Three of the next four sermons will be a reflection on some of the popular movies shown recently in theaters. This coming Sunday I will take a look at the movie Secretariat. On February 20 the movie I will look at is Shrek. On the 27th the movie will be Invictus.
I have never done this kind of thing in a worship service and the reason to do it may not be clear to everyone. It is experimental, for me. I will show a two minute clip of the movie and try to pick up a theme that threads throughout the film.
It is my contention that much spiritual truth is conveyed through the movies we see. Of course, there are many, many movies that have little redeeming value. Those movies don't deserve our time or our financial support.
On the other hand there is conveyed to many people a level of spirituality they never receive otherwise. I appreciate the support and patience with me as I move us into this experiment.
The movie for next Sunday is Secretariat. Secretariat is thought to be the greatest horse ever to win the Triple Crown. His owner lives in Boulder and I'm going to try to get an interview with her.
The story is compelling and in the next few days I will put the evolution of the sermon on the blog for you to see and to give you an opportunity to interact.
In the meantime if you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to allow others to read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday's Thoughts on Sunday's sermon
I was at the hospital today looking over the patient list in preparation to visit the members of our church when a hospital employee came out and called out a man's name three times. Then the employee left.
A few minutes later a man came into the waiting area and asked if his name had been called. He was told they were calling for him and his name would be put back in the list. I'm guessing he was there to have some kind of procedure.
He said to the receptionist, "So they have to start me from point one?" She said, "I'm afraid so."
He looked at her and he looked at me and said, "Oh well, I just don't care any more."
What struck me about that interchange was the fact that every one of us could understand what he was feeling. The desire to just quit and walk away is strong. and that desire has to be fought when it comes to aging. Life can be cruel at any age but especially as we move toward our advanced years. The temptation to quit is strong. The inclination to just "forget it" is compelling.
The only cure for old age is death. We all will age. How will we age?
Our best opportunity to age with grace happens if we remember two things (and these are the two points to the sermon):
1. We declare that we are a child of God and we are a worthy human being no matter what life throws at us and no matter what people think of us and no matter how we are put down. We are a child of God. We are a precious human being of value.
2. We determine that we are on the verge of something new. God is doing a new thing with us. What we were we are not now. We have a chance to try something new; to learn something new; to do something we have never done before.
As long as we remind ourselves that we are a child of God and God is doing something new with us we will have the best change to age with grace and to live out our days with the passion that comes in living well.
If you have thoughts on this please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the congregation read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
A few minutes later a man came into the waiting area and asked if his name had been called. He was told they were calling for him and his name would be put back in the list. I'm guessing he was there to have some kind of procedure.
He said to the receptionist, "So they have to start me from point one?" She said, "I'm afraid so."
He looked at her and he looked at me and said, "Oh well, I just don't care any more."
What struck me about that interchange was the fact that every one of us could understand what he was feeling. The desire to just quit and walk away is strong. and that desire has to be fought when it comes to aging. Life can be cruel at any age but especially as we move toward our advanced years. The temptation to quit is strong. The inclination to just "forget it" is compelling.
The only cure for old age is death. We all will age. How will we age?
Our best opportunity to age with grace happens if we remember two things (and these are the two points to the sermon):
1. We declare that we are a child of God and we are a worthy human being no matter what life throws at us and no matter what people think of us and no matter how we are put down. We are a child of God. We are a precious human being of value.
2. We determine that we are on the verge of something new. God is doing a new thing with us. What we were we are not now. We have a chance to try something new; to learn something new; to do something we have never done before.
As long as we remind ourselves that we are a child of God and God is doing something new with us we will have the best change to age with grace and to live out our days with the passion that comes in living well.
If you have thoughts on this please write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the congregation read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday's thoughts on next Sunday's sermon
"Age is Not a Four Letter Word"
Some old people become "angry" old people. Why is that? Why do some people become rude and opinionated when they become old, when they were not that way any other time in their lives?
Is it the result of evolving into something they have always been and age's advance gives them the strength and permission to become what they were, but more so?
