A Place of GRACE

DOUBLING THE CHURCH IN ONE DAY

2009-10-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

I want to grow our church. I want to double our church in one day. Sounds crazy? Growing and doubling worship in one day is my goal. And doubling our church in one single day is not out of the question. All we have to do is have everyone in worship invite and bring a friend with them. Statically, everyone knows 7 people who do not attend a church regularly. “The average church member,” NET RESULTS states, “has a network of 7 friends who are not regular church attendees whom they could invite to worship. If we invite these seven four of these seven (63%) will respond positively to the invitation. And most likely will not show up. However, one of these seven (25%) will show up for worship, they will visit the church only because they were invited!
Somewhere between 78 – 90% of the people in worship on any given Sunday are there because they were first invited by someone that they knew and trusted. Who do you know who is not active in a church? Who do you know who is hurting, or lonely? What family members and neighbors don’t go to church? What about the people you work with? Do they go to church anywhere?
NET RESULTS also point out that people are more open to being invited to church today than they were in the past. Some numbers are: 52% in the 1980’s, 63% in the 1990’s and it appears to continue to rise into the new millennium.
Let’s grow the church. Let’s extend the Kingdom of GOD. Let’s grow the church, doubling worship attendance in one single day. Who are you going to invite and bring to worship this week?

2009-09-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Light of Hope

2009-02-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

The elevator had only two stops on it, ‘up’ and ‘down’. Since we were ‘up’ it had only one way to go, down. And down we went. In a matter of seconds, we had descended to the bottom. When the elevator came to a stop, the interior door opened, then the exterior door. Stepping out, I entered a strange new world hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth. Standing in a deep coalmine, a blast of cold, moist air hit me.

After passing a safety course on the surface, underground I was weighted down with all of my safety equipment; heavy water proof boots, emergency oxygen canister and a battery pack attached to a safety belt and harness, thick gloves and a company coat covering multiple layers of clothing. With my hardhat on, I quickly switched on my light. Stepping out of the elevator, I felt like Neil Armstrong, ready to declare, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. However, I restrained myself. To me, walking on the floor of the mine was as foreign and alien a world as walking on the moon. But, for the man leading me, this was not a strange world, but a very familiar, comfortable place.

I enjoy seeing where members of my church work. This day I was with Bill Benline, one of my Elders who is the General Mine Foreman of the American Energy Corporation’s Century Coalmine. Located outside of Powhatan Point, this mine is an independent operating subsidiary of Murray Energy Corporation.

Hundreds of feet below the surface, Bill began showing me around. We walked a short distance from the elevator to his battery powered golf cart to begin the seven-mile trip to the area where the men were mining the coal. Riding the golf cart on top of the rails made the trip bumpy, but much faster than walking. Ribs lined the way with cutouts pealing off every 1000 yards. Safety markers and signs were everywhere. And so was the darkness. The darkness was thick. It seemed to swallow up every bit of light.

Underground can be a confusing, dark world. However, I think more often than not, we live and work in a darker world than the world in which the coal miners work. Too often we choose to live in a dark world. Even when the sun is shining brightly above us, it seems we stumble around in the darkness. We live in the darkness of fear. We live in a world empty of grace, void of forgiveness, where love is vacant and hope is missing. We live in a world where we forget that the promised Messiah came chasing away the darkness of sin and allowing us to live in the new light of joy. Sometimes we forget that Isaiah prophesied and promised that the Messiah would come, dispelling the darkness of sin. Isaiah declared, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)

Jesus came. Jesus fulfilled the waiting promise. Jesus is the light Isaiah prophesied. Jesus is giving us the light of grace, giving us joy. Jesus is our light shining in the dark world of sin and rejection.

With the season of Advent and Christmas approaching, we see Christmas lights coming on just as it’s getting dark outside. We place candles in the windows; bright lights decorate our Christmas trees. Light displays cover our shrubs and decorate our houses. Everything is wrapped in light. These lights, dispelling the darkness of winter, are also a powerful Christian symbol reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world. When we switch on our Christmas lights or drive past light displays, we remember that just as these holiday lights illumine the darkness around us, Jesus is illuminating our lives.

Walking through the coalmine I met brave coalminers who daily work in a dark and dangerous world hundreds of feet below the earth’s surface, with the rock ceiling, just a few feet above their heads, held in place by a network of steel fencing. Darkness is all around them. Yet they live and work in light. Each worker is bathed in the light of his fellow workers. And so they are never in darkness. This Advent season, remember Jesus is the light of the world. No longer do we have to live in the darkness of our past mistakes or sins. No longer are we burdened by guilt or weighted down with heavy burdens. Now we are forgiven! This Advent season, remember Jesus words, telling us that we “are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14) Not only during Advent, but everyday remember to be a light for someone else. Show forgiveness. Extend mercy. Offer hope. Bring joy. Let Jesus’ light shine on you, in you and through you.

DO NOT BEAFRIAD

2009-02-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

“Do not be afraid. . .” These were the first words Zechariah heard as he stood alone in the Temple. A huge change was coming in his life and the angel of the Lord said, “Do not be afraid.” “Do not be afraid. . .” These were the first words Mary heard when the Angel Gabriel came to her. “Do not be afraid. . .” These were the first words Joseph heard during a dream he had about his fiancée, Mary. “Do not be afraid. . .” These were the first words Abram heard and later, the very same words his wife, Sarai heard. All through the Bible we hear messengers from GOD saying, “Do not be afraid. . .” And we see that when they trusted in GOD and in His messengers, there was really no reason for fear. But, even though we have their example to live by, we live in fear. We fear failure. We fear rejection. We fear being wrong. We fear being embarrassed. We even fear success. We fear doing something new and different. So too often we do not attempt anything new.
Perhaps Jacob felt this way. In the midst of his concerns and frustrations, Jacob heard GOD speaking to him, comforting him with the words, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt . . .” Those were the first words Jacob heard that night when he camped at Beersheba. The message from GOD to Jacob and to every one else in the Bible comes in two parts: first there is the message of hope, ‘do not fear’, which is always followed by an assurance, declaring why the person has no reason for being afraid. For Jacob, the second part of the assurance from GOD stated: “. . . for I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.” These were GOD’s words of promise to Jacob, words which became a promise fulfilled. For GOD did as HE promised. GOD went with Jacob to Egypt and brought him back safely.
Like Jacob, we too fear going to new places. Sometimes we fear striking out on our own. In the Gospel of Mark the word ‘stay’ does not exist in the ancient Greek text. The word ‘remain’ can be found only twice. Both of these times the word refers to remaining silent; not to remaining in one place. To counter the absence of ‘stay’, the word ‘go’ is used by Jesus 27 times and the word to ‘come’ is used 61 times!
In our church there are two young women who have heard Jesus say, ‘Go!’ And they are going. These two women, one of whom is my middle daughter, Rachel, are going without fear, although I’m not sure the same can be send of their parents! Like Jacob from the Bible, they also heard the messenger of GOD saying, “Do not be afraid.” And, without fear, knowing that GOD is going with them, they are going. They are leaving our Valley for an unknown world, the Dominican Republic, where they will work as short-term Mission Volunteers with Orphanage Outreach. In the Dominican Republic, in the village of Monte Cristi, they will work and live with the very poor and the forgotten, orphaned children. Leaving everything familiar behind, like language and food, customs and culture, they are fulfilling what Jesus said, when HE instructed all of us to “Go!”
“Go!” Jesus said. Most of the time we take this command as these two women did, and we physically get up and go somewhere. Most of the time I think this is true. However, sometimes the idea of going is not to take a physical trip, as much as going on a spiritual journey. Sometimes the idea of going is to go into the future, which can be just as frightening as going to a far-off land. As we begin a new year, we are going into the future. A brand new year has opened before us. No one, not one of us has ever stepped into February 4, 2009 before. We really do not know what it holds for us. The unknown is always a little scary. It is a little frightening to go where we have never been before. Nevertheless, we all have the promise from Jesus assuring each of us, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” With a promise like that, what more can we ask for as we begin a new year together?

