Why One Person Orchestras Aren't Popular

REFLECTIONS
January 24, 2010

Years ago, when playing little league baseball, a team I played on was pretty good but we could have been better. We never really played as a team in a cohesive sense because we had one player (actually our best player) who endeavored to play all nine positions at once. We won games, and even qualified for the playoffs, however, this one person team kept us individually and collectively from reaching our full potential. This happens in life and is certainly an element of Church life. Sometimes we become so involved in doing everything that we leave no room for others to be a part also.

What does it mean to belong to something greater than oneself? In his letter to the people of Corinth this is the central question Paul seeks to answer. After the church was established, the people began to break into groups, arguing over who was more spiritual. The Apostle spent a great deal of time addressing these issues in chapters eleven and twelve, culminating with his argument and instruction in chapter thirteen about the power of love to transform life.

In chapter 12:12-31a Paul uses the analogy of the human body to deflect dissension and create a sense of belonging within the community. He explores the understanding by stating that we cannot individually be the entire body, but only the part we have been created to be. Even the consideration of spiritual gifts limits our ability because spiritual gifts are different.

Paul insists that we have need of one another so that working together we become ‘the body of Christ’. A living symbol of God’s love lived in and through community. What makes this possible in faith communities is the knowledge that we are not called to compare gifts, or compete to see who is best among us. Rather, we are called to claim our gifts and work together that love might be known in ever new and mysterious ways.

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

Faith Means Less Theory and More Practice

REFLECTIONS
January 17, 2010

January 18th is a National holiday so designated in honor and memory of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The debate prior to the naming of this holiday was loud and long. It centered around the worthiness of Dr. King having a day named for him. His behavior as a man, an academic, a minister of the gospel and as a social force were all held up to public scrutiny. Even though, for some, questions of character remain; a day was named in honor of Dr. King with each state given the right to designate how to observe the day. Some states have chosen to ignore the day, citing crowded calendars, yet a case could be made for other issues at play.

The message of Dr. King was simple and powerful yet at its heart quiet. God is loving and just, and we are called to live toward those ideals. Dr. King lived and taught that we are to stand together in the name of love on matters of justice, care, and peace. For him, fair wages, voting rights, along with the right to ride, eat, drink, or sleep in a non-segregated environment were not matters of color, but matters of justice rooted in faith. God had called Martin as God had tapped his father before him. His message carried political implications, but was at its base Biblical and faithful to his Christian calling. While it is true he had a political profile, he remained throughout his life a pastor.

It was April 4th of 1968 when an assassin’s bullet killed Dr. King. He would be the first to remind us that the greatest Purveyor of Peace died at the hands of violence. That how Jesus lived is more significant than His death, because He live fully toward the will and reign of God. Our focus must be the will, the wonder, the work, and the way of Christ and not His death alone.

It seems to me that we will be doing well this January 21st, not merely remembering Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, but remembering the aim and ideals of his life. He lived fully toward the gospel of Jesus Christ and paid with his life for proclaiming what God called him to say and do. In memory of Dr. King and in honor of his faith and recognition of our commonness in Christ might we dare to dream; of more peaceable cities, states, and nations. Of standing up for what is right, just, loving, and holy, lest we fall for something less. Do we make the day just another day off, or do we pause and remember that it, and we count for something?

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

Doing Right While the Sun Endures

Reflections
January 3, 2010

We stand at the front edge of a new year with empty calendars and great expectations, wondering what the year will bring. Of course, none of us know for sure what the year will bring, but we can say with some certainty our expectations are a factor. If we go through life with low expectations, chances are our expectations will be met. However, if we choose to set high expectations, while there will be disappointments (even detractors critical of the lofty view) there is great joy in living fully to the best and brightest hopes.

John Wesley was an 18th century Anglican Priest who, along with his brother, Charles, began the Methodist movement in England and what were then the American Colonies. John Wesley believed in the power of the Spirit and the development of the mind, and to that end along with his brother used popular music with theological lyrics and small group common sense faith to change the face of religion in Europe and what would become the United States.

Two of his most famous rules seem worthy of sharing at the start of this year. On stewardship he wrote; "Earn all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can." On doing the work of faith as disciples he wrote; "Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the place you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can."

