I’ve always loved the combination of children and church. They have a tendency to bring a new perspective to any situation. I was doing the children’s sermon in one church on the idea that we reflect the image of God. Holding up a full-length mirror side ways I asked the children, “What do you see?” To which one little person responded, “I see someone leaving church.” At that point all heads in the congregation turned to see who it was. After the service that dear soul shared, “Well, preacher, that will be the last time I go to the bathroom during worship!” And we all got a good laugh.
Children are precious and vitally important to the life of any congregation. They just bring energy and joy into the mix of those gathered for worship.
Here are a few stories giving us a different slant on “church”.
A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd. While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar. So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle. As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."
One Sunday in a Midwest City, a young child was "acting up" during the morning worship hour. The parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew but were losing the battle. Finally, the father picked the little fellow up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out. Just before reaching the safety of the foyer, the little one called loudly to the congregation, "Pray for me! Pray for me!"
One particular four-year old prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets As we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."
A Sunday School teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."
Looking at the old pages as he turned them. Then something fell out of the Bible. He picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that has been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," The boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" His mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy's voice he answered, "It's Adam 's suit".
The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mike, and as he preached, he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went. Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again. After several circles and jerks, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered, "If he gets loose, will he hurt us?"
Six-year old Angie, and her four-year old brother, Joel, were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."
My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo, while I asked, "No, how are we alike?" "You're both old," he replied.
A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite nowledgeable about the Bible. Then, one day, she floored her grandmother by asking, "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? The virgin Mary or the King James virgin?"
A Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was. Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thou shall not take the covers off the neighbor's wife."
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
A reflection by a friend, Buck Roberts, on THE HELP and growing up in the deep south
This past Sunday, Margaret and I saw “The Help” – after reading and enjoying the book, we were really ready to see the movie. It was a great experience. I would highly recommend both the book and the movie to anyone.
Growing up in Miami our next-door neighbor had a maid, Miss Pearl. And it was always MISS Pearl never just “Pearl” or “Hey” or any other such nonsense – we were told that Miss Pearl was an adult and thus due our respect. She was getting up in years when we moved in during the late 1940s. Miss Pearl, at this point, did more sitting around than work, but that was accepted by Mrs. Hall. Miss Pearl still did the laundry and some house cleaning, but beyond that nothing much. The one thing that I do remember is that Miss Pearl was encouraged by our parents to give us a “whack on the backside” if we needed it. She was just another parental figure in my growing up years.
But, back to “The Help” – we have friends in St. Petersburg, Buck and Sunny Roberts. During our sons illness and death they were “adopted” parents to our daughter Tracy. They have three daughters and a son. I have been privileged to officiate at a couple of their weddings. They are a part of our extended family … very special people.
Anyway, Buck loves history and has been writing down some of remembrance for his children and grandchildren. I share his story #27 which he wrote after seeing “The Help”:
----
Sat - Aug 13, 2011
Last night. Mom-Sunny and I went to see the movie "The Help". We believe that the movie is much better than the written reviews probably because we were raised in the "old south" and could relate to it better than a …… northern newspaper writer. It was about the degrading hardships that black/Negro/African-American maids had to endure two generations ago (and probably to a small extent even today). They mostly were referred to back than as "colored" or that "n" word. We folks may be Caucasians, but back then we were white folks.
I well remember our colored maid/cook named Bell who lived on our property in a small 4-room wooden shack-of-a-house located just across the bottom west of Mama's house. The house wasn't much, but it was free. It had a tin roof and two fireplaces and a small two-burner kerosene stove for cooking. We provided the coal and the kerosene. Bell had a son named Willie Jim and no husband. Willie Jim was about 3 years older than me. He and I played cowboy and indians (he was always the indian) or "shot marbles" or he joined-in kick-the-can or hiding seek games with me and my white friends. Occasionally, we would go to the movies on a Saturday afternoon to see the Durango Kid or Hopa-Long-Cassidy or Gene Autry or Roy Rogers ...... Willie Jim would sit up stairs with the colored people and I would sit downstairs with the whites. Mama & Daddy were always having to work, but one of them would would give Willie Jim his money to get into the movie (10 cents) ... popcorn was a nickle a bag.
