Devotional 9-4-09

“There but for the grace of God go I”. I have heard and said that saying all of my life, but I don’t think I ever put the right spin on that saying. It always made me a little uncomfortable. (I was raised a Presbyterian, so I have that predestination thing lurking in my subconscious.) I always thought it wasn’t quite fair that God had spared me from whatever horrible situation that someone else was enduring. Did God save me from being in that position? Did He love me more that that person? Of course not. Was I a better Christian than them? Definitely not! So why did they have to endure this and not me? When I read Psalm 124 I had my epiphany. We all have our trials to endure and find our way through. The grace is not that God has spared us, but that God is there beside us, guiding and sometimes carrying us through. All we have to do is open ourselves up to Him and ask for that help and guidance. There but for the grace of God go I-alone to face the world.

Margaret Williams

Devotional 8-28-09

Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.--Galatians 6:2

"Sir, you wish to serve God and go to heaven. Remember you cannot serve Him alone; you must therefore find companions, or make them: the Bible knows nothing of solitary religion."--John Wesley, founder of Methodism

"We are family, I've got all my sisters with me." --1979 song by Sister Sledge, composed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers

Community

In the past month I've had the privilege of sharing in a joyful celebration and a time of sorrow with members of my Sunday School class. We had a bridal shower for the daughter of one of our families who remarked that we had all helped raise her. Just a little over a week later we served an after-funeral meal to the family and friends of other members who had lost their mother. In both instances, our diverse group of individuals came together in love and friendship to share in our friends' joys and sorrows. We are "family" to each other.

When I was twenty-something, I was helping out in the church kitchen and an older lady remarked that she had made more friends in the kitchen than in the pews. As I have grown older her words ring truer and truer.

Are you familiar with Toby Keith's song, I Love This Bar? (Stay with me, I'm not trying to corrupt anyone!). Here's the chorus:

I love this bar
It's my kind of place
Just walkin' through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain't too far, come as you are
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar

Every time I hear that song, I want to substitute the word church in place of bar. It doesn't rhyme, but it tells how I feel about my church and my church family.

If you don't have a church family I urge you to find one, otherwise you are cheating yourself out of one of God's greatest blessings, the gift of community.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Devotional 8-21-09

Mark 11:20-23: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. (NIV)

God is the Lord of this creation. God is sovereign over all things. No structure, no creature, no object or being my act or be still without God's allowing it to be so. Jesus anticipation that the mountain will respond to our command is not based on the size of one's faith but on the God to whom faith looks. This is why the discourse begins with the command "Have faith in God!"
But what can be said for the figurative mountain that simply will not move? What can be said for the individual who finds himself or herself faced with such a mountain in the form of some circumstance or trial? What can be said for that situation when, despite every protest or proclamation hurled against it, the obstacle in a person's life will not simply go away?

Could it be that the mountain is not moving because it has not accomplished God's intended purpose? Could it be that in the course of doing God's bidding, the mountain has some service to render to you?

In the Hebrew Bible, Our Father (who art in Heaven) is often called "El Shaddai", generally translated in the Christian Bible as "God Almighty." But "El Shaddai" also makes reference to the old perception of God as the "God of the Mountains". Time and again from Moses to Elijah, even on down to Jesus and the Apostles, God is met in intimate, mysterious, and supernatural ways in the mountains. I imagine that such is the experience of the modern-day mountain climber. Even if she or he does not recognize or name the presence and proof of divinity in their experience, I still suspect that the divine encounter is what keeps them climbing peak after peak. Relying on God to help us to overcome our own seemingly immovable obstacles has the same potential for divine encounter.

Now God's strength and companionship may manifest supernaturally or they may come in the appearance of your church family, a close friend, even a total stranger that provides something in the way of a word or a deed that gives you the strength to move forward. And you keep climbing...and God is with you. Progressing in this way, eventually you find that you no longer need the mountain to move because you find that you are on top of it! And as a result you are standing higher than you ever have. In moving higher up the mountain you have moved deeper into the presence of the God upon whom you relied in order to get there.

It may be that the mountain in your life that won't move is God's way of trying to get you to a fresh or deeper encounter with God Almighty.

Joe Hill

Devotional 8-14-09

It is amazing to contemplate the extent to which Jesus is able to meet he needs of everyone in every conceivable situation. Also it is astounding to find the wide diversity of expressions as to the nature of Jesus. He is described in the language of almost any of the many interests of humanity.

