Tag Archives: Mission

Finding Common Cause

Lent
March 13, 2017

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’
–Exodus 17:1-3

What is it about people that we want what we want when we want it but often take no responsibility for making it happen? Not having water to drink is serious. Death occurs within days with continuous lack of water or water equivalent. Fear can cause people to become quarrelsome in times of peril. A long history of oppression, like the Israelites experienced in slavery under Egypt, discourages self-determination. I wonder how many of the Israelites left Egypt simply because everyone else was doing it? Not having a clear purpose stifles initiative.

The challenge with working with a group of people of differing ages, personalities, or goals in life is helping them find the common cause from which they can build a better reality. This is exactly what every church faces as it strives to do its part in being the Body of Christ in the world today. The problems differ if the group is well known to each other or very new to each other and the church is generally coordinated both circumstances.

It goes against human nature but it is always easier to deal with issues when they arise rather than letting them fester and grow. Moses addressed discord quickly in our scripture today. Introducing new ideas calls on creative skills. Most important of all is assuring that people buy-in to the mission and vision of the group. Practicing good listening skills helps too.

Practical stuff, people in business deal with every day, can more easily be determined when profit margin is the primary target of a for-profit entity. What is the primary target or focus of the church or a congregation?

Prayer: Lord, what are you calling us to do or be? Help us to become one in our mission in service to you. Help us find our niche. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

The Big Picture

All things are possibleLiving in the Spirit
August 10, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14

Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.

 And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. –1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:6

Upon the death of King David and Solomon’s resulting assent to the throne, Solomon recognizes God’s love for King David and his character in relationship to God. Solomon saw his father as faithful, righteous, and upright in heart toward God. These are the same traits we are called to demonstrate through our lives with God and with one another as children of God. Now history may view David somewhat differently than his youngest son who knew him in the last half of his life. There is no question David was a powerful King whose reign lifted Israel to the status of empire. There is also no question that he got to this position in some instances via any means necessary. While David, like all of us, was certainly not perfect, he never seem to waiver from being faithful to God.

David was gifted with the vision of a better world. The song, The Impossible Dream from the musical Man of La Mancha reminds us that we are all called to work toward a better world. Consider these words today.

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go 

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star 

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far 

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause 

And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest 

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

Prayer: Lord, grant us each the vision to make the world a better place by our constantly striving for what may seem to be an unreachable star but our knowing that all things are possible through you. Amen.

*The Impossible Dream from MAN OF LA MANCHA (1972) music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion see http://www.reelclassics.com/Actors/O’Toole/impossibledream-lyrics.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 American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.