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