Resolutions

The New Year is here! Happy New Year.

It is always interesting to hear the resolutions made at this time. There is always ten pounds to be lost. There is always resolutions that have to do with relationships. The resolutions keep coming year after year. One lady was overheard to say, "I have resolved to make no resolutions for the year ahead."

Have you ever thought of what life is like without resolve?

It just happens. Everything that comes your way comes your way. You are the whim of whatever wave of life happens to be the highest at the time. You are always a victim of circumstances. People of this persuasion will say, "When it is my time to go, it's my time...."

The Christian life is one of great resolve. Think with me for a second.

Joseph resolved to keep Mary as his wife, no matter what others said. The Wise Men showed great resolve in making the journey to the Christ child regardless of what Herod said or did. John the Baptist resolved to baptize and preach the gospel even if it would cost him his head. Jesus showed great resolve in making sure that the world knew of God's love and grace even if it led him to the cross.

In these examples there is no sense of being at the whim of life. Instead resolution is that which steers the vessel of your life. It is that which guides you through the wilderness of life. Resolve is part of the character of Christ or the image of God which we all can claim in our life.

Or we can continue going year after year, drifting in life.

Make a list of resolutions for your faith journey. Create a plan of action for your faith walk. Then in great faith, do it. 2010 will be the year that changed your life! Or better yet, the year that God changed your life.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com

The Littlest Angel

The littlest angels always make the Children's Nativity.

Technically she was correct. It was her baby.

Sunday we had the Children's Nativity. It is the time the children dress up as the characters of the Nativity. It is an important way to teach children the story of the birth of Christ. As they grow up, they play different parts in the scene.

The angels were children under the age of five. Each was adorned in white with angel wings and of course there was a halo. It is hard to get little boys under the age of five to understand the halo concept. Some of them ditch the halo.

Our littlest angel was a two year old little girl filled with energy. Things went well in making the announcement to the shepherds. Although as the angels were waiting, there were moms trying to keep the little hands out of the baptismal fountain near by. When the announcement came, the one angel went to her place. Then when the whole heavenly hosts were cued, all of the angels took their place.

It was this point that the angels really took the stage. They were to go over across the stage and stand behind Mary and Joseph. Most of them did make the trip however a few wandered back to their mom. The littlest angel made it over to Mary and Joseph and discovered the baby Jesus. It was HER doll.

When a two year discovers HER doll in the midst of many boys and girls, it is time to make it clear who this belongs to. Yes, you guessed it. She immediately went over the manger and picked up baby Jesus and boldly proclaimed, "MINE! MY Baby!" holding the baby by its toes. Now in some churches, this little angel would have been attacked by the shepherds or wise men, but not ours.

The mother of the littlest angel convinced her that the baby belonged in the manger. After proclaiming loudly once more, "MY BABY!" the littlest angel put the baby in the manger--head down, toes up. Now one could argue that at some point maybe Jesus did in fact pull his toes out of the cloth and pull his toes up. Babies do that. It is just not quite the picture of the Nativity that we have.

It was a joyful moment at The Well--the Nativity.

I have thought about this and concluded that the littlest angel was there to teach us all something very important. Oh how God longs for each of God's children to go to the manger and proclaim to the world, "This is MY baby! This is MY Savior!" I think God would love that moment even if we didn't hold the baby correctly or put the baby back. Jesus was born not to be looked at with sentimental eyes, but to be grasped and claimed. The littlest angel knew that baby was hers.

The Savior is born--for you.

The Children's Nativity is already on the 2010 calendar. I can't wait to see it!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com

Emmanuel God is With Us!

"Some times I feel as though God must be a million miles away from me."

It is the thought of a young woman growing up in the confusion of teen age years. It is what the old man is thinking as he sits in the wheel chair of his nursing home when no one ever comes to see him. The nurse who works too many hours seeing more pain and suffering than healing knows the sound of these words. These words are the reality of those who have no hope in life. Or maybe it isn't that they have no hope in life but in the present moment there seems to be very little.

And then he was born.

A little baby born to a very young woman who wasn't even supposed to be pregnant to a man who wasn't supposed to keep her as a wife. The baby is born in a place where babies weren't supposed to be born. Visited by shepherds and magii who were not supposed to be so religious.

A baby is born to tell all of us that God is with us. God is for us. You are not alone and never have been alone. Emmanuel is the Hebrew expression for the Messiah to be born.

In life you may feel alone but the birth of Christ gives you something better than feelings. It offers you the reality that God has come for all the world. God comes again and again in our hearts when we allow Jesus to be born. May Christ be born again for you and for me.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com

Your Christmas Shopping List

On my Christmas tree there is a little bag of black rocks. It was a gift from my brothers and sisters years ago. When I was young they would always tell me I would get a bag of rocks and sticks. It makes me chuckle to see them each year.

