In a world too often filled with hurt and hardship, it's sometimes easy to forget the truth that God loves us and longs to bless our lives. In fact, it's far too easy to overlook the ways that our lives are blessed and instead focus on the ways that life is unfair. And yet, God still does reach out to men and women each and every day to offer them big and small blessings, and more often than not, God uses other men and women to be the messangers of those blessings!
Our scripture lesson this week (1 Samuel 1:4-20) is all about an unexpected blessing. The story begins with a woman (Hannah) who was unable to have children. Year after year, she would go with her husband to the temple and pray that God would give her a son, and year after year she would be disappointed. This particular year, she was praying at the temple, when the high priest (Eli) thought she was drunk and told her to be on her way. Hannah explained her predicament to the priest and he quickly proclaimed that God would grant her petition. Whether he really believed her story, or he just wanted her to leave the temple wasn't important to her, for he had declared that God would grant her request. Hannah was blessed that day, in an unexpected way, and she went home and soon conceived a son!
Such stories are by no means contained only to the Bible. I can remember a time not too long ago where my family was struggling to get by financially. We had just had our first child, winter was rapidly approaching, and we couldn't afford to heat our small apartment. We were already basically living in one bedroom, when our car began making an odd noise. Taking our car to the shop we found out that some costly repairs were needed and that the price would essentially take all of our savings. It was in the midst of this difficult situation that my wife and I were unexpectedly blessed. We received a check in the mail with a simple note attached proclaiming that we were already blessed people, but that a little money never hurts! We never did find out who sent us that blessing, but know that it was God who ultimately sent it our way.
In case you think that this message is all about getting blessings, and God being some sort of Giant Santa Claus in the sky, the story from 1 Samuel includes two main characters, Hannah who was blessed, and Eli who delivered the blessing. As I said above, God not only wants to bless you, but God wants you to be a blessing to others as well!
Recently I was meeting with a colleague who had been meeting with several clergy that day and inquiring about their lives and ministries. Toward the end of our meeting she asked me if I had any questions for her. I simply asked how her family was. At this the woman stopped, smiled, and proclaimed that no one had asked her that. She proceeded to tell me that she had recently found out that she was going to be a grandmother for the first time! She couldn't be more excited to tell someone her big news and was truly blessed by my simple question! Truly you can say that as far as I was concerned it was an unintentional blessing...a wonderful consequence of a willingness to show concern for another person.
Both unexpected blessings, and unintentional blessings simply require us (as recipients and messangers) to be open to God. We merely need to keep our eyes open for the big and small blessings given to us each and every day, as well as the big and small opportunities to bless others. There are few joys in this world greater than receiving and unexpected blessing, and I am convinced that one of those few is to be the bearer of an unintentional blessing for another! My prayer for you today is that you look for and find the many blessings God has in store for you, and that you're able to experience the greater joy of delivering a divine blessing to another.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Weekly Cool Video
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Weekly Thoughts
This week we didn't have a sermon but instead listened to two pieces of music and contemplated All Saints Day (the day we remember all those Christians who've gone before us), our own mortality (the reality that all of us will one day die), and specifically loved ones that we've lost. The first piece was from the last movement of Mozart's Requiem Mass, the Lux Aeterna and the second piece was a piece called Deo Gratia (Thank God).
I received many comments from people expressing both pleasure and a sense of uncertainty surrounding my choice to replace our traditional message with one coming almost exclusively through song. So I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on less traditional forms/modes of worship and specifically the use of song to convey a message within the context of worship.
Most people take for granted the presence of hymns or other songs within the worship service, but rarely do we give much time to thinking about how those hymns/songs affect us and inform our faith. Likewise we often do not think of songs and hymns as delivering very real messages to those in worship. Unlike traditional sermons which mainly utilize only the spoken word and it's ability (limited as it is) to appeal to a listener's reason, songs are much more likely to include the listener's emotions in the equation. Songs are also much more open to interpretation than a traditional sermon is. These were the key factors in my decision this past Sunday.
All Saints Day is a day when we are dealing with weighty topics. For some of us it represents the profound and wonderful mystery that is the Church/Body of Christ/Kingdom of God that spreads across time and generations uniting all who have gone before with all those who are now living (and also all those who have yet to be born!). For other's All Saints Day is a much more personal day where we are reminded of one or two specific people in our lives who are no longer living. For some All Saints Day is just another Sunday. For other's All Saints Day is too painful to endure, and therefore avoided. The reality is that there is great variety in the feelings and understandings of those in worship on a Sunday like All Saints Day. For that reason I felt the best message would be one where I set the tone (through the songs I selected) but allowed each individual to compose the message.
Let me know what you thought/think about this and other ways to understand worship in less than traditional forms.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
I received many comments from people expressing both pleasure and a sense of uncertainty surrounding my choice to replace our traditional message with one coming almost exclusively through song. So I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on less traditional forms/modes of worship and specifically the use of song to convey a message within the context of worship.
