There is an interesting interchange in Luke's Gospel. Something that would be easy to overlook. Once you see it you can't fail to notice the consequences of what it says to us.
Sunday, October 4th, is World Communion Sunday.
Chapter 22: 19-23
Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me."
After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, "This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes a new agreement. The one who will betray me is here at the table with me!" (In another text the disciples begin saying to him, "Is it I".)
Then the apostles started auguring about who would ever do such a thing.
The apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest."
In those few verses we see Jesus' disciples/apostles doing two things; they are pondering which of them would betray him and they were debating with each other which of them was the most favored.
When we come to the table this Sunday we will come with guilt because we know we have failed to live our faith. But we will, also, come with grandiosity because we have the impression that we have fulfilled his will and way.
We, like the disciples will ask:
"Is it I? Have I betrayed him?"
"Is it I? Am I the most favored?"
We bring both grandiosity and guilt to the table this Sunday. We table our dreams.
Which is most important? Guilt or the sense of grandiosity?
What do you think?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"When It's Time To Table Your Dreams"
On Sunday, October 4th we will join other Christians all over the world in celebrating "World Communion Sunday". We will meet at the table and we will recall the final meal Jesus had with his friends before his death on the cross.
At that meal there was the announcement that one of them would betray him. There was a general awareness that the dream was dead; that there were changes coming that hadn't been anticipated. At that meal the disciples pondered there future. Some of them argued with Jesus about what he saw coming. Some of them had advice for him about what he ought to do.
Basically, the dream was dead. The hope had ended at the table and they knew it. At a time when they celebrated their historical moment when they felt God had sent the angel of death to "pass over" their people. At a time when Jesus and his friends remembered the "Passover" and they thought about what was going to happen to them there was an understanding that there would be no "passover" for them.
Sometimes we have to table our dreams. Sometimes we come to realize that we some of what we hoped to accomplish we will never accomplish and we have to back away.
What dreams do you have that need to be tabled; or re figured? Have you ever had to reconsider in light of new circumstances and, in doing so, come to see even better dreams emerging?
If you have thoughts 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.
Charles Schuster
On Sunday, October 4th we will join other Christians all over the world in celebrating "World Communion Sunday". We will meet at the table and we will recall the final meal Jesus had with his friends before his death on the cross.
At that meal there was the announcement that one of them would betray him. There was a general awareness that the dream was dead; that there were changes coming that hadn't been anticipated. At that meal the disciples pondered there future. Some of them argued with Jesus about what he saw coming. Some of them had advice for him about what he ought to do.
Basically, the dream was dead. The hope had ended at the table and they knew it. At a time when they celebrated their historical moment when they felt God had sent the angel of death to "pass over" their people. At a time when Jesus and his friends remembered the "Passover" and they thought about what was going to happen to them there was an understanding that there would be no "passover" for them.
Sometimes we have to table our dreams. Sometimes we come to realize that we some of what we hoped to accomplish we will never accomplish and we have to back away.
What dreams do you have that need to be tabled; or re figured? Have you ever had to reconsider in light of new circumstances and, in doing so, come to see even better dreams emerging?
If you have thoughts 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.
Charles Schuster
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
This sermon will address the dreams we have personally, but it also has us consider our dreams as a church. Our personal dreams and our corporate, congregational dreams converge. I think that one feeds into the other. We are stronger people because we are united with each other in faith. When we are having trouble fulfilling our personal hopes we find additional incentive to reconnect with those hopes as we work together to accomplish our church's vision.
The New Testament text is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Paul in writing to the church is attempting to remind them of something higher. He is trying to open their eyes to see and to open their perspectives to do more than they thought. I think these verse are some of the most important in the Bible.
Paul wrote:
"No wonder we do not lose heart! Though our outward humanity is in decay, yet day by day we are inwardly renewed. Our troubles are slight and short-lived; and their outcome an eternal glory which outweighs them far. Meanwhile our eyes are fixed, not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen: for what is seen passes away; what is unseen is eternal."
