AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem - Mary"

 

Luke 1:46-55

We Protestants don’t talk a lot about Mary. I mean, when was the last time you heard a sermon about Mary or did a Bible study on Mary? Thank goodness we have Christmas, or we might never get around to talking about or thinking about Mary.

When I lived in Mexico, I developed a great appreciation for Mary. This appreciation—believe it or not—grew out of riding the ‘Ruta 70’ (Route 70 city bus) from near our apartment to the seminary downtown and back every day.

You may not have noticed, but I really look a lot like a “gringo” (Caucasian, 6’3”, blue eyes, etc.). So, I was a curiosity on the city bus. Some folks were warry of me—avoided eye contact, stayed away. Some were English language learners and wanted to try out their English. And, some were just curious about this fellow who seemed somewhat out of place on the city bus.

Everyone I talked with got around to asking me what I was doing in Monterrey, Mexico. I would respond that I was a teacher. And, they’d ask, “What do you teach?” I would respond that I taught Biblical Studies at the Methodist seminary. “Oh…so you’re an evangelico (Protestant)?” “Yes,” I would respond. And then they would ask THE question, the litmus test of every good Mexican Catholic.

¿Qué opinas de Maria? What do you think about Mary?

In the beginning, I responded as any good, southern Methodist: “Oh, we don’t worship Mary. We worship God as we follow Jesus.”

This response may have been theologically “spot on,” but it was conversation suicide. They would smile. And, the conversation would be over.

I needed to figure this out. Conversations were ending abruptly, and that meant that relationships didn’t have a chance. Only through relationship do we begin to shape each other's lives. So, I began to think about Mary, and I began to search the Gospels to see what I could learn about Mary. Mary doesn’t say much in the Gospels, and the Gospels themselves don’t say much about Mary. But, I came upon this passage in Luke that changed everything for me—Luke 1:46-55:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

After reading and re-reading this passage, after praying, after thinking, after doing this through a long weekend, I was ready. I was ready for someone to toss me that question again.

I didn’t have to wait long. It was a Tuesday on the way home in the afternoon. A middle-aged couple were in the seat behind mine. I was turned sideways in my seat watching the city go by. I eventually made eye-contact with the man, he smiled, and we started to chat. The question came around to why I was in Monterrey, and then—right on cue—he asked the question: ¿Qué opinas de Maria? I was ready.

“I love Mary! Have you read the song she sings in Luke 1? Have heard those words? She sings about the goodness and greatness of God. She sings about the importance of humility. She sings about the justice God will bring—about how the great and powerful will be brought low and the lowly and powerless will be lifted up. If we could have the same spirit as Mary, if we could embrace her attitude, what a different world we would have. Yes, I love Mary.”

After helping them lift their jaws off the floor (they had never had an evangelico respond in this manner!), the conversation continued…and we talked together all they way to my bus stop.

My answer, theologically ‘spot on’ and conversation enlivening!

I took this discovery back to my seminary students, told them the story, talked things through with them to tweak and shape the response to make sure it was culturally receivable and theologically correct. Within two weeks, they were coming back with amazing and exciting stories of engaging conversations and even some decisions of faith.

Mary doesn’t speak much. Little is actually said about her. But, she is important to our faith. She is more than a pronoun in a Christmas song. She truly is an example of faithfulness. So, today, as we draw near to Christmas morning, I say to you what I said to so many on Ruta 70…

I love Mary. Her song in the Gospel of Luke shows us how we are to respond to God—in humility, in praise of God’s power and justice. If we would embrace that same spirit, that same attitude that we find in Mary, what a different world this would be, how different our own lives would be….

Amen.

Sunday, December 22, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem—Mary”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem" (Isaiah)

 

Isaiah 61:1-4, 11

When we look at the world around us through the lenses of television, movies, and social media, we see that the favored ones are the powerful, the wealthy, the strong, the good-looking. But, those lenses are not the only way to see the world.

In Isaiah, we see that the favored ones are of a different sort. Speaking to those returning from the Babylonian captivity to the broken, destroyed, neglected world they were taken from, Isaiah reveals the favored ones to be the poor, the brokenhearted, those who have been captives and prisoners, those who mourn. Through God's Spirit, Isaiah promises good news, healing, freedom, light, praise...repair, renewal, and regrowth. Indeed, Isaiah is pointing the people to something yet to come, another act of God’s redeeming work in this broken world. He points them towards Bethlehem.

After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and the world changes, everything changes. As Jesus begins his ministry in Nazareth (Luke 4) at the local synagogue, he reads the same words from Isaiah 61: 

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Reading these Spirit-filled words, Jesus indirectly speaks against the strong, the rich, the free, the enlightened...at least, against those who think this way and ignore God in the process. But, the story does not end there. In Acts 2:1-4a (Pentecost), that same Spirit that Isaiah speaks about, that Jesus talks about, is poured out on the church. Now, what does this mean for you and for me?

