Tag Archives: Mentors

Mentors of Faith

Living in the Spirit
November 29, 2018

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. –1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

So, for whom are we thankful particularly related to our journeys of faith? It is a tough assignment like writing our own book of Hebrews.

It is no surprise I became a Christian. In my genealogical search, I have found no great people whose names you would readily recognize, but the vast majority on both sides of my family were Christ followers. William Knott in 1824 served as a trustee in developing a new Methodist church in Pennsylvania. His son John William in 1836, having migrated to Illinois, hosted the first meeting of a Christian group in their settlement in his home. In the spring I visited the grave of my 13th great grandfather, John Phillips in London, England where he was active in his church.

My immediate family also brought grace to my life. My mother was a deaconess in the Methodist church from whom I inherited strong genes of doing justice. My dad gave me the love of music. Together they provided me with a brother and sister who are second to none both active in their churches and their children continue the tradition.

What about all those wonderful Sunday school teachers? Mrs. George is the first one I remember. I assume she had a first name but I never new it. She was originally from Georgia and had the silkiest beautiful accent that no one could copy. She taught us using flannel figures and served us cookies and Kool-Aid. Phyllis Acuff was a mentor in my teenage years. Drove me to Enid to visit Phillips University where I eventually attended.

I had some great pastors too. Dr. Keller was a history professor at Phillips, but he also was a pastor. I did not know he was a history teacher, when I walked up to him after church and asked, “Do you know where the Declaration of Independence was signed?” He said, “I believe in Philadelphia.” I said, “No it was signed at the bottom of the page.” He laughed deeply and patted my head. The next week he brought me a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

These were great people in my life but just people like you and like me who took the time to share God’s love and encourage a little girl, a teenager to become the person God created her to be. It is a mission to which we are all called as followers of Christ.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for my mentors in faith who opened doors of opportunities for me on my faith Journey.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Mentors

Epiphany
February 10, 2017

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. –1 Corinthians 3:5-9

I find word usage interesting and, thus, on reading What then is Apollos? What is Paul? I was curious about the word translated “What” rather than “Who”. Is the translation important to the understanding of the text? This quote is from the New Revised Standard Version. Other more recent translations consistently use “What”; the King James translation uses “Who”. It makes a difference because “what” describes perhaps a role a person holds; “who” refers to the person. Strong’s Concordance indicates the Greek word tis could mean who, which, what, why*. This information gave me a greater appreciation of translators and made me very glad I was not one. Knowing that I am swimming dangerously in unknown waters, I think that the use of “What” is intended to connote the role of spokesperson, preacher, perhaps apostle.

It is the season for drafting various high school students into college athletic programs. In such instances while we are watching wonderful players on good teams working hard to get to championships, their replacements are already being identified and groomed. Jesus invested much time in grooming his followers together to become his Body carrying out his mission. While our responsibilities in fulfilling our “what” callings are important, it is just as important that we groom and mentor our replacements. We are each uniquely and wonderfully made, which means there will never be another you or me, making our contributions critical; and there will always be another her or him to carry on the work of a loving God.

Prayer: Loving God, make us each good role models and mentors, teachers and facilitators for those who strive with us and will follow us in your service. Amen.

*http://biblehub.com/greek/5101.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Passing the Mantle

The MountaintopEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
February 9, 2015

 Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent.’  — 2 Kings 2:1-3

 I attended a performance of a play today that reminded me of the story of Elijah, whose shoes, or perhaps sandals, were indeed very hard to fill. In reality they never could be filled. The Mountaintop by Katori Hall is imagining at its best as Ms. Hall creates a scene with Martin Luther King Jr. in the hotel room in Memphis the night before he is killed. He calls for room service and has his coffee delivered by a street-smart maid who gave back equal to whatever Dr. King could deliver. He has a great sense that he is going to die and he must deal with what he fears will happen to his quest, when he is gone. Can’t you just image a similar scene with Elijah as the bigger than life man of tremendous, extraordinary accomplishment fearing that all he has given his life for will die with him? I can image Jesus, too, looking down form the cross with only one disciple present thinking, “Did I do enough, are they ready to take the reins?”

We are each called to a mission that is unique to our skills and strengths, but we are all called to make disciples for Christ. As great as Elijah was, as successful as Martin Luther King Jr. was, and with all the saving power of Jesus, their true legacies rest in the work that they inspired in those who took up their mantles, including Katori Hall. I recommend, if you get the chance, that you see this play. Beyond that let us all be guided by the Spirit of God to take up the mantle of Jesus Christ, as Martin Luther King Jr. did, toward a world ruled by peace and justice.

Prayer: Make each of us peacemakers, seekers of justice, and disciple-makers, too. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved