"Why Did Joseph Have To Take a Number?"
I don't like to stand in line. It's assumed that is a universal feeling. I have always wondered what was going on in Bethlehem that Joseph would have to come to register. Why would that have been necessary? What was going on in the country at the time?
Some scholars scoff at the idea that there was a census. Some scholars make the assumption that it was all fiction. Truth is, it is hard to document, historically, that there would have been such a thing at that time. Maybe there was some kind of registration that was required. Maybe there was some aggravating event that led to this unfortunate trip to Bethlehem.
Some scholars suggest that Jesus wasn't really born in Bethlehem. They say it was fiction. It was told symbolically so that it could be said that Jesus came from the same city as David. I have never resolved some of this to my satisfaction and I intend to explore it during the week.
The relevance to our lives is evident. There are times of inconvenience and some of those times are the most trying and the most productive.
Christmas season and Advent is full of registrations and census and consensus and going places we would rather not be and doing things we're not sure we have the time to accomplish.
What is the Bethlehem in your life?
How do we comply without becoming comatose?
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your responses click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday's thoughts
What would cause a person to be silenced? What might be the reason someone would stop talking and take everything into themselves?
What evokes silence in our lives?
What makes us take stock of ourselves; take inventory of where we are and what we are doing with our time on earth?
Three things come to mind. Are they universally true or is it something particular or peculiar to me?
Zechariah, John's father came to realize that the son he and Elizabeth were going to have was one who prepared the way for the Messiah.
What, in our lives makes us realize we are preparing the way for something important? Three things:
1. When we realize we are preparing the way by giving from the heart. No gift is small when it is given from the heart.
2. When we realize we are preparing the way by living from the heart. No loss is a loss when we are living from the heart and doing the right thing no matter what the consequences.
3. When we realize we are preparing the way by loving beyond our life. Death has no victory when we realize we have participated in the love that death cannot squelch.
In the sermon Sunday we are going to consider what it means to live our lives in a manner that "prepares the way" for something beyond us. The primary way to enable Christmas to come; the Christ Child to be born in us; is to make straight the way; to see ourselves are going before that which is coming after us.
It's all about hope. It's all about seeing what isn't there yet, and bringing about what is yet to be.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have other read your thoughts click on the box below. In either case I will receive your email and I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
What evokes silence in our lives?
What makes us take stock of ourselves; take inventory of where we are and what we are doing with our time on earth?
Three things come to mind. Are they universally true or is it something particular or peculiar to me?
Zechariah, John's father came to realize that the son he and Elizabeth were going to have was one who prepared the way for the Messiah.
What, in our lives makes us realize we are preparing the way for something important? Three things:
1. When we realize we are preparing the way by giving from the heart. No gift is small when it is given from the heart.
2. When we realize we are preparing the way by living from the heart. No loss is a loss when we are living from the heart and doing the right thing no matter what the consequences.
3. When we realize we are preparing the way by loving beyond our life. Death has no victory when we realize we have participated in the love that death cannot squelch.
In the sermon Sunday we are going to consider what it means to live our lives in a manner that "prepares the way" for something beyond us. The primary way to enable Christmas to come; the Christ Child to be born in us; is to make straight the way; to see ourselves are going before that which is coming after us.
It's all about hope. It's all about seeing what isn't there yet, and bringing about what is yet to be.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have other read your thoughts click on the box below. In either case I will receive your email and I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
"What Zechariah Said When He Didn't Speak"
The father of John the Baptist was a priest. He was given the responsibility to conduct worship. This is what Biblical scholar Martin Noth has to say:
"
the father of John the Baptist was a righteous priest of the division of Abijah. At one time, when this division assembled for duty in the temple, the lot fell to him to burn incense. While he was performing this service, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and announced that his old supplication for a son would be answered. The son, to be called John, would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare the people for God's rule."
What is interesting about the flow of this text (Luke 1:5-23) is the indication that Zechariah was reduced to silence. He was so taken and shaken by the news that he couldn't speak.
