Resolution Means "I Will!"

Life is filled with so much unfinished business.

One of my former bishops was visiting a church I served as we celebrated our 100th year of ministry. He asked me, "Jack, if you had to sum up the guiding points of your ministry practice what would you say." Now notice that he was not asking about theology. He was asking about practice.

I answered him, "I am on time. I pray hard. I work hard and I play hard." He was amused at the first item. The bishop chuckled and said, "You are ahead of more clergy than you realize just by showing up on time!"

My father worked in radio and television all of his life. Most folks do not realize how much this industry is run by time. Every minute and sometimes seconds are set in a log. The producers of the show have a menu of items to be run, played, and started on a time cue. Loss of time means loss of revenue and content. When my father visits my church (to this day) he will tell me if I started on time, ended on time, and how long the sermon was. He has taught me the economy of my most precious possession--time.

As the New Year begins, we look at our time. Some of us look back and see how time has passed us by. Some of have found that during this year, time seemed to stand still. Resignation has replaced resolution. Fewer of us will look forward to the gift of time before us!

In his book, Drew Brees reveals that the mantra that made the Saints successful in their journey to the Super Bowl last year was "Finish Strong!" The team and its leaders realized that winning was about using the will and the ability to complete the game. Maybe that is why we continue to see the Saints win many games this year in the fourth quarter.

The men from the East showed up despite all that would keep them back. They resolved to find the Christ child. Their wisdom led them to turn life's "I could'..s" or "I should...s" into "I will..." Isn't it interested how much of life that we choose to do that is not really high on the meaning scale?

The question that all of us face as we begin this year is what will we do with the year ahead of us? A theological way of saying this is to ask the question, "What will you do with the news that Christ is born?" Will you begin the journey that God has invited you to make? Will you finish the unfinished business of life that really matters? Or will resignation win out over resolution?

It all begins with the will......you make the call.

Make Room for Christ

The Christmas play was the big event of the year for the children. Each child had been given a part and appropriately dressed. However, there seemed to be one character in the drama that was having trouble with his lines--the innkeeper. All the little boy had to do was appear as if opening a door, look at Mary and Joseph, and say in a harsh tone, "There Are No Rooms!" You see, Mary and Joseph would go to several doors until finally finding a place to stay. Knowing that Mary and Joseph were the parents of Jesus, the little boy just could not do it.

Finally the time came. He was convinced to do his part. They had told him that he was not a "bad" boy for saying his lines. So Mary and Joseph came to the place. The little boy innkeeper looked at them and with all of his might said, "There Are No Rooms!" You could hear the sigh of the director of the play. But he wasn't finished. As Mary and Joseph turned to go away in another direction, the innkeeper shouted, "But you would be welcomed to come have a cup of coffee!"

Is there room in your life for a Savior to be born?

Many of us have filled our days going hither and yonder, over the hill and over the dale to grandma's house and back. At the end of the day we have fallen into the bed totally exhausted while thinking of still more things to be done. We have our calendar jam packed with every occasion. There is no space or place for Jesus to be born.

I remind myself often that space and time in my life is finite. The only way that I can increase my capacity for love is to remove the hatred that occupies the space. The amount of love in my life is in proportion to the removal of hatred and all that goes with it. I have to make room for the love of Christ to be born.

Time is also finite. Each of us has twenty four hours a day with an allotted time for our life span. I wonder if we are able to look back at our life that we will have spent time in things that matter. I have to tell myself to guard certain areas of my schedule--my reading, prayer, family time, and habits of health. I have to make space in my life schedule for God to do what God can do.

We are like that little boy innkeeper. We know who Mary and Joseph are. We know that Christ was born. The question now is can Christ be born again in our lives? Will we make room for the Christ?

Today Christ is born. May Christ be born in your life!

God Colors Outside the Lines

She was an ordinary teenage girl with ordinary dreams. It was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life. Although the man she was going to married was older than she was, it was a part of their world. And then it happened.

There is no record of earlier conversations with God. The angel just appeared. God has a way of doing that in life--just appearing. She was chosen. She had found favor. She was what--going to have a baby? She was going to bear the Son of God? All of this was overwhelming to her. Then it happened. God made love to Mary.

She knew that it was a reality as her body began to change quickly. She was fearful of what was going to happen. Would Joseph believe such a story? Would he leave her? What would her friends and family say? Where would she go?

All of these questions while being in the forefront of her mind, were nevertheless nothing to compare to the love she felt inside of her. She would make it. Every time she was about to be overwhelmed, the child would move and it would calm her fears.

Mary learned that being chosen and favored in the eyes of God is very different that what one expects. God colors outside the lines of life.

The lines of life are about power and being right in the eyes of the world. It is about doing things to be seen or doing things that are expected but for the wrong reason. The lines of the world invite us to look after only ourselves.

The birth of the baby that Mary carried was God inviting us to get out of the lines of this world and into the picture of another world. This baby invited the poor to the banquet, touched the untouchables, and offered good news of great joy to those whom the world had forgotten. That is what happens when one experiences the love of God.

The love of God was born to an unwed mother at a time when there were no comforts of home--in a cave as they journeyed. As you experience the miracle of Jesus' birth, remember. God tends to color outside the lines of life!

Will You stay?

He must have been a very brave man. He must have had great courage and resolve. He was able to do what many men would never think of doing. He stayed through the dark night.

When he became engaged to her, he knew her family. He knew her. He had watched her grow up as a little girl. She was so full of energy and beauty. Her beauty was inside and out. So when she became of age for marriage, he approached her family with honor and tradition. The marriage was arranged as most were in that day. He was the happiest man alive. He had dreamed of this day. It was only a matter of time.

Then life changed.

The news was not what he wanted to hear. To be pregnant before marriage was not acceptable in this day and age. He could not believe that she would do such a thing. Had she lost her mind? Had she been fooling him all this time? Had the age difference between them become more than she could bear? What would he do? What would those who knew them think? He was a man of honor. Their families were well respected in the community.

He would let her go but quietly. There is no need for more disgrace. The situation had created enough disgrace. He was hurt, but sad.

His mind raced so quickly that it tired him. He needed to rest. He went to bed with the hope of feeling better when he arose.

Then life changed.

When he awoke, it was all clear what had happened. The dream was as real as anything he had ever experienced. He was sure he had been visited by a messenger from God. The angel explained all that had happened. The story was unbelievable, but he believed. He believed in God and he now believed her.

The next morning he hurried to find her. He ran and put his arms around her. He assured her of his love for her. He assured her that he would stay. He told her of his dream. Her smile and tears running down her cheeks were matched by his own smile and his own tears--tears of joy.

So he stayed. Joseph stayed when everything in life told him differently because Joseph believed in a dream. Joseph stayed in obedience to God and because of his love for Mary. And Joseph named the child, Jesus.

And life--all of our lives--changed, because Joseph stayed.

Conditions of Service

"Christians in the American culture are willing to serve God as long as it does not inconvenience them."

I heard this statement on the radio today and it sent chills down my spine. Then as I thought about it, I realized there is more truth to this than we want to admit.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a young girl in her teens. She had dreams just like every other young girl in her world. Then God interrupted her life. She was chosen to birth the Son of God--Jesus.

It must have been a fearful and yet joyful time for her. She must have wondered what would happen while knowing that God would see her through. Mary lived through the doubt with the aire of certainty. The certainty was made more concrete when she spent time with her cousin, Elizabeth, only to find that Elizabeth too had experienced a miracle of God. Imagine how the two pregnant women must have talked.

If Mary lived in our world, she probably would have had to check the schedules before being certain. Her work schedule, recreation, and family schedule, the football schedule--all would have to have been clear in order to do what God would have her do. And of course, the ability to carry the Son of God would have to rate high on the happiness meter of her life.

In fact, Mary would probably just have to tell God that this birthing thing is going to have be done later in life. It is not a good time. There were too many things that just had to be done before she could squeeze one more thing into her life's schedule. Certainly God would understand.