This is what it takes to accomplish our dreams:
We conquer our internal inhibitions so our dreams become possible.
We confront the external prohibitions so our dreams become probable.
We connect to our ultimate expectations so our dreams become inevitable.
We look within, we look without, and we look beyond and our dreams come true.
If you have thoughts 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.
Charles Schuster
The New Testament text is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Paul in writing to the church is attempting to remind them of something higher. He is trying to open their eyes to see and to open their perspectives to do more than they thought. I think these verse are some of the most important in the Bible.
Paul wrote:
"No wonder we do not lose heart! Though our outward humanity is in decay, yet day by day we are inwardly renewed. Our troubles are slight and short-lived; and their outcome an eternal glory which outweighs them far. Meanwhile our eyes are fixed, not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen: for what is seen passes away; what is unseen is eternal."
This is what it takes to accomplish our dreams:
We conquer our internal inhibitions so our dreams become possible.
We confront the external prohibitions so our dreams become probable.
We connect to our ultimate expectations so our dreams become inevitable.
We look within, we look without, and we look beyond and our dreams come true.
If you have thoughts 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.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
What makes our dreams seem pathetic and not prophetic? What holds us back from becoming what God needs us to become or from being able to fulfill in our lives what we are able to fulfill.
There are three steps I suggest that we take.
1. First of all address what is internal. Most of what keeps us from achieving our dreams or establishing dreams that are not worthy of our spirit and wisdom lies within us. We will want to look internally at what seems impossible.
2. Secondly, there are always external forces we have to face. Some of the external forces are decisive. Most of them can be overcome if we are able to conquer what lies within us. All at once we look at what seems improbable. If it is merely improbable that means there is a possibility if we can gather the wisdom and strength to overcome it.
3. Finally, when he join our effort with a purpose that is divine what once seemed impossible and then seemed improbable, will become inevitable. Not only can we do it but now we know it will be done. No longer is is a pathetic dream we can never reach but it becomes an inevitable dream that is possible and reachable and prophetically necessary.
What are your dreams? How far along are you in accomplishing them? Are they impossible, improbable, and are they moving toward becoming inevitable?
What do you think? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
There are three steps I suggest that we take.
1. First of all address what is internal. Most of what keeps us from achieving our dreams or establishing dreams that are not worthy of our spirit and wisdom lies within us. We will want to look internally at what seems impossible.
2. Secondly, there are always external forces we have to face. Some of the external forces are decisive. Most of them can be overcome if we are able to conquer what lies within us. All at once we look at what seems improbable. If it is merely improbable that means there is a possibility if we can gather the wisdom and strength to overcome it.
3. Finally, when he join our effort with a purpose that is divine what once seemed impossible and then seemed improbable, will become inevitable. Not only can we do it but now we know it will be done. No longer is is a pathetic dream we can never reach but it becomes an inevitable dream that is possible and reachable and prophetically necessary.
What are your dreams? How far along are you in accomplishing them? Are they impossible, improbable, and are they moving toward becoming inevitable?
What do you think? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Monday's thoughts
The next several sermons will focus on our dreams. As a church we have been asking for people to share their dreams and hopes for the church's future. Several of them are unusual. One, for example, it is suggested we put Dr. Pepper in all the water fountains.
When we take the time to dream we are given permission to imagine the impossible. We are given an invitation to look at what could be even if it is impractical.
The first theme for the three Sunday sermons is "Pipe dreams". I want us to think about what could be and what might, to some, seem impossible.
The Christian faith is filled with that kind of thinking. It began with Easter and continued through the thinking that the church had of the second coming of Christ. The early church had "pipe dreams" and those dreams influenced how they live and what they did.
What are the "pipe dreams" we might have for our church?
1. a family life center
2. development of another United Methodist Church in Fort Collins
3. a latch key program for children after school
4. a coffee house atmosphere and we hire a full time chef to keep food available when people come to the church to visit, to take classes, to read, and to get to know each other
5. a book store for people to purchase at a reduced rate the best of literature to have for future reference
What are the "pipe dreams" we might have for our lives?