Bell was always at the house early each day to cook and clean. At each meal, "the family" would sit at the dinner table or at the kitchen table and Bell & Willie Jim would eat on the back porch table or wait until we were done and eat inside. We didn't have A/C, so it didn't much matter except in the winter when they mostly ate inside near the fire. We had a two-hole privy about 50 feet behind the house that the family used before indoor plumbing and Bell and Willie Jim used it now. Just a-side story, when we sold Mama's house, my brother Jim had written in the contract that the privy was not part of the sale and he was going to have it moved to Marianna (a collector's item I suppose). He never moved it and it eventually rotted-down.
Bell washed our clothes using an old iron wash pot located out in the chicken yard where Grandma Brown had her egg-laying hens and 3-4 mean roosters that would spur you bad. The chicken yard was not a small enclosure --- it actually was about 5 acreas large with a large hen house. I well remember when I was about 3-5 years old, Bell would carry me on her hip into the chicken yard and sit me on the laundry table where the roosters couldn't get me ...... I remember watching her start the fire around the pot and fill it with water, put a small bar of old lye or octagon soap in the pot and she would boil the clothes and stir them in the pot with an old shortened boat paddle. We used clothes lines back then to hang clothes to dry.
Anyway, if you ever go see "The Help", please remember that both Mom-Sunny and me "have been there - done that", BUT REMEMBER ONE THING, we were NEVER mean to our help, we gave them extra money when they needed our help, we shared food with them right from the dinner table plus I always carried them rabbits and fish, we gave them clothes, we made sure that they never were hungry or cold, ...... just ask Bell, Lulu Mae, and Nellie. They were our nannies and we loved them.
Love,
PA-Daddy-Buck
----
Thanks Buck for sharing and allowing me to share your story in this blog. One last story about Miss Pearl: She, on occasion, would state: "Now, Jimmy, if you ain't careful, I can give you a 'what for' just for good measure for those times that you be misbehavin' when you be out of my sight" ... just another set of eyes watching over me. I also remember her telling my mother, on more than one occasion, "Miss Vera, I'd be careful of that one, he just seems to me like trouble brewin'." Boy, did she have my number. Might have something to do with helping to raise the five Hall boys.
Growing up in Miami our next-door neighbor had a maid, Miss Pearl. And it was always MISS Pearl never just “Pearl” or “Hey” or any other such nonsense – we were told that Miss Pearl was an adult and thus due our respect. She was getting up in years when we moved in during the late 1940s. Miss Pearl, at this point, did more sitting around than work, but that was accepted by Mrs. Hall. Miss Pearl still did the laundry and some house cleaning, but beyond that nothing much. The one thing that I do remember is that Miss Pearl was encouraged by our parents to give us a “whack on the backside” if we needed it. She was just another parental figure in my growing up years.
But, back to “The Help” – we have friends in St. Petersburg, Buck and Sunny Roberts. During our sons illness and death they were “adopted” parents to our daughter Tracy. They have three daughters and a son. I have been privileged to officiate at a couple of their weddings. They are a part of our extended family … very special people.
Anyway, Buck loves history and has been writing down some of remembrance for his children and grandchildren. I share his story #27 which he wrote after seeing “The Help”:
----
Sat - Aug 13, 2011
Last night. Mom-Sunny and I went to see the movie "The Help". We believe that the movie is much better than the written reviews probably because we were raised in the "old south" and could relate to it better than a …… northern newspaper writer. It was about the degrading hardships that black/Negro/African-American maids had to endure two generations ago (and probably to a small extent even today). They mostly were referred to back than as "colored" or that "n" word. We folks may be Caucasians, but back then we were white folks.
I well remember our colored maid/cook named Bell who lived on our property in a small 4-room wooden shack-of-a-house located just across the bottom west of Mama's house. The house wasn't much, but it was free. It had a tin roof and two fireplaces and a small two-burner kerosene stove for cooking. We provided the coal and the kerosene. Bell had a son named Willie Jim and no husband. Willie Jim was about 3 years older than me. He and I played cowboy and indians (he was always the indian) or "shot marbles" or he joined-in kick-the-can or hiding seek games with me and my white friends. Occasionally, we would go to the movies on a Saturday afternoon to see the Durango Kid or Hopa-Long-Cassidy or Gene Autry or Roy Rogers ...... Willie Jim would sit up stairs with the colored people and I would sit downstairs with the whites. Mama & Daddy were always having to work, but one of them would would give Willie Jim his money to get into the movie (10 cents) ... popcorn was a nickle a bag.
