We Need More of These Things!

So now you have more stuff?  You have had more food.  You have more clothes.  You have more and more.  There are certain things we need more.  There are some things that need to be thrown away and not hoarded.  I saw an article the other day that suggested you put a rubber band on the hanger of all your clothes.  As you wear the clothes, take the rubber band off.  After three or four months, the rubber bands can tell you what clothes you can give away.  Notice I said, “Give away!”  I did not say sell.  We have lost the art of sharing!  Practice it more!

Here are some things the world could use more of in the coming year.  Will you do your part?

Generosity.  Why is it so difficult to be generous?  Generosity begins with God in the Judeo Christian world.  We give to the church because we need to not for any other reason.  It centers our life.   Once you begin to understand this center, life is easier.  No you are not going get rich or receive more money because you gave.  You are going to be blessed because your life is centered.  A life centered in God becomes generous in all of life. 

Kindness.  Why can’t we extend simple kindness to the world around us?  It is easy to think of other people being rude.  The truth is that we all need to be more kind to one another.  Sometimes it means just being quiet.  At other times it means doing something that extends kindness.  Most of the time it means not reacting to others meanness.  Yes, people can be downright mean.  Some think it is their “God given right” to be mean.  It is not. 

Tolerance.  To some this is a dirty word.  It is compromising.  As you mature in life, you will learn that it is not.  Tolerance is what statesmen practice for the good of the country.  Tolerance is the art of Christian compassion at its best.  You can still hold your blessed assurance without being intolerant.  One of the most interesting sermons of John Wesley is entitled “On Bigotry.”  He basically defines bigotry as being unable to see God at work in ways you never would imagine—even through other faiths.  If you are in the Methodist tradition, it might be a sermon you would want to read and reread.  Tolerance is not a weakness.  It is a virtue to be practiced daily!

Prayer.  Most people believe in the concept of prayer while being unable to practice it.   It is because we have forgotten the power of prayer.  Prayer has turned into a version of Santa Claus—just ask and it will magically appear.  Prayer is about relationship with God, the world, and yourself—all in one.  Begin praying this year.  Spend more time in prayer than you can imagine.  The practice will change you from the inside out.  If you tell someone you will pray for them (yes-Pray, not think!)  DO IT.  Ask people to pray for you.  When you do not know what to pray, just be still and be with God.

The world can use more of some stuff and less of other.  You can too!  Make this year one that leaves great impact on you and the world you in which you live.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

M. Jack O’Dell

www.midweekmanna.com

www.stlukesimpson.org

Today is Christmas!

Today is Christmas!  Christ is born again!

It is a day of
    getting up early with the excitement of a child
    remembering staying up late or staying up late,
    traveling to be with family,
    cleaning up wrapping paper,
    eating more than you should,
    sorting out what goes where and what goes back,
    watching old Christmas movies,
    playing with new stuff,
    wearing new stuff,
    remembering those who you miss on this day,
   wondering where some are and what they are doing,
   loneliness for many, 
   work for some,
   sadness for those who experience grief in any shape or form,
   rest for the weary,
 
It is a day you could
   call an old friend,
   feed others,
   forgive many,
   worship,
   Read your Bible--the birth of Jesus,
   Pray,
   rest your soul,
   write an email or letter to someone who needs encouragement,
  make a donation to the ministry of your congregation
  smile more
  laugh loudly,
  praise all whom you meet,

May Christ be born in your world today.  May this day change you from the inside out as Christ is born again!  Merry Christmas!

Pray for me as I Pray for you,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com
www.stlukesimpson.org
  
  
  

It is NOT about you!

The mind does not help us sometimes.  I wonder sometimes whether in God's original design what the mind was like.  

I am a selfish person.  But so are you.  Maybe it is better said that we both tend to work towards self preservation.  Our personal safety gets in the way.  Oh there are times where heroes forget their own safety for the larger good.  It is most of the time done without thinking.  But there seems to be something deep inside all of us that makes us self centered.  It is healthy to acknowledge this and even own it.

So Christmas is not about you.  Someone in this world puts it this way, "It is NOT your birthday!"  It is more about God.  It is more about others.  It is more about the oppressed, the lost, the lonely.  When you begin to understand this, the holiday season takes a whole new meaning.