Because we, too, receive God's Spirit, these words first spoken by Isaiah and repeated by Jesus are now our words. These words and this work are now yours, mine, ours: the Spirit of the Lord is on us—on you and on me, because he has anointed us to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent us to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. These ancient words are now our words because that same Spirit is now upon us…all because Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Sunday, December 15, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem—Isaiah”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem" (Joel)

Joel 2:12-13; 28-29 (Acts 2:1-4; 14-16)

We continue our journey towards Bethlehem this week, hearing again the ancient voices of the prophets as they pointed to something new that God would do as a part of redeeming the broken world in which we live. Hear today the words the prophet Joel spoke to the people almost 3000 years ago as Jerusalem and the surrounding areas are facing possible starvation. A plague of locusts has stripped the land bare. The people do not even have enough grain to make the bread for the Temple offering. Farmers have no harvest, and everyone has just the grain remaining from the last harvest.

Plagues and starvation—these are so far outside our own experience. Right? Or are they…?

Plagues—are unpredictable. The locust swarms in Joel’s time came when they came with no warning. Plagues usually come this way. Unlike the predictable rainy and dry seasons, the locust swarms happened when the happened, and when the happened, the results were devastating—potential starvation.

We know something of plagues—the bubonic plague—The Black Death— that killed around 35 million people in Eurasia and North Africa in the 14^th Century, the so-called “Spanish Flu” of the early 20^th Century that killed over 50 million, and “COVID-19” of the early 21^st Century that killed over seven million. So, plagues—those unexpected, unpredictable disasters that happen upon our lives—these, we do know.

Starvation—From the number of pictures of food I see on social media, I’d say not too many folks are starving. The CDC reports that our national obesity rate is around 40%...so not too many of us in the US are starving. But, this last month, our food pantry here at McAllen First UMC served over 165 families. According to our regional food bank, almost 150,000 people in the RGV face “food insecurity.” Maybe physical starvation is a thing….

Emotional and spiritual starvation have become epidemic in the world here at the beginning of the 21^st Century. We now know that our amazing smartphones with their unbelievable apps that connect us to thousands, even millions, of people around the world are leaving us emotionally starved. Some strive to address this emotional starvation with food, some with shopping, and still others with another app.

In the 17^th Century, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal writes Pensées:

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in [us] a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?

This [we] try in vain to fill with everything around [us], …though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.”[1]

In other words, “There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of each of us which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God.”

Our spiritual starvation is as real as an empty stomach, and we try to fill it with food, with new gadgets, with new clothes, with new experiences, with social media, with “everything around us.”

Conclusions—The people of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas craved protection, safety, and security from the plagues of their world. And, once the plague hit, the hungered for the grains, fruits, and vegetables that would quell the emptiness of their stomachs.

We crave to be protected, to be safe, to be secure from the plagues of this world. We hunger to be full, to be satiated.

Joel proclaims that these things will come. God will give to the people, to us, the very thing we need. We will live securely in the assurance of life unending. Our spiritual hunger will be satiated as God pours himself into us through His Spirit. True security, true satiety comes to us through Bethlehem. Today, we can turn to God for security, today we can allow God to begin filling the emptiness of our lives. Oh, the gift that God gives us all in Bethlehem….

 

Sunday, December 8, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem—Joel”
Watch/Listen: HERE

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[1] “The Correct Quote of Blaise Pascal.” It’s Just Me: SARAH. Last modified October 14, 2011. https://itsjustme.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/the-correct-quote-of-blaise-pascal/.

 

AfterWords: "Towards Bethlehem" (Jeremiah)

 

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The season of Advent begins today (Dec. 1st). Really, we Christians should greet each other on the first Sunday of Advent with, “Happy New Year!” because this is the beginning of the new Church year. But, Advent—what is that? Advent comes from the Latin adventus, a word that translates best as “to come to.” Every year (if not every day!), we need this season to be reminded that God has come to us, so Advent is that initial season of the church year when we remember.

I really love this season for the lights, the decorations, the music. And, I love this season because it reminds us that we are connected to an ancient story. This is the season we hear the words of the prophets of old reminding us that this Jesus story is not something new but something ancient that God planned long ago…a plan for God to come to us.

The prophets of the Old Testament serve as harbingers, leaving hints of things to come. Some of their prophecies are straight up, clear; others are suggestions of what will be. Our reading today from the prophet Jeremiah comes some 600 years before Jesus’ birth. But, his words had everything to do with Jesus’ birth.

Jeremiah talks about a new covenant, a new agreement between God and humanity—

    ·   God’s law will be within … written on hearts.
    ·   God and the people will belong to each other.
    ·   God will be known.
    ·   Sins will be forgiven…and forgotten.

What better place to have God’s law than written in our hearts?

For God to be ours and for us to belong to God?

To know God, to really know—not just know about—but to know God?

And, to have our missteps and mistakes, our “trespasses,,” our sins – all forgiven…all forgotten?

In Jeremiah, we get a glimpse of things to come. Today, in this season of Advent, we begin our journey towards Bethlehem. Today we begin looking with anticipation and expectation to what will happen when God fulfills his promise “to come to” us. As we gather each Sunday for worship over the next few weeks, let us remember that the lights, the tree, the Chrismons, the poinsettias, the wreaths—all of these point us towards the One who comes to us in Bethlehem.

