We cannot overestimate the importance of the Communion Table. It is something we are invited to attend every month. It is the one event that forms our community's identity. It is a kind of spiritual nourishment that will sustain us for a long, long time.
There are many reasons Communion is important to people; not the least of which is the recognition of a time to start over. We are not called to come to the table because we are perfect. We are not invited to the table because we are worthy; but because we know we have fallen short of the Glory of God. It is precisely our fallibility that brings us to the table. We are invited to the table because we know we have missed the mark and we are invited to try to hit the mark again.
The table is not for perfect people but for people who are working to be perfected. Jesus called his friends to meet with him just before his death on the cross and he invited the "table fellowship" to continue because he wanted his followers to have a way to keep on trying when they had failed to live up to the Glory of God.
When we think about the things we'd like to forget, and when we realize Jesus was calling attention to himself so we could see that, even he, failed to live up to the Glory of God in his mind, we have hope for ourselves.
Two things about Sunday and the things we would like to forget:
1. Get over it.
2. Get on with it.
Our faith is the faith of second chances and starting over.
What are you starting over?
How have you discovered the importance of the table and communion?
If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow your thoughts to be viewed by others in the community click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Friday, May 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
Okay, I know this is a revolutionary thought but it is something I cannot shake or move beyond. The Roman's text reminds us, "All of us have sinned and have come short of the glory of God." That's an interesting thought when we begin to apply it beyond ourselves; when we begin to look at Jesus' life. Did he sin? Did he fall short of the glory of God?
We have some reason to reflect seriously about this. If we look at the texts in the Gospels that give us sketchy impressions of his life there is one striking period of his life that is absent. We have the story of his interrogation of the teachers in the temple when Jesus was 12. We have the first stage of his ministry and in the Gospel of John when he turned the water into wine at the wedding of Cana of Galilee at his mother's urging. It is assumed he began his public ministry when he was 30. What was happening in those 18 years when there is nothing recorded? Was it just that nothing important occurred? Or, were there some things he did that were intentionally forgotten. Did Jesus, as is the case with most of us, fall short of the glory of God?
I think he did and here's the reason I think it;
If we consider the story of Jesus in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil as a summing up of his early life; if we look at that episode as the reported culmination of a dream; even if we consider this to be some kind of symbolic or actual event in his life it reflects a sad stage in his life when Jesus was thinking about some of the ways in which he was tempted by the desire for power, for yielding to magic, and for taking the easy way out. Clearly, he was tempted. That episode in his life was called the "temptation in the wilderness". If there was temptation then there was the option he thought about it.
I wonder if that was a period in his life when he felt he fell short of the glory of God. I wonder if that was a time he would like to have forgotten; and in fact, that 18 year period was forgotten.
If so, then the words of Paul were universally true, "We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"; -- even Jesus.
What do you think about this?
Is it possible that Jesus fell short of God's glory?
If so how does that make you feel about Jesus? Is he less your "Lord and Savior" or more so?
If you have some thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
We have some reason to reflect seriously about this. If we look at the texts in the Gospels that give us sketchy impressions of his life there is one striking period of his life that is absent. We have the story of his interrogation of the teachers in the temple when Jesus was 12. We have the first stage of his ministry and in the Gospel of John when he turned the water into wine at the wedding of Cana of Galilee at his mother's urging. It is assumed he began his public ministry when he was 30. What was happening in those 18 years when there is nothing recorded? Was it just that nothing important occurred? Or, were there some things he did that were intentionally forgotten. Did Jesus, as is the case with most of us, fall short of the glory of God?
I think he did and here's the reason I think it;
If we consider the story of Jesus in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil as a summing up of his early life; if we look at that episode as the reported culmination of a dream; even if we consider this to be some kind of symbolic or actual event in his life it reflects a sad stage in his life when Jesus was thinking about some of the ways in which he was tempted by the desire for power, for yielding to magic, and for taking the easy way out. Clearly, he was tempted. That episode in his life was called the "temptation in the wilderness". If there was temptation then there was the option he thought about it.
I wonder if that was a period in his life when he felt he fell short of the glory of God. I wonder if that was a time he would like to have forgotten; and in fact, that 18 year period was forgotten.
