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