Amen

Sunday, December 1, 2024
“Towards Bethlehem”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Old Stories, New Lives: God's Plan"

 

Daniel 6:25-28

History is the grand unfolding of God’s plan—a plan begun the moment humanity sinned, a plan put into motion through the life of Abraham to redeem the broken world, to bring blessing to all of humanity.

Besides God’s grand plan of redemption for humanity and earth, God also has a plan for our lives—hopes and dreams of what we might be able to do. And, these plans will not be stopped.

Today’s reading from Daniel is the end of the “Daniel in the Lions’ Den” story. This story reveals that God had a plan for Daniel’s life, and nothing would stop it.

How many of you have heard this line: “God has a plan for your life!”? This is true, but it’s not true how some (too many) think it’s true. God’s plan for us is broad, wide, open—space for our freedom. We do not live narrowly scripted lives in which every thought and action is defined and determined. If so, free will is a lie and our “choice” to live lives of loving kindness is an illusion. God’s plan for our lives is broad and open and gives us a chance to live free and express creativity. Best of all, God’s plan will not be stopped.

The Babylonian home team wanted to stop the plan of Daniel’s life. But, they could not.

Paul, in Acts 23 as he recounts the story of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, relates Jesus’ words: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will” (v.14). Paul could not stop the unfolding of God’s plan for the Church or God’s plan for his own life.

The Romans crucified Jesus—the Jewish leaders were sure this would put a stop of Jesus and his message. Put a stop to God’s plan of forgiveness and redemption? No, they could not stop God’s plan.

So, God does have a plan for your life—a life to the full, as John reminds us (John 10:10; a life of joy and gratitude, as Paul points out (1 Thess. 5:16-18); a life of purpose and direction, as the prophet reminds us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Jesus was the great “reductionist.” “You shall love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” The whole of the Old Testament is reduced to a few lines. I, too, stive to be a reductionist, and I’ve reduced God’s plan to this: “Live a life of joy and help others to do the same.” It’s simplistic, but it’s a starting point for me that guides me generally day to day.

God has a plan for our lives—for yours and for mine. For a few, there will be specific tasks, but for the most part, our lives are planned in broad strokes: Life to the full, joy and gratitude, purpose and direction.  You and I have a choice—to live into the plan and enjoy the life that God dreams for you and for me, or to reject—stall, delay, ignore—the plan and live lives of frustration, or—as Thoreau put it—“lives of quiet desperation.”

Decide today to live into God’s plan for you, for me, for us. Live lives of joy and bring joy to others. And, as Thanksgiving is upon us, let us give thanks that we seek and serve a God who cares enough to have loving plans for us and our world. Amen.

 

Sunday, November 24, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Plan”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: “Old Stories, New Life: God’s Call”

 

Isaiah 6:1-8

Some calls we don’t want: The IRS, the boss on a weekend, the teacher after we’ve had a bad day at school, the “robo call” or marketing call. Perhaps it’s because of the negative calls like these that we don’t want to hear from God…? Or, maybe the examples in Scripture kind of terrify us.

In Isaiah 8, we hear Isaiah’s call—smoke, fire, seraphim, and more! Perhaps we have bumped into other great calls in Scripture: Abraham’s call in Genesis 12 – “I am going to make a new nation out of you” …no pressure; Moses’ call in Exodus 3 – “My people are in bondage in the most powerful kingdom in the world, and I’m using you to set them free” …again, no pressure.

In the New Testament, God continues to call people, and some of those calls are no less dramatic that the Old Testament: Paul’s call - Damascus Road experience is incomparable; Peter, James, and John’s call – “Follow me and fish for people...” (be prepared to leave it all!)

Perhaps because of these somewhat overwhelming, life-altering calls, we are reluctant to even listen to hear if God is calling us to something in our lives. We may not even want to dive into the disciplines of prayer and Bible study because God might just call us to something!

When I was 18 years old, I was called to Christian ministry after a time of searching and making sense of life. My call story is my story. Too often, we think someone else’s call is going to be a pattern of how our call plays out. We fear that God is going to call us to something we don’t want to do or think we cannot do.

I’ve learned at least two things about God’s call in our lives as followers of Jesus. First, God can put new desires, hopes, and dreams into our lives (see Psalm 37:4). Second, God equips us and enables us to do what we’re called to do: Abraham was unable to have children, yet God gave him children; Moses was not able to speak clearly, so God gave him a spokesperson, Aaron; Paul did not have a heart for others and had nothing to do with Gentiles, and God gave him a heart for others—especially Gentiles.

God may call us to do … or God may call us to be. One of my favorite call stories is found in the Gospels—Matthew 11:28.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus calls us to himself—not to a task, not to a job. Jesus calls us to simply be with him.

