First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

March, 2010

The news lately has been filled with persons and groups asking for forgiveness. A professional golfer made a public statement about his indiscretions and asked that everyone forgive him and give him another chance after his rehabilitation is finished. A major car company has recalled many of its cars and has made an appeal to the country to forgive them for making the mistakes that resulted in the recalls. On a more “at home” note, husbands and wives have asked each other to forgive them for not celebrating Valentine’s Day to its fullest; students ask their friends to forgive them for saying “this or that”; and parents ask their children to forgive them for yelling as “things got out of control.” Forgiveness, on so many levels, seems to be something we all need.

As we continue through the observance of Lent, forgiveness should be on our minds. This is a time in which we turn to God and in a very personal way ask Him to forgive us for a variety of things. We bow our heads and confess our sins to Him, and pray that he will change our hearts and our actions and help us to get a better focus on what is important in life. The amazing thing, or maybe it is not so amazing, is that God responds to our requests. That’s His nature. We are always on the receiving end of His grace and forgiveness.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he broke bread and shared a cup with his best friends, the disciples. He told them that soon, he was going to be arrested, convicted and die. But he also told them that this would not be the end. In just 3 days, he would be resurrected, and new life would enter his body. Plus, he assured us, in those actions and words, that we too could receive the gift of eternal life, that our sins and mistakes would be forgiven, if only we would turn our hearts towards God. He did, in fact, pay the price of sin, for us, so that we would not have to suffer and be unsure of the future beyond this world. That was the supreme gift of forgiveness that anyone could give: their own life.

Is God calling you to be more forgiving? Does he ask you to make sacrifices for His purpose on earth? Even the most simple request of finding an hour each week to gather in Church for worship and praise? Is that too much to ask, remembering that Jesus gave his own life for us? I think it is not too much to ask. Do not wait for Easter to claim the gift. Join your friends and family this Sunday, at Flora First Christian Church. It is a place of love.

Pastor Woody

February 2010

“Charity begins at home.” We have all heard that statement, and in the case of the church, there is no arguing the point. Over the period of a year, First Christian Church pours out its heart to the needs at our back door. During the weeks before Christmas, checks were written  which allowed enough food and gifts to be purchased to help nearly 2 dozen families. Other churches in the area did the same, as well. When it comes time for camp, the church responds to the young people, and offers scholarships so that no youth is denied the camping experience. Other special offerings during the year happen at Easter, Pentecost, and a special offering for reconciliation supports the ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The outpouring and response during our annual Week of Compassion offering observance helps to reinforce the idea that there are people in need, and as God’s children, we will respond.

Week of Compassion is one of the most effective ways that we can funnel our dollars and get those funds directly to those who are in need. Funded by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion uses the gifts of the people and gets those monetary gifts directly to where they are needed with no overhead costs. A few years ago, I spent a week in the community of Lake Charles, LA working on homes that had been destroyed by the hurricanes. Because of gifts to Week of Compassion, we had a place to stay, tools to work with, and thousands of dollars were put to work in providing aid, food, water and shelter for thousands of people in need. That same scenario is played out when there is a flood in Missouri, or a tornado in Kentucky or any kind of natural disasters. Not too long ago, Week of Compassion funds returned to Indiana, to the nearby town of Winamac when flooding forced people from their homes. With their track record and their effective way of meeting needs, Week of Compassion is one of the best places we can send our money.

700 miles off the coast of Florida, there is a tiny nation named Haiti. It is one of the poorest nations in the world. I personally know of several doctors, dentists and Christians who have gone to that small island and offered their time and skills to help children and adults. Now, as we all know, that country is in ruins. The devastation is tremendous, something we can not even imagine. Nearly every day, we are bombarded with the needs of the of Haiti. They have no water, no food, and tent cities replacing neighborhoods. It is hard to watch. It is hard to see people suffer. But we all want to do our part. Some can do more than others. And all that god asks, I believe, is for us to respond in whatever way we can to our brothers and sisters who are in need. We never know when we might find ourselves in a similar situation.

I invite you to pray for the people of Haiti, that they may be comforted because of their great loss. I ask that you lift up those who are working to recover, uncover and repair the the country. And our prayers are with the government of Haiti as they try and regain control of their nation. If you are so moved, consider a gift, to Week of Compassion, the  Red Cross, or any other viable agency that has a proven track record. Charity might begin at home, but it also reaches across the miles to those whom we have never met, who are in need.

