Are You Listening?

History tells us Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945) hated the long receiving lines during his time in the White House. He often complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. As each person passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir.” It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were heard. He heard the President say, “I murdered my grandmother this morning” and responded, “I’m sure she had it coming.” That story reminds us that listening does not come naturally. Listening is a true art.

It is my experience that people don’t listen for several reasons. Some don’t hear because their ears are damaged or broken. According to the Rochester Institute of Technology, nearly 11,000,000 Americans consider themselves deaf or hard of hearing. That is 3.6% of our population. Some don’t hear because of what my father called selective hearing. That happens when we hear the words, but we dismiss them because we don’t like or value what is being communicated. Like when the doctor tells you to lose weight and exercise. Or, like when your minister says you are to love everyone unconditionally. You hear the words, but you dismiss the words. Some don’t hear because they are preoccupied. I find myself in that category. I cannot tell you how many times I was physically present to hear the words but mentally I was a million miles away. How many times have you said, “Can you say that again? I wasn’t paying attention.” That is what is happening in our scripture lesson.

We are in the thirteenth chapter of Acts. The first three verses of that chapter explain the rest of the book. According to those verses, it all began in the church at Antioch. The teachers and prophets had assembled when the Holy Spirit began to move. There were seven people present and each one got the same message. They were to set Barnabas and Paul apart to begin their lives’ purpose. They were created to win the world for Jesus. 

According to our reading, Acts 13:4-12, Barnabas and Paul began their missionary journey on the island of Cyprus. They are accompanied by Barnabas’s cousin John, who later wrote the Gospel of Mark. Their method of teaching was straightforward. They walked into a local synagogue and proclaimed the word of God. People responded to their message in every congregation. In one of those congregations, they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet by the name of Bar-Jesus. “Bar” is Aramaic for “son of”; “Jesus” is derived from the Greek word for “Joshua.” In verse 8, Bar-Jesus is called “Elymas”, which is the Greek word for sorcerer or magician. Bar-Jesus was the assistant to the proconsul, or governor, of the entire island. The proconsul’s name was Sergius Paulus, who is remembered as a gifted man. He sent his assistant, Bar-Jesus, to Barnabas and Paul for one reason. Like many, he too wanted to hear the word of God. The story would have gone unrecorded except for one thing: the sorcerer Bar-Jesus (or Elymas) tried to turn the governor away from the faith. In the end, a show-down occurs between the sorcerer and God. Bar-Jesus is no match for the Almighty and finds himself temporarily blind. The whole event becomes a great witness for God. No one present could question God’s powers.

When I first read the story, I thought it was odd. When was the last time you met a sorcerer? Then, I read the story a second, third and fourth time. In the end, I read it countless times and every time I read it, the point became clearer. Every day, we play the part of the Roman proconsul. He wanted to hear the word of God, but he was frustrated by Satan. We too want to hear the word of God, but Satan frustrates us. The problem is not that God mumbles. The problem is our lives are filled with so many distractions. Satan uses those distractions to prevent us from hearing God’s words. How many distractions has Satan put in your life to prevent you from hearing God?

Years ago, I had breakfast with a friend. He told the story of going to a funeral of a woman who had died from a drug overdose. As he stood in the back trying to support the grieving family, someone walked up to him and said, “The devil is sitting over there.” He must have looked confused because the person said the same thing in a different way. This time the person said, “The drug dealer is over there.” The drug dealer came to pay his final respects. Do you consider drug dealers the devil? 

Years ago, I stood at the back door leading out of the sanctuary and said, “Good-bye,” to everyone. One person looked at me and said, “Russ, you will never guess what I am going to do this week.” I didn’t have a clue. I thought, go to a ballgame, or go to dinner at an expensive restaurant. She looked at me with a big smile and said, “I am going with a friend to a psychic reader!” My head spun around a few times, and I didn’t know what to say. She caught me off guard. Psychic readers are wrong at so many levels. The Bible takes a hard stand against such things. Leviticus 20:27 says, “spiritualists should be stoned to death.” There is nothing entertaining about psychics. They are simply sinister. I do not question their insight. I do question the source of their insight – Satan, himself. Have you ever been to a spiritualist? Every community has several psychics. Let me say this clearly, Satan loves it when you do such things, because they distract you from God. Satan doesn’t want us to hear God.

Can I state the obvious? Our world is filled with “dark” distractions. Satan has filled our world with all kinds of addictions. Our local, national, and international news is filled with all kinds of addictions. We have people who are addicted to alcohol. We have people who addicted to drugs. We have people who are addicted to pornography. We have people who are addicted to gambling. Every community seems to have a place to gamble. Thirty states have statewide lotteries. According to WalletHub, Americans lose $100 billion annually gambling. We are losing children to human trafficking. It is easy to attach those things to Satan, because so many lives have been destroyed by them. Some of our distractions are “dark.”

Some of our distractions aren’t so dark. Our lives are filled with “positive” distractions. There is a website called livingforjesus.com. It says there are seven things that distract us from hearing God. None of them are sinister in nature, but each one prevents us from hearing God. This is their list: 

  1. Money – That is why proper money management is important. Money makes a wonderful slave but a horrible master.  
  2. Media – How much time do you spend watching TV? How much time do you spend reading secular material. How much time do you spend on social media?
  3. Church – Have you ever gone to church and failed to experience God because you were consumed by some other church activity? Have you ever gone to church and failed to experience God because you were too busy socializing?
  4. Relationships – Family and friends are time consuming. How much time do you spend with people in your life? How much time do you spend with God?
  5. Routine – Is spending time with God part of your daily routine? 
  6. Work – How many people do you know work more than 40 hours a week? Time management is important, and life must be lived in balance.
  7. Hobbies – How much time do you spend entertaining yourself?  Hobbies are important but they cannot consume your life.

This is the point. Our lives are so full that we have very little time left to hear God. When was the last time God spoke to you? When was the last time you gave God an opportunity to speak to you?

One of the greatest preachers of the twentieth century was a man by the name of Fred Craddock (1928-2015). I have written about him in the past. No one influenced my preaching more than Fred Craddock. He taught homiletics at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. However, I will always remember him as a great storyteller. I have told you some of his stories in the past. This is another one.

He once sat in a group of incoming seminary students. Each student was asked to tell their story, how God had led them into the ministry. One by one the students spoke. Each story was different, but each story was the same. One story stood out. A man in his late thirties told the group he had been a teacher. He worked with children who had a hard time hearing. He said his work was both heartbreaking and exhausting. Every student struggled hearing anything. He said he just couldn’t do it anymore. The end came with a little girl by the name of Susan. She was as cute as a button. One day she was in the playground, and he tried to talk to her. He walked up to Susan and looked at her square in the face. He said, “Susan, what do you want to do when you grow up?” Susan responded, “My shoes are red!” She didn’t hear a word. The incoming student said it was so heartbreaking that he had to leave. Fred looked at the student and said, “If you are going into the ministry, then you’d better get used to people not listening. Every church has a surplus of people who just don’t listen.”

Sometime later, Fred was on vacation in Texas. Sunday morning came and he was in a strange community. He just walked into a convenient church to see if God had a word for him. He sat alone in the back and was pleasantly surprised. Everything about the worship was perfect. The preaching was solid. The music was inspirational. The prayers were sincere, and the spirit was moving. He was sad to see the benediction come because God was speaking to him. After the benediction was given, he just stood there with his head down and his eyes closed. He wanted to absorb the last spiritual crumb. When he finally looked up, a man was standing next to him. The stranger stuck out his hand and said, “Do you think the Cowboys will win today?” Fred said, what the man was really saying was, “My shoes are red!” Like it or not, our lives are filled with all kinds of distractions that prevent us from hearing God’s word. The question is not if God has a word for you. He does. The question is, are you listening?

The Choice Is Yours

Did you know, according to PBS North Carolina, the average person makes approximately 35,000 decisions in a single day. Obviously, not every decision we make is a major decision. There is a difference between deciding to get married and deciding on what to eat for lunch. However, each decision carries consequences.

There is a website called 12most.com. They tell us there are twelve different kinds of choices you make in your life. It must be true because it is on the internet. This is their list: 

Choice to learn      Are you trying to learn something new every day? Knowledge is a choice. 

Choices in and of relations       Do you surround yourself with people, or not? How close do you let people get to you?  