The other thing that is interesting about this text is the supposition that the people who were waiting to come into the sanctuary were held out of the sanctuary until the old priest got himself together.
The invitation to burn the incense and lead in worship would have been a highlight in his life. For a preacher to be reduced to silence; for a worship leader to be so paralyzed that he held up the beginning of worship indicates that something unusually special was happening.
It was the beginning of a new hope. It was the fulfillment of an old promise.
Advent is a time to stand and sit in silence. It is a time to learn to lift up the most important things as most important.
In the sermon I will try to do that.
In following up Dr. Kelly's concern about the importance and the impossibility of a "tithe" I have discovered some interesting research on the subject.
Dr. Kelly is right to suggest that a tithe is really about the people who lived outside Israel and the 10% they were asked to give came in the form of food or livestock.
The Biblical scholar Eissfeldt has this observation concerning "Tithing in Later Judaism"
"In line with the tendency to regard the entire Law as binding, two tithes were required in later times. In accord with the Priestly Code, the tithe for the Levites was collected, and was the chief source of their income. The Mishna stipulated that everything used for food, that was cultivated and grew from the earth, was subject to the tithe. How strictly this could be observed is seen by Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees for their lack of a sense of proportion with regard to what was important in religious observances. In addition to the tithe for the Levites, a second tithe, which was consumed by the offerer in accord with the provisions of Deuteronomy, was required. The cattle tithe was thought of as a second tithe. the charity tithe, in effect, a third tithe, was also levied annually for the relief of the poor."
Dr. Kelly, who has responded to the 'Build a sermon' has objected to the way the word 'tithe' was applied by our bishop. Kelly is a scholar whose doctoral work has been focused on this very subject, and his observations, which can be found in the "comments" section below, have provoked interesting thoughts.
We can all agree with his basic conclusion that giving should never be arbitrary or forced, but must be freely given and given with a sense of joy and grace.
I thank him for his observations.
What are your thoughts about tithes or the importance of silence? I'd like to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to participate in dialogue with others who read this column click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The father of John the Baptist was a priest. He was given the responsibility to conduct worship. This is what Biblical scholar Martin Noth has to say:
"
the father of John the Baptist was a righteous priest of the division of Abijah. At one time, when this division assembled for duty in the temple, the lot fell to him to burn incense. While he was performing this service, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and announced that his old supplication for a son would be answered. The son, to be called John, would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare the people for God's rule."
What is interesting about the flow of this text (Luke 1:5-23) is the indication that Zechariah was reduced to silence. He was so taken and shaken by the news that he couldn't speak.
The other thing that is interesting about this text is the supposition that the people who were waiting to come into the sanctuary were held out of the sanctuary until the old priest got himself together.
The invitation to burn the incense and lead in worship would have been a highlight in his life. For a preacher to be reduced to silence; for a worship leader to be so paralyzed that he held up the beginning of worship indicates that something unusually special was happening.
It was the beginning of a new hope. It was the fulfillment of an old promise.
Advent is a time to stand and sit in silence. It is a time to learn to lift up the most important things as most important.
In the sermon I will try to do that.
In following up Dr. Kelly's concern about the importance and the impossibility of a "tithe" I have discovered some interesting research on the subject.
Dr. Kelly is right to suggest that a tithe is really about the people who lived outside Israel and the 10% they were asked to give came in the form of food or livestock.
The Biblical scholar Eissfeldt has this observation concerning "Tithing in Later Judaism"
"In line with the tendency to regard the entire Law as binding, two tithes were required in later times. In accord with the Priestly Code, the tithe for the Levites was collected, and was the chief source of their income. The Mishna stipulated that everything used for food, that was cultivated and grew from the earth, was subject to the tithe. How strictly this could be observed is seen by Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees for their lack of a sense of proportion with regard to what was important in religious observances. In addition to the tithe for the Levites, a second tithe, which was consumed by the offerer in accord with the provisions of Deuteronomy, was required. The cattle tithe was thought of as a second tithe. the charity tithe, in effect, a third tithe, was also levied annually for the relief of the poor."