ALL MY LIFEI S A JOURNEY

2008-10-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Recently my wife and I boarded a chartered bus headed for New York City. From there we were going to jump on a cruise ship for a church cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia and then four other ports. The chartered bus took us to within six miles of where I grew up. Bouncing along Rt. 78, the bus rolled down the highway cutting through the central Jersey countryside, splitting the hills, slicing through the familiar knolls of autumn leaves like a knife through butter. With each passing exit, old memories came rushing back to me.
Bouncing up one hill, I smiled, thinking of all the different times spent at the home of my aunt and uncle. Rolling down a hill, we passed the exit leading to the church I grew up in. Driving past the next exit brought me within a few miles of where I grew up: the house I lived in, the high school I attended, the garage I worked in, the home of my grandparents, where Sunday evening dinners with mounds of spaghetti and meatballs and loud conversations took place. Riding in the bus that day drove me back to another place in time.
That night in New York City we took in the Broadway play, ‘Jersey Boys’. Sitting in the theater, listening to the familiar music of the Four Seasons, transported me to another time of trips to the shore, of hanging out with old friends, of cruising up and down familiar roads. The musical led me on a journey back in time. Sometimes journeys take us back in time. Sometimes they are physical journeys, like going on a cruise. Sometimes they are spiritual journeys. Our entire life is a journey.
If you open the Bible to the Gospel according to Mark, you will see story after story of journeys. Sometimes the story takes place on a boat in the middle of a great lake. Sometimes the story takes place in a quiet solitary place or in a large and crowded city or on a quiet road. Throughout the Gospel of Mark we continually see the phrase, “on the road” or “on the way”. These words appear almost ten different times. One time, on a quiet road leading around the village of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus addressed His disciples. “On the way Jesus asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’” Mark 8:27. Not only are these people traveling down an ancient road to a new location, but they are traveling to a new place in their faith as Jesus asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’. With this question comes another just two verses away when Jesus asks Peter, as well as each of us, ‘Who do you say I am?’ On the way to a new place we are propelled to a new level in our faith with one simple question, ‘Who do you say I am?’.
‘On the way’ to a new location the disciples also arrived at a new place in their faith. Repeatedly these phrases, “on the way” occur throughout the Gospel of Mark. They are there, not only to tell us that Jesus and the disciples are on the way to someplace new, but that they are also on a spiritual journey. Jesus is showing us that a physical journey can be a spiritual one as well. And perhaps in the same way we too are reminded that our life is a journey of faith.
Like the Disciples traveling with Jesus, sometimes our journey is easy and familiar, like walking down the streets of New York City or across the moist grass of Central Park. Sometimes it is new and exciting like going on a cruise for the first time and traveling with friends from the church to places I’ve never been before. However, too often, our journey in life is hard, like when we lose our job from down-sizing, when lay-offs occur from reduced finances, when a sudden illness strikes.
Looking back over my life, I know all of my life is a journey. My physical journey took me from New Jersey to The Navajo Indian Reservation to Pittsburgh to Martins Ferry. I know this has been a spiritual journey as well, which has led to a deeper faith and a greater understanding. Through the years, I have discovered that our life is truly a journey of faith intertwined with the places we go and the people we meet. Our faith journey reminds us that it does not matter where we are in our journey of faith, but how far we have come. Our faith journey continually reminds us all that we are not there yet. Today, where are you in your journey of faith? How is your journey to a greater faith progressing, a journey that will carry you through both the difficult moments and those joyful times in your life?
We all need help in our journey of life and in our journey of faith. GOD has promised to journey with us, guiding, leading, directing and comforting. When we seek to answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?”, we learn that Jesus is that constant source of life, encouragement, power, strength and hope. When we walk with others in our faith family our journey becomes easier as we share our burdens with one another and celebrate our joys.
Let the journey begin!

The Art of Caring

2008-08-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Mr. Alter’s fifth grade class at Lake Elementary School in Oceanside, California included 14 boys who had no hair. But only one had no choice in the matter.

Ian O’Gorman was one of Mr. Alter’s 5th grade boys with no hair. In the spring, Ian was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. The brutal medicines were so harsh that he began to lose his hair. First, his hair loss was gradual. Then it began to fall out in small clumps. A little later in his treatments, he woke up in the mornings to find larger tuffs of blond hair covering his pillow. That’s when Ian went to his barber to get his head shaved. The next day the other 13 boys in his class went to their barbers and got their heads shaved too. They did not want Ian to feel alone and out of place with his shaved head.

Ten-year-old Kyle Hanslik started it all. He talked to some of the other boys and, before long, they were all at the barbershop getting their heads shaved. In an interview, Kyle said, “The last thing Ian would want is to not fit in – we just wanted to do something to make him feel better.” His classmates could not cure his cancer; they could not eradicate the lymphoma from his body, but they made him feel better.

The Apostle Paul instructs us in the book of Galatians, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Jesus Christ.” The law of Christ reminds us, “to love our neighbor as our self.” We are also reminded that, “The GOD of all comfort comforts us in all of our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort which we have received from GOD.” (2nd Cor. 13-4). In Mr. Alter’s 5th grade class at Lake Elementary School of Oceanside, California, those students showed us the art of caring as they demonstrated a new way to carry someone’s burden. There are other ways, like sitting in a funeral home and visiting with a grieving family. Sending cards and notes to neighbors shut in their homes by illness is a way we can show care. Then there is the way the late Sam Rayburn, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, showed the way he cared.

Sam Rayburn heard that the daughter of one of his friends was critically injured in a traffic accident far from home. Early the next morning, Mr. Rayburn went to his friend’s house and knocked on the front door. He said, “I just came by to see what I could do for you.”

The father replied that there was really nothing anyone can do – all we are doing is waiting.”

“Well,” Rayburn said, “have you had your morning coffee yet?”

The man shook his head saying that they just had did not feel like making breakfast.
“Well, then,” Rayburn said, “I’ll make some coffee for us.” With that, Rayburn went to work in the kitchen. While he was working in the kitchen, his friend asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be having breakfast with the President at the White House this morning?”

“I was,” Rayburn said, “but I called the President and told him I had a friend who was in need and that I could not come to the White House this morning.”

We can make a big difference in our world by acting more caring toward others. We can make a difference to our community if we take time to be with people who are in pain. We can have an impact on someone’s life by just taking time to be with them.

One cold Chicago night after a basketball game, Chicago Bulls’ super star, Michael Jordan, headed through a large crowd of fans toward his waiting car. As he opened the car door, Jordan noticed a youngster in a wheelchair some 20 feet away. The boy’s neck was bent at an unnatural angle; his eyes could not look directly forward. Jordan walked over to the boy and knelt down beside him. The youngster was so excited that he began to rise up out of the wheelchair. Jordan comforted him, talking softly to him, while putting his arm around the boy’s frail shoulder.
The boy’s father tried to snap a picture, but the camera did not work. Jordan noticed. Without being asked, he continued to kneel at the boy’s side until the father was able to take the picture. Only then did Jordan slowly rise and return to his car.

The boy’s eyes were glistening with tears. His dad was talking with his son about how Michael Jordan took time to come over to him. If nothing else, that boy will always remember the night Michael Jordan cared enough to include him in his world.

Is there someone you need to make time for and include in your world? How can you help to bear someone’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ? And when we do, we can Jesus whispering in our ear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Endings & Beginnings

2008-08-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

Scheherazade was perhaps the best storyteller ever. She became the best storyteller out of necessity. Marriage to King Shahryar, the sultan, was not an easy life, but it was always a short life. The king, governing an unnamed island between India and China, believed he had been betrayed by his wife and so had her executed. Ever since that day, the king would marry a new woman in the evening and have her executed at dawn. This way, he thought, he could never be betrayed again. Now Scheherazade became his bride. And in the evening, she began telling him a story, a story filled with intrigue and mystery, a story that had no real ending, a story that went on and on until dawn. For the next 1001 nights, she told king Shahryar stories, spinning yarns until he fell in love with her and realized she would never betray him.

