A Tappist monk by the name of Thomas Merton once penned the words, “There are two things which men can do about the pain of disunion with other men. They can love or they can hate.” When I read the words they stung me and somehow stick with me. You know when you hear or read something that somehow wedges itself into your mind and ends up being remembered at strange times, or perhaps not so strange times, coming up when God knows that you need to remember such things.
These words came to me just recently when a homeless man asked if there might be some way I could assist him. I had seen him before, and have reason not to trust him, but as I was about to turn him away I could hear the words recited to me deep in confines of my heart, “They can love or they can hate.” It was then I realized that this man and I were of a broken relationship, we were at disunion with one another. And in the midst of our disunion I had consciously decided that the best option to choose was hate, but the voice spoke to me of a better choice, the best choice, the choice to love.
Some of you are already suggesting that I made the wrong choice, what to be wronged again and all, giving anything to someone whom may not have used whatever I gave with the intention in which I gave. However, I am dissuaded from agreeing simply because of faith. The aforementioned Father Merton says it well, “The root of Christian love is not the will to love, but the faith that one is loved.” We are Christians, and as Christians we posses the most beautiful thing of all, faith! What is our faith that it is so special? At the root of faith is the belief that God loves us for no other reason than that God is love. There is nothing that we can do which makes us worthy of such a precious gift as the love of God. When we are quite honest with ourselves we discover how unworthy we truly are of God’s love, but alas it is not for us to dwell on the question of worth, for the truth of the matter is we are loved. Only when possessing the faith that God loves us just because God loves, might we be able to choose to love others, because then we do not have to ponder whether or not they are worthy of our love, for they are also loved by God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran theologian, pastor, and martyr, said, “Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe.” I believe that he probably had in mind the words from the epistle of James which say, “Faith without works is dead.” Upon remembering all of these other quotes that stick with me and of which I am reminded at strange times, it is then that I hear also these words from Matthew’s Gospel, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” In this quote from Jesus the word “did” haunts me. It haunts me because it demonstrates one of the most important qualities of love, and one that our culture has either chosen to forget or ignore. Love is not about what we mean when we say, “being in love.” Instead love is qualified and made real when we talk about what we do in love. The commandment of Jesus to love each other as he loves us is not a flowery concept of being able to say easily, “I love you.” Instead it is the notion that when I encounter your need, whatever that need may be, I discover with myself the faith that because God was willing to sacrifice His very self for me, that I have no choice but to love the same way, and to sacrifice myself to one whom I can love simply because that is what love is.
I wonder sometimes when I go through more idealistic phases, what the world would be like if we believed that God truly loved us. Sure we all say we believe that, but alas our actions prove the opposite is often true. We bicker with each other, we talk behind each other’s backs, we give reasons why we cannot help a neighbor or worse yet why we should not help, and all the while our disunion with other human beings continues because we often choose to hate.
But we are not without hope, for even now I see love conquering all. I see it when I realize that now every day of the week there is a meal provided to the hungry in the downtown. I see it when I get to meet with people like Lee Don, of Covenant Presbyterian, and talk about churches beginning Whiz Kids tutoring programs throughout our city. I see it when in those special moments I am given love from someone who has no reason to love me, and in those miraculous moments when somehow I act and do in love. It is in those moments when I do in love that I most assuredly believe that Christ dwells within me, and can thank my God that someday I may be a better person than I am right now. Someone who may be blessed enough to hear at the culmination of time, “Well done good and faithful servant, come into the joy of your master.” Let us pray that we begin living lives where we do everything in love, and soon our community will be an example of hope and joy to all.
Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Pleasing God and Making Heaven
Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God. – Hebrews 13:16 (NCV)
Do you do good to others? If so what have you done? What do you share? How has good been done to you? Who have you witnessed sacrifice much? Why do you think all of this pleases God?
I have heard a story many times that goes like this:
A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man, "Come, I will show you hell."
