The past two Sundays we have received offerings for the flooding in Nebraska, flooding that is now moving downstream into Kansas. The total amount collected was $1,006.52. Thanks to everyone who gave generously.
Dave Ramsey vs. Jesus Christ
Jenny and I have taken Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University.” It helped us a great deal, and it made a lasting change in our lives. But there were parts I was uncomfortable with because he encouraged people to move beyond good stewardship and to aim for great wealth. This came to mind recently because Dave tweeted:
“If you do rich people stuff, eventually you will be rich. If you do poor people stuff, you will eventually be poor.” [1]
I don’t think it’s that simple. Certainly, if you do “rich people stuff” like being born into wealth and privilege or inheriting a fortune, you will be rich. But the world is filled with too much inequity for everyone to be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps—especially since some people don’t have boots. Furthermore, the above statement seems to imply that the financial state we find ourselves in is the financial state we’ve earned, even if that were true it would still be problematic. Long before twitter, Jesus Christ said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20, NRSV)
and a few verses later,
“But Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” (Luke 6:24, NRSV)
Wealth is not one of the goals of the Christian life. We are called to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us, but storing up treasure for ourselves in this life is not the way of Jesus Christ. We are instead called to be good stewards that we might be good Samaritans.
[1] [1] James Martin. Twitter post, March 7, 2019, 8:02 a.m., http://bit.ly/2U3qCFc.
New Member: Jennifer Green
This announcement is coming late, but Jennifer Green joined first United Methodist Church by profession of faith on February 20, 2019 (at the Wednesday evening communion service). We’re glad to have her officially with us.
Donations for Flood Relief
We’ve received special offerings for the flooding in Nebraska (and now in Kansas) the past two Sundays. The total received was $1,006.52. Thanks First!
All-Church Potluck this Coming Sunday
Our next All-Church Potluck dinner will be this Sunday, March 31, 2019, at 11:30 a.m. in Wright Hall.
Biblical Pronunciation Guide
One of the lectionary Bible commentaries I consult, The Lector’s Guide and Commentary has a pronunciation guide for every lectionary reading. Here are the words for Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18:
Abram (AY-bruhm)
Chaldeans (kal-DEE-uhnz)
Damascus (duh-MAS-kuhs)
Eliezer (el’-ih-EE-zer)
Euphrates (yoo-FRAY-teez)
heifer (HEH-fer)
Ur (ER) [1]
I imagine it’s very helpful to some, but I just found it hilarious that the second to last one was listed and thought I would share.
[1] J. Ted Blakley, A Lector’s Guide and Commentary to the Revised Common Lectionary (Wichita, Kansas: St. Mark’s Press, 2010), 105.
This Really Ticks Me Off
The horror movie “Us” is out. I Haven’t seen it, and I don’t intend to see it. But apparently, it contains a reference to Jeremiah 11:11, which reads: “Therefore, thus says the Lord, assuredly I am going to bring disaster upon them that they cannot escape; though they cry out to me, I will not listen to them” (NRSV). The use of this verse in a horror movie is is bad Biblical exegesis. The verse needs to be read in the context of the passage it’s found in, the passage needs to be read in the context of the book of Jeremiah as a whole, and the book of Jeremiah needs to be read in the context of the Old Testament. But you don’t have to do all that (though I would encourage you to do so). All you need to know is that Jeremiah 29:11 reads “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (29:11 also needs to be interpreted in context, but shares a context with 11:11.)
P.S. I didn’t find this out because I was trying to learn more about the movie, I found this out by reading an article on Slate titled “So What’s Jeremiah 11:11, Anyway?” That’s very effective click bait for a pastor.
Salina Rescue Mission Volunteers
I’m looking for volunteers to go to the Salina Rescue Mission tomorrow (Friday, March 22, 2019). The shift starts at 4:00 p.m., but if you can’t get there until later, we’ll work with you. Drop me a line at john@revcollins.com or give me call on my cell phone.
Resolution Update
Dear Friends,
We have been overwhelmed by the response to John’s resolution. We expected 300 supporters total not more than 300 supporters in less than 24 hours. We are unable to keep up. I thank those who have already responded, but we would please ask you to respond again through this Google Form which will automatically tabulate the results. If you cannot, we’ll migrate your information for you. I apologize for the inconvenience. Please feel free to share the link below.
Blessings, John Collins
Annual Conference Resolution
In response to the 2019 General Conference, I’ve written a Resolution for the Great Plains Annual Conference. You can find it here: https://revcollins.com/gpac-petition/. Clergy and any members of any local church in the Great Plains Annual Conference (that’s us) can sign it. Just drop me a line at john@revcollins.com. I’m doing this manually instead of on a site to try and make sure that everyone who signs up is in the Great Plains Annual Conference. But with over 300 responses already we’re a little bogged down. You can help by clearly listing which of the following applies to you: 1. Clergy Member of the Conference; 2. Lay Member of the Conference; 3. Member of a Local United Methodist Church (if so please include the name of the church, and the town/city and state). Thank you for your support.
Nebraska Flooding
Yesterday, as a church, we took up an special offering for the floods in Nebraska. More information about the flooding and the United Methodist Response can be found here:
Link: http://bit.ly/2W6OSTs
Today is Dickinson County Donate Day
Today, Friday, March 15, 2019, the Community Foundation of Dickinson County is doubling all donations made to the First UMC Endowment fund (up to $10,000). You can give online at http://www.donatedickinson.com or take a check down to the Community Foundation Office in the old Astra Bank Building. If you want to give before then, you can bring or mail a check made out to “Community Foundation of Dickinson County” to the church office. Either way putting “First United Methodist Church” in the memo line would not go astray.
To be clear: this money goes into the church’s endowment fund which means that we can only draw on the interest. For this reason we’re looking for donations that go above and beyond your regular giving.