So now, faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1st Corinthians 13:13
I'm sorry for the time between posts. Last Friday, I found myself officiating the funeral for a good friend, Roger Matthews. His passing, while not unexpected, came quickly, with friends and family at his side. The day before the funeral, I went to the family house to see what I could offer in the service, what they most wanted to say, and ran into something a little unexpected. While the family was going through Roger's things, they ran across my wedding announcement from 22 years ago! Made on an old Brother Word Processer in 1995, it still looked good as new. (We thought we were pretty on top of technology back then, too!) On the announcement was the familiar quotation from 1st Corinthians 13, a description of true love. They wanted this to be the theme of his service, because, in Roger, the family felt he truly embodied that love.
Well, I'll admit, I've seen the scripture used in plenty of weddings, but not a funeral! As I tried to grasp what I needed to say, I thought back on Roger myself, and listened to stories the family had about him. For me, he was grandfather to my nephew and niece, Trent and Alison, but I was always treated as a family member. For the family, time and time again, there were stories of unselfish giving of himself, thinking about his family first, friends first, others ahead of himself, so many times. And that is what love is about.
He was a man who loved music as well. Born into a musical family, guitar player and wonderful singer and arranger.
Great sense of humor. A story from his sister...As he lay in bed, with family around, the music in the background was slow, sad sounding gospel tunes. As his sister was about to have had enough of the sadness, Roger said, quietly, "Can't y'all put on some rock and roll?"
I got a chance to look at his Bible, an old Revised Standard Version. You can learn a lot about a person from their Bible. This one was well used, the cover worn through in places, and the binding barely holding on to the pages. Inside were MANY notes. Roger had no problems writing in his Bible, and there were underlined passages on almost every page. And the notes he wrote filled in many of the margins, a lot of them with exclamation points! But one thing stood out, in the front of the Bible, were his own handwritten interpretations of two verses of scripture, Romans chapter 8, verses 26 and 28.
26 "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words."
28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose."
Under his thoughts on those verses, also handwritten, were the words "The two most wonderful things I can know!"
Love, in that 1st Corinthians 13 sense, is impossible to achieve on our own. So, how did Roger have it? Because he was not on his own. He held to the faith that in order to love, we must first be loved. And must hold on to our love, to then give to others. Roger's faith was in God's love for him, so strong that he could afford to give that love freely. The Spirit helped in weakness, and God's love worked through him.
I, and many others, will miss Roger's presence here, but his love will always remain, because Faith, Hope and Love abide, these three. But the greatest of these...is Love.
Friday, April 28, 2017
Friday, April 14, 2017
61st Street UMC - Goodbye, Old Friend
I had the chance to revisit a very special place today. There was a lunch time, Good Friday service at 61st Street United Methodist Church, a church where I served from 1978 to 1980. This was the first church I served in, other than my home church, and ran the circuit with Bro. Jim Hobgood. It was the church where I rededicated my life on March 25th, 1979, and felt my heart turned within me. I learned spiritual Joy, and learned spiritual warfare. I learned that prayer was more than just words, and that no sin is greater than God's love.
The church history goes back more than 100 years in that same location, and has been a fortress of service for the poor, elderly, and world beaten of West Nashville. Two of their ministries, a Hispanic outreach that serves there, as well as a Christmas Last Minute Toy Shop for parents that wouldn't be able to give to their children otherwise, are highly recognized for their service to the community.
The church's last service will be in June of this year. They are being closed, shut out by the "revitalization" of the neighborhood. The alter where I truly gave my heart to Him, the piano I played for hours are still there, for now. The clock on the wall that Jim Hobgood frequently ignored, still hangs. The stories and tears of over 100 years of saved souls are still in those walls. But where once, families with little income had a chance to at least have a home, they are pushed out on all sides by $400K "Monopoly" houses crammed in two and three to a lot. As these families are pushed away, those the church has served are diminishing in number.
I spoke to the Hispanic leader there, Rev. Miriam Cortez, and shared my memories of the church, and was joined by another member, whose history goes back over 60 years there, and her parents before her as well. I know there are other church locations out there, but this was her home, and to lose that is to lose just a piece of yourself. The pastor said they are still looking for a place to serve, as the ministry is so vital, especially for the multitude of children there. She says they are prayerfully hopeful. I join with them in prayer.
But all is not sad. Many souls were saved within those walls. Many souls were re-claimed, like mine. And for every life reborn, others outside those walls came to know Him, too. Ministries come and go, but the touch of God's hand is forever. Out of death, comes life. This is the Easter Story. Without the Cross, there is no empty tomb. From the passing of this small church on the corner of 61st Street and New York Avenue, may life burst forth. It's Friday, but we pray for Sunday. Amen.