Listen for God’s voice—it comes to us in song, in prayer, in Scripture, and in the voices of those around us. Listen for God’s voice—it brings our lives us purpose, direction, and meaning. Listen and respond—God is putting new dreams, hopes, and desires in your life, and God will give you everything you need to do what He calls you to. “If God calls you to it, God will take you through it.” Listen and respond—God may be calling you to action, or God may be calling you to rest.

Whatever the call is that comes to us, God is moving you and me closer and closer to the better life God has for us, and God will use us to touch the lives of others. God calls. We can respond. Amen

Sunday, November 17, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Call”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: “Old Stories-New Life: God’s Persistence”

 

Jonah 1:1-17

I. Jonah’s Story – Are you familiar with Jonah’s story? Here’s what happens:

Jonah is called to go and preach to the great city of Nineveh…and promptly turns around and goes in another direction. Caught in storm at sea, he is thrown overboard and ends up in the belly of the fish. There, Jonah prays, repents, and goes to Nineveh. The city repents and turns to God. But, Jonah is angry and resents God for doing what God does best—God is good. The story in Scripture doesn’t really end—it’s open-ended with no resolution.

II. Our Story – we, too, are Jonah. Jonah is not an example for us; he is an example of us. God calls us as well. Perhaps we’re not called to preach to a city but called to be kind to a co-worker, to make peace with a family member, or to follow God into missions or ministry. Whatever the call, at some time in our lives, we have heard the call or felt the nudge of God’s Spirit, and we took off running in the other direction.

Perhaps we didn’t take a ship to a place like Tarshish. Perhaps our “Tarshish” was a coffee shop, a new office, a transfer, or weekend office duty. Maybe it was ESPN—anything to keep from having to talk, or to listen. We have run away—geographically or internally.

And, like Jonah’s story, the ending of our stories is simply unsure. TBD.

III. God’s Story – We may hear Jonah’s story, see ourselves in this story, but we often fail to see our amazing God in this story. Let’s take a look.

After God calls Jonah and he runs away, what does God do? God doesn’t let go. God is persistent. God stays with Jonah. When Jonah gets on the ship and starts across the sea, God is with him. When the storm hits and Jonah is thrown overboard, God is there to catch him. When Jonah cries out in prayer, God hears him. When Jonah goes to preach in Nineveh, God is there and gives Jonah the message to proclaim … and God hears the repentant cries of the people and saves them. And, when Jonah is angry, God is right there … talking with Jonah and listening to Jonah. God is persistent. God does not let go of Jonah…or us.

IV. Why is God Persistent? – Why does God stick doggedly to Jonah? Why is it so important for Jonah—Jonah!—to preach to Nineveh (and not someone else)?

When God calls Jonah to do something, when God calls or nudges us to do something, God may change the situation or the people God calls us to, but God definitely wants to change us. God wants Jonah to do this because doing this will impact Jonah’s life. God wants you to respond to the calls and nudges in your life because God wants to touch your life, change your life.

V. God Stays with Us – At the end of the story, Jonah remains a bitter man. He is seemingly unchanged. Nineveh has changed. Even the sailors on the boat are changed. But Jonah? Not yet. Still, God is there with him. And, God is with us. No matter. Our God is a persistent God who loves us deeply, who longs for our change more than anything. This is Good News for us today.

 

Sunday, November 10, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Persistence”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Old Stories-New Life: God's Provision"

 

I Kings 17:1-16

We begin a new series as we move into November—a look at some of the ancient stories from the Old Testament…stories that we give new life by coming back to them, that give us new life as we see them in new ways. Today, as we look at this brief narrative from the life of Elijah, we discover something of God’s provision.

Elijah prophesies in the northern kingdom—Israel. King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, have ignored God, chased false gods, and gave grief to anyone who served the One True God. So, Elijah prophesies, against their reign.

In the passage we come to today, Elijah prophesies a coming drought, a drought God hopes will turn Ahab back to God. So, Elijah predicts the drought, and God sends him to a stream where he’ll have water, and ravens will bring him food. The drought comes in earnest, and even the stream dries up. God sends Elijah out of Israel to Sidon, to the city of Zarephath to a woman whom God will use to keep Elijah alive. Provision.

What we find in the Old Testament is often a hint of things to come, of what God is yet to do in the future. This story of physical provision—food and water for the hungry and thirsty—is amplified in the New Testament, in the life and teachings of Jesus. In fact, we find that Elijah and this very incident shows up in Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus is just entering his ministry, he arrives at his hometown, Nazareth. At synagogue on Saturday, they hand him the scroll to read. And, the reading he selects is all about God’s provision, found in Luke 4:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Talk about ‘provision!’ Wow. That’s provision at a whole new level.

Then, Jesus gets to Elijah—looking back on God’s provision. God provides not only for Elijah but also for the widow and her son—a broad provision that crosses lines of race and culture and religion. We find that Elijah’s story is a preview of the broadness of God’s grace.

Our God is a God of provision in all areas of our lives when we live into the faith, hope, and love of our God. And, God makes it all possible through Jesus Christ.

