Monthly Archives: April 2011

What I’ve Seen Today

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I can’t sleep.  It’s Sunday night.  Normally I’m exhausted after a long day of worship, visiting with folks, meetings, and chasing the kids.

I can’t sleep tonight. So, I do what I do when I can’t sleep. I write.

I can’t sleep tonight because of what I’ve seen today.  I’ve seen something amazing today.  I’ve seen God at work.

I’ve been lucky enough to have served God in ministry since 1998.  I’ve been under appointment (i.e. a preacher) since 1999.  I’ve had the great privilege and honor of serving some amazing people and churches in these years.  At Boyle, Linn, and Litton UMCs, those sweet folk taught me how to grow up and be a pastor. At Coy UMC, I found my voice and learned how to preach. At Ripley FUMC, I had the honor of seeing what can happen when a church really tries to impact its community.

I’ve been lucky to serve some great people.

Today, though, I can’t sleep. Because I saw God at work here at Asbury Church.  I saw Him in our children as they led us in worship.  I saw Him in the praise team as they communicated the grace and mercy of God through song.  I saw Him in a line for lunch that literally stretched out of the worship center. I saw Him in the laughter and joy of those same folks waiting in line to eat.  I saw Him the hands of folks working the kitchen as they served a teeming mass of people lunch. I saw Him in the fact that so many people, people I literally didn’t know stayed after worship to fellowship, to laugh, to just be together as the Body of Christ. I saw Him in children running to get Easter Eggs and sliding down slides.  I saw Him in the youth gather back tonight, eating crawfish listening to music and enjoying the company of fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.

There’s an old song my wife used to sing some in church – “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place.” Today, I saw the effect of that spirit.  I saw God move in the lives of people. I saw people draw close to God and close to each other.

I saw God move in church today. And I am so thankful that my eyes have gotten to see it.

And I can’t wait until next week to see what He’s going to do here at Asbury.

I can’t sleep tonight. And I’ve never been more happy about it.

Back to Basics – Two Crowds Podcast

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The sermon podcast for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. It’s the sixth  in our series “Back to Basics.” It’s entitled “Two Crowds” and the texts are John 12: 12-19 and John 19: 1-6.  You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

http://soundcloud.com/revandys/two-crowds

Who is Your Neighbor?

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We are told to love our neighbor.  It’s a biblical command. It’s one of foundations of the great commandment.

We are to love our neighbor.

But, as we are going to read this morning, there is a question.  Who is my neighbor?  Who am I to love? What does loving that neighbor look like? What should we be doing?

Listen to this story Jesus told, one you’ve heard a million times. But, listen to again.  Stop, breathe, and listen.  As if you are listening for the first time.

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

You’ve heard many sermons on this, read many devotionals on this, I’m sure. There are so many points to notice, so many things been said of importance, so many concepts here that can change our walk with God and with each other.

But today, notice the neighbor was not someone who the Samaritan even knew.  It was a stranger who was in need.  It was a man, simply in need, that he had passed by.

And he stopped to help.

Today, who is your neighbor? Maybe it’s the coworker that is having a bad day.

Maybe it’s the classmate that just failed that test.

Maybe it’s your spouse who you had an argument with.

Maybe it’s your elderly parent.

Maybe is just a guy or gal on the street with a long face.

Today, in your life, there will be someone who is need of some sort. Don’t be blind to it.  The hard part is not that there aren’t neighbors in need all around us.  The hard part is slowing ourselves down long enough to see.

Today, look.  Listen.  Pray. Seek.  Who is your neighbor?  Who is the one in you life, or in your path, that needs the grace that you can give?

Who is you neighbor?  The text says show them mercy.  May we go and do likewise.

Not Complicated. Just Hard

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One of my professors, Dr. Harold Bryson, at Mississippi College used to say that Jesus isn’t hard to understand.  He’s just hard to follow.

He was telling us that the things that Jesus calls us to do are not complicated.  They are just hard to do.  It’s not complicated to love your enemies.  It’s not complicated to forgive those that hurt you. It’s not to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

They are just hard to do.

This week as we continue to reflect upon verses that deal with our love for our neighbor, listen to what Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Ah, the golden rule.  He even says, this is the essence of all that’s taught in the Old Testament (the law and prophets).  This rule actually sums it up for us. It actually makes it easier for us.  It simplifies it for us.  It’s not complicated.