Some live in the illusion that believing and professing in God means that we serve God when it is convenient to us or just when we feel like it. Nothing could be further from the truth. When Christ is born in your life as your Savior, he reigns! Jesus becomes that which everything else revolves around. Otherwise, the Christmas season is nothing more than Santa Claus, toys, and sleigh bells.

So the question during this season is "Can God Count on You?" Mary answered with an unconditional yes.

Buy Less, Give More, and Laugh More!

This is the time of the year that you fight the battle. Okay, it is the time of the year you fight many battles.

There is the battle of the bulge. It is caused by the overuse of the eating utensils to the mouth combined with the urge to rest your bottom on the couch or easy chair. I have always wondered why it is called an easy chair. The older I get the hard it is to get out of the thing! Could it be that the chair makes it easier to life to kill me?

Some fight the battle of the family. Families are a wonderful gift from God. However, some family moments turn into battles. Then there is tough battle of blended families. Kids have to be taken and picked up. Past hurts are often visited whether we want to visit them or not.

The most tempting battle is the shopping frenzy that is offered in our culture of more. Tony Campolo labels it a commercial orgy. People running into the store to get more stuff that they think they need or have to have. Or they have convinced themselves that being a good friend, parent, or spouse is to get someone more. And then the bill comes. Some will create a debt in the next 30 days that will require payments for years.

Maybe we should buy less, give away more, and laugh more.

A young rich lawyer came to Jesus. The lawyer was full of himself. He obviously had done well and was religious. So his question to Jesus was one that he thought he knew the answer. Lawyers are like that. They ask questions that they know the answer already. Only Jesus did not give the answer the lawyer expected. Jesus told the lawyer to sell all he had and give it to the poor. This is the only person that these instructions are given to by Jesus.. And the man would not do it.

You can have everything that this life can offer but without God........

The key to winning life's battles is to surrender. Surrender to God. You will buy less, give more, and laugh more.

Change--A Part of God's Work in Us!

Has your faith changed you?

I am amazed at how difficult change is for our culture. Perhaps it is because our world is in a state of constant change. As I was driving home from a visit with my parents this week, I was thinking about how much the world has changed in their lifetime. Then I chuckled as I thought of how much the world has changed in my lifetime. You would think that with so much change around us, we would be pretty adaptable by now.

Some folks think before they can become a follower of Jesus, they have to clean up their lives. The thought is that if God knew how much dirt there is in their life, God could not love them. Folks who think this way spend alot of time on the treadmills of life. They are always working out or trying to improve themselves. The truth of the matter is that once you give your life to Christ, God changes you!! God's love is not based on points or performance. (Thank Goodness!) Your task is to open yourself to God's precious grace through Jesus Christ and let grace abound. Experiencing grace makes you a different person.

Others think that they can be a Christian without changing. It is hard to get these folks to even change their underwear. It is what I call the "Popeye Syndrome"--"I am who I am." They have created a self idolatry that even uses the name of God for themselves. Remember when Moses asks God for a name? God answers, "I am who I am!"

It is no wonder that most of these folks are regular church goers. They sit in the same seat. They have given the same amount of money to the church for the last twenty years (and it is is rarely a tithe). This camp of folks have given effective pastors more grief and sorrow than one can imagine. And they are proud of it. They are the "loyal opposition" to what God is doing in the world around them because they fear change. The fear is to let go of their control of life and let God lead them.

The book club of our church is reading Drew Bree's book, "Coming Back Strong" In the book, Drew shares a perspective of faith. It is a deeper belief. He shares, "It's the kind of belief that changes your behavior, your attitude, and your outlook on life, and the people around you can't help but notice it." I think Drew is right!

This Thanksgiving, maybe it is time for us to accept the changing world and changing experience of God that overwhelms us! You might be surprised what God can do!

What Makes God Strong Makes Us Strong

There is a passage in the book of First Chronicles that fascinates me. In the sixteenth chapter, verse eleven talks about the role of study in the life of faith. The passage says to "study God and God's strength" (The Message)

What makes God strong?

As aa little boy, I would look at all the pictures of the guys with great strength. I think all guys at one time or another dream of looking like that. Some even fulfill the dream; However not without much work and discipline.

I remember starting out to exercise. I was really great the first couple of days. Then slowly but surely, I gave up. Or did I just forget? Or did I wake up from the dream.

One thing is for sure, I did no research on what made guys look like that.

So what makes God strong? It is in the character of God to be of great strength. Character is what separates the strong. Unlike humanity, God's character has always been. God did not have to work at it. God is what God is--or as God told Moses--I am who I am.

So what is this about studying God? How is that supposed to strengthen us?

Once we examine the character of God, we discover that we have the capability of God character. You see, we are made in the "image of God". We are beings that can be transformed by a living relationship with God. In studying God, we find ourselves. We discover whose we are and who we are not.

Once we are found by God, then God strength is at our disposal. The saying is clear: God never gives us more than we can handle---with God's help.

So on the days that you feel not so strong---study God and God's strength. Then seek God and be found! You will be amazed at what God can do through you.

Is God Working In Your Life?

If you want to hear silence, just ask this question, "Where is God at work in your life?"

It is interesting to see people's reaction to the road signs--Construction ahead. Some folks see these signs as a reason to speed up and get ahead of anybody and everybody. They will almost kill themselves and others to just get one more car ahead. Then when everybody is going the same speed bumper to bumper--they are too! Go figure.

Then there is the person who is going to put their bumper in the trunk of your car. They think that if they get close enough to your bumper, you will run over the car ahead of you. It is the aggressive driver's way of intimidating you. I heard of a guy that carried a bunch of old golf balls in the car with him. When these folks irritated him enough, he would start throwing golf balls behind out of his moon roof. I must admit that I found this technique tempting.

It is interesting that we all have to go through construction on the road to anywhere. At one point or another, we meet the cones, orange signs, and those folks that wear those hats. They slow us down while they work. Then finally one day they take all their tools of the trade and leave. Things are better! The road is smoother. Life returns to its frantic pace.

Without construction, the roads of life become life threatening. I found out the other day that according to one of our representatives the stretch of I-55 that is now being repaired was the most dangerous stretch of interstate highway in the country due to its condition. Finally it will be remade.

God is at work in our lives. God puts the "slow down" signs in the traffic of our lives. God places those folks in our lives(sometimes preachers or teachers) to work around us and in us. Yes, some of us get frustrated with the speed or pace required of us. And some of us are tempted to be mischievous along the way.

I think it is important for us to know what God is doing in our lives. We need to be able to share that with our fellow travelers. We may find that our journey is a common one.

Let The Blessings Flow!!!

For those who read this column regularly this is going to be old news. But for new readers I have to make the point. When it comes to using tools and fixing things, I am dangerous. There is no tool that I cannot use for destruction. But sometimes, even I surprise myself.

The story starts with my shower. My shower was not really a shower. It was a slow dribble. Ever since we moved into the house, it was this way. It was one of those things on the punch list that did not get punched.

The other thing is that I hate to take things to get fixed. I am a procrastinator about getting things fixed. I am just not a maintenance person at all. I usually wait until it breaks. It is not one of my favorite things about myself, but it is what it is.

So the dribble shower has been this way for about, oh three years. The good thing is that no one else wants to use my shower. But finally, I decided to fix it. What harm could I do?

I found a wrench and used all of my wrenching abilities to take the shower head off. And yes, the excess water that is in the pipe did go all over me. I called it a blessing from God. We Methodists, like sprinklings! Then I discovered the problem--a small filter or stopper was in the pipe. I do not know if it is supposed to be there or not, but even I could see how water was not flowing from it at all.

I decided that my shower water could flow without a filter so I just put the head back on without the filter there. Then it happened. My shower is a full force shower again--or for the first time!! Some plumber's dream of a dribbling shower was over. I get the full force now.

It made me think of God's blessings. I think of the ways in which I along with others in life dam up the blessings that God intends for us. How many times do I settle for less when God has intended only the best!! God's blessings are flowing far greater than we are receiving not because of God but because of us!

Where is God offering you more than you can ever imagine? Risk it. The blessings will flow!!

