Over the next several weeks, if you happen to watch the Headline News television network, then it is highly likely that you will see part of our apportioned giving at work. During the holiday season, the communications department of the United Methodist Church is launching a new advertising campaign called “Rethink Christmas.” (For more information visit www.umcom.org)
The purpose of this campaign is to challenge non-Christians and Christians alike to rethink what Christmas is all about. We are supporting this campaign with our giving, and I want to support this campaign using some resources and preaching points kindly supplied by Communication Resources. This morning we begin our Advent series by taking a moment to Rethink Promises. Advent is a time to rethink Promises.
Promises are part of who we are. From our birth and to our death, our lives are marked by promises. As infants our parents pledge a promise to take care of us until we are able to take care of ourselves. Many of you who were baptized as an infant had promises made unto you by your family and the church.
As children we make promises of friendship. Do any of you remember the little pinky promise rhyme? “Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.” At Christmas time I know many a child who promises to be good for Santa Clause.
When we hit the teenage years we begin to make promises of love and romance. A young boy might give a high school letter jacket to his favorite girl. In the Deep South, a brazen young lad might declare promise of love in bold spray painted letters on a bridge or water tower. These are ways of promising “To you my love will be true.”
Many of you made significant promises when you became adults. Do you remember your wedding day? Do you remember promising your faithfulness and love to your husband or wife in your sacred wedding vows? As parents you make promises to take care of your children.
As adults we also make promises to other people. Do you remember purchasing your first home or car? The contract you signed was a legal promise. You promised the bank to pay for the house or car you purchased. In our employment as adults we make many promises also.
And when we grow old and draw our last breath on earth, promises are made at our deathbed and funeral. Friends and family will gather around our coffin and hear promises of eternal life and a place called heaven. Promises are part of who we are. They mark significant times in our lives.
Promises are part of who we are as Christians. The Holy Bible, the book of our faith, is a book of promises. Advent, the time of spiritual preparation before Christmas, is a time of promises. During Advent we turn to the Bible and remind ourselves of God’s promises of a Messiah.
Jeremiah chapter 33 verses 14 through 16 is one such Advent promise. In this passage of scripture God shares this word of promise:
The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."
God selected the prophet Jeremiah to share this Advent promise with the people of Israel. When we consider the promise, one would think that it is a message of good news. However, we must take a moment to realize something about promises.
Promises are often broken just as easily as they are made.
Sadly, many parents break their promises. Instead of taking care of their children, they neglect them. The friendships and pinky promises of childhood fade away. Teenage romances often don’t last. The letter jacket is returned and county workers paint over “Johnny and Kathy forever” on the town water tower.
Do I need to even continue into adulthood? We know about the fate of many of those promises. Wedding vows are broken. In today’s economy, many of us know people who have broken promises to banks and loan holders, as home are foreclosed and cars are repossessed.
All that is left are the promises of our faith. Advent is a time to rethink the promises of our Christian faith. Will we trust what God has promised or will we not?
That was the question the people who heard Jeremiah’s Advent promise had to answer. The people who heard his message were living in a land of broken promises. The nation of God had been divided by civil war into two nations, Israel and Judah. The political leadership of both nations had led the people astray. False prophets and pagan religious leaders had led the people spiritually astray.
And now the city of Jerusalem, the city of God, was under siege. The people of God had rebelled and broken their promises to remain faithful to the God who delivered them out of the slavery and bondage of Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and helped them build a nation in the Promised Land. They were now living in the land of broken promises.
If we study the Bible we learn a lot about God and a lot about people. One lesson stands out in particular, God makes promises and humans are quick to break them. We are good at breaking promises.
Advent is a good time to rethink promises. Advent is a good time to rethink the promises of God. I believe in the land of broken promises, shattered dreams, and vanquished hopes; we are in the best place to rethink the promises of God.
Men and women make promises and men and women break promises. That is one of the great lessons of life, but what about God? Does God break His promises? What do you think? Does God break promises? What does your mind say? What does your heart say? Does God break promises?
I believe that is exactly one of the questions of Advent. Not if God breaks His promises, but more appropriately, does God keep His promises? Israel had to answer that question. That had to search their faith. They had to come to a conclusion. Would they believe the prophet of God or would they believe in their own dreams and schemes.
When we look at the land Jeremiah lived in, we see a land broken promises. When we survey where human dreams and schemes lead, we see they lead to brokenness. Broken promises lead to broken people, broken families, broken religions, broken nations and a broken world.
The Advent promises say, “Remember what God promised to do. Trust God, not yourself. Trust God, not the broken leaders of this broken world. Trust God, not the broken peddlers of a corrupt broken religion. Trust God, and trust God’s promises.”
Advent is a time to rethink Promises. Advent is a time to rethink the Promises of God. Will you look at God’s promises with the same eyes that you look at the promises made to you by others? Will you hold God’s promises to the same standards as the promises made to you by a broken world? Will you trust in God’s promises the same way you trust in the promises made to you each day by broken people and broken systems? (For more information visit www.umcom.org)
Well I have good news for us today and good news for us during the Advent season. God doesn’t break promises. God keeps His word. We might fail God, but God will never fail us. If you believe that will you let me know? Do you believe that? Then say amen.
Well if you believe God keeps His promises, then how should that change the way we live?