Choice of personal health         Are you eating your fruits and vegetables? Do you exercise? Or are you smoking like a chimney and drinking like a fish?  

Choice of where you reside      Are you going to live in the city, or the country? Are you going to live in the north, or the south?  

Choice of personal finances     How comfortable are you with personal debt? Would you take a loan out to buy an RV? 

Choice of parenthood     Are you going to have children? How are you going to raise your children? 

Choice of life’s priorities           What are the most important things to you?

Choice of vocation           What are you going to do when you grow up? 

Choice of time       We spend our time on the things that are the most important to us. What takes up most of your week? 

Choice of spirituality         Are you going to be a Christian, or one of the other world religions? Are you going to be a true disciple and strive to be a little more like Jesus every day? Or are you just a church member? Are you going to be an atheist or an agnostic?

Choice of self-worth       Do you see yourself as a child of God, or the runt of the litter? Do you like yourself? Are you proud of yourself?

Choice to choose  Are you going to take control of your life, or just do what others expect?  

Life is filled with choices. Each choice we make comes with a consequence. The church is not excluded. In the life of the church, we make many decisions. That is why discerning God’s will is important. That takes us to our scripture lesson.

We find ourselves in the first three verses of the thirteenth chapter of Acts. There is absolutely no association with the previous story, except to say the church is growing. According to our text, the prophets and teachers had assembled in Antioch. Some believe the names listed are in order of importance. If they are correct, then Barnabas is the most influential member in that congregation and Saul is the least. They were worshiping and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The divine helper is clear in his communication. He tells the assembly to set apart Barnabas and Saul. They are about to begin their divine purpose. Everyone heard what the Holy Spirit said, so everyone fasted and prayed before they laid hands on them. Before long, Barnabas and Paul were gone.

It is a great story, but it frustrates me. Look at the story one more time. There were five people present. When the Holy Spirit spoke, all five got the message. It doesn’t say that Simeon or Lucius missed it. It doesn’t say only two got it. It doesn’t say some got a different message. It says all five got the same message and did what God commanded. I find this short story frustrating because that is not my experience within the local church. In the churches I served everyone seemed to hear something different, so everyone is pulling in a different direction. I was always in the middle trying to keep the group together. I found that to be extremely exhausting. Discerning God’s will is not easy.

One of the things I clearly have in my life is my calling. I can say that today; I couldn’t always. When I graduated from college, I worked in the secular world for three years. I hated every day. It all seemed so pointless. I see my calling now, but I didn’t go to seminary right away because of self-doubt. I didn’t do poorly in school, but I was never comfortable in the academic world. My parents never encouraged me to go into the ministry because they thought I was too social, not academic enough. They were wrong! One of the reasons I was successful in the local church was that I wasn’t too academic, and I was social. This is the point. My life would have been much easier if God would have spoken to my whole family, like God spoke to the five in the scripture lesson. God never told my parents about my calling, I had to convince them. God rarely speaks in a loud voice. Instead, God normally speaks to us in a soft, still voice. No wonder we ask God time and time again, “what do you want us to do”? 

If you google the phase, “how to discern God’s will.” Countless websites will be suggested. Apparently, there is a surplus of people trying to discern God’s will. All the websites were different, but they were all the same. A man by the name of Ron Edmonson seemed to have the best summarization. He says you can discern God’s will for your life by asking five questions. Each question is biblically based. No question is more important than another; they act in concert. I hope you remember them the next time you are faced with a difficult decision. I hope you remember them the next time you are trying to discern God’s will. These are Edmonson’s five questions: 

Does what you are considering conflict with the scriptures? That means you must read the Bible. Our country has spent a great deal on education. Use your education and read the Bible. There is no reason you should be ignorant of the Bible. There are some wonderful tools to help you understand the Bible. Be honest with yourself. How often do you read the Bible? Maybe one of the reasons you can’t discern God’s will is that you’re not reading the Bible? 

Does what you are considering conflict with your wise counsel? The faith was never to be lived out in isolation. That is why fellowship within the church is important. How many spiritually mature friends do you have? Spending time talking about sports or recipes will not help you discern God’s will. You need to cultivate some spiritually mature friends. What do your spiritually mature friends think about your plan of action? 

Does what you are considering conflict with the spirit within you? The Holy Spirit lives within each believer. Listen to Him. Does what you are considering bring you peace, or conflict? There has never been a time in your life when you were orphaned. God has always been with you. God is with you now. Is what you are considering bringing you closer to God?

Does what you are considering conflict with your experience? God gave you a brain; He expects you to use it. With age comes experience and wisdom. What are your past experiences telling you about your present situation? 

Does what you are considering conflict with your passion for life? God tends to call us to do the things that fuel our fire. When I look at Bible characters like Joseph, David, the disciples, Abraham, or Paul, it appears their calling matched their wiring. Your passion and your calling stand side by side.  

I like those five questions because they remind me of the old Wesleyan Quadrilateral. The founder of the great Methodist movement, John Wesley (1703-1791) believed you could discern God’s will by considering four things: scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. Wesley believed it should be heavy on scripture. The commonality between John Wesley and Ron Edmonson is shocking.

Did you know approximately one hundred churches close in America each week? That figure came from Palmetto Family Research in South Carolina. After I retired, I worshipped in one of those churches. Located on the border between Pennsylvania and Ohio, in eastern Ohio, their last worship service was held on April 23rd of this year. Like the death of a terminally ill person, the death of that church was expected, yet it was still shocking. Everyone knew the end was coming, yet no one could prevent it. Weekly the faithful few gathered. They were nice people who talked about a wide variety of things. They reminisced about the “glory days” of their community. They reviewed the noteworthy news headlines. They lamented how the world had changed. They boasted about the latest conquest of their local high school team. They talked about everything, but they didn’t talk about their dying church. It was clear to me – they were in denial. With a world of things they could have done to save their church, they did nothing. In other words, they decided to close. Every decision we make has consequences.

I do not want to sound cold, but I want to be honest. I do not believe that now defunct church tried to discern God’s will. I have a hard time believing God told them to close. After all, our world is filled with physical and spiritual needs. It isn’t just true of churches. It is true of individuals. The choices we make say a great deal about ourselves and our faith. What is God calling you to do?

Your God

We find ourselves in the twelfth chapter of Acts, verses 12b-24. According to the text, Herod the Great (c. 72 BCE – c. 4 BCE), the Roman authority in that corner of the world, went to the harbor town of Caesarea in Judea. The day began like every other day. Herod was working. On his agenda were the representatives of the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They proposed peace with Herod because they were dependent on the king’s territory for food. Herod made a big show of the event. Trying to impress his people, he wore his royal robes, sat on his royal throne, and delivered a powerful message. The event was more than he could have dreamed. He energized the crowd. Verse 22 says, “This is the voice of a god, not a man.” Herod’s large ego must have grown even larger. He must have felt like the crowd was right, he was a god! Then, the unthinkable happened.

This magnificent scene of political power is ruined by human weakness. The author of Acts says it was the work of an angel. He died because of his own arrogance; Herod did not give his praise to God. In the end, he was eaten by worms. Our modern world would say he had a stroke or an aneurism, maybe a heart attack. Two thousand years later, the cause of death really doesn’t matter. The only thing that really matters is that Herod, the one-time god in the eyes of the people, was dead. The story reminds us how fast life can change. The story also reminds us of how easy it is to mix up our priorities. In the Christian faith, our top priority must be God!That leads us to our question for today: Who is your god? 

Did you know, according to the Pew Research, 31.1% of the world’s population are Christian. That makes Christianity the largest religion in the world, yet we are also a minority in the world. That means 68.9% of the world population are not Christian. Each world religion has a different understanding of God. The Islamic faith, 24.9% of the world’s population, has a different understanding of God than Christianity. The Asian regions, Hinduism, and Buddhism, 15.1% and 6.9% respectively of the world’s population, have a different understanding of God than Christianity. The Hebrew faith, .2% of the world’s population, has a different understanding of God than Christianity. There are many who do not believe there is a god. Atheists and agnostics make up 7% of the world’s population. While all of this is true, the story is not about theological differences. The story is about mixed-up priorities. You can claim Christianity as your own and still have other gods. Who is your god?  