Sometimes You Just Can't Dance

In one of the towns where I served, I had a great friendship with Chris, a Pentecostal preacher. Some folks said we looked alike. Sometimes in the grocery stores, his parishioners would talk to Brother Chris only to discover it was not him.

On occasion, Chris would invite me to his church on Sunday night. Methodist gave up on Sunday evening church years ago. Chris said he loved to hear a good Methodist prayer. I took that as a compliment. A good Methodist prayer is one that is to the point, reverent, relevant, and filled with the hope of God presence--at least in my book. It also is not too long. Methodists do not pray long. My Dad says we are current in our prayer life. Before praying at Dad's house, he would ask you if you were current in your prayer life. He did not want you using his time to catch up!

So one Sunday evening I am in worship at Chris' church. I notice a little lady not too far from me. The lady is dressed up in a little country looking outfit. Minny Pearl or Dale Evans would have been proud to wear this outfit. It had the matching hat and skirt. She was "doodied up" as we would say in North Louisiana.

The lady was a dancer. Now Methodist churches used to not have as many dancers in worship as they do now. Dancing has reappeared in our tradition, at least in some houses of worship. So each song, this little lady would hit the aisle dancing. She was so filled with the Spirit. The joy of God was seen in her dancing.

Until one song was played. Then the dancing stopped. Now the dancing did not stop for the lack of trying. The lady tried time and time again to dance to the song playing. She would take a few steps only to go back to the pew and just stand. Then she would try again only to find herself back at the pew.

You see, there are some songs in life that you just can't dance t0--a broken friendship, hurt feelings that will not be expressed, suffering, loss, loneliness, despair--and the list goes on. Try as we may, the dancing just does not fit the song. The song continues without our dance though

Maybe it is there that we just need a good Methodist prayer. One that is current, reverent, relevant, to the point, and yes, pointing us to the hope of God's presence and power. When you can not dance, you can always pray. You can even use the time to catch up. God is always listening.

Pray for m e as I pray for you.

Jack

Be Ready!

I know that Les Miles, the coach of LSU, has more help than he ever wanted with coaching. But add one more to the list.

Coach, ya might want to have a three play set ready for when the time is running out and you need a score. Pick three plays and run them over enough times that the team knows how to do them in their sleep.

I have thought about this in reference to being ready in the faith. I have come to two conclusions. Let me share them with you.

First, you have to know your answer to temptation BEFORE you get there. Your response must have a definite plan. Let me give some examples. Teenagers must decide long before they get in the situation about how far they will go with regards to sexuality. If you wait and decide when you get there, it is too late. Married folks have to have a plan to keep their vows if temptation find its way in their life. There are people whom you just have to avoid to keep your marriage well.

All persons are tempted. If someone says they are not, run from them. Faithful persons have a plan in tact for escaping temptation or avoiding the situations where temptations are the highest. What is at stake is of far greater value than the moment of giving in.

Second, be ready to share what God is doing in your life. My congregation gets sick of hearing this. Each Christian should have a four minute elevator speech that says how God is at work in their life today. This should be well rehearsed and ready to go out on a moment's notice. One of the major problems the church faces today is the inability or refusal of persons to share how blessed they are in a church. All the world usually hears is the griping and complaining of those who have a "grudge" against something in the church! Share the good news so that people will want to come to visit your church! Share your faith so that others will be drawn to the source of your faith.

Waiting to develop a plan or knowing what to share is a sure way to lose. You may "squeak" by a few times but it will catch up with you. Make a plan to face temptation (to win!) and be ready to share what God is doing in your life.

Les, (we are on a first name basis) are you ready?

Prayer has great power!

Be careful what you pray for! Prayer has more power than you can imagine.

A few Sundays ago at The Well, we dedicated book bags for our children as they prepared for school. Along with the prayer for the book bags, we made bag tags for each child. On one side of the tag was our church logo with the child's name. On the other side, there was a prayer for the child and the parent to pray each day as they were leaving the house.

A mom stopped me the other day to tell me how much praying with her child had changed their world. She reported that the child left the house with a great confidence each day. For the mother, it seemed as though she was letting her child go into a safe world as God was surely going with her child. Each year the child had struggled in school in studies and in the social aspect as well. This year all of the struggles have disappeared. Their life is better.

I believe that the discipline of prayer brought about that change.

A young couple is struggling with every aspect of their life. Their dream of happiness seemed to be lost. Then they began to do something different. Each morning at the breakfast table, they paused and prayed for each other. Each would name the struggles that were present. Each one would ask for God's direction in every way. Then at the close of each day, they would spend some time reflecting upon the day--listening to one another. Before going to bed, they prayed again.

The couple is still not out of the woods. But when they talk about life's difficulties they speak with great optimism. "We know God is at work in our life. We know that we will make it". The only thing they have done differently is to give themselves to prayer.

Prayer is the discipline of time and space. Prayer is constant communion with God (Harry Emerson Fosdick) Prayer is the opening of intimacy between God and those for whom we pray.

My wife, Mandy and I, have added a prayer discipline in our life of more intentional prayer for one another. Our life is filled now with anxious moments with both of our fathers having been hospitalized and weary. We have spent more time apart because of the care of our fathers which is a necessary thing at this time of our life.

Our prayers have made us stronger. Prayer does this. Prayer invites us to more intimate relationships with God and those whom we love.

Need some more power in your life? Need to be closer to someone you love? Pray. There is great power in prayer.

Where are you Diving?

Over the past few months, we have learned about deep sea diving. The cameras have shown us what it looks like at the bottom of the Gulf. We continue to hear about what is down there in the deep. I have a strange question for you: Where are you diving?

One description of the church has stayed with me over the years. I do not remember who said it. It is not an original image so I give credit to someone else. This is the statement: The faith equips churches to do deep sea diving but most are content to do all their diving in the bathtub.

Another way one has said this is to say that the Holy Spirit of God equips us to fly like eagles but we much prefer running with the chickens. Chickens fly but not far and not very high.

Where are you diving? It is a way of asking the question of how much of the risky business of the faith are you doing?

Jesus of Nazareth was a risk taker. He did not settle for less nor did he avoid persons who might disagree with him. On the contrary, where do you find Jesus? You find him in the temple. You find him among the sinners and the oppressed. You find him "out of the box" in terms of reaching people. No mountain was too high. No sinner was off limits.

A poll of persons near the end of their life asked this question, "If you could go back and do life over again, what would you do differently?" The number one answer was "I would take more risks". In looking back in their life, the greatest rewards were found when they dared to take the greatest risk. Life was not at its best but it produced much over the long haul.

Maybe God is inviting you to dive a little deeper. Maybe Jesus' words to fish in the deep waters are for you. Maybe it is time to dive where you are capable and fly higher than you ever dreamed.

Now if I can only get out of the bathtub without tripping.......

When All Else Fails--Love

There are times that I simply do not know what to say or what to do. I got nothin'.

The problem is that many times we try to fill the empty spaces of life. The other day at my Kiwanis club meeting, my fortune cookie said, "A closed mouth tastes no feet." I find myself afraid of the moments that I simply have no response.

With the anniversary of 9/11, I find myself with so many feelings. I got nothin.

There is a part of me that still knows the shock and horror of the day. I watched in disbelief with the students at Centenary College in Shreveport where I was chaplain. I began to pray with college kids who had family and friends in NYC. I helped students make contact with family and friends. I found myself wanting to hear the sound of my family's voices to know that they were alright. It was a helpless feeling.

Then I am confronted with the lingering sorrows in life. I still tear up to think of mothers, fathers, children, uncles, aunts, grandparents.--lost by the action of a few misguided religious zealots. How much harm can we do in the name of religion---not just other religions but our own as well. The extreme radicals in all faiths are a threat to the peace that God wishes our world to have.

And this week, the reckless actions of a small church preacher who thinks that his understanding of rights and condemnation supersedes the safety of our nation as well as those who are serving our nation. I am distressed at how the media of our day has focused itself on the "spec" of life that offers hatred instead of the world of compassion and grace. Why would we give such hatred so much attention?

