"Walking Barefoot Through Wet Cement"
Most of the people who have been influential in our lives have been subtle in their influence. It usually isn't dramatic and bold but soft and quiet. It isn't something that is overwhelming but it comes to us almost as a whisper.
The disciples, for example, recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. It wasn't what he said. It wasn't how he looked. It wasn't anything of a bold clue they picked up on. It was the way he broke the bread. It caused them to remember the last Supper when he took the bread and gave thanks and offered it to them.
I will think through with you next Sunday, April 6th, the influences on our lives and the ways in which we have influence on the lives of the people around us.
Who have been the people of influence on your life and how was that influence brought about?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you would like others to read your response see the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday's Thoughts on the sermon
This Sunday our scriptures will be John 20:19-21 and John 21:1-14.
This is a follow-up of the Easter message, with an emphasis on the struggle for Jesus to be believable after his resurrection. I will emphasize the several appearances of Jesus to his Followers and Disciples, and their disbelief in his being real and alive.
How would we have reacted had we been there for the many events of Holy Week and thereafter? It is so easy to just read the story, to keep it at a distance, to NOT live it. What would we have done after the crucifixion? Where would we have gone? What would we have thought and felt? And, would we have been in denial that Jesus, whom we saw crucified, is now walking on the road to Emmaus with us, or knocking on our door and saying, "Peace be with you", or shouting at us while we are on the Sea of Tiberius trying to catch fish?
It he is real and alive, then how do we "be the message"?
Some ideas will be forthcoming on Sunday. Hope to see you.
David
This is a follow-up of the Easter message, with an emphasis on the struggle for Jesus to be believable after his resurrection. I will emphasize the several appearances of Jesus to his Followers and Disciples, and their disbelief in his being real and alive.
How would we have reacted had we been there for the many events of Holy Week and thereafter? It is so easy to just read the story, to keep it at a distance, to NOT live it. What would we have done after the crucifixion? Where would we have gone? What would we have thought and felt? And, would we have been in denial that Jesus, whom we saw crucified, is now walking on the road to Emmaus with us, or knocking on our door and saying, "Peace be with you", or shouting at us while we are on the Sea of Tiberius trying to catch fish?
It he is real and alive, then how do we "be the message"?
Some ideas will be forthcoming on Sunday. Hope to see you.
David
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday's thoughts
I've been thinking about the meaning of Easter and what it does for us. In reflecting on the resurrection of Jesus and the "radical" regrouping of the disciples after the crucifixion, it seems to me that a part of the Easter message is unfinished until we complete it. It is not fulfilled until Christian believers act upon it.
There has been much made of the words of Pastor Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's minister. It seems that the pastor said some things in a context and to a congregation that seem extreme and inflammatory. It is evident that that has had an influence on the candidacy of Barack Obama. It will be interesting to see where that leads and what that damage that does.
I've been thinking about three Reverend Wright's and what they have said:
The first Reverend Wright was the father of two boys and he heard a speech delivered by a college president who said he was confident the human race was capable of wonderful things. He imagined that human beings would be able to fly like birds. Reverend Wright objected to this outlandish notion and said, "Flying is reserved for angels and we shouldn't be taking such nonsense." Reverend Wright had two sons, Orville and Wilbur. They proved him wrong at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The second Reverend Wright is a Biblical scholar. He was thinking about the resurrection and he wrote, "The message of the resurrection is that this world matters. God is not prepared to tolerate such things." N.T. Wright is a New Testament scholar who sees the imperative that Easter presents to us about how the world is and how the world is supposed to be.
The third Reverend Wright is the pastor of a church here in Fort Collins. He wrote an article in the Coloradoan in which he said, "Jesus taught a terror-filled people that God's love - inclusive unconditional - casts out fear, makes room for differences and conversations, and transforms relationships of brokenness, indifference, and domination." Jeff Wright is pastor of Heart of the Rockies Disciples of Christ Church.
There are ideas people have about various things including the meaning of Easter. We may debate what happened and how it might have happened. We may disagree about what is important and what is not important related to the fact that some think the resurrection is physical and others see it as a spiritual presence. What we cannot ignore or get away from is the fact that Easter is not something we witness, but something that calls us to participate. There are no spectators at the empty tomb. Something if being asked of us.
Exactly what is being asked of is we will have to determine. I hope to work with that in the two sermons on Easter Sunday. If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
Easter Sunday worship 6am Sunrise in the Parlor facing east.
Easter Worship in the sanctuary 8:00, 9:30, 11:00
I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you at my email address.