Is it the building up of the confidence to speak one's mind and say what has been hidden up to the time in life when it is permissible to say what is thought without regard to the consequences?
Is it the consequence of living in a world that is "youth oriented" and the only way to maintain a sense of integrity is to come into conversations and social settings with strong voice and will. If old people are discounted because of their age then the way to overcome that is with force and emphasis.
How can we age with grace and live out our days so that we do not become defensive and obnoxious or so that we are not ignored or overlooked and have to live out our days as non-beings in a world that really doesn't have much use for us?
How do we evolve into our aging process so that age is a virtue and a thing of value and not a liability?
Abraham Heschel wrote, "There is no human being who does not carry a treasure in their soul; a moment of insight, a memory of love, a dream of excellence, a call to worship. We must seek ways to overcome the traumatic fear of being old, prejudice, discrimination against those advanced in years. All men and women are created equal, including those advanced in years. Being old is not necessarily the same as being stale. The effort to restore the dignity of old age will depend upon our ability to revive the equation of old age and wisdom. Wisdom is the substance upon which the inner security of the old will forever depend. But the attainment of wisdom is the work of a life time. Old people need a vision, not only recreation. Old people need a dream, not only a memory. It takes three things to attain a sense of significant being: God; A soul; And a Moment. And the three are always here. Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy."
Facing the aging process as a resource rather than a curse begins with an understanding of our fundamental worth as a human being. How do we achieve that?
This is the thrust of the sermon.
Do you have thoughts on this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the 'comments' box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Some old people become "angry" old people. Why is that? Why do some people become rude and opinionated when they become old, when they were not that way any other time in their lives?
Is it the result of evolving into something they have always been and age's advance gives them the strength and permission to become what they were, but more so?
Is it the building up of the confidence to speak one's mind and say what has been hidden up to the time in life when it is permissible to say what is thought without regard to the consequences?
Is it the consequence of living in a world that is "youth oriented" and the only way to maintain a sense of integrity is to come into conversations and social settings with strong voice and will. If old people are discounted because of their age then the way to overcome that is with force and emphasis.
How can we age with grace and live out our days so that we do not become defensive and obnoxious or so that we are not ignored or overlooked and have to live out our days as non-beings in a world that really doesn't have much use for us?
How do we evolve into our aging process so that age is a virtue and a thing of value and not a liability?
Abraham Heschel wrote, "There is no human being who does not carry a treasure in their soul; a moment of insight, a memory of love, a dream of excellence, a call to worship. We must seek ways to overcome the traumatic fear of being old, prejudice, discrimination against those advanced in years. All men and women are created equal, including those advanced in years. Being old is not necessarily the same as being stale. The effort to restore the dignity of old age will depend upon our ability to revive the equation of old age and wisdom. Wisdom is the substance upon which the inner security of the old will forever depend. But the attainment of wisdom is the work of a life time. Old people need a vision, not only recreation. Old people need a dream, not only a memory. It takes three things to attain a sense of significant being: God; A soul; And a Moment. And the three are always here. Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy."
Facing the aging process as a resource rather than a curse begins with an understanding of our fundamental worth as a human being. How do we achieve that?
This is the thrust of the sermon.
Do you have thoughts on this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the 'comments' box below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday's thought on next Sunday's sermon
"Age Is Not A Four Letter Word; You Can Be Nifty After Fifty"
For some time I have wanted to spend some time taking a look at the aging process and to try to develop what Harvey Potthoff, from Iliff School of Theology, called "a theology of deminishment".
Age is something we have come to grips with otherwise we will make decisions on the wrong facts. We will be inclined to act young when we are old and make fools of ourselves. Or we may over react to being older and will quit living before we should.
How do we move from a fear of aging to an embracing of it but not lapse into a premature state of "old"?
I want to spend some time thinking about the important older people in our tradition. I want to look at Abraham, and Sarah, and the Prophetess Anna. I want to learn their secret and discover how religion helps us evolve into our advanced years.
