Monday, May 25, 2015

Prayer is a Power Thing

A couple of Sundays ago, I preached on the power of prayer. Here are some excerpts from that sermon.

Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered she had certain instructions for her son: "Now you're not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don't even ask."

She put him in the child's seat and off they went up and down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. Seeing the chocolate chip cookies he said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you not even to ask. You're not going to get any at all." They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items she had to back track and they ended up in the cookie aisle again. "Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you that you can't have any. Now sit down and be quiet."

Finally, they arrived at the checkout. The little boy sensed that the end was in sight, that this might be his last chance. He stood up on the seat and shouted in his loudest voice, "In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?" Everyone in the checkout lanes laughed and applauded. Do you think the little boy got his cookies? You bet! The other shoppers moved by his daring pooled their resources. The little boy and his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies. (1)

Prayer sometimes can be like asking for a box of chocolate chip cookies.

I believe one of the dangers we fall in to in our prayer life is that we lose sight of who God created us to be.  Prayer is seen by many as a private thing – between me and God – which in many ways it is… it is a one-on-one communication with God.  But in praying, it is sometimes easy for our prayers to become nothing more than a selfish listing of what I want, what I need, and what I am about, and totally ignores the others around us.

As I have said before, God created us to be a part of community.  God created us as a people – and calls us to live our lives as a part of the Body of Christ.  Sin breaks in when our focus turns to self and ignores the neighbor.  Notice in Jesus’ prayer that his prayer is for the community, for the world, for unity for ALL.


Dr Anna Madsen (a wonderful Lutheran theologian I got to hear a couple weeks ago) writes this:
The Hebrew word that we translate in Scripture as righteous also can be translated as properly aligned. Prayer is a moment to become properly aligned, rightly oriented, to the thing that defines who we are.

This is why it is so key to identify who our God is, or what we understand God to be. Prayer provides us the opportunity to become aligned again, to remind ourselves that we are not alone, that we live in community. (2)

Prayer is more than asking for a box of cookies. But it is ALSO about asking for a box of cookies. Since we ARE in relationship with God, and prayer allows us to be continually connected to God, it is important to share with God what is on our hearts, our minds, our hopes and fears.

Prayer invites us to live our lives as God’s children. And if we truly look at prayer as that, our prayers focus not simply on what I want, but what God is calling me to do and be as a child of God.

Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray what he told them?   When you pray, pray this way – “Our Father.”  Not MY Father.  OUR.  It begins with community!

I came across the following in my daily devotions a few years ago – it is called “A few thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer.”
  • I cannot pray "OUR", if my faith has no room for others and their need.
  • I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN", if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
  • I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME", if I am not striving, with God's help, to be holy.
  • I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME", if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
  • I cannot pray "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN", unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
  • I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD", without expending honest effort for it, or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread that I receive.
  • I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US", if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
  • I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION", if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
  • I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL", if I am not prepared to fight evil with my life and my prayer.
  • I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM", if I am unwilling to obey God.
  • I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY", if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
  • I cannot pray "FOR EVER AND EVER", if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
  • I cannot pray "AMEN", unless I honestly say ..."Cost what it may, this is my prayer. (3)
Prayer – it is more than asking for a box of cookies.  It is about being one with God, and letting God lead the way.

Prayer – it’s a powerful thing.


Peace,

Pastor Charlie

A video addition - Blessings by Laura Story



  1. http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-stories-faith-60321.asp
  2. Dr. Anna Madsen - http://omgcenter.com/blog/
  3. http://www.christianstudy.com/data/illu/sie0003.html

Monday, May 18, 2015

God's Got a Grip On Me

Last Saturday, we gathered at Epiphany for the funeral of Susan Krueckeberg. I thought I would share some of my message for this week's blog.

Hear again the word of the Lord - Lamentations 3, a modern translation:

I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.  How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).  He’s all I’ve got left.
...Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
(selected verses from Lamentations 3 – The Message)

On Sunday, May 10th - Mother's Day - the Gospel lesson was from the 15th chapter of John. In that lesson, we hear Jesus tell his disciples a couple of important things before he leaves them:
#1.  Love one another. Just as I have loved you.  #2. Remember, I chose you, not the other way around. 