My kids are already asking me what I want to for Christmas. It is not something that kids are asked. It is something we all are asked. It is tough to buy some gifts while others are just there for the taking. Some of us make lists out with the specific store, color, and price. I know one preacher's wife that writes down the phone number so the item can be ordered. It keeps her from having to return gifts.

There are some gifts that we can give which are lasting. They always fit and never have to be returned. May I suggest some for your Christmas list?

Kindness. During this season of rush and congestion, kindness goes a long way. It is a smile that is given during the tense moments of the day. It is saying those magic words, "please" and "thank you". Kindness is a gentleness that the world longs for. When I think of the character of Christ, I envision him as always just being a kind person.

Time. The most precious asset in our life is time. It is a shame that we do not use our time well. Most of us do not seem to have enough of it. Some of us have learned that there is always time for certain things in life. Wanna really make someone's day? Take the time to show up at a nursing home or a retirement center with a checkerboard. Go to the school and read a Christmas story. Stop by the waiting rooms at the local hospitals with cookies and water.

Forgive. Jesus is born to teach us the value of forgiveness in our relationship with God as well as our relationships on earth. Christmas is a great time to put aside differences and to let go of things that keep us apart. It is a great time to cease drinking from the river of bitterness and hatred. Be the one who makes the first movement towards reconciliation. Be the one who brings peace on earth!

I wonder how this season of Advent and Christmas could change our world if we put these on our shopping lists. Give the gifts that last!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com

A Song Changed Their Life

The shepherds were kind of like the gypsies of the day. They owned no land. They would wander from place to place with their sheep who ate everything in sight. If a better opportunity came along, they would simply sell all their sheep and leave. The shepherd's life was not one of great admiration. Not many young men or women would say, "When I grow up, I wanna be a shepherd!" We know nothing about their religion. For all we know, they were either devout in their faith or had no faith--take your pick.

I think God comes to us in our everyday life more than we want. There they were doing what shepherds do around the campfire. And then God chose them. Of all the people on the earth, God chose them.

Is it me or does it seem that God picks the most unusual people? Maybe it IS me that realizes how God chooses strange people. It is the strange people who are interrupted with God's messages. The angels came. I wonder if the shepherds had ever even heard of angels. They did that night.

And not only did they hear, but they obeyed. I guess they figured that if God had gone to all the trouble to find them, they might as well find God. The shepherds had not GPS that took them to the Christ child. They looked and looked until they found Mary and Joseph and the child. When they found them, they knew. Amazing how we just know God when we are in the presence of God. And they worshipped. I wonder how long it had been since they had worshipped God.

I also wonder what I would do if the angel's came and sang to me. Would I hear them? Would I recognize them? And would I be willing to interrupt my schedule, my life to find God? Would I search for God?

The Advent season is about finding God. The Advent season is about God coming into our life. The Advent season is about God coming into our world. And if you happen to be as unlikely as a shepherd, God will come to you! Be ready! Watch! Listen!

A man who was not particularly religious found himself in a worship service on Christmas Eve. As the service unfold, so did he. He felt God's love for not only the world but for him. As the words of the song were sung, "Christ the Savior is Born" he wept. His life was changed. God found him and he found God.

It can happen to you this year.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com

Leftovers

I blame the little boy. It was all his fault. If he had just kept his mouth shut like he should have, we would not have be struck with the plague. It is a plague that calls us in the wee hours of the night. It is a plague that calls us to consume more and more. It is a plague that calls mothers and grandmothers to cook and cook. Have you figured it out? It's LEFTOVERS!

As you read this, some of you have your mouths stuffed full of leftover turkey and don't forget a little dressing. The ham sandwiches are calling you. The desserts--the pecan pie or apple pie--you plan your attack each day. Little by little you devour it.

For some of you, the leftovers are the beginnings of great science projects. Your kids will take them to biology class where their teacher will praise them for their ability to grow bacteria. You forget about them or even worse, there are too many to be consumed.

It is the little boy's fault. Remember that little boy that Philip and the disciples found with five loaves and two fish. Jesus took those small beginnings of a meal and blessed them. Then he told thousands--yes thousands--to sit down and eat. And they did. And when the baskets were passed around again there were leftovers! More than the little boy started out with.

Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mom had a ritual. I admit that I did not much like to do it. But she would always make me do it. Moms are like that--at least good ones! She would wrap in foil some plates filled with food. We would then take a plate to the old man who was alone in his shoe shop--Mr.. Sam. As I gave him the plate, the smell of alcohol would overwhelm me. But he smiled and thanked us. We were the only ones he would see on Thanksgiving. Then the other plates would be taken to the nursing homes and shut ins. We did meals on wheels long before it was officially organized.