Sunday, November 3, 2024
“Old Stories-New Life: God’s Provision”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong: We Love Our Church"

 

Colossians 3:12-17

Why do we love our church? What is there to love? And, how do we create and sustain this loving atmosphere? This week, we bring to a conclusion the “A Church Strong” series as we celebrate the opportunities for service and ministry through our congregation, as we remember those things that we love about our church.

The Apostle Paul is also interested in a ‘church strong’ as he writes to the Christians at Colosse, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and other churches. And, as any good writer or teacher, when he wants to emphasize a point in his letters, he uses the most common tool of all: repetition. In the passage we read today, Paul repeats three ideas, concepts, elements. Let’s take a look.

First of all, in v.13, Paul repeats the importance of forgiveness. As a healthy congregation, forgiveness must be a part of daily life. As mere mortals, human beings, we are going to offend one another—no doubt. Over 99% of the time, we will do so unintentionally—a word hastily spoken, a simple but unexamined act. Those offenses separate, weaken, and divide us. And, the unforgiven offense can have farther reaching effects than we often realize. We must be forgiving.

Next, Paul talks about the “peace of Christ” and that we’re a people of “peace.” Our gatherings are to be marked by peace. When we step into the gathering of God’s people, we should be stepping into a place free of anxiety, a reunion wherein we leave the stresses of life outside—or at least find relief inside! This is the “peace of Christ”—a peace that you and I as Jesus-people bring to the gathering and share with those around us. You and I become agents of peace, so we must come together wishing peace on those around us, and we must act in a way that promotes peace.

Finally, in the final verses of this passage, Paul talks about thanksgiving and gratitude. The people of God are a thankful people. Our natural response to the world around us often is to notice what we don’t have, what we lack, what we wish we had. Paul reminds the Colossian church and us to choose gratitude and thanks. And, when we stop and consider, God has provided so much. We have received much, we have a lot. Or, maybe we haven’t. Still, we must express gratitude and thanksgiving for that which we have.

As we worshiped today at McAllen First UMC, we shared almost 40 video clips that we gathered over the last three weeks in which people expressed why they love our church or something they love about our church. We also recognized that many of us came into this congregation because someone invited us. As a church strong, we are committed to inviting people to come into the family of faith while we continue to reach out to and go out into the communities around us as we live out the faith.

 

Sunday, October 27, 2024
“A Church Strong: Story”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong: Story"

 

Mark 5:1-20

When we join the church, we vow to take on five ‘holy habits,’ five practices that will strengthen both our own spiritual lives and the life of our congregation: prayer, presence, giving, service, story.

If you’ve grown up in the United Methodist Church, you will know that ‘story-telling’ is not in the liturgy of joining as found in the United Methodist Hymnal (p.48). There, we find only the first four. So, why have I (and others) added story? Telling ‘the Story’ (of Jesus) and telling our stories of faith are part and parcel of the Christian faith; this is something we have been expected to do from the beginning.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). How do we “make disciples”? We tell the Story and we tell our stories of faith. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). What do witnesses do? They tell what they have seen, experienced. So, from the beginning, we who follow Jesus, we who claim to be Christians, have been a story-telling people.

In that dramatic story from Mark 5, we see clearly that Jesus wants us to tell our stories. After encountering the demoniac—the man possessed of multiple demons, Jesus expels the demons, and the man is in his right mind for the first time in years. In appreciation and gratitude, the man wants to go with Jesus, to stay close to Jesus. But, Jesus says ‘no.’ Rather, Jesus says to him, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” (Mark 5:19). Go home and tell your story.

When we read a little more closely in the New Testament, we find that those who tell their stories tend to tell their own story—what happened to them—and they tell their stories at the invitation of the listener. That is, besides the story of Jesus, they don’t tell other people’s stories, and they don’t rush in tell their story when no one wants to hear it. We would do well to follow this pattern as well.

The good news is that people around us invite us to tell our stories (or the Story) all the time. We just don’t recognize the invitation. Few if any say, “Hey, tell me your story.” Instead, the invitation to tell our stories sounds more like this: “I just don’t know what to do about this situation…” or “Why do things like this happen…?” When people around us—family, friends, co-workers, classmates, neighbors—earnestly say something like this, they are inviting us to tell a story, to step into their pain, their questions, their lives. These kinds of statements/questions reveal and invite us beneath the surface of their lives. This becomes a chance for us to tell a story.

Our stories of faith may include Scripture passages that have had a great impact on us in a difficult time. They may include songs, prayers, Bible class discussions, readings, movies, and more. Whatever way God spoke to us, helped us, guided us—these are the things we include in our stories.

Our stories may or may not have a significant or immediate impact on the listener. In my own experience, the culmination of many stories is what impacted me. No single story usually moves me. Rather, the cumulative power of stories over time has moved me closer to God, more deeply into the life of faith. So, our story to one person on one occasion may have little to no significant impact. But, it may be a seed that contributes to a future harvest in that person’s life.

