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

Live Like Someone Left the Gate Open!

"Wag more. Bark less. Live like someone left the gate open."

It is a daily theme given shared by my friend, Mickey Shannon.   I have chuckled over and over again reading it.

Dogs could teach us much especially when it comes to getting along.  

Wag more.  When you come home from a hard day's work where everything has been difficult, it is always a relief to see your dog's tail wagging.  They are excited to see you.  They want your attention.  You become the immediate center of their world.  

I often wonder if we really let the people we love the most know how much we want their presence.  I tell parents to check out their kid's response to this.  When your kid/spouse comes home, drop what you are doing and make this announcement in a loud voice.  "She/He is here!  I have been waiting all day for this moment! She/He could be anywhere else but has chosen to be here!!!"  Then as soon as they are conscious again hug them!

Wag more.

Bark less.

A barking dog is a nuisance.  Barking people are the same.  Do you have those folks in your life who always seem to be a big gruff?  But then we ALL bark at some level.  Maybe we need to worry about OUR barking before we worry about others.  I think Jesus of Nazareth said something like this using the example of a speck and a log.  Yes, he did!!

Your momma said it this way:  "Don't be obnoxious!"

Live like someone left the gate open.

When the gate is left open, the whole world becomes our parish.  We are not afraid. We are free from all that binds us!  What a feeling!   What a refreshing idea!  

So try a day living this mantra.  You may even want to try two days!  

Pray for me as i pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com

www.stlukesimpson.org

Where Is Zone 16?

Wednesday night worship ended with all the alarms going off.  It does add a new dimension to worship although it is not one you probably would want.  So the fire trucks come and we begin looking for the fire.  Zone 16.  Anyone know where zone 16 is?  Nope.  No one.  No one could tell us where the panel was sending us.  It reminded me of the phrase, "all dressed up and no where to go!"

So where is zone 16 in your life?  The alarm is going off.  You hear it whether anyone else hears it.  There is a place in your life where you know you need help.  For some reason you will not go there.  Or maybe you are searching and wondering where to go.  Sometimes we fail to heed the alarm because there is fear about where that will lead us.  A crummy present seems better than a  fearful tomorrow.

Jesus sounded the alarm in many people's journey.  He challenged them to go to new places and new spaces.   A wee little man in the tree was called down and Jesus had lunch with him.  Then he became a man with greater vision and larger compassion.  A tax collector was invited to follow.  The tax collector instead of robbing people of their life gave them life. A slave trader changed the chords of his life with the assurance of Amazing Grace. 

Jesus does that in our world.  When Scripture is read, it challenges us. It sounds the alarm in our world where things need to be changed.  Places where the old wine skins cannot hold the new wine.  Places where the only way the celebration of life can continue is to invite Jesus to change the water into wine--fine wine!

Too often we find ourselves in zone 16 when the crisis of life is already upon us.  We are ill prepared the meet the challenge.  The alarm has been sounding but we have done nothing.  We find ourselves in reactive mode instead of being able to craft a response.

Today is the day.  Find zone 16!  Let Jesus come into that space where the alarm is sounding and make it holy ground.  

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com

www.stlukesimpson.org