What do you think is the best approach to the aging process? How have you developed a "theology of diminishment"?
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 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
For some time I have wanted to spend some time taking a look at the aging process and to try to develop what Harvey Potthoff, from Iliff School of Theology, called "a theology of deminishment".
Age is something we have come to grips with otherwise we will make decisions on the wrong facts. We will be inclined to act young when we are old and make fools of ourselves. Or we may over react to being older and will quit living before we should.
How do we move from a fear of aging to an embracing of it but not lapse into a premature state of "old"?
I want to spend some time thinking about the important older people in our tradition. I want to look at Abraham, and Sarah, and the Prophetess Anna. I want to learn their secret and discover how religion helps us evolve into our advanced years.
What do you think is the best approach to the aging process? How have you developed a "theology of diminishment"?
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 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon
In the sermon I want us to look at what it means to take Jesus seriously. There were purposes in his life that he had and never moved from. He was serious about some things; deadly serious.
We might have some difference of opinion as to what that was. Some think Jesus was serious about saving souls and winning people to himself as believers. Others see Jesus as concerned about the end of the world and the apocalyptic in-breaking of God into life and establishing the "messianic age".
There is some thought given to the ethical side of Jesus' teaching. The concern for the outcast and the poor is a vital part of his thinking. He reached out to people who were on the periphery and he cared about speaking up for those who had no voice. Some think that concern was central to everything he said and did and everything that is remembered about him.
Those thoughts are valid and any one of them could be considered the essence of what he was trying to bring in his message and life-example.
For me, I think what Jesus was about has to do with what he thought the world could become. I think he was promoting a time that is yet to be and encouraging people to imagine a world that is not yet. The world he imagined was a world that had all the traits of the world we know except things were turned upside down. The top becomes the bottom; the powerful become subservient; the outcasts become the welcomed in.
I think Jesus spent his time on earth imagining a different way of thinking and living. It defies description and it pushes our imagination and I believe he was completely serious about this.
To this day we are motivated to think that way. We are invited to consider the world as it could be even as we understand the world as it is. Knowing "what is" we are encouraged to imagine "what if".
If you are interested in a rough draft of the sermon indicate that and I will email that to you. You can contact me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you have ideas about the sermon send them on. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
We might have some difference of opinion as to what that was. Some think Jesus was serious about saving souls and winning people to himself as believers. Others see Jesus as concerned about the end of the world and the apocalyptic in-breaking of God into life and establishing the "messianic age".
There is some thought given to the ethical side of Jesus' teaching. The concern for the outcast and the poor is a vital part of his thinking. He reached out to people who were on the periphery and he cared about speaking up for those who had no voice. Some think that concern was central to everything he said and did and everything that is remembered about him.
Those thoughts are valid and any one of them could be considered the essence of what he was trying to bring in his message and life-example.
For me, I think what Jesus was about has to do with what he thought the world could become. I think he was promoting a time that is yet to be and encouraging people to imagine a world that is not yet. The world he imagined was a world that had all the traits of the world we know except things were turned upside down. The top becomes the bottom; the powerful become subservient; the outcasts become the welcomed in.
I think Jesus spent his time on earth imagining a different way of thinking and living. It defies description and it pushes our imagination and I believe he was completely serious about this.
To this day we are motivated to think that way. We are invited to consider the world as it could be even as we understand the world as it is. Knowing "what is" we are encouraged to imagine "what if".
If you are interested in a rough draft of the sermon indicate that and I will email that to you. You can contact me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you have ideas about the sermon send them on. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday's refection on Sunday's sermon
Two of the most important parts of our bible are the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes. They represent a pulling together of the Jewish Torah/law and the essence of Jesus' teaching. The sermon is working on the dynamic that exists between law and love and it reflects the importance of both.
When Moses brought laid down the law he presented something that helps people live in the world as the world is. The injunction that we shall not kill, we shall not commit adultery, we shall not steal, we shall not lie, we shall not take the name of God in vain, etc. The "thou shalt nots" are important in maintaining structure and order in life. When Moses came down the mountain with the commandments the people were ashamed because they had not lived up to the law.