Pastor Woody

Have you noticed that even though it is only the middle of January, the days are slowly getting longer? Before we know it, all the snow and cold weather will be a memory and we will be complaining about the hot weather. As humans, we do tend to complain, often times too much.

Think about it though. Some things a really get on our nerves: that person who speeds by us, nearly running us off the road. Or how about when we got to the grocery and it takes forever to check out? I bet several people have in the last 24 hours complained about the price of gasoline. Where does it end?

I’m not sure it ever will end. But I do know this: Our journey though life, though it be difficult, brings us to a Cross and then an empty tomb. We call it Easter, and on that day, the church celebrates the Risen Christ. With a Risen Christ, so many possibilities present themselves, that maybe, just maybe, our complaints will take a back seat to the blessings we receive.

You are invited to come and join the “Easter Journey” at First Christian Church. Every Sunday between now and Easter we will lift up the “good things of life” and give our troubles over to God. It sure beats sitting around complaining about the weather.

It is almost time to get the carving knives out. Pull out the fine china and get the house ready for Thanksgiving. It might mean we pack the car and ride to a relative’s for the holiday or it might mean we stay home and cook for two or three. Or, we might be the hosts for all our family and friends. Regardless, it takes some preparation to get ready for “Turkey Day.”

How do we prepare our hearts for that day? I liked the list entitled, “I am thankful…” that appeared in Tidings earlier this month. So, why mess with perfection? I share it here as a list of suggestions we might want to be thankful for this year. It was written by Dale Schoenihg of Renwick Iowa, and I share it with you today:

I AM THANKFUL…..
…for the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV, because that means he is at home and not on the streets.

…for the taxes I pay, because it means that I have a job.

…for the mess to clean up after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

…for the shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.

…for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need washing and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.

…for all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.

…for the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.

…for my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.

…for the lady behind me in church who sings of key, because it means I can hear.

…for the pile of laundry, because it means I have clothes to wear.

…for the clothes that fit a bit too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.

…for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive!

Pastor Woody

November 2009

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand to be our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Jesus said, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21.42)

Not long ago a friend of mine received a “pink slip.” His company was downsizing due to economic conditions. My hunch is that the possibility of a down-size or the loss of a business to a community is something that can affect eighty to ninety percent of us. While my friend had not worked for the company very long, there were employees who had thirty years of seniority who lost their positions. While my friend did not take his job loss personally, such is still a tough position to be in. Losing a job whether by outsourcing, work force reduction, or by Rejection is something to which all of us can relate. Often we may feel alone in our rejection. The Good News is we have a Savior who can relate to our rejection and accepts us, because He was rejected! As Christians, the important question is “What do we do with our rejection?”

You don’t have to be a die-hard profession basketball fan to know the name Michael Jordan. Many sports commentators name Jordan as the greatest basketball player to play the game. Those who don’t name him as the greatest player put him in the top handful of the best. At the same time, this NBA legend and former Chicago Bulls star player failed to make the varsity basketball team his sophomore year of high school.  As a child his days had revolved around basketball. For many this setback could have been an excuse to hand up the practice uniform and give up on the possibility of playing basketball in the future. During his sophomore year, Jordan approached the coach and sought out the instructions he needed to improve for the next year. Instead of defeat, his rejection became a challenge to prove to his coach and more so to himself, that he belonged on the team. Today Michael Jordan is not only a basketball legend, but also a major contributor to inner city programs that work to build self-esteem and respect among youth.

Granted very few of us have the natural athleticism of a Michael Jordan. However, we all have experienced rejection in some form or another. The real issue is not that we are rejected, but what we do with it. We have a Lord who has not rejected us, who is there to pick us up and says: “You are mine, you belong to me, and you can do all things in my strength.” (Philippians 4:13). You can do it. “Come to me and let me take your weariness, burdens and rejection and I will lift your load.” (Matthew 11:28-30) I can use you and bring others into God’s acceptance…because I was first rejected. This IS the definition of God’s grace that we will be exploring in June’s sermons. God does not give up on us. Let us not give up on ourselves because God does not give up on us.