If so, then the words of Paul were universally true, "We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"; -- even Jesus.
What do you think about this?
Is it possible that Jesus fell short of God's glory?
If so how does that make you feel about Jesus? Is he less your "Lord and Savior" or more so?
If you have some thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"Things we want to forget"
The sermon for Sunday, June 1st
I think it's interesting to move through the questions of faith and theology by showing the contrasting thoughts and to strive to come to some degree of balance. On Memorial Sunday we spent some time thinking about our memories and calling up the prelude past and what we remember from those who have gone before us, and the postlude future and how people will remember us.
On the first Sunday in June we are going to consider what we would like to forget. Remembering everything is not necessarily good. There are some things we want to forget and need to forget.
Because it is the first Sunday of the month we will have communion. We will recall the time Jesus met with his friends for his final meal and how he took the bread and broke it and he took the cup of wine and gave it to them saying, "Take this in remembrance of me."
Were there things he wanted them to forget? If so, what were they? Did he want them to learn to forgive and forget? Was there advice suggesting that they forget the hard times and cling to the good times?
What should we strive to forget? What is best that we not remember? If we have had a hard childhood does there come a time when we need to forget about it and move on?
Are there people we will want to forget? Are there people who have made it difficult for us or people who were so negative that they kept pulling us down and giving us messages that we are not capable? Do we need to learn to forget them?
Do you have thoughts about this?
If so write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The sermon for Sunday, June 1st
I think it's interesting to move through the questions of faith and theology by showing the contrasting thoughts and to strive to come to some degree of balance. On Memorial Sunday we spent some time thinking about our memories and calling up the prelude past and what we remember from those who have gone before us, and the postlude future and how people will remember us.
On the first Sunday in June we are going to consider what we would like to forget. Remembering everything is not necessarily good. There are some things we want to forget and need to forget.
Because it is the first Sunday of the month we will have communion. We will recall the time Jesus met with his friends for his final meal and how he took the bread and broke it and he took the cup of wine and gave it to them saying, "Take this in remembrance of me."
Were there things he wanted them to forget? If so, what were they? Did he want them to learn to forgive and forget? Was there advice suggesting that they forget the hard times and cling to the good times?
What should we strive to forget? What is best that we not remember? If we have had a hard childhood does there come a time when we need to forget about it and move on?
Are there people we will want to forget? Are there people who have made it difficult for us or people who were so negative that they kept pulling us down and giving us messages that we are not capable? Do we need to learn to forget them?
Do you have thoughts about this?
If so write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, May 23, 2008
Friday's thoughts
"What We Want to Remember"
The two aspects of our lives serve as bookends to define us and to set off what we stand for and how we will be remembered after we are gone are best grasped by us as soon as possible.
In the book of Daniel we read how the King of Babylon built a monument to himself. It was a large statue and it called for people to pay homage to him. It was viewed as a mistake by many and he called for the people to bow down to him and worship him as a God. In the Book of Daniel that was indicated as the precipitating event that led to the dishonoring of the King of Babylon.
That is a good thing for us to remember. When we try to design our legacy it is often not appreciated or accepted; and sometimes it takes a turn we wish it wouldn't take. Instead of honoring us it mock us.
Two things we will want to remember:
1. The Prelude to our lives;
We approach everything with an attitude of gratitude. We are what we are because there were people who took the time to help us become the people we could become. No one of us is self-made. We are the products of the efforts and the kindness of many people. For all of that, once we know it, we have an attitude of gratitude.
2. The Postlude to our lives;
We leave the definition of our legacy to the people who come after us knowing that we may not be remembered for what we anticipate. Moses wanted to be remembered as a military leader. He had hoped to be the one to take the people on the Exodus journey into the Promised Land. Instead he was remembered as a preacher and a prophet. He was known to be the best prophet of Israel. It is written in the 34th Chapter of Deuteronomy "There has never been in Israel a prophet as great as Moses. He knew God face to face." When it comes to the way others remember us, we will want to have the attitude of latitude.
The Prelude -- The Attitude of Gratitude
The Postlude -- The Attitude of Latitude
This we will want to remember.