There was a time when I hoped all the food would be gone after the deliveries. But we would eat on the turkey, ham, dressing, and desserts for days. But the baskets that were most filled during those times were the blessings of God.

Sharing food and time always multiplies itself. I think that is what the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas is all about. We give and keep giving. And we receive more than we ever gave.

Gotta run...the apple pie is calling my name!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Saying Thank You!

How do you say "thank you" to someone who gives you life? How do you say "thank you" to the one who saves your life? How do you say "thank you?"

It is interesting to think about how the early pilgrims said "thanks". First, they gathered. One of the great things about the celebrations of life is the gathering. When a person dies, folks come from miles to gather. When a child is born, we gather. When we pass certain milestones in life, we gather. Gathering is a way to show your appreciation. It reminds us of our place in the midst of the world. We are not alone.

Then we share. The Native Americans shared their knowledge of the land with the early pilgrims. No doubt being in a strange land under dire circumstances, life was difficult. Then the pilgrims shared as well. No doubt that the sharing of the meal held religious significance for the Pilgrims. ALL of life held religious significance for them. But they did not exclude their new friends who had a very different faith from theirs. They held for each other a respect for common ground of life. They shared with each other.

The gathering and sharing is wrapped up in one word, compassion. Giving thanks is recognizing compassion as well as extending compassion. Much of life has been given to us. We have not earned it. We have inherited it from those who have gone before us. It was their compassion that gives us a reason to share compassion.

I wonder what the world would be like if we made it our goal for the rest of this year, to practice gathering and sharing under the umbrella of compassion. You see, God first loved us. And God invites us to extend that love to all of the world around us.

Give thanks! Gather! Share! Love.

Opening Day of Hunting Season

Preparation is the key. You ready yourself for big things to happen.

It is amazing how people will prepare for things that are important.

Opening day of deer season is near. For days now, the animal trainers (notice they are not hunters!) have been preparing their hunting site. They have put out corn, arranged the field, the shooting angle. Some have even gone to the trouble (if you call it trouble) of putting cameras in the area to see the animals present. I guess you could call this candid for the kill? They have trained the animal to be present for the kill.

Now the real hunters are even more prepared. They too have been out in the woods. However, their preparation is more personal. The real hunters have bought all kinds of scents that they will put on their body the day of the hunt. They will smell more like a deer than more deer. Also, they have practiced painting their bodies with green and brown hues. Their hat is a tree that has been planted in their head. If it weren't for the hunter's orange they wear out of fear of other hunters or animal trainers present, you would walk right by them in the woods. Daniel Boone would be proud of them.

In the experience of the Israelites coming to know the power and presence of God, explicit instructions are given to them to prepare themselves for worship. The preparation was important as one was going to be in the presence of the most holy God. The expectation was that God was going to do what only God could do.

I wonder if worship would be more filling if we prepared ourselves. This week, before you worship, spend time in prayer. Read the Bible before worship. Pray for your pastor and your pastor's message. Pray for those who are worshipping with you.

It may be opening day for you to experience God anew!

An Empty Purse

She took her purse out at church and emptied it. She emptied all she had in the collection plate.

She had no savings. She did not know where her next meal would come from. She was totally dependent upon the generosity of others. She gave the gift of greater value by giving that of little value. She let go.

The other day a man was at a professional ball game. A ball was hit into the stands near him. He reached out and made the catch. He proudly held up the prize ball. The whole crowd was cheering. The man then handed the prize to his little daughter attending the game with him. She turned around and threw the ball back onto the field. One of the best moments in this whole series of events was next. The man hugged his little girl. She threw it away and he hugged her!

Jesus called his disciples to his side and said, "Look, there is the one!" They were sure he would be pointing towards a scribe, a Pharisee, a government official, or someone really important. But no, Jesus was pointing at her--the widow that emptied out her purse. "She can show you great value. She is the one who knows how to give."

Mrs. E was a member of one of my churches many years ago. She was a woman who dressed pretty plainly. She spoke with a country accent. Nothing really fancy about her, except she knew what was important. I wrote letters to church members asking them to help me raise money for a scholarship. The letters were still in the process of being mailed when my phone rang. "I want to give the entire amount for the scholarship." Her generosity was more than one could imagine.

Some folks hate for preachers and the church to talk about money and giving. Most of the time the reason they hate it is that they are poor stewards of God's blessings. People who know their life to be blessed get excited when the Lord gives them an opportunity to give. Some even empty their purses.

I often wonder what the Lord could do if the Lord's people would take seriously their giving. Somewhere in life, our world has confused letting go with holding on. We are holding on to things of little value and letting go of what God has instructed God's people to do.