Charles
There has been much made of the words of Pastor Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's minister. It seems that the pastor said some things in a context and to a congregation that seem extreme and inflammatory. It is evident that that has had an influence on the candidacy of Barack Obama. It will be interesting to see where that leads and what that damage that does.
I've been thinking about three Reverend Wright's and what they have said:
The first Reverend Wright was the father of two boys and he heard a speech delivered by a college president who said he was confident the human race was capable of wonderful things. He imagined that human beings would be able to fly like birds. Reverend Wright objected to this outlandish notion and said, "Flying is reserved for angels and we shouldn't be taking such nonsense." Reverend Wright had two sons, Orville and Wilbur. They proved him wrong at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The second Reverend Wright is a Biblical scholar. He was thinking about the resurrection and he wrote, "The message of the resurrection is that this world matters. God is not prepared to tolerate such things." N.T. Wright is a New Testament scholar who sees the imperative that Easter presents to us about how the world is and how the world is supposed to be.
The third Reverend Wright is the pastor of a church here in Fort Collins. He wrote an article in the Coloradoan in which he said, "Jesus taught a terror-filled people that God's love - inclusive unconditional - casts out fear, makes room for differences and conversations, and transforms relationships of brokenness, indifference, and domination." Jeff Wright is pastor of Heart of the Rockies Disciples of Christ Church.
There are ideas people have about various things including the meaning of Easter. We may debate what happened and how it might have happened. We may disagree about what is important and what is not important related to the fact that some think the resurrection is physical and others see it as a spiritual presence. What we cannot ignore or get away from is the fact that Easter is not something we witness, but something that calls us to participate. There are no spectators at the empty tomb. Something if being asked of us.
Exactly what is being asked of is we will have to determine. I hope to work with that in the two sermons on Easter Sunday. If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
Easter Sunday worship 6am Sunrise in the Parlor facing east.
Easter Worship in the sanctuary 8:00, 9:30, 11:00
I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you at my email address.
Charles
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
This week there are two sermons I'm writing. One of them for the 6am sunrise service and the other for the three remaining services on Sunday morning. The services in the sanctuary are at 8, 9:30, and 11:00.
There are two thoughts I have been working through this week. The first comes from the reading in Luke 24:1-12. "When Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James told the apostles (that they had seen the Risen Christ), the story appeared to them to be nonsense, and they would not believe them". One of the translations suggest that the Easter story is "an idle tale". I want to look at that. I want to consider the Easter story as an idle tale or as nonsense. What makes Easter credible? What makes this story something we can embrace. It seems to me important that if we approach Easter with the attitude that says, "it is what it is", we won't get much out of it. But if we approach it with the attitude that says, "it is more that what it appears to be" we will see things we would otherwise miss. In that sermon (the one at 6am) I'm going to look for seeing if we can find more than it appears to be.
The other services on Easter Sunday draw from the text in John 20:1-18. We find this exchange between Mary and Jesus (the Risen Christ). "Thinking it was the gardener, she said, 'If it is you, sir, who removed him, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said, 'Mary!" She turned to him and said, 'Rabbuni' (which is the Hebrew word for My Master). Jesus said, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to God.'"
What is happening here is important. Jesus is telling Mary, and all of us, not to hold onto him. He is encouraging us to think about Easter as a time when we look beyond him and his life and death on the cross and begin to be about the work that was his. Jesus will only be resurrected from the dead if the people who follow him stop holding onto him, and get about doing the things he tried to accomplish.
Those two texts and those two sermons are the source of the effort this week. Is it an idle tale and a lot of nonsense? What does it mean to refrain from holding onto him?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
There are two thoughts I have been working through this week. The first comes from the reading in Luke 24:1-12. "When Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James told the apostles (that they had seen the Risen Christ), the story appeared to them to be nonsense, and they would not believe them". One of the translations suggest that the Easter story is "an idle tale". I want to look at that. I want to consider the Easter story as an idle tale or as nonsense. What makes Easter credible? What makes this story something we can embrace. It seems to me important that if we approach Easter with the attitude that says, "it is what it is", we won't get much out of it. But if we approach it with the attitude that says, "it is more that what it appears to be" we will see things we would otherwise miss. In that sermon (the one at 6am) I'm going to look for seeing if we can find more than it appears to be.
The other services on Easter Sunday draw from the text in John 20:1-18. We find this exchange between Mary and Jesus (the Risen Christ). "Thinking it was the gardener, she said, 'If it is you, sir, who removed him, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said, 'Mary!" She turned to him and said, 'Rabbuni' (which is the Hebrew word for My Master). Jesus said, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to God.'"