Jeremiah told the Israelites that a new kingdom was on the way. This wasn’t going to be an Earthly kingdom built on broken promises, but a heavenly Kingdom built upon God’s eternal promises. This kingdom was not going to be ruled by a broken king. This kingdom is going to be ruled by the Messiah the Son of God. This king is going to restore the brokenness of the land by executing justice and righteousness. There will be no more broken promises with the Messiah.
Advent is a time to rethink the promises of the Messiah. Advent is a time to thank God for the Messiah born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. Advent is a time to rethink the promises that same Messiah offers to us this day.
What are the promises of God that you need to rethink today? What are the promises of God that you need hold onto today? (Share them)
Jeremiah 29:11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Isaiah 43:2 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Proverbs 28:13 13 No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Hebrews 4:15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested1 as we are, yet without sin.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Advent is a time to rethink promises and it’s a time to share promises. Will you make a promise to God today? Will you make a promise to share God’s promises with others? Will you work to bring God’s kingdom to fulfillment on Earth? Will you make a promise to trust God’s promises?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I am Thankful for...
I am thankful for....
1. Trinity. I don't want to be Christo-centric. I am happy for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. Family. Family might read this post, so I have to say I am thankful for family. But I am honestly thankful for family.
3. Friends. Friend will read this post, so I also have to say I am thankful for friends. I am blessed to have so many good friends. I think a few of them might even be so friendly to help me move or bail me out of jail. Those are the marks of true friendship.
4. My vocation. I am so blessed to have a job that isn't a job. It might be difficult at times, but I love being able to be a full-time minister of God's love and grace.
5. My health. I might not be able to run too fast or jump to high, but as I told some young adults, "I am able to exercise."
6. DVR's. DVR's are so nice. It is so nice to be able to record a favorite TV show and watch it later. DishNetwork fits here also. I am glad to have such a wide selection of classic television shows to watch.
7. Captain D's. I have dined here at least once a week for over 20 years. Perhaps that is also why I am "able to exercise."
8. Teachers. I am able to read and write well, because I had many quality teachers who took the time to teach me.
9. Krystals. I like to go here once a week also. They might not be a gourmet delicacy, but a number 1 with cheese will hit the spot.
10. Tables. This is an ongoing thing on my Thanksgiving lists. Without tables we would have to eat on the floor. I'm not a big fan of eating on the floor. Thanks to whoever invented the table.
1. Trinity. I don't want to be Christo-centric. I am happy for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. Family. Family might read this post, so I have to say I am thankful for family. But I am honestly thankful for family.
3. Friends. Friend will read this post, so I also have to say I am thankful for friends. I am blessed to have so many good friends. I think a few of them might even be so friendly to help me move or bail me out of jail. Those are the marks of true friendship.
4. My vocation. I am so blessed to have a job that isn't a job. It might be difficult at times, but I love being able to be a full-time minister of God's love and grace.
5. My health. I might not be able to run too fast or jump to high, but as I told some young adults, "I am able to exercise."
6. DVR's. DVR's are so nice. It is so nice to be able to record a favorite TV show and watch it later. DishNetwork fits here also. I am glad to have such a wide selection of classic television shows to watch.
7. Captain D's. I have dined here at least once a week for over 20 years. Perhaps that is also why I am "able to exercise."
8. Teachers. I am able to read and write well, because I had many quality teachers who took the time to teach me.
9. Krystals. I like to go here once a week also. They might not be a gourmet delicacy, but a number 1 with cheese will hit the spot.
10. Tables. This is an ongoing thing on my Thanksgiving lists. Without tables we would have to eat on the floor. I'm not a big fan of eating on the floor. Thanks to whoever invented the table.
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Christmas Carol
Come and see the little boy King
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
How tender is the manger scene
Rest now in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
The world watches the holy King
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
O Give thanks for the hope he brings
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
O Give thanks for the peace he brings
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
O Give thanks for the joy he brings
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
Come and worship the Lord and King
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
How tender is the manger scene
Rest now in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
The world watches the holy King
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
O Give thanks for the hope he brings
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
O Give thanks for the peace he brings
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
O Give thanks for the joy he brings
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
Come and worship the Lord and King
Sleeping in the arms of sweet sweet Mary.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
How do you spell ache?
I went to visit a family the other day. One of the three little girls at the house asked me a spelling question. I guess she wanted to see how smart her preacher was. She asked me to spell ache. I said a-c-h-e. She quickly replied, “Nope. You are wrong. You spell it a-k-e.”
I asked her, “Are you sure?” She responded with sound confidence, “Yes sir I am sure.” I saw this as a teaching opportunity, so I asked one of her sisters to go find a dictionary. While her sister went to get a dictionary, I asked the young speller “Why do you think you spell ache a-k-e?” She must have answered this question before, for she quickly replied, “You spell cake c-a-k-e. Take off the c and you have ¬ake.”
I didn’t really know how to reply to such reasoning, so I simply said, “You got a good point there.” By this time her sister finally arrived with a dictionary. She knew her sister was wrong, so she quickly looked up ache. She ran her finger down the page until she was the word correctly spelled for all the poor spellers in the world. Waving a finger of judgment at her younger sister, big sis yelled, “Look Preacher Hugh is right. Ache is spelled a-c-h-e. You are wrong!”
There was the proof. She was wrong. I thought I had her convinced. It didn’t faze her. With a huff and a puff and a stomp on the ground and a stern look at her sister and her preacher she exclaimed, “I don’t care what that dumb book says. Ache is spelled a-k-e.”