How do you want to be remembered by the people who will be recipients of your legacy?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to allow others to read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
The two aspects of our lives serve as bookends to define us and to set off what we stand for and how we will be remembered after we are gone are best grasped by us as soon as possible.
In the book of Daniel we read how the King of Babylon built a monument to himself. It was a large statue and it called for people to pay homage to him. It was viewed as a mistake by many and he called for the people to bow down to him and worship him as a God. In the Book of Daniel that was indicated as the precipitating event that led to the dishonoring of the King of Babylon.
That is a good thing for us to remember. When we try to design our legacy it is often not appreciated or accepted; and sometimes it takes a turn we wish it wouldn't take. Instead of honoring us it mock us.
Two things we will want to remember:
1. The Prelude to our lives;
We approach everything with an attitude of gratitude. We are what we are because there were people who took the time to help us become the people we could become. No one of us is self-made. We are the products of the efforts and the kindness of many people. For all of that, once we know it, we have an attitude of gratitude.
2. The Postlude to our lives;
We leave the definition of our legacy to the people who come after us knowing that we may not be remembered for what we anticipate. Moses wanted to be remembered as a military leader. He had hoped to be the one to take the people on the Exodus journey into the Promised Land. Instead he was remembered as a preacher and a prophet. He was known to be the best prophet of Israel. It is written in the 34th Chapter of Deuteronomy "There has never been in Israel a prophet as great as Moses. He knew God face to face." When it comes to the way others remember us, we will want to have the attitude of latitude.
The Prelude -- The Attitude of Gratitude
The Postlude -- The Attitude of Latitude
This we will want to remember.
How do you want to be remembered by the people who will be recipients of your legacy?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to allow others to read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
"Things I Want to Remember"
Memorial weekend is a time for us to think about the people who have given us so much and whose gift to us has made us what we are. It's a time to think about people like Isaac Palomarez who was killed in the War; in Afghanistan. They describe him as "a man who made a difference, a man who so affected the people he touched that the world is a better place for his having been here."
The last conversation he had with his mother he said, "If I don't get to talk to you again Mom, happy Mother's Day".
There are people who have given their lives for our freedom. There are people who have sacrificed so we could have it better than they had it.
We are what we are because they were, to us, what they were. Sunday we will think about those people and those memories that we want to remember.
The Biblical texts will come from Isaiah 49 and it talks about how God formed us before we were born/ how God formed us from birth. The Prophet realizes he was the recipient of the gifts from God.
the other text comes from Deuteronomy 34. It refers to the end of Moses life the way he was remembered. We are told that there never was a prophet as great as Moses.
Memorial Day reminds us what we have been given and how we will be remembered.
How will people remember you?
How do you want to be remembered?
Whom will you be thinking about this weekend and how will you recall the influence they had on your life?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Memorial weekend is a time for us to think about the people who have given us so much and whose gift to us has made us what we are. It's a time to think about people like Isaac Palomarez who was killed in the War; in Afghanistan. They describe him as "a man who made a difference, a man who so affected the people he touched that the world is a better place for his having been here."
The last conversation he had with his mother he said, "If I don't get to talk to you again Mom, happy Mother's Day".
There are people who have given their lives for our freedom. There are people who have sacrificed so we could have it better than they had it.
We are what we are because they were, to us, what they were. Sunday we will think about those people and those memories that we want to remember.
The Biblical texts will come from Isaiah 49 and it talks about how God formed us before we were born/ how God formed us from birth. The Prophet realizes he was the recipient of the gifts from God.
the other text comes from Deuteronomy 34. It refers to the end of Moses life the way he was remembered. We are told that there never was a prophet as great as Moses.
Memorial Day reminds us what we have been given and how we will be remembered.
How will people remember you?
How do you want to be remembered?
Whom will you be thinking about this weekend and how will you recall the influence they had on your life?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"Things I Want to Remember"
The sermon for Sunday the 25th of May will try to help us get in touch with the things in our lives that are so important we never want to forget them. Memorial weekend is a time to think about the brave men and women who have paid the price for our freedom. We never want to forget them.
Memorial Day is a time to recall those people who have given us so much in the richness and wisdom from their lives that we know we are what we are because they were, to us, what they were. We never want to forget them.
