"The Murderer Was Captured By the Flag"
On the Sunday just after the fourth of July I have wanted to preach a sermon about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. That may be a strange topic for a sermon and yet there is something profoundly religious when we think about our political process and the way John Wilkes Booth violated it.
I want to explore the context in the country that led to the assassination; the motives of the assassin; and the impact of the deed on the future of the nation.
I want to have us look at what it means to be a Christian citizen and how we should express ourselves politically. I want to look at some of the dynamics of religion and politics.
This morning I read about Catholic Bishop Charles Chaput who has told the priests in his jurisdiction they are not to enter into political discussions. He told them they are not to endorse particular politicians. What is the role of the church when it comes to national or local elections?
How do we institute political change in our country and what is a citizen to do who maintains affiliation in a Christian community?
What do you think the obligation of Dr. Mudd should have been. Mudd was the physician who treated John Wilkes Booth after he fled from the Ford Theater having broken his leg a fall; having caught his boot on the American Flag.
Do you think the fact that the flag caused Booth to break his leg was a coincidence or an act of ultimate justice?
Sunday, July 6th the flags will be in the Sanctuary and we will think about our citizenship and our responsibility as Christian citizens.
If you have thoughts on this subject 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
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday's thoughts
Is there something about the way we live our lives or face our death? Is there something unique about our living and our dying or are we just like anyone else who holds fast to another point of faith or to no faith at all?
Does it make any difference what we believe in terms of how we live? If it doesn't then what good is the faith we hold? If our faith bears no consequence to our outlook then we might question if we have an operative faith or a nominal faith?
It seems to me it does make a difference what we believe in terms of how we live and how we face the end of our lives? Circumstances will dictate much about this, of course. What I will try to offer is general and will have to be applied to each of us by the advent of time and by the issuance of the diversity of our context.
I think the Christian faith calls for us to be bold in how we come to terms with our dying. I think there is for us no burden of fear; we die knowing that death is part of life and that we can find the courage to face it and, as a consequence we feel compelled to live our lives, with an intensity and purpose that counts every day as precious, every relationship as sacred, and every moment as full of potential.
I think the Christian faith calls for us to live in service for others knowing that we are gifted in order that we might share our gifts. Where there is something that needs to be faced we are prepared to face it and when it is broken we are called to repair it.
There is passion in our living. There is purpose in our reaching out in giving. We are invested in this world but we are not afraid to leave it.
That's how it can be; that's how it's supposed to be. We don't always live up to the ideal but we do live with the fact of death, and we live with the faith of people who know that life is intended to have meaning for us and for all in whom we come in contact.
Do you have thoughts on this subject? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your insights with others readers click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Does it make any difference what we believe in terms of how we live? If it doesn't then what good is the faith we hold? If our faith bears no consequence to our outlook then we might question if we have an operative faith or a nominal faith?
It seems to me it does make a difference what we believe in terms of how we live and how we face the end of our lives? Circumstances will dictate much about this, of course. What I will try to offer is general and will have to be applied to each of us by the advent of time and by the issuance of the diversity of our context.
I think the Christian faith calls for us to be bold in how we come to terms with our dying. I think there is for us no burden of fear; we die knowing that death is part of life and that we can find the courage to face it and, as a consequence we feel compelled to live our lives, with an intensity and purpose that counts every day as precious, every relationship as sacred, and every moment as full of potential.
I think the Christian faith calls for us to live in service for others knowing that we are gifted in order that we might share our gifts. Where there is something that needs to be faced we are prepared to face it and when it is broken we are called to repair it.
There is passion in our living. There is purpose in our reaching out in giving. We are invested in this world but we are not afraid to leave it.
That's how it can be; that's how it's supposed to be. We don't always live up to the ideal but we do live with the fact of death, and we live with the faith of people who know that life is intended to have meaning for us and for all in whom we come in contact.
Do you have thoughts on this subject? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your insights with others readers click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
The struggle we have involves the tension we find ourselves living as Christians. First of all we have come to understand we are living to die. There is the reality of death. It is a fact and there is no need to deny it; to be afraid of it; to rebel against it. We are born and we know that some day we will die. A great deal of our life is given over to what we do with that fact.