More importantly, like prayer, presence, giving, and service, making story a part of our ‘holy habits’ does impact our lives. Telling the Story and our stories moves this faith ‘thing’ from Sunday mornings into our daily lives. And, as with all of these holy habits, we are changed.

Listen to those around you and learn to recognize those quiet, subtle invitations to tell your stories. Then, tell a story from your own life… “tell them how much the Lord has done for you.”

Sunday, October 20, 2024
“A Church Strong: Story”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong: Talents"

 

1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7

Just a few weeks ago, we began this journey of looking at the habits we vow to take up as members of the United Methodist Church: Prayer, Presence, Tithes, Talents, and Story.

As we engage in the habit of prayer, as we talk to God on behalf of our congregation, as we pray for one another, we are changed. Our relationship with God is changed, our relationships with each other are changed, we are changed.

As we become more and more present, whether in Sunday worship, Bible study classes, small groups or other gatherings, we are changed. We gather to give thanks to God, to receive mercy, and to encourage one another. When we do these things, we are changed.

As we develop a habit of generosity, our attitudes towards our money, our values, our reactions and responses to needs around us all change. As we give regularly and move slowly but surely towards the ‘tithe’ God dreams of from us, we are changed…and in turn begin to change the world through our giving.

Today, we look at using our talents, gifts, skills, and abilities. God is the Giver of our talents and abilities. Some of us are born with gifts and skills. Some of us work hard to develop skills and abilities. Some of us supernaturally blessed with gifts from God’s Spirit. No matter how they come to us, no matter when they come to us, the talents, skills, and abilities are gifts from God.

We need to remain aware of something that Paul impresses on the Corinthian church: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). “…For the common good”—we are gifted not to make us great or in order to just celebrate ourselves. We are gifted that we might contribute to the “common good.”

This flies in the face of our present culture, a culture that celebrates the great “I.” With the advent of the smartphone and its rear facing camera, we have become a world focused on ‘self.’ The implication is that we are the center of the universe…and we happily oblige to such a notion. Paul’s counter-cultural words remind us that we are gifted and equipped in order to work with if not serve others. We come together, bringing our gifts, talents, skills, and abilities together … for the common good.

Through the years, some congregations—by intention or by accident—have forbidden some people to exercise their gifts. “You want to sing? Well, we really have a tight group already, but if we need you, we’ll let you know….” Or “Oh, thank you for offering, but we’re good now. If need anyone else on the committee, we’ll let you know.” Everyone should be given the opportunity to use their gifts and talents. And for those who don’t know their gifts and abilities, the congregation must help people find and use them.

In the end, when everyone in a congregation lives out of their strengths, when all use their God-given talents, abilities, and skills, we see a “church strong”—a congregation that works together and that is better able to shine the light and love of God into the world.

Sunday, October 13, 2024
“A Church Strong: Talents”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong: Giving"

 

Malachi 3:6-10

Many of us are very familiar with Malachi’s words about giving: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10). The call here—echoed through much of Scripture—is to give a tithe, a tenth, ten percent of our income, resources to God. Jesus echoes the same in Luke 6:38, and Paul calls for to give cheerfully in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

So, if Scripture is so clear on the issue—give a tithe to God, be generous towards God—why are we so reluctant to give? E. Peterson suggests, “Most people’s lack of generosity is due not to money problems but to greed problems…value problems” (from On Living Well). Could it be that the ancient, thoroughly human sin of greed holds us back from generosity? Are we afraid to give…afraid that we’ll run out of money if we give to God? Anne Frank, the voice of a child really, reminds us, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” So, why do we not give generously?

Perhaps it is because we do not really know or understand why we give. Yes, God has called us to be generous. Yes, we want to obey. But, we want to know, why? It is a fair question.

First of all, let’s answer this: Does God need our money? Does God really need your money or my money? Does God wait anxiously, hands wringing, every Sunday around 11am to see if enough will come in to make things happen in this world that He has created? The answer: God does not need your money nor mine. God is the Creator of the universe. God lacks nothing. Now, if that is the case—and I believe with all my mind and heart this is the case—then why does God ask us to give?

When we look back at what we’ve covered thus far in this series of sermons, we find that we’re called to prayer. Prayer changes everything…and it changes you and me. We are called to and invited to be a people of presence—present in worship, Bible studies, or small groups. Being present changes us…shapes us, molds us. And guess what—giving, being generous, changes us, shapes our attitudes, realigns our values. God calls us to give because we giving changes us.

When we reject lives of generosity, of giving, we struggle against the fabric and flow of the universe, for our God is a giving God. God has given us life, has given us everything. In fact, “God so loved the world that he gave….” He gave. And, as long as we reject giving and generosity, we struggle again the stream of this reality, against the flow of God’s creation.

If you have not been a giver by habit, your first step is to develop a habit of giving. If you have already developed the habit of giving, then it is time to move towards giving a tithe—make it a one-year or two-year goal. If you are already tithing, look for ways to go above-and-beyond. God invites us to be a people of generosity, of giving. When we embrace this holy habit, we align ourselves with God’s reality…and we open ourselves to being changed, transformed more and more into the best versions of ourselves. Decide today to embrace and embody the holy habits that make for a ‘church strong.’

