Sermon for February 9, 2014

This is the sermon from Sunday, February 9, 2014 as we continue through Cycle A of the Lectionary with the Gospel of Matthew. Also, I am in the beginning stages of leading the church through a process of focusing ministry, money and mission and that is reflected in the message. 

Peace and Love,
Jerry

P.S.-- Thanks to Shauna Michelle Stucker Smith for pushing me to post the sermons.

Sermon for February 9, 2014

Scarcity and Abundance

The rain came today to central KY. In this area the prediction is for about 3" over the weekend. Much needed, it goes without saying. At the same time the rain began to fall I read an article that 1,000 counties are in a drought emergency across the country; 1,000 counties.

That climate change is upon us seems self-evident. Of course the earth has gone through many cycles of truly significant climate change what with ice ages and all. Are we on the threshold of a significant change? Who can say at the moment? What is the role of humanity in the rate of climate change? There can be no serious doubt that urbanization has led to surface changes that have an effect on the weather, but how much?

In the meantime there are these cycles of scarcity and abundance. They don't have too profound an effect on those of us who have a decent income and a home, but surely the economic impact of scarcity and abundance effects millions of people and it's all interrelated. When something is scarce it has potential to bring abundance to those who profit from scarcity and when something is abundant the one who depends upon its provision receives less in profit.

It isn't a perfected world, nor system. Even as we have industrialized and urbanized we are still dependent on the earth and are subject to scarcity and abundance.

Constructive Theology at PTS

I am writing a paper for the Constructive Theology class I will begin next Tuesday at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa. It's been difficult getting any momentum on the paper. Tonight I wrote four pages. I have six to go. Then, I need to read a 400 page book and about 10 essays/articles before class on Tuesday. I've got this.

Test

Haven't posted in a long while. This is a test.

Learn Today

Learn something today. For goodness' sake; learn something.

I am not sure what there is around the corner. I don't plan very well. But, I do know that I am headed around that corner and I believe that it's not what happens to us that matters so much, it's what we do when it happens; how we respond.

So, it just seems really important that we learn something every day.

This week I learned, thanks to two sage-like colleagues, that boundaries are important in ministry. Leadership can't be accomplished in the midst of anxiety so you can't enter into the anxiety of the moment. You can't react. You have to respond and the way you respond speaks to your ability to lead.

So, I stepped back a step this week; reminded myself that ministry is a profession not a friendship with everyone. And I felt better about me, and I think I started to do a better job.

"Dandy" Don Meredith

I grew up a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. In my childhood being a fan of the Cowboys meant rooting for Dandy Don. He probably wasn't the best quarterback in the league but, I loved the Cowboys, and so I looked up to #17. I tried to emulate him in my passing. I had a replica jersey. He was kind of a big deal. His passing today at the age of 72 leaves me saddened.

In the years following his pro football career Don Meredith held a prominent position in my home on Monday nights. My grandmother loved him. My father used to sing, "Turn Out the Lights" in a manner after Don Meredith and we all loved the way he giggled and got under Howard Cosell's skin. Monday Night Football and Don Meredith were fixtures of my childhood; American icons. He made Monday Night Football must see TV.


Time moved on for Monday Night Football and the announcers have changed several times over the years. The current crew is very good in my estimation but, they weren't who I grew up with. So, I get it when church members say, "we should sing the hymns I grew up with. They're the ones that really speak to me." I get that. I miss the things of my childhood that helped form me and form the values that molded me. However, things do change with time whether we want them to or not. One of my favorite Christian authors, Kathleen Norris, wrote, "Disconnecting from change does not recapture the past. It loses the future."

That's a difficult but seemingly accurate statement. A church is a multi-generational enterprise. You can't be all things to all people all the time. Someone gets left out as another is included. It's the nature of bridging generations. But time does march on and change happens. In "Star Trek Generations" the villainous Dr. Soren says to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, "they say time is the fire in which we burn." Caustic, but again, with a ring of truth.

So, how do you address the multi-generational needs of congregations? With respect. You respect what has been and you respect what is and you respect what is coming. Each generation has or is growing up with something that forms the landscape of their memories just like Don Meredith is prominent in mine. So, you treat them all with respect and you listen to what they are saying and asking and you take them seriously. Then, you do your best to meet their needs. Not everyone is going to be happy all the time. You can only hope that when you cast a gaze back in time the road you have traveled has honored them all.

To Don Meredith's family I pray God's peace be with you in your grieving. He gave me much joy and birthed many of my football dreams. May he rest in God.

Talks A Lot

I was readying to head out of the church today to attend our semi-annual Regional Board meeting. I told the church secretary where I was headed and for how long. She's not a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She said, "you all like to talk a lot don't you?"

Yeah, I guess we do.

The work of the Holy Spirit among us begins with a conversation. The work of the church begins with a conversation as well. Conversation leads to understanding. Understanding has the possibility of leading to a common sense of purpose.

So, I hope we talk a lot. But even more, I hope the conversation leads to action as the Holy Spirit leads us. Because the Holy Spirit has begun the conversation. It's ours to take up.