Dr. Kelly, who has responded to the 'Build a sermon' has objected to the way the word 'tithe' was applied by our bishop. Kelly is a scholar whose doctoral work has been focused on this very subject, and his observations, which can be found in the "comments" section below, have provoked interesting thoughts.
We can all agree with his basic conclusion that giving should never be arbitrary or forced, but must be freely given and given with a sense of joy and grace.
I thank him for his observations.
What are your thoughts about tithes or the importance of silence? I'd like to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to participate in dialogue with others who read this column click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"What He Said When He Didn't Speak"
Sermon for November 30th
Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Sunday begins our four week preparation for Christmas. I have been interested in what happened to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
Zechariah was a priest. It was his responsibility to set up the format for worship while the people waited outside the sanctuary. While he was setting up the altar a voice spoke to him, and he was so moved by the voice that he couldn't speak.
Zechariah's preparation for the coming of the Christ Child, the coming of his own child, was silence.
That may be the best response for us this year. Perhaps this is the year that it finally comes to us; the true meaning of Christmas.
I found this quote from a source most of us will recognize:
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes and bags. And he puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” --Dr. Seuss
This week Bishop Elaine Stanovsky sent out the following message to us. I think she is on to something important:
Next week Christians enters the season of Advent, a time when we spiritually wait in
darkness for the birth of Jesus. There are times in our lives when we aren’t certain that God
is with us, and like the ancient star-gazers, we look into the night sky for a sign of hope and
of assurance.
Day after day we hear reports of “economic downturn” and “global warming.” These
are frightening words. It’s easy to feel powerless in their wake. What are Christians to do?
How can a prayer group affect global weather patterns? How can one church turn scarcity
into plenty?
Our faith has prepared us for such a time as this. It is our faith that teaches us to
look for the good news when all the news seems bad. It is the bible that tells of people
who, despite being uprooted, defeated and transplanted, irrationally followed God through
faith and hope to an unimaginable and incredible future of hope. In deepest darkness we
are called to live with hope!
INVITATION: extravagant generosity
Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly
from the field. Deuteronomy 14:22
I heard an economic analyst this week say that it’s time to dig a hole in the back yard
and double bag your money. There is no hope in a hole in the ground.
A different response to hardship is generosity. If you haven’t lost your house or your
job, and if you still have a steady flow of income, you are among the blessed right now. You
have a choice to live in fear or to live in gratitude. Fear would lead you to hoard what you
have. Gratitude would lead you to share. Faith invites us into generosity.
The bible teaches that one tenth of all we receive belongs to God: a tithe. That
means we return to God a tenth of our salary and income on our investments. I expect this
of myself.
I invite you, in a time of economic uncertainty to join me in an experiment. What if,
just during Advent, just for the month of December, you and your family gave one tenth of
your income to the church or to other charitable causes? If you already give a tenth, God
bless you! If we all did this, for one month, the financial uncertainty within the church
would disappear and every church would have the ability to share abundantly beyond its
doors. Just maybe we would learn that tithing isn’t so difficult after all.
I invite you to discover the abundance that comes from sharing.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness –
On them light has shined.
God bless you with great light and abundant hope in Jesus Christ this holy season,
Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky
Perhaps, our best approach to Advent; especially at the beginning of Advent, is silence.
It's a time to stop and listen to the voices of reason; to hear the abundance we have; to know the important things are still important and the important things cannot be taken, or devalued.
When you listen what do you hear?
If you have some insights on 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.
AND BY THE WAY; "HAPPY THANKSGIVING"
Charles
Sermon for November 30th
Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Sunday begins our four week preparation for Christmas. I have been interested in what happened to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
Zechariah was a priest. It was his responsibility to set up the format for worship while the people waited outside the sanctuary. While he was setting up the altar a voice spoke to him, and he was so moved by the voice that he couldn't speak.