There is a dark side to that question. Do you know anyone who has been scammed? According to CNBC Americans lost $5.8 billion to fraud last year. That is up 70% in the last three years. I find that figure shocking. There is nothing wrong with money, but you cannot make it your god. It is not just true of money. It is true of many things in our society. How many lives do you know have been ruined by alcohol? There are 29.5 million alcoholics in America. They have made alcohol their god. Cirrhosis of the liver is a horrible way to die. Did you know nearly 99,000 Americans died due to drug overdose? Drugs were their god. Child pornography must be at an all-time high. It makes me sick to my stomach. For some pornography is this god. Do I have to go on? Do I really have to go on? Our society has made many sinister things their god. They will sacrifice everything else in life for their god. However, this is our question for the day. 

Who is your god? The question is not aimed at someone else. The question is aimed at you. It is a personal question. Who is your god? I feel comfortable saying, if you are reading this blog, then you are not a sinister person. However, that does not mean, you don’t have your gods. Your god is the top priority in your life. What is your top priority? Let me look at a few good things that can’t be your god. As a Christian, your top priority must be God, Himself. Never forget, our God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14 says it clearly, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.”  That is what makes our question of the day so important. Who is your god?

Have you made the United States of America your god? Sitting in the center of Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. It was designed by Levi Scofield (1842-1917) and was opened on July 4, 1894. It stands as a reminder of the soldiers and sailors who died during the Civil War from Cuyahoga County. It is a cheap date because it is open to the public free of charge. From an academic standpoint, it is an excellent example of civil religion. Every community has an example of civil religion. What is civil religion? It is when we mix our faith and our patriotism together. Civil Religion communicates to the world that God loves your country more than any other country. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) once said, “The question is not if God is on our side, the question is are we on God’s side.” 

America is a great place! I believe it is the greatest country in the world. I have visited other countries, but I have never wanted to stay. I was always ready to come home. With all our problems and challenges, we still have freedom and opportunity. If you can’t make it here, then you can’t make it anywhere. One of the hot topics in our country is illegal aliens. They are coming in record numbers, over and under fences, crossing rivers and seas. It is easy to be mad at them, but do you know the truth? I would be one of them, if I lived in their countries. I have seen their countries and I am not impressed. You should be proud of America! So, wear your American flag ties. Wear your American flag shirts. Fly your American flag in front of your house and light those fireworks on Independence Day. We have so much, but don’t make America your god. You could easily make America your god, but don’t do it. If you are lucky, you will live in America for one hundred years. You are going to spend eternity in heaven with God. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country, but God must be your god. Who is your god? 

The first church I served was the Pleasant Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lancaster, Kentucky. I have nothing negative to say about that congregation. They were good to me at a time when I needed some kindness. Like many small membership churches, it was dominated by a single family. That family did everything, and they were proud of their church. They were proud of the history of their church. The church was started shortly after the Civil War near Camp Dix. They were proud of the location of their church. It was surrounded by a horse farm. It was a picturesque setting. They were proud of the condition of their church building. The white framed structure was well maintained and clean. They were proud their ancestors went to that church and were buried in the church’s cemetery. As infants, they were dedicated in that church. At twelve-years old, they were baptized in that church. As adults, they worshipped in that church weekly. Annually, they spent every Christmas Eve and Easter morning in that church. They were married in that church, and they knew their funeral service would take place in that church. They knew everyone and everyone knew them. At that time, I thought that church was unique. Then, I learned the truth. They were not unique. It was the same in every church I served. Every congregation I served was proud of their church and they should have been. It would be easy to make your church your god, but don’t do it.

Have you made your church your god? Your local churchis a vehicle used by God; It is where you learn about Jesus. It is where you join with other disciples to encourage one another in the faith. Your church should have a special place in your heart. However, this is the danger. Your church cannot save your soul. It is possible to know everything about your church and know nothing about Jesus. Jesus is your only hope of salvation.There is nothing wrong with being proud of your church, but your church can’t be your god. Only God can be your God. Who is your god? 

Years ago, I watched Ken Burn’s documentary on World War II, The War. My father served during that war, so I feel some attachment. I particularly found the interviews with the survivors interesting. One night they interviewed a native-American soldier who was in the infantry. Years after the conflict, he cried about the day he took a German life with his own hands. Death did not come suddenly for the German. The soldier died slowly. Before he passed, he called out. According to the man interviewed, he didn’t call out for a medic. He did not call out for his Sergeant. He did not call out to his friend. He called out for his mother. Don’t tell me being a mother isn’t important. Don’t tell me family and friends aren’t important. They are extremely important.

Have you made the people in your life your god? The area that I live in is hard on itself. Many promote the negative things about this community. I do not understand those people. My community is filled with many good people. My community is a real community, in every sense of the word. We care about one another. We support one another. We pray for and sacrifice for one another. It would be easy to make your community your god. It would be easy to make you family your god. It would be easy to make the people in your life your god, but don’t do it. There is nothing wrong with loving the people in your life, but God must be your god.Who is your god? 

When the great missionary David Livingstone (1813-1873) died, a great debate broke out. Some said he should be buried in England where he was born. Others said he should be buried in Africa, the land he loved. A compromise was reached. His body was buried in England, but his heart was buried under a tree in a small village in Africa. That leads us to an interesting question. Where is your heart? In other words, who is your god? American bandleader Laurance Welk (1903-1992) once said, “Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people but put your full trust in God.

Effective Prayer

Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time, the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.” That leads us to an important question.

How often do you pray? In 2014, the Pew Research Group told us 55% of all Americans pray daily. In the same study, they reported 21% say they pray weekly or monthly. 23% of Americans say they seldom or never pray. I am happy to report I am in the 55% who pray daily. As a matter of fact, I pray more than once a day because I need God. Let me state the obvious. In the Christian faith, prayer is vital. The great reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” I wrote this blog to help you pray more effectively. That takes us to our scripture reading.

We find ourselves in the twelfth chapter of Acts, verses one through twelve. According to the text, King Herod (c. 72 BCE – 4 c. BCE) is on the throne. That was bad news for the early church because he is still practicing Christian persecution. Verse two is hard to read two thousand years later. It tells us James, the brother of John, had been put to death. His end was not pretty. He died as John the Baptist died, by the sword. I find verse three to be disturbing. The Jews were pleased at his death and longed for more blood. This time, the victim will be Peter himself. Like Jesus, he was arrested during the Passover and is watched by a surplus of guards. His outcome was predictable, except for one thing. In verse five, we are told the church begins to pray for him and the miraculous happens. An angel appears in his prison cell and helps him to escape. Isn’t it great when our prayers are answered, “Yes!” That is not the only story. There are many stories when God answered, “Yes!”

Dr. Helen Roseveare (1925-2016) was a missionary in Zaire, Africa. A mother at her mission station died shortly after giving birth to a premature baby. They tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle they had was beyond repair. So, she asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls prayed, “Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won’t feel so lonely.” That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as it was opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle!  Immediately, the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, “If God sent that, I’m sure He also sent a doll!” And she was right! The doll was in the bottom of the trunk. Isn’t it great when God answers our prayers, “Yes?” Wouldn’t it be nice if our prayers were always answered with a, yes? This is the truth. Experience has taught me sometimes God’s answer is no.

It was on a Sunday evening years ago. The plan was to bring a terminally ill woman to the altar for prayer. The medical world said there was no hope. She came to the church that evening by the nursing home’s van. When she arrived, the sanctuary lights were dimmed, and the candles were lit. The congregation who had assembled was ready for the miraculous. After the healing scriptures were read, she was surrounded by the most important people in her life. We laid hands on her, and I placed oil on her forehead to intensify our prayers. One by one, we all prayed for her. Filled with emotion, each word was genuine. When we said the Lord’s Prayer, the Holy Spirit washed over us. Emotionally and spiritually exhausted, the woman was placed back into her wheelchair and directed back to the van. With few words spoken, we watched her being driven out of the parking lot. That evening we boldly prayed for a complete healing, but it never came. A short time later, the same group gathered for her funeral. Sometimes our prayers are answered, “No!” Sometimes our prayers are answered, “Later”.

One of the great privileges I had in the ministry was praying with people. I prayed with people all the time and in various locations. I have prayed with people in my office and in the parlor. I have prayed with people at the altar and in their homes. I have prayed with people in the hospital. Several years ago, I was talking to a man who began complaining about something that happened years ago. He told me the story in detail. As I listened, I realized all the characters in his story were dead! He was mad at dead people. I said to him, “They may be dead, but they still have power over you! Look how upset you are! You need to pray!” He responded, “I don’t pray.” I said, “You do today!” And in the middle of the parking lot, I grabbed his hand, and we prayed that God would heal his damaged emotions. This is my question for you today.

