A Time For God's People

Words to ponder … A time for God’s People … Morrow Mirror, September 28, 2013

¹⁵ …the report about [Jesus] went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. ¹⁶But he [withdrew] to desolate places and prayed (Luke 5:15-16).

The first century grapevine did not move as fast as it does today in our modern multimedia world, but news of the miracle worker still moved quickly from community to community throughout all of Judea.  When the people heard that the lame walked and the blind gained their sight families traveled from far and wide in hopes of miracle.  We do the same today. We fly across the country carrying our loved one to hospitals in other states or countries if there is the slightest of hope of a cure.

Luke reminds us that Jesus worked hard. The work at times had to be overwhelming. Jesus was a man and he needed all the things we need to stay healthy: exercise, food, shelter, and rest.  I am reminded of Jesus’ words after the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touched His clothes and was healed. “Jesus felt the power go out from him and he asked the crowd who had touched him (Mark 5:25-30).”  Jesus’ work weighed heavy upon Him. It never seemed to let up.

The multitude came from far and wide, some out of curiosity and others in hopes of a miracle.  The people did not stop coming and after awhile Jesus would leave the crowd. He did not wait until everyone who came for healing was healed.[1]  When he needed rest, time to pray, Jesus withdrew.

When computers made their way into our work places it was believed they would give us more time for leisure activities. Many wondered what they would do with all this spare time. Yet in our modern technological world we are often bombarded with information. Emails, text, twitter, television, telephone calls and other means of communication come at us from every direction telling us what we need to do and how to live our lives.  Work never seems to be complete. There is always more to do and Sabbath, rest, is considered a rare luxury and often ignored.

In the Jewish tradition Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. It does not matter that work is left undone. The to-do list can wait. It is time for Sabbath and the work will be there later.  Families stop what they are doing and they come together to be with each other, to play, to laugh, to dance, to praise and thank God for life.

“So Sabbath is more then the absence of work; it is not just a day off, when we catch up on television or errands. It is the presence of something that arises when we consecrate a period of time to listen to what is most deeply beautiful, nourishing, or true. It is time consecrated with our attention, our mindfulness, honoring those quiet forces of grace or spirit that sustain and heal us.”[2]

In the Christian tradition, Sabbath begins at sunrise on Sunday, a day to remember the resurrection of our Lord: a day to come together as the family of God to play, to laugh, to dance, to rest, and a time to praise and thank God for life … A Time For God's People …

Words to ponder...In Christian Love, your pastor and friend in Christ Dr. Ed Judy

                                           

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[1]Wayne Muller, Sabbath, Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives, (New York: Bantam

Books, 1999) 25.

[2] Ibid. 8

Sabbath ... Morrow Mirror 9.22.2013

Words to ponder … Sabbath … Morrow Mirror, September 22, 2013

I will be writing over the next few weeks about Sabbath. When I say Sabbath, I am not talking about Sunday morning worship. I am talking about rest: a much-needed time for healing as well as a time for nourishing our souls. Without this time-this time for rest-our spirit, soul and physical self suffers.  I sometimes wonder if the world has lost its way because humanity does not embrace the Sabbath. I am concerned not because we are disobedient, but because our spirits suffer. Therefore, my discussion is rooted in Exodus 20:8-11, which says in part, “The seventh day is a day of rest.”

Wayne Muller, author and spiritual director, began his book ‘Sabbath’1 with these words: “In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between work and rest.” I believe most of us would agree with Muller. We have no balance because the idea of resting has been swallowed up by our desire to succeed. This is fed by the cultural norm that tells us to succeed at whatever the cost. ‘I am to ‘busy’ becomes the greeting of the day. 2

We even lift our busyness up to each other as a badge of honor; “I am so busy I don’t have time to… so how can I rest?” I have come to realize that we are all busy and if we want some sense of normality in our lives, whatever normal is then we have to realize that we will not get everything accomplished we want to accomplish in any given day. Life is busy and we have allowed this to happen and because of our busyness we have forgotten the Sabbath, or maybe more to the point to recognize its value. As people of faith, we need to plan and schedule Sabbath time.

“Remember the Sabbath and keep in holy” is not just a mandate to give God praise, but a call to rest and to take care of our spiritual and physical health.