The other side of the tension involves what it means to understand what it means to live until we die. I think the Christian faith enables us to face our finitude with dignity and courage in the knowledge that we are dying but there is more to this than the fact of it; there is the faith of it. We are dying but we are dying to live.
There is a vitality to our living that enables us to savor the moments we have on earth and to have ultimate concern about others who share this time and place with us.
I thought Leslie Weatherhead put it well when he wrote, "The cross looked like defeat to the disciples. It felt like defeat to Jesus. It was called defeat by the world. But God made it...God's greatest victory."
Dying to live we are able to face our dying and our living with a sense of triumph. We know something about both living and dying. We know how it produces a mission while we are alive to make a difference and to be able to understand that the temporary nature of our life gives a richness to the time we have. We savor the days we have but we do not lament the time of our passing. That is the tension we live.
What do you think about this? How do you think we live the tension between living to die, and dying to live?
What gives your life vitality?
If you have thoughts you are willing for others to read click on the box below. Otherwise, cmail me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The other side of the tension involves what it means to understand what it means to live until we die. I think the Christian faith enables us to face our finitude with dignity and courage in the knowledge that we are dying but there is more to this than the fact of it; there is the faith of it. We are dying but we are dying to live.
There is a vitality to our living that enables us to savor the moments we have on earth and to have ultimate concern about others who share this time and place with us.
I thought Leslie Weatherhead put it well when he wrote, "The cross looked like defeat to the disciples. It felt like defeat to Jesus. It was called defeat by the world. But God made it...God's greatest victory."
Dying to live we are able to face our dying and our living with a sense of triumph. We know something about both living and dying. We know how it produces a mission while we are alive to make a difference and to be able to understand that the temporary nature of our life gives a richness to the time we have. We savor the days we have but we do not lament the time of our passing. That is the tension we live.
What do you think about this? How do you think we live the tension between living to die, and dying to live?
What gives your life vitality?
If you have thoughts you are willing for others to read click on the box below. Otherwise, cmail me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"We're All Born Terminal"
Sunday, June 29th is the day we receive an offering for combating the pandemic of AIDS. I have been asked to preach a sermon that relates to that dread disease.
I will send some of the grim statistics concerning AIDS in a subsequent "Build a Sermon" but I wanted to initiate for you my approach to the sermon and to get some feedback from you on the larger issue.
What we all want to be able to face is the fact of our finitude. We are all terminal. When we are born we know that some day we will die. How do we face death with that perspective and how do we live in that knowledge?
The awareness of our finitude can bring a vitality to life we would never realize. It is not a morbid thought. It need not be frightening or limiting or diminishing to realize we will die some day and our death will come as a surprise to us or as a result of a terminal phasing out. If we could know the day of our death would we want to? Is it best to die suddenly or to glide into death following a long and protracted illness. Woody Allen once said, "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."
That fact is, we will be there when we die.
Do you think about your death? Does thinking about it bring fear or calm? Does it make life hard or enriched to realize death is inevitable?
What is the Christian message on this subject? How do we, as Christian believers, face our finitude? Do we have perspective that is different from other people?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read you thoughts click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, June 29th is the day we receive an offering for combating the pandemic of AIDS. I have been asked to preach a sermon that relates to that dread disease.
I will send some of the grim statistics concerning AIDS in a subsequent "Build a Sermon" but I wanted to initiate for you my approach to the sermon and to get some feedback from you on the larger issue.
What we all want to be able to face is the fact of our finitude. We are all terminal. When we are born we know that some day we will die. How do we face death with that perspective and how do we live in that knowledge?
The awareness of our finitude can bring a vitality to life we would never realize. It is not a morbid thought. It need not be frightening or limiting or diminishing to realize we will die some day and our death will come as a surprise to us or as a result of a terminal phasing out. If we could know the day of our death would we want to? Is it best to die suddenly or to glide into death following a long and protracted illness. Woody Allen once said, "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."
That fact is, we will be there when we die.
Do you think about your death? Does thinking about it bring fear or calm? Does it make life hard or enriched to realize death is inevitable?