Most people take for granted the presence of hymns or other songs within the worship service, but rarely do we give much time to thinking about how those hymns/songs affect us and inform our faith. Likewise we often do not think of songs and hymns as delivering very real messages to those in worship. Unlike traditional sermons which mainly utilize only the spoken word and it's ability (limited as it is) to appeal to a listener's reason, songs are much more likely to include the listener's emotions in the equation. Songs are also much more open to interpretation than a traditional sermon is. These were the key factors in my decision this past Sunday.
All Saints Day is a day when we are dealing with weighty topics. For some of us it represents the profound and wonderful mystery that is the Church/Body of Christ/Kingdom of God that spreads across time and generations uniting all who have gone before with all those who are now living (and also all those who have yet to be born!). For other's All Saints Day is a much more personal day where we are reminded of one or two specific people in our lives who are no longer living. For some All Saints Day is just another Sunday. For other's All Saints Day is too painful to endure, and therefore avoided. The reality is that there is great variety in the feelings and understandings of those in worship on a Sunday like All Saints Day. For that reason I felt the best message would be one where I set the tone (through the songs I selected) but allowed each individual to compose the message.
Let me know what you thought/think about this and other ways to understand worship in less than traditional forms.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sermon Sampler (October 18th) - Humility
Driving is a fundamental right of passage for any American teenager (as well as the opportunity to take advantage of seemingly limitless freedom) and I remember my first drive like it was yesterday. I was very, very, VERY excited about driving! I had studied the rules, critiqued my parents driving, and even received a pair of "driving" gloves. So when I took that written test and received my learner's permit, I was ready to go. My father wasn't so sure, but reluctantly he let me get behind the wheel and away we went.
Things were going swimmingly, until I reached a 3-way stop. As I approached the sign, two other cars, from the other two directions, also were approaching. The three of us stopped at roughly the same time, and not wanting to take any chances, I waved them both on. Then I noticed another car to my right, and not wanting to have any confusion I waved that car on as well. As the car to my right was proceeding, a car on my left was pulling up to the sign, and slightly unsure of my own ability to maneuver our 1988 Oldsmobile station wagon through the intersection I waved her along as well.
It only took a few moments of this, before a line had formed behind me, and people were growing impatient. My father informed me that I could not stay there all day long, but would eventually need to get going. I was afraid, and not so confident anymore. I offered to let my dad slide over, but he suggested that I just take it nice and slow. So with great trepidation and almost no use of the gas pedal I slowly and cautiously idled the car through the stop sign and around the corner. Once we reached our destination I told my dad I'd had enough driving for the day, and that he could drive us home!
This funny (and embarrassing) story illustrates quite well a phenomenon that afflicts all of us at one time or another, namely getting in over our heads. I had taken on more than I could handle, and was made aware of this fact quite resoundingly at that stop sign! The same can be said for a man named Job, who was upset with God, and then reminded (not so kindly) of his place by God (see Job 38:1-7). Job's problem was he was hurt and upset, and he thought God was being unfair. Job figured that if he was in charge things wouldn't be so terrible, and he wanted to let God know this. When confronted by God, it was made clear to Job that God was God and Job was human. In other words, God wanted Job to worry about human things, and let God take care of the God things.
We too can act like Job. Sometimes a person might be apt to look around at all the pain and suffering in the world and declare that if only he or she was in charge things would be different. It's easy to look at a hurting loved one and proclaim if only I could heal them, then things would be better. Others are like my grandfather and look at the world and proclaim that the world's going down the tubes. If only he or she were in charge, then they would teach those "teens/kids/people/whoever" some respect and how to behave. Other people look at the pain and the suffering, or the seeming chaos of things and declare that the problems are too big, that there's nothing they can do.
God's answer to all of these people, is the same answer given to Job, God is God and we are people. God will take care of the God stuff, and we have to focus on doing our part (or taking care of the human stuff). In other words, God says "I'm God. I'm here for you. I'm in control, so don't worry."
All of us get in over our heads sometimes. All of us are tempted to look at things and either wish WE were in control or become overwhelmed by the size/number/complexity of problems. But we always need to remember that while we do have a part to play and we can make a difference, we are still humans and God is still in control. God is God, God is with you, and God is in control so don't worry.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Things were going swimmingly, until I reached a 3-way stop. As I approached the sign, two other cars, from the other two directions, also were approaching. The three of us stopped at roughly the same time, and not wanting to take any chances, I waved them both on. Then I noticed another car to my right, and not wanting to have any confusion I waved that car on as well. As the car to my right was proceeding, a car on my left was pulling up to the sign, and slightly unsure of my own ability to maneuver our 1988 Oldsmobile station wagon through the intersection I waved her along as well.