Bell was always at the house early each day to cook and clean. At each meal, "the family" would sit at the dinner table or at the kitchen table and Bell & Willie Jim would eat on the back porch table or wait until we were done and eat inside. We didn't have A/C, so it didn't much matter except in the winter when they mostly ate inside near the fire. We had a two-hole privy about 50 feet behind the house that the family used before indoor plumbing and Bell and Willie Jim used it now. Just a-side story, when we sold Mama's house, my brother Jim had written in the contract that the privy was not part of the sale and he was going to have it moved to Marianna (a collector's item I suppose). He never moved it and it eventually rotted-down.
Bell washed our clothes using an old iron wash pot located out in the chicken yard where Grandma Brown had her egg-laying hens and 3-4 mean roosters that would spur you bad. The chicken yard was not a small enclosure --- it actually was about 5 acreas large with a large hen house. I well remember when I was about 3-5 years old, Bell would carry me on her hip into the chicken yard and sit me on the laundry table where the roosters couldn't get me ...... I remember watching her start the fire around the pot and fill it with water, put a small bar of old lye or octagon soap in the pot and she would boil the clothes and stir them in the pot with an old shortened boat paddle. We used clothes lines back then to hang clothes to dry.
Anyway, if you ever go see "The Help", please remember that both Mom-Sunny and me "have been there - done that", BUT REMEMBER ONE THING, we were NEVER mean to our help, we gave them extra money when they needed our help, we shared food with them right from the dinner table plus I always carried them rabbits and fish, we gave them clothes, we made sure that they never were hungry or cold, ...... just ask Bell, Lulu Mae, and Nellie. They were our nannies and we loved them.
Love,
PA-Daddy-Buck
----
Thanks Buck for sharing and allowing me to share your story in this blog. One last story about Miss Pearl: She, on occasion, would state: "Now, Jimmy, if you ain't careful, I can give you a 'what for' just for good measure for those times that you be misbehavin' when you be out of my sight" ... just another set of eyes watching over me. I also remember her telling my mother, on more than one occasion, "Miss Vera, I'd be careful of that one, he just seems to me like trouble brewin'." Boy, did she have my number. Might have something to do with helping to raise the five Hall boys.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Are you any earthly good?
“Well, what earthly good are you preacher? Please tell me what have you done for the people of planet earth lately?”
Interesting question asked so many years ago by a neighbor. It has stuck with me through the weeks and months since it was asked. Contemplating the impact one is making on the world around us is quite a reflective moment. Are we, as the old adage states, “so heaven bound that we are no earthly good?”
Contemplating the neighbors question cause me to make a statement at Tuesday night Bible study. Which, by the way, got me into a huge amount of trouble with the senior pastor. The question, “If there was no heaven in the offering, would you still seek to be in an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ?” I would add now, if our earthly existence was all that there is with this earthly journey, would you, could you still be in a daily relationship with Jesus?
Or, are we in the relationship for the rewards …come by and by?
Dwight L. Moody shared, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.”
The promise of heaven is intended, at least from my perspective, to make the living out our days here on earth more joy-filled not easier. In my opinion, the promise of heaven makes taking relationship risks and doing the unthinkable, as well as the unimaginable more meaningful.
A small girl one evening looked up wondering at the star-studded sky and exclaimed: “If the wrong side of heaven looks like this, what must the right side be like?” Hmmm, shouldn’t she as well as everyone else be able to look into our face and at our life and know what heaven looks like?
That’s my opinion … and I’m sticking to it!
Interesting question asked so many years ago by a neighbor. It has stuck with me through the weeks and months since it was asked. Contemplating the impact one is making on the world around us is quite a reflective moment. Are we, as the old adage states, “so heaven bound that we are no earthly good?”
Contemplating the neighbors question cause me to make a statement at Tuesday night Bible study. Which, by the way, got me into a huge amount of trouble with the senior pastor. The question, “If there was no heaven in the offering, would you still seek to be in an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ?” I would add now, if our earthly existence was all that there is with this earthly journey, would you, could you still be in a daily relationship with Jesus?
Or, are we in the relationship for the rewards …come by and by?
Dwight L. Moody shared, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.”