1. to make a difference in the world by what we do and say
2. to influence a young person in a way that will change their lives
3. to write a book that will be read by many people who will have learned from our wisdom
4. to leave a legacy that others will want to follow and develop so that what we start with our lives will be so important that others will want to continue it and perfect it
5. to understand the Christian faith to the point that we live it
What are your "pipe dreams"?
I'd like to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.
I look forward to your emails.
Charles Schuster
When we take the time to dream we are given permission to imagine the impossible. We are given an invitation to look at what could be even if it is impractical.
The first theme for the three Sunday sermons is "Pipe dreams". I want us to think about what could be and what might, to some, seem impossible.
The Christian faith is filled with that kind of thinking. It began with Easter and continued through the thinking that the church had of the second coming of Christ. The early church had "pipe dreams" and those dreams influenced how they live and what they did.
What are the "pipe dreams" we might have for our church?
1. a family life center
2. development of another United Methodist Church in Fort Collins
3. a latch key program for children after school
4. a coffee house atmosphere and we hire a full time chef to keep food available when people come to the church to visit, to take classes, to read, and to get to know each other
5. a book store for people to purchase at a reduced rate the best of literature to have for future reference
What are the "pipe dreams" we might have for our lives?
1. to make a difference in the world by what we do and say
2. to influence a young person in a way that will change their lives
3. to write a book that will be read by many people who will have learned from our wisdom
4. to leave a legacy that others will want to follow and develop so that what we start with our lives will be so important that others will want to continue it and perfect it
5. to understand the Christian faith to the point that we live it
What are your "pipe dreams"?
I'd like to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.
I look forward to your emails.
Charles Schuster
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
After the disaster what do we do? looking at the history of Israel is instructive but we've got to consider our own situation and approach the question spiritually and with common sense.
Here are the three approaches to a disaster (a disaster includes the obvious nature interruptions such as tornado, flood, and forest fire. It also includes such personal catastrophic events such as the onset of cancer or heart attack or diabetes. It could include business failure or bankruptcy or automobile accident. It would include terrorist acts and random events that I hadn't thought about).
This is what I think we can do and this is what the sermon will try to put across:
a. After the disaster find a pastor. Find a person who is willing to be with you in the depths of your crisis.
b. After the disaster move faster to the future. Never quit moving forward not matter how hard it is. There comes a time when it is important to take a step toward the future rather than concentrating on the past.
c. After the disaster don't give up laughter. There is humor to be found in every life event. What makes us cry can be turned around so that we learn to laugh.
Those are the points to the sermon and I will try to develop them. What do you think? Do you have suggestions? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the community read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Here are the three approaches to a disaster (a disaster includes the obvious nature interruptions such as tornado, flood, and forest fire. It also includes such personal catastrophic events such as the onset of cancer or heart attack or diabetes. It could include business failure or bankruptcy or automobile accident. It would include terrorist acts and random events that I hadn't thought about).
This is what I think we can do and this is what the sermon will try to put across:
a. After the disaster find a pastor. Find a person who is willing to be with you in the depths of your crisis.
b. After the disaster move faster to the future. Never quit moving forward not matter how hard it is. There comes a time when it is important to take a step toward the future rather than concentrating on the past.
c. After the disaster don't give up laughter. There is humor to be found in every life event. What makes us cry can be turned around so that we learn to laugh.
Those are the points to the sermon and I will try to develop them. What do you think? Do you have suggestions? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the community read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
There has to be a way our faith can help us deal with the unexpected and the disastrous. If all we speak of is the good times or the minor inconvenient moments in life and we do not address the really difficult occasions when our world is falling apart, it is hardly functional. Faith has to be present to us when the times are tough. It must say something to us when things are not working out like we had hoped and when we are feeling uprooted and broken. It must address the roughest of times and it must speak a word that gets through to us.
