God Bless You

REFLECTIONS
November 2, 2008

Matthew 5:1-7 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching in the region of the Galilee, and comes to a crowd on the side of a hill where he sits and talks to them about the meaning of faith in a new age. The beatitudes include verses three through twelve, where the word blessed is used at least nine times .

The concept of being blessed, or for that matter cursed, was common during the time of Jesus. So for him to address the crowd in terms of blessings would not have been unusual. The difference was the style and phrasing he chose. For to say the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, or the merciful are blessed seems odd.

A contemporary English translation phrases the beatitudes in this way. “God blesses those who depend on God. They belong to the realm of heaven. God blesses those who grieve, they will find comfort. God blesses those who are humble, the Earth will belong to them. God blesses those who want to obey God more than to eat or drink. They will be given what thy want. God blesses the merciful. They will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, they will see God. God blesses those who make peace, they will be called God’s children. God blesses those who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the realm of heaven. God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and exited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.”

Even dressed up in modern language, the ‘Beatitudes’ don’t sound very beatific. The words of Jesus are straight forward, direct perhaps, even a bit harsh. Know your need of God. Know that sorrow comes to all. Know your place in the order of the universe. Know the true meaning of faith. Know the value of mercy. Know the value of a right heart. Know the strength of peace-filled living. Then if you manage to be righteous, sorrowful, humble, meek, humble, true of heart and peaceable, expect to be given a hard time. The words are less an affirmation of faith or an invitation to discipleship, than a warning or a disclaimer one might find in a contract on a product purchased. Jesus was no street corner evangelist looking for converts. He wasn’t selling anything, but he was offering something. He offered a new way to relate to the world and to those around us in terms of faith. He spoke boldly in truth and love to open hearts and minds willing to see old truths in light of new stories. So often we wish to make Jesus a salesman or a storyteller. The truth is, before and after any discussion of his deity he remains our teacher. Yes, Jesus was a teacher, and the best teachers don’t tell us what we want to hear. They do however tell us exactly what we need to know.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

God's Heart Is Our Home Address

REFLECTIONS
October 26th, 2008

What is your first consideration each day? What is important, even essential to you as you move through time and space? Work, bills, money, love, satisfaction, security? I am certain each of us has some sort of list. The author of Psalm 90 (Moses) is concerned with the central issues of human location in relation to God and perhaps more importantly human response to the love of God. The prayer opens with the words; “Lord you have been our dwelling place in all generations,”v1 Then later in the Psalm the author writes “make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us...”vv15-17a. Moses is praying first to remember himself that he is not the center of the universe, and also to show those he is called to serve that their true home is with God.

Moses knew the importance of relying on God and not oneself, for when he followed his lead rather than God’s trouble ensued. So for Moses faith is rooted in relationship. A Holy relationship with God which is active, vital and close at hand. Creatures need a sense of awe at the creators’ knowing and caring for them. Furthermore it means knowing that as creatures we are not the point, God is. Our spiritual strength and stamina come as a gift from God manifest in doing what we are called. To live toward God is to be in that dwelling Moses writes of. While to live for oneself is to live out of bounds. Even in the lament portion of the Psalm where Moses writes of how in broken behavior and bad choices God is still present available to guide those willing.

As modern people we are so self reliant that the words of the Psalm might seem not simply dated, but moreover antiquated. A curiosity to see and poetic to read, but without value because after all this is the 21st century and we possess the technology to be self reliant. We have what Moses needed namely Global Positioning Satellites, cell phones, and don’t forget the Microwave. What Moses in fact shows us is for all our technological power we at times lack the ability to step back and be awe struck by the power of the Holy. If our focus is only on the press and pull of each day we miss the opportunity to experience the beauty, grandeur, hope and holy happenings around us.
What this Psalm teaches us again and again is that we must be willing to make a conscious effort to consider the notion that God’s heart is our home. It at least seems worth considering.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

What Would Jesus Do?

REFLECTIONS
October 19, 2008

Today is Laity Sunday; a day set-aside in United Methodism to celebrate the ministry of lay persons. The theme is “Partners In Ministry--Making Disciples of Jesus Christ.” On this day we renew our partnership in the Gospel, remembering each of us has gifts for ministry which God calls us to use. Laity Sunday serves to remind us that ministry is not solely left to pastors, and the gifts we bring in terms of prayers, presence, tithes, offerings and service have value far beyond individual imagination.

The gospel of Mark records a story known as the widow’s offering. Speaking about Jesus the author writes, “And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And He called his disciples to Him, and said to them. ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.’ ”

The money she gave had little value as coins of the realm. However, in spiritual terms they were priceless, for those two coins represented the sum of her worth. Throughout his teachings, Jesus is quite clear, grace is free but it is not cheap. The cost of discipleship is an investment of life.

To invest one’s life in the gospel is not simply to sign on the dotted line; these things I believe, and these are the rules to which I will adhere as a person of faith. Active discipleship means investing in learning and then spending that learning through leadership. We are called to learn the will and way of God. The model we have in Jesus is effective and the love of Christ in our lives as a guide and guard is essential. As believers, each of us is called to active ministry. Jesus illustrates this in the gospels when He commissions the disciples, then says no longer am I your master but we are friends.