The promise of heaven is intended, at least from my perspective, to make the living out our days here on earth more joy-filled not easier. In my opinion, the promise of heaven makes taking relationship risks and doing the unthinkable, as well as the unimaginable more meaningful.
A small girl one evening looked up wondering at the star-studded sky and exclaimed: “If the wrong side of heaven looks like this, what must the right side be like?” Hmmm, shouldn’t she as well as everyone else be able to look into our face and at our life and know what heaven looks like?
That’s my opinion … and I’m sticking to it!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Paraprosdokian - fun with word play
Do you love the English language? It so much fun to play around with. Word-play can be a delightful way to pass the time and it keeps your mind very active. The more an individual does word-play the easier it becomes and much to your delight you find yourself doing it all the time, especially as you listen to the conversations going on around you. Those who love puns will pepper their language and/or responses with puns. It just happens.
So you can imagine my delight when I came across a new way of thinking called Paraprosdokians. On some rare occasions I have heard them, but thought that the individual was just being “clever” without really appreciating what they were doing with the English language.
I’m wondering what paraprosdokian that you could come up with. If you do will you share them with me?
PARAPROSDOKIANS
I had to look up "paraprosdokian". Here is the definition:
"Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."
"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.
Ok, so now let's enjoy a few PARAPROSDOKIANS!
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.
3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a workstation.
So you can imagine my delight when I came across a new way of thinking called Paraprosdokians. On some rare occasions I have heard them, but thought that the individual was just being “clever” without really appreciating what they were doing with the English language.
I’m wondering what paraprosdokian that you could come up with. If you do will you share them with me?
PARAPROSDOKIANS
I had to look up "paraprosdokian". Here is the definition:
"Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."
"Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.
Ok, so now let's enjoy a few PARAPROSDOKIANS!
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.
3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a workstation.
Friday, August 12, 2011
A scripture, a story and an observation on Faith vs. Works or should it be Faith and Works
THE SCRIPTURE: James 2:18-26 (The Message)
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands? Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works? The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape - that seamless unity of believing and doing - what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.
THE STORY:
A rich woman died and was received by the angel Gabriel at the gate of Heaven. He took her to see where she was to live, and on the way she admired a splendid house built of gold and precious stones. On asking who lived there she was told the name of a man she had known on earth, and she exclaimed vehemently because he had been so poor and unimportant. “Yes,” agreed Gabriel, “but he was able to send these materials up to us.” They passed a house built of ivory and lovely-colored marble, and the lady was disgusted to hear it was that of a woman who had been a slum dweller on earth. She had, however, sent up the materials so that his handsome house could be built. Presently a wretched little mud hovel was reached, and the angel intimated that it was the new arrival’s house. She exclaimed in horror. “We are very, very sorry,” said her guide, “but we did our best with the materials you sent up.”
THE OBSERVATION:
Faith vs. works has been a debate that has lingered within the hollow halls of the church since the time of Christ. Martin Luther disliked the book of James for its emphasis on works. He actually felt that the book should be removed from the New Testament for that very reason and called it, “The book of straw.”
Sorry, Dr. Luther, I would disagree. The real issue facing Christians is not to choose between the two Faith or Works, rather the challenge is to find the push-pull of the two working together. Failing to do so creates the criticism best summoned up by the old adage: “He/she is so heaven bound that they are no earthly good.”
While the story hammers home the point that what we do here on earth matters, we have to be careful not to take it literally because the heavenly reward is the same for all of us regardless of how long we have been believers or how much we have attempt/accomplished for the Kingdom of God. And yet, the story is still effective in reminding us that what we do here on earth should matter AS IF it determines our future in heaven.
Actually, the truth still remains, what we do here on planet earth grows out of our relationship with Christ, our faith relationship, which drives us to accomplish Kingdom work … and our Kingdom work drives us back to strengthen our faith. One leads us to the other, each getting stronger in each cycle. Those with great faith will accomplish great things.
It is like the motto over the arches at Scarritt College in Nashville: Attempt Great Things For God … Expect Great Things From God …
Now, go forth and multiple!
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands? Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works? The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape - that seamless unity of believing and doing - what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.