What is the Christian message on this subject? How do we, as Christian believers, face our finitude? Do we have perspective that is different from other people?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read you thoughts click on the box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tuesday's Thoughts on the sermon
The sermon for Sunday, June 22rd will be on "Fly Fishing" by Ray Miller. Through the sermon Ray will share with us a redefinition of the word "evangelism". Evangelism has come into for some criticism in some circles. It implies a kind of forcing of coercing of the will. It projects the worst of Christian Churches of attempting to trick people into membership of into attending a worship service.
Ray has a whole different perspective on this topic and Sunday we will have an opportunity to hear from him and interact with him about it.
How do you define evangelism? What is appropriate and what is beyond the scope of permissible when the church is involved in inviting people to attend?
The sermon will come to us in two parts. It should be an interesting Sunday morning.
If you would like to give Reverend Miller feedback write him at raym@lpbroadband.net.
If you have thoughts or suggestions for me concerning aspects of our church's ministry write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
Ray and I both look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Ray has a whole different perspective on this topic and Sunday we will have an opportunity to hear from him and interact with him about it.
How do you define evangelism? What is appropriate and what is beyond the scope of permissible when the church is involved in inviting people to attend?
The sermon will come to us in two parts. It should be an interesting Sunday morning.
If you would like to give Reverend Miller feedback write him at raym@lpbroadband.net.
If you have thoughts or suggestions for me concerning aspects of our church's ministry write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
Ray and I both look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Friday, June 13, 2008
Friday's thoughts
"Too Bad for the Sad Dad'
The sermon has changed appreciably. Actually, I'm looking at something that would be reflective of "The Glad Dad" and I'm going to give some attention to Zebedee who was the father of James and John and who was married to Salome. I am going to consider what it was for a father to be proud of his children and his role in life in spite of the fact that he was the least well-known member of his family.
If you have thoughts about this send them on, please.
I have been at my nephew's wedding in Italy. I was sitting at the table at the rehearsal dinner visiting with the three young adults at my table. We were talking about the most incredible sight we had seen in our lives. One of the young men was a graduate of the Naval Academy. He talked about the time he was on a battleship that came into a small Russian village not long after the fall of the Soviet Union. They were invited in and they were the first non-Soviet people ever to come into this small isolated town. The people were gracious and appreciative. The ship prepared a Western Barbecue for the entire town. There was such a wonderful feeling between the navy people and the town's people. Mark believed for the first time there was a possibility for world peace.
Svetlana, came from Bulgaria. She was educated at Dartmouth as an engineer and works in New York City. Her apartment was in sight of the World Trade Center. She was at home preparing to go to work when the planes hit. She will never forget watching the buildings fall, but that is not the most lasting impression. She will always remember the spirit of the people of New York. As they prepared and as the left the city there was an attitude of respect and concern. People did not panic. They were almost reverent as they looked out after each other.
As I listened to Mark and Svetlana I was impressed with their maturity and articulateness. They are wonderful young people. I thought, as a father, how proud their father must be.
I think Father's Day is not a day set aside to honor our fathers. I think it is a day for fathers to think about the influence they have had and to be proud of their children.
If you are a father, or if you are a "father-figure" I wish for you a day to think about this important aspect of your life.
I would like to hear from you.
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
PS
It's good to be back
The sermon has changed appreciably. Actually, I'm looking at something that would be reflective of "The Glad Dad" and I'm going to give some attention to Zebedee who was the father of James and John and who was married to Salome. I am going to consider what it was for a father to be proud of his children and his role in life in spite of the fact that he was the least well-known member of his family.
If you have thoughts about this send them on, please.
I have been at my nephew's wedding in Italy. I was sitting at the table at the rehearsal dinner visiting with the three young adults at my table. We were talking about the most incredible sight we had seen in our lives. One of the young men was a graduate of the Naval Academy. He talked about the time he was on a battleship that came into a small Russian village not long after the fall of the Soviet Union. They were invited in and they were the first non-Soviet people ever to come into this small isolated town. The people were gracious and appreciative. The ship prepared a Western Barbecue for the entire town. There was such a wonderful feeling between the navy people and the town's people. Mark believed for the first time there was a possibility for world peace.