What makes prayer effective? Many seem to believe effective prayer is always getting what you want. They pray for the terminally ill person, and they are healed. They pray for the winning lottery numbers, and they are drawn. They pray for the missing family pet, and they are returned. They pray for their favorite team, and they win. They pray for a new love, and one suddenly appears. Is that your definition of effective prayer? To God, effective prayer cultivates a relationship with God. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was not a Christian, but he saw the value of prayer. He once said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is a longing for the soul…It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than to have words without heart.”  You know it is true. Many of our prayers sound like a wish list for a rich uncle. Never forget it. When you pray, you are speaking to God, the creator of the universe. That reminder should change your prayer life. In comparison to God, we are nothing. In this blog, I want to help you improve your prayer life by reminding you of three things.

First, effective prayer praises God! In our scripture lesson, we were simply told the church prayed for Peter. Their prayer is not quoted, and no details are given. However, the early church was mindful of the fact that God was worthy of their praise. The one thing that united them was the resurrection of Jesus. If you have the power to bring a dead man back to life, then you have the power to do anything. Factor in this next statement. This all-powerful God wanted to have a relationship with them, and He wants to have a relationship you. If you let that divine truth sink into your heart, then you will be humbled. Does your prayer life include praise?

One of my favorite Bible stories is the transfiguration. It is found in all three of the synoptic Gospels: Mark 9:2-13, Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36. Peter had just stated for the first time that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. That announcement changed everything. Jesus took the inner circle, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, to the top of the mountain to pray. They had no clue what was about to happen. Without warning, Jesus is transfigured. In other words, he begins to glow. Then, Moses and Elijah suddenly appear. Moses was the great law giver and Elijah was considered the greatest of the prophets. (They must have been wearing name tags for the disciples to recognize them.) Then God showed up covered by a cloud. He tells everyone Jesus is his son. “Listen to him!” The disciples are blown away. You cannot blame them. They had just experienced God, firsthand. When you pray, you are talking to God, the great and mighty one, one on one. God desires to be praised. (Hebrews 13:15) Effective prayer praises God!

Second, effective prayer obeys God! What you say is important. What you do is equally important. We are only in this world for a short time. We are going to be in heaven for eternity. Are you practicing today what you will be doing in heaven for eternity? How obedient are you to God? Jesus isn’t just your Savior. Jesus is also your Lord.

One of the great mysteries in life is discerning God’s will. Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do? I am convinced most of the time we know, but we just refuse to do it. We know we are to love everyone, but we only tolerate people who are just like us. We know we are to forgive, but we remember. We know that we are to sacrifice for others, but we save the best for ourselves. We know that we are to tithe (10%) but we give about 2%. We know we are to love God completely, but we only come to church when it is convenient. It is a matter of obedience. Effective prayer praises and obeys God!

Third, effective prayer trusts God! Sometime God answers, “No!” That means that your will and God’s will are running in opposite directions. Have you ever been mad at God because He didn’t listen to your advice? If so, then you are extremely arrogant and not very trusting. In prayer, we are cultivating a relationship with God. Do you have a good relationship with God, or do you have some work to do? It is a matter of trust.

In 1962, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch was published. It is considered one of the most significant works to emerge from Soviet Russia. It is set in a Soviet labor camp and focuses on a single day of one prisoner, Ivan Denisovitch. In one scene, he is praying with his eyes closed when a fellow prisoner notices him, and says with ridicule, “Prayers won’t help you get out of here any faster.” Opening his eyes, Ivan answers, “I do not pray to get out of prison, but to do the will of God.” Effective prayer praises, obeys and trusts God!

On April 13, 2021, I was in Chicago. My daughter Anna was married a few days earlier, and my wife and I were escaping the post wedding blues. We were excited about visiting the “Windy City.” We had a list of things we wanted to see. However, we never saw a single thing. Instead, I had emergency surgery at Northwestern Medical Center. That surgery triggered the longest months of my life. Complications set in. A friend had to drive to Chicago to take us home. A few days later, I was taken to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. They transferred me to the Cleveland Clinic. When I was released ten days later in early May, my recovery was slow. My wife gave me excellent care at home, along with the visiting nurse and a good friend. My church daily prayed for me and sent food. In time, I did rebound.

In August, I drove myself back to the Cleveland Clinic for my last doctor’s appointment. When my name was called, I sat in the small examining room. In a few minutes, the doctor walked in and began to smile. He asked me how I felt. I felt tired, but I was on the mend. In the middle of the pandemic, he sat next to me and said, “Can I tell you the truth? I thought you were coming in today to schedule more surgery. Obviously, you do not need it. What do you attribute to your recovery?” I answered with one word, “Prayer!” There can be no other answer. I am a living example that prayer is a powerful thing. I am thankful sometimes God answers our prayers with a “YES!” But that is not why we pray. We prayer to cultivate a relationship with God. That leads us back to our original question.

How often do you pray? In other words, how often do you talk to God? Are you cultivating a relationship with God? Or do your prayers sound like a wish list for a rich uncle? Is it possible you have forgotten you are speaking to God, the creator of the universe? Next to Him, we are nothing. Effective prayer praises God. Effective prayer obeys God. Effective prayer trusts God. Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) once said, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.”

Camp Gideon

Camp Gideon is in Aa, Estonia. The village is in northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. One cannot help but be moved by the natural beau­ty. The camp itself was built prior to World War II by the Soviet Union. At that time, it was a Pioneer Camp, where communism and atheism were taught to the young. The fall of communism in 1991 changed everything. In time, Estonia became an independent country and Camp Gideon found a new purpose.

During the summers of 1993 and 1994, Camp Gideon was used by the Estonian United Methodist Church. On March 15, 1995, Camp Gideon was purchased by the Asbury United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma and given to the United Methodist Church of Estonia. On that day Artur Põld was named the Director of Camp Gideon. He still holds that position today.

From the very beginning, American friends have supported Camp Gideon- both spiri­tually and financially. Every summer, several groups of volunteers from the United States arrive at Camp Gideon to organize children’s pro­grams and help repair the time-worn buildings. Over the years, Camp Gideon has become internationally known in Latvia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, Germany and beyond. Thanks to the ministries of Camp Gideon, hundreds of children hear about Jesus each camp season. Together with the guests of Camp Gideon, several mission events have been organized, including family camps, Walks to Emmaus, and Sum­mer Conference of the UMC in Estonia.

In 2019, my wife Kathryn and I visited Camp Gideon. We were moved by the work of these people. Since that visit she has raised thousands of dollars to help with the reconstruction of the buildings. Currently there are fifteen buildings on the 61-acre camp. With the pandemic ending, it is now possible to return to Estonia once again. We long to return to Camp Gideon to see the progress that has been made. It is truly a resurrection story. A camp that once taught communism and atheism is now teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You can help Camp Gideon in two ways. First, pray for Camp Gideon. Our prayers are more valuable than we will ever know. Second, prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to Camp Gideon. No amount is too small. It is amazing what God can do with a single dollar. Please make your check out to PROJECT ORPHAN OUTREACH and mail it to 275 Bradford Drive, Canfield, Ohio, 44406. You will receive a thank-you note for your contribution and will receive a report on the progress.

In advance, I would like to thank you for your generosity.

My Father

We are in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. This story does not stand in isolation. It is just one in a series of stories about Abraham. Much has already happened. When we were introduced to him, his name was Abram. That name means “the father of many.” Of all the people on the face of the earth, Abram caught God’s eye. Not because of his sinless nature or his good looks. Instead, he caught God’s eye because of his character. In other words, he was a man who simply wanted to please God. In one of the great stories in the Bible, God promised Abram that he would someday be a father of a great nation. In time, his name is changed from Abram, the father of many, to Abraham, the father of the multitude. Everything sounds great except for one glaring fact. For many years, Abraham had no children. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their first-born into the world at the age of ninety-nine and ninety-eight. That birth not only ruined their retirement plans, but it demonstrated the power of God. They named their long-awaited son Isaac. All of this is necessary to understand our scripture lesson.