There needs to be a time in the year when we think about the people who have tested our patience; who have challenged our assumptions. They may not have seemed to be friends. They may have, actually, been our foes, but their opposition gave us strength and helped us find a deeper truth as we countered their presuppositions.
Memorial weekend has become an important time in the church. We reflect upon the people in the church who have made the church what it has become and we are grateful to them.
In life there is nothing wasted. Everything has its purpose and it utility. The past is the past but it is not gone forever.
What are the important aspects of your life you want to remember? Who are the important people who have helped form your character?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow others to read your thoughts click the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The sermon for Sunday the 25th of May will try to help us get in touch with the things in our lives that are so important we never want to forget them. Memorial weekend is a time to think about the brave men and women who have paid the price for our freedom. We never want to forget them.
Memorial Day is a time to recall those people who have given us so much in the richness and wisdom from their lives that we know we are what we are because they were, to us, what they were. We never want to forget them.
There needs to be a time in the year when we think about the people who have tested our patience; who have challenged our assumptions. They may not have seemed to be friends. They may have, actually, been our foes, but their opposition gave us strength and helped us find a deeper truth as we countered their presuppositions.
Memorial weekend has become an important time in the church. We reflect upon the people in the church who have made the church what it has become and we are grateful to them.
In life there is nothing wasted. Everything has its purpose and it utility. The past is the past but it is not gone forever.
What are the important aspects of your life you want to remember? Who are the important people who have helped form your character?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow others to read your thoughts click the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, May 16, 2008
Friday's thoughts
"When Life is a Fire Drill"
There are three things I would like to say this Sunday in the worship service and in the sermon:
1. Life is a fire drill; to live is to be in crisis. There is no aspect of life; no stage in life that doesn't have its own trauma. When we wake up in the morning there is a crisis and we are called upon to face it and deal with it.
2. We have been given authority to deal with the crisis points of our lives. There is nothing we will face that we cannot handle.
3. We are never alone as we face the hard times; there are others who have gone before us whose memory inspires us; there are friends who will stay with us and give us support; and there is God who is most evident to us when things are difficult. We remember the words quoted in the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus sent them out. He said, " Be assured, I am with you, even to the end of time."
What crisis are you facing and how have you come to face it?
What sense of authority do you have that allows you to know you can face it?
How is it you realize you are not alone?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
If you are willing to allow others to see your responses click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
There are three things I would like to say this Sunday in the worship service and in the sermon:
1. Life is a fire drill; to live is to be in crisis. There is no aspect of life; no stage in life that doesn't have its own trauma. When we wake up in the morning there is a crisis and we are called upon to face it and deal with it.
2. We have been given authority to deal with the crisis points of our lives. There is nothing we will face that we cannot handle.
3. We are never alone as we face the hard times; there are others who have gone before us whose memory inspires us; there are friends who will stay with us and give us support; and there is God who is most evident to us when things are difficult. We remember the words quoted in the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus sent them out. He said, " Be assured, I am with you, even to the end of time."
What crisis are you facing and how have you come to face it?
What sense of authority do you have that allows you to know you can face it?
How is it you realize you are not alone?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
If you are willing to allow others to see your responses click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
"When Life Is A Fire Drill"
The two Biblical texts from which the sermons is drawn are Psalms 8 and Matthew 28:16-20. Both of these texts deal with the authority we have been given from God to work and to live and the New Testament text reminds us of Jesus' promise to be with us as we work to "make disciples".
As I have thought about the crisis situations of life I have come to realize to live is to be in crisis. We need not concern ourselves about the inevitable crisis as it comes because every new day we face is potentially a crisis and every stage of life has its own crisis within it.
Life is a fire drill and the question is not "how will we face it?" the question, rather, is "what will we learn from it?"
This is to acknowledge that there are moments in our lives that seem more dramatically powerful than others and that require a more decisive response. Those moments are the ones we prepare for every day. They are not to be avoided or feared. We were made for those moments. They call from us our best and they bring to us our greatest gift.
The fire drill aspect of life includes the following:
1. A reduction of our ability through accident, illness, or age.
2. A failure of security in which we come to realize our vulnerability.
3. A breakdown of our resources that results from an inability to anticipate the unexpected.
4. The destruction of something of value to us and we have come to lose something we had counted on or taken for granted.