They entered a room where a group of people sat around a huge pot of stew. Everyone was famished, desperate and starving. Each had a spoon attached to their hands that reached the pot, but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their arms that it could not be used to get the stew into their mouths. The suffering was terrible.
"Come, now I will show you heaven," the Lord said after a while. They entered another room, identical to the first – the pot of stew, the group of people, the same long-handled spoons attached to their hands. But there everyone was happy and well nourished. "I don't understand," said the man. "Why are they happy here when they were miserable in the other room and everything was the same?"
The Lord smiled, "Ah, it is simple," he said. "Here they have learned to feed each other."
If we all did good to others we would have heaven here on earth! In these times when we worry about what might come next, and how we might cope with the little we have sometimes we need the reminder, “Do not forget to do good to others…” Such sacrifice pleases God simply because then we become more like the truest human being there ever was, Jesus Christ. Life easily becomes hellish when we decide to hoard things we have leaving others in need because then suffering is everywhere. That first church in the book of Acts was a place where “there was no need among them.” Let us not only believe that such beauty can still be true today, but also act like it can as well by doing good, sharing, and sacrificing what we have in the name of love and Jesus. We might just discover that life is heavenly!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Do you do good to others? If so what have you done? What do you share? How has good been done to you? Who have you witnessed sacrifice much? Why do you think all of this pleases God?
I have heard a story many times that goes like this:
A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man, "Come, I will show you hell."
They entered a room where a group of people sat around a huge pot of stew. Everyone was famished, desperate and starving. Each had a spoon attached to their hands that reached the pot, but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their arms that it could not be used to get the stew into their mouths. The suffering was terrible.
"Come, now I will show you heaven," the Lord said after a while. They entered another room, identical to the first – the pot of stew, the group of people, the same long-handled spoons attached to their hands. But there everyone was happy and well nourished. "I don't understand," said the man. "Why are they happy here when they were miserable in the other room and everything was the same?"
The Lord smiled, "Ah, it is simple," he said. "Here they have learned to feed each other."
If we all did good to others we would have heaven here on earth! In these times when we worry about what might come next, and how we might cope with the little we have sometimes we need the reminder, “Do not forget to do good to others…” Such sacrifice pleases God simply because then we become more like the truest human being there ever was, Jesus Christ. Life easily becomes hellish when we decide to hoard things we have leaving others in need because then suffering is everywhere. That first church in the book of Acts was a place where “there was no need among them.” Let us not only believe that such beauty can still be true today, but also act like it can as well by doing good, sharing, and sacrificing what we have in the name of love and Jesus. We might just discover that life is heavenly!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, July 20, 2009
Missing The Glory of God
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies announce what his hands have made. Day after day they tell the story; night after night they tell it again. – Psalm 19:1-2 (NCV)
How have you seen the glory of the God? What declares this glory? Can you see it before day after day? Do you hear the proclamation night after night? Have you met anyone who lives into this story? What are they like?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
It's the Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After three minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
Four minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.
Six minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.
45 minutes:
The musician played. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments .....
How many other things are we missing?
Everywhere the glory of God is declared! Thomas Carlyle said, “The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss.” God created a world where not only does beauty abound, but also more beauty is to be discovered everyday! Let us with eyes of wonder discover the beauty of God’s glory in all areas of life, otherwise we may never know what we miss.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How have you seen the glory of the God? What declares this glory? Can you see it before day after day? Do you hear the proclamation night after night? Have you met anyone who lives into this story? What are they like?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
It's the Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After three minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
Four minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the till and, without stopping, continued to walk.
Six minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes:
A three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.
45 minutes:
The musician played. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32.
1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments .....
How many other things are we missing?
Everywhere the glory of God is declared! Thomas Carlyle said, “The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss.” God created a world where not only does beauty abound, but also more beauty is to be discovered everyday! Let us with eyes of wonder discover the beauty of God’s glory in all areas of life, otherwise we may never know what we miss.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Our God, Our Protection
God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea, even if the oceans roar and foam, or the mountains shake at the raging sea. Selah – Psalm 46:1-3 (NCV)
Do you believe God is your protection and strength? How have you witnessed God help in times of trouble? Who have you seen God help in their times of trouble? Can you hold on just a little while longer?
