I have been preaching on signs of discipleship that are in Bishop Schnase's book. I have talked about Risk taking mission and last Sunday focused on Radical hospitality and what Martha and Mary can teach us about that. This week continuing to follow the gospel of Luke, I will be talking about Intentional faith development with the Lord's prayer being part of that and the idea of being persistent in prayer. As I have begun looking at what I want to say this coming Sunday I wanted to share with you an interesting insight.
Last night I was channel surfing and came across Joel Olsteen. He was talking about prayer and since I was thinking about that I decided to listen. As he was talking, he was saying that we should have the faith to pray of things now and that releases our faith to allow God to respond. He was emphasizing that we should be more willing to do things now rather than future. Up to that point, I was agreeing with the concept. Where he lost me, was when he said that we should be praying for God to grant us prosperity or the new promotion now. In what I heard there was never the thought or desire to seek God's Will in our lives. It was all about what I want and not even what I need but what I want. Now he may have said something before that set this up but even so I find it to be bad theology that we should pray for prosperity and for our wants. We are called to lift up prayers for healing for others and ourselves, to celebrate blessings, to seek guidance in our lives, but always with the caveat of seeking God's Will.
I wanted to share this from The Renovare' Spiritual Formation Bible from the footnotes on pg 124-125 regarding prayer. "The pattern for prayer that Jesus gives his disciples is short on our wants and big on God's wants. Half of what Jesus tells us to do in prayer is worship God, keep him holy, and ask that his kingdom and his will take shape, not ours. God the Father looms large. For us, it is enough that we get what we need for spiritual and physical sustenance, and that we ground our days in asking for and receiving forgiveness, as will as calling for freedom from evil and all that pulls us toward wrong. It is a very bare bones sort of prayer compared to many of the ways we pray today. Jesus does back it up with a parable and some picturesque language that encourages us to persist in prayer, so that we may receive what we need (vv5-13). If we know how to give good gifts, God knows even more so how to give the Holy Spirit. But it is still a very basic and elemental affair. There is nothing here about material wealth or perfect health or things that get me more of me. Instead, it is about there being more of God."
The danger of the prosperity movement is how to explain if one does not get the promotion or becomes rich. Is it because one was not faithful enough? Is something wrong with me and God is punishing me? Jesus challenges this ancient belief about rewards and punishment. This is especially true in the gospel of John. We are called to pray and we are to persist in our prayers but let us first seek God's Will not ours.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Blogging to Sunday
If I can borrow the term from Christian Century, I have been thinking about my sermon reflection for next Sunday. I have felt the Spirit pulling me in the direction about the marks of a Christian discipleship. This actually began July 4th in talking about new beginnings. Since then and using the scriptures from the Gospel of Luke, I have decided to preach on the 5 practices of a fruitful congregation that Bishop Schanse wrote about. Last Sunday using the parable of the Good Samaritan, I talked about risk taking mission. This Sunday I will be preaching on Martha and Mary about radical hospitality and what they both can teach us about being hospitable. There are many sermons that can be used in this pericope about what is important, challenging gender stereotypes, etc. But I believe they both point to some important considerations about welcoming and receiving.
Today I also wanted to share with you from a resource I have, "Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical terms about Martha (p 184-185.) The following is the entry for Martha.
Martha Status: Martha is keeping her nose to the grindstone.
Profile
Profession: Home-maker, busy-body
Hometown: Bethany
Family: Mary (sister) and Lazarus (brother)
Interests: Cooking, hosting
Favorite Celebrity: Martha Stewart
Turn offs: Lazy people, holier-than-thou people, tardy people, clutter
Favorite quote: "Cleanliness is next to godliness." -- an old proverb.
"Have you ever had the feeling that you were doing all the work while others were just lying around doing absolutely nothing? Martha can relate. Luke's Gospel tells about the time that Jesus was welcomed into Martha's home. Also present was Martha's sister, Mary. While Martha was busy with many things--preparing dinner, dusting furniture, stashing clutter in the cabinet drawers--sister Mary just sat there! Just sat there listening to Jesus speak. Martha complained to Jesus: 'Hey! Jesus! I'm working my fingers to the bone here while Miss Ooh-It's-The-Messiah is siting around as usual! What is up with that!?' Jesus' response: 'Chill!' (Or something like that.) As a result, Martha has earned a reputation over the centuries for prefering household tasks to hearing the word of God in person.
