Living Generously - Hug a Lutheran Today

[Henry Mechior Muhlenberg,1711-1787,  Founder of American Lutheran Church.]

Our church is in the middle of a church wide "Living Generously" focus. Through our worship services and Sunday School classes and small groups, we are following the character, Frank Donovan family who is learning what it means to live generously. On today's church calendar (October 7), we celebrate a man who made a huge impact in the church through his generosity.

Lutherans have their Henry Melchior Muhlenberg...

United Methodists have their Francis Asbury who traveled from England to help organize and grow the Methodist movement in America in the 1700's. Lutherans have their Henry Melchior Muhlenberg who left Germany and did something very similar around that same time with Lutherans living in America.

"Who and what he was, future ages will know without a stone."

Muhlenberg died on October 7, 1787 and is buried at Trappe, Pennsylvania. His epitaph (in Latin) reads: "Who and what he was, future ages will know without a stone." Students at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania and Lutherans in general are beneficiaries of his generosity.

How might we observe this special day? Do something nice for someone. Go out of your way to serve others. Share your faith. Hug a Lutheran. Don't hold back. Live generously.

Sunday Worship Preview - October 12

Sunday, October 12 - (9:00 am & 10:30 Services) & Wednesday, October 15  (6:30 pm Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)

Features - 18th Sunday After Pentecost & Living Generously Church-Wide Focus

Scripture - II Corinthians 8:8-15 & Luke 8:40-48

Sermon - "Living Generously: Spoons & Ladles"

Theme - Living generously involves a social test. Do we care about the needs of others? To live generously means that we give from our essence and not just from our excess.

Leaving Behind "Left Behind" Theology

If it wasn't enough that we have the Left Behind books, we now have a Left Behind movie. Ugh!!

The Left Behind series is based on a modernist misguided theology that is centered around a supposed "rapture" in which there will be a cataclysmic end to the world and Christian believers will be snatched away to heaven while heathens will be left behind.

First of all, and really the main point I want to make is that IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE of classic/orthodox Christianity teaching. The whole point of the gospel and what makes it such compelling good news is that God will one day rescue creation, not destroy it.

Think of the Lord's Prayer which states, "Thy kingdom COME, thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven." This famous prayer reminds us that God's desire is for God's kingdom to be realized on earth.

The ending of the Book of Revelation tells us that the new Jerusalem will COME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN. This is how the biblical story will conclude, heaven and earth coming together the way it was always meant to be.

God affirms the physical and seeks to redeem and renew it.

Rapture and Left Behind theology is really an escapist theology based more on a dualistic philosophy where the physical is separated from the spiritual. This leads to the faulty assumption that physical is bad and spiritual is good. When God created the world, God called creation good. God affirms the physical and seeks to redeem and renew it.

Left Behind theology uses fear to scare people into the Christian faith. By painting a picture of a future gloom and doom for the world, they want you to sign up as a believer and avoid this messy place called earth. Notice the movie poster image of a city engulfed in an inferno. They can't imagine you would want to be a Christian because of the hope and promise for this world to be rescued and redeemed by a loving God. Fear sells. As for love and good news, not so much.

So, if you want to see the movie, think of it as sci-fi.  Let's leave behind "left behind" theology.

First Week "Living Generously" Reflections

During a recent worship service, Judy Hug, a church member reminded us that several young people had recently volunteered through United Way by dusting, polishing, and cleaning our sanctuary. As Judy shared this news with us, I felt so humbled that people outside our church had done this on our behalf. Sometimes, I forget about the people who serve in such gracious ways.

We are called to "live generously."

Our congregation has just begun a five-week church-wide focus called, “Living Generously.” We are already discovering through this focus that God has blessed us in so many ways and we are called to share these blessings with others. We are called to “live generously.”

My eyes are becoming more open to the blessings that are all around me thanks to this church study. I look forward to the remaining weeks of this series. “O Lord, help me to live generously for you. Amen.”

Living Generously Small Groups In Full Swing

[Small groups meeting together last night at our Crossroads facility to view the 1st week video of Living Generously. The groups then met separately to continue their discussions and time of prayer.]