When Jesus went up to the mount and he spoke the Beatitudes he raised up the love of God and helped his listeners begin to consider how it is to live in the world that is to come. The beatitudes were designed to help people think about a world where the meek were superior to the mighty; where the humble were more prominent than the haughty. He helped people lift up their eyes to begin to think about life in a whole new way.
The commandments and the beatitudes are essential parts of our faith. We need both. There are times in life when we must realize what it means to live in this world as it is and to live within the confines of natural law and the law of civil life. We also need to think of the way in which the world can be configured in the manner Jesus describes it. He understood the law and he lived it but he also wanted people to think of the world as other than it was where good prevails and people are kind and helpful and inspired by love.
We are Judeo-Christians and we have law and gospel. If we have either without the other our faith is incomplete.
Which do you think is most important? Law? or Gospel?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thought click on the 'comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
When Moses brought laid down the law he presented something that helps people live in the world as the world is. The injunction that we shall not kill, we shall not commit adultery, we shall not steal, we shall not lie, we shall not take the name of God in vain, etc. The "thou shalt nots" are important in maintaining structure and order in life. When Moses came down the mountain with the commandments the people were ashamed because they had not lived up to the law.
When Jesus went up to the mount and he spoke the Beatitudes he raised up the love of God and helped his listeners begin to consider how it is to live in the world that is to come. The beatitudes were designed to help people think about a world where the meek were superior to the mighty; where the humble were more prominent than the haughty. He helped people lift up their eyes to begin to think about life in a whole new way.
The commandments and the beatitudes are essential parts of our faith. We need both. There are times in life when we must realize what it means to live in this world as it is and to live within the confines of natural law and the law of civil life. We also need to think of the way in which the world can be configured in the manner Jesus describes it. He understood the law and he lived it but he also wanted people to think of the world as other than it was where good prevails and people are kind and helpful and inspired by love.
We are Judeo-Christians and we have law and gospel. If we have either without the other our faith is incomplete.
Which do you think is most important? Law? or Gospel?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thought click on the 'comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Monday's thoughts on next Sunday's sermon
"Jokingly, Jesus Was Serious"
Last Sunday we thought about the humor of Jesus and the ironic twist to his words when he called Simon "Peter" -- it means rock. Simon was anything but "rock" and many scholars believe this was said in jest.
This next Sunday I want to look at some of the things Jesus was serious about; deadly serious about.
Rudolf Bultmann is a biblical scholar and theologian who believed Jesus was completely serious about what he said and why he said it. Bultmann believed what is offered in the gospels is the call for "absolute obedience" and to understand Jesus the way he is meant to be understood is to have a grasp on the call from him that we present our lives as dedicated to a higher standard than we have ever considered.
In the sermon I am going to try to explore what we might consider as the basic direction of Jesus message of radical obedience and what that might be saying to us today.
What do you think he would call us to do today? What kind of obedience do you think is required of us?
I think it would have more to do with working for justice than perfecting our approach to worship and ritual. I think it would have to do with giving our lives in service than spending more time in prayer.
What do you think we are being called by our Christian faith to do or become?
I would like to hear from you. If you have thought 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
Last Sunday we thought about the humor of Jesus and the ironic twist to his words when he called Simon "Peter" -- it means rock. Simon was anything but "rock" and many scholars believe this was said in jest.
This next Sunday I want to look at some of the things Jesus was serious about; deadly serious about.
Rudolf Bultmann is a biblical scholar and theologian who believed Jesus was completely serious about what he said and why he said it. Bultmann believed what is offered in the gospels is the call for "absolute obedience" and to understand Jesus the way he is meant to be understood is to have a grasp on the call from him that we present our lives as dedicated to a higher standard than we have ever considered.
In the sermon I am going to try to explore what we might consider as the basic direction of Jesus message of radical obedience and what that might be saying to us today.
What do you think he would call us to do today? What kind of obedience do you think is required of us?