After preaching on this text, I stopped in the office to check messages. Norm had called. I could hear in his voice that things were not good. Sue was back in the hospital and in ICU. I made my way over to Kettering and met with Norm and Scott and Stacie and Sue, and heard that things were worse than not good.

After three and a half months of good days and not so good days, hopes and fears, steps forward and backward, there was nothing more that could be done. We prayed together, cried together, and started to make plans for this day. The grip on hope seemed to be slipping. How difficult it is to have hope when there seems to be no sign of hope anywhere!

BUT - I believe that is where God meets us. For when we have no hope, the only thing that remains is God’s promises. I love you. I chose you. You are mine. Forever. For long ago in the waters of baptism, God made a promise to Sue. God said, this one belongs to me. And while our grip may be slipping, God’s grasp of grace will never let go. It is HOPE in this, as Paul reminds the church in Rome, hope that does not disappoint us. (Romans 5)

You see, Jesus came to help us see that it is God’s grip on us that is so much stronger than our grip on to God. A grip so strong that nothing, not even death can release God’s embrace. For this reason, we gather in this place, and remember God’s promises, and place our hopes and fears in God, and in God alone. 


The sermon hymn that followed was "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."
When my way grows drear
When the darkness appears



Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

And the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home



Peace,
Pastor Charlie




Monday, May 11, 2015

The Guy with the Sign

Every Monday Morning, at the corner of Alex Bell Road and Far Hills Avenue, you will find a man standing on the corner with a large sign. It is a message of hope and encouragement, and it changes every week. Today the sign read on one side, "You Are Loved" and on the other, "There is Always Hope." The man standing at the corner waves and smiles at everyone he can. Every Monday I that I see him, he makes my day.

A couple months ago, the Dayton Daily News ran an article about this man. I commend it to you to learn about this man and his reason for doing what he does.

Man’s signs lift moods | Dayton, OH

Today (I am writing this on Monday), I decided I would watch the people's reactions to the guy with the sign instead of focusing on him. What fun! The smiles, the waves, the woman taking a picture of the guy with the sign with her phone as she drove by. What a great way to start a Monday!

What I appreciate about the guy with the sign is that there is no ulterior motive, no negative statement, no strings attached - it is a grace-full message. It is for you. It is a gift.

Hmmm. This sounds somewhat familiar, doesn't it? A grace-full message - no strings attached. A message of hope and love. I hope and pray that is what we share each week in worship, as well as in our welcome and sharing in all we do as a church.

God loves you! A lot! So much so God gave Jesus to us to show us how to live, how to love, how to forgive. Jesus loved the unlovable, touched the untouchable, and forgave the unforgivable. Jesus emptied himself of all the trappings of heaven and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. On the cross he took our sin upon himself. This one who knew no sin became sin, so that we might be made right and clean and whole in the presence of God. On the cross he died.  But death could not contain Him. The tomb is empty and life wins. All this is yours as a gift.

If that doesn't make your day, I don't know what will.

What is the message you would share?

What kind of reaction do you think you would get?

Peace,

Pastor Charlie

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Walkout songs

Last week, I had the chance to go to a Cincinnati Reds game, and enjoy the surrounds, sights and sounds of the ballpark. Even though the home team lost, it was still a good time. Sitting in the upper deck on a sunny day, I got a bit of a sunburn, but have received no sympathy from anyone about that.

Times have changed at the ballpark (not just the prices!). Back in the day, it used to be that a batter would walk up to the plate to the sounds of an announcer saying his name and maybe, if you were lucky, his position. It was all so formal, almost solemn. "Now batting… third baseman…Aurelio... Rodriguez."

Things are different nowadays. On the big screen in Left Field is all the the information in the world about the player coming to bat - more than one person can comprehend in the time that person is at bat. And now, when the batter comes to the plate, the baseball players get their own walkout or walk-up songs - the song that is played when they come to bat.

What song would you have as your walkout song? What song would you have played when you step to the plate for your first major league at bat? Oh the choices are endless, aren't they?

And what walkout songs would Jesus have used for his ministry? There are definitely different songs for the different aspects of his ministry, and many of our hymns focus on that and would fit the bill.

I encourage you to think of what songs are the songs that would define you and your faith journey.

Care to share what those songs might be?

Peace,

Pastor Charlie
(short blog today - at a Continuing Ed event this week)