Many in the world have turned to the cycle of violence out of a sense of helplessness and frustration. Humans do that when they are afraid and full of themselves. How much destruction must take place for us to learn that violence births violence. And the supreme example that stands in contrast to the world's yearning for violence is our salvation--the cross. It is the cross that insists the world's violence will not ultimately win.

Paul warns us in the 13th chapter to the church at Corinth. The church at Corinth was at war within itself. They were a fighting church--fighting with each other. Paul instructed them, " If you have all the power to do everything, but have not what? Love. Love is the answer." When all else fails, love wins. Love works. It is the greatest of motivators. It is the greatest of all. Love can change this world.

Next time you find yourself saying, "I got nothin'", Love. When you're life is filled with uncertainty and raw emotion--love.

Is it Well with Your Soul?

There is an old hymn, It is Well With My Soul that speaks of how during the tough times of life there is a sense of peace in our lives. Not many of us would admit to such peace. We let the hard times wear us down. I think it is because we have not mastered the art of exercising our soul.

There is currently among the women of my congregation a fascination with one of the new exercise craze. I am glad that something has motivated them to exercise more. It has helped them physically and well as emotionally. Perhaps you have found yourself joining in the newest game in town when it comes to exercise. From the Wii to the health clubs, to the tread mill--which many have found makes a good clothes rack.

The exercise of the soul involves giving ourselves to the spiritual disciplines of the faith. It is worship, Bible study, prayer, fasting--just to name a few. The exercise of the soul also requires us to be intentional about our witness. We put away lying, gossip, worry, and replace it with the reality of living each day devotionally.

Notice this is in contrast to the popular notion that Spirit of God just zaps you into shape at a particular time or place and you are done. John Wesley, the founder of the Wesleyan movement, liked to say that we are "becoming saved" or that we are "working out our salvation". By no means did he mean a salvation of works. On the contrary he sees this as the response to what God has already done through Jesus of Nazareth.

The rainy weather has caused me to walk more on the treadmill than I want. The treadmill to me is a walk leading to nowhere. However, as I walk my two miles each day, I realize that I am exercising my body. I have learned that the discipline of this exercise has great benefits.

Exercising the soul prepares us for living. It opens our eyes to see what God sees in our everyday world. This exercise exposes the pockets of sin that reside within us that God wishes to remove.

Maybe it is time to exercise--both the body and the soul. Then you can sing "It is Well With My Soul".....

You Will Get Off the Rollercoaster!

I sat in the courtroom for only a short while. But my heart was so heavy. The story had been told many times before from different people. The story was still so sad. Five men entered the bar with guns. When all the shooting was over, four good friends lives came to an abrupt end. One of the men that was there to do harm will do no more harm.

Grief is like this. When we experience loss, whether in death, relationships, health, or even a job, the story seems to replay over and over again. As it is replayed, there is a part of us searching for answers. We seem to think that if we go over it one more time it will make sense. But it doesn't.

One description of the experience of loss likens it to being on a great roller coaster. It is a roller coaster that you have waited to ride. So you are on it. The only problem is now you can not get off. Staying on a roller coaster is not good for one in many ways. The cars pull into the station to where you are supposed to get off and then walk away talking about how much fun the ride was. Only, the roller coaster does not stop. You go for another spin and another and another.

Like Job's friends, who tried to make sense out of the suffering, your friends try to give you answers. They too want to give you more information. They tell you things that make even less sense. Some of the friend's words just make it worse. They are "pat"little sayings that tell you more about your friend's fears than your own. Sometimes well meaning friends say the stupidest things. Other friends avoid you like the plague.

Some like to say that time heals. I disagree. Time passes. Time does not make it better. Relationships in your life make you better over time. You get better. The grief or the loss is still there. It does not disappear or become any less meaningful. You get better as time passes.

One day, hopefully sooner than later, the roller coaster stops. Usually it stops not of its own will, but because of yours. You come to grips with the facts that you will never understand nor know. You come to grips with the precious present. You find a sense of meaning and hope--enough to start each day--little by little.

The good news is that while you are going through this painful part of your life, God is with you. sometimes it does not seem like it. But God is there. Our inability to see the sun does not mean the sun has disappeared. One day the clouds break and the light that has always been there comes through.

My heart goes back to the courtroom where the family will sit for many days--wondering, listening, weeping. This will only be for a season. Then they will get off the roller coaster and walk through life----with God.

Lord, Make Me Lie Down

I have a dog named Lisa. She is a pound puppy (much older now) that actually belongs to my son who is in college. Few people come to our home and leave without falling in love with Lisa.

Lisa is frightened by storms. The other day when it was storming so bad, she tried to get in the shower with me. She trembles and tries to get as close to flesh as she can. If she is home alone, she will find a secluded spot in the closet. Some nights I am awakened by Lisa panting.

The storms of life overwhelm us. Some storms are relationships that have been destroyed. Some storms are financial. Too many of us know the storms of darkness found in the soul that struggles with emotional unrest. The storms find us. We create storms that wreck lives by our own poor choices. We find ourselves like the disciples crying out to the Lord, "Do you not care that we are perishing?"

Psalm 23 has some many gems in it that wait to be uncovered. One of the gems that I have discovered is in the words, "he makes me lie down...." During the most anxious times of life, God wants us to rest in God's presence. There is great power to be found in those moments.

At one point in ministry, I found myself stopping at a four way stop on the way home from the church. At that stop sign, I would imagine taking all the burdens of the church I was serving (which were many!!) and leaving them on the stop sign there. Sometimes I stayed at that stop sign a long time. That intersection became for me a place where I "unloaded" so that I could rest. The next day I would pick them up again on the way to the office. Some days they were all there again. Other days it seemed as though some had disappeared. I certainly do not remember them multiplying! The act of "unloading" was intimately tied to the concept of resting my soul. God made me lie down.

Do you find yourself in a storm that seems to be overwhelming? Are the waters of life rising faster than you can swim? Has your get up and go disappeared? God has an answer for you.

Rest. Rest in the arms of the loving God who can empower you. Physically renew yourself. Spiritually let your soul breath. Rest.

Lord, make me lie down.....

Leaving Home

The aim of every parent is to work themselves out of a job. Some have failed miserably. Others have succeeded in spite of themselves.

The preacher said in the Old Testament. There is a time to hold on and a time to let go.

It is letting go season.

When we lived in Lafayette, I would watch the children walking to the school that was just down the street. You could tell the kids that were going to school for the first time. They would be decked out with new clothes and new bags anxiously walking to school. They were now "big". Usually closer than the kid wanted them to be was their mother. The mother would be teary eyed. She could not believe this day had come. Her baby was going to school! What would she do?

I heard of one elementary teacher that had to have one mom escorted out by the security folks. Seems the mom thought that she could just stay a while to make sure life was good for her darling. Don't you know that that kid was embarrassed?

Leaving home is a part of growing up. Some folks never seem to learn the art of growing up. You know these folks. They look the same as they did in high school only with fifty pounds assorted around themselves. Their life is still on hold. It is as if they do not realize that they are now out of date.

Leaving home is an opportunity to become what God has intended for you to be. Yes, there will be tough times. And good fortune will come as well. Broken hearts and broken dreams with a hope fulfilled sprinkled in. The past becomes a reference for great things to come or lessons learned.

It is leaving time for college kids. It seems as though just yesterday we were teaching them how to ride a bike, how to tie their shoes, and how to drive. Now it is time for them to be on their own. They spread their wings and fly!

I love this story so I share it every year with no regrets.

A young man arrived at college and was unpacking his bags. His mom and dad had finally left him there! It had been a tearful time for all of them. But he was now in his space. He was unpacking his suitcase and at the bottom of the suitcase, he found two pieces of cloth. The young man held them up and looked at them closely. They seemed very familiar yet distant. Finally he remembered where they had been seen in his life.

As a little boy, he would often go into the kitchen where his mom was doing the daily routine of kitchen work. He would reach up and grab what he could to get her attention when he wanted something. The apron his mom wore always had two pieces that hung down far enough for him to reach and tug on. She would stop what she was doing and pick him up.