A man wrote a letter to his pastor about the Christmas Eve services at the church.  Over the past few years, the emphasis of the service had been on third world countries--their poverty, their strife, etc.  In the letter, the man asked that the focus return to HIS world.  "I want to feel the warmth of my old sentimental Christmas Eve services."  The pastor wrote him back, "I promise that you will see the focus of Christmas Eve that Jesus came to share with us.  We will see and experience HIS (Jesus) world."

Think about it.  The manger was a cold and dingy cave--not a cozy stable that we imagine.  The mother and father of Jesus were alone--no place to stay.  The shepherds who came to see the baby were the outsiders--the oppressed, the marginal.  Christmas is about God's message to the world!  The Savior is born!  Heavenly peace is the aim of the kingdom.

Maybe the invitation for each of us this year is to own up to our self-centeredness and get out of it!  Move towards what Christmas is all about--God is doing wonderful works.  God is inviting us to join in where God is.  It is NOT about you or me.  It is NOT our birthday.  It is about Jesus.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.stlukesimpson.org

www.midweekmanna.com

Make Room for Jesus

The little boy was given the role in the Christmas program which he hated.  He only had to say one line--"I have no room!"  Each time it was rehearsed the little boy would hesitate and then say in a whisper his line.  The lady in charge of the program would then instruct him again.  "Say it louder with force!"  But the little boy would not comply.  Finally in frustration she bent down and asked him, "What is the problem?  Why won't you say your line loud enough for people to hear?"  As only a child could say the little boy answered, "But that is Mary, the mother of Jesus!  Can't I just give her my room?"

It is hard to even conceive of having on room for Jesus in our world.  It happens more often that we want to imagine.  It happens in our calendar.  It happens in our finances.  It happens in our relationships.  There is no room for Jesus anywhere!  So what is answer?

John Wesley gave the early Methodists a handle for such demons.  We like to think they are new demons only of our day.  But these demons have been around for a long time.  Wesley's answer can be found in two words--Holy Habits.  Habits are hard to break!  Habits are sometimes hard to make.  Holy habits are the things that get done on a regular basis regardless of the rest of life.

May I offer you some suggestions?

Pray each morning.  Not on the run or as you are doing other things.  Set aside a place, a book, and a time to stop and pray.  Then you can add to your prayer life by doing some praying on the run.  

Give.  You need to have a discipline of giving.  Most people think church finances is about a budget.  It is not.  It is about your need to order you life in gratitude to God.  Give to YOUR church.  Then you can add offerings to other places in life.

Serve.  Find a place of service.  I am disappointed to know that most churches in our world today cannot find enough people to teach children's Sunday School classes.  What does it mean when we are too busy to share the Gospel with our children?  Service is a privilege and an obligation.  

Worship.  Worship is again giving God what God is due.  It is not about you.  It is not about making you comfortable.  In fact, sometimes the role of worship is to make you UNcomfortable.   Worship is a way to be found by God.

Holy Habits make room for Jesus.  Holy Habits will invite the birth of Jesus again and again.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.stlukesimpson.org

www.midweekmanna.com

Take a Number!

"Take a Number!"  I feel like saying this sometimes.  Or another line that I want to say, "Is this all you have to worry about?"  I know sometimes my thoughts are not pastoral or are they?  The opposite of thanksgiving is complaining. During the Exodus, Moses put up with the murmurings.  Can you imagine being out in the desert with murmurers. 

People who know me well hear me say this often.  "If you want to get on my case, take a number!  You just can not go to the front of the line."   A wise retired clergy person told me this years ago.  I know it is true.  "If you are doing what God wants you to do, you are going to really make some people mad.  They crucified Jesus for this."  I am just now after all these years of ministry beginning to understand his wisdom.

Are you a complainer?  A whiner?  Or better  yet, do you attract the people who complain or whine?

It is thanksgiving!  It is time to give thanks!  It is an opportunity to permanently arrange our world with gratitude and contentment.  Gratitude replaces whining.  Contentment replaces resentment.

Last night a church member shared a great formula for doing this.  When you feel the urge to complain or whine, stop your thoughts immediately.  Then flip the though upside down.  What blessing is there to claim? 

For examples, some people are complaining this week about all the preparations they are having to make for the Thanksgiving feast.  "I have to cook, shop, clean, etc."  Stop!  There are people who WISH they had to cook, shop, clean to prepare for folks to share the Thanksgiving feast.  Instead they do not have the ability to shop.  They do not have the house to clean.  There is no family to cook for.  Do you get the picture?