I think it would have more to do with working for justice than perfecting our approach to worship and ritual. I think it would have to do with giving our lives in service than spending more time in prayer.
What do you think we are being called by our Christian faith to do or become?
I would like to hear from you. If you have thought 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, January 14, 2011
Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon
When we think about Peter and how Jesus called him a "rock" we have to look at who he was and what he did. We conclude that for Jesus to call Simon Peter it is suggested that it was said in jest.
Simon Peter was irresponsible. He couldn't do what we was asked to do. He failed in so many ways.
Simon Peter was irrational and emotionally out of control. He had little sense of balance or appropriateness.
Simon Peter was erasable and angry. He created chaos when he should have been quelling it.
Peter needed psychotherapy, career counseling, and anger management. He was a problem disciple and yet Jesus called him "rock" and suggested upon the "rock" he would build the church.
He wasn't what he should have been but he became what he was needed to become.
That can give us hope when we think about what is asked of us and how we fall short.
Do you have some thoughts on this subject? If so write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your responses click on the 'comments' box below.
If you would like a rough draft of the sermon let me know and I am happy to send it to you via email.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Simon Peter was irresponsible. He couldn't do what we was asked to do. He failed in so many ways.
Simon Peter was irrational and emotionally out of control. He had little sense of balance or appropriateness.
Simon Peter was erasable and angry. He created chaos when he should have been quelling it.
Peter needed psychotherapy, career counseling, and anger management. He was a problem disciple and yet Jesus called him "rock" and suggested upon the "rock" he would build the church.
He wasn't what he should have been but he became what he was needed to become.
That can give us hope when we think about what is asked of us and how we fall short.
Do you have some thoughts on this subject? If so write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your responses click on the 'comments' box below.
If you would like a rough draft of the sermon let me know and I am happy to send it to you via email.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon
One of the episodes in the bible when it must have been true that Jesus was joking was at that point in the gospels when Jesus looks at Simon and says to him, "You are a 'rock' and upon this rock I will build my church."
The humor behind those words is evident when we think about the kind of person Simon was. To call Simon a rock had to be a joke. He was impetuous, irresponsible, and irritable. Peter was a ticking time-bomb of a human being. Of all the disciples to think that this particular one would be called "rock" had to leave the other disciples laughing.
Peter is one who fell asleep when Jesus asked him to stay awake with him in the garden before his arrest.
Peter is the disciple who cuts off the ear of the Roman guard when Jesus is arrested.
Peter is the disciple who claimed he would stay with Jesus no matter what happened to him, and Peter is the one who denied he even knew Jesus after Jesus had been taken away and the Romans were rounding up the followers of Jesus for trial and arrest.
Simon, called by Jesus Peter, must have been a joke. The name Jesus gave him must have been some inside humor and it seem obvious the disciple got the joke when Jesus called Simon by his new name.
What do you think about the humor in the bible and do you think Jesus was serious when he called Simon "Peter"?
There is much humor in the bible. Seriously, Jesus was joking many times when the interpreters have taken him soberly and have missed the point.
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 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
The humor behind those words is evident when we think about the kind of person Simon was. To call Simon a rock had to be a joke. He was impetuous, irresponsible, and irritable. Peter was a ticking time-bomb of a human being. Of all the disciples to think that this particular one would be called "rock" had to leave the other disciples laughing.
Peter is one who fell asleep when Jesus asked him to stay awake with him in the garden before his arrest.
Peter is the disciple who cuts off the ear of the Roman guard when Jesus is arrested.
Peter is the disciple who claimed he would stay with Jesus no matter what happened to him, and Peter is the one who denied he even knew Jesus after Jesus had been taken away and the Romans were rounding up the followers of Jesus for trial and arrest.
Simon, called by Jesus Peter, must have been a joke. The name Jesus gave him must have been some inside humor and it seem obvious the disciple got the joke when Jesus called Simon by his new name.
What do you think about the humor in the bible and do you think Jesus was serious when he called Simon "Peter"?