To some it is a foolish statement. To those of us who have experienced it, it is wisdom of the faith. One must empty one's self in order to find one's self full and overflowing.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Jack

All Saints Day

A preacher was once asked, "How many were in worship this morning?" The preacher confidently answered, "Thousands!" The person who asked the question laughed, "Your sanctuary will not hold more than 200 at best." The preacher answered, "The church is always filled with the Saints that have gone before us! Worship is all they do!"

Sunday is All Saint Day in many traditions of the faith. It is a day that we remember. Some traditions will light a candle remembering those who have died within the last year. Others will invite members to name aloud those who have long won their reward in heaven. It is about remembering the faithful.

We remember those who loved God more than life itself. They readily sacrificed their life for the sake of the Gospel. We remember those persons in our family that taught us the faith by and word and example. We remember those people in our life that dedicated themselves to the church and its service. They were Sunday School teachers, musicians, Bible teachers, youth counselors, and so on. Service was not a "jail sentence" or "serving time". It was a holy obligation or honor. It was a calling.

The lights of the this weekend for some are not about goblins and witches. The lights that shine are about faithful witness. It is about remember those who treated our life with their presence and their love of God and love of life.

This weekend give thanks for those whose rest is won. And while you are worshipping, if you open your heart and mind, you will not be surprised to feel that worship has more in attendance than one can see!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. Jack O'Dell

In our worship service, there is a time that has become more meaningful to me than I have ever imagined. It is a time that we call "standing in the gap" in which a situation in life is named (someone in hospice, someone unemployed, someone fighting depression, etc.). I ask members of my congregation to stand in the gap of life for someone. They are to stand and at the appropriate time in the prayer we say their name before God. We intercede in prayer for them.

Do you know the power of someone saying your name before God?

Life is filled with more gaps than we want. The gap is the time when you are so alone in the struggle of life. The gap is when there are no answers but more questions and feelings than one should have. The gap is when you are over there--alone, hurting, and vulnerable.

As Christians we are invited to look for the gaps around us. The Bible teaches us to care for those who are in need. From Joseph saving his brothers from famine even after what they had done to Moses interceding on behalf of those Israelites who had danced around the golden calf again. From the prophet's call to care for the widows, the orphans and seek justice, to the Son of God, Jesus being nailed to the cross. The gaps in life are invitations for God's people to care.

There is great power in having your name said before God by someone who cares.

How different this is from praying for all "those people'. Scatter prayers are those general words that we say because after all, God knows. Scatter prayers require little of us and alot from God.

Gap prayer is about relationships and real life. It means that we get involved in the life of those around us, not to be nosy or negative, but to care. We name those who need God's special care.

I would like encourage you to name folks before God. Stand in the gap for those who are hurting with your prayers to a loving God. Become the Word made flesh.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Jack

Life is fragile. I heard these words today at my sister, Sharon’s memorial service.

Saturday was to be a normal day if I can call any day normal. But then the phone call came. My sister, Sharon, who was recovering from surgery, had complications. Another surgery was scheduled and done. Then life was gone. And life began.

Sharon was the youngest of my twin sisters. She had grieved much 15 years earlier when her twin sister, Karen, died. Our family says that Karen was healed after 10 years of lupus. Nevertheless, the grief was great for all of us.

Sharon was a gifted musician. She could play anything on the organ and piano. It seemed unfair to us the gift she had. She used it well—played for funerals, weddings, and every Sunday morning for a 7:45 worship service at her church. Sharon loved to play games—competitively. The card game, Hand and foot was her latest thrill.

The loss of another sister so quickly has caused great grief in my life. I have found myself hearing a song and weeping. I have found myself laughing at the memory of Sharon’s love of life.

When my twin sisters were young, mom would make them go out to the weeping willow tree in the yard to cut their own switch. It was a time when parents would swat their young ones for misbehaving. To cut your own switch was an extension of the fear. Time passed and the twins did not return with their switch. Mom finally looked out to watch the girls. Karen, the eldest, was cutting different limbs of the willow and using them on Sharon’s legs. They were trying to figure out which one would hurt the least.

That was Sharon—a gifted servant to her family, friends, and even strangers. A few weeks prior to her surgery, she took time to plan and play for a friend of a friend’s funeral.

I will miss her. I will miss her music. I will grieve which is okay. But when the music plays, I will know that she and her twin, Karen, are celebrating in the kingdom of God. My sorrow will be transformed by the power of the living God to a song of joy!

I found Sharon’s Bible. As I skimmed through the pages noting the verses she had underlined, I found many keepsakes from her journey. One of them gave us all good advice: Face the worst. Believe the Best. Do the most you can. Leave the rest to God.

I think those are words of wisdom for me in my loss.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master’s Name,


Rev. M. Jack O’Dell