There have been tornadoes and forest fires and recently an apartment unit caught on fire and people had to be relocated. There have been personal tragedies in our lives when things were falling apart and we weren't sure how to hold it together or if we would ever get it together again.
The people of Israel came back from the exile and returned to their land. The trauma of the exile was compounded by the impact of the return.
What do we do after the disaster? How do we put our lives back together?
This is the issue I raise this Sunday.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
There have been tornadoes and forest fires and recently an apartment unit caught on fire and people had to be relocated. There have been personal tragedies in our lives when things were falling apart and we weren't sure how to hold it together or if we would ever get it together again.
The people of Israel came back from the exile and returned to their land. The trauma of the exile was compounded by the impact of the return.
What do we do after the disaster? How do we put our lives back together?
This is the issue I raise this Sunday.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Monday's thoughts
Third Isaiah is thought to be that part of Isaiah that begins with chapter 56 and runs to the end of the Isaiah passages (Chapter 66). This author wrote after the exile had ended and the people had returned to the land. They came back timid and unclear of their role or responsibility. They came back wondering about their future.
This is something that is easy to understand. When your life has been uprooted how do you get yourself back together? When everything that you had is lost how do you get back to find who you are?
Anyone who had been in a disastrous situation understands this. People who were in the 9-11 bombings and survived could tell us much about how to overcome when you have been overwhelmed. The apartment fire here in Fort Collins has put some people out of their home environment. They will struggle with how to pick up the pieces of their lives and move one. Some who have had major surgery will understand what it means to get back on the road to recovery.
Has it happened to you and if so what suggestions to you have? Have you ever had to pick up your life and start over? I'd love to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
This is something that is easy to understand. When your life has been uprooted how do you get yourself back together? When everything that you had is lost how do you get back to find who you are?
Anyone who had been in a disastrous situation understands this. People who were in the 9-11 bombings and survived could tell us much about how to overcome when you have been overwhelmed. The apartment fire here in Fort Collins has put some people out of their home environment. They will struggle with how to pick up the pieces of their lives and move one. Some who have had major surgery will understand what it means to get back on the road to recovery.
Has it happened to you and if so what suggestions to you have? Have you ever had to pick up your life and start over? I'd love to hear from you. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
What brings us down? What makes us less than we can be or should become? Is there original sin? Is it a biblical idea without foundation or does it have merit?
I'm not sure it is something within us because we are human but I have thought there are ways we fail to live up to the potential that is in us. I have thought two of the ways we do that are so opposite that they seem opposed. I'm guessing they are more related than we realize.
The most prevalent problem is the result of the fact that we think so little of ourselves that we cannot imagine grasping the bigger potential we possess. We constantly let people put us down and when they are not putting us down we put ourselves down. We fail to act when we should and we run ourselves into the point that we cannot rise above it. We become listless losers who have not cause; no concern; and no passion for life. We suffer from sloth or laziness. We settle for less and accept little of what's coming to us. There becomes no hope for us and no future for us.
The more obvious problem we have is that we come to conclude too much about ourselves and we think we have all the answers to all the questions even before the questions are asked. We imagine we can do it all and all we do is what we are able to do. We run around trying to figure everything out assuming we are the only ones doing the figuring. We see little beyond ourselves and glory in our independence and in our single-mindedness.
Biblical writers call that sin. Thinking too small leads to the sin of sloth and thinking too highly of ourselves leads to the sin of pride. Either way we are settling for less. There is more to us than we often give ourselves credit and there is more that we can do if we tap into the power that is beyond us.
Second Isaiah warned his people that the end of the Exile was coming and they needed to begin to act like they believed it.
They seemed to enjoy their bad luck and they seemed to have trouble accepting the idea that the news was better and might be good.
Do you believe there is something wrong with us and that it comes from the idea that we think too little of ourselves or we think too much?
How do you deal with the idea of original sin?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your comments click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
I'm not sure it is something within us because we are human but I have thought there are ways we fail to live up to the potential that is in us. I have thought two of the ways we do that are so opposite that they seem opposed. I'm guessing they are more related than we realize.