Sunday we are going to have a fire drill. In the 9:15 service after the sermon someone will pull the alarm and we will have to evacuate the church building. We will have to vacate the sanctuary, our classes will have to go outside, and our children and youth will be asked to go. We will meet in the south parking lot until the whole building is accounted for and then we can return.
How do we face the fire dills that are not simulation or practice? How do we engage the challenges and how do we respond?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. if you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The two Biblical texts from which the sermons is drawn are Psalms 8 and Matthew 28:16-20. Both of these texts deal with the authority we have been given from God to work and to live and the New Testament text reminds us of Jesus' promise to be with us as we work to "make disciples".
As I have thought about the crisis situations of life I have come to realize to live is to be in crisis. We need not concern ourselves about the inevitable crisis as it comes because every new day we face is potentially a crisis and every stage of life has its own crisis within it.
Life is a fire drill and the question is not "how will we face it?" the question, rather, is "what will we learn from it?"
This is to acknowledge that there are moments in our lives that seem more dramatically powerful than others and that require a more decisive response. Those moments are the ones we prepare for every day. They are not to be avoided or feared. We were made for those moments. They call from us our best and they bring to us our greatest gift.
The fire drill aspect of life includes the following:
1. A reduction of our ability through accident, illness, or age.
2. A failure of security in which we come to realize our vulnerability.
3. A breakdown of our resources that results from an inability to anticipate the unexpected.
4. The destruction of something of value to us and we have come to lose something we had counted on or taken for granted.
Sunday we are going to have a fire drill. In the 9:15 service after the sermon someone will pull the alarm and we will have to evacuate the church building. We will have to vacate the sanctuary, our classes will have to go outside, and our children and youth will be asked to go. We will meet in the south parking lot until the whole building is accounted for and then we can return.
How do we face the fire dills that are not simulation or practice? How do we engage the challenges and how do we respond?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. if you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Monday's thoughts
Sermon for Sunday May 18th.
"When Life is a Fire Drill"
At 9:15 after the sermon we are going to, actually, have a fire drill. There is a group of staff and church members who have been working up a disaster response plan. In light of some of the terrible things that have happened in all aspects of society and especially in churches we decided it is important to prepare ourselves in case something happens in our church that requires an evacuation on Sunday morning.
After the sermon at 9:15 the alarm will go off and we will be asked to move to the south parking lot.
It makes me think about how life is now with bombings and school and church shootings; with fires and mass panic; with all kinds of strange things going on. What do we do with all this? How do we live in a world in which the unexpected can happen anytime or anywhere?
How do we prepare for the unexpected? How do we handle the tragic events that have come to some and could come to us?
I have seen pickets in the churches I have served. I have had people get up in the middle of a sermon and dispute a part of the sermon. One church I served had to be evacuated on Easter Sunday because some youngster pulled the alarm. The fire trucks came and we had to clear out of the church. The members of the church thought I set that up but I didn't.
We live in a world that is dangerous. As Christians it is important how we learn to deal with it.
Do you have thoughts on this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net or click on the bottom of the page so others can read your thoughts.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
"When Life is a Fire Drill"
At 9:15 after the sermon we are going to, actually, have a fire drill. There is a group of staff and church members who have been working up a disaster response plan. In light of some of the terrible things that have happened in all aspects of society and especially in churches we decided it is important to prepare ourselves in case something happens in our church that requires an evacuation on Sunday morning.
After the sermon at 9:15 the alarm will go off and we will be asked to move to the south parking lot.
It makes me think about how life is now with bombings and school and church shootings; with fires and mass panic; with all kinds of strange things going on. What do we do with all this? How do we live in a world in which the unexpected can happen anytime or anywhere?
How do we prepare for the unexpected? How do we handle the tragic events that have come to some and could come to us?
I have seen pickets in the churches I have served. I have had people get up in the middle of a sermon and dispute a part of the sermon. One church I served had to be evacuated on Easter Sunday because some youngster pulled the alarm. The fire trucks came and we had to clear out of the church. The members of the church thought I set that up but I didn't.