The two pieces of cloth from the bottom of his suitcase that he held in his hands were from the apron he had tugged on as a little boy. His mom had cut the strings. It was time to let go.

Hug a Teacher

Jesus of Nazareth was a teacher. Most folks do not realize how many times Jesus put himself in the teaching mode. The Sermon on the Mount is a teaching text. The stories (parables) that Jesus told were to teach one thing at a time. I think Jesus would hug teachers often.

School is about to begin. It seems to start earlier in August each year. I must admit that I wonder if folks who make the school schedules realize that August is hotter than May in Louisiana. It doesn't make sense to me. But then there are alot things that make little or no sense to me.

The teaching profession, like many others, has lost its respect in our culture. Teachers at one time were held in great respect and authority. If my teacher got on to me, I knew there was going to be great trouble at home for me. Now it seems that parents are more likely to make trouble for teachers than to discipline their little darlings.

Teachers are loved by their students--more than students will admit. I think of those teachers that pushed me to learn--sometimes dragged me to learn. They showed great patience in some ways.. Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Saint, Mrs. Roberts--all elementary teachers--gave me a great foundation for learning in my early years. It is hard for me to remember my junior high teachers other than Mrs. Monk the band director. I think I was distracted by the opposite sex during those years.

In High School and College, teachers continued to nurture me. I guess my all time favorite teacher has to be Webb Pomeroy who taught religion at Centenary College. He was a grandfather type teacher. Dr. Pomeroy taught me more about religion and life than I could understand. Today as I prepare to preach and study Bible, I can see his head shaking and almost hear his voice asking questions. He loved to make people think of religion and Bible in a larger context.

As I have remembered, you have too! You have teachers that shaped your life and living. As school begins, I would ask you to join me in appreciating those who teach. Teach your children to appreciate their teachers. Give teachers your support in as many ways as possible. Pray for teachers.

And if for some strange reason you think it is a "cush" job (after all they get summers off!), just spend one day as a substitute!

Thank God for those who teach!!!

Jesus Says Bring it to Me!

Someone got a new window air conditioner. The reason I know this is that they felt compelled to drop (and I mean drop) the old one in the parking lot of our church. The pieces were strung out in the parking lot Monday morning.

It is hard to love someone who dumps on you.

Some people who dump on you are just dumpers. They have no concern for anyone. The world is theirs to trash. Their life is filled with anger, self pity, or just indifference. These folks will use you in a minute gladly.

Then there are the casual dumpers. These folks are not regular in their dumps, but do just as much damage. You usually can tell when the dump is coming as there is "victim" mentality present. "Woe is me!" is their battle cry. Whether it is the loss of a job, failure in relationships, or economic distress it is not their fault.

The truth is that we are all dumpers at one time or another. The trash of our life is too great so we look for somewhere to put it. Some of us dump within ourselves. Others of us find places or people we can unload on.

Strangely enough, Jesus of Nazareth invites us to bring our stuff to him. Jesus invited people to bring their brokenness, burdens, sins,--the things in life that do not work anymore. Jesus wants it so that Jesus can free us!

There is a line in an old Gospel hymn that stays in my mind alot---"Jesus swept across the broken strings stir the slumbering chords again!" The last line of that chorus says, "keeps me singing as I go".

Got old stuff, brokenness in your life? Instead of dumping in the parking lot, bring yourself into the presence of Jesus!

Say my Name!

I not only believe in intercessory prayer, I practice it as much as I can!

Sometimes we just need someone to stand for us. I tell this to my congregation each week. I invite people to remember people in certain areas of life that need someone to stand before God and say their name. We call it standing in the gap.

There are gaps in our life--even in our spiritual life. It is the times when God seems to be "over there!" Or maybe it is times when life is overwhelming. Or we have forgotten to whom we belong.

In the biblical tradition, there is great power in names. When God appears to Abram, he becomes Abraham. When Moses is sent, he asks for God's name--"I Am". When Jacob wrestles at the River Jabbok, he is wounded, but is renamed, "Israel". When Joseph is warned in a dream of the birth of Jesus in a most unconventional way, Joseph is given the name that he is to call the baby, "Jesus".

God knows your name not just in a rational way but in a relational way. When God hears your name, God chooses to respond within your own individuality--your own life story. If you are a child who is lost, God hears your name looking for you. If God hears your name and you are hurting, God hears your name with healing grace. Your name makes a difference in God's world.

There is great power and possibility in saying a person's name before the Holy One. I was visiting with child of God who was searching in life. This person asked me if I really really believed that praying for one another mattered. "With all my heart and soul," was my answer. There was a silence. And then this wonderful child of God said, "When you pray today, be sure and say my name!" And I did. And I have. And I will continue to.

Today when you pray, say my name!! I need the prayers and YOU need the practice!

Belonging

The disciples gathered together in the Upper Room.

There is something about gathering that changes us. Most of us experienced scatteredness more than gatheredness. I think this is one of byproducts of our culture. Our ability to move so quickly has scattered us.

Then there are those things that we think we have to belong to and to do. There are some parents today that are so busy taking kids to this and that function that they do not have time to spend on the things that really give life. I think we really do our kids harm when we try let them go everywhere. They go but do not belong.

As a pastor of a new congregation, I am amazed at the resistance to belonging. Many people want to attend without belonging. It is as if belonging is a plague that will destroy your life. It is the search for benefits without cost.

We see this in our society more than we will admit. Living together without marriage. Someone else should pay taxes. Give me a diet that will help me lose weight without sweat and eating all I want. Making the grade without studying. You know the shortcuts that you tend to take or make in your life.

But here's the truth: We all desire to belong. We are made to belong. That is why our soul is always searching for the concept of home.

And then there is the greater truth: When we belong, I mean, really belong, life takes on new meaning. There is the feeling of acceptance and meaning like we have never felt before. We are empowered.

It is no accident that when the disciples gathered in the Upper Room, the Spirit of the Lord fell upon them. They were changed. They changed the world.

Feeling alone? Feeling as though life is a rat race and the rats are winning? Feeling the frustrations of parenthood, marriage, job, or depression? Find a place to belong! Find a church home and plug in. The power is there waiting for you. The grace will give you a new tomorrow. The love will change your life.

A woman recently joined my congregation and said, "I have found where I have belong. My life has changed!"

The Whole World

The World Cup championship game is this weekend. It is Netherlands versus Spain. The past few weeks have led up to this finale. It is the culmination of the last four years of anticipation.

I must admit that I have learned about soccer as a necessity. My son, Noah, decided it was his sport of choice at a young age. I had no knowledge of the sport at all. At first I thought it was kind of "cheesy" that you could not have a fast break in soccer. If you try it, you are offsides. In my book, this foul was just a way of saying, "You are too slow!" or "You got beat!"

In Psalms, there are certain Psalms where the world seems out of order. It seems as though there have not been some fair calls or justice. There has been some sense of this in the World Cup games this year. Referees have actually been sent home. Goal Keepers have been replaced. But the pace of the game continues. The games do not stop. Life continues. In Psalm 82, the Psalmist reminds us at the end of the Psalm, "God has the whole world in God's hands."

The hand of God is always at work--in our play, work, in all of our world. Now don't get me wrong, I do not believe it takes away our responsibility or our destiny. God is always at work offering us good options! God is at work trying to bring our world together.

The World Cup competition is amazing in this respect. It brings the world together under the banner of soccer. The competition held every four years moves from continent to continent. The countries play each other to earn the spot in the championship game. Could you imagine a Super Bowl that only comes once every four years?

So as the games are being played, God is at work God is present. God has all the world in God's hand.

I am thinking that Netherlands will carry the cup home!

That is NOT What I Said!

The husband wanted to give her a compliment.

He took her in his arms and said, "You grow more beautiful each day that passes!"

"You mean I was ugly?"

"No, I just want you to know that as you grow in years, you are beautiful!"

"So I am old and ugly?"

"No! You are not old and ugly. You are beautiful"

"Yeah right."

Sometimes you can not win.

