, by Florence Ferrier about a social worker in poverty-stricken Appalachia. It's called "We Ain't Poor!
The Sheldons were a large family in severe financial distress after a series of misfortunes. The help they received was not adequate, yet they managed their meager income with ingenuity -- and without complaint.
One fall day I visited the Sheldons in the ramshackle rented house they lived in at the edge of the woods. Despite a painful physical handicap, Mr. Sheldon had shot and butchered a bear which strayed into their yard once too often. The meat had been processed into all the big canning jars they could find or swap for. There would be meat in their diet even during the worst of the winter when their fuel costs were high.
Mr. Sheldon offered me a jar of bear meat. I hesitated to accept it, but the giver met my unspoken resistance firmly. "Now you just have to take this. We want you to have it. We don't have much, that's a fact; but we ain't poor!"
I couldn't resist asking, "What's the difference?" His answer proved unforgettable.
"When you can give something away, even when you don't have much, then you ain't poor. When you don't feel easy giving something away even if you got more'n you need, then you're poor, whether you know it or not."
I accepted and enjoyed their gift and treasured that lesson in living. In time, I saw it as a spiritual lesson, too. Knowing that all we have is provided by the Father, it seems ungracious to doubt that our needs will be met without our clinging to every morsel.
When I feel myself resisting an urge to share what's mine -- or when I see someone sharing freely from the little he has -- I remember Mr. Sheldon saying, "We ain't poor!"
Jesus turns things around. We are rich. Come to the table today. Eat, drink, and be merry, for today you live. That's the good news I have to share with you.
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