It’s so easy to understand, we can very easily teach it to our children. And it makes sense.  We know its good for us to live by the golden rule.  We know it simplifies things. We know that in doing that, we living life that’s going to be more peaceful, more productive, and better for us all.

We know this.

But, it can still be hard. There are just some folks we don’t want to be nice to.  Some folks that don’t deserve our niceness. Some folks that it’s hard to “do unto others” to.

Because we know they won’t do the same to us.  We know they aren’t going to respond to our offer of grace with grace.

But, here’s the catch. We aren’t called to live their life. We are called to live our lives.  No matter how “they” choose to respond, we must offer grace. Because that’s what God wants us to do. And it’s the way we find peace in our lives.

In the end, it’s not even about “them.”  It’s about “us.” And in offering “them” grace, we find peace.

So, today, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It’s not complicated.  it’s just hard.  But, God will give us the grace to do it. And in it, we will find His life for us.

 

 

Sunlight to Both

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I love the people who love me.  That’s only natural.

I love my family.  I love my children.  I love people who are nice to me and my family.  I love my church.  I love my friends.  I love lots of people.

I love Ole Miss, but I’m not sure why, since they aren’t very nice to me most football seasons.

Anyway, I love these people.

And, that’s nice.  Scripture tells us to love.  But, the command of scripture to love is not just the folks that are nice to me, and the folks that are easy to love.  But, to love everyone.  Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 5 today:

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Jesus says God sends sunlight to both – to the evil and the good.  God sends rain to both – the just and the unjust. God gives love to all. And, He calls us to do that.

Jesus tells us to be like our Father in heaven, and that means we are to love.

Not just the folks we like.  Not just the folks like us. Not just the folks that agree with us. Not just the folks that share our opinion.  Not just the folks that we are friends with.

We are to love everyone. Even the folks that have done things wrong, that have hurt us or others, that really aren’t nice people.

Why?

Because God loves them.

And, because the only way we can change people is not through hate. The only way we can change people, can change the world, is through love.

God changed us through the love of His son. That’s how He expects us to change the world. So, today, love. Love everyone. Show God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s grace.

To both. To all. To everyone.  Because that’s who God is. And that’s who God is calling us to be.

 

 

At the Foot of the Cross

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Our praise team at Asbury sang a song I just love yesterday.  I’ll have to confess it’s a song that I had never heard of before until recently. It’s called “At the Foot of the Cross.”

The basic theme of the song is that we are all equal there at the foot of the cross. No matter what we’ve done, who we are, what we bring to it, we are all equal.  Equal in our sin, equal in our need for grace, and equal in the eyes of God.

And we are all equally loved by God there at the foot of the cross.

Last week in our reflections we talked about “loving God.”  This week we are talking about the Biblical command to “love neighbor.”  And as I was reading a passage today in Proverbs that related back to love of neighbor, I thought about that song.  Listen to what Proverbs 29:7 says:

The godly care about the rights of the poor;
the wicked don’t care at all.

The Godly care about the needs of the poor.  Why?  That sounds nice to say that the godly care about the poor, but why? Why do they and why should they?

Because we are all equal a the foot of the cross.  Rich or poor, doesn’t matter.  Young or old, doesn’t mater.  Black or white, doesn’t matter. Male of female, doesn’t matter. We are all equal at the foot of cross.

So, we care about others, because God cares about them. And we are called to be like He is.

Today, may we care for all the folks in our lives, may we love all the folks in our lives. And may we try to point all the folks in our lives to the power and grace of Jesus Christ.

Because all are equal at the foot of the cross.  No matter what.

Back to Basics – Eyes Open Podcast

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The sermon podcast for April 10, 2011 is up on Asbury Church’s website. It’s the fifth  in our series “Back to Basics.” It’s entitled “Eyes Open” and the text is Matthew 25: 31-46.  You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.

Fasting. No really. Fasting.

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We’ve been reflecting this week on different scriptures that point the way to things that deepen our faith. These things that help us grow closer to God, these things are what Wesley called a “Means of Grace.”  In these things – God gives us grace to grow.

Thus far they’ve been things that we all like and agree are important. Prayer. Scripture.  Things such as that.  Listen today, though, to this important thing talked about in Acts 14:23:

Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

With prayer and fasting. Fasting.  Oh my. Yes. Fasting.