Truth be told, we've always been Martha people rather than Mary people. So we're glad when Martha gets her own private audience with Jesus. It happens in the aftermath of the death of her brother, Lazarus. After Lazarus was good and dead and buried, Jesus showed up. While Mary stayed home (wouldn't you know it?), Martha went out to meet Jesus on the road. She was glad to see him, but perhaps also a bit annoyed. 'Hey! Jesus! Had you arrived a few days earlier, you could have healed my brother, and I wouldn't be wearing this black dress!' Here is where Jesus had a good word for Martha (a word that Mary wasn't around to hear): 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me even though they die will live....Do you believe this?' And in response, Martha had a pretty good word too.
Key verse: 'Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world. (John 11:27; see also Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:1-44.)"
I wanted to share the above as we begin to reflect on Martha and Mary. For I believe both women have a lot to teach us in many ways.
Today I also wanted to share with you from a resource I have, "Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical terms about Martha (p 184-185.) The following is the entry for Martha.
Martha Status: Martha is keeping her nose to the grindstone.
Profile
Profession: Home-maker, busy-body
Hometown: Bethany
Family: Mary (sister) and Lazarus (brother)
Interests: Cooking, hosting
Favorite Celebrity: Martha Stewart
Turn offs: Lazy people, holier-than-thou people, tardy people, clutter
Favorite quote: "Cleanliness is next to godliness." -- an old proverb.
"Have you ever had the feeling that you were doing all the work while others were just lying around doing absolutely nothing? Martha can relate. Luke's Gospel tells about the time that Jesus was welcomed into Martha's home. Also present was Martha's sister, Mary. While Martha was busy with many things--preparing dinner, dusting furniture, stashing clutter in the cabinet drawers--sister Mary just sat there! Just sat there listening to Jesus speak. Martha complained to Jesus: 'Hey! Jesus! I'm working my fingers to the bone here while Miss Ooh-It's-The-Messiah is siting around as usual! What is up with that!?' Jesus' response: 'Chill!' (Or something like that.) As a result, Martha has earned a reputation over the centuries for prefering household tasks to hearing the word of God in person.
Truth be told, we've always been Martha people rather than Mary people. So we're glad when Martha gets her own private audience with Jesus. It happens in the aftermath of the death of her brother, Lazarus. After Lazarus was good and dead and buried, Jesus showed up. While Mary stayed home (wouldn't you know it?), Martha went out to meet Jesus on the road. She was glad to see him, but perhaps also a bit annoyed. 'Hey! Jesus! Had you arrived a few days earlier, you could have healed my brother, and I wouldn't be wearing this black dress!' Here is where Jesus had a good word for Martha (a word that Mary wasn't around to hear): 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me even though they die will live....Do you believe this?' And in response, Martha had a pretty good word too.
Key verse: 'Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world. (John 11:27; see also Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:1-44.)"
I wanted to share the above as we begin to reflect on Martha and Mary. For I believe both women have a lot to teach us in many ways.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday
Had a great time with the grand children Friday through Sunday. Took time to show my son's family some of the diverse environment in the Sand hills. Attached are some of the pictures taken at Smith Falls.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday
I am preparing for this Sunday as well as enjoying the festival, "Middle of Nowhere." Great food which unfortunately is not doing anything for my Weight Watchers. I want to make a correction to what I was going to do Sunday. I am going to be talking about one of the five fruitful practices but it will be risk taking mission and service rather than radical hospitality. I plan to do that next week. I hate it when I get a week ahead of myself.
One aspect of the stories from Amos about the plumb line and the expert in law in Luke that struck me was the question that was proposed, "What must I do to have eternal life?" Both speak about the importance of choosing wisely how we live and both end up pointing to living a life that is based on justice and mercy. In my life (and sometimes I am guilty as well), I hear people espouse what others should do. Sometimes that is in the political arena and sometimes it is in the church. At times people state things but when I look at how they live or the choices they make there is a difference between what they say rather than what they do.