Sunday, October 6, 2024
“A Church Strong: Presence”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong - Presence"

 

Hebrews 10:23-25

The film-maker, Woody Allen, once said, “80% of life is just showing up.” Whether we like his films or not, he just might have something there. When I talk with businesspeople and restaurant owners, I often ask, “What is the greatest frustration of your work?” Almost without exception: Workers don’t show up.

We value presence in our society. Recently, two of my grandsons received high-attendance awards at their schools. We celebrate being present.

When I was a professor in college, I could tell my students without hesitation that the secret to passing my class (and most college classes) was simple: show up + do the work.

Presence is an important habit…and it is among those ‘holy habits,’ part of ‘religious rhythm’ in our lives. Along with prayer, giving, using our talents, and telling our stories, being present is important.

For those who were present the Sunday I shared this message, I was very obviously “preaching to the choir,” but maybe there is something new to be learned about ‘presence,’ so stay with me.

Why be present? First, as followers of Jesus, we are present because Jesus was. He showed up (Luke 4:16). Second, when we go to the Psalms (and many other parts of Scripture), we find God’s people gathering and being called to gather (see Psalm 27:4, Ps. 122:1; Ps. 133). We find that they and we gather 1) to give thanks to God for the gift of grace and 2) to receive the gift of mercy—forgiveness for our sins. Then, we come to Hebrews 10:23ff, and here we find a new reason for gathering.

In former churches, I have heard people say, “Well, I just don’t get a lot out the service…” or “I don’t really like organized religion (what, you like chaos?!), I worship God alone in nature….”

When we read Hebrews, we find the third compelling reason to gather, to “meet together”: to stir up one another to love and good works…to encourage one another. Do you see it? We gather not for ourselves but for those who are around us. When we gather, you encourage me, and I encourage you. You share your load with me, and I share mine with you. Sometimes, one of us is worn and weary, and it’s a one-way sharing—and that is fine, too. But, we don’t gather for what we can get out of the service; we gather for what we can bring to each other. If we could effect that shift in our thinking, how different gathering, being present might be: We gather not for what it does for me, but for what we can offer one another in the life of faith.

So, we pray for one another—for God’s grace and mercy in each other’s lives, for God to open doors, provide healing, and bring peace. And, we show up—we are present for one another so we can be stirred up and encouraged. Let’s encourage one another to live into these holy habits of Christian life. Amen.

Sunday, September 29, 2024
“A Church Strong: Presence”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong - Prayer"

 

Philippians 4:4-7

Habits, rituals, and rhythm have a positive impact on our lives. Research around the world reveals that habits and rituals strengthen families and have a positive impact on individuals. Just think, how do we feel when we miss something that is an important habit in our lives, an important ritual for our families? The importance of even the most seemingly insignificant habit is made very clear in Adm Wm. McRaven’s UT commencement speech in 2016: “Make Your Bed!”.

As a household of faith, the habits and rituals of our church family are important as well. In 1992, Jeanne and I stood before the small and loving congregation of Living Mission Methodist Church just outside of Cleveland, Ga., and there and then we said ‘yes’ to supporting the congregation through our “prayers, presence, tithes, talents, and story.” Many of you have affirmed the same. Yes, these are often referred to as “church vows,” but really it’s one vow to make all of these habits a part of our lives—something we will do over and over and over again in order to strengthen the congregation.

Prayer is the first of these habits. Prayer is the amazing and incomparable gift we are given wherein we are able to talk with and hear from the Creator of all things. Prayer is sharing with God from our hearts and minds, and prayer is opening our hearts and minds to hear from God. The very first recorded conversation between God and humanity is found in Genesis 3. The man and woman have just eaten from the tree that God has warned them to avoid. God arrives in the garden and calls out, “Where are you?” The man explains that they are hiding because of their shame…. And, this conversation continues to be played out through the centuries until today—God is always there calling out to us, “Where are you?” God always wants to talk with us, to hear from us, to walk with us. And we—out of shame, doubt, or busyness—we are often nowhere to be found.

We pray because God calls us to pray…and through Scripture we are called again and again to be a people of prayer: “…If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (II Chron. 7:14). The entire center of our Bibles is filled with prayers—the Psalms. And, we pray because Jesus models the practice for us (Mark 1:35).

But, how do we pray? We learn to pray the very way children learn to walk and to talk—we watch, we try, we fail, we get up, we try again, we listen, we mimic…we read Scripture, we listen in worship. We pray by doing and trying…by talking with God and listening. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus tells us prayer works best when we shut out the world around us and focus on God. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we are instructed to pray by lifting to God our needs and by offering our thanksgiving.

“Prayer Works!” We’ve seen or heard this said or posted online, I imagine. Prayer works when we do the hard work of prayer. Prayer does not come naturally or easy—just as no good habit comes easily.

