Wednesday, March 31, 2010

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

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

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/

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

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