New approach to stewardship?
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Someone left a comment on Proclaiming Softly (a blog that I read) that I found interesting. They said imagine all the good that a church could do if everyone biblically tithed 10% (See: What Can a Church Afford?)…<Pause to reflect>…fun to imagine, isn’t it?
REMEMBER: God has given us everything that we need.
-edh-
My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not my will, but as you will. (Matthew 26:39)
That prayer seems easier said than done.
I pray that prayer quite often but I wish God’s will was more clear. I wish God would send an airplane with a large banner trailing behind with a message. I wish God would send a postcard that clearly states what he wants me to do. I would even be O.K. with God sending an ass to talk to me (then Balaam and I could be kindred spirits). But God usually does not work that way (and I had better say "usually" because with my luck an ass will show up at my front door tomorrow).
I know God has a special plan for my life. I know it was God’s will for Connie and I to get married. I know God has called me to write this blog. I know God called me to Jackson three years ago and I know that someday God will call me away from Jackson.
There have also been times in my life when I did not want to answer God’s call. My will seemed much better. My will seemed easier and less painful. My will seemed to be more fun. And in those times if God did send an ass to talk to me it might have been easier to follow God (or at least it would have "sent me away" for a while). But then where would I be today?
I think that maybe it is the process that we really need. How would we learn and grow if God did send that postcard? How would we learn from our mistakes if that godly airplane flew overhead? Maybe, just maybe we need the process to help us see God’s action in our lives and for us to experience first hand God’s faithfulness.
So I guess I will continue to pray this prayer, "…yet not my will, but as You will…" and enjoy the ride; trusting that God will provide what is best for my life.
God is faithful. God is true. God is wonderful and God is love. Be patient — God WILL come through for us.
Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and Amen!
-edh-
"When the Lord saw her, (the widow whose only son had just died), he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep’…fear seized all of them and they glorified God…" (Luke7:13 and 16) And then "In their fright the women (the ones at Jesus’ tomb) bowed down with their faces to the ground but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He (Jesus) is not here; he has risen!’…" (Luke 24:5-6)
I am struck by the similarities between the Gospel text for today (the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost), Luke 7:11-17 and the resurrection account of Jesus from Luke 24. In both cases we have weeping and despair over one who could not afford to die — and worship in response to something miraculous. In both cases we have deep love and compassion. In both cases we have the dead coming to life. And in both cases the Good News is being proclaimed to all who would hear.
I said earlier that one similarity is that the Luke 7 account and Jesus’ resurrection included two people who could not afford to die. Well…that is not entirely accurate, but I will stick with the above statement. Jesus and the widow’s ONLY son could not afford to die in the eyes of the loved left behind. For the widow, her only son was a source of income and care. For Jesus early followers, he was the Messiah who was to save them and restore Israel. Their deaths meant certain despair and definitely a cause for weeping.
But as Jesus proves in both cases, death does not have the final word. In the case of the widow’s son, his resurrection is not the main point for this man would eventually die again. The point is that this man’s new life was to give glory to God through Jesus Christ. Something new was happening in their world and something new continues to happen in our world as well.
Both of these stories prove that when it comes to Jesus, death has no power or strength. It may cause weeping for the moment, but when the Good News is proclaimed, our weeping can turn to joy. It turns to joy because in faith we know that death is only the doorway to our REAL home — paradise with Jesus Christ. Death is not the end, but only the beginning.
So I think that I will take this text and head in that direction. For me personally I find great hope in this especially when I face a grandma who’s health is declining fast. She has told me countless times that she is ready. And I know she is ready, but I am not. But as I read this text, I move closer to being ready for I know that no matter what I will see my grandma again. Death is a formidable foe, but it has lost.
Do not weep…our Savior, Jesus Christ, reigns supreme.
Praise be to God always and forever. Amen!
-edh-
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:1-5)
When I was preparing my sermon on Thursday I stumbled across the sermon I preached three years ago. It was the very first sermon I preached at Salem Lutheran Church on June 6, 2004. The text that Sunday was also Romans 5:1-5. This means that I have finally reached the point in my ministry here where I get to repeat the lectionary cycle. So I decided to read that first sermon partly because I wanted to see how I interpreted the text back then but mostly to see how (if any) I had grown over the last three years.