Jesus must have felt this way many times. The things he said and did were misconstrued into something that the world wanted to see and hear. Undoubtedly he would shake his head and wonder how in the world this happened.

In today's world, many folks hear negative messages from the narratives of Jesus' life. It is that point that I urge them to hear the texts again. Jesus was the most positive person you will ever hear from. He was encouraging the weak, reaching out to those the world pushed back, and always pointing out the word, love.

But the world will do what the world will do. Sadly many times it is because we are at the wrong place, listening to the wrong voice, and doing the wrong thing.

A man called home and heard what he thought was a familiar voice of his housekeeper. He asked for his wife. "She cannot come to the phone." He insisted that the housekeeper get his wife on the phone. Finally the housekeeper admitted that the wife was in the bedroom with another man. Enraged the man told the housekeeper to get the gun from his desk drawer and shoot them both! The housekeeper left the phone only to come back shortly. "I shot them both and then threw them in the pool!" It was then there was a pause on the phone and the voice on the other end said, "What pool? I do not have a pool at my house...."

Wrong voice. Wrong directions. Wrong thing.

Listen again to the voice of Jesus.

The Ripple Effect

One of the great things about story telling is that it leads the mind to create even more visions of the story itself. I think that is why Jesus of Nazareth told so many stories. It engaged the people at the time and even after the story is over. I call it the ripple effect. Once the object hits the water, the ripple begin.

For example, have you ever consider how the man who was helped on the side of the road was affected by the kindness of the Samaritan. When the injured man went to pay his bill for the time he needed to recover, he was told it was paid in full. Do you think he looked at Samaritans differently? Do you think he might have looked at strangers in need with different eyes? Did the compassion of the Samaritan begin a ripple effect? I pray it did!

Or what about the day after the great feast given for the Prodigal Son? Did the son work with the Father? Did he look at his world differently? Did he extend compassion to his older brother? I hope the party changed the whole community!

Or what about the real life incidents of Jesus' life. Do you think the woman who was caught in adultery was a changed woman? Did she look at men differently because of the man who showed her what compassion and love really were? Did she give to someone else the grace and love shown her? The Scriptures itself tell us nothing more about this woman. Her story is unfinished.

And what about you and me? Do we take the time to give to the world around us what we have received? Is our faith changing the world around us? What could our world be like if we were to show one act of kindness, mercy, and grace that created a ripple?

You see Jesus wanted us to know that love begets love. Love creates love. Grace gives more grace. The ripple can begin with you and me.

Do not believe it? Try it. It will change you and your world. Love does that. Let's ripple the world with love!

Graduation is a Marker!

It is graduation time. It is one of those markers in life that needs to be marked well. For young adults it is a time of ending one portion of life and moving on to another. For parents it is a time of realizing that all of the efforts have finally paid off!

Each year I offer some nuggets of wisdom for graduates hoping that it is helpful for the transition in life.

Your parents are going to become wiser over the next few years. Don't be surprised.
That faith stuff that you thought was so irrelevant and boring will get you through the parts of life when nothing else makes sense.
It is never too late to say, "I'm sorry".
Summer vacations will be filled with this thing called "a job"--if you have not found one, you will need to do this quickly.
True friends will show themselves over and over again.
Spend time on the positive side of life. No one enjoys the presence of a whiner.
While you might look "cool" the night before, the offerings made to the porcelain altar the morning after are not cool.
Drink less alcohol. You will rmember what you do, have more fun, and never experience the previous nugget.
Keep your word or no one will believe you.
If you can not say anything good, say nothing. Your mother was right.
Spend your time and money on things that give long term returns.
Dirty clothes and body odor are not your best friends.
A stranger is a friend that you haven't made yet.
Kindness is the nectar of life that attracts many.
Potty mouths are not as popular nor liked as much as they think.
Dance as much as you can, even if you are not a good dancer. Laugh more--at yourself.
If you have a grandparent praying for you--surrender. God listens to grandparent's prayers all the time. If you don't have one, find one!

One of the golden nuggets of memories that I have is my father's hug and tears at the graduation that I received my doctorate. It represented many things to both of us! I hope that you have great memories and celebrate with all of your graduates!

I think God loves to see God's children celebrate!

The World Needs Mothers!

The woman confessed, "I wanted a mother. My mother wanted a best friend. We both suffered greatly from our missed opportunity."

One of the struggles in human life is that we all want to be liked. We want to be affirmed. Being a parent, especially a mom, means that you will have to decide which is most important. Is it more important for your child to like you or for your child to have a mother? It is my prayer that you choose the latter. Too many moms today try to be their children's best friends when their children need a mom!

Your child will have many other friends. They will have only one mother.

The best definition of successful parenting that I have heard is to work yourself out of a job. It is a tedious balance of holding on and letting go. Ultimately if you succeed, you have let go.

The other major decision that a mom has to make is whether to give greatest value to this world or to the world of the unseen--the spiritual world. A mom teaches her children the faith by example and by word. A mom teaches her children that the gift of eternity is the greatest gift. It is the gift that is characterized by love.

This mother's day celebrate. Maybe you were fortunate to have a mom who gave you the greater values in life. Maybe your mom struggled. Maybe even your mom was a failure. Even if your mom was not the greatest mom in the world, you can find something to celebrate. Then you can give yourself to giving to the children of the world the best things in life.

A successful business man was once asked what made him what he was. His answer was, "My mom was a mother who gave me the vision and touch of love,--God's love--then she let me go!"

The Common Good

Jesus told his disciples if they wanted to save their life, they must be willing to lose it.

We have seen the tragedies of the past weeks--the miners in West Virginia as well as the oil rig workers in Louisiana. Ordinary people who were willing to work in the high risk jobs of our world. Some would say that they worked there for the money. I have come to believe that there is more to it than that . I believe there is a sense of common good still alive in our society.

There are many institutions filled with people who have lost the idea of common good. Common good has been replaced with greed. There is no compassion for anyone. It is about making all the money one can make. The sense of "fair profit" is foolishness of the past. The wreckage of broken lives destroyed by this attitude is evident in our world.

Jesus of Nazareth introduced the concept of the kingdom of God that is quite different. Jesus wanted all people to be healed. Jesus wanted all people to be fed. Jesus died so that the whole world could be saved. The common good was essential in Jesus' understanding of how God intended us to live. The vertical love of God for the individual has to become horizontal reaching out to those whom we live with. Even if it costs us.

Ordinary people live and work in what seems to be ordinary jobs but create the extraordinary world that you and I live in. And when they die in tragic accidents, maybe it is time for you and I to realize that they worked not for themselves but for the common good.

The common good is a blessing that God invites us to preserve. If we do not learn how to lose our lives, we will never truly live.

We are Always a Child

I think when Jesus said we enter the kingdom of God as a child, he knew something about us. There is a part of the kid in us that never grows up.

I am spending some time with my grand kids. Of course, I think I have the most beautiful grand kids on the face of the earth. However, when I am around them, I realize they are still kids. For example, my grandson, Caiden cries when he does not get the exact cup he wants in the morning. The adult in me says, "A cup is a cup!" But for him, there is a special cup--a particular cup.

A mother recently arrived at church early to help out. She was trying to smile although I knew it was not a smiling Sunday. It was Valentine's Sunday. Thinking as mothers do, she put her son in red. He was dressed to a tee, with one exception. He did not want to wear red. So she arrived at church having lost her religion on the way to church listening to her son cry because she had dressed him in red.

We are like this in our relationship with God. We simply do not understand why God would do things the way God would do it. Some of us cry and stomp our feet at God. Others of us try to go silent on God. Fortunately for all us, God is a very patient and forgiving God. God puts up with our childish behaviors encouraging us to grow up. And then, God celebrates the uniqueness of our child that always remains.

Yes, Jesus said we enter the kingdom as a child. God welcomes God's children. God, like me, enjoys time with the children in our life. But I have to admit one great difference: Grandpas have limited energy. They are wearing me out!!!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Lead Pastor

The Well UMC

www.thewellumc.com

www.midweekmanna.com

Fish On the Right Side

My friend and colleague, Woody Smith, would canoe down the Buffalo River each year. He would spend ten days and go about sixty miles. It was quite an adventure for those of us who are not as adept to outdoor camping and canoeing. Woody knew how to do it so it made the journey enjoyable.