I began to worry that I had been too tough on the little kid. Did I take things too far? A Child psychologist might say I planted the root of a stigma against spelling. Who knows? I know that the book was right. I wanted this young girl to know the right way. I could have said she was right. Her logic made sense. But ache is spelled a-c-h-e not a-k-e.
I have been thinking about this little spelling test for the past few days. This might be a funny story, but there is a deep spiritual lesson for us to learn here. We might think the way we are living is the right way. We might even have a good logically way to justify what we do. But if the book says we are wrong, then we are wrong. Or we can do what a lot of people who are trying to do, prove that they are right and the book is wrong.
I asked her, “Are you sure?” She responded with sound confidence, “Yes sir I am sure.” I saw this as a teaching opportunity, so I asked one of her sisters to go find a dictionary. While her sister went to get a dictionary, I asked the young speller “Why do you think you spell ache a-k-e?” She must have answered this question before, for she quickly replied, “You spell cake c-a-k-e. Take off the c and you have ¬ake.”
I didn’t really know how to reply to such reasoning, so I simply said, “You got a good point there.” By this time her sister finally arrived with a dictionary. She knew her sister was wrong, so she quickly looked up ache. She ran her finger down the page until she was the word correctly spelled for all the poor spellers in the world. Waving a finger of judgment at her younger sister, big sis yelled, “Look Preacher Hugh is right. Ache is spelled a-c-h-e. You are wrong!”
There was the proof. She was wrong. I thought I had her convinced. It didn’t faze her. With a huff and a puff and a stomp on the ground and a stern look at her sister and her preacher she exclaimed, “I don’t care what that dumb book says. Ache is spelled a-k-e.”
I began to worry that I had been too tough on the little kid. Did I take things too far? A Child psychologist might say I planted the root of a stigma against spelling. Who knows? I know that the book was right. I wanted this young girl to know the right way. I could have said she was right. Her logic made sense. But ache is spelled a-c-h-e not a-k-e.
I have been thinking about this little spelling test for the past few days. This might be a funny story, but there is a deep spiritual lesson for us to learn here. We might think the way we are living is the right way. We might even have a good logically way to justify what we do. But if the book says we are wrong, then we are wrong. Or we can do what a lot of people who are trying to do, prove that they are right and the book is wrong.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Lessons from People Watching
From time to time I get kidnapped and drugged off to the mall by friends or family to go shopping. I don’t mind it when this happens, but I don’t always enjoy it either. Most often I have nothing on my shopping list to buy at the mall, or let alone the money to spend. So while my friends and family shop, I find a place to sit down and people watch.
As I read and studied today’s scripture from Mark’s Gospel I imagined Jesus sitting down at the busy Temple in Jerusalem people watching and teaching Kingdom Living lessons about what he saw to those around him. Through my various people watching endeavors I have discovered a few rules that help make the experience fruitful. A real estate agent will tell you that the three most important rules to their trade are: “Location, Location, Location.” The same is true in the art of people watching.
You need a good location to do people watching. I think Jesus knew this rule as well. I have discovered that food court at the mall is a great place to people watch. Jesus chose the Temple in Jerusalem as a great place Temple to people watch.
In Mark’s gospel we meet Jesus at the Temple. Mark says he is sitting near or across from the treasury. Jesus was probably sitting at the Beautiful Gate. The Beautiful Gate was along the main corridor of the vast Temple complex in Jerusalem. Everyone who was going to the Temple for Worship passed through this gate. In the larger context of Mark’s gospel, today’s event took place during the Passover celebrations, so there were thousands of people passing through Beautiful Gate.
The people who designed King Herod’s Temple knew all the people would pass by this gate, so they placed the Temple Treasury next to it. In my study of the Temple Treasury I came across some interesting information. Some of the ancient historians and Biblical archeologists state that the Temple Treasury had thirteen brass horns placed along its outer wall. I don’t mean to be irreverent but imagine if you will a toll booth combined with a slot machine.
As the Temple worshipers were going to or leaving from worship they would pass by these thirteen brass horns. The worshipers would toss in their Temple offerings into one of the brass horns. As their donations were tossed into the treasury, these brass horns would clink and clank like a slot machine paying out a jackpot at a Las Vegas Casino. Or perhaps a more pleasant thought, it might have sounded a lot like the noisy offering our children collect once a month. None the less, this is the scene where our story occurs.
In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the busy Temple and among the clink and clank of people giving their offerings to the Temple Treasury, Jesus sees and hears the sound of the wealthy and he sees and hears the generosity of this poor widow. It is amazing what you will see if you only take the time to people watch.
From Jesus’ people watching experience at the Temple Jesus teaches us a lesson, or perhaps it’s the other way around. Maybe, just maybe Jesus it taught a lesson about generosity from a Widow’s tiny offering.
As I have mentioned earlier, today is stewardship Sunday. Last year we had a much bigger lead up to today, but this year I decided to go about it a little differently. Money and stewardship are touchy topics in the church. Money is often a topic preachers are fearful talking about. It is an issue that many in the pulpit and many in the pew would rather ignore. But much like sin, another topic that many Methodist preachers would rather ignore, money is an issue ever present in our lives. We carry money in our pockets. We use it in our trading and buying. In times of recession it is on our minds. In times of scarcity its lack is often impressed upon our hearts.
