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.
Monday, October 26, 2009
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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