The most prevalent problem is the result of the fact that we think so little of ourselves that we cannot imagine grasping the bigger potential we possess. We constantly let people put us down and when they are not putting us down we put ourselves down. We fail to act when we should and we run ourselves into the point that we cannot rise above it. We become listless losers who have not cause; no concern; and no passion for life. We suffer from sloth or laziness. We settle for less and accept little of what's coming to us. There becomes no hope for us and no future for us.
The more obvious problem we have is that we come to conclude too much about ourselves and we think we have all the answers to all the questions even before the questions are asked. We imagine we can do it all and all we do is what we are able to do. We run around trying to figure everything out assuming we are the only ones doing the figuring. We see little beyond ourselves and glory in our independence and in our single-mindedness.
Biblical writers call that sin. Thinking too small leads to the sin of sloth and thinking too highly of ourselves leads to the sin of pride. Either way we are settling for less. There is more to us than we often give ourselves credit and there is more that we can do if we tap into the power that is beyond us.
Second Isaiah warned his people that the end of the Exile was coming and they needed to begin to act like they believed it.
They seemed to enjoy their bad luck and they seemed to have trouble accepting the idea that the news was better and might be good.
Do you believe there is something wrong with us and that it comes from the idea that we think too little of ourselves or we think too much?
How do you deal with the idea of original sin?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your comments click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
"Helpless are the Hopeless"
This sermon will try to explore a basic human flaw. It's something all have if we would admit to it. We all know what it is to want to live in the darkness rather than embracing the light. Jesus, in John's Gospel, said, "Here lies the test: the light has come into the world, but men and women preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil." (John 3:18)
I'm not sure the reason for our preference for the darkness rather than the light is due to the fact that we are evil. It's more complicated than that. We run from the light and we prefer the darkness because the darkness is more comfortable and we like being in it because we are used to it. The light is new to us. The darkness is where we have been.
Any change, however good, is less appealing, than any constant, however difficult. We are better to accept what is comfortable than to drift into accepting something new.
I think we prefer the dark because we know it. We live in it and it has become our home.
The people of Israel had problems leaving Egypt in the Exodus because they thought slavery in Egypt was better than freedom in the desert. They thought it was better to be safe and protected even if they had surrendered their freedom.
I want to have us consider what changes we need to make. It will be Rally day and we will want to find a way to rally the church and to rally each other. We will want to find a way to move forward and stop staying put.
What makes us love the dark? Why do we have a difficult time with change? What do you think? If you have ideas about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
This sermon will try to explore a basic human flaw. It's something all have if we would admit to it. We all know what it is to want to live in the darkness rather than embracing the light. Jesus, in John's Gospel, said, "Here lies the test: the light has come into the world, but men and women preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil." (John 3:18)
I'm not sure the reason for our preference for the darkness rather than the light is due to the fact that we are evil. It's more complicated than that. We run from the light and we prefer the darkness because the darkness is more comfortable and we like being in it because we are used to it. The light is new to us. The darkness is where we have been.
Any change, however good, is less appealing, than any constant, however difficult. We are better to accept what is comfortable than to drift into accepting something new.
I think we prefer the dark because we know it. We live in it and it has become our home.
The people of Israel had problems leaving Egypt in the Exodus because they thought slavery in Egypt was better than freedom in the desert. They thought it was better to be safe and protected even if they had surrendered their freedom.
I want to have us consider what changes we need to make. It will be Rally day and we will want to find a way to rally the church and to rally each other. We will want to find a way to move forward and stop staying put.
What makes us love the dark? Why do we have a difficult time with change? What do you think? If you have ideas about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Monday's thoughts
In the New Interpreter’s Dictionary scholar Richard Clifford writes about Isaiah 40-55 which is a section of Isaiah called “Second Isaiah”.