It only took a few moments of this, before a line had formed behind me, and people were growing impatient. My father informed me that I could not stay there all day long, but would eventually need to get going. I was afraid, and not so confident anymore. I offered to let my dad slide over, but he suggested that I just take it nice and slow. So with great trepidation and almost no use of the gas pedal I slowly and cautiously idled the car through the stop sign and around the corner. Once we reached our destination I told my dad I'd had enough driving for the day, and that he could drive us home!
This funny (and embarrassing) story illustrates quite well a phenomenon that afflicts all of us at one time or another, namely getting in over our heads. I had taken on more than I could handle, and was made aware of this fact quite resoundingly at that stop sign! The same can be said for a man named Job, who was upset with God, and then reminded (not so kindly) of his place by God (see Job 38:1-7). Job's problem was he was hurt and upset, and he thought God was being unfair. Job figured that if he was in charge things wouldn't be so terrible, and he wanted to let God know this. When confronted by God, it was made clear to Job that God was God and Job was human. In other words, God wanted Job to worry about human things, and let God take care of the God things.
We too can act like Job. Sometimes a person might be apt to look around at all the pain and suffering in the world and declare that if only he or she was in charge things would be different. It's easy to look at a hurting loved one and proclaim if only I could heal them, then things would be better. Others are like my grandfather and look at the world and proclaim that the world's going down the tubes. If only he or she were in charge, then they would teach those "teens/kids/people/whoever" some respect and how to behave. Other people look at the pain and the suffering, or the seeming chaos of things and declare that the problems are too big, that there's nothing they can do.
God's answer to all of these people, is the same answer given to Job, God is God and we are people. God will take care of the God stuff, and we have to focus on doing our part (or taking care of the human stuff). In other words, God says "I'm God. I'm here for you. I'm in control, so don't worry."
All of us get in over our heads sometimes. All of us are tempted to look at things and either wish WE were in control or become overwhelmed by the size/number/complexity of problems. But we always need to remember that while we do have a part to play and we can make a difference, we are still humans and God is still in control. God is God, God is with you, and God is in control so don't worry.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Friday, October 16, 2009
Weekly Thoughts
So I was sitting in my office...looking at the SNOW outside (come on...snow on October 16th!) and reading one of the four (or five, or six) books that I'm attempting to read, when the author mentioned the demolition derby. I don't know about you, but I love the demo derby! I have a good friend, who always goes, and as often as I can I tag along. The demo derby is great because the people there are doing the opposite of what you're "supposed" to be doing with a car. Instead of driving nicely, yeilding the right of way, they are smashing into each other! It's loud, exciting, often muddy, and sometimes a little scary. What a rush, right!?
Well that author (Jim Walker: Dirty Word: The vulgar, offensive language of the kingdom of God) suggests that God's Kingdom (also known as the Church) should be like a demolition derby! He starts out by talking about Dale's Cone of learning which reports that the least efficient way to teach someone is through verbal communication (talking to them) while the best way to teach a person is by letting them do it themselves. Dale's Cone of learning asserts that a person taught verbally (think sermon, lecture, etc) will only remember %10-%20 of what their taught, while someone who's taught by doing will retain a whopping %90 of the information!
From here the author claims that while we in the Church seem to think that worship services, sunday school classes, and sermons are the best way to teach others to be Christians, the truth couldn't be more opposite. He says the Church should be like a demo derby, where everyone is allowed to actually get into the car and drive it (even if they hit a few curbs and dent a fender or two).
What do you think? Should the church be like a tour bus where everyone sits nicely in their seats and has a teacher, pastor, or other "super christian" tell them about God, or should we all be allowed to get behind the wheel and experience God for ourselves? If you think the latter, then what are you doing to get behind that wheel? What can I do to help you get started? Let me know...
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Well that author (Jim Walker: Dirty Word: The vulgar, offensive language of the kingdom of God) suggests that God's Kingdom (also known as the Church) should be like a demolition derby! He starts out by talking about Dale's Cone of learning which reports that the least efficient way to teach someone is through verbal communication (talking to them) while the best way to teach a person is by letting them do it themselves. Dale's Cone of learning asserts that a person taught verbally (think sermon, lecture, etc) will only remember %10-%20 of what their taught, while someone who's taught by doing will retain a whopping %90 of the information!
From here the author claims that while we in the Church seem to think that worship services, sunday school classes, and sermons are the best way to teach others to be Christians, the truth couldn't be more opposite. He says the Church should be like a demo derby, where everyone is allowed to actually get into the car and drive it (even if they hit a few curbs and dent a fender or two).
What do you think? Should the church be like a tour bus where everyone sits nicely in their seats and has a teacher, pastor, or other "super christian" tell them about God, or should we all be allowed to get behind the wheel and experience God for ourselves? If you think the latter, then what are you doing to get behind that wheel? What can I do to help you get started? Let me know...
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
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