There is much humor in the bible. Seriously, Jesus was joking many times when the interpreters have taken him soberly and have missed the point.
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 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Monday's thoughts on next Sunday's sermon
"Seriously, Jesus was Joking"
Every now and then I need to get in touch with an idea that has been promoted by a number of credible theologians including Elton Trueblood. It is the idea that much of the Gospel is spoken in light of a certain amount of irony. There is humor in the words and they speak to us and come much more alive to us if we realize it.
Trueblood wrote a book entitled The Humor of Christ.
What I want to explore in this sermon is precisely that. I want to take a look at some of the things attributed to Jesus and I want to put those words in the context from which they are spoken. I want to look for the ironic humor in his words.
We have come up with the assumption that every thing he was about and everything he said was absolutely and completely serious. With that assumption we are overlooking the fact that, in the New Testament texts themselves, there are example of criticisms of Jesus and how he and his followers were inappropriately rowdy and loud. Being in the midst of that "table fellowship" which was what the disciples experienced there was laughter and fun. He attracted people because he helped people see religion as a life giving power rather than a sober and deadly set of doctrines and practices.
As I think about the humor of Christ and where we might find it I think of some of those really difficult passages such as the time he said, "If your hand causes you to sin cut it off." Was he serious? Was he joking?
I think about the time he called Simon by a new name and suggested that his name would become Peter which means "rock" and he said, "upon this rock I will build my church". Was that serious? Peter was one of the most unstable of the disciples and when Jesus called him "rock" it could have been said as an ironic joke.
Do you think all the saying attributed to Jesus are serious? Are there sections of the New Testament that would make more sense to you if they were put forth as ironic and as humorous?
What do you think about this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Every now and then I need to get in touch with an idea that has been promoted by a number of credible theologians including Elton Trueblood. It is the idea that much of the Gospel is spoken in light of a certain amount of irony. There is humor in the words and they speak to us and come much more alive to us if we realize it.
Trueblood wrote a book entitled The Humor of Christ.
What I want to explore in this sermon is precisely that. I want to take a look at some of the things attributed to Jesus and I want to put those words in the context from which they are spoken. I want to look for the ironic humor in his words.
We have come up with the assumption that every thing he was about and everything he said was absolutely and completely serious. With that assumption we are overlooking the fact that, in the New Testament texts themselves, there are example of criticisms of Jesus and how he and his followers were inappropriately rowdy and loud. Being in the midst of that "table fellowship" which was what the disciples experienced there was laughter and fun. He attracted people because he helped people see religion as a life giving power rather than a sober and deadly set of doctrines and practices.
As I think about the humor of Christ and where we might find it I think of some of those really difficult passages such as the time he said, "If your hand causes you to sin cut it off." Was he serious? Was he joking?
I think about the time he called Simon by a new name and suggested that his name would become Peter which means "rock" and he said, "upon this rock I will build my church". Was that serious? Peter was one of the most unstable of the disciples and when Jesus called him "rock" it could have been said as an ironic joke.
Do you think all the saying attributed to Jesus are serious? Are there sections of the New Testament that would make more sense to you if they were put forth as ironic and as humorous?
What do you think about this? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with others click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, January 7, 2011
Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon
Like most things in life the solution to things is more attitudinal. What we think determines so much of what we are and what we become. If we cannot become younger while we age we can develop an attitude that will make us seem young while we are becoming older.
I think there are three approaches to life that will keep us young at heart. Here they are:
1. Be ultimately connected;
If we can find a way that our little problems are related to something cosmic then the problems we have will be able to be put into perspective and the problems won't get to us.
2. Be eternally grateful;
If we can think of the bad things in our lives as containing something good then we can find the gift in life and we will not become resentful and discouraged.
3. Be absolutely positive;
If we can live with the expectation that the next step will be better than the last step was we can walk with a high degree of hope for what is coming and we can avoid looking at life with fear in our heart and discouragement.
Gratitude, and perspective and positiveness will make us young and keep us from becoming bitter.