I like the Scheherazade stories. I like how one story ends with the beginning of a new one. 1001 Arabian Nights, known in Arabic as Alf Layla wa Layla, is a extraordinary collection of fables, tales, and stories which appear to reach an ending only to commence again. I like the stories because they remind me of this time of year, which is so filled with endings and beginnings. For us, sometimes the endings and beginnings are so closely linked together that while an apparent ending is taking place, a new beginning is starting up.

This week our youngest child moved back to college and began his sophomore year at WVU, ending a summer of working in the community library. Today our oldest daughter is moving back to law school after returning from summer study in Israel. Both are leaving their summer's behind and are returning to their school which is familiar to them. And yet, it unfamiliar as well, since each is starting a brand new beginning. Matt has ever been a sophomore at WVU and Sarah has never been a second year law student in Ada, Ohio. Each is now exploring uncharted waters. The unknown can be so scary.

While new beginnings are truly new to us, GOD’s love for us is not new. GOD has promised that He has a plan for us. The prophet, Jeremiah, addressing a group of scared and frightened people reminded them that GOD has a plan for them. In Jeremiah 29:11 it is recorded, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The prophetic words of Jeremiah are not just for the hurting people of Israel, but for all our graduates. These are also powerful words for every one of us. Every evening puts an end to an old day and each morning brings a new beginning, a new day filled with promise, a new day filled with hope. All this is because GOD has a plan for each of us - a plan to prosper us, a plan to give us hope. God has a plan for our future.

Back in 1978, a video series was produced by the United Methodist Church, titled Begin with Goodbye. This series talked about saying goodbye to one area of your life before beginning another. A family moving away from their old, familiar home, a construction worker laid off, a teacher retiring, a wife grieving the loss of husband, a student graduating from school, are all situations where we must say goodbye before we can move on. We celebrate the past and we move confidently and joyfully into the future God has prepared for us.

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“An Attitude of Fortitude”

2008-07-09T15:34:00.000-07:00

Recently I read a biography about Nicolo Paganini, the colorful and talented 18th century violinist. In 1891, when Paganini was just 9 years old, he made his concert debut in Genoa. At age 13, Paganini began to compose concertos for the violin. While he may be remembered for his writing, today he is best remembered for his colorful playing and showmanship.

Paganini was truly a gifted violinist. He could play mournful, lamenting pieces so that the violin sounded as though it was weeping. He could play passionately sweet, soft melodies that moved people to tears. He could play hard, fast and forcefully and the audience thought it was magical. Magical was an excellent way to describe his showmanship.

There is a story about Paganini standing before a packed concert hall performing a complicated piece on his violin. Supported by a full orchestra of talented musicians, Paganini stood center stage demonstrating his magic. Paganini was playing hard. Vigorously, he pushed the bow back and forth across the delicate strings as if he was sawing the violin in half, when one of the strings suddenly snapped. The snapped string hung limp from the tailpiece. Beads of perspiration popped out on his forehead. Frowning, he continued, concentrating, improvising magnificently on the remaining three strings. Then, without warning, a second string broke. Without missing a beat, he played on, again improvising on the remaining strings. Then a third string snapped, breaking away. Still Paganini played on. The conductor looked over and saw the three limp strings dangling from Paganini’s violin. The conductor focused on the three broken strings. Paganini focused on the one remaining. The conductor, seeing the three broken strings, wondered what Paganini was going to do. He worried that Paganini would stop playing. He worried that the violinist would quit the performance, stop playing and walk off the stage leaving the orchestra playing alone. As the conductor worried about Paganini and what he might do, Paganini continued playing. He remained focused on what he was doing. He remained attentive to that one remaining string. He concentrated on what he had, and not on what he did not have. Paganini kept improvising, playing the piece on the one remaining string.

Finishing the piece, Paganini triumphantly twirled the violin up in the air holding it high above his head as the audience jumped to their feet applauding, and shouting in grand Italian fashion. As the applause died down, the violinist asked the people to be seated. Even though they knew it was impossible for an encore, they quickly settled back in their seats.

Paganini again held up his violin high for everyone to see. Dramatically he pointed to the dead, limp strings dangling from his violin. Plucking the one remaining string, he turned to the conductor, nodded, ready to begin the encore. Turning to the crowd, with a broad smile, he shouted, “Paganini, and one string!”

Placing the Stradivarius under his chin, he played the final piece on one string as the audience, conductor and the orchestra shook their heads in disbelief and amazement. Paganini, and one string. Paganini, with an attitude of fortitude.

I believe the single most significant decision we can make on a day-by-day basis is our choice of attitude. It is more important than our education, our work experience, our bankroll. It is more important than our past failures or successes. Attitude is what keeps us going or cripples our progress. Our attitude powers us or incapacitates us when all we seem to have left is that ‘single string’ to play on. Our attitude alone fuels our fire, or assaults our hope. It energizes us or weakens us. When our attitude is right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too low, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great to achieve.

Having the right attitude is the ability to keep going when all we have left is one string.
Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl knew what it was like to have one string left. He knew how important it was to have the right attitude in life. Frankl once said, “Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it.”

How are you responding to old troubles and new problems in your life? Do you have an attitude of fortitude when rumors circulate of lay offs and plant closings? Do you have an attitude of fortitude when forced to deal with a sudden illness, or chronic sickness?

Since my mother-in-law moved in with us, I have seen strength beyond a linebacker, endurance beyond a marathon runner. Crippled with osteoarthritis, weakened by polio, wounded from previous surgeries, she strains daily to perform simple movements I take for granted.
Struggling through the house, climbing a few steps up to the curb, for her rivals the ascent on Mt. Everest. Watching her struggle, I see not only determination, but also an attitude of fortitude. I see her struggle and think how easy it would be to give up to the effort and give in to the pain. I think how easy it would be to stay put, remaining in the house, in a recliner. It would be tempting to give up. However, when you have an attitude of fortitude, there is no quitting, even when you have but one string to play on.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Thanks be to GOD! He gives us victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you.” Do not be moved to defeat even when you have only one string to play on. Develop an attitude of fortitude.

“A Mother’s Wisdom”

2008-05-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

“Share with others.” “Always say, ‘Please and thank you.’” “Leave things better than you found them.” “Be nice to everyone.” These are wise sayings. These are some of the words and oneliners my mother used to say to my brother and me when we were growing up in New Jersey. She had others, too! Like a Mother’s Book of Wisdom, the Book of Proverb is filled with oneliners. The book begins with the line: “Listen my sons, do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” I can hear the king saying to his kids, “Hey!, Listen to what your mother says!” Not much has changed in 2,000 years. I wonder how many of the teachings in the Book of Proverbs are actually instructional words from mother to child?
2,000 years ago, mothers had valuable advice to pass on to their children. They had wisdom to hand down, which they learned the hard way, through their own mistakes. They had knowledge to give which they received through life experiences much as the mothers of today.
I can hear my mother yelling up the stairs, “Keep your room clean!” I can hear her say, “Put things back where you found them. Clean up after yourself.” Words of wisdom.
“Say you’re sorry when you hurt someone.” “Always wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident.” “Make your bed in case of a house fire.” More words of wisdom. Maybe you heard words like this from your mother. And maybe you passed them on to your children and grandchildren. Maybe you can hear your mother saying, “Wash your hands before you eat.” Maybe she warned, “If everyone else jumped off the bridge, would you jump too?” But then, she did not know about bungee jumping.
The last chapter of the Book of Proverbs begins with the statement of a mother to a son. The chapter begins as the king remembers the statement his mother passed on to him. He remembers his mother’s oracle.
Chapter 31 begins: “These are the sayings of King Lemuel – an oracle his mother taught him.” He remembered his mother’s words of wisdom. He remembered her words of inspiration, motivation, and love that shaped him and his career. Then the king passed his mother’s wisdom on to his family and eventually to his country. The king’s mother said, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” She taught him, “Defend the rights of the needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9).
A mother’s words to her children are valuable. These two verses influenced a king, shaped a nation, molded a country to search for peace and work for justice. Through the years these words from a mother to her children have motivated others. These words inspired an old Albanian woman, who grew up in Yugoslavia, who became a Roman Catholic Nun, who lived in poverty in India, who the world knew as Mother Teresa, who struggled for peace and worked for justice.
In Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 1980, this small, stooped woman in a faded blue sari and worn sandals received the Nobel Peace Prize. Mother Teresa’s weapon against injustice was a caring heart. Her message for the world was a message of peace. A tough, vibrant peace that came from a Mother to her children was demonstrated through genuine gestures of love as she cared for the sick and dying, the forgotten and the poor.
A few years later Mother Teresa spoke at a conference on Quantum Physics and Religious Mystics at the Oberoi Towers Hotel in Bombay, India. In a firm voice she spoke as a mother to her children. To the assembly, Mother Teresa passed on her words of wisdom, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”
The book of Proverbs ends with a description of a faithful woman. It says: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the day to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
On this Mother’s Day, give thanks for your mother and for all the women who have made a difference in your life. Celebrate their lives and love. Thank GOD for the grace they have shown and the forgiveness they have poured out. Give thanks for their intelligence and insight, knowledge and wisdom. Then pass that wisdom on to the next generation. A mother’s wisdom never goes out of style!