THE STORY:
A rich woman died and was received by the angel Gabriel at the gate of Heaven. He took her to see where she was to live, and on the way she admired a splendid house built of gold and precious stones. On asking who lived there she was told the name of a man she had known on earth, and she exclaimed vehemently because he had been so poor and unimportant. “Yes,” agreed Gabriel, “but he was able to send these materials up to us.” They passed a house built of ivory and lovely-colored marble, and the lady was disgusted to hear it was that of a woman who had been a slum dweller on earth. She had, however, sent up the materials so that his handsome house could be built. Presently a wretched little mud hovel was reached, and the angel intimated that it was the new arrival’s house. She exclaimed in horror. “We are very, very sorry,” said her guide, “but we did our best with the materials you sent up.”
THE OBSERVATION:
Faith vs. works has been a debate that has lingered within the hollow halls of the church since the time of Christ. Martin Luther disliked the book of James for its emphasis on works. He actually felt that the book should be removed from the New Testament for that very reason and called it, “The book of straw.”
Sorry, Dr. Luther, I would disagree. The real issue facing Christians is not to choose between the two Faith or Works, rather the challenge is to find the push-pull of the two working together. Failing to do so creates the criticism best summoned up by the old adage: “He/she is so heaven bound that they are no earthly good.”
While the story hammers home the point that what we do here on earth matters, we have to be careful not to take it literally because the heavenly reward is the same for all of us regardless of how long we have been believers or how much we have attempt/accomplished for the Kingdom of God. And yet, the story is still effective in reminding us that what we do here on earth should matter AS IF it determines our future in heaven.
Actually, the truth still remains, what we do here on planet earth grows out of our relationship with Christ, our faith relationship, which drives us to accomplish Kingdom work … and our Kingdom work drives us back to strengthen our faith. One leads us to the other, each getting stronger in each cycle. Those with great faith will accomplish great things.
It is like the motto over the arches at Scarritt College in Nashville: Attempt Great Things For God … Expect Great Things From God …
Now, go forth and multiple!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
A true feel good story
I like feel good stories. This one was in the St. Petersburg Times on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 in their column entitled “The Skinny” which are short stories from around the world. I thought that you would like it.
This story does enforce my basic belief which is: All people are basically good and given a chance to respond with compassion will.
There were a lot of lessons for the little boy who lost a big wallet in Poquoson, Va.
First, Charlie, last name unknown, went to 7-Eleven to get a Slurpee. So far, that’s fine. Next, he put his wallet down next to the Slurpee machine. Even the manager of the store said that was a bad idea. “One of the probably worse places to lay something like that is near the Slurpee fountain,” Marvin Ward told the Daily Press of Newport News, explaining that it’s a high-traffic area in summer.
So Charlie forgot it and someone took it. Which brings us to his next mistake. He had more than $300 in cash and gift cards in it. It’s dangerous to go into a bank with that kind of roll.
Undeterred, Charlie posted a note on the store’s door, explaining the situation, ending with the line, “I hope whoever has it needed it more than me.”
And the final lesson is, passive-aggression works. The wallet and all its contents were returned.
This story does enforce my basic belief which is: All people are basically good and given a chance to respond with compassion will.
There were a lot of lessons for the little boy who lost a big wallet in Poquoson, Va.
First, Charlie, last name unknown, went to 7-Eleven to get a Slurpee. So far, that’s fine. Next, he put his wallet down next to the Slurpee machine. Even the manager of the store said that was a bad idea. “One of the probably worse places to lay something like that is near the Slurpee fountain,” Marvin Ward told the Daily Press of Newport News, explaining that it’s a high-traffic area in summer.
So Charlie forgot it and someone took it. Which brings us to his next mistake. He had more than $300 in cash and gift cards in it. It’s dangerous to go into a bank with that kind of roll.
Undeterred, Charlie posted a note on the store’s door, explaining the situation, ending with the line, “I hope whoever has it needed it more than me.”
And the final lesson is, passive-aggression works. The wallet and all its contents were returned.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Reflection on forgiveness and loving scumbags
“If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20 – (See the larger and complete biblical text on love in 1 John 4:7-21)
Loving our “neighbor” – whomever that may be – is extremely difficult at best. It probably is the most challenging of all the directives of Jesus. And, yet it stands as the hallmark of the Christian walk. I think that we shall be judged more on the context of our love towards others than on anything else.
