Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Surely You Can Do Better Than Leftovers!

The holidays are coming. I have to admit one thing that I really do not care for about Thanksgiving--leftovers. When I was growing up, my mom would never allow herself to run out of food. There were always leftovers---for days and weeks. And of course, you cannot just throw them away. There was always some relationship between the starving children of the world and our leftovers.



In the life cycle of most churches this is the time when you hear alot about giving. The reason is that historically in America this is the time of harvest. This is the time of the year that farmers would have something to give! Isn't it amazing how we hold to the timing of yesterday when we are no longer an agricultural based economy? Oh well that is another writing!


Having been a preacher for 37 years now, I have learned something. People who complain about sermons about giving complain because they do not give. Or they know they are not giving what God would require of them. Christians who tithe love to hear sermons about giving. It is an affirmation. Did you know that the average American gives 2 percent of their income to a church?



In many situations, I like to use the terms--good, better, best. It is a way to affirm the practice of moving towards what theologians have called Christian perfection. This is the place where you are doing what God would have you do as God has instructed you to do. Most of us start out with the good. Then as we grow in faith and practice, we can become better. And the best is yet to come!



This is an illustration of a good practice that could lead to better and best. A woman was so proud of herself. She and her family were moving into a new home. So like many folks do, she had a garage sale. So from the garage sale she made some money. However, she had so much left over from the sale. She decided to have a "give away" at her church. Oh how great it was to give away things---her leftovers. Then the leftovers from the leftover give away would be taken to Salvation Army!


Try this one day. Stand on the street corner with all the leftovers from your frig. It will make you feel so great to get rid of them! And there will be some folks so hungry that they will eat your leftovers. But do not live in the illusion you understand God's economy. This practice may be good in some respects, but it definitely is not better or best!

There was a time in our culture not too long ago that we passed on what we did not need to those who needed it not in the form of a garage sale but in the form of a gift. It was a form of extravagant generosity. It said, "I no longer have need of this. You need it. So here it is yours!" Our cultures' compulsion to have more money to buy more has given fuel to the idea that now you have to pay to get what I should/could share.



I think God must be weary with our leftovers, just as we get weary of eating the leftovers out of the frig. God gets the leftovers from our checkbook. God gets the leftover time when everything else is done. God gets what little devotion that is left over after everything else in life is done.



The biblical concept of giving is quite the opposite. The tithe is the FIRST fruits. The worship of God is FIRST. God's economy is not one of accumulation but of sacrifice. God's economy is one of abundance, not scarcity.



It was good, but surely you can do better! And yes, you can move towards the best!

Show The World You Care

There are too many people in the world who think no one cares.


The holiday season is closer that one thinks! It is a time that there is more care given to the needs of the world. Now let me say, this is good. However, there is a demon that creeps into our world far too quickly and quietly than we realize.

Acedia is a word that was used to describe the condition that you do not care. Furthermore, you do not care that you do not care. In the fourth century monastic writings, this demon was identified first among those who had withdrawn from the world into the monastic life. Their withdrawal separated them from the world. But then their withdrawal separated them from caring about the world.


Some would say that this is a form of compassion fatigue. We are overwhelmed with the world's problems. We feel helpless so we withdraw farther and farther. Or we see so much suffering that it becomes so ordinary that it no longer stirs our hearts.


Jesus would tell those who followed him to care. Jesus cared. He cared for the woman caught in adultery. He cared for the woman with too many husbands. Jesus cared for those whom the world had passed by year after year. Jesus cared for those up a tree. Jesus told story after story that could be summed up in one word--care.


One of the problems that we have is that we think caring means solving the problem. It does not. Many times you are called to care and still life's problems exist. A homeless traveler became angry with me one day because I would not give him what he thought he should get. He pointed his finger in my face and shouted, "As a pastor, you are supposed to care!" He was wrong. I did care. However, I did not confuse caring with solving life's problems. I refused to accept his call for guilt.


Caring is listening. Caring is watching. Caring is being there. Caring is praying. Caring is, sometimes, the ability to do something. Caring is becoming the hands and the heart of Jesus for the world. Caring is what Jesus instructed his disciples to do!


There are entirely too many people who think the world does not care.

Show the world you care!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

As You Journey Enjoy the Journey!

Wednesday was a great day to fly. The skies were clear. From way up high in the sky you could see the ground below. There was not a cloud in the sky.


As I flew from Dallas to New Orleans, I looked out the window to see if I could tell where we were in the journey. It didn't take me long to see the Red River and recognize Shreveport where I had spent many days. From Shreveport, I was able to discern the Interstate 49 that paralleled the Red River. Natchitoches was easy to recognize from the air. I could see the airstrip where one Christmas Eve, a church member flew me to pick up my children.


It was not long before I knew that Alexandria would be able to be viewed. I knew the old Air Force base was now the airport. And, of course, I recognized the golf courses that were near it. From there, I began to look for the Mighty Mississippi River which would lead me to Baton Rouge. South of Baton Rouge I knew we would turn east towards New Orleans.


The plants below told me that we were almost to New Orleans. We would fly along the Mississippi, then over the city of New Orleans to make a final descent into the New Orleans airport from the east.


I thought about what this journey could teach me about a faith journey. Most people do not realize that Jesus stayed within a thirty mile circle around Jerusalem. As he traveled, he would meet the people that he had met before. Lazarus' house was one of his favorite places. I imagine that much like my airplane ride, he would take notice of familiar places remembering their significance in his life.