But when it comes down to it, stewardship is not about money. Stewardship is about trust and treasure. Stewardship calls us to look at our lives and see what we trust and what we treasure. Stewardship calls us to answer the question, “Will we give some of our treasure, so we can trust God a bit more?”
Martin Luther, one of the founders of the Protestant Reformation, offered up this observation about the change that takes place in one’s heart as they grow in faith. Luther said, “People go through three conversions in the Christian faith: their head, their heart, and finally their pocketbook.” Stewardship is a matter of faith. When we practice stewardship and priority giving, we are say to God and to ourselves, “God I’m trusting you to provide what I need in life.”
Practicing stewardship challenges our faith. In the wilderness of the desert the Israelites had their faith challenged with a test of stewardship. Many of us might remember the story of God providing manna, or bread from heaven, for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness of the desert without any food. God promised the Israelites that he would provide “their daily bread.” We still pray and trust God to do the same, do we not? “Give us this day our daily bread.”
But some of the Israelites chose to doubt instead of deciding to trust. They tried to store up earthly treasure. They tried to store up today’s manna for tomorrow. I believe their hearts were moved by doubt, because God just might not provide manna for tomorrow. These Israelites thought they were wise, but what they found was that their treasure had spoiled in the night.
Stewardship is a matter of trust and that is the lesson the widow teaches us. The rich gave out of their abundance. She gave out of her lack. The rich had enough to spare. The widow had nothing. Her generosity was a bit reckless. I believe this widow embraced the kind of reckless abandon one of my famous secular theologians, Bob Dylan, sings about in his song Like a Rolling Stone. “When you ain’t got nothing, you’ve got nothing to loose.”
A few years ago a young girl taught me a lesson in generosity much like the lesson the widow taught Jesus at the Temple. I went to visit this family one day. Her father showed me their food pantry and refrigerator. Both were bare. There was nothing in their home to feed them. My heart broke.
I told the family that I would help them. I went to Christ Chapel and some other places to get this family food for their pantry. They were so happy when I brought a car load of food to fill their refrigerator and pantry with food for them to eat.
It just so happened that our church was having a canned food drive to help Christ Chapel feed the hungry of our area. Christ Chapel was in need of food. Their shelves needed to be replenished. One day, much to my amazement, this young girl brought in a box full of food from their panty to feed the hungry.
I was bewildered. The young girl had no food the day before. Today she was giving food away. I asked why she brought this food. She told me she wanted to give some of her food so other people wouldn’t go hungry.
Some biblical scholars think Jesus might have been bewildered or even upset by the widow’s generosity. Widows were not expected to give to the Temple Treasury. Widows were vulnerable. There was no Medicare, no pension, and no social security to help widows. Like a Tennessee Williams’ character widows also “Depended on the kindness of strangers.” The Temple was charged with the duty to take care of widows.
The offering that the widow was throwing her two copper coins into was probably the widows’ fund. She gave all she had to help widows like her. It is also possible that Widow was giving her two copper coins to priests’ fund. This fund went to support the fancy lifestyle of many of the priests at the Temple.
Before this lesson in people watching the Widow, Jesus saw another lesson in people watching the scribes. Jesus must have saw them roaming around the Temple and he had surely had many a confrontation with the scribes, priests, and other religious leaders of the Temple. Jesus shared this lesson to those around him:
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." Mark 12:38-40
Giving and supporting the local church is important, but as a pastor I believe the church needs to consider what they want the people in the pew to support. Do we want people to give in order to support a lifestyle of comfort and fame, so the pastor and the church can be a status symbol in the community? Do we want people to support a budget just so we can boast about how much money we give?
I believe the church should ask its congregation to support Kingdom work. A church budget should be a Kingdom document. Budgets, be it for a household or for a company, reveal what is important.
Sometimes people call me up on the phone and want me to give donations to this charity or some cause. Do you all ever get phone calls like that? Don’t you just love them? I seldom give or respond to phone calls like that because I like to know where my money will go before I give it. Many times when I ask how my donation would be spent the person on the phone gives such vague answers. At about that point in the conversation I end the phone call. Many times after I have gotten off the phone I will look up the charity on the computer. Most of the time, I discover that the charity gives very little to the people they claim to help.
Your support of this church helps us do Kingdom work. What we give helps us live in our mission. That mission is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” And if you ever want to know what your giving supports I will be glad to give you an answer.
So let’s go back to the generous Widow. What do we learn from her? I believe she is teaching us many lessons. Our giving should be an act of sacrifice. In the Economy of God’s Kingdom different rules reign. The amount of the gifts given never matters as much the cost to the giver. God does not look at the size of our giving but at the sacrifice of our gift.
As a pastor I don’t care how much you give. I care how much you sacrifice. My prayer is for all of us to offer our lives as living sacrifices. I want you to offer your life and your gifts as a sacrifice to God. That type of living would radically transform and change your life, your family, this church, this community, and the world.
When we pass our offering plates down the pews on Sunday mornings, I don’t think God’s eyes are focused on the offering we place in the plate. I think God is looking somewhere more important. I think God is not looking at our gifts but at the heart that is giving the gift. In our hearts God sees our intentions. That is what Jesus saw when he looked at the heart of the generous widow. He saw her intention.