Racing Toward the Target

2008-03-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

In high school and college, I used to love to run. When my wife and I moved to Tuba City on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona, I had some great runs. Living in that small town, which rose up 5,000 feet in elevation on the western edge of the reservation near the Grand Canyon, in the magnificent Painted Desert, I had opportunities for spectacular runs. Sometimes I would run a loop around the town, maybe down to the Hopi Indian village of Moenkopi, or simply into the quiet desert. And sometimes, my wife would drop me off in the desert and I would run home.
One time my wife dropped me off on the side of the road 20 miles from town in the tranquil desert. The road rose and fell with the desert, twisting around canyons and dry washes before it turned into a long straight stretch of hot pavement that seemed to go on forever. On a 15-20 mile run by yourself it is easy to get discouraged and become disheartened. Standing on the sand covered shoulder of the road, knowing the distance that needs to be covered, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, feel tired and fatigued and beaten. It is easy to get discouraged when you are alone with no one pushing you to reach your goal.
Sometimes it’s hard to race toward your goal when you’re running uphill for 2 miles. It’s hard to keep your sights on the your target when you can not see it. It’s hard to keep going when you are alone, in the desert and the sun is starting to set, your lungs are burning, your legs are getting heavier, your feet are blistering, your shins are throbbing and you know there are still several hills and miles to go. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep going toward your target.
Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged. It’s easy to get discouraged when we’re shoveling snow, waiting to hear about a job interview or the results of medical tests. In our moment of discouragement, we have to keep our eyes fixed on our intended goal. We have to head toward the target; we have to press on toward the goal.
‘Pressing toward the goal’ is what the Apostle Paul wrote about to the people of Philippi. In his first letter to the church in Philippi, Paul pictured himself running a race. He pictured himself racing like a long distance runner with bulging veins, straining every nerve and muscle, exerting every ounce of strength in his body, straining, and extending himself so that he would not fall short of the goal. Paul’s goal was to live a life that was pleasing to God in every way.
Paul knew the race of faithfulness he wanted to run. He was determined to reach his goal. But getting there, Paul knew, was going to be long and difficult with many barriers popping up in his way. Each obstacle was trying to prevent him from reaching his goal. But Paul kept his eyes fixed on heaven. Paul kept following Jesus Christ, His words, His teachings, His example, despite the ongoing pressure to give in. Paul struggled to remain faithful, despite being put in prison. He battled to remain true, despite floggings and beatings. Paul remained faithful, keeping the goal targeted in his mind as he raced onward, toward his goal and ultimate victory.
Prizefighter, James J. Corbett once was asked, “What is the most important thing to become champion?” Corbett replied, “Fight one more round.”
“Fighting one more round, pressing on toward the goal” is the secret for success in living a life of faithfulness. Thomas Gray, the great English poet, wrote 75 drafts of, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” before he was satisfied with it. When it was published, it quickly became a poetic masterpiece.
George Gershwin composed almost 100 melodies before he sold his first one. During his first five years as a writer, Zane Grey could not sell a single story. It’s easy to become discouraged. It’s easy to feel like giving up. I have noticed there are many people who see only the obstacles looming in their path, and not the goal beyond it. Therefore, they never reach their goal. I have also noticed that successful people keep their eyes fixed on their target. They see their goal and the hope that lies beyond the obstacles. They press on toward their target. For they know that the victory goes to those who are willing to fight just ‘one more round!’ This Lent, don’t give up. Press on toward your goal. The rewards are out of this world!

Killing Me Softly

2008-02-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

In 1974 Roberta Flack's song, 'Killing Me Softly, With His Song' was an enormous victor at the Grammy Awards. The hit which went gold, as a single as well as an album was named song of the year, and record of the year. Roberta Flack also won for best pop vocal by female. The song was a huge hit.

The song sang about how words were embarasing her; embarrasing her to the point that if felt like she was dying. Words have a powerful impact on us. And this is what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:21-22.

This is the Sermon on the Mount. What has become known as Jesus Inaugural Address stretches from Matthew 5:1-7:29. His message begins in Matthew 5 with a litany of blessings, known as the Beatitudes. After that Jesus explainged how Christians should live their daily lives, all the while pointing that He is the Messiah. In this section, from 5-7:29, six times Jesus busts some old myths about living. Each section begins with, "You have heard it said . . ." Then Jesus counters it with a radical change that starts with, "But I tell you . . ." In Matthew 5:21-22 the old 'myth to be busted' was murder. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder.' But I tell you . . ." Jesus is quickly referring to the 10 Commandments. The audience then and us today recall (Deut. 5:17) that we are told, "You shall not murder." With His line, "But I tell You . . ." does not mean that Jesus is condoning murder or getting ready to say that it is alright to take a life. Infact, Jesus makes a stronger comment on murder. Instead of talking about physically murdering someone, Jesus talks about the way we murder people daily just by the words we speak. Jesus reinforces His idea that words kill, later in Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be aquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Words and the use of words are very important to Jesus. And Jesus, in both cases is condeming abusive language.

The Movie 'Atonement' is set primarily in England during the late 1930's and early 1940's. The film focuses on the British class caste system through one wealthy family and one servant family. It also demonstrated how ugly words and a lie brought ruin to the two families. Briony, the 13 year old precocious younger sister of Cecilia, is drawn to Robbie, the caretaker's son. Thanks to Briony's wealthy family, Robbie is able to attend Cambridge and plans on a career in medicine. Briony, angered and confused by the mutual attraction between Robbie and Cecilia, creates a fanciful story which eventually annihilates Cecilia and Robbie while destroying both families. The destruction, the murders were not committed by sword and gun, but were are all caused by ugly words and vicious rumors set by a 13 year old.

Jesus tell us that there is power in the words we speak. We have the power to heal someone who is hurting by kind words, or the power to destroy, by our hateful words. We have the power to encourage someone, or discourage someone. We have the power to change the world, simply by the use of the words we use. We can halp bring victory or defeat to someone struggeling. We can lift someone up who has fallen, or crush them just by the use of the words we choose. We have a choice. But Jesus commands us not to murder anyone, even by the words we speak. As my grandmother use to say, "If ya aint got nothing good to say - don't say it."

Disturbing Calls

2008-01-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we receive calls at inconvenient times. Sometimes when we are eating or relaxing we receive a phone call and we are forced to get up, leave our comfortable place and go and receive our call. We know phone calls and GOD's call to us can come to us at inconvenient times. And just GOD's call can come when we least expect it, GOD's call can come where we least expect it as well - at work.

We expect to hear GOD talking to us, and calling us into service, in mission and ministry and into a deeper relationship with Him during worship. We expect GOD to talk to us in the beautiful surroundings of the sanctuary. We do not expect GOD to speak to us at work. But GOD does.