When Isaac was twelve years old, God decided to test Abraham’s priorities. God must be number one in your life. The father-son team head off to make a sacrifice. Isaac does not know until the last second that he, himself, is the sacrifice. In the end, the life of a goat was taken, and the boy is spared. It is a cruel story in many ways. However, what I love about the story is it illustrates for us Abraham was a good father.With Abraham in mind, let me make three statements about fatherhood.

First, fathers deserve to be respected. In the Genesis story, Isaac respected his father. He even let him tie him up and laid him on the altar. Let me say this clearly. Respect should never be given blindly. Respect must be earned. Fatherhood is not simply a biological act. Fatherhood is a relationship. What are you doing with your life to earn your children’s respect? Fathers deserve to be respected.Do you, did you, respect your father?

Second, fathers deserve to be trusted. It really is quite a scene. Abraham and Isaac travel to a remote location. When the time comes for the sacrifice, the father bounds his son. Abraham draws his knife to slay Isaac. At the last second God stops the killing. All these years later it is still shocking. Today, someone would have called Children’s Services. Yet, there is no sign in the story Isaac stops trusting Abraham. Fathers deserve to be trusted. Do you, did you, trust your father?

Third, fathers deserve grace. Isaac must have needed some serious counseling after that day. He must have had a million questions and he must have had some sleepless nights. Yet, the relationship between Abraham and Isaac continued. Isaac forgave his father. I have never known a perfect father. However, I have known countless fathers who made mistakes and who needed to be forgiven. I have known fathers who have experienced grace. Maybe it is time you forgave your father? Fathers deserve grace. Do you, did you, offer your father grace? If not, it is not too late.

My father’s name was Ronald Adams, He was born in Ashtabula, Ohio in 1920. His father, my grandfather, Roger Adams, had a variety of jobs during the Great Depression. Growing up I never heard the word poverty, but money was always tight. My father was just a child during the depression, but the poverty of those years never left him. I have worked with many who lived through the Great Depression. They reacted to the Depression in one of two ways. Either they rejected poverty and became very generous. Or they feared poverty and became very frugal. My sister, Susan, is a much kinder person than me. She says our father was frugal. I say our father was cheap. For example, he would not even buy new socks. He held the old ones up with rubber bands. He never handled money easily. Saving money was one of his great preoccupations. I do not want to be remembered as being cheap. I want to be remembered by my children as generous.

On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Empire. My father was twenty-one years old. He and his brother, my Uncle Carlisle, volunteered for military service. My father joined the Army. My uncle joined the Navy. My uncle went to the Pacific. My father was in the medical corps and started off in North Africa. In time, as the war progressed, he moved up to the boot of Italy. He must have experienced and seen some horrible things. He died with those tales. He never spoke of those experiences. When the war ended in Europe, he prepared to move to Manila. The day before they were to leave, the orders were canceled because the first of the atomic bombs was dropped. When the war ended, my father arranged to stay in Europe. He wanted to do some sightseeing. It seemed to be a wise choice. He was in his mid-twenties, single with only a high school education, and unemployed. He saw many things that most only see in pictures. I believe those were the happiest days of his life.

When he returned home, he used his G.I. Bill to get an education. He was an interior decorator by trade. He first went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, then he went to the New York School of Interior Design. It was while he was in New York that he met my mother. They met at a social gathering at the Marble Collegiate Church. They were married at a Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn and had their wedding reception at my grandparent’s home around the corner. They spent their wedding night at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Staying in New York was never an option. My father always wanted to return to Ohio, his home.

In time, they would move to a magical place called Warren, Ohio. They bought their first home when my twin sisters, Susan, and Janet, were born. I was born seven years later. My mother was a dietitian who worked at Trumbull Memorial Hospital. My father was a buyer for the Carlisle-Allen Department Store. As a child, I thought our home was boring. It was not until I became an adult that I discovered it was exceptional. Our home was always stable, and my parents rarely fought. My parents went to church every Sunday and to work every day. In those days loyalty was a big deal. My father stayed with the store for over thirty years. On the day he retired, no one noticed, because no one cared. He gave his life to “the store,” and he deserved better. Yet, several years later when “the store” closed, he grieved.

Can I be honest with you? I never felt close to my father. I really do not know why. I like to think we were both good people. Everybody seemed to like him. He intimidated me. I do not want to sound critical. However, I want to be honest. My father showed very little tolerance with me. I cannot remember a single time standing next to my father not feeling nervous. He never hit me, but I was always ready for his backhand. I was often the brunt of his jokes for his stand-up routine. I think it is better to be yelled at and taken seriously, then laughed at and be dismissed. I yearned to have a relationship with my father, but it never came. When my father died in 1996, I grieved. However, I did not grieve for the relationship we had, because we had no relationship. I grieved for the relationship we never had and never will.

My parents are buried near my home. During my time in the ministry, I have been to that cemetery several times. Each time, I visited their graves. Each time I go, several things strike me. First, time goes fast. My father died almost twenty-seven years ago. How could it be twenty-seven years? How fast will the next twenty-seven years go? I wonder where I will be twenty-seven years from now. I wonder if I will still be alive. Second, I have a good life. I can trace all the best things in my life back to my parents. My mother made sure our home was filled with love. There was always enough to eat and drink. Our clothes were clean. Our home was warm. My parents gave me what every child really wants and needs – stability. Third, the time has come for me to stop being critical of my father and start remembering him with grace. Time has taught me the best you can do is the best you can do. Perfection is impossible. I know my father did his best with me. It is not easy being a father. It is not easy being a parent. I am doing the best I can with my children. I hope they do not look for perfection. They did not receive it from me. I hope they look at me with grace. American author Kent Nerburn (born 1946) once said, “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.”

Everyone Welcomed?

We are in the tenth chapter of Acts, verses twenty-three through twenty-eight. It is a story of diversity. According to the text, Peter, a Jew, traveled to Caesarea. When he arrived, he was greeted by Cornelius, a Gentile. That fact alone is shocking to their world because Jews and Gentiles never mixed. However, the story is a little more complex. Cornelius considered Peter a celebrity, so he fell at Peter’s feet. It was his way of honoring Peter, but Peter reminded him of the big picture. Both men are equals. Because both men were created by God. It was not just true of their time. It is true of our time. That is an easy point to understand, but it is not an easy point to apply. That fact has been illustrated time and time again. Let me give you one example.

One of the great iconic figures in American history is Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870). There is an old story about Lee near the end of his life. He was in Washington DC. On Sunday morning he decided to go to church. It was Communion Sunday, so Lee went forward for the elements. As he was waiting to be served, a black man knelt beside him. Some in the congregation were shocked. An onlooker said to Lee later, “How could you do that?” Lee replied, “My friend, all ground is level beneath the cross.” May we never forget that point.

Everyone is the same internally. Everyone needs forgiveness and salvation. Everyone needs love and acceptance. Everyone needs hope for a better future. However, that does not mean everyone in the world is the same. Our world is extremely diverse. Our world is filled with all kinds of people. There are various races. There are various generations. There are many nations, so there are numerous political views. There are the extremely wealthy and the homeless. There are males and females. There are various sexual persuasions. There are the limited, and people who are whole. When you mix all those things together, one thing is perfectly clear. There are as many kinds of people as there are people. The church must be diverse to speak to our diverse world. The problem is the church has always struggled with diversity.  

History tells us Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) read the Gospels seriously during his student days. At one point he even considered becoming a Christian. He believed the teachings of Jesus were the answer to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So, one Sunday, he decided to attend a Christian service and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with “his own people”. Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.” That usher’s prejudice not only betrayed Jesus, but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior. Maybe that story is the story of the church today?

Maybe the thing you love about your church is the same thing that frustrates God about your church. Our churches are filled with people who are basically the same, but God is always looking for a diverse church to minister to our diverse world. In the text for today, the Gentiles added some diversity. How diverse is your church? Let me ask you these four questions.

How many races are represented at your church on an average Sunday? I hope the answer isn’t one.That may be fine with you, but God is looking for diversity. God needs a diverse church to speak to our diverse world.  

How many generations are represented at your church on an average Sunday? Through the eyes of God, the higher the number, the better. The church was never meant to be a senior citizens center or a childcare facility. We need all generations. The church is the last place where all the generations mix. God needs a diverse church to speak to our diverse world. 