Amen.

Pastor Sam

“The Lord taught us to pray not only in words, but also in actions.” Saint Cyprian of Carthage

“If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony that He has testified of his son.” (I John 5:9)

About three weeks ago I moved some end tables around in the living room of the parsonage. A week later it looked like I moved them just the day before. So I fluffed up the carpet spots with my hands. A couple of days later I vacuumed over the imprints. The next day the spots looked like I moved the end tables that morning. So . . . I moved the tables back to their original spots. You guessed it . . . I now have another set of imprints.

Our lives can be compared to these kinds of imprints left in the carpet. We leave imprints on other lives whether we intend to or not. We leave imprints that can be seen as both positive and negative. Such can be an intimidating thought.

A number of years ago I led a training event for Sunday School teachers. During the session these volunteers were asked to remember the Sunday School teachers they had in the past. The question was asked: how were they a positive influence to you in your Christian walk? We then talked about how each of us is to be a model for Christ and how each of us are given opportunities to make an impression on someone else for Christ. Afterwards, a “new” Sunday School teacher came to me and said “I’m not teaching to be a role model for anyone. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past and I know that I am not perfect. I’m not sure that I should be teaching.”

The Christian life is not about being perfect. There is only One who has ever been perfect (”without sin”). The Christian life is about following Christ, serving Christ, and striving to be like Christ. Striving to be like Jesus Christ includes accepting his forgiveness, forgiving others, and living in that forgiveness. Jesus said, “If you forgive others of their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14). He also said, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven” (John 20:23). The way in which we forgive others, how we forgive ourselves, and how we try to correct our sins tells the world that we are seeking to makc Christ our Lord.

That Sunday School teacher who was nervous about teaching became an excellent teacher of high school youth. Youth related and learned from this teacher. She was a good listener and deciphered well what they said. I saw in her the power of God’s forgiveness and how to turn around past failures and sins. More so, students were imprinted by the joy of being a Christian and the sincere concern the teacher had for them.

Imprints on the carpet left by furniture will eventually disappear. However, many loving Christians we have known will forever influence each of us. Everyday we too are given the opportunity to leave Christ’s imprint on other’s lives. Amen!

Pastor Sam

May 2009

A Devotional Thought for September 2008

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in hands; so the potter formed it onto another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.” (Jeremiah 18:1-2a & 4)

On vacation a few years ago, at a Kentucky State Park, my family attended a pottery demonstration. The artisan demonstrated on a potter’s wheel how to make several different types of bowls. He did it quickly, all the while speaking and taking questions. He then invited those who were interested to come up and try making a bowl using his potter’s wheel. “It’s easy,” he said. Having tried this in a college ceramics class, I know better than to believe that it was easy. This man had been doing this for years and had taught classes throughout the state. Then he said to the crowd, “I’ll help you.” He showed us how to place the blob of clay in the center of the wheel and how to work it upward. The clay was centered through the contact with the potter’s hand. However, the potter’s hand does not rest on the clay. The potter’s hand merely guides the clay with the index finger and the thumb as the wheel turns, moving the sides of the emerging pot outward. If the potter’s arm moved with resistance against the clay, the emerging container would wobble off center and the piece would either cave in or become lop sided. Because of this potter’s experience, patience and guidance, he steadied the arms of those who made clay pots. All of the participants had a nice souvenir to take home, due to his guiding hands.

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet compares the reworking of a ruined pot into a good one by a potter, to that of God’s forgiveness and love. When we mess up (sin), God doesn’t merely “toss us away.”

During the month of September we will be examining in the Sunday sermons some of the phrases that people say that give the impression that they believe they are throwaways and not worthy to be salvaged and reworked. God’s love does not vary because of our resistance, moods, fears whims or our failures. Through Jesus Christ, God welcomes us to return to a relationship with Him by way of our confessions, that we may be reshaped into new creations of our Lord.

Constant contact with God through worship, prayer, reading of the scriptures and fellowship with other Christians changes our lives. As the potter shapes the clay, God reshapes and transforms us. Though our lives may seem at times to be spinning in busyness and confusion, Christ is ever present to shape us through his care and love.

Peace & Hope, Pastor Sam