“One reason why Second Isaiah can be called the legitimate successor of Isaiah of Jerusalem is that he held the same view of the judgment process and regarded his commission as continuing the commission of First Isaiah. In Second Isaiah’s view, divine judgment was an ongoing process continuing into his own day. Like his prophetic predecessor, he felt called to monitor the progress of judgment and invite the people to play their part in its current phase. For Second Isaiah, a new stage had been reached: The earlier phase of punishment and destruction was over, and a new phase was about the begin; restoration. Second Isaiah received the commission to preach consolation in the same divine assembly where First Isaiah had heard the commission to announce devastation.”
I have approach this three set sermon series on the Prophet Isaiah with the understanding that there were three basic writers included in the prophet’s work.
1st Isaiah (before the exile) Chapters 1-39
2nd Isaiah (during the exile) Chapters 40-55
3rd Isaiah (after the exile) Chapters 56-66
The prophet has three different tasks and it approaches three different era’s of Israel’s cultural and political life.
Second Isaiah has the same kind of assignment we have today. It is our job sometimes to convey to people that the worst is over and it's time to celebrate the best that can be. In the worst of times we can be ones who call people back to the best. Jurgen Moltmann developed an entire theology called "the theology of hope". It is his position that how we think about something is what makes it happen. If we think the worst it will be bad. If we think the best then things will happen for the best.
What do you think about this idea? How relevant is it and how necessary is it today?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow the congregation to read your thoughts and respond to them click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
“One reason why Second Isaiah can be called the legitimate successor of Isaiah of Jerusalem is that he held the same view of the judgment process and regarded his commission as continuing the commission of First Isaiah. In Second Isaiah’s view, divine judgment was an ongoing process continuing into his own day. Like his prophetic predecessor, he felt called to monitor the progress of judgment and invite the people to play their part in its current phase. For Second Isaiah, a new stage had been reached: The earlier phase of punishment and destruction was over, and a new phase was about the begin; restoration. Second Isaiah received the commission to preach consolation in the same divine assembly where First Isaiah had heard the commission to announce devastation.”
I have approach this three set sermon series on the Prophet Isaiah with the understanding that there were three basic writers included in the prophet’s work.
1st Isaiah (before the exile) Chapters 1-39
2nd Isaiah (during the exile) Chapters 40-55
3rd Isaiah (after the exile) Chapters 56-66
The prophet has three different tasks and it approaches three different era’s of Israel’s cultural and political life.
Second Isaiah has the same kind of assignment we have today. It is our job sometimes to convey to people that the worst is over and it's time to celebrate the best that can be. In the worst of times we can be ones who call people back to the best. Jurgen Moltmann developed an entire theology called "the theology of hope". It is his position that how we think about something is what makes it happen. If we think the worst it will be bad. If we think the best then things will happen for the best.
What do you think about this idea? How relevant is it and how necessary is it today?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to allow the congregation to read your thoughts and respond to them click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
The sermon will be a confluence of two primary impulses and both of them are religious if they are balanced by each other. Sometimes the paradoxical nature of faith is such that too much of a good thing is not good.
When we think about what it means to be compassionate and supportive we realize the priestly nature of the faith. Priests are not just the ordained variety. The protestant conception of the word involves "the priesthood of all believers". We are to be "priests to each other". The problem for people who are supportive and compassionate is they can live a life of service to the point that they can become slaves to other people's needs.
Prophets are those who say what needs to be said and sometimes what needs to be said is something nobody wants to hear. Prophets who are not tender-hearted become strong willed to the point of losing their compassion. Talking to people without compassion can become the equivalent of gossip.
Compassion without a sense of the prophetic can become servile. The prophetic without the sense of priestly compassion can become mean-spirited.
The two have to be included otherwise life becomes distorted and our lives are lived with imbalance.
The prophet has to be a priest.
The priest has to be a prophet.
The best way to do a bad job is to take the compassion of a priest and the directness of a prophet and do what has to be done while caring about how it is done.
We are never completely balanced, however. We are more priest or more prophet but moving to become an equal amount of both.