Our Living Generously church-wide focus began this past Sunday (September 28.) Some of our Living Generously small groups met last evening (see above picture) as part of our Wednesday Fellowship program at our Crossroads facility. The groups met together for the first few minutes to watch the video for the first week of the series. After the video, we broke into our smaller groups for further discussion and prayer.

[A scene from the first Living Generously video shown at the September 28 worship services. Frank Donovan is consulting with his financial advisor.]

Other small groups are meeting at other times during the week and our adult Sunday School classes are also focusing on the Living Generously theme during these five weeks. Small group participants books are available along with a video presentation based on the previous Sunday's theme.

It's also prompting people to think how God is calling us to be a blessing to others by living generously.

We are already hearing people share how this Living Generously series is helping them see signs of God's generosity throughout our day to day living. It's also prompting people to think how God is calling us to be a blessing to others by living generously.

If you would like to become part of a Living Generously small group, there's still time to sign up. Contact our Discipleship Director, Dan Kemp at dankemp@lancasterfumc.org for more information or you can simply sign up at the information table next to the desk in our church parlor.

Dave's Deep Thoughts - Taking Flight: 1,000 Acts of Kindness

Here's Pastor Dave McDowell's weekly devotional that he sends out to members of his church. Dave is my brother and serves as the Music Minister at Stewartstown UMC in PA.

Sometimes, it only takes a moment.

Sometimes, it only takes a spark,

and sometimes, it only takes an idiot.

The destination was Kansas City,

but I had a connecting flight through Chicago.

My return trip home would bring me back through windy city.

It was in Kansas City that I heard the news…..

someone had deliberately set fire to a building

near the air traffic control tower in Chicago,

virtually shutting down the second busiest airport in the US.

Having two days remaining in my trip,

I assumed that things would be cleared up by my return.

Not really.

I got back to my hotel fairly late

the night before my return.

I checked my flight status on line.

Connecting flight to Chicago…..

CANCELED

1am

This is not news that anyone wants to hear in the wee hours of the night.

I frantically called the  800 number that was listed.

Amazingly, I was able to talk with a real human being right away.

I explained my flight plight to her.

She responded, “Thank you for flying our friendly skies.

The fire at the Chicago airport

has affected virtually every airport in the country.

Sir, I am happy to tell you that we have been able

to book you on a direct flight to Reagan National in Washington DC”

“But my car is sitting in Baltimore” I replied.

“Sir, I am happy to let you know that there is a shuttle service

between the two airports. You can reserve a space online.

And thank you once again for flying our friendly skies.”

1:30am

At this time of night, I was feeling neither happy nor friendly.

The online booking site for the shuttle service was so overwhelmed

that I was not able to get on.

The site suggested that I call at 6am to make a reservation.

1:45am

Decision time.

Do I wait until 6am and run the risk of the shuttle being full,

or I do I call back and find another way to get to Baltimore?

1:50am

I call the airline back.

This time, the oh so happy agent was not available.

In fact, no happy agents were available for the next 3 hours.

But if I left my name and number, they would return my call.

4:55am

The phone wakes me out of my deep slumber.

“Thank you for flying our friendly skies.

How may I help you?”

I had several suggestions

starting with locking up the arsonist for life.

In a stupor reserved for those awakened out of a deep sleep,

I explained my dilemma.

“Sir, I am happy to tell you, that I can get you to

your destination via a connecting flight through Dallas.

You will however arrive in Baltimore 4 hours later than your original return time.”

Relieved that my agent was so happy,

I fell back to sleep for a couple of hours.

9am

As I was waiting in line at the Kansas City airport,

I looked at the departing flights board.

Flight #1106 was nowhere to be found.

9:10am

The ticketing agent happily told me that this flight was for tomorrow, not today.

I have my “about to cry” look that is very useful from time to time.

Moved to either compassion or disgust, the agent found another flight,

also going through Dallas, to get home.

11:05am

The flight to Dallas has been put on delay……

something about a fire at the Chicago airport.

1:05pm

Two hours behind schedule, we board the plane.

1:35

The plane is still on the runway.

Something about a minor mechanical issue.

I’m not sure that anything is minor at 13,000 feet.

1:50pm

We take off.

Everyone is concerned about making connecting flights.