“Prayer Changes Things!” Again, we may have seen, heard, or even said this. Actually, prayer changes everything—changes the one who prays, the one(s) prayed for, our relationship with God, our relationship with one another, our very way of seeing the world. Prayer changes everything. Imagine what could happen if we—this congregation—lived into the habit of prayer and daily we prayed for each other and for our congregation! God could change everything….

Sunday, September 22, 2024
“A Church Strong: Prayer”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: Some Bridges Need to Burn

 

I Kings 19:19-21

Conventional wisdom says, “Don’t burn your bridges!” Have something to go back to. Have someone to fall back on. Have an escape plan. We guard those bridges in case the job doesn’t work out, in case the relationship falls apart, in case the dream doesn’t quite come true.

The reading from I Kings 19 shows us in no uncertain terms that times come when we need to burn bridges. As the chapter opens, Elijah is facing some serious doubts and fears. All the prophets of God are being killed. He feels so very alone. This is the passage in which God promises to pass near to Elijah. A powerful wind, an earthquake, a fire all clamor by, and “after the fire came a gentle whisper” (v.11, 12). Elijah knows that God is in the whisper. While this passage is often preached and taught, and while knowing that God speaks in a “whisper” is important, the end of the chapter is where we focus—a little gem-of-a-passage where we learn that some bridges need to burn.

After the experience above, Elijah calls Elisha (as instructed by God) to be a prophet, and Elisha sets off to follow Elijah. As he is walking away from home, Elisha says to Elijah, “Wait…I want to tell my family goodbye.” He runs back to the farm and while there, he takes his precious oxen and slaughters them. He takes his priceless plow and harness, cuts them up, and sets them on fire. Then, he roasts the oxen meat over the fire and feeds everyone there. He throws a kind of ‘good-bye’ party.

Elisha burns his bridge—he slaughters his oxen and destroys his plowing equipment. Those are probably the only things of real value he has, and they are his way of making a living. He will face hard times just like Elijah—times of doubt and fear—but he will not be looking back towards home because he has burned the bridge that might take him back. Burning that bridge frees him to follow God without distraction, without looking over his shoulder. When things inevitably become difficult, instead of looking backwards, he will look forward towards God.

What are the bridges in our lives that distract us from following Jesus, that keep us from living life forward? They can be people, places, things, ideas, dreams…phone numbers, email addresses, social media contacts. “Bridges” in and of themselves are not bad things. They are problematic when we trust our bridges more than we trust God. Bridges can distract us from living where we are and living forward—we keep glancing back at them, checking on them, keeping them in good shape.

As people who trust in God, who trust in Jesus, we need to let some bridges burn. We need to trust in our forward-looking, forward-moving God rather in some bridge from the past. After all, we don’t really need bridges anyway—we trust in the One who walks on water. So, what bridges do you need to burn?

Sunday, September 8, 2024
“Some Bridges Need to Burn”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: Walking ... into Battle

 

Ephesians 6:10-18

At the end of my time in Basic Training for service in the US Army Reserves, our platoon was put into the field one night to test our skills and to make sure we knew how to use our tools—maps and compasses, field radios, hand-grenades, M-16-A1 rifles, flashlights, and more. The platoon was divided up into squads of five or six soldiers each, and we were given a spot on the other side of the valley we had to make it to without being discovered by others who were looking for us. We did fine, even though I was going through the motions with ‘walking pneumonia’ (my sergeant made it clear—“you can go to sick bay and start the training over, or you can push on through and graduate with your platoon…”). One of the takeaways from that night is the obvious fact that our tools do nothing for us unless we use them.

Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, wanted to share the same message with them as I learned that night in Basic Training. God gives us tools to fight against evil, chaos, and darkness. Like our world today, the same forces of evil pushed against the followers of Jesus in Ephesus. Evil can be understood as anything or anyone who works against God and the ways of God. So, those ideas and messages that encourage us to think only of ourselves, to break the rules when it suits us, to say whatever we want and however we want, to think too highly of ourselves or too lowly of ourselves—these are all evil.

Paul reminds the church of the tools we’ve been given to combat the works and voices of evil: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. Just like the tools Uncle Sam gave me to fight enemies, “foreign and domestic,” God gives us tools to fight against evil, against chaos, against darkness. The verbs Paul uses make it very clear that the tools rely on our using them—take up, put on, hold on to. We have to act. We have to put these tools to use.

We need truth—the truth of God’s amazing love for us in world where we are told constantly that we’re not good enough. Righteousness (or ‘rightness’)—to do what is right, even when it may not ‘benefit’ us, in a world that whispers to us that we should take shortcuts or do whatever gets us ahead. Peace—in a world filled with violence…violent acts and violent words. Faith (or trust)—in God’s goodness, in God’s presence, in God’s promise to work all things together for good. Salvation—knowing it is ours thanks be to God’s grace…whether we feel saved or not. The Word of God—to remind of all we know and to teach us what we need to know. And, prayer—the one thing that connects us to God.

With these tools, we combat the works and words of evil. With confidence, we can walk into battle.

Sunday, September 1, 2024
“Walking…into Battle”
Watch/Listen: HERE