Simon, who later became named, Peter, had been fishing all night. He and his fishing partners, Andrew, James and John had worked all night fishing. They worked through the night, like many people do today. The labored through the night shift. And when morning came, and their last nets were hauled aboard their boats the had a 'net' return of zero. All night they worked. All night they tossed their nets overboard, sailed the boat in a tight circle and began hauling the nets back into the boat. It was hard work. It was back breaking. And at the end of their shift they had nothing to show for all their work. They must have felt very discouraged and defeated. They would have to return home with not fish and no food. They would have not fish to sell in the market. The people who were counting on them to provide a meal would have to go without fresh fish. When the returned to the water's edge, the men began to clean their nets, wash them and repair them. Carefully they replaced the weights and floats. With skillful fingers, they repaired the snags stitched up the rips in their nets. Then they carefully folded them and stowed them away for the next night's fishing.

As the fishermen were finishing the tedious job of their cleaning up, Jesus came by walking along the shoreline. As He approached, a crowd of people began to follow Him. Soon they were pressing in around him. At the edge of the water, Jesus got into one of the fishing boats owned by Peter and Andrew, James and John. The boats gets pushed out a little from shore and then Jesus, acting like a Rabbi, sat down and began to teach the crowd. Jesus taught and preached. His teachings I'm sure stretched on through the morning as the fishermen wondered how long this itinerant preacher was going to talk. I'm sure the fishermen, after coming off their night shift of fishing were exhausted and hungry and ready to go home. And Jesus continued to teach.

Then when Jesus was finished teaching, to told Peter, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

Peter, exhausted and probably a little frustrated went along with Jesus. He said, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything." Then Peter, maybe skeptical about what this preacher knows about fishing said, probably with a tired voice and with a slight sarcastic tone, "But, because you say so, I will let down the nets again." With the nets already cleaned and stored away, Peter did something contrary to his own experience, he got out the nets, set them up and toss them into the sea. And what a shock followed. The net filled and filled to the point that when they tried to land the nets into the boat, the boat (27 foot long x 7 1/2 feet wide) began to list with sea water spilling in. Now that's a catch. This catch was straining and breaking their nets. The catch was pulling them further and deeper and lower into the waves. The other boat came to their rescue, and that boat began to struggle under the weight of the fish. These were not tiny row boats. These were large fishing boats. And in order to have these boats to have struggle as they did, it is estimated that the weight of the catch exceeded several tons of fish. A few hours earlier the professionals caught nothing. All night they worked and had nothing to show for their labors. Now, with one drop they hauled in a huge catch! With this Peter became amazed and puzzled, frightened and scared all at the same time. As a professional fisherman, he has never seen anything like this before. And his puzzlement gave way to fear.

Recognizing Peter's fear, Jesus said, "Do not be afraid." I like that line. This has to be one of my favorite lines in the Bible, "Do not be afraid." We find this line all through the Bible. It is there to truly dispel our fears and apprehensions. Right after Jesus tells Peter, Do not be afraid;" Jesus continues without taking a breath and says, "From now on you will catch men." It is as if Jesus is telling Peter, "You trusted me for fish, now trust me for everything else." This is Peter's calling into full time ministry. Now Peter was turning and trusting Jesus for everything. We see that Peter meant it with the last line in this passage (Luke 5:11). "So they (Peter, Andrew, James & John) pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Jesus." From now on they would trust in and on Jesus for everything. Everything in life and everything in and for ministry would provided for them by Jesus. Everything they need to succeed would by provided by Jesus.

The tired fisherman heard Jesus calling them even at work. And just as they heard it then, I believe Jesus is calling people today at their place of employment. He is calling you, maybe right now to follow Him. Maybe right now, Jesus is calling you go deeper with your faith and trust Him for everything. Maybe right now, you can hear - feel - experience Jesus calling you to trust Him for all your needs. Jesus call us, not only when we least expect it, but sometimes where we least expect hearing from him, at work. Be open to GOD's leading. Keep your eyes and ears open to the new possibilities in your life. Because maybe right now, Jesus is calling you to follow Him.

It's Your Call

2008-01-16T06:19:00.000-08:00

I have noticed that the telephone always rings at the wrong time. The call never comes at the right time. We can be just seated to eat dinner and the phone rings. Answering it the caller wants to speak to me. "Rev. Webster?", the caller asks. "I'm just calling to tell you that you are pre-approved for a new credit card. You must be thrilled. . ." Thrilled was not one of the words I was thinking about. I was thinking how my dinner was getting cold, how I had an appointment in less than an hour, how my time was being wasted answering this call.

I have discovered that calls never come at the right time - the comfortable time. Calls come on GOD's time. This was the case with Noah. He was happily working around the house repairing broken furniture when GOD's call came to him. "Noah, I want you to build me an ark." Whenever I read the call of Noah, I hear in the back of my mind Bill Cosby's comic routine - I hear the funny conversation between GOD and Noah. GOD's call to Noah did not come at the right time. But Noah, being obedient to GOD, answered and responded to GOD's call.

We see GOD's call never seems to come at the right time. Look at Jonah. He was happily doing his thing when GOD told him to do the ridicules - "Go to Nineveh and preach to them." Jonah was not a preacher. He had never been to seminary. He was not an ordained Elder in the church, and yet, GOD called him to do something really bold - GOD called him to preach to the people of Nineveh. And so Jonah went. Jonah went not to the east to the troubled city in the desert, but west on a boat bound for Tarshish. Jonah tried real hard to run away from GOD and GOD's calling. Eventually, Jonah responded and made it to Tarshish. He did something there he didn't know he could do - preach. And the people responded. Sometimes the call from GOD comes at the most unexpected time with the most unexpected tasks.

GOD called Isaiah. And, unlike Jonah who ran away from his calling, Isaiah said, "Here am I, Lord. Use me." How great and relieved GOD must have felt when someone HE called answered 'Yes!" instead of coming up with excuses.

GOD is calling each of us. And for each of us the call to serve Him may come at an unopportune time. But GOD is still calling us. GOD is calling us to serve; to bring hope to the people who feel hopeless. GOD is calling us to bring peace to people who are living in pain. GOD is calling us to give grace and mercy to people who are living in guilt and shame. GOD is calling. GOD is waiting to hear the words, "Here I am, Lord. Use me!"

New Hope

2007-12-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

We long for hope. We live to for hopeful words.
The nurse tells us that our blood pressure is down and we are hopeful of not having a stroke.
Our stock broker passes onto to us the good news that our stocks are up and suddenly we are hopeful of striking it rich!
The surgeon greets us in the waiting room after the surgery and declares, 'We got it all'. And we the hope of living cancer free is promising. Words of hope.

Almost daily we hear sounds of hope. They greet us at work when we hear that the plant is not closing, we're getting a raise, the boss is on vacation! Words of hope!

We are greeted at the doctor's office with words of hope when he says the triglyceride and cholesterol levels are down.
We are greeted with sounds of hope
when the auto mechanic repairing our car declares with a smile, 'It doesn't look too bad.'
when the pharmacist filling our prescription claims, 'It shouldn't cost too much.'
when the computer-tech wizard fixing our crashed computer says, 'I've seen worse!'
Words of hope.

Christmas caroling in hospital halls, the cash register ringing up sale, the cry of a healthy baby, the sound of soft jingling bells, laughter of children, the quiet after a snow storm, robins singing in April, shouting Bingo!
Words of hope.

While these sounds are great to hear - they are not eternal words of hope. They are only fleeting words. Almost as soon as they slide into our ears, the promise is old and soon forgotten. But not all words of hope are fleeting. The Prophet Isaiah passed on hopeful words to the people of Israel centuries ago. But a lot of the people listening to him did not hear him.

Isaiah lived during the time of Israel's peak of power. They had reached the peak of their economic power, political power, military power, religious power. Then they were conquered. First by the Assyrians who rapidly turned Judah into a vassal state. The next catastrophic event came in the events of 587-586 BC when the Babylonians swept through the country destroying Jerusalem, leaving the gigantic, majestic Temple a pile of smoldering rubble .