I remember when I would counsel families about what is important for their children I always say that what one does says more about one's values than what one says. In other words do we not only talk the talk but do we walk the walk in our lives. This is especially true if we claim we are Christians. Amos and Luke speak to this in the passages from the lectionary.
One aspect of the stories from Amos about the plumb line and the expert in law in Luke that struck me was the question that was proposed, "What must I do to have eternal life?" Both speak about the importance of choosing wisely how we live and both end up pointing to living a life that is based on justice and mercy. In my life (and sometimes I am guilty as well), I hear people espouse what others should do. Sometimes that is in the political arena and sometimes it is in the church. At times people state things but when I look at how they live or the choices they make there is a difference between what they say rather than what they do.
I remember when I would counsel families about what is important for their children I always say that what one does says more about one's values than what one says. In other words do we not only talk the talk but do we walk the walk in our lives. This is especially true if we claim we are Christians. Amos and Luke speak to this in the passages from the lectionary.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday July6th
It is hard to believe that the year is more than half over. Soon summer will be over, school will begin, and for many churches the fall programs and groups begin to gear up. This is the time of year that one begins to anticipate the upcoming season and prepare for the new Christian year which technically begins in Advent. So I am beginning to reflect and learn about the new community that I have been appointed to. Today the Mid of Nowhere celebration begins and downtown Ainsworth is closed off for the carnival and other displays. Two weeks from now is the Day of the Cowboy celebration and two weeks after that Arts in the Park. Like church never a dull moment.
I am also preparing to preach this Sunday and using the lectionary will be focusing on themes from Bishop Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations with a spin based on the scripture. This week the scripture is coming from Amos 7:7-17 about the plumb line and Luke 10:25-37 on the Good Samaritan. So the first sermon will be on radical hospitality. The next week is the story from Luke on the Lord's prayer and I will talk about intentional faith development or being intentional in what we do in the name of Christ.
As I have reflected on that and as I prepared the bulletin, I came across the following from Homelitics and wanted to share it with you. Actually it would be better next week as the call to worship.
Call to Worship
Praise the Lord!
We never were intended, surely,
To come to church so doggoned early.
Yet here I am beneath this steeple
Gathered with God's dozin' people.
Just look at us! I might have guessed;
We all could use a lot more rest.
Perhaps this morn we'll be so blessed.
Praise God in God's sanctuary!
Praise God in the mighty firmament!
Good! He's going to read a psalm.
I love them, for they seem so calm.
I'll join the other people here
And let my mind slip out of gear.
Praise God for God's mighty deeds!
Praise God according to God's exceeding greatness!
The Smiths are late. They'll have to wait.
(My word, it's hard to concentrate!)
Praise God with trumpet sound!
I've come to find some peace and ease;
And so, dear Lord, no trumpets, please!
Well I recall that dreadful noise
Committed by those Beazley boys
Who tooted here last Eastertide
And gave me thoughts of homicide.
Praise God with lute and harp!
Lutes and harps -- that's much more wise!
And I'll lean back and close my eyes.
Praise God with timbrel and dance!
Do you suppose there's any chance
That someone will get up and dance?
Oh, no one here would be so crass!
Thank God, we're proper middle class!
Praise God with strings and pipe!
Praise God with sounding cymbals!
What?
Praise God with sounding cymbals! (CRASH!)
One more like that, for heaven's sake,
And we will all be wide awake.
Praise God with loud, crashing cymbals! (CRASH! CRASH!)
Well, Lord, I guess to each one here
Your point is now completely clear.
You seem to feel your drowsy sheep
Can't worship well while half asleep.
We thought you were more tenderhearted.
But now we're up, so let's get started!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
--Psalm 150, as paraphrased by
David Steele,
Slow Down, Moses: A Lighthearted Look at People in the Bible
(Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1990), 109-11.
So are we yet awake?