A mom was mourning the loss of an infant child.  One of her friends was trying to cheer her up.  The friend said, "But now there are no diapers to change, you can get a full nights sleep!"  The mourning mom would give ANYTHING to have to change a diaper or get up during the night to care for her child. 

So during this season of Thanksgiving, change your thought pattern.  In fact do more!  Let God transform your thoughts.   Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

You will find life more pleasing to you, to others, and yes, to God!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Jack

www.stlukesimpson.org

www.midweekmanna.com

Practice Generosity

Are you a generous person?

Most people would make the argument that they are.   But think about it for a minute. Are you?

A woman was donating an older coat she had to charity.  She had bought herself a new coat.  However, as she looked at the coat, she became enamored with the buttons on the coat. They were extraordinary.  They were beautiful.  She hated to part with them. It wasn't the coat that she wanted now, it was the buttons.  So she cut the buttons off the coat and then donated the coat.  The sad part of the story is that she did this without even thinking of how she had diminished the gift of the coat.  She convinced herself that the gift of the coat was enough.  The person who received the coat would be glad just getting the coat.  The buttons did not matter.

There is a relationship between generosity and contentment.  A person who is content does not need more.  A person who reaches a level of content in their life has freed themselves from the sin of accumulation.   How easy it is to accumulate!  When is enough enough?  

Stores are preparing for Black Friday.  In fact, the Black Friday day has now become Black Friday week.  It is not good enough just to have a shopping frenzy day--we need a week!   

And yet in this world of abundance, the body of Christ--the church lacks resources.  It makes no sense.  Or the truth be known, it makes too much sense.  We are content giving God--the one who has given us eternity--very little.  Our resources are spent.  We are content giving God what is left.

What would it be like if our generosity began within the body of Christ--the church?    Oh there are always reasons we can contrive to excuse our poor stewardship.  People who are discontent in their life try to excuse their unfaithfulness.

Are you a generous person?   Maybe it is time for your be honest with yourself and move towards generosity and away from discontentment.  Start with your tithe and offerings.  

Practice generosity!

Losing Rhythm

Life gets out of rhythm more quickly than we can imagine. 

This is a great example.  I woke up this morning (Friday) and realized that I have not written Manna.  Now it would be easy to "blame" many things--work, illness, the dog, family, neighbor, and the list goes on.  Our world does that.  Somebody else is the reason that my life is out of sync.  

Many times our life gets out of rhythm or balance because we get distracted.  In a recent visit with my grand kids, I watched them trying to get ready for school in the morning.  There were so many distractions--books, TV, people, etc.  Their mom was constantly calling them back to the task of eating breakfast or putting clothes on.  Adults do this as well.  We find ourselves distracted by life's worries, daydreams (do you still do this--I do!), and sometimes even beauty!

Songs without a constant rhythm are difficult to sing--at least with others.  They speed up and then slow down.  Musicians who work at music use a metronome on a regular basis to keep the art of rhythm.  A variation of rhythm adds drama and emphasis in the world of arts.  But then one either returns to a constant or the song ends.

Rhythm in your body is pretty important.  Erratic breathing or erratic heart beats are not good.  In fact, medication is needed when this persists.  Loss of rhythm in bodily functions can take your life.  Usually they are symptoms of other problems within the system.

Maybe all of this talk about rhythm leads us to our relationship with God as well.  It is interesting to read the life of Jesus and see how many times he disappeared from the crowds and the disciples.  His rhythm of spiritual discipline required him to spend time in prayer and being with God.  There is great power in having a regular "touchstone" in your life's journey.  Regular places and holy spaces where you regain perspective, power, and even position.  

The Psalmist says, "Be still and know..." (Psalm 46:10)  Sometimes in life to gain rhythm, you just have to stop and start all over again.    

If you are finding yourself not getting as close to God as you want, guess who has moved away?  Not God.    God invites us into a constant rhythm with God.  More constant than your heart beats and even more constant than the air you breathe.    

Keep that rhythm and the good things in life will be done.  

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com

www.stlukesimpson.org

Let The Light Shine!!

When you need a light to shine it usually is in an unusual place.