Sometimes great meaning comes as we make the journey. We need to take note of where we were as well as where we are heading. Sometimes we may find ourselves heading in the wrong direction. Sometimes we might miss some of the most significant places in our journey if we do not keep our bearings. And many times, we come to appreciate where we are by knowing where we have been.


When Moses leads the Israelites to the holy mountain where he would receive the Ten Commandments, he is in familiar territory. This is the region where he has been before. As he traveled, there is no doubt some familiar signs of his previous travels. And as he travels with new companions and new direction, his understanding of journey changes. God has given him new directions!


For Christians, the journey towards home--the heavenly prize--is as significant as the arrival.. Along the way, we come to appreciate those whom we have traveled with. Along the way we come to realize those who have given us direction. And when we are near home, we recognize it as our destination.


As you journey, enjoy the journey itself!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

God is Number One.

It is one of the Big Ten. You shall have no other gods before me.


Most folks do not realize that this was written in a time when there were few people who believed in one god. Obviously the argument about having many gods was not the focus at the time. This argument would become central much later--about the time of the prophet Isaiah. But the message was clear: no other gods before me. God wanted to be number one. Numero Uno. There was not to be a weekly poll where the top god would be selected on their record. God is to be at the top--all the time.


This is the season of life where many choose to serve the lesser gods of this world. The service is rationalized in many ways. One does not have to be in church to worship. Everyone needs a break sometime. I will listen to the sermon online. I will spend a little extra time praying. I have heard all of these over the years. I am always reminding folks that it is not me that you are going to have to explain this to as I point upwards.


But it is hunting season! Or as I tell many of my friends, it is not hunting season. It is animal training season. Many of these folks spend little time reading the Bible or praying. Giving to the church or a mission is minimal. But then hours are spent growing their plots, preparing the animal training ground, or shopping for the latest scent. And no expense is spared for the latest accessory, corn, or for the lease to hunt.


Now before you get too irate, there is nothing wrong with hunting or even animal training if it does not take the place of worshipping God. A faithful hunter does not compromise worship attendance, giving, or daily devotion for the sake of the hunt. In fact, maybe if your hunting has not been what it should be, God may be trying to tell you something.


But it's football season or soccer season! Pick your sport. The service of this lesser god leads many apart from the living god. I do not know who thought it was a great idea to have kid's soccer on Sunday. Obviously it was someone who had little or no knowledge of God's big ten. We struggled with this as our son, Noah played. But we tried to keep him and us focused on the bigger picture of life. There was never a doubt for us as to what place God took in life.


I am afraid that Jesus would have a tough time in some of the polls taken in the frenzy of college football. I envision a headline that would say, "Jesus falls out of the top ten this week". If worship attendance after major games is an indication, then it is obvious that the lesser god wins out. If your tailgating and attendance at the game prohibits your worship attendance and your faithful witness, then maybe you ought to rethink that.


I love sports as much as you do. Those who know me know that I enjoy having a good time as much as anyone else. I enjoy being able to participate in the excitement of life. However, I just want all to be aware that the service of lesser gods can lead us away from the God that will give us life and life everlasting.


Make sure God stays number one.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Are Jesus' Teachings Too Hard?

Apparently there was a time when Jesus was discouraged by his followers. There is a passage in scripture where Jesus says to his most intimate followers, "Will you too leave?" There were people jumping ship. They were shaking their heads at Jesus and saying, "You are asking too much!" (John 6:66)


There is a movement in today's world to push people to live by the minimum standards of relationship. A part of this movement is to be politically correct. Another part of this movement is to have little or no moral standards. What each person does is his/her own business. Who are you to criticize? Who are you to judge? These are the barbs that are thrown at us.


Even preachers struggle with this. To talk about the Biblical standard of tithing is difficult for many. To preach that there are consequences--alienation from God--to continue to live a life ignoring sin is seen as alienating the congregation. To preach a higher moral standard for living is viewed as hypocritical or not filled with grace and mercy. The great power of the Gospel to compel persons to change their life is watered down to gospel of accommodation.


One day I came to a realization that has become very important to me. I share it with you. My inability to do what Jesus asked me to do, does not change what Jesus asked me to do. It is at this point that I need the work of the Spirit in my life--to do what I alone cannot do. Sounds weak doesn't it? But it is actually a strength.


Let me give an example. I understand fully the meaning of Jesus' teaching, Love Thine Enemies. For some of us, the words are in red in our Bible. My reaction to this is to say that Jesus obviously does not KNOW my enemies. He would understand that loving them is not even in the ballpark. I would prefer Jesus to say something like "God will toast my enemies!" or like the Psalmist says, "dash their heads upon the rocks!" But noooooooo. Jesus says, "Love" and "Pray".

My initial inability to love and pray for those who do not wish me well does not change the standard of Jesus. It is only through the character of Jesus working in me--the work of God's Spirit--that I can BEGIN to understand and to do what Jesus plainly has instructed me to do. It is in this Spirit that God begins to reshape me. But only when I yield myself.


So I find that some folks become angry at what I preach. However, I preach what God would have me preach trying to intentionally NOT water it down. I try to explain that if you have difficulty with what is said, the difficulty is not with me, but with God. It is what the Biblical tradition says! And I invite folks to join me on the journey of obedience, hoping that though the teachings seem hard, we are not alone in the struggle.


The teachings of Jesus are too hard if you rely upon your own strength. With God's help, things become different.