Jim's 2008 Messages
November 2008
Economic crisis has spiritual link.
To those whom God loves,
“All who believed were together and had all things in common.” (Acts 2:44)
Some believers say that early Christians’ sharing was in response to an economic crisis that does not apply to other times and situations. Instead, I would argue that a new economy always results when the Spirit of God brings renewal.
The early church set itself apart from the culture in several ways. The Didache, a second-century manual of church discipline, said, “Share everything with your brother. Do not say, ‘It is private property.’ If you share what is everlasting, you should be that much more willing to share things which do not last.” In the third century, the Christian author Tertullian wrote, “We who share one mind and soul obviously have no misgivings about community in property.” These are two examples of the outspokenness in the early church reflecting both a concern for the spiritual well-being of the Christian walk and its compassion for the poor.
The creation of God’s economy is not going to come about through good intentions, political will, education or social action projects. It will come about only when we begin to experience something of what early believers did when the Spirit of God entered their lives. The Spirit not only gives direction to this new economy, it is the power behind it.
It matters not if you are one of the first followers of Jesus in Acts or a believer today. The new economy, or God’s economy, has little to do with social status, the time we are living or our current economy. God’s economy has to do with one’s relationship with God. How much is given is less important than how much is left over after giving. Although this principle is completely reversed in most churches today, Jesus’ high praise of the widow who gave her last two pennies teaches us this simple truth.
In a devotional study called “Hungry for Justice,” I am asked to meditate on questions such as: “If today I took a spiritual inventory of my finances, what would I find? Where does my money come from and where does it go?” The other question of Acts 2 and 4 makes me think about this: “After I have given my money, time and resources in service to my neighbor, do I have a lot left over or just enough for a simple, joy-filled life?”
Our Guardian of God’s Gifts Ministry Team (Stewardship) came up with the theme It’s All God’s Stuff for this fall’s campaign. It calls us to take seriously not how much God has given as compared to how much is left over after giving. May the Spirit lead you to find a new place in God’s economy, because when love increases, so does our hope.
In Christ,
Pastor Jim
May 2008
God Guides Vision Statement Draft
Imagine the world as God would like it to be. What is God’s dream for us as individuals, families, communities, nations and the world? Then ask yourself: What do we at St. Andrew do as a church to help turn God’s dream for the world into reality?
It was in asking and praying through these questions that the Vision Task Force experienced God’s guidance and inspiration, which gave birth to our proposed new vision statement: “Bringing healing and wholeness to lives and all creation.” It was truly a “God moment” when we were led to discover these words to describe God’s dream for the world as well as a specific direction for St. Andrew to work toward that same dream.
After the preparation and showing of the vision video, which explains more about the vision, important things already have happened.
The all-congregational service day--cleaning up Orchards Park and painting rooms at Inn at Orchards--was a significant day in our church’s life. I believe this event was more significant in changing St. Andrew’s direction than our celebration of Easter.
The songs and sending service launched our efforts with the words printed on the back of our orange T-shirts, “Bringing healing and wholeness to lives and all creation.” The trash and old camp sites picked up in the park, along with the removal of non-native vegetation, resulted in the filling of three large drop boxes; and the cafeteria and halls at the Inn at Orchards that were cleaned and painted were done with this vision in mind. Not only did our work bring healing and wholeness in the places we worked, it brought healing and wholeness to the entire congregation.
As we debriefed over lunch, volunteers spoke of how wonderful it was to have an intergenerational service event for the community. Our people were touched by each other’s cooperation and fellowship. Volunteers asked, “When are we going to do this again?” Others said, “We don’t want to wait a whole year to do this again. It has to be more often than once a year.”
The celebration continued the next day at worship with the pictures displayed on the screen as well as Pastor Martha’s message. As we began living into this vision, we were able to witness the transformation of a park, a shelter for women and families, and in our own faith community.
We know brokenness in our lives. We see it in our communities and our world. My brokenness is the source of my compassion, and my woundedness is the key to my empathy for lives and all creation. Our day of service was the connection between broken people and a broken world. It brought healing to us as well as others.
Is this not God’s dream for the world? Was this not the ministry of Jesus’ teaching, healing and serving? And was it not by being broken himself on the cross that Jesus continues to bring healing into our broken world? I think “bringing healing and wholeness to lives and all creation” is part of God’s dream for our world, and I would like you to consider making those same words God’s dream for St. Andrew and our mission here.
Easter peace and joy,
Pastor Jim
January 2008
Follow the Light of the World
The 12th day of Christmas is the Day of Epiphany, when we celebrate the foreign magi who come and worship the Christ child with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This year it falls on Sunday, Jan. 6, when we will celebrate “Follow the Light of Jesus.” I would like you to ponder two points.
First, in the gospel of Matthew, the One who receives gifts from these foreign visitors – star gazers from the east – is the same One who charges us to go out into the world. The Great Commission given at the end of Matthew is the second bookend to the gifts Jesus accepts from the magi at the gospel’s beginning. The time of Epiphany allows us to consider our global witness to a justice and peace many long for. Our witness is not one of triumphalism or coercion, but light that the darkness does not overcome.
With Christ, the standards and values of this world are, many times, turned upside down. Adults kneel before an infant. God empties God‘s self of the trappings of divinity to become human. The kingdom comes designed to serve, not to dominate. In a world of violence, power and wealth, the poor, grief-stricken, merciful and peace-loving are named blessed of God.
Like the shepherd at the manger, their lives make the transition from “show and tell” to “go and tell” as they leave. They go and tell others about the divine reversal of God becoming human as the means by which we are brought into God’s presence. “Follow the Light of Jesus” Sunday gives us the opportunity to follow their model.
My second point can be summed up in the word “shine.” Three chapters after the magi story in Matthew, Jesus says, “Let your works shine before others…” Jesus is not talking about light bulbs, search lights, flashlights, glow sticks or candles. Instead, Jesus is talking about works or actions that bring about: equality – where everyone is equally important and loved by God; justice – where wealth is distributed justly for everyone to have enough to eat; and peace – where violence no longer robs people of dignity, prosperity and safety.
We are coming through the longest nights of the year. The image of light is a potent image for those who desire to see clearly the reality of the world, including the interior world. Just as the magi followed a great light to find Jesus, children of all ages are invited to follow the great light of the world: Jesus.
When I walk in Jesus’ light, I dream of the world that can be. I dream of a world of God’s design. I dream of a world that allows everyone to shine. Dream God-sized dreams all year long as you follow the light of Jesus.
Jesus is the light of the world!
Pastor Jim