I then got to thinking about how I, the community, the church and the world has changed over the last three years. I got to thinking about the sufferings we have experienced. I then got to thinking that even though we have gone through sufferings, we are still here and we are stronger for them.
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God." It is because of this peace that we can endure and overcome suffering. It is because of the promise from God, that when we go through the fire we will not be burned (Isaiah 43), that we can face suffering with hope.
…but when I go through suffering, I don’t always think about this hope…
I know there will be times when I will complain about any suffering I may experience. I will whine and be miserable. But in those times I pray that God may slap me in the face with the reminder that I am not alone and therefore make me stronger. I thank God for this "refining process". I thank God for strengthening me through the years. And I thank God for the opportunity to share in his glory.
"Oh God, slap me in the face with your love and grace when I whine in suffering. Remind me that you are there to strengthen and guide me through the fire. Through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord I pray, Amen!"
One more thing…
My wife and I have a wedding today and a graduation tomorrow (Sunday). After that we head on vacation for a few days to visit friends, so I may not be able to update this site until Thursday. Take care and may God bless your comings and going.
-edh-
This link will take you to a radio interview of Andrew talking about his experience following the roadside bomb attack in Iraq he experienced.
http://www.ewiseradiotools.com/station_files/file_1180313927__.mp3
-edh-
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)
I have read this text a number of times. I have preached on this text and have studied it in Bible study, but now I see it differently. In light of Andrew’s situation, recovering from a roadside bomb blast in Iraq, I wonder how Andrew would hear this text. And as I wonder about that, I find myself wondering how we as Christians should hear this text.
We are reminded very quickly by Paul of OUR situation because of God’s love through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died and rose from the grave (which he did FOR YOU and FOR ME), we have access to a peace and grace beyond all understanding – a free gift given through faith. And through this faith, we look forward to our ultimate glory that we will share with God someday…
…but we live in the here and now — with suffering…
I have a hard time thinking that one should "boast" about their sufferings – especially when one is faced with a life without their God-given legs. Does Andrew "boast" in his suffering? I don’t know. Would I boast in that kind of suffering? Part of me says "I hope I would", but another part of of me says "I don’t know what I would do".
Another question that comes to mind is this: Does one have to suffer in order to experience hope? Is it only through suffering that we truly understand God’s grace and love? And as a close friend of mine asks, "Do I suffer enough?"
Being a good Lutheran I understand Luther’s comments that we are not to search for "our cross" or our own sufferings. That is not the point. I understand that suffering will naturally come our way. Maybe it has to do with how we approach suffering – how we respond to it. Do we become bitter and angry or do we look at it as a way to grow closer to God – a reminder that we NEED God? Maybe I am asking the wrong questions or looking at this the wrong way. But maybe the point is that any suffering we face on this earth is nothing compared to the glory we will experience with God someday through faith. We live here for but a moment, but our New Life with Christ is forever.
I am not sure how Andrew is responding to his "suffering" but my prayer for him is that he knows and has assurance that he will experience a glory with God that one cannot fully imagine.
So I guess hope does not disappoint. "Suffering"…take your best shot, I cling to my faith in Christ – anticipating a life that you cannot take away. Praise be to God and AMEN!
-edh-
I know I haven’t had a "normal" post in quite some time but I wanted to get this information out to people. Connie’s cousin, Andrew (who was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq) is now at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His parents arrived out there yesterday. There is also a CaringBridge website set up for Andrew at: www.caringbridge.org. Once there click "Visit a CaringBridge site" and then type in "andrewhanson". This will take you to his site where you can read more about this brave soldier.
Thank you for your prayers and I hope to get back on track here with this blog very soon. Take care and God bless.
-edh-
Thank you so much for your prayers. My wife and I have been amazed at the out pour of support. Recently one of my wife’s co-workers got and email from a friend talking about Andrew, asking for prayers. Connie has no idea who the person is or how they heard of Andrew, but news has been traveling fast around the region and prayers are being prayed.
