The Readers Write - Part II
Posted on April 18th, 2006 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryThere is a great discussion taking place in the comment section of our post The Readers Write. Here are two quotes that kind of summarize the discussion:
Jason asks: (referring to our blog)
You seem to point out what everyone else is doing wrong, but never talk about what you are doing right (or what anyone is doing right). You talk about how being a Christ follower is about helping the poor and destitute, but never talk about how you are doing that. Anyone who has stumbled across this blog certainly knows what you are against, but what are you for? And what are YOU doing about it?
John 444 responds:
There’s my 70 year old next door neighbor who lost his only daughter about 20 years ago to a drunk driver. He’s an alcoholic now and his conversation is peppered with profanity. I help him with projects he can’t do anymore, and just sit and listen to him sometimes. His wife had knee replacement surgery last winter, and we cooked and took several meals to them. Their church did nothing, but send them notice that they were falling behind on their giving committment.
There’s the 92 year old lady across the street, who tells me the same story every time I see her. I stand there and listen. Every time it snows, I clear her drive and walks with my snow-blower. When she fell on the ice/snow last winter and broker her shoulder, I was there to pick her up and set her in a chair and called 9-1-1 to come get her.
There’s my 30 year old neighbor who has 2 children, who’s husband doesn’t have a clue. We’ve sat and listened to her several times about her marriage, counseled and prayed with her, without ever repeating what she has told us in confidence, nor judging her or her husband.
One of the things that helped me a lot Jason, was someone’s simple observation, that I was (in a sense) the ‘pastor’ of my neighborhood. I have no building in which I hold services, don’t sing special music or take up a collection … I just walk and talk with them from time to time as they travel the path, and listen, and feed back to them. And take their concerns to the Father in prayer. Nothing institutional / religious about it. Just real relationship, and being the son of God that the Father has made me, that they might see Him and know He loves them too.
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April 18th, 2006 at 7:00 am
To be fair, and embarrassingly honest, there are also many failures to “be the church” and help the people God has put in my path.
Last summer, I had to gas up the truck before taking a load of yard waste to the landfill. On the way out the door, I grabbed a 5 gallon gas can to fill as well.
On the way home from the landfill, I saw a man park his car by the side of the road, put on a backpack, lock the door and start walking. I intended to stop and help him, until he lit up a cigarette and there I was with a 5 gallon can of gas in the truck cab, so I kept on driving – but looked in my rear view mirror several times until he disappeared around the curve. For several days I thought about him – could see him walking in my minds eye. Eventually, I dismissed the memory by saying to myself “what kind of moron runs out of gas?”
About 2 weeks later, returning from yet another trip to the landfill to dump a load of concrete, Ol’ Blue (’77 F150 4×4) ran out of gas after reaching the top of the last hill before the house. The main and aux tanks were empty. I parked along the side of the road, and started walking the 2.5 miles home. It was then I remembered the words “what kind of moron runs out of gas?”
A hundred yards later, a man my age pulled up in a late 70’s Cadillac, and offered me a ride. He had an open beer in the console – a Coor’s pounder for those who want to know – and was kind enough to drive me to the house and back, where that 5 gallon can of gas was in my garage, unused from the time I encountered the man at the side of the road 2 weeks before. He talked, cussed, offered me a beer, and then asked what I did since I’m new to town within the last year. Told him I was a songwriter mainly, recording several of my songs. He says “what kind” and I tell him “uh, Christian” whereupon he blushed and apologized for cussing. I told him “you ought to hear me when I run out of gas” and we roared. Turns out he’s a musician and songwriter too, retired, and he’s become a friend.
But he’s not a Christian. And therein lies one of the embarrassing humiliations of it all. I’m a Christian, a supposed ‘ambassador’ for Christ, but I would not stop to help one of Christ’s kiddos who needed it, even when the Lord had prepared me before hand with a can of gas. And here I am 2 weeks later, being helped by a non-believer, because I was now the “moron” who had run out of gas.
Adding to my guilt that day last summer when I ignored the Lord’s promptings and drove on, is the fact that the man who had run out of gas was black.
