Harvest is done or almost done for most of the farmers.  This is also a time of hunting season.  Our prayers have been that there would be no major problems or accidents during this season.  This is also a time of year that there are so many activities that it is easy to become so busy that we forget to take time to thank God for the blessings we have received.
As we continue to look at thanksgivings and blessings, we come to the time of wondering how should we respond in our lives to this great outpouring of grace.  I will be looking at what Moses had to say to the people of Israel prior to their entering the promised land found in Deuteronomy 26:1-11.  Moses was concerned that the people once they were in the land of milk and honey would forget that they were there only by the grace of God.  He felt that the people would begin to believe that they accomplished all of this on their own and would not remember their travels in the wilderness.
We also need to remember that God has blessed us.  As the ancient Israelites, we today need to remember that without the blessings God has given us we would not have what we have.  Now how do we approach God and remember? Moses speaks of coming to the altar with the first fruits (the tithes) and offering them to do God’s will.  We are to use our talents and treasures in service.
Jesus constantly spoke of our need to be willing to let go of that which binds us.  For many it can become our possessions.  As in the parable of the foolish farmer, we may not want to continue to build bigger barns  but to use the resources that we have in the ministries in the name of Christ.

Reflections on Thanksgiving

The following are some reflections from Homiletics regarding Thanksgiving.  Thought I would copy this for your reading.

Things proven to change the course of Thanksgiving:
1. During the middle of the meal, turn to Mom and say, “See, Mom, I told you they wouldn’t notice that the turkey was four months past its expiration date. You were worried for nothing.”
2. When everyone goes around to say what they are thankful for, say, “I’m thankful I didn’t get caught” and refuse to say anything more.
3. Load your plate up high, then take it to the kitchen, toss it all in the blender, and take your “shake” back to the table. Announce that it’s the new Thanksgiving Weight Loss Shake.
4. Prepare a several-hour-long speech to give when asked about your thankfulness. If necessary, insist that no one leave or eat until you have finished the speech.

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The first settlers in America landed in December of 1620 in Massachusetts, and within one month 10 out of the 17 fathers and husbands who were on that ship, the Mayflower, died. Within a couple months only four of the mothers and wives were alive out of the first 17 couples. And by Easter almost half of the pilgrims had died. They landed in the middle of winter without provisions, without shelter and that took a toll. It took a huge toll and yet in 1621 they celebrated and they gave thanks to God. It was amazingly difficult, amazingly difficult those first years.
On another continent about 25 years later there was a Lutheran pastor named Martin Rinkart. He lived in Eilenberg in Saxony and it was during the siege of the Thirty Years War. Eilenberg was a walled city that was surrounded by Swedes and there were 800 homes were burned, and the people within suffered from the plague, from starvation, and it got to the point where the pastors within that town, within that village were burying 12 people a day. Pretty soon the pastors themselves started to die and Martin Rinckart was the only pastor left. He was conducting 50 funerals a day, can you imagine? Fifty funerals a day. He buried over 5,000 people that year, including his own wife. When the war ended a year later in 1648 he sat down, and listen to the words that he penned:
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
This was a man who knew horrors beyond all we can think and imagine, getting on his knees and leading people in praise and thanks to our God.
—Deb Kielsmeier, “Thanksgiving,” November 25, 2004, Christ Presbyterian Church Web Site, christpresbyterian.com.

The shelves of the Christian bookstores are full of books arguing over worship styles and methods (churches have been destroyed over these things), and as I have had a chance to peruse these many volumes of drivel I have found one thing lacking in their pages — namely, God. For all the hubbub about traditional vs. contemporary — evangelistic vs. covenantal — liturgical vs. low-church, the one thing that no one seems to care about is the ONE they’re supposed to be worshiping in the first place. They substitute personal preference for God.
The NT is surprisingly indifferent to worship as far as outward ritual goes. We don’t have a worship manual per se. My Bible lacks musical arrangements with harmonies and guidance on what type of instruments should be played. What we find — I think to our amazement — is a focus on an inward experience of the heart as we praise God and receive his Word.
—Brian Thomas, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord,” November 7, 2004, Kaleo Fellowship Web Site, kaleochurch.com.

In his book, The Grand Essentials, Ben Patterson ... tells of a time when the great Jewish rabbi, Abraham Heschel was confronted with a complaint from his congregation:
“Some of the members of the synagogue told him that the liturgy did not express what they felt. Would he please change it? Heschel wisely told them that it was not for the liturgy to express what they felt, it was for them to learn to feel what the liturgy expressed. As Jews they were to learn the drama and say it and ‘play’ it over and over again until it captured their imagination and they assimilated it into the deepest places in their hearts. Then, and only then, would it be possible for them to live their own individual dramas.”
Heschel said: “Praise precedes faith. First we sing, then we believe.”
—Daniel D. Meyer, “A disciplined joy: What should I bring to worship,” September 28, 1997, Christ Church Web Site, cc-ob.org.