One of the things he taught me was where to catch the fish. After each rapid on the river, there would be a deep pool. You would go just beyond the deep pool and then cast back into it to catch the big fish. The big fish would make their way down the rapids and then rest in the deep waters of the pool.

Knowing where to fish and what to fish with is a key to catching fish. Fisher people (you can not call everyone fishermen any more) know the importance of this. A particular bait at a particular time at a particular place yields the big ones!

Jesus appeared to the disciples after his death. They had gone fishing again. The disciples were not catching anything. Then Jesus says, "Fish off the right side". When Jesus said this, they did not know it was Jesus. Peter, being an expert fisherperson, probably said, "Oh, so that's the problem, we are fishing off the wrong side of the boat. Some smartaleck thinks that we are that poor at fishing." Then it happened. The fish were everywhere. There were so many they had to call all the crew to land them.

When John looked again at the one who gave instructions, he saw the Lord.

It is a message for the church. If you are not catching anything, maybe it is time to fish on the other side. Maybe it is time to listen to what Jesus would have you do, instead of what you have been doing with little or no success. There are plenty of fish to be caught. All we need is some disciples who will heed the voice of the one who can guide them

Church, do you hear the voice of Jesus?

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Masters Name,

Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Lead Pastor, The Well

www.thewellumc.com

www.midweekmanna.com

Practice Takes Discipline

It is that time of the year for golfers--The Masters. I am enjoying reading Phil Mickelson's book, One Magical Sunday (But Winning Isn"t Everything). It is the story of Mickelson's winning not only The Masters Golf tournament but at life. There are many golfers who win tournaments, but lose life.

In the book, Mickelson quotes another accomplished golfer, Ben Hogan. "Every day you do not practice is one day longer before you achieve greatness."

You see, I have the passion for golf but lack the discipline. Now do not get me wrong, I am a pretty good golfer for an old preacher man. But the only way I can ever get better is to practice. There is the difference between many golfers.

I think it is true in our witness as well. We have to practice the faith. We have to act upon our beliefs. Many people BELIEVE in God. However, fewer people act on their beliefs. Acting on our beliefs is risky business. Most of us prefer the safe side of life.

It is interesting to note that Peter, the disciple that Jesus named the rock of the church was a man of trial and error when it came to faith. Rocky (I think Jesus nicknamed him this!) would be bold and try to do acts of faith--such as walking on water. He would fail only to find that Jesus would then rescue him and fulfill his dreams. Rocky practiced the faith until he was made perfect. No, not perfect in the sense of being sinless, but perfect in the sense of reflecting God's love.

This week as you watch The Masters Golf Tournament or hear others talk about it. Remind yourself that those gentlemen who earned the privilege to play there are there because they dedicated themselves to days and weeks of practice. Then perhaps you can begin to dedicate yourself to something greater than a golf tournament. Dedicate yourself to THE Master---Jesus.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In THE Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com

www.midweekmanna.com

Darkness Before The Dawn

Parents are not supposed to bury their children. It is just not the order of life.

I never realized how difficult this was until my sister, Karen died. I had watched my parents go through their life with a deep faith in God. There were difficult times but faith was always the answer. But the death of their first born child shook and continues to shake them to their very core. There are times where they do well but then there are times when there is nothing but darkness. It has to be one of the most difficult moments in life.

Death does that to us. It creates a vacuum of darkness that we cannot find our way out. We know there is a handle to the door but we grope in the darkness trying to find it. When a child dies, we cannot even find the door, much less the doorknob.

On Good Friday, God knows what it is like to have a child die. God knows what it is like to see suffering that one must just bear. God knows what it is like to see the injustice of the human situation. God knows what it is like to just be present while life does what life does. You see, in the Christian faith, Jesus, the Son of God--the ONLY Son of God died. Jesus did not just pretend to die. Jesus died. Dead. Cold Dead. A brutal death. God saw the battered beaten remains of God's only son.

God's answer to the death is found on Sunday. It is not found on Friday. The sorrow lasts for three days. The joy of resurrection is found only after the tragedy of Friday. The joy of life everlasting is known because we know God does not leave. It may feel like it, but feelings can deceive us. God does not leave us or our children.

This Friday at McKneely and Son funeral home in Hammond, I will worship with those who have lost a child. It is a 6 p.m. service where parents gather in the darkness of grief to seek light. It is the darkness before the dawn of a new day. We invite parents to gather in sorrow and light a candle remembering their child.

If you are close enough to join us, do. If you are not, pray. And as the old sermon says, "It's Friday....but Sunday's a comin!"

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Lead Pastor, The Well

www.thewellumc.com

www.midweekmanna.com

Do You Mean What You Say?

Many folks do not mean what they say. Even when they speak to the Lord.

Charles Allen, longtime pastor of First UMC in Houston, used to chuckle when he watched his congregation sing, "All my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold." He knew his congregation did not mean that. He admitted that he had tried to get some to give for years with no success.

You and I have said it many times. "If you need anything call me." Wonder what would happen if they did call? Would we be able to deliver? Would we be WILLING to do what would could?

You see that is the battle. The battle is not if we are able, the battle is are we WILLING. The will is what makes the final decision in our life. Interesting that in the Prayer of our Lord, we talk about the will of God being done.

Jesus had probably met them somewhere along the road of his life. Perhaps he healed someone they knew. Perhaps his words of love and acts of grace pierced their heart. Whatever the situation, they told him, "if you ever need anything, let us know." And then one day, he did. His disciples showed up and said, "The Master needs it". It was a donkey but in those days even a bad donkey was of great value. It was their mode of transportation.

When they heard that the Master needed it. They had only one Master. They let the disciples take the donkey. Can you imagine how wonderful Jesus felt when the disciples returned with the donkey. His heart must have been filled with joy knowing that the owner meant what he said.

The donkey carried Jesus in the parade. The owner of the donkey was probably in the crowd cheering and throwing down their coats. They probably turned to their closest friends and said, "I am a part of this! I gave the Master my donkey!"

I wonder what our world would look like if we all meant what we said. If we were able to let go of the things of this world for the kingdom of God. What is your response to God when you get the message, "the Lord needs it?" It may be a car, time, a gift, a check, a talent you have, or the most valuable thing in your life--- your time.

If you have made a promise to God, keep it. If you are thinking about making one, promise what you will be willing to do. The Lord needs it.....whatever it is in your life.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

Lead Pastor, The Well

www.thewellumc.com

www.midweekmana.com

Life is sacred

Life is sacred. Life is precious. It does not matter what end you are on.

Within the last 24 hours, I have experienced both ends of life. And I found God there. Or maybe I should say God found me.

Consider this. An elderly man has lived a vital life filled with energy and activity for over 90 years. And then, life takes its toll. He is living now only with the aid of life support. It in no way resembles the life that he enjoyed. The time has come to let life take its role.

It is a difficult time and yet it is clear. The exact time is very unclear. It may be minutes, hours, or even days. But we know that God is present. God does not leave God's children.

As I prayed with his son a deep sense of reverence fills my heart. Compassion for the sorrow and joy present abides in my soul. It is strange how one can experience joy and sorrow at one time. Life is sacred.

Then the day has finally come. We have prepared for it in so many ways. Caroline is going to make her arrival. My daughter and her husband are excited about the arrival of their second child--or should I say--my fourth grandchild. Everything is ready.

We circle around the bed as family and offer our prayers of thanksgiving. We offer prayers for the doctors, nurses, parents, --every one. Tears fill my eyes as I pray for my grandchild and her family. I am praying for me as well! Life is sacred.

As I hold Caroline in my hands, I am awe struck with the beauty of the child. A woman standing to the right of me at the window says, "I can not believe how pretty that baby is! I have grand kids but I don't believe they were that pretty!" Her daughter standing next to her says, "thanks mom!"