The following story is found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/burninghut.htm
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
I do not know about you, but often times it was only in hindsight I discovered how God was working, and God is always at work! No matter the troubles in our lives, God is our protection and our strength. An old African-American spiritual says it best, “Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer, ‘cause everything is going to be alright.” So no matter what we are going through, we must not forget that there is nothing that is not temporary for God. With such faith let us hold on a little while longer because our protection and strength, our God is at work. And God is good all of the time!
Check out the blog to listen to the spiritual http://firstpresalbany.blogspot.com
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Do you believe God is your protection and strength? How have you witnessed God help in times of trouble? Who have you seen God help in their times of trouble? Can you hold on just a little while longer?
The following story is found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/burninghut.htm
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
I do not know about you, but often times it was only in hindsight I discovered how God was working, and God is always at work! No matter the troubles in our lives, God is our protection and our strength. An old African-American spiritual says it best, “Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer, ‘cause everything is going to be alright.” So no matter what we are going through, we must not forget that there is nothing that is not temporary for God. With such faith let us hold on a little while longer because our protection and strength, our God is at work. And God is good all of the time!
Check out the blog to listen to the spiritual http://firstpresalbany.blogspot.com
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
When We Are Strong
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me… Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NCV)
In what ways are you weak? What problems do you have? Have you seen Christ in your weakness? If so, in what way? How do you believe God’s power is made perfect in your weakness? Who have you met who is weak, but is somehow strong?
The following story is found at: http://www.wow4u.com/weakness/index.html
This is a story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei intervened. "No," the Sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy’s greatest weakness had become his greatest strength!
Often times we are weak when we try to be strong on our own. Those moments where our own strength is not enough, when we cannot keep on going another day, those are the times God steps in and we discover God’s timeless truth, “little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong!” Let us take heart while we are weak, when we cannot figure out how to continue, and when it all seems wrong, for when we rely on the Lord it is only then we are truly strong!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
In what ways are you weak? What problems do you have? Have you seen Christ in your weakness? If so, in what way? How do you believe God’s power is made perfect in your weakness? Who have you met who is weak, but is somehow strong?
The following story is found at: http://www.wow4u.com/weakness/index.html
This is a story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei intervened. "No," the Sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy’s greatest weakness had become his greatest strength!
Often times we are weak when we try to be strong on our own. Those moments where our own strength is not enough, when we cannot keep on going another day, those are the times God steps in and we discover God’s timeless truth, “little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong!” Let us take heart while we are weak, when we cannot figure out how to continue, and when it all seems wrong, for when we rely on the Lord it is only then we are truly strong!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Saturday, July 4, 2009
July's Minister's Minute, in The Journal of Hope and Joy
Upon the first time I sat at a keyboard prepared to type out some Minister’s Minute for the simple monthly newsletter this church put out, I considered bible verses which might be appropriate for such an occasion. There I was, the new pastor of a tiny church. I was far from home and had little idea of what I was doing. You know those times you find yourself in a situation and you wonder, “What just happened? How did I get here? What the heck I am suppose to do?” or something very similar? That is where I was. I will not say I was nervous, because I did not feel nervous. It was more like I was in shock. I hate to disappoint those who were concerned I was going to experience some type of cultural shock on a scale of grand proportions, because I did not. It was a different type of shock. For the first time I sat down to write this as someone granted the title “Reverend.” Considering it even now is somewhat of a shock, I am hardly to be revered and am often times discovered to be irreverent. How did I ever get this title? How did I ever get into a situation where some might consider me a pastor of a church? I mean I had some friends in college who said they would become religious if I ever actually became a minister. And there I was, writing a Minister’s Minute.