Standing in the ashes of the Temple Isaiah preached and prayed. He prayed to GOD and for the people. The people who were listening to Isaiah, were living without hope. They lost their hope and their faith. They cried, 'where is GOD!' 'Now, where is GOD?!?' Their farms had been burned, their homes destroyed, their cattle killed or herded away. Their family killed or dragged away as slaves to live in exile. In pain they yelled, 'Is there any hope for our future?!?'
To these people Isaiah passed on words of hope. Powerful words that brought hope if they were ready to hear them. Isaiah reminded them of what GOD has done for them in the past. He reminded them that GOD was with them now. Then Isaiah told them that GOD is their father. Isaiah didn't say, GOD is like a father. He said 'Lord, You are our father.'(IS.64:8) And like a biological father, GOD wants only the best for His children. GOD was there to comfort them, forgive them - offering grace and hope.

Like those Israelites, we too have our moments when we hurt. We have our times when we cry, shouting, 'Where is GOD!?!' And like Isaiah's people, we too must be open, listening to GOD's voice comforting us and forgiving us and freeing us.

The words Isaiah declared are not temporary words of hope; they are lasting words. They are words of promise that deliver hope to the hopeless.

In Boston, MS there is a little cemetery. Above the entrance to the cemetery is a large sign that declares the name of the cemetery. The sign reads, 'Little Hope Cemetery'. A cemetery of little hope is not a place I want to be buried. Do the people who built the cemetery not know of GOD's words of hope, 'Within my Father's house there are many mansions - if it were not so I would have told you. But I go and prepare a place for you. And I will come again and receive you that where I am, there you will be too.' To me, these are not words of little hope. These words of Jesus are words of big hope - the hope and promise of living with Him in Heaven. The hope of eternal life is a promise given to each of us and offered to all of us. All we have to do is listen to GOD's voice and answer Him by saying, "I believe!"

My Century!

2007-11-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

Three months have passed since I made y historic bike ride from Myersdale, PA (near Frostburg, MD) to Pittsburgh, PA. It was a tremendous experience. The ride on my Raleigh was fantastic. The weather even cooperated, keeping the September 1st temperatures down in the 70's. When I began my ride, it was a chilly 53. Thick river fog kept the temperatures down for a few hours. Then around 10:00 AM the sun burned off the fog allowing the cobalt blue sky to stretch out above the green canopy of forest. Making my way through the Allegheny Mountains, I traversed through the small town of Garret. Garret and Garret County Pennsylvania are know for having wind farms. Large windmills dot the ridge throughout the countryside. The three bladed machines are the largest industry for this rural county, producing electricity for large sections of the east coast. The large windmills seemed to stand sentry on the mountain ridges, watching, keeping an eye on me as I passed just below them. My entire ride took almost exactly ten hours, which included a lunch break and several outhouse stops along the way. Riding time was less, averaging 14.1 miles per hour for the 105.6 mile trip. Our eldest child, Sarah, a first year Law Student at Ohio Northern Law School in Ada, Ohio came out for the ride and rode with me, completing her first metric century (62.5miles). This ride is something we will always be able to share because it is something we did together.
I rode my first century on a bike - not bad for someone with M.S. Diagnosed in September 1991, I gradually built up to be able to ride a bike again. 16 years after first being diagnosed with M.S. I did what many people said was impossible - ride a bike on the trail along the great Allegheny Passage. Maybe if you can dream it - you can do. I certainly did dream it. And now I can count it as a victory. One more goal crossed off my list! What goal do you have waiting to be conquered?

20 Years

2007-11-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

"I have been with you for twenty years now." Genesis 31:38

When you read Genesis 31, you see that jacob had spent 20 years of his life working for Laban. Laban was the father of both Leah and Rachel. He was an an unscrupulous man. He was deceitful, cunning and unethical and yet at the end of the story we see that he showed signs of generosity. But halfway through the chapter we discover a major conflict between the two men. Their conversation lets you quickly realize that those twenty years have not been real good ones, let alone great ones! Jacob fell in love with Laban's daughter Rachel and he wanted to marry her. Laban said, "if you work for me for, say seven years, you can marry my daughter." So Jacob worked really hard and when the time came, he was ready to marry Rachel. Only Laban pulled a last minute switch and placed Leah in Rachel's place. When the service was over and drape removed, Jacob realized he had been trick and had not married Rachel, but Leah. Laban basically said, "My bad - I thought you wanted to marry Leah. But I'll tel ya what. If you work for me, say another 7 years you can have Rachel too." At the end of the 14th year of working for Laban, Laban kept his word - sort of. Jacob married Rachel. But, because they had no money, he wouldn't let them leave. So now Jacob conns Laban to stay an additional six years so that he can raise enough money to succeed on his own. At the end of the 20 years, reading now between the lines on the page, it sounds like Jacob had endured a twenty year prison sentence before he made his great escape.

I have been in Martins Ferry serving at GRACE Presbyterian Church for twenty years. But unlike Jacob, my twenty years have been great! What a contrast - my twenty years laboring with you at GRACE Church and Jacob's twenty years at work for Laban!

Twenty years. I've been at GRACE Church for twenty years. Twenty wonderful years that has just flown past. It seems like just yesterday we were unpacking and moving into the manse. It seems like just yesterday we were moving in, setting up and gearing up for our ministry at GRACE. But the pictures taken over the past two decades show differently. They have marked time traveled, revealing significant changes in our facility and in the people.

Twenty years ago - that's a long time. When we moved to GRACE Church Matthew (a fresheman at WVU) wasn't born; Rachel, a Junior at Westminster College was only six months old; and Sarah, now in her first year of Law School at Ohio Northern wasn't quite three years old. But my wife has always been 29.

For me, it is easiest way to measure time, isn't with pictures, but with people, especially with the kids. I have baptized infants, children of children which I have baptized and married. In the past twenty years I have married over one hundred couples and baptized 194 people. I have officiated over 350 funerals. Someone once told me, "You know you have been in a church too long when you bury friends and not parishoners." I have not buried a parishoner in many, many years.

On any given Sunday I can look out from the pulpt and see great, old friends. Some of them are sitting in the pews, greeting at the door, assisting in worship. Others are floating around in my memory. They remain forever sitting in their seat, or walking around, assisting and helping around the church in one way or another. I see them, as the author of the Book of Hebrews reminds us, "as a great cloud of witnesses." The cloud of witnesses surrounding GRACE Church constantly remind us of those who have come before us. They recall for us past, historic events. Those who have come before us; those who stood at the pulpit or sat in the pews made decisions, grew in grace, and grew Grace Presbyterian Church. They worked in unity enlarging the Kingdom of God. Looking back after 20 years at GRACE Church, I see that we are continuing in the rich tradition of our ancestors as we actively grow the Kingdom of GOD.

"Who's Going"

2007-10-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

In Luke chapter 9 we see Jesus sending out His 12 Apostles. First Jesus called them together and then He sent them out. Jesus sent them out two by two. They went out visiting from village to village sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ. They went out healing the broken people, offering grace, show love and mercy. They went out to save the world.
Just as Noah saved the world by bringing then into ark two by two, Jesus was saving the world by sending His Apostles out into the world two by two. Two by two, the Apostles went out. They went to the villages of Israel.
In chapter 10:1-17 of Luke, we see Jesus now sending out 70. Jesus sent out 70 disciples. They went, not to the local communities but to the global community. They went out, after being appointed by Jesus, teaching, healing and offering grace.
Luke uses the Greek word 'apostello' 45 times in this book. The word is the root for the word apostle, which means, to be sent out. Luke uses the Greek word 'poreumai' 37 times in this book. This word means, 'go, travel, traverse'. Truly the idea of going is a constant theme in the gospel of Luke. And we see the idea of going, or rather being sent no more clearly than in chapters 9-10. When Jesus sent the Apostles in chapter 9 the event is known as the first mission and the one involving the 70 disciples (some ancient manuscripts state 72) is referred to as the second mission. One trip went local. Went went global.
Jesus sent out 70. 70 is a powerful number. Moses appointed 70 Elders to assist him (Num. 11:16) There were 70 members on the Sanhedrin. When Jesus sent out the 70 disciples, the Jewish world knew of 70 countries besides their own.
To the rest of the world, Jesus was sending those 70 disciples. They went as groups of two. And I pictures each group of two disciples, going out and reaching new people in new lands for the Lord. 70 disciples were sent. And there were 70 countries. Coincident? I don't think so. I believe Luke is telling us to go, not just to our local neighborhoods, but into the global community.
Jesus first sent out the 12 Apostles. Then He sent out the 70 disciples. And now Jesus is sending us out into the world. Today, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has 452 missionaries serving in 64 countries. While the number of mission workers may look significant, the number of countries in which there is a mission presence is dismal. It's embarrassing. Only 64 countries out of the 194 today are currently being reached for the Lord. Perhaps we are not taking Jesus' command to 'go' very seriously. Perhaps now is the time to go.