Fasting is something that we don’t talk about in church as much as should because, well, it’s not fun.  None of us want to fast.  None of us want to give up something.  None of us, in the end, want to do it.

You don’t, I don’t, no one does. It’s not what we’d think about as “fun.”

Yet, in scripture, we see it over and over again as a command. We see it over and over again as something that God’s people are instructed to do. We see it as something that the church is challenged do to. It’s important.

Why?

I can just tell you, from my experience, that fasting gives us two major benefits.  First, it drives us to prayer.  When you fast (by the way, fasting, for those that aren’t familiar, is giving up something, normally food, for a time period, to seek God) we are driven to prayer. When you miss that chocolate, pray.  When you miss that coke, pray.   When you miss whatever you give up, pray.  Every time we see fasting mentioned in scripture, it’s in relation to prayer. Fasting is useful in that drives us to pray.

Second, in my experience, when you give up something, you see what really controls your actions. We see that our actions are not controlled by our needs, or many times, by God, we see that our actions are controlled by our desires.  Our wants.  Us.  We aer driven so many times in our lives not by what God wants. But by what we want.

That’s not the way that God wants us to live. That’s not what God has for us. That’s not His desire for us.

So, while it won’t be something that we look forward to doing, I do believe it’s something that can change our lives and our walk with God.  Fasting is still important.

And today, in some way in your life, I pray that you can find a way to experience that gift in your life!

 

The Table

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One of my favorite parts of being a preacher is serving communion.  It really is.  It’s something I look forward to doing, something I look forward sharing in, something that really adds to my faith and my love of God.

Communion is a very powerful thing. It is something that when the Body of Christ does it, we know that God is in our midst and is drawing us closer to Himself.

This week, each day’s readings have been taken from scriptures that were listed in the bulletin at Asbury this past Sunday.  You can click here to see that bulletin.  Each of the passages talk about practices of faith that grow our love of God. So far this week we’ve reflected on scripture and on prayer.

Today, it’s communion.  Listen to Acts 2:42 and what happened in the early church:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

In the earliest of days in the church they gathered for the teaching, the preaching, the fellowship, and the table.  At this table, Christians came together to remember what happened when our Lord was betrayed and crucified, but they also looked forward to a time when they would gather together with Jesus around the table at the wedding feast that is eternal life in heaven.

At this table, we are all equal.  We are all equal in our need for God, and equal in our hope of resurrection and eternal life.  At the table, we remember what He did for our sake and for our forgiveness and we look forward to a time of everlasting peace.

At the table, we are reminded we are forgiven, we are loved, and we are welcomed.

None of us deserve to come to the table. But, ALL are welcomed to come to the table. That’s what grace is all about.

Grace is about knowing that you aren’t worthy, but are invited anyway. That’s the grace God gives to us in the table of Communion, and the grace He gives us each day.

You aren’t worthy.  Neither am I.  None of us are. But, we are each loved. And welcomed. And treasured. Through God’s grace.

Remember what He did for our sake. And look forward to what will be. And live in the power of God’s amazing grace.

 

Consistant

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One of the interesting commands of scripture is for the people of God to be consistent.  All over the Bible there is the notional that we are supposed to be daily, consistently seeking God with all that we are.

Deuteronomy tells us to talk about God in our rising and in our sleeping.

Paul tells us to pray without ceasing.

We are told by our Lord to pray for our daily bread.

And listen to what God tells Joshua today in Joshua 1:8

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

God knew that Joshua had some tough days ahead.  He knew that the people of Israel would not be easy to lead.  He knew that there would be days of frustration and hard work ahead for him.

And so, God gives him to major commands in this first chapter – first do not fear. Don’t be afraid.  God is with you.  Good words for us today. Don’t be afraid. Don’t fear. God will not leave nor forsake you.

Second, what we read here – read the “book” continually.  Study it.  Pray over it.  Make it part of your life. God has given us His “book,” i.e. the Bible, for us to study. For us to learn. For us to pray over. For us to hear His voice in. For us to know Him better through. For us to be drawn deeper and deeper to Him with.

We are a lot like Joshua. There will be tough times. There will be trials. There will be tears. There will be worries. So, don’t fear. God is with you.

And consistently, constantly, daily, spend time in His book.  We eat daily, we sleep daily, we do things we need to do daily to live.

We need to, each day, for the life of our souls, spend time in His word.  May we be consistent.  May we be continual. And may we find life.  And in seeking Him, may we find Him.