Some of the early founders of the Christian Church saw the Widow’s intention as well and deemed it important enough to write about for the church of the future. I would like to share this thought from Chrysostom, one of the greatest preachers of the early Christian church. Chrysostom wrote this down long ago and it should speak to us today:
“When the widow put into the collection box only two small coins, the master did not give her a recompense worth only two coins. Why was that? Because he paid no attention to the amount of the money. What he did heed was the wealth of her soul. If you calculate by the value of her money, her poverty is great. If you bring her intention into the light, you will see that her store of generosity defies description.” On the Incomprehensible Nature of God.
The little girl who gave food from her meager pantry taught me a lesson about generosity. In the midst of her hunger, she gave because she didn’t want other kids to go hungry. I think the widow at the Temple Treasury gave because she didn’t want widows like her to go hungry. She wanted to meet a need. If Jesus took the time to people watch you, what lesson would your stewardship and generosity teach him?
As I read and studied today’s scripture from Mark’s Gospel I imagined Jesus sitting down at the busy Temple in Jerusalem people watching and teaching Kingdom Living lessons about what he saw to those around him. Through my various people watching endeavors I have discovered a few rules that help make the experience fruitful. A real estate agent will tell you that the three most important rules to their trade are: “Location, Location, Location.” The same is true in the art of people watching.
You need a good location to do people watching. I think Jesus knew this rule as well. I have discovered that food court at the mall is a great place to people watch. Jesus chose the Temple in Jerusalem as a great place Temple to people watch.
In Mark’s gospel we meet Jesus at the Temple. Mark says he is sitting near or across from the treasury. Jesus was probably sitting at the Beautiful Gate. The Beautiful Gate was along the main corridor of the vast Temple complex in Jerusalem. Everyone who was going to the Temple for Worship passed through this gate. In the larger context of Mark’s gospel, today’s event took place during the Passover celebrations, so there were thousands of people passing through Beautiful Gate.
The people who designed King Herod’s Temple knew all the people would pass by this gate, so they placed the Temple Treasury next to it. In my study of the Temple Treasury I came across some interesting information. Some of the ancient historians and Biblical archeologists state that the Temple Treasury had thirteen brass horns placed along its outer wall. I don’t mean to be irreverent but imagine if you will a toll booth combined with a slot machine.
As the Temple worshipers were going to or leaving from worship they would pass by these thirteen brass horns. The worshipers would toss in their Temple offerings into one of the brass horns. As their donations were tossed into the treasury, these brass horns would clink and clank like a slot machine paying out a jackpot at a Las Vegas Casino. Or perhaps a more pleasant thought, it might have sounded a lot like the noisy offering our children collect once a month. None the less, this is the scene where our story occurs.
In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the busy Temple and among the clink and clank of people giving their offerings to the Temple Treasury, Jesus sees and hears the sound of the wealthy and he sees and hears the generosity of this poor widow. It is amazing what you will see if you only take the time to people watch.
From Jesus’ people watching experience at the Temple Jesus teaches us a lesson, or perhaps it’s the other way around. Maybe, just maybe Jesus it taught a lesson about generosity from a Widow’s tiny offering.
As I have mentioned earlier, today is stewardship Sunday. Last year we had a much bigger lead up to today, but this year I decided to go about it a little differently. Money and stewardship are touchy topics in the church. Money is often a topic preachers are fearful talking about. It is an issue that many in the pulpit and many in the pew would rather ignore. But much like sin, another topic that many Methodist preachers would rather ignore, money is an issue ever present in our lives. We carry money in our pockets. We use it in our trading and buying. In times of recession it is on our minds. In times of scarcity its lack is often impressed upon our hearts.
But when it comes down to it, stewardship is not about money. Stewardship is about trust and treasure. Stewardship calls us to look at our lives and see what we trust and what we treasure. Stewardship calls us to answer the question, “Will we give some of our treasure, so we can trust God a bit more?”
Martin Luther, one of the founders of the Protestant Reformation, offered up this observation about the change that takes place in one’s heart as they grow in faith. Luther said, “People go through three conversions in the Christian faith: their head, their heart, and finally their pocketbook.” Stewardship is a matter of faith. When we practice stewardship and priority giving, we are say to God and to ourselves, “God I’m trusting you to provide what I need in life.”
Practicing stewardship challenges our faith. In the wilderness of the desert the Israelites had their faith challenged with a test of stewardship. Many of us might remember the story of God providing manna, or bread from heaven, for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness of the desert without any food. God promised the Israelites that he would provide “their daily bread.” We still pray and trust God to do the same, do we not? “Give us this day our daily bread.”
But some of the Israelites chose to doubt instead of deciding to trust. They tried to store up earthly treasure. They tried to store up today’s manna for tomorrow. I believe their hearts were moved by doubt, because God just might not provide manna for tomorrow. These Israelites thought they were wise, but what they found was that their treasure had spoiled in the night.
Stewardship is a matter of trust and that is the lesson the widow teaches us. The rich gave out of their abundance. She gave out of her lack. The rich had enough to spare. The widow had nothing. Her generosity was a bit reckless. I believe this widow embraced the kind of reckless abandon one of my famous secular theologians, Bob Dylan, sings about in his song Like a Rolling Stone. “When you ain’t got nothing, you’ve got nothing to loose.”
A few years ago a young girl taught me a lesson in generosity much like the lesson the widow taught Jesus at the Temple. I went to visit this family one day. Her father showed me their food pantry and refrigerator. Both were bare. There was nothing in their home to feed them. My heart broke.