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[1] Wayne Muller, Sabbath, Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives, (New York: Bantam Books, 1999) 1.

[2] Ibid.

The Needs Are Many

Words to Ponder…The Needs Are Many…Morrow Mirror…September 15, 2013

There are numerous opportunities to serve in the United Methodist Church. There are positions in the local Church, the District, and in the North Georgia Conference as well as across the globe. The United Methodist Church reaches around the world helping and serving communities for the Kingdom of God and it begins in the local church; you make a difference.

In your church (Morrow First UMC) the opportunities are all around you.  There is much to do for the kingdom and a lot is accomplished everyday by volunteers but the needs are many and sometimes the work is left undone. It is my belief that God calls each of us to serve (to be involved) and by serving we are drawn closer to God. What we are able to do changes with time but the need to serve does not change, service is part of being Christian. Jesus began the Christian movement by serving and teaching others about God's love, and by calling others to follow him as servants to make disciples.

Is God calling you to do something specific, to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need or to do something general for the building of God's kingdom?  As in many organizations, a few members accomplish the work (the ministries of the church in our case). The number of servants increases on Sunday, but needs are many.  Service affects the church universal, the local church, and the servant’s spiritual growth.   Service is not always easy; sometimes others disagree with our choices (we call this human nature). But service always brings growth, growth for the church, the one being served and the one serving. It is a win - win situation because when God's people open their hearts to serve, God makes good things happen.  I also believe when the people of God work together for the good of the kingdom, there is nothing that can stop the growth - both physical and spiritual.  

There are lists of ministry opportunities located on the tables in the adult education wing, in the narthex and on the church facebook page. Don't wait for someone else to show you what to do, share with them what God is calling you to do.  If you don't see the ministry on the list, don't ignore God's call, step up and say, "Here I am Lord."

Here are a few of the ministry needs: Children, youth, adult education ministries; bereavement ministry (prepare a meal for someone going through a difficult time); Family Care ministries: give a person a ride to the doctor's office; lend an ear to someone in need; coordinate speakers to provide health and welfare information; help plan Sunday school lessons; help maintain the church's history; help with worship: music, witness, drama, acolyte, altar decorations, audio and visual, sound management, sing in the choir; shop for fellowship hall supplies; work in the food pantry; work the barbecue; the yard sale; help with the bulletin boards; do minor maintenance around the church; the needs are many and God's work goes on and on and on, and it will go on and on until every knee bows in service to God.

Sing a New Song

Words to ponder … Sing a New Song … Morrow Mirror, September 8, 2013

The song of the humpback whale is one of the strangest in nature. It is a weird combination of high- and low-pitched groaning. Those who have studied the humpback whale say their songs are noteworthy because these giants of the deep are continually changing them. New patterns are added and old ones eliminated so that over a period of time the whale actually sings a whole new song.[1]  



Throughout history each new generation of Christians composed new songs of praise around the fresh mercies of God, often against the wishes of other Christians; traditionalists who believe new songs ignore the fundamentals of their faith.  Intellectually we know every song began anew in the heart of the composer.  Charles Wesley, for example, was shunned for his hymns because many of them were written to familiar ‘bar tunes’.  Many of the Christians in Wesley’s day, like many of our traditionalists today, believed the new songs were sacrilegious.  Today, many of Wesley’s songs are the traditional hymns we grew up on and for many of us they are a sacred part of our past. 

The psalmist says, “the works of God's deliverance in the lives of his people are many and give us reason to express our praise to him in new ways. His works are more than we can count” (Psalm 40:5). 

 So in the words of Martin R. De Haan “why is our testimony of God's saving grace expressed in the same rote way year after year?”[2]   De Haan believed our hearts and minds should be continually filled with new songs that express the mercies of the cross and of Christ's resurrection power. 

Humanity continues to be created anew with each new generation; the ways of praising God may change, but our ways of praising do not change the gospel story. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1-2). And [then] the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen the glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Let us sing a new song of God’s saving grace and to God be the glory.

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[1] Martin R. De Haan, New Songs, Our Daily Bread (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Radio Bible Class), 5 December 1992.

[2] Ibid.