How many political views are represented at your church on an average Sunday? Does everyone in your church hold politically conservative views? Is everyone in your church politically liberal? Do you think the President is doing a great job? Do you think the President is the worst one in American history? God needs a diverse church to speak to our diverse world.  

How many theological viewpoints are represented at your church on an average Sunday? Are there any theological liberals in your church? Are there any theological conservatives in your church? Do you know of anyone who promotes civil religion? It used to be called pluralism. The only thing we must agree upon is Jesus. God needs a diverse church to speak to our diverse world. 

It goes directly back to the scripture lesson for today. In the early church, everyone was the same, Jewish. Then came this story. Peter had the audacity to bring in not just a new person into the church, but a new kind of person into the life of the church, Gentiles. That was a good thing because the world was filled with Gentiles. We are Gentiles, non-Jews! The church must be diverse to speak to our diverse world. Can I be honest with you? Diversity has never bothered me. 

One of the reasons I could work with anyone is, I went to high school with everyone. I am a proud graduate of Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio. I didn’t think much about it then, but I do now. Every portion of society was represented at Warren Harding in the mid-1970s. There were students with white faces and students with black faces. There were students who came from white-collar homes and students who came from blue-collar homes. There were students who spoke only English. There were students who spoke English and Spanish. There were students who spoke English and Greek. There were students who were being raised by their parents and students who were being raised by their grandmas. There were students who came from the richest part of the community, and students who came from government owned housing. There were preacher’s kids and children whose fathers or mothers were incarcerated. There were students who had a bright future, and students who had no future. At Warren Harding in the mid-1970s, every part of society was represented, and no one really cared. I experienced diversity daily. It was the norm. It was expected. We laughed at schools where everyone was the same. I got a wonderful education in Warren, but the most valuable thing I learned was how to tolerate others. When I get to heaven, I am going to thank my parents for not sending me to a school where everyone was the same. The diversity I experienced as a teenager made me a better adult. I was prepared for this diverse world.

Several years ago, I was celebrating my birthday. My daughters were still at home. It is the custom in my home that the birthday person gets to pick the restaurant for the celebration. Since it was my birthday, I got to pick. I usually shy away from chain restaurants and pick a restaurant that is locally owned. That year, I decided we were all going to Charlie Staples, on W. Rayen Avenue in Youngstown. I love those ribs because they are cooked with a “cup of love”. That is the tag line they use in their advertising. As the day got closer, I got more excited. I could taste those ribs.  

When the day came, I was the first one in the car. When my daughters got in the car

they asked me, “Dad, where did you pick to have dinner?” I said, “Charlie Staples; their food is prepared with a cup of love.” As we drove to the restaurant, the quieter the back seat grew. As I left my white world and drove into the city, they weren’t talking at all. Then a small voice in the back seat asked, “Are we in the hood? Are we going to die?” Those words cut me to the heart.

I had deprived my children of something my parents gave me. My children had never experienced diversity. They were raised in an all-white community. They went to an all-white school. In their school everyone spoke one language, English. We went to an all-white church and all their friends were white. All their extra-curricular activities were filled with white faces. The only thing they knew was white. The only thing they knew about the non-white world was what they saw on television or heard from racist white people. As I ate my birthday meal, I was ashamed. I felt like a failure as a parent. I always knew they should have gone to Harding. I learned the most valuable things in life at Warren Harding. They weren’t close to entering a society where people were different from them. I am glad they grew up to be wonderful, open-minded women despite me. Can I ask you a question? 

How comfortable are you with diversity? Are you going to spend the rest of your life surrounded by people who are just like you? Are you brave enough to experience something new? God needs a diverse church to speak to our diverse world. Never forget the old American proverb, “Variety is the spice of life”.

Living With Criticism

We find ourselves in the eleventh chapter of Acts, verses one through four and eighteen. Acts is known for the great story of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was moving, and the church was growing. New converts were being welcomed, including Gentiles. There is really nothing to complain about, but this is the church. Drama has been part of church from the very beginning.

According to the text, Peter had returned to Jerusalem. His spirit must have been high. After all, everyone wants a growing church, or do they? According to verse three, he is greeted by some negative voices. The author describes them as circumcised believers. We would call them “Completed Jews.” They want to know why Peter had broken a long-standing rule about associating with Gentiles. Peter defends himself by simply telling the truth. In the verses between our reading, Peter tells them exactly what happened. I looked at it in my previous blog, The Day the Law Died. God summoned a Gentile, Cornelius, to invite Peter to his community. When he arrives, he tells the group about Jesus, and before the end of the day, they are all converted. It is God who welcomed the Gentiles into the church by the sending of the Holy Spirit. There is not much to say. If God is for it, then who can be against it? Verse eighteen says it clearly, “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’”  I wish I handled all my critics so easily. 

I fell in love with this story the first time I read it. The point of the story is painfully clear. Peter is considered one of the greatest figures in the early church. Just think of everything he did for God. He followed Jesus for three years and experienced the Master firsthand. He was part of the inner circle, so he received special instruction. He was bold enough to get out of the boat and walk on the water for a few precious steps. He announced to the world for the very first time that Jesus was the Messiah. It was Peter who ran to the tomb on Easter morning to witness it for himself. It was Peter who spoke to the crowd before the winds of Pentecost blew. It was Peter who spoke to another crowd after the wind blew. It was Peter who healed the cripple (Acts 3). It was Peter who welcomed the Gentiles. Peter did so much; Peter was so much to the early church. If there was anyone who did not deserve to be criticized, it was Peter. But, in the story for today, Peter was criticized by people who had done nothing notable at all. 

It reminds me of the story of George Whitefield (1714-1770) He was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the Great Awakening in America. However, that does not mean he was not without his enemies. He was not really concerned about them, because he was more interested in pleasing God.  At one point, Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of some wrongdoing. His reply was brief and courteous. He wrote:  

I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me.  

With love in Christ, George Whitefield 

I wish I could handle my critics so easily. Let me ask you two questions.

When was the last time you were criticized? When was the last time you criticized someone else? It happens all the time. Everyone gets criticized. That is what makes being in a position of authority so difficult. Let me ask you this series of questions.

Have you ever criticized a doctor?

Have you ever criticized your local school board?

Have you ever criticized a politician?

Have you ever criticized a professional athlete or celebrity?

Have you ever criticized your minister?

Have you ever criticized God for the condition of our world?

It is my experience that people in positions of authority have grown deaf to all the criticisms. They know most critics lack knowledge or skill. They know most criticisms come from passion, not expertise. You can admit it. Everyone gets criticized. Everyone criticizes. It has been that way from the beginning of time. Aristotle (384 B.C.- 322 B.C.) once said, “To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” The goal is not to eliminate criticism. The goal is to handle criticism well. How well do you handle criticism?

One summer I returned to my church after vacation and discovered someone had mysteriously put up a suggestion box. I few days later the suggestion box mysteriously disappeared. Did you know the idea of the employee suggestion box started in Japan in 1721? That means it is 302 years old. Did you know, according to the NASS, the National Association of Suggestion Systems, only 3% of American companies have a suggestion box? I wonder why there aren’t more, because those companies who use suggestion boxes have saved two billion dollars. Could it be 97% of American companies don’t have suggestion boxes because they don’t want to open themselves up for criticism? That is why my church’s suggestion box mysteriously disappeared.

How open are you to criticism? I hope you are not like 97% of American companies. I hope you are open to criticism because constructive criticism can make you a better person. I learned years ago there are three things you must do when you find yourself being criticized. First, the next time you are criticized, evaluate the source. There are some people you want to listen to and some you don’t. Just because they have an opinion doesn’t make them an expert. You would be a fool to take advice from a fool. You would be a fool to listen to everyone. That sounds exhausting. Second, the next time you are criticized, evaluate your core values. That is what Peter did in today’s story. He was more concerned with pleasing God than man. Everyone’s core values are different. Did your action support your core values? In other words, who are you trying to please? Third, the next time you are criticized, evaluate your action. I do not want to shock you, but you do not know everything. You do not do everything perfectly, nor do I. The people who offer you productive criticism are the most valuable people in your life because they want you to become a better person. It is not easy to do but respect their honesty. In the scripture lesson for today, Peter didn’t run from the criticism. He didn’t ignore the criticism. Peter embraced the criticism and reminded himself that what he did was right! You may not be perfect, but there are times when you did the right thing! The best thing you can do with criticism is forget it.