The beauty of it all is God's presence, God's gifts. Life is precious--at either end. Life is sacred.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Masters Name,


Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
Lead Pastor, The Well UMC

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com

Lost and Found

"I am not lost. I just have not arrived yet."

Technology has made it more difficult to be lost. With the GPS, it is simply a matter of following directions. Therein is the problem. How many times have you heard from your voice GPS--"redirecting" or "make a u-turn". Eventually there is going to be a voice activated GPS that will ask the question, "is there anyone else in this vehicle who could drive?"

In dealing with the lost, we are most like the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son. He is the one that was not happy to see the failure of a son to come home. The elder brother became even more unhappy when he saw the benefits of coming home. It was not right. In his eyes, the elder brother thought HE should get everything and the younger brother nothing but grief. The elder brother missed the party.

God seeks the lost. Whether we do or not, God seeks the lost. God puts before the lost landmarks that lead them back home. Have you seen these?

Steeples with crosses high above the world are there for the lost to see when searching. Kindness and compassion in people who may not even know they are signs of God. And best of all, God invites us to be ready to celebrate when the lost are found.

Some folks find it difficult to go home after being gone. It may be the reason that many do not return to the church that once stirred their soul. They are ashamed. They are afraid of all the elder brothers waiting to denounce them.

There is an old hymn that says what the lost need to hear. The words are "softly and tenderly Jesus is waiting.....calling O Sinner, come home."

If you are lost, come home. The Father is waiting to love you. If you happen to meet the lost, be a sign to them of God's forgiveness and compassion. Encourage them. Welcome them. Celebrate with them.

In the Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. M Jack O'Dell
Lead Pastor
The Well UMC

http://www.midweekmanna.com/
http://www.thewellumc.com/

Empty

It happens more than we realize. No one plans for it. It is a snowball that begins at the top of the mountain very small and then is huge by the time it gets to the bottom of the mountain.

In work, it is the feeling that all days are dog days. You cannot get the work done to meet the deadlines. Mistakes are more often than you want to admit. Life is overwhelming. You have nothing more to give.

In your spiritual life, it is the desert. The songs that once moved your heart closer to God are just playing. The times of prayer seem to have disappeared. Spiritual companionship is now characterized by distance. The words of Scripture are just words.

You are empty. You are burned out. There is no more to give.

Spiritual emptiness comes from many things. Some of it comes from the busy-ness of life. Some of it is the product of the loss of discipline in our life. Most of it is found in direct proportion to fellowship and prayer.

Fellowship is a great antidote to emptiness. It is just hanging out with friends and enjoying good company. Fellowship reminds us that we are not alone and God has given us great company to live our life. I highly recommend that Christians feeling a sense of emptiness connect themselves to fellow Christians.

Prayer is being with God. It is spending time listening to the chords in your soul. It is just allowing God to breathe with you. God speaks to your inner struggles if you stop to listen. God brings to your ears the songs of life that once gave you great joy.

Someone once said, "You can not give away what you do not have." The gift of faith is what God gives to us in our emptiness. This gift is not like the gifts that the world gives. It is the gift that lifts us up.

Are you empty? Are you burnt? Connect with God and God's people. Begin by finding your way to worship Sunday!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Rev. Dr. Jack O'Dell

Lead Pastor

The Well UMC

http://www.thewellumc.com/

http://www.midweekmanna.com/

Disappointments

It is the job promotion that you deserved.

It is the dream that you have always dreamed. You know it will never happen.

It is the friend that chose to do the unthinkable.

It is a broken marriage, a broken vow.

It is the agony of watching our teenage and adult children go astray.

It is a common human experience. Disappointment.

How Jesus knew the feeling of disappointment. He wanted his disciples to see the kingdom moments--they didn't. Jesus wanted love to permeate the world around him--it did not. Jesus wanted people to follow him. They just did not get it.

At one point Jesus is looking over the city of Jerusalem and he weeps. How he longs for an intimacy with those around him. How Jesus longs for the world to know the love of God.

Some of us allow disappointment to become rivers of bitterness. Others use disappointment to create distance and build walls. While still others create disappointments with expectations that can never be met.

Disappointments in life are God moments. They are moments of creation. They are the way in which God invites us to depend upon God's mercy and grace. Disappointments are when we have to rely on God.

Maybe during this season of Lent, it is time for you to let God work through your disappointments. Out of the worst moments of life, God does God's best work. Joy comes in the morning!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com

Temptations

Sticky Cinnamon Rolls. Hot Apple Pie with Ice Cream. Fresh Strawberries with whipped cream on a Vanilla Pound cake. Hot Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Do I have your attention?

There are some things in life that get our attention more than we want to admit. Notice that I stayed in the "safe zone" of temptation. There are other areas that tempt me much more. But we will not go there!

Did you ever really read the temptation of Jesus? Now some of you discount it automatically because you think Jesus had the divinity card which exempted him from all of it. Not true. Jesus knew what it was like to have your mouth watered with temptation.

But he was ready. The tempter came after Jesus had experienced the height of hearing God's voice at his baptism and at the lowest point of his human thirst. It was there that the tempter offered him bread of this world, power, and the game of "let's see what God will do...."

Temptation is so personal. Some of you read the opening paragraph and said, "So?" Others of you headed for the kitchen or the restaurant immediately. Sounded like I needed company, so you said, "I'll join ya!"

I am wondering if you and I can face another temptation during this season of Lent. Can we be tempted to do good? Can we be tempted to be God's children? John Wesley used the idea of God "wooing" us towards the kingdom to talk about even being perfected in Christian love. He believed that love could tempted us to grow in the faith because of its power.

The objects of temptation are rarely bad in themselves. Usually it is where they lead us that is the problem. The beauty of another human being can lead us away from covenants. The lure of power and prestige can lead us into pride and arrogance. The taste of being full can lead us into destroying the health of our bodies.

Tempt yourself to be in love with God. Tempt yourself into sacrificing yourself for others.

Make Lent a holy season.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,


Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

http://www.thewellumc.com/
http://www.midweekmanna.com/

The REAL Celebrations in Life

The countdown has begun. Probably you are unaware that it even began. It comes so quietly. However at the very end it gets extremely loud.

Sin is like that. Most of us do not even like to talk about sin unless it is someone else's. I am amazed at the magazines and Hollywood shows that just love to throw people's sin out like it is a morning paper. Who has done what to whom? Where someone is or is not in treatment. There is a segment of society that is infatuated with sin.

Most of us do not know what sin really is. Some of us remember some preacher telling us how bad it was and where we are going if we do not get rid of it. And then, we found that the problem with sin is that it really not feel that bad--at least most of the time. Truth be told, it feels pretty good. Whoever said that it would just go away in our life does not know sin like I do. It is pretty constant--more constant than I want to admit. It is a battle.

Right before Lent begins, (that is the countdown in case you were still wondering) we have Mardi Gras. It is the time when we consume and party. Some of us consume more and party more. And then there are the party animals and the consumption rhinos(you know who you are) Rabid consumption and and partying leads to sin--separation from God. By now many of you are questioning my credentials. Is this guy a preacher or what? Go figure.

Ash Wednesday, the day after Fat Tuesday, is the day we realize that we are human. As the ashes are put on your forehead, you hear the words, "From ashes you came to ashes you will return." It is the day that we confront ourselves with our sinfulness and our selfishness. It is the day we begin to examine just how harmful consumption and partying in our life can be. It is looking behind us and seeing the trail of brokenness in our life. It is God's way of inviting us to live more for others than ourselves.

Have you noticed that the real heroes of our world seem to do this? No one remembers the guy or gal who chugged the most beers or stayed out partying the longest. Heck, they do not even remember it. But our world does recognize those who are compassionate, feeding the poor, and sacrifice their life to change the world. And they remember it as well.

The Mardi Gras beads fade fast. The cross stays with us into eternity. And yes, our sin can disappear. God frees us everyday from our sins of yesterday. God invites us to be changed each day. God gives us a life of freedom from sin into eternity. Now THAT is the REAL party-- a celebration.

Rev. Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com