How many of us can remember putting a flashlight in our mouth as we worked on something with our hands in the dark?  Or for those who remember that you mom said "Don't put that in your mouth, you don't know where it has been!"--you would do the cheek to shoulder trick.  The more creative ones among us would use duct tape.  You can stick duct tape on anything anywhere.

Today's world has it easy.  There is now a flashlight that you can strap on your head.   There is a light that has a flex to it that wraps around anything near by.  You can even buy tools with flashlights built into them.

Light shines in the darkness.

Last week while I was in Denver, I had the opportunity to stand at the resting place of my sister, Sharon.  It is not her resting place however.  I know it is just a place where we go to see how darkness  of death is defeated.  As I stood there I had wonderful memories of her life.  I could hear her laughter.  Actually I heard both of my sister's laughter.  I recalled the music that we created and celebrated in our lives together.  It would have been so easy to sit in the darkness with out my faith.  But the light of Christ would not go away.   Even as my eyes were filled with tears, the light of eternity shone brightly.  

I have come to the conclusion that one of the great things about living a life as a Christian--a faithful Christian--is that we build a power and light station for those who will follow after us.  Our lives become a beacon to God's presence in life that will not go away.  Those who choose to live a Christ--filled life need not worry about being forgotten!  The light will always shine.  

So through this weekend, let us honor the lights of the saints that shine brightly in our world.  Let us honor them with how we choose to live.  In the darkest moments, they hold the light of Christ for us.

Pray for me as I pray for you!

In the Master's Name,

Jack

 

Breathing Normal and Helping Children

So as I was on the plane this morning, I chuckled at the directions the flight attendant gave.  You know the little speech before every flight that we have heard so many times.  I must admit I rarely listen as I should.  I will also confess that I enjoy it when the flight attendant “hams” it up.  Sometimes a little “ham” gets my attention. 

It is the part of the speech about the yellow Dixie cup that is going to fall from the compartment above.  I have never had the experience and I am quite sure I do not really want it. However, there are two phrases that always make me chuckle.

“Continue breathing normal…”  Yeah right.  Like if the airplane is falling from the sky, I am going to be breathing normal.  No chance.  This person does not understand how fearful I am.  I begin breathing abnormally just walking by a roller coaster.  During times of high velocity and irregularity of direction, my body has already shifted into panic mode.  To be honest, I find myself in deep confession and rapid breathing.  The presence of a Dixie cup overhead will probably not aid me in continuing to breath normal.

I have experience a peace in the midst of a calm though.   It is a strange experience.  Right when life seemed to be crumbling around me, I knew what the Bible speaks of—peace that passes understanding.  I think it is a gift.  But it is a gift to be sought and opened.  It is a gift to be treasured.  It is the gift that gets us through. 

Then there is that line about if you are traveling with children, be sure and secure your Dixie cup before helping others.  One attendant put it this way.  “if you are traveling with small children, secure your own breathing device.  Then begin helping your children—starting with your most favorite child!”  I laughed out loud at that one!  I could see a parent pausing to deliberate—“now which child on this day do I want to save!”  Aw come on!  You know as a parent there are times when you really want to tell God they ran away and you don’t know where they are (even though you wanted to put them in a closet for while!)  You wonder what side of the genetic equation of your spouse’s family had created this little monster. 

So to help others, we first have to have our own breath (air).  I see so many parents struggling to teach children what they themselves never learned.  Take prayer for example.  Some parents do not know how to teach children how to pray because there is no discipline or practice of prayer in their life!  It reminds me of the car commercial of the father teaching his son how to throw the ball and the father has no clue as to how to do it.  So he commends the son for excellent throw because it resembles his own feeble attempt.

Maybe deeper practice and study in the disciplines of faith and holy habits would lead our children by example into that holy breathing of the Spirit of God.  Could the lack of commitment to Christ and to the body of Christ we see in our world today be a reflection of the poor practice of faith given?  Not in every case, but in many?  If so, what are you going to do about it?

Now some us have heard these things over and over again.  The speech is the same.  We may have even listened more intently when the preacher “hamed” it up.  But when the moment comes—the Dixie cups fall from the compartment of life—will we know what to do?   Will we have that peace that passes understanding?

It is a gift---one to be sought and treasured.  Better air or drink that any Dixie cup will give.   Breathe normal and if you travel in life with children—continue breathing!

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master’s Name,

Dr. M. Jack O’Dell

www.stlukesimpsonumc.org

www.midweekmanna.com