I am also preparing to preach this Sunday and using the lectionary will be focusing on themes from Bishop Schnase's book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations with a spin based on the scripture. This week the scripture is coming from Amos 7:7-17 about the plumb line and Luke 10:25-37 on the Good Samaritan. So the first sermon will be on radical hospitality. The next week is the story from Luke on the Lord's prayer and I will talk about intentional faith development or being intentional in what we do in the name of Christ.
As I have reflected on that and as I prepared the bulletin, I came across the following from Homelitics and wanted to share it with you. Actually it would be better next week as the call to worship.
Call to Worship
Praise the Lord!
We never were intended, surely,
To come to church so doggoned early.
Yet here I am beneath this steeple
Gathered with God's dozin' people.
Just look at us! I might have guessed;
We all could use a lot more rest.
Perhaps this morn we'll be so blessed.
Praise God in God's sanctuary!
Praise God in the mighty firmament!
Good! He's going to read a psalm.
I love them, for they seem so calm.
I'll join the other people here
And let my mind slip out of gear.
Praise God for God's mighty deeds!
Praise God according to God's exceeding greatness!
The Smiths are late. They'll have to wait.
(My word, it's hard to concentrate!)
Praise God with trumpet sound!
I've come to find some peace and ease;
And so, dear Lord, no trumpets, please!
Well I recall that dreadful noise
Committed by those Beazley boys
Who tooted here last Eastertide
And gave me thoughts of homicide.
Praise God with lute and harp!
Lutes and harps -- that's much more wise!
And I'll lean back and close my eyes.
Praise God with timbrel and dance!
Do you suppose there's any chance
That someone will get up and dance?
Oh, no one here would be so crass!
Thank God, we're proper middle class!
Praise God with strings and pipe!
Praise God with sounding cymbals!
What?
Praise God with sounding cymbals! (CRASH!)
One more like that, for heaven's sake,
And we will all be wide awake.
Praise God with loud, crashing cymbals! (CRASH! CRASH!)
Well, Lord, I guess to each one here
Your point is now completely clear.
You seem to feel your drowsy sheep
Can't worship well while half asleep.
We thought you were more tenderhearted.
But now we're up, so let's get started!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
--Psalm 150, as paraphrased by
David Steele,
Slow Down, Moses: A Lighthearted Look at People in the Bible
(Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1990), 109-11.
So are we yet awake?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thursday
Today is my official first day at my new churches. I have begun the process of learning names and getting into the flow of the communities. I am still amazed about all the activities that occur here in Ainsworth and the surrounding communities. Even if it is the "middle of nowhere" there is no reason one should be bored.
As I approach the first Sunday services, I am reminded of the number of times that scripture speaks to being called into ministry. What is so interesting is that way people receive the call. From Abraham to Paul, God speaks to us in such a variety of ways and means. From dreams, burning bushes, going about doing our everyday jobs, to traveling down the road, God can reach out to those He chooses. I had the opportunity to talk to a number of pastors in my life and the one thing they have expressed especially non-Methodists is the amount of moving that is common for our denomination. I know that John Wesley encouraged his elders to move and not become settled which was often based on the early apostles that traveled and planting churches. What was always true no matter how often one stays or how often one moves God is at work in all that we do. As the psalmist says, there is no where we can go that God is not already there. I don't know about others but I find comfort in that.
So today is the day of new beginnings as is each day of our lives. God is speaking to each of us calling us to go forth to do His Will.
As I approach the first Sunday services, I am reminded of the number of times that scripture speaks to being called into ministry. What is so interesting is that way people receive the call. From Abraham to Paul, God speaks to us in such a variety of ways and means. From dreams, burning bushes, going about doing our everyday jobs, to traveling down the road, God can reach out to those He chooses. I had the opportunity to talk to a number of pastors in my life and the one thing they have expressed especially non-Methodists is the amount of moving that is common for our denomination. I know that John Wesley encouraged his elders to move and not become settled which was often based on the early apostles that traveled and planting churches. What was always true no matter how often one stays or how often one moves God is at work in all that we do. As the psalmist says, there is no where we can go that God is not already there. I don't know about others but I find comfort in that.
So today is the day of new beginnings as is each day of our lives. God is speaking to each of us calling us to go forth to do His Will.
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