I’ve often wondered what kind of “connection” the Lord was trying to establish between us, that I missed because of my stupid carnal reaction. With the man who stopped to help me, we connected through music, and of course the beer. Since then we’ve discovered we have much more in common, and I’m glad we’ve met. But I’ll always wonder about the connection that was missed – what might the Lord have done there?
In hindsight, the blessing (of a new friend) that follows an act of kindness and obedience, is much better than the guilt of disobedience.
April 18th, 2006 at 7:13 am
Nevertheless, I am nominating you as Pastor of City Business Church. We’ll be holding a confirmation vote later next month.
April 18th, 2006 at 7:31 am
I second that nomination.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Crap.
April 18th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Do we have to sign our ballots??
April 18th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Spent the afternoon working on the outline for my 1st official sermon.
TITHE.
T=Tenth (of)
I=Income (and)
T=Time (is)
H=Heaven’s
E=Expectation
Whaddaya think?
Other upcoming sermon titles I’ve considered are:
“It’s Wine not grape juice”
“My parents had me circumcized - does that mean I’m Jewish?”
I’m open to suggestions too.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
As a child of at-home birth, I’m partial to the circumsion sermon. But I love wine… so either one’s a winner to me.
April 18th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
John 444, I definitely vote for “it’s wine, not grape juice.” The fact that some actually believe that grapes could remain grapes for long without becoming wine is astounding; let’s talk about the refrigeration systems during Christ’s day. Not to mention the more pertinent realities that “wine” in Greek, Hebrew & Aramaic means, well, WINE. If it was good enough for Jesus, it’s definitely good enough for me.
FFTM
April 18th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
If the ushers get to wear teal blazers, sign me up.
April 18th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
FFTM said:
Good! Always nice to have the support of the congregation. As my old cemetary professor used to say “preaching an agreeable message is always good for the offering.”
I plan to cover some new ground with my sermon.
Communion etiquette has never been covered before, as far as I know. Oh, the minister often explains the difference between taking communion traditionally and intinction … but when have any of them dared address the important subject of ‘communion etiquette’?
For example, is it OK to check the ‘nose and legs’ of the wine before partaking?
As always, I welcome questions from the flock in advance of the sermon, and I’ll do my best to elucidate obtusely on the matter. With any luck at all, I’ll be able to stretch my answer out the requisite 20 minutes.
Does anyone have information about the ancient middle-east varietals? I’m hoping to determine whether white or red was used for communion.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
I believe shiraz is a middle eastern wine. Europeans started a few shiraz vineyards and called the wine syrah, but I’m pretty sure the varietal is middle eastern in origin.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
I like Chianti. I know it’s Italian, but I could bring my BMOBottle.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
I could BMOBottle., I meant.
April 19th, 2006 at 5:52 am
pdxrn said:
BMOBottle is cool - Chianti is fine - nothing against Italians here at CBC, especially if they go by Guido, Vinny or Tony … just not sure about Sangria or coolers yet.
Your comment gave me an idea … the Biblical tongue-twister challenge™.
Sarah sipped shiraz whilst singing shalom selah …
Not quite ‘Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers’ but, it’s Biblical, and might add a little levity to the message … we want to be known as the Fun Church™ you know.
Whoever wins can take 10% off their tithe for that weeks offering*.
*Offer not transferable. Void where prohibited by the law.
April 19th, 2006 at 7:12 am
www.fallwell.com
April 19th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Shouldn’t someone as controversial as Jerry Falwell have bought that domain name already? I mean why leave it up for grabs for anyone who has the inclination to buy it? His PR and Marketing department really messed up there.
Nothing wrong with Chianti . . .
April 19th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
Cabernet is my wine of choice, though have some real fond memories of Grignolino - hard to find that in the US.
Would you guys think me a wuss if you knew I drank O’Douls and Sharps?
April 19th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Yes
The beer you drink is like Marc ….fake
April 19th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
That stuff ain’t beer. It’s only for putzes and designated drivers. They oughta put that stuff back in the horse it come from.