Zechariah's preparation for the coming of the Christ Child, the coming of his own child, was silence.
That may be the best response for us this year. Perhaps this is the year that it finally comes to us; the true meaning of Christmas.
I found this quote from a source most of us will recognize:
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes and bags. And he puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” --Dr. Seuss
This week Bishop Elaine Stanovsky sent out the following message to us. I think she is on to something important:
Next week Christians enters the season of Advent, a time when we spiritually wait in
darkness for the birth of Jesus. There are times in our lives when we aren’t certain that God
is with us, and like the ancient star-gazers, we look into the night sky for a sign of hope and
of assurance.
Day after day we hear reports of “economic downturn” and “global warming.” These
are frightening words. It’s easy to feel powerless in their wake. What are Christians to do?
How can a prayer group affect global weather patterns? How can one church turn scarcity
into plenty?
Our faith has prepared us for such a time as this. It is our faith that teaches us to
look for the good news when all the news seems bad. It is the bible that tells of people
who, despite being uprooted, defeated and transplanted, irrationally followed God through
faith and hope to an unimaginable and incredible future of hope. In deepest darkness we
are called to live with hope!
INVITATION: extravagant generosity
Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly
from the field. Deuteronomy 14:22
I heard an economic analyst this week say that it’s time to dig a hole in the back yard
and double bag your money. There is no hope in a hole in the ground.
A different response to hardship is generosity. If you haven’t lost your house or your
job, and if you still have a steady flow of income, you are among the blessed right now. You
have a choice to live in fear or to live in gratitude. Fear would lead you to hoard what you
have. Gratitude would lead you to share. Faith invites us into generosity.
The bible teaches that one tenth of all we receive belongs to God: a tithe. That
means we return to God a tenth of our salary and income on our investments. I expect this
of myself.
I invite you, in a time of economic uncertainty to join me in an experiment. What if,
just during Advent, just for the month of December, you and your family gave one tenth of
your income to the church or to other charitable causes? If you already give a tenth, God
bless you! If we all did this, for one month, the financial uncertainty within the church
would disappear and every church would have the ability to share abundantly beyond its
doors. Just maybe we would learn that tithing isn’t so difficult after all.
I invite you to discover the abundance that comes from sharing.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who lived in a land of deep darkness –
On them light has shined.
God bless you with great light and abundant hope in Jesus Christ this holy season,
Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky
Perhaps, our best approach to Advent; especially at the beginning of Advent, is silence.
It's a time to stop and listen to the voices of reason; to hear the abundance we have; to know the important things are still important and the important things cannot be taken, or devalued.
When you listen what do you hear?
If you have some insights on 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.
AND BY THE WAY; "HAPPY THANKSGIVING"
Charles
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Monday's Thoughts
This week is Senior Sunday . . . and Thanksgiving Sunday . . . and Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the Christian calendar . . . and we are dedicating the shoeboxes. That's a lot to fit in one service, but it all fits together nicely, actually.
The scripture for the week is Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus is telling the people that whenever they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and in prison, they did that for him, because he is with the hungry, sick, etc. The famous line is "whenever you did that for one of the least of these your brothers, you did it to me."
I am focusing mostly on seniors in my sermon. The seniors who are with us in the pews and in our committee work are fabulous people, very dedicated to the ministries of the church. And we certainly join together around our collective Thanksgiving table and thank them and bless them. But we are called, says Matthew, to move beyond ourselves to search for the least of these. In terms of seniors, it would be those who are mostly at home, shut in due to health or caregiving for a spouse. It would be those in skilled nursing care. Those who need more care and attention around the clock and so their families make the painful decision to move them to a care facility.
These people are part of our family. How do we care for them? How do we make sure we 'invite' them into our family fold? What do we do to include all of our church family? What can you do?