What is happening here is important. Jesus is telling Mary, and all of us, not to hold onto him. He is encouraging us to think about Easter as a time when we look beyond him and his life and death on the cross and begin to be about the work that was his. Jesus will only be resurrected from the dead if the people who follow him stop holding onto him, and get about doing the things he tried to accomplish.
Those two texts and those two sermons are the source of the effort this week. Is it an idle tale and a lot of nonsense? What does it mean to refrain from holding onto him?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Monday's thoughts
Easter Sunday, March 23rd
Easter is the high point of the year. It is a time when the church and all of us Christians realize there are forces and factors above us and beyond us that we must give due notice.
I have the privilege of preaching two sermons Sunday; one at 6am, and the other at 8, 9:30, and 11:00. It will be a special Sunday, as usual. We will have the flowering of the cross in the final two services, we will have a church full of people, and we will, once more, heat a message that is central to our faith. We will hear it in the readings; in the scripture, in the hymns, the anthems, and the sermons.
When I was in Divinity School we had to select an area of study and I chose homiletics (preaching). We were required to write a major paper in our area and I selected to write my paper on the great professor of homiletics, Edmund Steimle. Steimle taught at Union Theological seminary in New York. He was a great preacher and a great teacher. His sermons were some of the best I ever read or heard. I got hold of as many of his sermons as I could and as many of his books as I could find and from his sermons I extracted where I thought he was theologically. I really enjoy doing that project and my advisor at Duke was very complimentary and encouraging.
Several years ago Dr. Steimle's wife died on the Saturday before Easter. On Easter Sunday he went to church. Someone asked him why he had gone to church at such a difficult time. His answer is what Easter is all about. He said, "On that Easter Sunday, after my wife died, I wasn't sure I believed in the resurrection. I went to church, not because I believed in the Easter message, but I wanted to be around people who believed it."
Easter provides a contagion of belief that is supported only be a community of faith. What we each have to doubt others will be quick to affirm. The message is this:
1. There is no death that is stronger than love.
2. There is no despair that can defeat hope.
3. There is no defeat that is total as long as there is faith.
"Christ the Lord is Risen Today" : Charles Wesley wrote it
Sunday we will sing it.
On Easter we will all believe it (one way or another)
See you on Easter
If you have thoughts about Easter Sunday write me at Charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Easter is the high point of the year. It is a time when the church and all of us Christians realize there are forces and factors above us and beyond us that we must give due notice.
I have the privilege of preaching two sermons Sunday; one at 6am, and the other at 8, 9:30, and 11:00. It will be a special Sunday, as usual. We will have the flowering of the cross in the final two services, we will have a church full of people, and we will, once more, heat a message that is central to our faith. We will hear it in the readings; in the scripture, in the hymns, the anthems, and the sermons.
When I was in Divinity School we had to select an area of study and I chose homiletics (preaching). We were required to write a major paper in our area and I selected to write my paper on the great professor of homiletics, Edmund Steimle. Steimle taught at Union Theological seminary in New York. He was a great preacher and a great teacher. His sermons were some of the best I ever read or heard. I got hold of as many of his sermons as I could and as many of his books as I could find and from his sermons I extracted where I thought he was theologically. I really enjoy doing that project and my advisor at Duke was very complimentary and encouraging.
Several years ago Dr. Steimle's wife died on the Saturday before Easter. On Easter Sunday he went to church. Someone asked him why he had gone to church at such a difficult time. His answer is what Easter is all about. He said, "On that Easter Sunday, after my wife died, I wasn't sure I believed in the resurrection. I went to church, not because I believed in the Easter message, but I wanted to be around people who believed it."
Easter provides a contagion of belief that is supported only be a community of faith. What we each have to doubt others will be quick to affirm. The message is this:
1. There is no death that is stronger than love.
2. There is no despair that can defeat hope.
3. There is no defeat that is total as long as there is faith.
"Christ the Lord is Risen Today" : Charles Wesley wrote it
Sunday we will sing it.
On Easter we will all believe it (one way or another)
See you on Easter
If you have thoughts about Easter Sunday write me at Charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Friday's thoughts
Jesus as the 'son of David'
The implications of this are many. The realization that Jesus was in the lineage of David gives us the benefit of the heroics of those who have gone before us. They are our primary example for how we live a life of courage. David facing down the giant Goliath may have influenced the courage Jesus found to take his stand in Jerusalem. He was, after all, the son of David and David did, after all, stand up to the giant in battle.