Svetlana, came from Bulgaria. She was educated at Dartmouth as an engineer and works in New York City. Her apartment was in sight of the World Trade Center. She was at home preparing to go to work when the planes hit. She will never forget watching the buildings fall, but that is not the most lasting impression. She will always remember the spirit of the people of New York. As they prepared and as the left the city there was an attitude of respect and concern. People did not panic. They were almost reverent as they looked out after each other.
As I listened to Mark and Svetlana I was impressed with their maturity and articulateness. They are wonderful young people. I thought, as a father, how proud their father must be.
I think Father's Day is not a day set aside to honor our fathers. I think it is a day for fathers to think about the influence they have had and to be proud of their children.
If you are a father, or if you are a "father-figure" I wish for you a day to think about this important aspect of your life.
I would like to hear from you.
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
PS
It's good to be back
Monday, June 9, 2008
Monday thoughts
I am working on a sermon while on vacation on the subject of fatherhood. The title -- Too Bad for the Sad Dad -- I look forward to hearing your thoughts on fatherhood and what it means to fail and succeed as a father. What are the traits of fatherhood that should be lifted up in the church?
If you have thoughts on this subject please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday June 15th.
Charles
If you have thoughts on this subject please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday June 15th.
Charles
Monday, June 2, 2008
Monday's thoughts
One of the best things the United Methodist Church has done in the last two decades is Africa University. With all the various controversies the United Methodist Church has gotten itself into the one thing we can be proud of is the effort to put a United Methodist University in Africa. We have truly touched the future with this project and every General Conference the people from Africa have come back to tell us what an important step we have taken and how grateful they are for our effort.
Sunday, June 8th we have the honor of hearing one of the professors from Africa University Dr. Peter Maccucia. Peter was a student at the Iliff School of Theology. He is a scholar and a great preacher and we will enjoy his sermon. More importantly, we will catch some of the spirit and enthusiasm that is the result of our effort to support Africa University through out Conference "wider mission". First United Methodist Church has paid 100% of its Conference Apportionment every year for the last five years. This has amounted to over $100,000 a year. Some of those years we have had to make sacrifices to be able to do it. We have had to suspend some of our own hopes and dreams to participate in the United Methodist connectional ministries beyond our local church, but we have held the apportionments as a high and important value. Sometimes we may have wondered if we made the right choices. Sometime we have thought it might have been better to have spent our money on ourselves. But we have looked beyond ourselves and have supported such causes as the mission to Angola and the project to Guatamala, and the University in Africa.
I believe we have made good choices and we can be proud of what we have been able to accomplish through the United Methodist connection.
I hope you will receive the sense of satisfaction you have a right to feel Sunday when you hear this outstanding United Methodist preach in our pulpit.
Our church is one of the great churches in the United Methodist family. Sunday, June 8th, I think you will experience one of the primary reasons that is true.
Charles
Sunday, June 8th we have the honor of hearing one of the professors from Africa University Dr. Peter Maccucia. Peter was a student at the Iliff School of Theology. He is a scholar and a great preacher and we will enjoy his sermon. More importantly, we will catch some of the spirit and enthusiasm that is the result of our effort to support Africa University through out Conference "wider mission". First United Methodist Church has paid 100% of its Conference Apportionment every year for the last five years. This has amounted to over $100,000 a year. Some of those years we have had to make sacrifices to be able to do it. We have had to suspend some of our own hopes and dreams to participate in the United Methodist connectional ministries beyond our local church, but we have held the apportionments as a high and important value. Sometimes we may have wondered if we made the right choices. Sometime we have thought it might have been better to have spent our money on ourselves. But we have looked beyond ourselves and have supported such causes as the mission to Angola and the project to Guatamala, and the University in Africa.
I believe we have made good choices and we can be proud of what we have been able to accomplish through the United Methodist connection.
I hope you will receive the sense of satisfaction you have a right to feel Sunday when you hear this outstanding United Methodist preach in our pulpit.
Our church is one of the great churches in the United Methodist family. Sunday, June 8th, I think you will experience one of the primary reasons that is true.
Charles
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