It has often been said that we might be the only Bible some individuals read, the only Sunday School some will experience is through our word and deeds. If this is true, then the question ever before us must be..Are the words we offer those of criticism or care? Are our actions born of judgment or grace? Is the time we offer God given instead of or along with our treasure? Are the relationships we build with faith communities born of conscience, commercial appeal or a commitment of the soul?

Of course, all of the above is easier said than done and I close with a story to illustrate. A fellow awoke early one Sunday and said to his sleepy wife, I don't think I will go to church today. I don't much care for the way worship is planned. Too many people sleep during the sermon and criticize the preacher afterward. The coffee at fellowship is weak and the conversation too strong. Another thing that bothers me; just then his wife elbowed him and said, your faith calls you to be loving not judgmental. The household of faith needs understanding not evaluation. Beside, you are their Pastor, Joey, now go and lead worship! With great expectations let's get on with God's work.

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

Locating Love is Not Complicated

Reflections
December 27, 2009

In his book Leaving Home, Garrison Keillor has an essay titled, "Christmas Dinner." The story suggests that the primary function of Christmas gatherings is to argue politics, watch football and eat ourselves out of one wardrobe and into another. In a line which speaks volumes about his experience he writes, "You close your eyes and when you open them you could be six or you could be forty-two." For him the story of Christmas is something one can relate to and touch. The late theologian and Christian mystic, Dr. Howard Thurman takes a different approach. In his text, The Growing Edge, he writes of the mood symbol and quality" of Christmas, and of the "fullness of time," found in the person and ministry of Jesus. "As we look at the life of Jesus, we discover there was no great dazzling character to his daily living experience..." "He did a thousand little things, but all of them were infused with the most profound awareness of his life as a living instrument in the hands of God. He was available to God totally..." Thurman's point, and I dare say Keillor's, is hat the gift we are given by God in our Christmas tradition is remembrance. For all of Mr. Keillor's humor, one can sense in the weaving of his words the powerful bond he finds in relationships and how remembering Christmas dinner becomes more rich with the passage of time.

In faith, we remember that in the "fullness of time" God came to us in the person and presence of Jesus. In his life and ministry, Jesus shows us that love may have come down at Christmas, but it didn't stand still, rather it lives unto God and moves among people in real time.

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

Peace is Just One Kiss Away

Reflections
December 20, 2009

Theologian, Frederick Buechner writes that before news can be good or bad it is simply news. According to the dictionary, news is previously unknown information. Originally news came to us in bits and pieces, traveling by whatever means available, then being dispersed by those in the community with credibility and once. From a town crier to a news paper then a telegraph, and finally a telephone, the news of the day sort of eased its way into our lives. In this day and age we are so enthralled with news that at any given moment one can turn on the TV or power up the internet and find more news and information than can possibly be absorbed. Whether it is good or bad is less relevant than the fact that anything one might want to know is available at anytime.

Jon Stewart is the host of The Daily Show. A popular talk and commentary program which reports current events with a marked comedic twist. Though the program offers disclaimers and Mr. Stewart touts the program as fake news, according to research, a growing segment of individuals eighteen to forty-nine cite this program as their main source for news. What this seems to be importing is that either a growing part to the viewing audience prefers entertainment over hard news, or more disturbing, there are people who would prefer manufactured as opposed to actual data.

In the Bible, the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called gospels. The term according to scholars means good news. In each case, the writer brings their particular understanding of the goodness of God in Jesus. Mark is believed the earliest writing and John the last. Though the stories are different, written from the perspective of the authors, they are not manufactured and certainly not fake.

We hear news, view or read it, take it in, then factor the value we ascribe to it. Especially in Advent, we need to tell and retell the news of our faith. Mark, in the opening of his gospel shares the most important aspect of the reporting. Mark has no birth narrative, he begins with John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness. The power of their story is not John but his message which has two key elements. The first is don't focus on John, he is just the messenger. Hear the message that God calls us to a relationship of dynamic change. Secondly, the more powerful message is found in Jesus. We tell and retell the story not because we are slow or hard of hearing, but because in the repetition, the news becomes richer and a full blessing in ways unknown before.

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