I did the math, I would make it just in time.

2:55pm

We land in Dallas.

The rush of passengers trying to get off the plane

resembles the running of the bulls in Pamplona.

3:10pm

Like OJ hurdling every airport obstacle,

I reach my boarding gate…..

FLIGHT DELAYED

Something about a fire at the Chicago airport. 

4pm…… delay    5pm……..delay    6pm…….delay

6:10pm

We are told we are ready to board the flight to Baltimore.

6:30pm

All buckled in in row 19 and my seat is in the upright position.

There are three infants located in rows 18, 19 and 20.

7pm

All buckled in and my seat is still in the upright position.

Something about a button on the pilot’s control panel not working

Baby # 1 is crying.   Baby #2 wants to cry.

And Baby #3 wants to play with my hair.

7:15pm

The button is now working.

All three babies are now crying at the news.

During the three hour flight,

I learned several things…….

1)     It is possible for a baby to cry non-stop for several hours.

2)     Always buy a sandwich before boarding, because airlines don’t serve meals anymore.

3)     Always bring ear plugs when flying.

4)     Wearing a cap during a flight can help keep baby food out of your hair.

and

5)    on any given day, one person can have a huge impact on many lives.

There were thousands across the country who were impacted by that idiot in Chicago.

That’s the power that each of us possesses, either for good or for bad.

During my conference,

I was challenged to do 1,000 acts of kindness during the next year.

I carry a coin in my pocket to remind me.

With each act, I switch the coin from pocket to pocket.

Three acts a day………Left pocket, right pocket, left pocket by the end of the day.

Some acts are easy….opening the door for someone.

Others take more …….offering a ride to someone when it’s not on the way.

I offer this challenge to you

1 year   1,000 acts of kindness.

If one person can bring such hardship

imagine what many can do for good.

We live in a most unkind world.

You might not be able to change the world,

but you can change the world for a few.

And most of all, it will likely change you.

It only takes a moment,

and a willing heart.

Now get started.

Act of kindness #1

Does anyone have some shampoo?

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,

and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned,

For by it, the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one,

much more, those who receive the abundance of grace,
and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                         Romans 5: 12, 17

Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary - October 5

Sermon (October 5) - "Living Generously: Who Is the Boss?"

II Corinthians 8:1-7

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter which has a very different tone from his first letter to the Corinthians. Since that first letter, a very difficult problem had emerged in the church and Paul addresses it in this new letter. The letter ends on a positive note of the good news of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul is hoping that the church in Corinth will set aside money for a special offering that will benefit the impoverished church in Jerusalem. He briefly wrote about this special offering in his first letter to them (I Corinthians 16:1-4.) This offering will not only help the church in Jerusalem but it will also be an expression of unity between a Gentile Church (the Corinthian Church) and a Jewish Church (the Jerusalem Church.)

Even though this offering will do much good for the kingdom of God both in practicality (helping a church suffering through a time of famine) and symbolically (expressing unity between Gentiles & Jewish Christians,) there are also obstacles and challenges to overcome.

Verse 6 - Instead of using the word, "money" in referring to this special offering, Paul uses the word, "grace."Knowing that money could become a tricky topic with the Corinthians, Paul talks instead about this "work of grace."

By referring to the collection of the special offering as "grace," Paul is reminding the Corinthians that everything they do is to be an expression of the unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ. Paul refers to the generosity of the Macedonian Churches who are much poorer than the Corinthian Church and yet they had given a substantial gift to this offering. Paul is hinting that if these poorer churches could give so generously, certainly the Corinthian Church would be able to do even more.

Matthew 6:19-24

This is a passage about priorities and having God as our very first priority.

In Jesus' day, when people fasted, they would indicate this by letting down their hair and putting ashes on their face. Jesus encourages a different approach, where we don't do religious acts just to be noticed by others. We should do these things for God alone.

In establishing the right priority, Jesus refers to treasure and a lamp. The treasure refers to the things that we are doing in the here and now. The lamp refers to keeping our eyes on God so that we can go in the right direction.

Jesus concludes by referring to not being able to serve two masters. Jesus wants us to recognize that money can easily become a god that would keep us from keeping the true God first in our lives.


[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]