Month: March 2006

I got a chance to work on our garage today. I opened up a plastic tub where I thought I had safely stored some Coca-Cola memorabilia. Somehow, water had gotten in and much of it is ruined. I immediately thought of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6.19-21.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NRSV)

Truth be told, I had been planning to unburden myself of much of the Coke stuff, and other stuff in the garage that was stored in cardboard boxes, somehow or another, but had been putting it off. When I saw the water damage, I felt as if God had said, “here … let me help you with that.”

Update 8:12 am: The Coke stuff was damaged when the Coke in some commemorative cans ate through the cans. The cardboard boxes were water draining off the car when I drove home during the storm last night.

There will be posting today, I don’t feel the need to completely abstain from work and observe a Sabbath today because we are taking this Sunday off and we can thus observe the Sabbath on the day Christians traditionally have. In case you’re wondering Mike Mason will preach at both services.

I just sent the Parish Visitor out to our e-mail subscribers. If you would like to receive the Parish Visitor more quickly and in living color. Drop me a note at johnandjenny@gmail.com.

Ever watch "Christian Leaders" on the news and feel that you’re not being represented? The United Church of Christ has a new campaign to address bias in news broadcasts. You can read about it here: http://ga3.org/campaign/network1?qp_source=view. The main site for this effort is http://www.accessibleairwaves.org/viewnew/.

The cover of Time magazine pictures a bereft polar bear on the cover and reads: “Be Worried. Be Very Worried.” The story begins by saying “No one can say exactly what it looks like when a planet takes ill, but it probably looks a lot like Earth.” The article goes on to detail how the earth has reached some unfortunate tipping points in global climate change do to human activity. I first became acquainted with the idea of global warming in high school, but I’ve been hesitant, much to hesitant, to say much about it because of the controversy. Well apparently the controversy is gone.

Scripture tells us that “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it” (Psalm 24.1, NRSV) We have been poor stewards of God’s good creation. Especially those of us in the U.S. which, as Time notes “is home to less than 5% of the population, but produces 25% of the world’s CO2 emissions.” It is time to change that. Christians have started taking notice, including such luminaries as Rev. Jim Wallis and Rev. Rick Warren, two of the founders of the Evangelical Climate Initiative. I’m glad that Christians have started focusing on this issue. As Paul wrote to the Collossians In the book of Genesis, God tells us that we have been given stewardship over the earth. It is about time we started taking that responsibility seriously, we have a Biblical mandate to care for God’s good creation.

Read the article to learn more (if you don’t subscribe to Time you can read it online (like I did).

This coming Palm/Passion Sunday we’ll be reading the passion in parts.
It won’t be a big production and there won’t be any rehearsals. If
you’re willing to help please let me know.

Jenny, Elizabeth and I will be taking some time off soon. I’ve noticed that on the “professional” blogs, there is often someone who comes in and does “guest blogging” to keep things going. I’ve got some ideas, but I’m hoping someone will step forward of their own accord. Any volunteers?

Have you ever had a question about the United Methodist Church that you couldn’t get answered? If so you might want to consider the following:

InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church, responds to over 200 questions a day by e-mail, phone, and fax. Located in Nashville, TN, InfoServ is here to respond to not only your questions, but point you in the right direction to locate people and necessary resources. (From the InfoServe webpage.)

You can get answers via the InfoServe webpage or by calling 1-800-251-8140.

Elizabeth and I enjoyed breakfast with some of the members of the
Keystone class this morning. the biscuits were stale, and the gravy
was cold, but the conversation was great.

Tomorrow is our Sabbath, so no new posts until Saturday.

One of the best things about being a pastor at First UMC is that you’re invited to attend all the various events put on by the different Sunday school classes. We ate with the Tri-M class tonight and enjoyed a wonderful meal. I then went upstairs to teach our Lenten Bible study. I was moved by the fellowship of the Tri-M class, how they were “being” church as they gathered for a common meal. I was impressed by the intensity of the Lenten Bible study and the eagerness shown by those participating to learn more about the Bible and God, to whom the Bible points. Small groups like Sunday school classes and short-term Bible studies have so much promise for First UMC. The challenge is getting more people involved. I have some ideas of my own, but would like to hear yours.

We previously discussed Kathryn Lopez’s article in the Wednesday,
March 15, 2006 edition of The Coffeyville Journal. We also think this
passage from Leviticus bears consideration:

“The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).