There was a second element of shock that when coupled with the first did cause me to question my sanity. Did I really just choose to move my whole life, wife and all, across the country to a dying church? “Not only am I am the irreverent reverend, I am the stupid irreverent reverend,” I thought to myself. So I prayed for some bible verse I might find which would be appropriate for the moment, a bible verse that would provide direction and make some sense of the incredible situation.
As God is always good, after such a prayer something popped into my head about God doing a new thing. With the aid of Google I discovered it was Isaiah 43:19, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” So I began by sharing that passage, saying that God is about to do a new thing at First Presbyterian Church…
Much has changed since that moment I felt God declare to me, “I am about to do a new thing!” The church has become a home to many more people, our bible studies now average three times more people than the services were averaging (thank you Elaine), we are coming up with new ministries, working with more churches, doing new outreach, and much more. Much has also changed with me too. I no longer feel like I am far from home, but believe at this time in my life, I am home. I have a child… a native of Georgia, poor kid. I think my sermons are a little better. I still have no idea what I am doing, but at least I am more comfortable not knowing. And I finally figured out how I got that “Reverend” title, God’s grace.
But there is one thing that has not changed. I can still feel the declaration of God proclaiming to me and to our church, “Behold, I am about to do a new thing!” Monty Cox said something during my interview I shall never forget. I asked the committee why they even bothered staying at the church when things seemed to be going so poorly. I expected the normal answers that come from members of dying churches like, my family has been going here forever, my children were baptized here, I was married here, this is the only place they will give me power, or something similar. Monty, however, spoke with a truth that came from the Spirit of God when he said, “Because I don’t believe God is done with us yet.”
He is still right! God is not done with us yet! The reason I can still feel God proclaiming the new things that are about to happen is because there is much left to do. What is your part going to be? How are you going to get involved? What new mission will you begin? How will you change this church for the glory of God? In what way will you move this place toward becoming God’s hope and joy? It is springing forth now, this newness of God, can you perceive it yet?
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
There was a second element of shock that when coupled with the first did cause me to question my sanity. Did I really just choose to move my whole life, wife and all, across the country to a dying church? “Not only am I am the irreverent reverend, I am the stupid irreverent reverend,” I thought to myself. So I prayed for some bible verse I might find which would be appropriate for the moment, a bible verse that would provide direction and make some sense of the incredible situation.
As God is always good, after such a prayer something popped into my head about God doing a new thing. With the aid of Google I discovered it was Isaiah 43:19, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” So I began by sharing that passage, saying that God is about to do a new thing at First Presbyterian Church…
Much has changed since that moment I felt God declare to me, “I am about to do a new thing!” The church has become a home to many more people, our bible studies now average three times more people than the services were averaging (thank you Elaine), we are coming up with new ministries, working with more churches, doing new outreach, and much more. Much has also changed with me too. I no longer feel like I am far from home, but believe at this time in my life, I am home. I have a child… a native of Georgia, poor kid. I think my sermons are a little better. I still have no idea what I am doing, but at least I am more comfortable not knowing. And I finally figured out how I got that “Reverend” title, God’s grace.
But there is one thing that has not changed. I can still feel the declaration of God proclaiming to me and to our church, “Behold, I am about to do a new thing!” Monty Cox said something during my interview I shall never forget. I asked the committee why they even bothered staying at the church when things seemed to be going so poorly. I expected the normal answers that come from members of dying churches like, my family has been going here forever, my children were baptized here, I was married here, this is the only place they will give me power, or something similar. Monty, however, spoke with a truth that came from the Spirit of God when he said, “Because I don’t believe God is done with us yet.”
He is still right! God is not done with us yet! The reason I can still feel God proclaiming the new things that are about to happen is because there is much left to do. What is your part going to be? How are you going to get involved? What new mission will you begin? How will you change this church for the glory of God? In what way will you move this place toward becoming God’s hope and joy? It is springing forth now, this newness of God, can you perceive it yet?
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
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