Devotional 10-31-08

GOD's Gift's

Read Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17, I Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-45

God gave the gift of the promised land to the descendants of Moses, as he promised. God's gave us the gift of this Earth. He knew us even before we were born. He has given us his gift of un-conditional Love. Our God has protected us from opposition. We were prepared for his grace at birth, all that we need to do is accept his "justifying grace" as it is "free for all" as John Wesley said. And once we accept his grace we maintain that grace through "means of grace". By praying, studying the word and through the sacrament of Holy Communion.

We are not to keep all this for ourselves, as Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:36-39)

Remember this, that we are a witness, a gift, to all we encounter daily, showing the love of God in all we do, for those that know you and that do not know you. Know matter how little or how small you are a God given Gift.

Fred Herr

Devotional 10-24-08

Trees Planted by Streams of Water

Please read Psalm 1 and Matthew 22: 34-39

I can appreciate the image used to distinguish the righteous from the wicked, whose path leads to death. The righteous are like trees planted by streams of water. They are healthy, prosperous, and fruitful. Obviously, the streams of water represent God. Notice that the trees didn’t just end up by the stream; no, they were purposefully planted there, just as we are created intentionally to be in relationship with God.

If I could look at a graph of my spirituality, I would see peaks and valleys. Using the image of the tree, I can imagine that there are times when my roots are soaking in the water. I can look back at the most fruitful, healthiest, happiest times in my life and see clearly that those were times of intimacy with God—streams of living water. However, there have been times when I have experienced spiritual drought and feel like I could wither away. I can imagine that the roots are moving in the wrong direction, seeking nourishment from something else. On the surface, everything is fine; the tree is standing, and the stream certainly hasn’t moved. Underneath, something’s not right. Eventually, the tree will dry up and die.

The good news is that when we are planted near the stream, our roots go deep and become entwined with other trees whose strength and nourishment come from the same stream. We hold each other up, just as the community of the righteous—the body of Christ—support each other in times of trial.

Through nothing of my own doing, and I suppose you would call it God’s prevenient grace, I am a descendent of the righteous. My ancestors were planted by streams of water—Gnat’s Run in Ritchie County and Laurel Lick in Lewis County. They lived out the two great commandments, loving God and loving neighbor as self. A friend recently told me that his family didn’t suffer during the depression because they were already poor; they didn’t lose anything and they already had their support systems for taking care of each other. It echoed something my Grandpa Mitchell told me 35 years ago about raising his family of nine children including my mother in the thirties and forties: “We didn’t have much, but we sure had a helluva time.”

The example set for me by the psalmist and my grandparents is to stay connected to God and community. Jesus said it another way: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Dear God, thank you for streams of living water that never run dry and for the community of the righteousness. Fill us with water from the well that never runs dry so that we can bear fruit in our love for You and for our neighbors. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 10-17-08

Harmony
Psalms 133

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) dwell in unity.”
RSV

As I write this devotional thought in October 2008, we are in the midst of the presidential campaign. In the tradition of being transparent, I must disclose that it is my intention to vote for Barack Obama. I share this fact to give you permission to disregard the rest of this devotional or to move on to the next devotional. I cannot get away from my naiveté, idealism, unrealistic, or deluded state that we as Christians should be able to live together in harmony. For me it is a central teaching of Jesus and one that he was willing to die for.

The political campaign and rhetoric make me sick. I find that it is very divisive and plays upon our fears. Our political process plays to the lowest common denominator. By and large the speeches and the advertisement play to our fear. Obama is a Muslim because his middle name is Hussein. Obama is an Arab because his middle name is Hussein. Obama can’t be trusted. All these misstatements were taken as the truth. It got so bad that at one point during the campaign McCain had to defend Obama as being a “decent” man.

I realize that politics is based on competition. I know that our culture and capitalism are based on competition. It is not a bad thing, but I worry about whether we use competition or if it uses us. I know that there were intense feelings when Obama beat out Clinton for the democratic presidential nomination. Yet I found it interesting to hear the speeches she and her husband gave at the convention and to observe them campaigning for Obama.

We are not going to have unity in our churches, states, or communities until we begin to understand and see the greater good. There is time when a stance I call the “mature adult stance” is appropriate. It is what I see in the Clintons out campaigning for Obama. I know that they have to wish that Hillary instead of Barack were the candidate. For the Clintons putting aside the personal disappointment and campaigning for Barack is an act of intimacy.