Secondly, the sense that those who have gone before us have flaws is not waisted on us. We know our heroes are not perfect, and it is important to understand that while we can find courage to do as they did, we can find the wisdom to avoid making the mistakes that they made. David gave into temptation when he saw Bathsheba on the roof. He arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle so he could be with her. It was a national scandal. Jesus was of the 'house of David' and he knew this sad chapter in David's life. When he was tempted in the wilderness he did not give in. He remained faithful to his values; faithful to doing what he thought was right. He rejected the idea of political power, and he turned away from the power of magic. He was to live his life as a suffering servant not a conquoring combatant.
Finally, Jesus was witness to the good that David did and he saw his task to fulfill it in his life. David and Jesus were part of the flow of goodness and mercy that filled their lives and transcended their time on earth.
There are people who have gone before us. We are the following people. They have shown us courage, but they were not perfect. They have given us the sense that something more is being asked of us and we can pick up where they left off and move forward the cause of peace and love and hope.
There are other influences David had on Jesus' life. I submit that it is something we want to pay attention to in order to see how one life influences another, and to look at our own lives to see what has influenced us.
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
The implications of this are many. The realization that Jesus was in the lineage of David gives us the benefit of the heroics of those who have gone before us. They are our primary example for how we live a life of courage. David facing down the giant Goliath may have influenced the courage Jesus found to take his stand in Jerusalem. He was, after all, the son of David and David did, after all, stand up to the giant in battle.
Secondly, the sense that those who have gone before us have flaws is not waisted on us. We know our heroes are not perfect, and it is important to understand that while we can find courage to do as they did, we can find the wisdom to avoid making the mistakes that they made. David gave into temptation when he saw Bathsheba on the roof. He arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle so he could be with her. It was a national scandal. Jesus was of the 'house of David' and he knew this sad chapter in David's life. When he was tempted in the wilderness he did not give in. He remained faithful to his values; faithful to doing what he thought was right. He rejected the idea of political power, and he turned away from the power of magic. He was to live his life as a suffering servant not a conquoring combatant.
Finally, Jesus was witness to the good that David did and he saw his task to fulfill it in his life. David and Jesus were part of the flow of goodness and mercy that filled their lives and transcended their time on earth.
There are people who have gone before us. We are the following people. They have shown us courage, but they were not perfect. They have given us the sense that something more is being asked of us and we can pick up where they left off and move forward the cause of peace and love and hope.
There are other influences David had on Jesus' life. I submit that it is something we want to pay attention to in order to see how one life influences another, and to look at our own lives to see what has influenced us.
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
What I've been working through in my mind this week is the comparison between Jesus and David; how they are alike and how they differ.
This is some of what I've found:
1. David was a military leader who made many conquests for his people, and Jesus was a peace maker who worked to bring people together and who tried to help people learn of love their enemies.
2. David had many wives and there was a part of his story that involved Bathsheba. It was a national scandal. David had many offspring. Jesus never married although there is some speculation that Jesus did marry Mary Magdalene. I don't see much credible evidence in that.
3. David was brave in conquest. He stood up to Goliath, a frightening foe, and he defeated him with a sling shot. Jesus was brave in confrontation. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He came with only weapon; the truth of the Gospel.
4. David lived to an old age. He made a name for himself. Jesus died at age 33. His death was premature. He, too, made a name for himself.
There are other similarities and differences between David and Jesus. When it is said that Jesus is the "son of David" it is a statement about the lineage and influence of Israel's greatest hero on the author of the Christian faith.
Do you see other similarities or ways in which the influence is compelling? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
This is some of what I've found:
1. David was a military leader who made many conquests for his people, and Jesus was a peace maker who worked to bring people together and who tried to help people learn of love their enemies.
2. David had many wives and there was a part of his story that involved Bathsheba. It was a national scandal. David had many offspring. Jesus never married although there is some speculation that Jesus did marry Mary Magdalene. I don't see much credible evidence in that.
3. David was brave in conquest. He stood up to Goliath, a frightening foe, and he defeated him with a sling shot. Jesus was brave in confrontation. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He came with only weapon; the truth of the Gospel.
4. David lived to an old age. He made a name for himself. Jesus died at age 33. His death was premature. He, too, made a name for himself.
There are other similarities and differences between David and Jesus. When it is said that Jesus is the "son of David" it is a statement about the lineage and influence of Israel's greatest hero on the author of the Christian faith.
Do you see other similarities or ways in which the influence is compelling? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"Jesus Davidson"
In the sermon for Palm Sunday I want to look at what it means for Jesus to be known as the "Son of David". As he rode into town in a donkey in one of the Gospel accounts people were shouting, "Hosanna, blessed is the Son of David".
I want to look at what that means that Jesus is in the lineage of David. I will take a look at the story of David and Goliath. I will have us think about the courage of Jesus and the courage of David, and the subtle influence it had on Jesus to be in the family tree that led back to David.