I welcome your responses at pameverhart@fcfumc.net or click the response button on this site.
Peace,
Pam
The scripture for the week is Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus is telling the people that whenever they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and in prison, they did that for him, because he is with the hungry, sick, etc. The famous line is "whenever you did that for one of the least of these your brothers, you did it to me."
I am focusing mostly on seniors in my sermon. The seniors who are with us in the pews and in our committee work are fabulous people, very dedicated to the ministries of the church. And we certainly join together around our collective Thanksgiving table and thank them and bless them. But we are called, says Matthew, to move beyond ourselves to search for the least of these. In terms of seniors, it would be those who are mostly at home, shut in due to health or caregiving for a spouse. It would be those in skilled nursing care. Those who need more care and attention around the clock and so their families make the painful decision to move them to a care facility.
These people are part of our family. How do we care for them? How do we make sure we 'invite' them into our family fold? What do we do to include all of our church family? What can you do?
I welcome your responses at pameverhart@fcfumc.net or click the response button on this site.
Peace,
Pam
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
My Disciple Class is responsible for the sermon this week. They told me I should use what we had been talking about in class as the basis of my sermon, hence it uses the prophets. Micah 6:6-8 and Amos 5:21-24 are major passages with some from Jeremiah 1:1-19.
First, I want to celebrate the great gift we have been given in our land, the USA. This is a country unlike any other, a melting pot of all races, nations, ethnicities, etc. A nation of great beauty, of rich farmland and abundant resources of all kinds. A land founded with a vision symbolized in the Statue of Liberty.
But any nation is called to fulfill its divine destiny, and as Jesus said, "To whom much is given, of them will much be required."
The vision seems to have gotten lost amid all kinds of 'idols' and skewed priorities.
The prophet's message speaks to our day: "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God." And, "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness as an everflowing stream." The prophets and Jesus were not just, nor even primarily talking about individual justice, but always about the corporate, the community, the nation, the people. They are talking to the nation of the USA,not just to us as individuals. So we all, as a people, are to let justice roll down, to do justice to the whole family of humankind.
How do we serve as the people of faith to call our nation back to this vision of being the melting pot, of being a people who care for the 'homeless, tempest tossed...?
Anything you have to share will be much appreciated. Write me at raym@lpbroadband.net
If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.
Ray Miller
Ray Miller
First, I want to celebrate the great gift we have been given in our land, the USA. This is a country unlike any other, a melting pot of all races, nations, ethnicities, etc. A nation of great beauty, of rich farmland and abundant resources of all kinds. A land founded with a vision symbolized in the Statue of Liberty.
But any nation is called to fulfill its divine destiny, and as Jesus said, "To whom much is given, of them will much be required."
The vision seems to have gotten lost amid all kinds of 'idols' and skewed priorities.
The prophet's message speaks to our day: "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God." And, "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness as an everflowing stream." The prophets and Jesus were not just, nor even primarily talking about individual justice, but always about the corporate, the community, the nation, the people. They are talking to the nation of the USA,not just to us as individuals. So we all, as a people, are to let justice roll down, to do justice to the whole family of humankind.
How do we serve as the people of faith to call our nation back to this vision of being the melting pot, of being a people who care for the 'homeless, tempest tossed...?
Anything you have to share will be much appreciated. Write me at raym@lpbroadband.net
If you are willing to have others read your response click on the box below.
Ray Miller
Ray Miller
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friday's thoughts
"The Only Vote That Counts"
The decision to "follow God" is suggested as the only vote that counts and we, clergy, tend to speak more about the importance of that then we spend time trying to explain what it means. It is relatively easy to say but it is very difficult to accomplish. This sermon will attempt to explore what it means "to follow God".