I told the family that I would help them. I went to Christ Chapel and some other places to get this family food for their pantry. They were so happy when I brought a car load of food to fill their refrigerator and pantry with food for them to eat.
It just so happened that our church was having a canned food drive to help Christ Chapel feed the hungry of our area. Christ Chapel was in need of food. Their shelves needed to be replenished. One day, much to my amazement, this young girl brought in a box full of food from their panty to feed the hungry.
I was bewildered. The young girl had no food the day before. Today she was giving food away. I asked why she brought this food. She told me she wanted to give some of her food so other people wouldn’t go hungry.
Some biblical scholars think Jesus might have been bewildered or even upset by the widow’s generosity. Widows were not expected to give to the Temple Treasury. Widows were vulnerable. There was no Medicare, no pension, and no social security to help widows. Like a Tennessee Williams’ character widows also “Depended on the kindness of strangers.” The Temple was charged with the duty to take care of widows.
The offering that the widow was throwing her two copper coins into was probably the widows’ fund. She gave all she had to help widows like her. It is also possible that Widow was giving her two copper coins to priests’ fund. This fund went to support the fancy lifestyle of many of the priests at the Temple.
Before this lesson in people watching the Widow, Jesus saw another lesson in people watching the scribes. Jesus must have saw them roaming around the Temple and he had surely had many a confrontation with the scribes, priests, and other religious leaders of the Temple. Jesus shared this lesson to those around him:
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." Mark 12:38-40
Giving and supporting the local church is important, but as a pastor I believe the church needs to consider what they want the people in the pew to support. Do we want people to give in order to support a lifestyle of comfort and fame, so the pastor and the church can be a status symbol in the community? Do we want people to support a budget just so we can boast about how much money we give?
I believe the church should ask its congregation to support Kingdom work. A church budget should be a Kingdom document. Budgets, be it for a household or for a company, reveal what is important.
Sometimes people call me up on the phone and want me to give donations to this charity or some cause. Do you all ever get phone calls like that? Don’t you just love them? I seldom give or respond to phone calls like that because I like to know where my money will go before I give it. Many times when I ask how my donation would be spent the person on the phone gives such vague answers. At about that point in the conversation I end the phone call. Many times after I have gotten off the phone I will look up the charity on the computer. Most of the time, I discover that the charity gives very little to the people they claim to help.
Your support of this church helps us do Kingdom work. What we give helps us live in our mission. That mission is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” And if you ever want to know what your giving supports I will be glad to give you an answer.
So let’s go back to the generous Widow. What do we learn from her? I believe she is teaching us many lessons. Our giving should be an act of sacrifice. In the Economy of God’s Kingdom different rules reign. The amount of the gifts given never matters as much the cost to the giver. God does not look at the size of our giving but at the sacrifice of our gift.
As a pastor I don’t care how much you give. I care how much you sacrifice. My prayer is for all of us to offer our lives as living sacrifices. I want you to offer your life and your gifts as a sacrifice to God. That type of living would radically transform and change your life, your family, this church, this community, and the world.
When we pass our offering plates down the pews on Sunday mornings, I don’t think God’s eyes are focused on the offering we place in the plate. I think God is looking somewhere more important. I think God is not looking at our gifts but at the heart that is giving the gift. In our hearts God sees our intentions. That is what Jesus saw when he looked at the heart of the generous widow. He saw her intention.
Some of the early founders of the Christian Church saw the Widow’s intention as well and deemed it important enough to write about for the church of the future. I would like to share this thought from Chrysostom, one of the greatest preachers of the early Christian church. Chrysostom wrote this down long ago and it should speak to us today:
“When the widow put into the collection box only two small coins, the master did not give her a recompense worth only two coins. Why was that? Because he paid no attention to the amount of the money. What he did heed was the wealth of her soul. If you calculate by the value of her money, her poverty is great. If you bring her intention into the light, you will see that her store of generosity defies description.” On the Incomprehensible Nature of God.
The little girl who gave food from her meager pantry taught me a lesson about generosity. In the midst of her hunger, she gave because she didn’t want other kids to go hungry. I think the widow at the Temple Treasury gave because she didn’t want widows like her to go hungry. She wanted to meet a need. If Jesus took the time to people watch you, what lesson would your stewardship and generosity teach him?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
All Saints and lessons from a candle
Today is All Saints. On this day Christians across this terrestrial plane give thanks to God for dear friends and loved ones who are now part of the eternal. In some of the catholic church, this day is a feast day. In other parts of the catholic church, this day is just a regular Sunday. Today we chose to feast.
Today we remembered in particular three people who passed on into the eternal. As a church we lit a candle for each of these saints and one candle in honor of all the saints in the great cloud of eternal witnesses. Candles are a good thing.
Some churches aren't too fond of candles. They argue that candles are too Roman Catholic. Candles are a good thing, because they can represent and remind us of so much in life. On All Saints Day a candle is a good reminder of our own immortality. Our lives here on Earth and much like a candle. Our light on earth will burn for only so long. One day our light will fade.
But for the saints of God we have a promise. That promise is that our light will go on. For the even though our light will fade away, God's eternal light will shine on and through us.
Today we remembered in particular three people who passed on into the eternal. As a church we lit a candle for each of these saints and one candle in honor of all the saints in the great cloud of eternal witnesses. Candles are a good thing.