“Neighbor” is a loaded word. If I understand Jesus’ teaching it is anyone that I dislike or despise. The terrorist that seeks to destroy us; the thief who comes in the night to take what is ours; the slanderer who would ruin our good name; that man or woman who belong to a different religion; the individuals of a different race or culture … and so the list goes on. Here is what Jesus shares in the Sermon on the Mount: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
I said it was difficult … actually impossible without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the support as well as guidance of a faith community.
So, who is my neighbor? Anyone and everyone. No exceptions allowed. It might be the vilest person that you can imagine. It could be the meanest person on planet earth. Regardless of what they have done to you Jesus’ command is to love them. It is tough!
Without forgiveness we are the ones living in the prison of our own making. Hate and anger are strong emotions. Many medical doctors, Dr. Bernie S. Siegel in his book, Love, Medicine and Miracles is the best known of them, have seen individuals consumed with illnesses – destructive illness – life taking illnesses – all because the person is choosing to live in the prison of unforgiveness. True, forgiveness comes from God, but we are to be instruments or channels of God’s forgiving mercy.
Max Lucado shares in his book, And The Angles Were Silent, “Until you are able to call your enemy your friend, a jail door is closed and a prisoner is taken. But when you open the door and release your foe from your hatred, then the prisoner is released and that prisoner is you.”
We are not instructed to like the person. We are not expected to have them over for coffee and pie. We are not anticipating a buddy-buddy, let’s-go-out-to-dinner-and-a-movie friendship … although in some situations it does move in that direction. Jesus asks us to love them … from my perspective that means that we are to pray for them, wish the best of God’s kingdom for them, speak well of them at every opportunity and seek their welfare by the grace of God.
I shared that on my Facebook page Monday. It elicited a strong response from one of my friends. “I hate to disagree…, but I have someone I will NEVER talk to again for the rest of my life, and I am NOT in a prison I just think of them as dead and rotting in hell. I go on with my life like they never existed. I know a lot of people who have someone they feel the same way about. … Their forgiveness will have to come from God. As for me, I do not want to be friends, or acquaintance, or nothing to scumbags.”
I think that The Reverend Lucado’s quote hit a nerve in my friend. We don’t like being reminded that the love, mercy and grace of God places a higher demand on our souls and spirit than we are willing to give, but that is the role of God’s grace in our lives. God never asks us to do something that we can do. In order to love the unlovable it will take the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit. We cannot do it on our own!
Notice the emphasis on “I” in my friend’s response. As long as our focus is on ourselves we will fail, but if we change that focus to God then anything and everything is possible … hmm, sounds like St. Paul sharing about a God of possibilities like in “all things are possible with God”.
Would Jesus agree with my friend's statement? Would Jesus take that attitude? Would Jesus treat the “scumbag” as this person has decided to treat them? Does Jesus expect us to follow him? To love who he loves? To embrace who he died for?
Is it possible to “go on with our life”? Yes. Is it possible to live as if “they are dead and rotting in hell”? Yes. Is it possible to live our life as if “they never existed”? Yes … Is this the way Jesus would want us to live? No … absolutely not … unwavering not …
A seminary professor, speaking on the idea of heaven, pearly gates and the “checking-in” process – You know the image of St. Peter opening the book of life, etc. Well, the professor asked, “What if St. Peter takes on the image of the individual or race that you hate the most? What if it is that individual/race that you have to pass in order to enter heaven? What would you do now, in the here and now? How would it change your life? How would you choose to act? Say?” It is an image that continues to linger in my own mind and has shaped my relationships ever since.
Several years ago Bill, a funeral director friend of mine, shared a story after a sermon on this subject. He was working for a company on the east coast and had to handle a rather horrible funeral. It was a story that gripped the headlines of all the local papers. A couple’s beautiful 16-year old daughter was raped and savagely murdered by a 16-year teenager.
The funeral was painful for everyone and yet, through the entire process the couple kept asking about the young man who had done this to their daughter. They asked questions of Bill for which he did not have answers. What would cause him to do this? What kind of upbring did he have? What kind of demons lingered below the surface? What kind of future is he facing? Does he know Jesus?
This couple took the front row seats in the courtroom as this young man stood trial for the rape and murder of their daughter. At the sentencing they asked for the privilege to speak. This wasn’t the general custom at the time, but the judge granted their wish. They asked the judge to show this young man mercy … mercy that he did not show to their daughter. They asked the judge to show compassion in considering this young man’s future. Then they showed the grace of God as they extended to this teenager forgiveness and hope ... and their God centered love.