David was a fighter and a military leader. David was a leader of large numbers of people. Jesus was a peace maker and his influence steadily decreased the further along he got in his ministry.
What about our heritage influences us; knowingly or unknowingly? Does it matter if there are well known people in our family tree? Do we try to emulate them?
I'd like to know what you think about this. If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you would like others to view your message you can indicate that by responding below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
In the sermon for Palm Sunday I want to look at what it means for Jesus to be known as the "Son of David". As he rode into town in a donkey in one of the Gospel accounts people were shouting, "Hosanna, blessed is the Son of David".
I want to look at what that means that Jesus is in the lineage of David. I will take a look at the story of David and Goliath. I will have us think about the courage of Jesus and the courage of David, and the subtle influence it had on Jesus to be in the family tree that led back to David.
David was a fighter and a military leader. David was a leader of large numbers of people. Jesus was a peace maker and his influence steadily decreased the further along he got in his ministry.
What about our heritage influences us; knowingly or unknowingly? Does it matter if there are well known people in our family tree? Do we try to emulate them?
I'd like to know what you think about this. If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you would like others to view your message you can indicate that by responding below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Friday's thoughts
"Jesus was the "son of Mary"
The implications of this are less clear than they might be, and I have tried to take a scan of some of the ways in which Jesus and Mary's lives intersect. The temptation is to make Mary a saint to the point we don't deal with her seriously. I want to avoid that.
There seem to be three times in Jesus' life when he and Mary's lives were united and determinative and influential to each other.
a. When the Madonna thought about the Messiah. It is probably true (I wouldn't know, of course) that every mother thinks her child is the solution to the problems in the world. Mary heard voices. She thought Jesus would do wonderful things for his people. Did she knew where it would lead for him? I doubt she knew it would lead to the cross.
b. When he was thirty-years-old they went to a wedding at Cana, and they ran out of wine. Jesus really hadn't taken off with his life at this point. Mary was a "mother" and Jesus was "the master", and Mary without hesitation began ordering her son around, and you could tell from the dialogue he was annoyed with her. She wanted him to get on with the purpose of his life.
c. The final scene was one that was stark and sad. Mary stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus had made his witness in Jerusalem; he was the martyr. Jesus was the "martyr" and Mary was the "mourner". I have been surprise that, as vocal and bossy as she was at Cana when she told Jesus to turn water into wine, Mary was silent when Jesus made the decision to go into Jerusalem and she said nothing while she stood at the foot of the cross.
Some writers have thought Mary had come to see she could do nothing about the crucifixion, but she could do something about the factors that led to it. Some have imagined Mary spent the remainder of her life trying to confront hatred, anger, jealousy, meanness, prejudice, and dispair.
Maybe that's why we are inclined to make Mary a saint. She spent her life trying to make certain Jesus was the last person ever crucified.
What do you think?
If you have a response to this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
The implications of this are less clear than they might be, and I have tried to take a scan of some of the ways in which Jesus and Mary's lives intersect. The temptation is to make Mary a saint to the point we don't deal with her seriously. I want to avoid that.
There seem to be three times in Jesus' life when he and Mary's lives were united and determinative and influential to each other.
a. When the Madonna thought about the Messiah. It is probably true (I wouldn't know, of course) that every mother thinks her child is the solution to the problems in the world. Mary heard voices. She thought Jesus would do wonderful things for his people. Did she knew where it would lead for him? I doubt she knew it would lead to the cross.
b. When he was thirty-years-old they went to a wedding at Cana, and they ran out of wine. Jesus really hadn't taken off with his life at this point. Mary was a "mother" and Jesus was "the master", and Mary without hesitation began ordering her son around, and you could tell from the dialogue he was annoyed with her. She wanted him to get on with the purpose of his life.
c. The final scene was one that was stark and sad. Mary stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus had made his witness in Jerusalem; he was the martyr. Jesus was the "martyr" and Mary was the "mourner". I have been surprise that, as vocal and bossy as she was at Cana when she told Jesus to turn water into wine, Mary was silent when Jesus made the decision to go into Jerusalem and she said nothing while she stood at the foot of the cross.
Some writers have thought Mary had come to see she could do nothing about the crucifixion, but she could do something about the factors that led to it. Some have imagined Mary spent the remainder of her life trying to confront hatred, anger, jealousy, meanness, prejudice, and dispair.
Maybe that's why we are inclined to make Mary a saint. She spent her life trying to make certain Jesus was the last person ever crucified.
What do you think?
If you have a response to this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
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