Which are you? If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others see your insights click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
When we think about what it means to be compassionate and supportive we realize the priestly nature of the faith. Priests are not just the ordained variety. The protestant conception of the word involves "the priesthood of all believers". We are to be "priests to each other". The problem for people who are supportive and compassionate is they can live a life of service to the point that they can become slaves to other people's needs.
Prophets are those who say what needs to be said and sometimes what needs to be said is something nobody wants to hear. Prophets who are not tender-hearted become strong willed to the point of losing their compassion. Talking to people without compassion can become the equivalent of gossip.
Compassion without a sense of the prophetic can become servile. The prophetic without the sense of priestly compassion can become mean-spirited.
The two have to be included otherwise life becomes distorted and our lives are lived with imbalance.
The prophet has to be a priest.
The priest has to be a prophet.
The best way to do a bad job is to take the compassion of a priest and the directness of a prophet and do what has to be done while caring about how it is done.
We are never completely balanced, however. We are more priest or more prophet but moving to become an equal amount of both.
Which are you? If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others see your insights click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
"How Do You Do a Bad Job?"
There are elements in every job we get that are good and some that are bad. How do we handle the hard parts? How do we do a bad job? How do we overcome the tough part to get the job done?
It makes me think of the prophet Isaiah who was called by God to do something that was so difficult you couldn't imagine that anyone would agree to do it.
The "Call of Isaiah" in the 6th Chapter is one of the most frequently read sections of the bible. In the year of the death of the king Isaiah was in the temple at the funeral and he heard the voice of God say, "Whom shall we send? Who will go for us?" Isaiah heard the questions and answered, "Here am I. Send me."
That text is the inspiration for one of the most popular hymns in the hymn book. It is a hymn we will sing Sunday.
Number 593
"I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
All who dwell in dark and sin
Who will bear my light to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart."
In the 6th Chapter of Isaiah we hear the prophet accept the challenge but then we hear the words that say, you will say to the people what I tell you but they will not hear you. "Go, and say to this people. Listen, and listen, but never understand. Look and look but never perceive."
Isaiah is a prophet who is being asked to say some things that people don't want to hear and won't be able to hear.
It's a bad job but somebody had to do it.
The prophet must speak words nobody will hear, but the prophet has been called to do it.
Have you ever felt the need to say what nobody will hear? Do mothers have this challenge? or fathers? or bosses? or employees?
How do you do a bad job?
How do you say what nobody wants to hear?
How do you be the prophet?
Have you ever felt this?
What do you do to do what has to be done but you really would rather not do it?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing for others to respond click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
There are elements in every job we get that are good and some that are bad. How do we handle the hard parts? How do we do a bad job? How do we overcome the tough part to get the job done?
It makes me think of the prophet Isaiah who was called by God to do something that was so difficult you couldn't imagine that anyone would agree to do it.
The "Call of Isaiah" in the 6th Chapter is one of the most frequently read sections of the bible. In the year of the death of the king Isaiah was in the temple at the funeral and he heard the voice of God say, "Whom shall we send? Who will go for us?" Isaiah heard the questions and answered, "Here am I. Send me."
That text is the inspiration for one of the most popular hymns in the hymn book. It is a hymn we will sing Sunday.
Number 593
"I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
All who dwell in dark and sin
Who will bear my light to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart."
In the 6th Chapter of Isaiah we hear the prophet accept the challenge but then we hear the words that say, you will say to the people what I tell you but they will not hear you. "Go, and say to this people. Listen, and listen, but never understand. Look and look but never perceive."
Isaiah is a prophet who is being asked to say some things that people don't want to hear and won't be able to hear.
It's a bad job but somebody had to do it.
The prophet must speak words nobody will hear, but the prophet has been called to do it.
Have you ever felt the need to say what nobody will hear? Do mothers have this challenge? or fathers? or bosses? or employees?
How do you do a bad job?
How do you say what nobody wants to hear?
How do you be the prophet?
Have you ever felt this?
What do you do to do what has to be done but you really would rather not do it?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing for others to respond click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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