We do have a couple updates: Connie’s aunt and uncle were able to talk to Andrew yesterday. He is a little confused and in a lot of pain. We hope that doesn’t last long. Currently Andrew is in Germany at the US Army base hospital and will be transfered to a hospital, probably in Texas, soon.
Thanks again for your prayers – they are greatly appreciated. God bless.
-edh-
…but he is still alive.
My wife and I received some news yesterday that was like an unsuspecting punch in the stomach. My wife’s cousin, Andrew, who is stationed in Iraq was hit by a roadside bomb while driving a Humvee. Andrew is alive but has lost both of his legs. I am not sure how many people out are reading this but could you please pray for Andrew and his family. Andrew has a long road ahead of him but he does have a loving family and friends that have stood beside him and always will. Please also continue to pray for our troops still serving (as I am sure many of you have been doing already). I have read and heard many news reports of people losing loved ones to this war or returning home injured (like Andrew), but I never thought it would hit this close to home. Andrew was supposed to be home last month but his unit was extended by 120 days – this was not supposed to happen.
I think it would be easy to start blaming God or President Bush or someone – but I am not going to do that. I am not going to start becoming political over this war. I am not going to start shifting blame – Andrew doesn’t need that. Andrew needs our prayers and support – he needs my prayers and support. So that is what I am going to do. Whether I agree with this war or not is not important right now. Everything is in God’s hands and that is something I know Andrew understands as well.
Andrew’s former pastor wrote a blog entry about Andrew (something I read last night on a print out). I am trying to find this piece so I can share it with you. When I do, I will include a link for you to follow. But what I can say is that Andrew is a guy who was very committed to what he was doing. He was looking forward to coming home, but he loved being in the National Guard and serving his country.
Arguing over the merits of this war won’t give Andrew his legs back. The only think I can say right now is, "Thank you, Andrew, for serving our country." And like I said before, please pray for him and the thousands of others out there in harms way.
God is in control – always has and always will be. "Thank you God for sparing Andrew’s life." Praise be to God always and forever. Amen.
-edh-
Being the president and treasurer of the Jackson County Ministerial I am faced with many decisions on whether people traveling through genuinely need help when they ask for it. You see…Jackson is located on I-90 and US Hwy 71 so it is a high traffic town. People hitchhiking often stop in Jackson looking for help. Some people really do need help and some are just trying to travel cross country on someone else’s nickle. I hate being suspicious of people when they ask for help. I want to give people the benefit of the doubt but I also want to be a good steward of the resources placed in my charge. Some days I just want to give up my treasurer office and let someone else deal with it. Then I have days when I know that we, the Jackson Ministerial, are helping someone (like today).
This Psalm, my fourth installment, is a reflection on the struggle I face. I know I am not perfect, so I ask God everyday for the strength and wisdom to know when aid is truly needed. Being the treasurer of the ministerial is a curse but also a blessing. Here’s Psalm "4":
Psalm "4"
Your Spirit blows through, in and around my life;
how can I possibly ignore you?
You remind me of your presence in a stiff breeze that liters a beautiful yard;
you upset my surroundings – you mess up my status quo.
I survey the "damage" and wonder what to do next;
I wonder why you have disturbed me so.
I sit and fume not realizing the haunting reality around me;
the wonders of your awesome love and faithfulness.
So I walk around and clean up the "mess";
only to discover something else – something precious.
The "mess" I once considered a nuisance is a reminder to my complacent heart;
a reminder that I am needed in this world.
Your creation and your children need me.
Your Spirit blows through, in and around my life;
how can I possibly ignore you?
A person walks along the road;
but I am too busy.
One of Your children call;
but I am suspicious.
A fellow servant needs help;
but I am unavailable.
You knock at the door;
and I cringe.
I am ashamed…
The "messes" you bring in our lives are not "messes";
they are precious reminders to be who we were created to be.
We are caretakers.
We are servants.
We are called.
I can’t ignore you – I won’t ignore you.
I am needed.
Your Spirit blows through, in and around my life;
how can I possibly ignore you?
I can’t ignore you – I won’t ignore you.
I am needed.
Oh God, "I believe, help my unbelief"
-edh-
The Heart of a Pastor 