Some churches aren't too fond of candles. They argue that candles are too Roman Catholic. Candles are a good thing, because they can represent and remind us of so much in life. On All Saints Day a candle is a good reminder of our own immortality. Our lives here on Earth and much like a candle. Our light on earth will burn for only so long. One day our light will fade.
But for the saints of God we have a promise. That promise is that our light will go on. For the even though our light will fade away, God's eternal light will shine on and through us.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Burlington Coat Factory Evangelism
Checking the news feed at Drudgereport.com is a daily routine of mine. A few weeks ago while checking out Drudgeport I came across an interesting story about a riot at a Columbus, Ohio Burlington Coat Factory. You can check out the news story here
As I read this story some thoughts came to my mind about evangelism. It is interesting what people will do when they hear a message of good news. The crowd of shoppers at the Burlington Coat Factory were quick to take advantage of the $500 worth of free clothes the supposed lottery winner was offering. They were also quick to spread the good news with others.
Sadly, their message of good news turned out to be a hoax and a riot ensued when reality hit. Stealing and looting were not the correct ways for the crowd to respond. The crowd's behavior reveals something about human nature and sinfulness.
$500 worth of free shopping is good news, but as Christians we claim to have a message of good news far greater than a shopping spree at a discount clothing and home furnishing store. As Christians we claim to know the way to life and life more abundant and free. We have a message of good news and for a moment just imagine what it would look like if we shared our message of good news with the same intensity of the crowd of shoppers at a Columbus, Ohio Burlington Coat Factory?
I for a few days I pondered that thought. I found myself pondering the question, "Why don't we share the good news of the gospel with the same intensity?" And lately I have come to these two conclusions: first, we don't care about our message, or we don't believe or message of good news. Those are two harsh conclusions, but I have yet to think of another alternative to explain the lack of evangelistic zeal in the church as a whole.
This is just a thought from my desk.
As I read this story some thoughts came to my mind about evangelism. It is interesting what people will do when they hear a message of good news. The crowd of shoppers at the Burlington Coat Factory were quick to take advantage of the $500 worth of free clothes the supposed lottery winner was offering. They were also quick to spread the good news with others.
Sadly, their message of good news turned out to be a hoax and a riot ensued when reality hit. Stealing and looting were not the correct ways for the crowd to respond. The crowd's behavior reveals something about human nature and sinfulness.
$500 worth of free shopping is good news, but as Christians we claim to have a message of good news far greater than a shopping spree at a discount clothing and home furnishing store. As Christians we claim to know the way to life and life more abundant and free. We have a message of good news and for a moment just imagine what it would look like if we shared our message of good news with the same intensity of the crowd of shoppers at a Columbus, Ohio Burlington Coat Factory?
I for a few days I pondered that thought. I found myself pondering the question, "Why don't we share the good news of the gospel with the same intensity?" And lately I have come to these two conclusions: first, we don't care about our message, or we don't believe or message of good news. Those are two harsh conclusions, but I have yet to think of another alternative to explain the lack of evangelistic zeal in the church as a whole.
This is just a thought from my desk.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thoughts on Visiting the Sick
If my three volume set of Kenneth Kinghorn's modern translation of Wesley's Sermons ever arrives, then I would read in modern English John Wesley's thoughts on visiting the sick. However, for the time being I will share some thoughts about visiting the sick.
For the past seven days, other than a trip to the Doctor's office and the car ride home, I have been stuck at home with the flu. The Doctor told me I had Influenza A and it was 90% likely that I had H1N1 or as better known, Swine Flu. The prescription of care was simple--Tamiflu twice a day for five days and rest.
So for one week I was stuck at home. My father was nice enough to spend the weekend with me, but other than that I was alone most of the week. Being sick is no fun and being sick all alone doesn't make it better either. Phone calls, emails, and the text messages helped me feel connected to the world. A real person would have been nice. A real person in my presence would have made me feel really human. I think sickness tends to make a person, or at least me, feel subhuman.
A lot of people offered to help. They said if I needed help to call them. A few people told me they were going to help me. A kind lady brought me a big bowl of homemade soup, and good set of friends brought me Chinese food and some supper. Offering help is nice, but doing means a lot more. I knew I could call people to ask for help, but when people do for you without asking, that is really nice.
So if I was to suggest some rules for visiting the sick it would be this: call the person, and if possible visit the person. Don't simply make an offer of help, but help. Bring them something, clean something, make something. Just do something as a gesture of help.
Sick people need people.
For the past seven days, other than a trip to the Doctor's office and the car ride home, I have been stuck at home with the flu. The Doctor told me I had Influenza A and it was 90% likely that I had H1N1 or as better known, Swine Flu. The prescription of care was simple--Tamiflu twice a day for five days and rest.
So for one week I was stuck at home. My father was nice enough to spend the weekend with me, but other than that I was alone most of the week. Being sick is no fun and being sick all alone doesn't make it better either. Phone calls, emails, and the text messages helped me feel connected to the world. A real person would have been nice. A real person in my presence would have made me feel really human. I think sickness tends to make a person, or at least me, feel subhuman.
A lot of people offered to help. They said if I needed help to call them. A few people told me they were going to help me. A kind lady brought me a big bowl of homemade soup, and good set of friends brought me Chinese food and some supper. Offering help is nice, but doing means a lot more. I knew I could call people to ask for help, but when people do for you without asking, that is really nice.