We live in a world that is dangerous. As Christians it is important how we learn to deal with it.
Do you have thoughts on this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net or click on the bottom of the page so others can read your thoughts.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday's thoughts
Ruben Job, in his book Three Simple Rules develops the idea of "doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God" with the following observations:
"The rules are simple, but the way is not easy. Only those with great courage will attempt it, and only those with great faith will be able to walk this exciting and demanding way. There are many other options for us to choose, but they are all lesser options and lead to lesser results that range from poor to disastrous. The question from Jesus for each of us, 'My daughter, my son, do you love me?' and of course there is only one answer that we want to give, 'Yes Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.' The next question then becomes, are we ready to choose the costly way that involves these three simple rules as our way of living? I believe many are ready to make that high and holy choice today, and I shall always pray that I and all who read these pages will make that choice new every morning."
There comes a time in every life when we have to figure what it means to get it together. There comes a time when we have to know we are on a path that is the right path and that we have chosen to be on that path. It isn't the one our parents put us on and it isn't the one we chose when we didn't know what else to do. It is driven by intentionality and purpose. It is driven by the knowledge of the fact that there is a limit to our years and we need to make the most of them.
We want to do no harm and if we are doing harm we want to stop doing it. We want to do good and we want the good we do to be the best we can do. We want to be able to love with God as we struggle to determine who and what God is.
Ruben Job is right to suggest that this is both simple and difficult. How do we get it together and what does it mean to strive in the manner John Wesley suggests?
If you have thoughts on this subject please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
Also, click on the box below to allow others to read your comments.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
"The rules are simple, but the way is not easy. Only those with great courage will attempt it, and only those with great faith will be able to walk this exciting and demanding way. There are many other options for us to choose, but they are all lesser options and lead to lesser results that range from poor to disastrous. The question from Jesus for each of us, 'My daughter, my son, do you love me?' and of course there is only one answer that we want to give, 'Yes Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.' The next question then becomes, are we ready to choose the costly way that involves these three simple rules as our way of living? I believe many are ready to make that high and holy choice today, and I shall always pray that I and all who read these pages will make that choice new every morning."
There comes a time in every life when we have to figure what it means to get it together. There comes a time when we have to know we are on a path that is the right path and that we have chosen to be on that path. It isn't the one our parents put us on and it isn't the one we chose when we didn't know what else to do. It is driven by intentionality and purpose. It is driven by the knowledge of the fact that there is a limit to our years and we need to make the most of them.
We want to do no harm and if we are doing harm we want to stop doing it. We want to do good and we want the good we do to be the best we can do. We want to be able to love with God as we struggle to determine who and what God is.
Ruben Job is right to suggest that this is both simple and difficult. How do we get it together and what does it mean to strive in the manner John Wesley suggests?
If you have thoughts on this subject please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
Also, click on the box below to allow others to read your comments.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
How do we get it together?
Following up with the Mother's Day/Pentecost theme I am thinking of the factors that help us get it together and I begin with family, then I move to church, and finally I reach into the sense of the holy.
One of the guidelines that came to the delegates of General Conference was instruction from John Wesley.
He said, "Do no harm"
He said, "Do good."
And he said, "Stay in love with God".
I thought most of us were instructed to do no harm from our mothers. I thought the church was one of the places we are continually reminded to do good. The final sense of getting it together comes when we move in our lives to pattern of living that is in love with creation and the creator. It's an approach to life that allows us to trust the future. It's an means of addressing the days of our lives with the expectation and hope for something better to come and something new to experience.
We get it together when we strive to do no harm, to do good, and to stay in love with God.
At least this is how I'm seeing it on this Wednesday afternoon.
It's good to be back home.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Following up with the Mother's Day/Pentecost theme I am thinking of the factors that help us get it together and I begin with family, then I move to church, and finally I reach into the sense of the holy.
One of the guidelines that came to the delegates of General Conference was instruction from John Wesley.
He said, "Do no harm"
He said, "Do good."
And he said, "Stay in love with God".
I thought most of us were instructed to do no harm from our mothers. I thought the church was one of the places we are continually reminded to do good. The final sense of getting it together comes when we move in our lives to pattern of living that is in love with creation and the creator. It's an approach to life that allows us to trust the future. It's an means of addressing the days of our lives with the expectation and hope for something better to come and something new to experience.