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Jesus had a plan for John [Ungureanu]. He travels into Romania twice a year for 6-8 weeks each trip and in the name of Jesus goes into the villages of the poorest of the poor. He finds families in need and meets that need as best he can — all in the name of Jesus.
One large family suffered the loss of the mother at a young age. The entire village felt badly for the situation. In the name of Jesus John carted in a refrigerator and made sure it would be filled up through the winter. As word spread about this amazing gesture many have come to faith in Jesus in that village. When John came across a blind woman in her 80s, he saw that her house was falling down. So, in the name of Jesus John had that home rebuilt and provided for her through the winter. The next time he returned she had turned her life over to Jesus and wanted to be baptized.
On each trip John is able to touch from 150 to 200 families with the love of Jesus, meeting their needs with no strings attached.
—Tim Timmons, “Jesus seen walking around in the villages of Romania and India,” ASSIST News Service, August 23, 2004, across.co.nz.

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But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.
—Vincent van Gogh.

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“In worship,” writes Kathleen Norris in Amazing Grace, “we let loose with music, and the words of hymns, the psalms, canticles and prayers. We cast the Word of God out into the world, into each human heart, where, to paraphrase the prophet Isaiah, it needs to go to fulfill God’s purpose. Isaiah uses the metaphor of rain to convey this — rain that disappears into the ground for a time, so that we can’t see it working. And then, it bears abundantly.”

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Jesus is cool; Christians are not.
According to Dan Kimball, in his book, The Emerging Church, California college students think Jesus is cool but Christians are messed up, dogmatic, closed-minded, the wicked ones. See page 80.

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Rejoice

This Sunday I will be doing a sermon series on thanksgivings which is appropriate for the month of November.  Each Sunday until Thanksgiving day, I will be looking at what we need to remember about being thankful for the blessings that we have.  I came across a quote by James Allen, author of “As a Man Thinketh.” “Your are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” I have had time to reflect on this statement.

I know that when I was counseling others, how they viewed events and the way they thought about those events affected their mood and relationships.  Beyond the Holy Spirit our thoughts are one of the strongest influences on the behavior and attitudes that we have.  If one is always negative, than everything they experience is interpreted as negative.  Paul in Philippians 4:4-9 speaks to this very idea.  He reminds his fellow Christians to place their minds on the better thoughts.  To take one’s cares and anxieties in prayer to God.  If one is able to do that, we can live a better life and even in times of trials (Paul was believed to be writing from prison), one can endure hardships with an improved ability.

So rejoice in the Lord.  Allow him to take your worries and anxieties away in prayer and to lift up thanksgiving.

change of seasons

I was reminded about how life follows certain seasons when I was asked to do a funeral of community member who was well known.  The day that I went to talk to the family about their father was a day when the winds were howling at 60 mph and it began to snow.  The day before was chilly and windy though by the time of the funeral it was sunny and about 65 with very little wind.  The weekend the temperature rose to about 70 on Saturday.  Welcome to Nebraska.

The one aspect of living in this climate is the experience of four seasons.  There is a beauty of all the seasons and I appreciate each for what they have to offer.  From the new growth of spring to the starkness of winter, it is a reminder of God’s creation and life cycles and how important those cycles are for all of creation.  We cannot have a spring without a winter, a fall without summer.

What brought this to mind was the scripture the family wanted to use at the memorial service was Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  As I was reflecting on this father’s life, I began to reflect on the seasons of all our lives here on earth.  Beginning with spring, we are born and quickly begin to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Like a plant that sends down its roots and reaches up to the sky, we too begin the process of developing our roots that will help us continue to reach up to God.

Summer is a time of ripening and a time of cultivating so that the growth can be maintained.  The plant begins to mature and develop fruit.  So in our summer time we begin to develop fruit and to mature in our growth.  Often a time of developing families, careers, and community, we are in need of cultivation.  This is the time of challenges to not allow the weeds of life to take over.  At times one needs to find ways and means to remain faithful so that the fruit that will mature is worthy of harvesting.

Fall is the time of the mature fruit.  It is a time of harvest and change.  How one has lived their life until this time will determine what the harvest will have.  Is it worthy of harvest?  The answer comes from how the person has lived their lives and the choices that they have made.  From the seeds of the this fruit is the legacy that gives life to others.

Winter is a time of starkness often seen as a time of dying.  Jesus stated in the gospel of John, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains but a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  Though he was talking about his passion there is much truth in all of our lives.  That the plants seeds must die and be buried in the life giving soil to be able to be reborn.

What the gospel of hope is that winter is not the last word.  In creation spring always follows winter.  So in our life death is not the final answer.  Spring is around the corner.  We are reborn to new life in Christ.

As winter approaches, let us never forget that spring is around the corner with the guarantee of new life.  Thanks be to Christ.

Saints

I am going to be preaching on All Saint’s Day this Sunday even though it is not November 1st.  I had thought about going the Reformation Sunday and preaching on Martin Luther but with the number of funerals that I have done since I have arrived I feel called to honor those who have been called home.

As I was preparing my sermon, I came across this definition of a saint from Crazy Talk.  I wanted to share it with my readers.

“Saint: Every Christian, including you, and many other persons whom you wouldn’t want to hang out with.