TO THE ARTIST: He is the One altogether Lovely.
TO THE ARCHITECT: He is the Chief Corner Stone.
TO THE BAKER: He is the Living Bread.
TO THE BANKER: He is the Hidden Treasure.
TO THE BIOLOGIST: He is Life.
TO THE BUILDER: He is the Sure Foundation.
TO THE CARPENTER: He is the Door.
TO THE MEDICAL WORLD: He is the Great Healer.
TO THE EDUCATOR: He is the Teacher.
TO THE ENGINEER: He is the New and Living Way.
TO THE FARMER: He is the Sower and Lord of the Harvest.
TO THE FLORIST; He is the Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon.
TO THE GEOLOGIST: He is the Rock of Ages.
TO THE HORTICULTURIST: He is the True Vine.
TO THE JUDGE: He is the Righteous Judge.
TO THE JEWELER: He is the Pearl of Great Price.
TO THE LAWYER: He is the Advocate and Law-giver.
TO THE NEWS MAN: He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy.
TO THE OCULIST: He is the Light of the Eyes.
TO THE PHILANTHROPIST: He is the Unspeakable Gift.
TO THE PREACHER: He is the Word of God.
TO THE SCULPTOR: He is the Living Stone.
TO THE SERVANT: He is the Good Master.
TO THE STATESMAN: He is the Desire of all Nations.
TO THE STUDENT: He is the Incarnate Truth.
TO THE THEOLOGIAN: He is Author and Finisher of our Faith.
TO THE TOILER: He is the Giver of Rest.
TO THE SINNER: He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World.
TO THE CHRISTIAN: He is Savior and Lord.

What is Jesus Christ to me?

What is He to you?

One has written and we sing:
Jesus is all the world to me;
My life, my joy, my all.
He is my strength from day to day;
Without Him I would fall.

Written by Rev. Samuel B. Cunningham
Pastor at Johnson Memorial UMC as the sixties began

Submitted by Betty Long

As an extra, Anita Farrell shared this memory of Rev. Cunningham: He lived near the park and grew flowers, especially chrysanthemums. It was not unusual to come in on Sunday mornings and find he had placed flowers in every classroom.

Devotional 8-7-09

Follow the Outline
Please read Philippians 3: 1-21

Chances are, you know a retired man in your neighborhood whose lawn is the envy of everyone else’s. In the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Cross Lanes, my dad was that guy. He mowed twice a week, properly followed a fertilizer schedule, and kept his shrubbery perfectly trimmed. Last summer, when Dad at age 79 gave up the regular mowing to a lawn service, he continued to do his own edging and trimming. We joked that it was because no one else could do it to his satisfaction. It was true, though; no one else could do it as well.

After Dad’s sudden death in May, Mom agreed to let me assume responsibility for Dad’s shrubbery. We both knew I would not do it as well, but someone would have to do it; it might as well be me. About a week after the funeral, I showed up at Mom’s to take care of the hedges. She showed me where he kept the tools and left me alone for my task.

I had not anticipated what an emotional experience it would be to trim Dad’s hedges. As I began to pick up the larger hedge trimmer (he used two: one for the rough cut and the smaller one for finishing and shaping) and began to unwind the electric cord, I was overcome with sentimental feelings. Dad always fussed at the way I wound my extension cords. I wrapped them tightly from hand to elbow, while Dad was more fastidious, making big sweeping loops and taking care to get all the twists out. I thought to myself as I looked at Dad’s cord, the way he left it…it’s never going to be the same.

As I got to work with the trimming though, first with the forsythia, I found that it was beginning to look pretty good. Dad took such good care of his plants, I discovered that all I really needed to do was cut back the new growth, and it looked (almost) as if Dad had done it himself. When I finished the first group of forsythia that create a privacy hedge in the back yard, I realized that Dad had left a great outline for me to follow.

Following Dad’s outline worked around front with the boxwoods, hollies, and junipers, too. What a gift Dad left by providing an outline for me to follow. I never would have imagined that I would be able to get the perfect round or square looks that were a source of pride to him. All I have to do, though, is follow the outline.

Trimming the hedges each few weeks has given me some time not only to visit with Mom and help her out, but also to experience a time of spiritual connection with my father. I can imagine him smiling as I get each shrub down to the perfect outline he left. And I chuckle at what he might be thinking as I wind his electric cord tightly between my hand and elbow.

In Philippians 3:17 Paul urges us to provide a good outline for those who will come behind us.

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”

In lawn care and life, I cannot measure up to the example my dad established for me…but I’m getting better.