In the spring of 1989, I was interviewed to be the pastor of a United Methodist Church in Garfield Heights, Ohio. I remember next to nothing about that interview, except the greatest challenge facing that church. It was a stagnant, aging congregation. They were hoping to rebuild their congregation. (Does that sound familiar? It sounds like every congregation in the mainline Protestant tradition.) Over the next five years, we experienced some success. We welcomed many new members, and I learned a great deal.

It did not take me long to discover why this church had been stagnant for so long. It had nothing to do with demographics. However, the community was predominantly retired Catholics. It had nothing to do with visibility. The building sat on a busy road. It had nothing to do with commitment. The people were devoted to their church. That congregation hadn’t grown for the same reason most churches don’t grow. A small group had seized control and smothered any new life. The small group does not mean to be controlling. Usually, they are sincere people who believe they know what is best for the whole. Sometimes, the controlling group includes the pastor. Sometimes, it does not. In that church’s case, the pastor had very little control. The controlling group was one family. I have changed their name to protect the guilty. Let me just call them the Peabody’s.

They ruled by intimidation. That family consisted of two generations. There was the father and mother. They had two adult sons, who had married nice women. The six Peabody’s dominated every committee within the life of that church. The church could have been called the Peabody United Methodist Church. If that church was ever going to grow, then the Peabody’s had to be dethroned from power.

I only had one thing going for me. I was the chair of the nominating committee. In my first two years in that parish, I nominated anyone who wasn’t afraid of the Peabody’s. The Peabody’s were controlling, but they were not stupid. They knew what I was doing. They confronted me in every way to hold on to the power. One thing was clear. The church had to choose between them and me. Without the support of other church members, I would have been gone. One man made it possible for me to stay. He changed my life and saved my career in the United Methodist Church. My last three years in Garfield Heights were wonderful, because the Peabody’s were gone. They left in a pile of ugly words pointed at me. They wrote those words down and sent them to the church’s administrative board chair, the Cleveland District Superintendent, and East Ohio Annual Conference Bishop.

I never heard from the District Superintendent or the Bishop. However, the board chair called me, and we met. Alone, he read me the letter with the ugly words. In colorful language, they said I was the problem because I was suffering from some kind of mental illness. He asked me if I wanted to respond. I responded by saying, “Maybe they are right? They are not the first to think I am crazy.” We laughed and the topic never came up again. When I left church, it was growing because the Peabody’s were gone. Let me end with three questions.  

Question #1: Have you ever been criticized? The answer is yes. You might as well admit it. Everyone has been criticized. If you don’t want to be criticized, then do nothing at all. Then, people will criticize you for doing nothing. Being criticized is just part of the human experience. Perhaps, question #2 is a better question.  

Question #2: How do you handle criticism? You only have two options. Either you can ignore it, or you can embrace it. Dismiss the criticism that comes from fools or people who have an agenda. Embrace the criticisms that come from people who are trying to make you a better person.  

Question #3: How long do you hold on to criticism? I hope not long. The best criticisms are designed to improve your life, not damage it. This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it. Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) once said, “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”

The Day The Law Died

We found ourselves in the ninth chapter of Acts, verses nine through twenty-three. According to the text, it is about noon, and Peter is near Caesarea. He finds the home of a fellow disciple and ascends the stairs to the fat roof. That sounds odd to our ears, but it was common in those days. Homes were built with flat roofs for privacy. Peter wanted to use that privacy to pray. However, prayer must have been difficult because he was hungry. Just think about it for a minute. It is noon and he is hungry. That means it is lunchtime.

I don’t want to shock you, but I like lunch. It is one of my three favorite meals. I am not a picky eater. I will eat anything for lunch, anywhere. Several times a week, I meet for lunch in a local restaurant with various friends. The best is when I meet my wife Kathryn for lunch. However, I never complain when I eat lunch at home. I have eaten many leftovers for lunch through the years. There is nothing better than a cold slice of pizza, cold pasta, or a cold baked potato with some sour cream. In my time, I have eaten gallons of ramen noodles. They are cheap and ready in just three minutes. I have never met a sandwich I didn’t like. There is nothing better than a roast beef and Colby cheese sandwich with horseradish. My favorite beverage with that is a tall glass of buttermilk. Don’t get me started on goose liver and onion on a cracker with mustard. I consider that the food of the gods. One time, when I was in Russia, I ate goat soup for lunch. It was kind of stringy. Do I have to go on? This is the point: I am not a picky eater.

Peter was a picky eater. He only ate certain things. It wasn’t that he didn’t like them. He had never eaten them because the Old Testament law did not permit them. Never forget, Peter was Jewish. From the very beginning of his life, his diet was controlled by the law. Leviticus 11 laid out what was permitted and what was not permitted. You must understand that fact to appreciate what happens next. According to the text, as he waits for his lunch to be delivered, Peter falls into a trance. He sees food. (Have you ever dreamed about food? I have.) He sees a giant picnic filled with everything he has never been permitted to eat. It is too good to be true. God basically says to him in verse 13, “Chow down!” Peter protests because change has always been hard. God tells him nothing is off limits, everything is good. Peter must have never forgotten that day. It was the day the law died. Without the law, Peter’s life became simpler. Just think about it for a moment.

Did you know the Old Testament contains 613 laws? Three hundred and sixty-five are negative in nature. Two hundred and forty-eight are positive. You can classify those laws into three groups. The first group are the self-evident laws, such as the law the laws against murder and stealing. The second group deals with religious duty or tradition, such as keeping the Sabbath holy. The third group is random laws. They don’t fall into any category. In addition to the 613 laws, the Pharisees, experts on the law, created other laws to protect the original laws. You would think 613 laws would be enough, but no. There are more.

In the mid nineteenth century, the world started working on something called “international law”. Countless hours were spent in the League of Nations and the United Nations trying to refine international law. It sounds simple but it is complex. How do you distill all the laws in the world and find common ground? Every culture looks at the world in a different way. International law has become a big deal because our world is growing smaller, due to advances in transportation and communication. International law is important if we are ever going to have world peace. There are so many international laws they can be broken down into three categories, international economic laws, international security laws, and international criminal laws. You would think that would be enough laws, but no. There are more.

Someone once said the United States, or any nation, is nothing more than a series of laws. On the Fourth of July the United States will turn 247 years old. Over that time, our government has produced many laws. They are necessary to regulate behavior. They are not all bad; some laws are good. I am all for the law that says you can’t drive your car down the sidewalk. Without it, people would get killed. I am for the law that says you must pass through airport security before you get on a plane. Our world is a violent place. I am for the law that says convicted sex offenders must register, because it protects our young. I am for the law that says that everyone can own property and vote. I am for the laws that bans any form of discrimination. I am against the Ohio law that says it is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday. However, I am for the law that prohibits dueling. You would think between international law and national law, and state laws there would be enough laws, but no. There are more.

Every organization has its own laws. The church is no exception. In the church, we call laws “rules”. They do the same thing. They regulate behavior. The United Methodist Church has certain rules we must follow. They are all found in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. Did you know we are required to audit the books of every financial account found within any United Methodist congregation annually. Did you know no alcohol can be consumed within any United Methodist Church building? Did you know there will be no gambling or games of chance, within any United Methodist Church building? When I served in the United Methodist Church, I was required to attend Annual Conference. Did you know every appointed minister is required to have an annual Charge Conference? Did you know, at my ordination, I had to promise to be itinerant? In other words, I must go where the bishop sends me. Did you know any United Methodist congregation can borrow money from itself, but it must be paid back?  The United Methodist Book of Discipline is filled with rules we are required to follow. You would think that would be enough law, but no. There are more.

Every local church has their own set of laws or rules. There are some churches who have more rules than they do people. In my opinion, that is part of the problem. My last church was no exception. We had our fair share of rules. How many rules can you name in your church? Most are based on common sense, but everyone has a different standard. Maybe you have heard these in the past? If you are going to use the kitchen, then clean the kitchen afterwards. If you are going to use a cup in the kitchen, then wash your cup. No food is to be left in the refrigerator. (That is why I left my food on the altar.) The last person to leave the church at the end of the day must make sure the doors are locked and the lights are off. If you want to be refunded for any church expense, then you must have a receipt. One of the reasons I never had office hours was I couldn’t remember all the rules. I don’t want to be reprimanded. How many laws or rules does your church have?