That is what makes Jesus so special. It is what makes him a role model for our culture. Instead of moving toward Jesus we appear to be moving away from him. Instead of reaching out to others who are different, we are putting more emphasis on being the same. As an articulate black man Barack Obama does not fit the image that many have projected on him. Jesus also had expectations projected onto him such as “Messiah”, “King” and “Lord”. As Christians we are called not be co-opted by our competitive society but rather hear the message of love and respond to others by seeing what they could be rather than what they are. I would like to see a presidential campaign or a public debate, which is focusing on an intense issue using that paradigm.

Rev. David Johnson

Devotional 10-10-08

Matthew 21:22 " And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Timothy 5:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Ah, the rain has come. I believed it would, I just didn't know when. It feels good. Everything was dry. I even felt dry. Even though I was drinking plenty of liquids, I was feeling dry. Usually, I want it to rain between midnight and maybe 6 AM. But I know that doesn't work. I usually find it a nuisance to go out into the rain. I need a raincoat and or umbrella, extra things that I would not need if the sun was shining and just getting in and out of the car in the rain can be a hassle. Poor me!

We need rain to quench the the thirst around us, and I need to believe in God and the Trinity to quench my thirst and being.

Sometimes, I get to thinking, how could there be God? Why can't I see Him? Where is He? What if someone just fed me the Bible and teachings and is manipulating me from somewhere? All of us? How can all of 'this' be, exist?

But then I think of all the people that believe. They are intelligent. I was recently at the "Commission Possible" workshop in Summersville, WV. Looking around at the more than 1,200 people and thinking of all the people in the world, I thought , they couldn't be all wrong about believing either.

I believe because it makes my life easier, better and makes me feel good. I feel good because I believe. I feel relieved that I can take my fears and woes to God and let go. I feel good about doing for others. I am not that young anymore, but I try to be an example to the believers and non believers. I hope to be a good witness.

Thank you Heavenly Father for my belief, and let me witness to those around me. Amen.

Kay Lewis

Devotional 10-3-08

Who are you trying to please?

I'm hearing the phrase, "to whom much is given, much is expected," a great deal more than I used to. This is a verse from Luke 12:47-49, which according to the King James' version, reads: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

A lot of folks are very familiar with the first part of this passage and most believe, if you have nice possessions -- the expensive house, the fancy car, and the hefty bank account -- then you properly inherit all of the headache and stress that comes along with the luxuries.

But what is often overlooked in this passage, is the second part of it. "And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Living about 15 minutes from Washington D.C., politics are always the talk of the day here. And many politicians, when running for office, want to set themselves apart from the "Washington insiders" or the politicians who are viewed as being bought by the lobbyists. After all, "to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." And while the special-interest politician is fulfilling the tall orders of those who have committed much, the ones who have committed nothing or have nothing to commit often go without.

I have come to personalize the second part of the passage and have applied it to my life. How many of us have gotten a great deal on a car, a discount at the sales counter or even landed a job because of someone we knew? We call it "networking." It happens all the time. And usually that friend wants to be repaid in some manner, don't they? Our friends sometimes commit or invest in us because they expect repayment of some kind.

At work, we enjoy being admired by the boss and our co-workers. And they will certainly put in a good word for us -- just as long as we don't apply for the same position they want. Or, when we have the boss' eye, it's all gravy until the competitor comes calling.

We can easily begin to measure who we are and just how far we can go by those who have committed to us in some way.

I love a lyric from an Eryka Badu song: "I work to please me, 'cause I can't please you," because at the end of the day, we have to work to make ourselves – and the Almighty -- happy. If we are allowing others to judge us and decide if we are smart enough, pretty enough, rich enough, or just plain out good enough -- we'll never reach our goals or come to appreciate what the Lord has in store for us.

I enjoy watching the wonder of what God can do when the odds are stacked against us. I love the stories of triumph and success when "no one believed" in someone.

Don't let others hinder you. Lift up your hands to the heavens and stretch!

Marina Matthews

Marina Mathews, is a former Huntington resident. She worked as a reporter and columnist at The Herald-Dispatch for 7 years and now lives in Montgomery Village, Md., with her husband Vada and two children, Todd and Ava, and their little dachshund, Reuben.