After the young man went to prison. The couple started to write him. First, just once a month or so, but as he began to respond to their letters they started to write more often. After more than a year the weekly letters turned into monthly visits to the prison. After several years of sharing the couple were able to share their faith with this young man. They were able to lead him to a saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes the road to hope and promise is long and hard.
During the visits they learned a great deal about this young mans journey that had caused him to arrive at the point of being in prison for the rape and murder of their daughter. They began to understand. And, in turn, the teenager began to understand and appreciate the life that he has abused and taken.
The day arrived for him to be released from prison. Who should be standing just outside the prison doors, but the couple. The asked, “Is there no one to meet you? To take you home?” They already knew the answer, but they asked anyway. There was no one. The father made an offer, “Would you like to come home with us until you are able to get your feet on the ground?”
The couple had redecorated their daughters bedroom to fit the personality and likes of a young man. He settled in and tried to fit in, even though it was a little strange. Alright, a whole lot strange.
The father helped him purchase some new clothes. Practiced with him on how to interview for a job. And ultimately, helped him find work within the community.
Four years after the young mans release from jail the couple asked a most difficult question – for all three of them. “Would he (the young man) like to be adopted by the couple?” Within a couple of months after that the three of them stood in a court in West Palm Beach and became an official family. The young man who had taken their daughter’s life was now their son … their brand new son.
Unbelievable? Yes. Grace filled? Definitely. Mercy realized? God be praised.
This couple knew in their hearts that if they harbored anger and hate towards the teenage boy they would be in an emotional prison for the rest of their lives. Forgiveness started with them before the young man could ever ask for forgiveness and be adopted into the family. But that is the way God’s love works … if we but allow it.
Just as 1 John states … how can we love God who we have not seen if we do not love our neighbor who is right before us.
We cannot say that we love God if we choose not to do what he has asked us to do and to love who he loves.
Loving our “neighbor” – whomever that may be – is extremely difficult at best. It probably is the most challenging of all the directives of Jesus. And, yet it stands as the hallmark of the Christian walk. I think that we shall be judged more on the context of our love towards others than on anything else.
“Neighbor” is a loaded word. If I understand Jesus’ teaching it is anyone that I dislike or despise. The terrorist that seeks to destroy us; the thief who comes in the night to take what is ours; the slanderer who would ruin our good name; that man or woman who belong to a different religion; the individuals of a different race or culture … and so the list goes on. Here is what Jesus shares in the Sermon on the Mount: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
I said it was difficult … actually impossible without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the support as well as guidance of a faith community.
So, who is my neighbor? Anyone and everyone. No exceptions allowed. It might be the vilest person that you can imagine. It could be the meanest person on planet earth. Regardless of what they have done to you Jesus’ command is to love them. It is tough!
Without forgiveness we are the ones living in the prison of our own making. Hate and anger are strong emotions. Many medical doctors, Dr. Bernie S. Siegel in his book, Love, Medicine and Miracles is the best known of them, have seen individuals consumed with illnesses – destructive illness – life taking illnesses – all because the person is choosing to live in the prison of unforgiveness. True, forgiveness comes from God, but we are to be instruments or channels of God’s forgiving mercy.
Max Lucado shares in his book, And The Angles Were Silent, “Until you are able to call your enemy your friend, a jail door is closed and a prisoner is taken. But when you open the door and release your foe from your hatred, then the prisoner is released and that prisoner is you.”
We are not instructed to like the person. We are not expected to have them over for coffee and pie. We are not anticipating a buddy-buddy, let’s-go-out-to-dinner-and-a-movie friendship … although in some situations it does move in that direction. Jesus asks us to love them … from my perspective that means that we are to pray for them, wish the best of God’s kingdom for them, speak well of them at every opportunity and seek their welfare by the grace of God.
I shared that on my Facebook page Monday. It elicited a strong response from one of my friends. “I hate to disagree…, but I have someone I will NEVER talk to again for the rest of my life, and I am NOT in a prison I just think of them as dead and rotting in hell. I go on with my life like they never existed. I know a lot of people who have someone they feel the same way about. … Their forgiveness will have to come from God. As for me, I do not want to be friends, or acquaintance, or nothing to scumbags.”