DANIEL - Man of Integrity

2007-09-11T12:53:00.001-07:00

We seem to live in a world void of integrity. I over heard two man talking in a restaurant one day. The one man sad to the younger man, "Integrity is everything. Once you have learned to fake it, everything else is easy."

The lack of integrity seems to permeate our world. We hear politicians promise us everything and deliver us nothing. We see integrity in the media when we see truths stretched and facts distorted in order to sell more air time. We see TV news create stories to get better ratings and newspaper plagiarizing articles and inventing stories in order to sell more copies. Haddon Robinson, pastor, preacher and professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary recently wrote, "In our culture integrity seems as scarce as polar bears in the Sahara Desert."

You don't have to be a cynic to doubt the claims made to us every day by sincere voices with a straight face. During dinner at home the phone rings, "I'm calling on behalf of the telephone company to tell you about a new calling plan designed only to save you money." Right. "I'm calling to tell you about the new merger of two great banks that will cut costs, expand productivity, and provide our customers with even better service." Right. On a TV sports Chanel we hear, "You can be sure that this university has never offered a star high school athlete anything more than room and board." Right. In the TV commercial the young woman says, "Use our exercise machine just 10 minutes a day and you will lose twenty pounds in a month without dieting!" Right.

The lack of integrity really does seem to abound everywhere. While we face it here and now, the Prophet Daniel thousands of years ago faced it as well. Yet, despite all of the corruption surrounding him, he remained a man of integrity.

When you look at Daniel chapter six you quickly discover that Daniel displays four marks of integrity:

1. Excellent Attitude

2. Faithful Worker

3. Person of Purity

4. Walks with GOD

We see Daniel "distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps (governors) by his exceptional qualities. . . " verse 3. Then in verse 4 shows us that Daniel "was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." These verses clearly point out that Daniel held an excellent attitude. It shows that he was a faithful and honest employee who was a hard worker. It shows he was a man of of purity. Daniel was suppose to be a man of 80 years old and yet the people who were trying to take Daniel down "could find no corruption in him" V.4. He had no skeletons hanging in his closet.

A read a story of a couple who went to a fast food chicken restaurant. The man ran in, while the woman waited in the car. He went in, ordered a bucket of chicken, paid cash for it, and

walked out to the car. Since the woman was driving he sat holding the bucket of chicken that they were taking for their intimate picnic in the park. Only a few blocks into the drive the man realized the bucket was not warm. He didn't smell the freshly fried chicken. Curious, he pried open the lid. And it was empty of chicken, but filled with a zipped money bag. The couple didn't know what to do. Instead of a bucket of chicken they got a bucket of cash. Pulled over against the curb they thought of all their options, liking keeping it. No one knew who they were and they could buy so many things with this cash. But they realized that this is dishonest so they turned the car around and went back to the restaurant.

The couple walked in and the man asked to see the manager. Looking rather haggard, the manager nonetheless met with the couple beside the counter. The man announced that instead of getting a bucket of chicken they got a bucket of cash and he opened the lid. The manager threw his arms around the couple thanking them. He thanked them repeatedly for was bringing the money back The manger explained that they had an exceptionally good day. They had been swamp all afternoon and he never had the opportunity to deposit the receipts. So he hid it in a chicken bucket until he could get to the bank. When he realized it was gone he was sick over it.

The manager was so elated that he told the young man, "Stick around, I want to call the newspaper and have them take your picture. You're the most honest guy in town!"

"Oh, don't bother.

"It's no bother - it's my pleasure", the manager said as he reached for the phone.

"Really don't bother - you don't understand - you see I'm married and the woman I'm with is not my wife."

We may look like honest people with great integrity. But it is not unusual to find a lot of corruption. Look hard enough, search long enough, dig deep enough and usually some dirt is discovered.

But not in Daniel. They found no corruption, no lack of integrity in this man. They discovered a man with an excellent attitude who was faithfully doing his job. They found an honest man with nothing to hide.

They people out to get Daniel also found a man who walked with GOD. Daily Daniel paused and prayed. And it was this very act that ultimately got him thrown into the lion's den.

Sometimes living a life of integrity gets us thrown into the lion's den. Short term we may face some problems. But in the long haul, we gain so much from GOD.

Daniel after spending the night in the lion's den was lifted out without a scratch. After we have been thrown to the lions we don't always escape unscathed. But always the final result is the greatest reward.

It seems we live in a world not too unlike Daniel's. It is corrupt. It lacks integrity. It is absent of honesty. But there is hope and it is the church. The church must be a place of integrity. The church, as individuals and as a community must display a life of integrity as we develop excellent attitudes, become faithful workers, live a pure and honest life, continually walk with GOD.

But I'm Tired

2007-09-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

We grow tired of work and working. We get tired and bored of being at work. We get tired of being in school of doing home work and preparing for those weekly tests. We get tired of the monotonous job of doing house; of dusting, vacuuming and cleaning up. And we get sick and tired of being sick and tired. In our fatigue, we have a choice - give in to the exhaustion and quit - or dig in and keep going. We have a choice.

Noah had a choice - sort of. At age 500 GOD asked him to build an ark. Build at boat the Lord told him - not just any boat, a huge ship. So in the desert, Noah and his family began building the boat. Year round they worked together building the boat. For about 100 years they worked on building that ark. I'm sure, during all those years, they must have gotten tired of building that boat. I'm sure there were days when Noah said, "I quit - I've had enough!" But his family encouraged him to press on. And I'm sure his family must have felt like quiting also. And when they got tired of the project, when they felt like giving up, Noah was there encouraging them to continue. And give up they didn't. An impossible task, building a massive ship in the desert was successfully accomplished despite the many obstacles that got in their way.

There were probably times when Nehemiah was tired and fed up with the project and felt like giving up. Jerusalem had been conquered. The walled city had been penetrated. The walls, the massive defense system for the city was destroyed. Now, walking around the rubbled walls Nehemiah had a plan to rebuild the city's walls. And the plan succeeded. In 58 days the city walls were rebuilt! But during those days he ran into severe opposition. Nehemiah faced opposition from outside and in the city. The opposition was fierce. It would have been easy to give in to the critics, the nah sayers, the resistance. But he didn't give in when he was tired - he kept going and in less than 2 months time, something that was seen as being impossible was made possible and the glorious city walls were rebuilt.

During the days of Isaiah, the people Israel felt tired. They felt beaten down and discouraged. Weary, they were giving up; on life, on work, on GOD. Then Isaiah reminded them that GOD loved them. He reminded them that GOD gives strength to the weary. GOD increases power to the weak. Isaiah said, "GOD gives strength to the weary, and increases power to the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah encouraged the people, reminding them that GOD will truly give new strength and power to those who seek it. DO you need a little extra strength to get you through the day? Do you need added power to finish a difficult task? Do you need new strength to conquer the obstacles in your path to success?

Ernest Malinowski faced a challenge - build the highest railroad in the world. Many people tried building the railroad through the Andes Mountains of Peru. And all failed. Then the 60 year old Polish engineer, Ernest Malinowski was consulted. He examined the project and the obstacles and assured the representatives that the job could be done. When Malinowski turned 70 years old, he began overseeing the building of the highest railroad in the world.