We get it together when we strive to do no harm, to do good, and to stay in love with God.
At least this is how I'm seeing it on this Wednesday afternoon.
It's good to be back home.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"How Did We Get It Together?"
One of the most important days in the life of the church is Pentecost. It is called the birthday of the church, and Luke presents it as if it were the coming together of the disciples after Jesus' death on the cross. The disciples were prepared to go about their separate ways. There seemed to be nothing else to do. Jesus had been crucified and there seemed to be no reason to continue. Luke (Acts 2) tells a compelling story of a Jewish celebration 50 days after Passover (Pentecost) when the disciples came together and the Holy Spirit fell upon them and the were so moved by the event that their lives were changed. They began to think of the Risen Christ as the church and they went out to establish churches all over the world. We believe they paid a dear price for their witness. They were martyred for their courageous stand and for their efforts to build the church.
There is another reason to celebrate Sunday, May 11th. This is Mother's Day this year. Pentecost and Mother's Day don't often come on the same Sunday but they do this year.
I am going to try to blend the two celebrations and to deal with what it means to get it together. Mother's Day and Pentecost both represent forces and factors that help get it together.
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you would like to share your thoughts with others you may click on the box below.
It's good to be back home from General Conference and it was great being back at church this Sunday morning (when this report was written).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
One of the most important days in the life of the church is Pentecost. It is called the birthday of the church, and Luke presents it as if it were the coming together of the disciples after Jesus' death on the cross. The disciples were prepared to go about their separate ways. There seemed to be nothing else to do. Jesus had been crucified and there seemed to be no reason to continue. Luke (Acts 2) tells a compelling story of a Jewish celebration 50 days after Passover (Pentecost) when the disciples came together and the Holy Spirit fell upon them and the were so moved by the event that their lives were changed. They began to think of the Risen Christ as the church and they went out to establish churches all over the world. We believe they paid a dear price for their witness. They were martyred for their courageous stand and for their efforts to build the church.
There is another reason to celebrate Sunday, May 11th. This is Mother's Day this year. Pentecost and Mother's Day don't often come on the same Sunday but they do this year.
I am going to try to blend the two celebrations and to deal with what it means to get it together. Mother's Day and Pentecost both represent forces and factors that help get it together.
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you would like to share your thoughts with others you may click on the box below.
It's good to be back home from General Conference and it was great being back at church this Sunday morning (when this report was written).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Thursday's Thoughts
Well, things have gotten a little interesting since I last wrote. There have been two protests and the Conference is in some confusion about its future. We are struggling with what to do about the non-US churches and how to move into the future with them. We may have to establish regional Methodist Conferences so each country can write a book of rule that will pertain only to their country's churches.
I finally was able to get on the floor to say something to the 1000 delegates. We were working to remove the language in the Discipline that says, "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." I wanted to state in the Discipline that some people in our church believe that but others disagree with it. I pointed out that four years ago Bill Hinson (conservative pastor of First Church in Houston) and Bruce Robbins (liberal pastor of Hennipen Avenue Church in Minnesota) put together a joint declaration that stated we were in disagreement about homosexuality but we were not going to stop being a United Methodist Church. The vote was close but what I wanted to happen didn't happen. In other words the statement will still be in the Book of Discipline saying "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."
If our church can ever move beyond this we can do wonderful things together. Some progress has been made but there is more to be done.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
I finally was able to get on the floor to say something to the 1000 delegates. We were working to remove the language in the Discipline that says, "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." I wanted to state in the Discipline that some people in our church believe that but others disagree with it. I pointed out that four years ago Bill Hinson (conservative pastor of First Church in Houston) and Bruce Robbins (liberal pastor of Hennipen Avenue Church in Minnesota) put together a joint declaration that stated we were in disagreement about homosexuality but we were not going to stop being a United Methodist Church. The vote was close but what I wanted to happen didn't happen. In other words the statement will still be in the Book of Discipline saying "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching."
If our church can ever move beyond this we can do wonderful things together. Some progress has been made but there is more to be done.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