First of all I think "to follow God" means we try to live with a sense of intensity and integrity about everything we do. We know what matters and what makes little difference. We understand that the implications of little things are well beyond our understanding. We are required to live the little things as if they were large; because they are. If we follow God then we strive to live all aspects of our lives with the same sense of witness to the reality that we know is ultimate but which we understand as intimate. God is "the wholeness principle" and is the unifying and organizing structure that permeates everything we know and everything we barely understand.
Secondly, if we decide to "follow God" that means we come to believe that things are basically all right even when we sense they are not. There develops within us a sense of trust. We learn to lose our fear of the future. We move beyond guilt for the past to a sense of healing for the present. We give up trying to please everyone and realize our own sense of wellness; even as we strive to live through our sense of unwellness. We are what we are becoming and when we "miss the mark" we understand that we can try again.
When we are humbled by life we can sense a cause that led to the humiliation that, through it all, leads to a sense of being exalted.
When we have decided to follow God there is a triumphant sense of living and an abundance of spirit and joy that every day brings and every waking moment provides.
The decision to "follow God" is the most important decision we make. It is the only vote that counts.
What are the implications of such a decision as you understand them for such a decision? Have you made that decision and what does it mean to you?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other people read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The decision to "follow God" is suggested as the only vote that counts and we, clergy, tend to speak more about the importance of that then we spend time trying to explain what it means. It is relatively easy to say but it is very difficult to accomplish. This sermon will attempt to explore what it means "to follow God".
First of all I think "to follow God" means we try to live with a sense of intensity and integrity about everything we do. We know what matters and what makes little difference. We understand that the implications of little things are well beyond our understanding. We are required to live the little things as if they were large; because they are. If we follow God then we strive to live all aspects of our lives with the same sense of witness to the reality that we know is ultimate but which we understand as intimate. God is "the wholeness principle" and is the unifying and organizing structure that permeates everything we know and everything we barely understand.
Secondly, if we decide to "follow God" that means we come to believe that things are basically all right even when we sense they are not. There develops within us a sense of trust. We learn to lose our fear of the future. We move beyond guilt for the past to a sense of healing for the present. We give up trying to please everyone and realize our own sense of wellness; even as we strive to live through our sense of unwellness. We are what we are becoming and when we "miss the mark" we understand that we can try again.
When we are humbled by life we can sense a cause that led to the humiliation that, through it all, leads to a sense of being exalted.
When we have decided to follow God there is a triumphant sense of living and an abundance of spirit and joy that every day brings and every waking moment provides.
The decision to "follow God" is the most important decision we make. It is the only vote that counts.
What are the implications of such a decision as you understand them for such a decision? Have you made that decision and what does it mean to you?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other people read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wednesday's thoughts
"The Only Vote That Counts"
In the 24th Chapter of Joshua we find the "Covenant at Shechem". In that section of Old Testament we find Joshua confronting his people with the need for understand it was time for them to decide to worship God. He told them they were not to worship the God of their fathers and mothers. He told them it was time for them to decide and Joshua told them, "as for me and my family, we have decided to follow God."
I thought it was interesting how Joshua told his people not to worship the God of their parents. That is strange but true advice. We each must come to a time in our lives when we have to make a decision. The God we worship must not be one we inherited from our folks. Clearly, their influence is important to us as we struggle to come to terms with what and who God is to us. Certainly, there will be vast similarities between the God we worship and the God they worship, but we have to spend time with ourselves and have to come to understand what it means to believe in God for ourselves.
Theology is important and personal. When we talk about belief in a personal God what we are truly addressing is the importance of coming to terms with God ourselves. Our God is not something of our own construct. The God we worship does not specifically address to us in the manner of a servant. The God we worship is not our slave, but we have to come to terms with God in a profoundly personal way.
There are no ancestors when it comes to faith. There are not multiple generations of the faithful; it is all first generation and first person.
What is it about God that is personal to you? How do you relate to a personal God and how do you relate to God personally?