So if I was to suggest some rules for visiting the sick it would be this: call the person, and if possible visit the person. Don't simply make an offer of help, but help. Bring them something, clean something, make something. Just do something as a gesture of help.
Sick people need people.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thoughts on Visitation
I went into the congregation today. For the past few weeks I had been living out of a suitcase. It's nice to be back with the congregation and the community. When you are gone from the people you serve from an extended period of time, it is easy to feel disconnected from their lives. So it was good to be back with the people today.
You never know what to expect on a visit. Some people like to keep the visit entirely social, while others keep the visit social until the end. As you are preparing to leave, they open up with a serious question or need. Then there are the people who ask you questions. Some questions are serious and some are trivial. Once in a while there is a question that can't be answered.
It is interesting what people share when you take the time to visit with them in their homes. So many pastors miss out on this special gift because they do not take the time to visit the congregation.
If you are a pastor here is a question for you, "When was the last time you simply visited your congregation for the sake of visiting?"
You never know what to expect on a visit. Some people like to keep the visit entirely social, while others keep the visit social until the end. As you are preparing to leave, they open up with a serious question or need. Then there are the people who ask you questions. Some questions are serious and some are trivial. Once in a while there is a question that can't be answered.
It is interesting what people share when you take the time to visit with them in their homes. So many pastors miss out on this special gift because they do not take the time to visit the congregation.
If you are a pastor here is a question for you, "When was the last time you simply visited your congregation for the sake of visiting?"
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Life of a Local Celebrity
It is Tuesday, and when Tuesday arrives I head to the gas station and pick up the weekly edition of The Catoosa County News. I might check the headline, but usually I go straight to the church section. This is a weekly ritual. And sometimes, like today, I chuckle when I read Lilly Ware's Salem News.
This is what she wrote about me today:
"I've got to find a wife for Bro. Hugh over at Smith Chapel you know the bible says you must have one wife."
This is part of the life of a local celebrity.
This is what she wrote about me today:
"I've got to find a wife for Bro. Hugh over at Smith Chapel you know the bible says you must have one wife."
This is part of the life of a local celebrity.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
It's me again. Sunday is here once again. I thought you might be kind and add an extra day to the week this time, but Sunday is here at the same time as usual. This day is kind of consistent. Lord, is it too much to ask that this day could be different? Instead of the same thing taking place at the same time, could you bring a Holy pause? Or what about a Holy rumble? Thanks for taking the time to listen. Amen.
It's me again. Sunday is here once again. I thought you might be kind and add an extra day to the week this time, but Sunday is here at the same time as usual. This day is kind of consistent. Lord, is it too much to ask that this day could be different? Instead of the same thing taking place at the same time, could you bring a Holy pause? Or what about a Holy rumble? Thanks for taking the time to listen. Amen.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Electroninc ramblings
This is the inaugural post for yet another blog. I must admit that web-logging or blogging hasn't been the easiest of practices for me to practically embrace. It is a bit difficult for me to be faithful to writing and keeping updated a blog.
I first began blogging, when I heard about it from friends at seminary. While at Asbury Theological Seminary, I began my first blog www.wilmorehomecompanion.blogspot.com. I guess I will keep that blog open for now. I will not write too much more on that blog.
So now we come to a new blog and a new posting.
If you look in the front pages of the United Methodist Hymnal (1989 Edition), you will find John Wesley's Rules for Singing. They are an interesting read. I assume the Hymnal Committee placed these historic rules at the beginning of the hymnal as a guide to singing all of the hymns that follow.
Perhaps, I should write down some rules for this blog as a way to guide all of the ramblings that will follow.
Hugh's Rules for Blogging:
1. Be honest and true. No need to hide what is on the heart. In due time what is hidden in the heart will be seen.
2. Be to the point. No need to ramble for the sake of rambling. Time is too short to write just for the sake of writing. Economy of words is of essence. (Perhaps this rule violates this point?)
3. Be kind. No need to wound others with words on a web-page.
4. Be faithful. Try to be consistent in writing, but there is no need to write when you have nothing to say.
5. Be aware others will read what you write. So do not write what you do not want others to see, but do write what you want others to read.
I am open for any comments and suggestions to these rules.
From my desk,
Hugh
I first began blogging, when I heard about it from friends at seminary. While at Asbury Theological Seminary, I began my first blog www.wilmorehomecompanion.blogspot.com. I guess I will keep that blog open for now. I will not write too much more on that blog.
So now we come to a new blog and a new posting.
If you look in the front pages of the United Methodist Hymnal (1989 Edition), you will find John Wesley's Rules for Singing. They are an interesting read. I assume the Hymnal Committee placed these historic rules at the beginning of the hymnal as a guide to singing all of the hymns that follow.
Perhaps, I should write down some rules for this blog as a way to guide all of the ramblings that will follow.
Hugh's Rules for Blogging:
1. Be honest and true. No need to hide what is on the heart. In due time what is hidden in the heart will be seen.
2. Be to the point. No need to ramble for the sake of rambling. Time is too short to write just for the sake of writing. Economy of words is of essence. (Perhaps this rule violates this point?)
3. Be kind. No need to wound others with words on a web-page.
4. Be faithful. Try to be consistent in writing, but there is no need to write when you have nothing to say.
5. Be aware others will read what you write. So do not write what you do not want others to see, but do write what you want others to read.
I am open for any comments and suggestions to these rules.
From my desk,
Hugh
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