So you think you already know what a saint is? Let’s guess: someone who is (a) so admirable that if you died you’d want them to take care of your puppy (b) but with whom you wouldn’t want to go to an R-rated movie.  And you certainly wouldn’t want to be one!  As a T-shirt we saw on a little kid said, ‘I tried to be good, but I got bored.’

In this view, saints are people like Mother Teresa who are so selfless that we feel downright wicked by comparison.

But in the New Testament, the word saint never refers to a special class of super-duper Christians, rather it always refers to all Christians.  For instance, the Letter to Ephesians (which is what I will be using in my sermon) is addressed ‘to the saints of Ephesus.’  Saints are not saintly because of what they do but because of what Christ has done for them.  Christian saints are identified not by their wisdom, good works, holiness, and wholeness but by the fact that they belong to Jesus.

And that means, of course, that you are qualified to be a saint, too.  As is your worst nightmare of a neighbor.  Grouchy Marx may have said, ‘I don’t want to be a member of any club that will accept me as a member,’ but Jesus said, in effect, ‘Only sinners need apply—and I will make you saints.” (p. 153)

As the article stated and certainly what is true that we are all saints not by our works, but in our faith in Christ.  The reflection I want to leave you is given your status as a saint, how are you living that out in your life?

It has been some time since I updated my blog. There have been so many things happening between clergy meetings, church meetings, and charge conferences I have found myself being called to do many different tasks. One celebration is that attending charge conferences both our churches and others allows one a glimpse into how God is alive in our communities. I stand in awe in how rural churches deal with their challenges and continue to provide vital ministry. I also am aware of how important it is to remember our vision and mission as a church. I know that we can sometimes lose sight of what is important in our church's life as well as our own. I received this from Serving Strong and wanted to share it with you.

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A moment just for you
Because you serve others.
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6.10)
October 19, 2010
Today's Discussion
(issue 208)


Falling Quietly

It's Autumn. The trees where I live are putting on their annual fireworks display. This is the time of year when our family shares the phrase, "Mind the trees." One moment they are brilliant reds, oranges, burgundy, and yellows. The next moment they are bare branches shivering in the biting cold wind. We are trying to live in the moment.

As I prepared for this issue, I stopped to watch as a gentle breeze touched the trees. A few leaves fell to the ground slowly...quietly. No fanfare. No noise. No trumpet call. Just quietly covering the ground one leaf at a time.

I saw the following picture and decided to use it because of the phrase printed on it: "falling leaves hide the path so quietly".

Falling Leaves On Path

No one sets out to lose their way. No one wakes up and says, "Let's see, how can I burnout by the end of the day." On the contrary, burnout happens over time. Little by little, as quietly as a falling leaf, unresolved conflicts, little unforgivenesses, a small jealousy here, a little bitterness there... gradually cover the path we are on. Before we know it, we're lost, burned out, disillusioned.

Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 4.16:

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

How have the past several days been for you? Is your path clearly before you? Or have you allowed a few small "leaves" begin to accumulate, making it difficult for you to serve strong?

Take inventory of your leaves. Maybe this week it's time to do some "raking and mulching". Maybe it's time to renew inwardly. I'm going to take that challenge. Will you join me?

Last night our worship committee met to discuss where we are going with worship for Ainsworth. We began to discuss what might be some themes that we would work on for the months coming up. As we did this we decided to focus on the next 5 months certain themes that might be where God is leading us. I thought I would share some of the themes with readers and if you have any suggestions I would appreciate hearing them.

I just finished a sermon series on Why Church and focused on community, being around real people, remembering that we are called to be in service to others, and being a mentor to help grow disciples. The last sermon ended on World Communion Sunday October 3rd. October 10th we will be celebrating Children's Sabbath. We will have the children sing, watch a video on VBS, have a baptism, and talk about re-membering those who have no voice. October 17th we will have our youth group talk about their mission trip to Omaha working with the Open Door Mission. October 24th we will be having a mission moment by our Mission committee. The 31st we will have a speaker do a brief presentation from UMW on mission. We will also take time to have families list members who have been called home in the past year and will end the service reading their names and having one of the youth take a chime bell and ring it after each name.

November we will focus on thanksgivings and blessings. I am in the process of picking scriptures that I will be using. The foci will be thanksgiving for ourselves, our families, and our community. On November 21st we will do a hanging of the greens service following our late service. We will have a carry in lunch and family activities. November 24th is the ecumenical service.

Advent we will be looking at the ABC's of Advent. Await with purpose, Be a blessing, Cast your light. One of the Sundays will be the children's program and that evening will be a choir cantata. Christmas eve will be focusing on Go to Bethlehem.

January will be epiphany, baptism of the Lord, honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. February will focus on the coping with difficulties, grief, loneliness. We will be looking at what we can depend on during those times of our life that are challenges.

March 9th is Ash Wednesday. We will be doing a sermon series that will hopefully tie in with a bible study. Right now I am reflecting on Adam Hamilton's 24 hours that changed the world or Borg and Crossan's The Last Week.

I have been having an exciting time with our worship committee and their enthusiasm for being not only into the word but wanting to touch people with our worship experience. Again I would invite people to be with us as we do our worship on kbrbradio.com. Keep us in prayer that all that we do glorifies God.