I think that The Reverend Lucado’s quote hit a nerve in my friend. We don’t like being reminded that the love, mercy and grace of God places a higher demand on our souls and spirit than we are willing to give, but that is the role of God’s grace in our lives. God never asks us to do something that we can do. In order to love the unlovable it will take the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit. We cannot do it on our own!
Notice the emphasis on “I” in my friend’s response. As long as our focus is on ourselves we will fail, but if we change that focus to God then anything and everything is possible … hmm, sounds like St. Paul sharing about a God of possibilities like in “all things are possible with God”.
Would Jesus agree with my friend's statement? Would Jesus take that attitude? Would Jesus treat the “scumbag” as this person has decided to treat them? Does Jesus expect us to follow him? To love who he loves? To embrace who he died for?
Is it possible to “go on with our life”? Yes. Is it possible to live as if “they are dead and rotting in hell”? Yes. Is it possible to live our life as if “they never existed”? Yes … Is this the way Jesus would want us to live? No … absolutely not … unwavering not …
A seminary professor, speaking on the idea of heaven, pearly gates and the “checking-in” process – You know the image of St. Peter opening the book of life, etc. Well, the professor asked, “What if St. Peter takes on the image of the individual or race that you hate the most? What if it is that individual/race that you have to pass in order to enter heaven? What would you do now, in the here and now? How would it change your life? How would you choose to act? Say?” It is an image that continues to linger in my own mind and has shaped my relationships ever since.
Several years ago Bill, a funeral director friend of mine, shared a story after a sermon on this subject. He was working for a company on the east coast and had to handle a rather horrible funeral. It was a story that gripped the headlines of all the local papers. A couple’s beautiful 16-year old daughter was raped and savagely murdered by a 16-year teenager.
The funeral was painful for everyone and yet, through the entire process the couple kept asking about the young man who had done this to their daughter. They asked questions of Bill for which he did not have answers. What would cause him to do this? What kind of upbring did he have? What kind of demons lingered below the surface? What kind of future is he facing? Does he know Jesus?
This couple took the front row seats in the courtroom as this young man stood trial for the rape and murder of their daughter. At the sentencing they asked for the privilege to speak. This wasn’t the general custom at the time, but the judge granted their wish. They asked the judge to show this young man mercy … mercy that he did not show to their daughter. They asked the judge to show compassion in considering this young man’s future. Then they showed the grace of God as they extended to this teenager forgiveness and hope ... and their God centered love.
After the young man went to prison. The couple started to write him. First, just once a month or so, but as he began to respond to their letters they started to write more often. After more than a year the weekly letters turned into monthly visits to the prison. After several years of sharing the couple were able to share their faith with this young man. They were able to lead him to a saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes the road to hope and promise is long and hard.
During the visits they learned a great deal about this young mans journey that had caused him to arrive at the point of being in prison for the rape and murder of their daughter. They began to understand. And, in turn, the teenager began to understand and appreciate the life that he has abused and taken.
The day arrived for him to be released from prison. Who should be standing just outside the prison doors, but the couple. The asked, “Is there no one to meet you? To take you home?” They already knew the answer, but they asked anyway. There was no one. The father made an offer, “Would you like to come home with us until you are able to get your feet on the ground?”
The couple had redecorated their daughters bedroom to fit the personality and likes of a young man. He settled in and tried to fit in, even though it was a little strange. Alright, a whole lot strange.
The father helped him purchase some new clothes. Practiced with him on how to interview for a job. And ultimately, helped him find work within the community.
Four years after the young mans release from jail the couple asked a most difficult question – for all three of them. “Would he (the young man) like to be adopted by the couple?” Within a couple of months after that the three of them stood in a court in West Palm Beach and became an official family. The young man who had taken their daughter’s life was now their son … their brand new son.
Unbelievable? Yes. Grace filled? Definitely. Mercy realized? God be praised.
This couple knew in their hearts that if they harbored anger and hate towards the teenage boy they would be in an emotional prison for the rest of their lives. Forgiveness started with them before the young man could ever ask for forgiveness and be adopted into the family. But that is the way God’s love works … if we but allow it.
Just as 1 John states … how can we love God who we have not seen if we do not love our neighbor who is right before us.
We cannot say that we love God if we choose not to do what he has asked us to do and to love who he loves.
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