Dear God, thank you for the lives of the saints who showed us how to live and love. May their example encourage us to live lives that are pleasing to you, so that those who come behind us find us faithful. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 7-30-09

Coming into Wal*Mart – the Back Way

Wal*Mart – now, there’s a love-hate relationship. I am in complete agreement with BOTH sides of the debate; yes, I think that they are too powerful and that they have run smaller businesses into the ground, and yes, I think that they have really good prices on a whole lot of things. Complicating this matter is the fact that the Wal*Mart Corporation built, several years ago, a store the size of O’Hare airport about a mile from our house. Throw into the mix that we are both working parents, both kids are in school, all of us are involved in outside activities and tell me now – what is convenience worth? To kick it up a notch, I can get to this particular Wal*Mart without having to go on what the country folk use to call, “the hard road.” I can travel Norwood Road to the intersection called Crossroads then get on Norway Avenue and travel right to the Wal*Mart property and come in the “back way.” Had I chosen to come via the front drive, I could have experienced a four lane state-supported highway. It has clearly marked lanes, a center turn lane to smooth out stopped traffic, a right turn lane that allows for slowing without hampering those coming behind. Well, golly gee whiz, the access point even has one of those new fangled gizmos called a traffic light. Red, yellow, green; you go then I’ll go > wow, how polite. It’s kind of like the instruction book that comes with an appliance or a toy. Do this, then do that.

As wonderful as all of this instruction is I still insist on coming in the back way. Traveling east towards the drive brings me to a “way-too-short” turn lane. As I prepare to make my left, I then get to play chicken with the oncoming cars that are going to come flying around the retaining wall of one million blocks (they are probably afraid it’s going to fall on them) and hope I make it, with my paint intact, on site. Now that I’m in, where do I go? I’m at Wal*Mart but not where I should be. I’m in no man’s land. No lines, no signs saying “Go This Way,” no signal light and most likely an obstacle or two – a delivery truck bringing merchandise or fork lift moving it from point A to point B. In other words, I think I’m where I need to be but I have no clear direction.

So it is too often with my faith. I believe in God but I have a lot to do, you know. So I say a little prayer before meals, I pet a puppy, I smell a flower, and I say “Thank you for my blessings, what a wonderful world.” I have just come to God the back way. His Word is a paved highway complete with signals, arrows and signs. In the beginning God…no other Gods before me…where two or more are gathered…love your neighbor…feed my sheep.

Turn right here.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 7-24-09

A Day of Miracles


John 6:1-13



The crowd was thick.
Anticipation was heavy in the air,
Carried on the heat of the day,
And on the wings of the flies.
Something was about to happen.


Philip stood next to Andrew,
His eyes squinted against the sun.
"He wants us to feed all of these people."
They looked out over the crowd.
A sea of faces.
Expectant and hungry.
Hungry for bread.
Hungry for the Bread of life.
He looked at the coins in his hand,
And said, almost to himself.
"He asks the impossible,We do not have enough."
Philip left to speak with Judas,
Still shaking his head.


Andrew stood at the edge of the crowd,
Feeling the weight of scarcity.
A small boy, who had been standing nearby,
Came to him, and tugged on his robe.
He held up his basket, grungy and dirty.
He said, "I have this.Will it be enough?
You can have it all."
Setting it down at Andrew's feet,
He looked up.
He was missing teeth,
But his smile was complete.
Andrew smiled back,
Patted the boy on the shoulder,
And thanked him,
For his food,
And for his generous spirit.


After the boy ran off to rejoin the crowd,
Andrew picked up the basket.
He always took everything to Jesus --People, questions, fears.
He supposed this was no different,
Although he felt like a fool.
Shaking his head as he argued with himself,
He carried the basket to where Jesus sat.
"A boy gave me this.
Five loaves, two fish,
I know it's not nearly enough."


Jesus smiled at Andrew,
And told him to have everyone sit down.
They shared the field,
They shared in thanksgiving.
They shared the food.
They all were part of a miracle.


When everyone had been fed,
Jesus had one more transformation to perform.
He sent his disciples into the crowd,
So that they could be changed.
So that their small faith, their attitude of scarcity,
Could be enlarged by witnessing abundance.
What had been small,
had been changed to excess.
What had been the generosity of a boy,
What had once been the seed of love,
Had born the fruit of a miracle.
Where the disciples had seen the impossible,
Jesus had shown them more than enough.


It had been a day of many miracles.


Kim Matthews