The church history goes back more than 100 years in that same location, and has been a fortress of service for the poor, elderly, and world beaten of West Nashville. Two of their ministries, a Hispanic outreach that serves there, as well as a Christmas Last Minute Toy Shop for parents that wouldn't be able to give to their children otherwise, are highly recognized for their service to the community.
The church's last service will be in June of this year. They are being closed, shut out by the "revitalization" of the neighborhood. The alter where I truly gave my heart to Him, the piano I played for hours are still there, for now. The clock on the wall that Jim Hobgood frequently ignored, still hangs. The stories and tears of over 100 years of saved souls are still in those walls. But where once, families with little income had a chance to at least have a home, they are pushed out on all sides by $400K "Monopoly" houses crammed in two and three to a lot. As these families are pushed away, those the church has served are diminishing in number.
I spoke to the Hispanic leader there, Rev. Miriam Cortez, and shared my memories of the church, and was joined by another member, whose history goes back over 60 years there, and her parents before her as well. I know there are other church locations out there, but this was her home, and to lose that is to lose just a piece of yourself. The pastor said they are still looking for a place to serve, as the ministry is so vital, especially for the multitude of children there. She says they are prayerfully hopeful. I join with them in prayer.
But all is not sad. Many souls were saved within those walls. Many souls were re-claimed, like mine. And for every life reborn, others outside those walls came to know Him, too. Ministries come and go, but the touch of God's hand is forever. Out of death, comes life. This is the Easter Story. Without the Cross, there is no empty tomb. From the passing of this small church on the corner of 61st Street and New York Avenue, may life burst forth. It's Friday, but we pray for Sunday. Amen.
Friday, April 7, 2017
I think I'll just sleep in...
"Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see you. I want to see you." - Paul Baloche
"Stand by me. Oh, stand by me.
Oh, won't you please, stand by me." - Ben E. King
"Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." - Jesus
You know, some days it's just hard to see the good. those days when the debate of getting out of bed or just staying put with the covers up are real. Those days it feels like you've been put on the crazy mouse ride by force, with out a safety bar. Maybe it's just me, but some days, facing the world is tough, and running seems a viable option.
That's where the verse in John's gospel always comes back to me. (Sometimes sooner, sometime later, depending on how much I resist!)
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (ESV)
The trouble with fighting tribulation, is that in the midst of the fight, there is no end in sight. the greatest weapon in tribulations arsenal is the despair of failure. But this verse says there is an end. The tribulation in the world, whether global, national, local or personal, HAS BEEN OVERCOME. There is nothing the world can throw at you that Jesus has not overcome. Notice, He's not taking it away, necessarily, but assures you there is an end, you will win, and He's there with you to see you through.
As a person who sometimes can be depressed, I have clung to this verse like a security blanket. Does that sound weak? It's not. Jesus begs us to lean on Him, remove our burdens to take on His (Matt. 11:29-30). Rest in Him, and follow where He leads, even if the going is rough. (Ps. 23) In a time and a world that can be more than overwhelming, it is good to know that our guide, our savior, our Lord, our Jesus, has overcome.
I want to see you. I want to see you." - Paul Baloche
"Stand by me. Oh, stand by me.
Oh, won't you please, stand by me." - Ben E. King
"Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." - Jesus
You know, some days it's just hard to see the good. those days when the debate of getting out of bed or just staying put with the covers up are real. Those days it feels like you've been put on the crazy mouse ride by force, with out a safety bar. Maybe it's just me, but some days, facing the world is tough, and running seems a viable option.
That's where the verse in John's gospel always comes back to me. (Sometimes sooner, sometime later, depending on how much I resist!)
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (ESV)
The trouble with fighting tribulation, is that in the midst of the fight, there is no end in sight. the greatest weapon in tribulations arsenal is the despair of failure. But this verse says there is an end. The tribulation in the world, whether global, national, local or personal, HAS BEEN OVERCOME. There is nothing the world can throw at you that Jesus has not overcome. Notice, He's not taking it away, necessarily, but assures you there is an end, you will win, and He's there with you to see you through.
As a person who sometimes can be depressed, I have clung to this verse like a security blanket. Does that sound weak? It's not. Jesus begs us to lean on Him, remove our burdens to take on His (Matt. 11:29-30). Rest in Him, and follow where He leads, even if the going is rough. (Ps. 23) In a time and a world that can be more than overwhelming, it is good to know that our guide, our savior, our Lord, our Jesus, has overcome.
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