One of the reasons I love Jesus is that he only had two rules. I can remember them. They are found in Matthew 22:36-40. This is the first one: you are to love God with all your heart, mind and soul. In other words, you are to love God completely. This is the second: you are to love your neighbor as yourself. Church work is not hard; we make it hard. In the life of the church, all we must do is talk about Jesus and care about others. Everything else we do is optional. Everything else is distractive. Everything else can be eliminated. In the scripture lesson for today, Peter was told the law was eliminated; the only thing that really mattered was Jesus. It is still true today.

In 1994, I was appointed to the Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Canfield, Ohio. I inherited a mid-week program by the name of Youth Club. At the time it was a popular program that was found in many churches. The concept was simple. On Wednesday, the children would come and gather for a lesson and dinner. Those who ran it did a wonderful job. Everyone, regardless of age, had fun.

One day in December the youngest class was out in the narthex, standing near the glass looking into the courtyard. They were all fixated on the courtyard because the Christmas decorations had just been put up. The life size plastic nativity set was on display. The group had their noses pressed against the window. It was like one of those Norman Rockwell scenes. The teacher tried to hold them back because there was a rule about touching the glass. The glass had to be spotless. I have never been a fan of rules. I said, “Let them go! That is why they make glass cleaner! We must keep Windex in business.” Then, I got a better idea. Why not let the class out into the courtyard and experience the figurines for themselves. They were just the right size. The class was the same size as the images. I walked to the door to open it when the teacher told me to stop. She said, “Russ, you are new. No one is allowed to go into the courtyard, especially at Christmas. Those figures are sacred.” I thought, those figures are plastic, and to be honest with you, they were tacky. I said to the teacher, “Aren’t we supposed to be introducing our children to Jesus?” She said, “Yes!” I said, “So let’s do it.”

I opened the door and the children flooded into cool fresh air. They didn’t go crazy. They were controlled, like they were walking on sacred ground. One of the students stood by the camel and grew still. One student hugged Joseph. One went eye to eye with a shepherd and smiled. One touched Mary’s face with his fingertips. One kid picked up Jesus and kissed him. He looked at his friend next to him and said, “This is Jesus!” Then, ever so gently, he passed Jesus to him. One by one they took turns holding Jesus. Those children knew at their young age there was something special about those plastic tacky figurines, because there was something sacred about Jesus. There always has been and there always will be. Without Jesus, we have nothing at all. Perhaps, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) said it best, “Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.” The only thing that really matters in the life of the church is Jesus!

Remembering William Borden

In 1904, William Borden (1887-1913), heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school, already a millionaire. His parents’ graduation gift to him was a trip around the world. That trip changed his life. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: NO RESERVES.

Borden arrived at Yale University in 1905. During his first semester, Borden started to pray group and Bible study with a friend. A short time later, a third student joined them. By the end of his first year, 150 freshmen were meeting for weekly prayer and Bible study. By the time he was a senior, 1,000 out of the 1,300 students were meeting for weekly prayer and Bible study. Borden was pleased because his goal was to win every soul at Yale University for Jesus. That wasn’t enough for Borden. Off Yale’s campus, he went to the darkest parts of New Haven, Connecticut to help those individuals’ society had forgotten. After graduating from Yale, Borden turned down many well-paying jobs and began studying for the mission’s field at Princeton University. At that time, he wrote two more words in his Bible: NO RETREATS.

After leaving Princeton, he dreamed of evangelizing the Muslims in China. He sailed toward China but stopped in Egypt to study Arabic. It was there the unexpected happened. He was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and died at the age of 24. Life can be so cruel. During his illness he wrote two more words in the back of his Bible, NO REGRETS. Those six words written in the back of William Borden’s Bible act as the perfect outline for this blog. That takes us to our scripture reading.

We are in the tenth chapter of John. This is not a pleasant time for Jesus. He is surrounded by conflict by conflict. He tells us something our generation still believes. Actions speak louder than words. His miracles and his teaching state the obvious. Jesus is the Messiah. However, it is not just true of himself. It is also true of his disciples. Actions do speak louder than words. It is one thing to say you are disciple of Jesus Christ, it is something else to act like a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you didn’t speak a single word about Jesus, would the people in your life know you are a disciple? To answer that question, let us look at William Borden’s six words and examine your own life.

No Reserves

The first two words William Borden wrote in his Bible were the words: NO RESERVES. In other words, he was totally committed to serving God. Mark Twain once said, “Traveling broadens a man.” Today, he would have said, “Traveling broadens a person. If you want to experience true poverty, travel outside of the United States. It is shocking at the level and the amount of poverty that exists in the world. When William Borden experienced true poverty, he had to respond. He knew he had to respond with his life. There would be no reserves. He was totally committed. Are you totally committed?

Recently my wife and I started attending our local Lutheran Church. It is odd sitting in a pew after leading worship for forty years. I am doing my best not to evaluate the service, the sermon, or the church. I am simply there to worship and feed my soul. On our first Sunday, a gentleman stood up in the front pew and announced he was looking volunteers to serve on a stewardship task force. Then, he went on to talk about the church’s budget. It was my first Sunday, so I didn’t have the heart to tell him that stewardship is not just about money. Christian stewardship is about maintaining and using wisely the gifts that God as bestowed. Annually, I asked my church this question: if everyone volunteered as much time, shared their God given abilities, and gave as much money as you, would the ministry of your church contrast or expand? It is my experience that 80% of everything in the life of the church comes from 20% of the people. It is an issue of true commitment. Are you totally committed? The first two words in William Borden’s Bible were NO RESERVES! How many reserves do you hold for yourself?

No Retreats

The second two words William Borden wrote in his Bible were the words:  NO RETREATS. He was always finding a new ways to serve God. The world is filled with needs. Some of those needs are physical. For example, many lack food, water, and shelter. Some of those needs are spiritual. Jesus is our only hope of salvation. Those words are offensive to our politically correct world, but that does not change the truth. If we don’t have Jesus, then we have nothing at all. What are you doing to combat the needs in our world. Are you still advancing or has your momentum ground to a haunt?

This is a hard time for the United Methodist Church. The denomination is dividing, and many congregations are opting out. The topic is sexuality, but there are many reasons to leave. Some churches are leaving because they are closing. Once crowded churches are down to a select few. The only generation that remains tells stories of events that happened years ago. The problem is not a lack of devotion or commitment. The problem is not Jesus. The problem is their lack of flexibility. Society changed, but they refused to change. They offer traditional worship to a society who continues to grow more informal. The truth be told, they have decided to close, instead of changing to speak to our new society. At some point all the energy stopped moving outward and started going inward. All the energy is needed just to exist. It has been said, the mainline Protestant church is on the verge of becoming the Amish of the twenty-first century. The second two words in William Borden’s Bible were NO RETREATS. When was the last time you attacked?

No Regrets

This week I found a list of ten things you will never regret. Maybe you can relate to one of these?

          1. Showing kindness to an aged person.

          2. Destroying a letter written in anger.

          3. Offering an apology that will save a friendship.

          4. Stopping a scandal that was ruining a reputation.

          5. Helping a boy or girl find themselves.

          6. Taking time to show consideration.

          7. Refraining from gossip.

          8. Refusing to do a thing which is wrong.

          9. Living according to your convictions.

          10. Accepting the judgment of God.

William Borden had his whole life in front of him. He was only twenty-four years hold when he died. To us, it really doesn’t seem fair. However, William Borden trusted God. The only one he was trying to please was God. The last two words he wrote in his Bible were the words NO REGRETS. How far do you trust God?

I have said it a million times. The only things that really matters are those issues that will matter in one hundred years. What is going to matter in one hundred years? The only thing that really matters in one hundred years is your relationship with Jesus! Are you living for Jesus or are you living for someone or something else? In the back of William Borden’s Bible were written these words: NO RESERVES, NO RETREATS, NO REGRETS. Those words summarized his ministry.

Can I ask you a really difficult question? What words would you write in the back of your Bible? What words summarize your service to God? Would you write down LOCK THE DOORS! Would you write down TURN OFF THE LIGHTS! Would you write down WE HAVE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY BEFORE! Would you write down SAVE MONEY! Would you write down one word, NO! Could it be you have no words? What words summarize your service to God? Perhaps a better question. How serious are you about serving God?