The railroad wound its way through the Andes, through 62 tunnels and across 30 bridges. One tunnel was 4,000 feet long and 15,000 feet above sea level (Denver is about 5,000'). Beside the obvious construction difficulties one would have experienced building some thing this massive at these altitudes during the late 1800's Malinowski faced other obstacles, such as revolutions which held up construction twice. One time Malinowski had to flee the country for his own safety. So many obstacles. So many times he could have said, "I quit." So many days he could have said, "I'm tired" and given up on the project. After all he was in his 70's. But he didn't. In spite of all the obstacles, the feat was accomplished and is today considered one of the great engineering marvels of the world. Obstacles are meant to be hurdled over because GOD is giving us the strength to conquer and succeed.

Majestic Growth

2007-08-11T06:38:00.001-07:00

After winter, when the weather breaks, and the ground thaws, and the soil warms up from the spring sun, we till the dirt planting seeds. We busily work the soil, planting the seeds, hoping the seeds will produce. As we plant the seeds, we have no guarantee of growth. Still, we kneel in the soil, covering the seeds with the warm dirt, hoping that growth will occur, yet realizing that we don't know if any of these planted seeds will ever grow or simply die. In essence, this is what the parable of the Mustard Seed, which Jesus spoke 2,000 years ago, is all about.

Jesus had been speaking to His disciples. In the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus is busy teaching about the Kingdom of GOD. He compares it to scattering seeds, to sowing seeds, and then to a very specific seed - the mustard seed.

The mustard seed is the smallest seed known in the Middle East. The farmer worked the soil. The ground is carefully prepared and the seeds planted. When the seed grows, Jesus reminds us, that it matures into "the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade" Mark 4:32. Such is the Kingdom of GOD. It grows from something as tiny as the smallest seed in the world, and grows to be the largest tree in the world.

In this parable, the seed is the Word of GOD. And this seed is planted every time we talk to someone about GOD. Everytime we tell someone about what GOD has done for us, a seed is planted. A seed of faith is planted each time we tell someone about GOD's grace and love. It is planted whenever we talk of GOD's loving forgiveness, which is offered through Jesus Christ.

For over 2,000 years, seeds of faith have been planted by people who did not know if their seeds would mature or not. Yet, they continued to plant those seeds of faith. Do you know who planted GOD's seed of grace and love in you? How did you find out about GOD plan and purpose for your life? Do you know the person who first told you about GOD's love for you? Maybe this week you can send them a quick note, or call them on the phone and thank them for planting the Gospel seed within you.

The mustard tree, which provides shelter and protection, can only do so because someone first planted a seed. If no one planted the seed, no growth would have occurred, no tree would have been produced, no shelter given, no protection offered, no hope given. It is the same with us. If we don't plant the gospel seed, the Kingdom of GOD can not grow.

Jesus promised that if we plant the seeds, if we do even just the minimum, something as small as a mustard seed, then the Kingdom of GOD will grow. It will grow and it will surpass in glory the greatest, the mightiest Kingdoms on earth. The Kingdom of GOD will grow and provide protection, security and hope and grace to everyone. But it all begins and depends on us to first plant the seeds of faith.

A NEW THING

2007-07-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

When we were kids, my Uncle Clark use to talk about driving around in his car with his 4/60 air conditioner cooling him off. A 4/ 60 air conditioner was driving your car with the four or two windows rolled down and at sixty miles per hour. I love old cars. I love the look of the models of the late '50's right through to the muscle cars of the late '60's. But I love my van with air conditioning. It is not new, nor is it a classic car. But it has the modern convenience of air conditioning. This is something which is essential for those Eastern Ohio summers.
I remember watching Ben Casey on TV. I remember that when he ran into a difficult medical situation he ordered an exploratory surgery to be performed. I'm glad today we have new things like cardiac catherizations.
I remember Dr. Kildare. I remember when he ran into a medical situation he could not figure out, he would perform an exploratory surgery. I like the old TV shows but I like the new medical break through like CAT Scans and M.R.I.s which eliminated unnecessary surgeries.
We have seen a lot of change in the past 50 years. To move with change we need three things.
We need to be:
Understanding
Accepting
Flexible
We have to be understanding that new things are possible
We have to be accepting
We have to be flexible
These are three things the leadership in Jesus' day were not.
They were not understanding new ways of doing things, accepting change or people and they certainly were not flexible in their thinking or in their behavior.
The religious leadership in Jesus' day did not like change or new things. They liked things the way they were. And Jesus was anything but the old way.
In the beginning of Matthew chapter 9 Jesus heals a paralytic. This did not go over well with the established leadership. They did not like the fact that Jesus understood this man's pain and frustration. They did not like the idea that Jesus was talking and communing with him and offering him forgiveness. And they certainly did not appreciate the fact that Jesus healed him on the spot.
To counter their many objections, Jesus told a parable. The parable was given to the disciples, but meant for the old leadership then, and for us today. Jesus told the parable, "Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved."
Maybe the old leadership was the old wineskins which were dried up, rigid, inflexible and unable to take in the new wine of Jesus' teachings. I think we all have choices - to be like the old leadership which was not flexible to change - or to be like the new wineskins, flexible and ready to grow with the new wine.
When my grandmother, Mary Long Mangione, was a young woman she worked as a secretary in a textile mill in western North Carolina. When she began in the early 1900's she began working on a new machine, a typewriter. The old people in the company and even in the town were not so sure that using this new machine was a good idea. It had never been used before. The company had never done it this way before. They were use to working on large ledgers. Today my grandmother's ancient typewriter is on display in the museum in Valdese, North Carolina. And today it seems that everything is done on computer.
Change and new things are all around us. They are happening at school, in the work place, in our homes, in our church. But we have a choice; to be flexible or rigid. Today, the choice is ours.

Never Give Up

2007-07-24T07:54:00.000-07:00

If you ever felt overwhelmed, full of despair, beaten down and ready to give up because of no apparent signs of hope - then Jesus' parable, 'The Persistent Widow', in Luke 18:1-8 speaks to you.
In the parable the widow, who is seeking justice has it denied repeatedly. As a widow, she is a symbol of all who are poor and defenseless. Her only weapon is her tenacious spirit; an attitude of persistence. The judge refuses to hear the widow's case. Then he finally gives in, granting her request and dispenses justice.
In this parable the judge is not compared to GOD. Sometimes this parable gets misunderstood when we compare the judge and his actions to GOD. By comparing the judge to GOD forces us to misunderstand the point and power of the parable and take it to mean that we must constantly 'pound on GOD's door' for our prayers to be heard - rather than being a story that describes persevering in our prayer life and throughout our life.
Here, Jesus contrast the judge to GOD. It's as if Jesus said, "If this callous judge, who doesn't care anything about anybody answers the widow's plea, how much more will GOD hear and answer our prayers?"
The parable is about persevering. It's about never giving up.
Winston Churchill was a stutterer. He suffered from dyslexia and from bouts of depression. It took him 3 years to get through the eighth grade because he had trouble with English. And yet, years later he was invited to address the Oxford University commencement exercises. He arrived wearing his top hat, smoking a thick cigar with his cane in hand. After being introduced, he walked up to the podium as the crowd rose in appreciative applause. Standing at the podium, Churchill laid his hat on top of the podium, removed his cigar, and gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang in Churchill's voice as he shouted, "Never give up!" Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated, "Never give up!" Again he shouted, "Never, ever give up!" As the words hung there in the air, there was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar and began to walk off the stage. Then the crowd erupted into a roar of applause because they knew he was someone who never gave up.
When we are faced with challenges. When we are hurting, when we are facing problems we should listen for Churchill's commencement words and never give up.

2007-07-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Welcoming?

There are 40 parables recorded in the Gospels that Jesus gave. The parable of the Lost Sheep is given in response to the Pharisee and the Scribes comment in Luke 15:2, "This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them." Jesus welcomed the outcasts of His day. And He ate with them, which was a way of demonstrating that I accept you. Jesus may have hated the sin, but He loved the sinner. This parable reminds us that GOD cares for us, loves and welcomes us into His Kingdom, just as the shepherd in the story demonstrated those characteristics for his lost sheep.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:1 reminds us we are to be "Imitators of GOD." Imitators of the Good Shepherd who not only sought out those which are lost, but lovingly welcomed them back, accepting them into the fold. If we are to truly imitate Him, doesn't this mean we are not only to be welcoming, but accepting of others?