That's the way I see it. What do you think? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net and if you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
If you would like a rough draft of the sermon as it is today or tomorrow morning indicate that and I am happy to email it to you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
I think there are three approaches to life that will keep us young at heart. Here they are:
1. Be ultimately connected;
If we can find a way that our little problems are related to something cosmic then the problems we have will be able to be put into perspective and the problems won't get to us.
2. Be eternally grateful;
If we can think of the bad things in our lives as containing something good then we can find the gift in life and we will not become resentful and discouraged.
3. Be absolutely positive;
If we can live with the expectation that the next step will be better than the last step was we can walk with a high degree of hope for what is coming and we can avoid looking at life with fear in our heart and discouragement.
Gratitude, and perspective and positiveness will make us young and keep us from becoming bitter.
That's the way I see it. What do you think? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net and if you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
If you would like a rough draft of the sermon as it is today or tomorrow morning indicate that and I am happy to email it to you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Wednesday's thoughts on next Sunday's sermon
I have learned that our recent finance campaign has been the most successful campaign we have had in the years I have been at the church (8 years of raising pledges to fund the program and ministry of the church).
We have received $840,000 in pledges. That is over $50,000 more in pledges than we had last year. That is over $100,000 from people who didn't pledge the year before.
Why was our church so successful this year?
I think it is because we have become a church that sees a need and fills it and a church that sees a hurt and heals it.
We have assisted in starting a new congregation in Wellington.
We have sent people to Kenya, Guatemala, South Dakota, and the homeless in San Francisco. We have youth who have gone to Salt Lake City to work in the mission in the warehouse for The United Methodist Committee on Relief and have worked with some of the helping agencies in Utah.
We have brought in world class speakers like Eugene Lowry who preached on Commitment Sunday, and Rabbi Sandy Sasso who spoke to us about children's spirituality.
We are working with the Hospitality Network to make our building available on a rotation basis with other churches to house homeless families.
We continue to support the Safe House for battered women. We continue to support the Habitat for Humanity and Putnam School.
We see a need and fill it.
We see a hurt and heal it.
This is a church with mission, with passion for people, and this is a church where people with a passion for ministry are given the resources and support to fulfill it.
That's the reason our pledges are increased.
That's the reason our church has a future.
The members of the church know if we are "ultimately connected" we will be able to employ the financial resources we have to achieve great things.
How do we stay young while growing older? What are your thoughts?
What makes this church the wonderful church it is?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
We have received $840,000 in pledges. That is over $50,000 more in pledges than we had last year. That is over $100,000 from people who didn't pledge the year before.
Why was our church so successful this year?
I think it is because we have become a church that sees a need and fills it and a church that sees a hurt and heals it.
We have assisted in starting a new congregation in Wellington.
We have sent people to Kenya, Guatemala, South Dakota, and the homeless in San Francisco. We have youth who have gone to Salt Lake City to work in the mission in the warehouse for The United Methodist Committee on Relief and have worked with some of the helping agencies in Utah.
We have brought in world class speakers like Eugene Lowry who preached on Commitment Sunday, and Rabbi Sandy Sasso who spoke to us about children's spirituality.
We are working with the Hospitality Network to make our building available on a rotation basis with other churches to house homeless families.
We continue to support the Safe House for battered women. We continue to support the Habitat for Humanity and Putnam School.
We see a need and fill it.
We see a hurt and heal it.
This is a church with mission, with passion for people, and this is a church where people with a passion for ministry are given the resources and support to fulfill it.
That's the reason our pledges are increased.
That's the reason our church has a future.
The members of the church know if we are "ultimately connected" we will be able to employ the financial resources we have to achieve great things.
How do we stay young while growing older? What are your thoughts?
What makes this church the wonderful church it is?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Monday't thoughts on next Sunday's sermon
"Youth; Get Over It"
1111 was an important day. We measure our lives both by our birthdays and by the turn of the calendar to a new year and we have experienced what it means to move forward from one year to the next. Health clubs will be accepting new memberships and people with resolutions will join in the expectation of moving the clock or the scales backward toward a better weight or a lesser year.
