Wednesday, November 27, 2013

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

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

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!

Friday, November 8, 2013

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