If you have thoughts on this email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have others to read it and respond to it click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
In the 24th Chapter of Joshua we find the "Covenant at Shechem". In that section of Old Testament we find Joshua confronting his people with the need for understand it was time for them to decide to worship God. He told them they were not to worship the God of their fathers and mothers. He told them it was time for them to decide and Joshua told them, "as for me and my family, we have decided to follow God."
I thought it was interesting how Joshua told his people not to worship the God of their parents. That is strange but true advice. We each must come to a time in our lives when we have to make a decision. The God we worship must not be one we inherited from our folks. Clearly, their influence is important to us as we struggle to come to terms with what and who God is to us. Certainly, there will be vast similarities between the God we worship and the God they worship, but we have to spend time with ourselves and have to come to understand what it means to believe in God for ourselves.
Theology is important and personal. When we talk about belief in a personal God what we are truly addressing is the importance of coming to terms with God ourselves. Our God is not something of our own construct. The God we worship does not specifically address to us in the manner of a servant. The God we worship is not our slave, but we have to come to terms with God in a profoundly personal way.
There are no ancestors when it comes to faith. There are not multiple generations of the faithful; it is all first generation and first person.
What is it about God that is personal to you? How do you relate to a personal God and how do you relate to God personally?
If you have thoughts on this email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have others to read it and respond to it click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday's thoughts
"The Only Vote that Counts"
The Sunday after the election is the Sunday when we make our commitment to the church for the coming year. This is an important day for us for a number of reasons.
Ultimately, whatever we decide about the elections will have an importance we can measure, but, in the long view of things, it is of relative significance. "In view of the cosmos" whether it is John or Obama matters not so much. Both are good people. Either will do the best they can for our country.
In the light of the major issues of life and death; of war and peace; of good or evil the pledge me make to the church will drift into unimportance as the years advance. We give what we can give and the church takes what we give and does something important with it. We empower the church in the measure in which we feel it is important to us and to the world in which we live.
The most important vote is the vote each of us makes every morning we awaken to greet the dawn. Every day we are asked to vote on what will happen to us and how we will respond to it. We cannot choose to withdraw because that leads to a lapsing of responsibility and other factors will determine what we do and who we become.
Sunday is a reminder that we have the privilege of standing up and being counted. We count by the way we vote, and we count by the influence we have over the things that are important to us.
The most important vote is the continual self- assertion of our will into the mix of wills and ways.
Our best hope is that we will choose well; and that our choice is consistent with the God we worship and the faith that informs us.
How will you vote?
What is your stand on the following?
1. Poverty
2. War
3. Inclusion
4. Kindness
5. Joy
6. Hope
7. Love
I'd like to invite you to weigh in on this topic. If you have thoughts email 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
The Sunday after the election is the Sunday when we make our commitment to the church for the coming year. This is an important day for us for a number of reasons.
Ultimately, whatever we decide about the elections will have an importance we can measure, but, in the long view of things, it is of relative significance. "In view of the cosmos" whether it is John or Obama matters not so much. Both are good people. Either will do the best they can for our country.
In the light of the major issues of life and death; of war and peace; of good or evil the pledge me make to the church will drift into unimportance as the years advance. We give what we can give and the church takes what we give and does something important with it. We empower the church in the measure in which we feel it is important to us and to the world in which we live.
The most important vote is the vote each of us makes every morning we awaken to greet the dawn. Every day we are asked to vote on what will happen to us and how we will respond to it. We cannot choose to withdraw because that leads to a lapsing of responsibility and other factors will determine what we do and who we become.
Sunday is a reminder that we have the privilege of standing up and being counted. We count by the way we vote, and we count by the influence we have over the things that are important to us.
The most important vote is the continual self- assertion of our will into the mix of wills and ways.
Our best hope is that we will choose well; and that our choice is consistent with the God we worship and the faith that informs us.
How will you vote?
What is your stand on the following?
1. Poverty
2. War
3. Inclusion
4. Kindness
5. Joy
6. Hope
7. Love
I'd like to invite you to weigh in on this topic. If you have thoughts email 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
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