If we are 40 we'd like to look 30. If we are 30 we remember when we were 20 and wish for those days again. When we turn 50 they speak of us as if we were "over the hill" and when the number reaches 60 we have moved beyond the hill.
I remember the year I turned 50. I wrote my uncle and told him turning 50 was sobering. He wrote back and said, "If turning 50 is sobering, turning 80 is total abstinence."
We are a society preoccupied with youth and yet it is important to foster and encourage a young spirit so that the chronological age isn't as relevant as the spiritual factor.
Sunday we will think about the baptism of Jesus and how he told John it was important for him to be baptized. Aside from the obvious irony in that (why would Jesus need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sin when we have always believed he was without sin?), there is something important being communicated to us. Jesus is the model for our faith in so many ways but perhaps one of the most important examples he gave us is to have shown us what it means to have a young spirit. He was a person who was willing to give himself totally to the situation. His baptism is thought to be an example of his desire to experience everything each of us experiences. His wish to be totally human as we are human is an example of what a youthful spirit is.
Who are the "young at heart" of the people you know? Who are the people who have come into your life who have had a young soul?
One of the youngest spirits I have ever met was Douglas Steere. Dr. Steere was a Quaker mystic. His book on prayer is a Christian classic. He came to Boulder, First Church as a part of the "Theologian in Residence" program when I was appointed as senior pastor. He was in his 90's. He and his wife were fun to be around. I had the privilege of taking them to Denver to meet Sister Mary Luke Tobin. They were old friends and all three of them were elderly. Being around them I felt old; they were the young at heart. I wanted to know their secret. I wanted to find what was behind the twinkle in their eyes. I think I understood it.
Sunday I'd like to share it with you.
What does it mean to be young at heart? Who are some of the people who have shown this for you?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thought with other readers of our web page click on the "comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
1111 was an important day. We measure our lives both by our birthdays and by the turn of the calendar to a new year and we have experienced what it means to move forward from one year to the next. Health clubs will be accepting new memberships and people with resolutions will join in the expectation of moving the clock or the scales backward toward a better weight or a lesser year.
If we are 40 we'd like to look 30. If we are 30 we remember when we were 20 and wish for those days again. When we turn 50 they speak of us as if we were "over the hill" and when the number reaches 60 we have moved beyond the hill.
I remember the year I turned 50. I wrote my uncle and told him turning 50 was sobering. He wrote back and said, "If turning 50 is sobering, turning 80 is total abstinence."
We are a society preoccupied with youth and yet it is important to foster and encourage a young spirit so that the chronological age isn't as relevant as the spiritual factor.
Sunday we will think about the baptism of Jesus and how he told John it was important for him to be baptized. Aside from the obvious irony in that (why would Jesus need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sin when we have always believed he was without sin?), there is something important being communicated to us. Jesus is the model for our faith in so many ways but perhaps one of the most important examples he gave us is to have shown us what it means to have a young spirit. He was a person who was willing to give himself totally to the situation. His baptism is thought to be an example of his desire to experience everything each of us experiences. His wish to be totally human as we are human is an example of what a youthful spirit is.
Who are the "young at heart" of the people you know? Who are the people who have come into your life who have had a young soul?
One of the youngest spirits I have ever met was Douglas Steere. Dr. Steere was a Quaker mystic. His book on prayer is a Christian classic. He came to Boulder, First Church as a part of the "Theologian in Residence" program when I was appointed as senior pastor. He was in his 90's. He and his wife were fun to be around. I had the privilege of taking them to Denver to meet Sister Mary Luke Tobin. They were old friends and all three of them were elderly. Being around them I felt old; they were the young at heart. I wanted to know their secret. I wanted to find what was behind the twinkle in their eyes. I think I understood it.
Sunday I'd like to share it with you.
What does it mean to be young at heart? Who are some of the people who have shown this for you?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thought with other readers of our web page click on the "comments" box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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