By calling his followers friends, Jesus set the pattern for discipleship; which moves from belief, to instruction, to sending forth. For if we claim the gift of God’s love, and seek to understand that gift…how can we not be moved to share it? Each in our own way! Each and every day! Here and there and yet there again! AMEN!

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Are We Too Distracted To Party?

REFLECTIONS

October 12, 2008

"We give thee but thine own, what e're the gift may be: All that we have is thine alone, a trust O Lord from thee." I grew up singing this hymn as a response to the offering. In Philippians 4:10-19, Paul gives thanks for the financial support the people have sent him. They had given for a time, stopped, then resumed gifts toward his ministry. He affirms the gift, without lamenting the earlier absence of giving. More importantly, he counts the gift as holy, and prays God's blessing upon current and future offerings.

When money comes up in Church someone is liable to be offended. This is because of how personal money matters can be. Someone will say all the church ever does is ask for money, which means don't ask or tell me how to give. So we soft sell stewardship. We write letters, send estimate of giving cards and ask people to prayerfully consider their gifts. It would be more effective to ask folks to put as much effort into giving as into buying a car or a TV. That thinking is fractured because it is based on our need to purchase. The desire to receive something of value for money. Stewardship, however, is based on our need to give.

Of course gifts to a local church are appreciated and needed. From the blessings of the gathered community in worship, to feeding the hungry locally and the support given distant missionaries, giving money matters. How much is a personal decision. If we speak passionately about a social issue, and invoke what the Bible says about it, and yet become forgetful in terms of stewardship, we have erred. Friends the Bible is clear, all of what we have belongs to God, we hold it in trust. In terms of giving, ten percent of what we have is the place we begin as stewards. How we figure that percent is up to us.

If we withhold our money from a church because we disagree with its theology, structure or program, we do so in ignorance of the aim of stewardship; which is sharing our abundance in grateful response to God's goodness. Our faith is deepened by our need to give not the need of the church to receive. If we are not being fed in a faith community, we are not vested in terms of time, talent and treasure in that place. A part of the imperative of faith is to put our money where our faith is. In more base terms a colleague once spoke of a member saying of stewardship; "preaching what ain't paid for don't sound good."

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

The Art Of Light Theory Theology

REFLECTIONS
October 5, 2008

It is fascinating that we live in a culture where we can buy beautiful things, like homes, clothes and cars. We can even buy better looks through cosmetic surgery. So, it only makes sense that spirituality would be tied to our consumer based nature. To confirm this, one need only go to a bookstore, watch television or read a newspaper. From religious self-help publications to psychic readings and tarot cards, spirituality can be purchased on the half shell.

When Paul writes in the third chapter of Philippians about the need to count as refuse, anything which keeps us from God, and encourages believers to press on toward the call of God in Christ. He set a pattern for the work of faith.

The intent of the Apostle was to instill in the mission communities that to be a person of faith requires effort, not to continue the debate over faith versus works. Paul had begun his religious journey rooted in works, first as a scholar, then as a zealot. However, when he experienced the transforming power of God through Christ, he came to know and then share that the work of faith follows experience.

When we gather as a community, especially in the celebration of the sacrament of communion, it is an affirmation and a work of faith, as well. In the songs we sing, in the prayers we say, in the love we hold for each other, for our community at large and for this world, we restate the ancient teachings anew.

In the taking in of the worship experience, and through the elements of grape and grain; we say with Paul, because in Christ I am somebody, all I had and thought I was can be thought of as loss. Yet, being found in God does not free the believer to vegetate. The pull and press of belief begins in being found, so the work of faith is simply that.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Faith Is A Direct Answer, Not A Trick Question

REFLECTIONS
September 28, 2008

In Matthew 21:23-32, we find the chief priests questioning the authority of Jesus. Asking in verse twenty-three, “by what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” He asks in return whether the Baptism John preached was from heaven or of human origin. They are stuck on an answer because if they say from heaven Jesus will say, “why did you not believe and follow him?” However, if they say of humans, they fear being attacked by those present who believed and followed John’s ministry. So Jesus does not answer them either, and then moves into the parable of the man with two sons. He goes to his first son asking him to go into the field to work and he says he will not, but then thinks better of it and does. The man asks the second son to go into the field and he says he will and then does not go. Jesus then asks the priests which son did the will of the father. They of course answer the first. Jesus then says the tax collectors and prostitutes will get to the kingdom before them because they believed John and they (the Chief Priests) did not.

It seems harsh, at some level, to have Jesus say this, yet these and other like- minded folks question the authority of Jesus. Their opposition would carry Jesus to an inquest before Pilot and, of course, the cross. He answers the question of authority not so much with words (as he does here) but with the way he lives and especially with his teaching, filled with the power of the Spirit of God.

I had a professor in Seminary who when reading a passage such as this would say... “then the Presbyterians and the Methodists questioned Jesus as to his authority and where it came from.” The good Doctor would assert, “if you cannot identify with the villains in Biblical narrative you really aren’t interested in the story.” To be fully engaged as people of faith, we must be willing to see ourselves in those who would distract us from seeing that Jesus was not about authority, but power. The power of God’s love let loose in a wild and wonderful way that can confound and confuse and raise questions.
However, in the end, faith is a direct answer never a trick question.

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601